South Lake Tahoe City Council approves new trash ordinance, military equipment ordinance and more

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During their April 5 meeting, City Council approved several agenda items including a required military equipment use policy, authorized up to $205,230 for the city-owned parking garage, amendments to the trash ordinance, and approved LED lighting retrofits for walkway lighting through parts of the US50 corridor (all but Caltrans lights).

Due to the passing of Assembly Bill 481, any law enforcement agency in California must have a military equipment ordinance in place within 180 days of January 1, 2022. along with an inventory and assessment of what the departments currently have in stock. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) is not trying to obtain more items, but the ordinance is required. They must now also provide an annual report to Council on the military equipment they have, as well as an annual public meeting. If SLTPD gets rid of any old equipment they cannot just destroy or recycle, it must be returned to the military.

Chief Stevenson said they haven't received any new military equipment in about nine years. They currently have two inoperable Hummers that were donated to SLTPD and will be returned to the military. They have one "MWRAP" - Mine Resistant, Armor Protected vehicle that was donated in 2013 (value $750,000), one Mobile Command Vehicle they received through a grant in 2007, two robots, 36 "flashbang" grenades, and some launchers and associated equipment.

These tools have been tested in the field, and are used by the SLTPD to enhance citizen safety, officer safety, and community safety. The loss of these items would jeopardize the welfare of citizens and visitors of South Lake Tahoe, and peace officers within the SLTPD, according to the written report.

It unanimously passed.

In order to help keep bears out of neighborhoods, the Better Trash Management amendment to the City Code was approved. Residents will not be able to place trash out on the curb before 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection. This decreases the length of time bears would have to get into trash cans and minimizes the time the attractants are out. The closer to pick-up time the better, but not before 6:00 a.m. South Tahoe Refuse leaves its facility at 7:00 a.m. Trash collectors will then return the cans to a point 20 feet from the property line. During periods of heavy snow, customers shall provide a clear path for the return of containers.

There is a fee charged in the amount of $150 for noncompliance with the ordinance which takes effect 30 days after the second reading on May 3.

The City's Sustainability Coordinator Sara Letton reminded residents to use garbage disposals for food waste and to take advantage of South Tahoe Refuse's Wednesday food drop-off days where they turn it into compost.

Council also approved spending money to have a company evaluate the conditions at the City garage at Heavenly Village. A consulting firm was hired to evaluate those conditions that would improve efficiency and address safety issues, evaluation of existing circulation patterns and access and revenue control system, preparation of construction documents for remedial and structural, revenue and access control, electrical vehicle (EV) station upgrades, and parking space counting system.

It is anticipated the cost of addressing all of the identified issues would be in the range of $1 million. The historical average revenue the garage brings in is between $500K and $800K, after paying the bond debt service.

Approval was given to Grocery Outlet to change its Type 20 liquor license to a Type 21, allowing them to sell a full line of alcoholic beverages, not just beer and wine. The store applied for the one available Type 20 license in El Dorado County in 2021. A lottery was held with 21 other stores and Grocery Outlet was lucky to get the one.

They said it will be about 30 days until inventory is added to the store. The alcohol product footprint in the store will remain the same.

The LED retrofit project on the US50 corridor, Harrison Ave, El Dorado Beach-Ski Run corridor has been approved. In December they heard from the International Dark Sky Association on how to have lighting that doesn't interfere with a sky dark enough to enjoy the stars. At first, there was a plan to conform to Dark Sky on the mountain side of the highway, and a different, cheaper LED retrofit on the lake side of the highway. It was decided to have one conforming color light and not have some amber, and some white light. There will be a LED retrofit on pedestrian lights along the corridor as the City does not have a say over Caltrans lights on the actual roadway. The LED retrofit will save the City in power bills and take about 6.5 years to pay off the investment with those savings.

City Council also approved a tentative subdivision map for a new townhome project at 3708 Lake Tahoe Boulevard and 3709 Osgood Avenue. The two lots between IHOP and the PostMarc Hotel used to be home to a Unocal station that has since been removed along with its underground tanks. At one time they were deemed to be sensitive and rebuildable land, but the new owner found a low water table on the lots and gained approval for the project. The two lots will now be merged into one, then the 14 townhomes in three two-story buildings will be subdivided.

Due to Measure T, these can be turned into vacation home rentals is desired as they are in the Tourist Core (VHRs are allowed in both commercial and tourist core areas). The area is zoned high-density as well, so the 14 homes can be built.