Land transfer between City of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County getting closer

There are many parcels of land in South Lake Tahoe owned by El Dorado County that the City would like to have, and talks between the two are getting closer to making the land transfer a reality.

At the Tuesday, January 26 Board of Supervisor meeting in Placerville, an agenda item concerning the creation of a negotiating committee will be discussed. The City Council's subcommittee of Hal Cole and Austin Sass have been meeting with their counterparts at the County level, Sue Novasel and Brian Veerkamp. A negotiating committee, if approved, would then work out the details of the transfer with a committee from the City.

Even though there are several parcels Cole, Sass, Novasel and Veerkamp have been discussing, the ones which are the subject of Tuesday's meeting are in the center of South Lake Tahoe.

The County owns the land that is currently home to Campground by the Lake, the library, the Senior Center, Tahoe Art League, Vector Control, the History Museum and the Visitor's Center. The City has been taking care of the several of these buildings, as well as snow removal, and would like to own them so tenants can put in much needed improvements.

In the proposed land transfer, the County would retain the campground and library, while the City would gain the Senior Center, museum, art building and visitor's center.

The County's Vector Control building is not part of negotiations that may begin if approved, but it is part of the larger land transfer plan currently being discusses. The City is moving their snow removal lot adjacent to the ice arena to make room for future recreational needs of the community.

"The purpose of the current City/County land transfer discussion as proposed is to bring forward solutions as soon as they are identified rather than wait for all issues to be resolved," said City Manager Nancy Kerry.

Diane Johnson, the Lake Tahoe Historical Society Board President and Museum Director, gave her support to the City. The non-profit put a new roof on the museum but have some growing plumbing issues that are shared with the adjacent Senior Center. She said a City-owned building would allow them to get things done, as well as be able to apply for grants that may be available to help the museum expand.

The Supervisor's meeting starts at 9:00 a.m. at the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room at 330 Fair Lane in Placerville. Here is the agenda.