New City Manager Joe Irvin now on the job for South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As of the City Council's special meeting Wednesday morning, the new South Lake Tahoe City Manager was on the job for 48 hours after being sworn in during a digital event that started off the week.

Joe Irvin was hired after an extensive search for a manager began after Frank Rush submitted his resignation in December 2019. Irvin rose to the top of the candidate list after a public meet-and-greet with others who were also vying for the position. Once hired in March, the former assistant city manager for the City of Healdsburg hit the ground running, even before Monday's swearing-in.

Irvin, his wife Kate, and 11-year-old daughter Michaela have moved into their new home in South Lake Tahoe and getting settled into a community that offers everything they love to do - hiking trails, sports, and when the time comes, snowboarding. Irvin said he loves being involved in his daughter's sports and spent last season as the home plate umpire for her softball games.

During his first two days at the helm, Irvin has toured City facilities and started meeting staff virtually as most are working remotely from their homes.

Irvin said his number one priority is to work with council and community partners (chambers, County, Barton) on recovery efforts after COVID-19 closures to make it as smooth as possible in a coordinated manner with all of the various stakeholders.

"We want to proceed in a coordinated manner as fast as we can with the information we have," said Irvin as the town starts to reopen in Phase 2. "Want to make sure we keep our residents and community safe."

Irvin also touched on the new Long Term Transformative Change Committee that was recently formed with City Council and community partners.

"I think the opportunity to work with the committee and seeing what comes from that is exciting," said Irvin. "It helps the city strategize on what investments to make in the future that will support a strong economic base, make us more resilient and be able to sustain during crises."

He also said he is excited to get hotels and lodging back up and running but to make sure it is done in a coordinated and safe manner.

"South Lake Tahoe is a place where families create special moments, it's part of our DNA," Irvin said of the tourism base of the community.

"Broadening our economic opportunity with other industries and different sectors is important," he said. Irvin said he'll be working with Council and the long-term committee to see what kind of capital improvements can be made, moving forward on the 56-acre project, the new recreation center, better bike paths, improved infrastructure, technology, affordable and other housing.

He said that would include building a community where an entrepreneur or business interested in branching out would want to be located.

Irvin said they will be focusing on housing for those that work in South Lake Tahoe, and adding inventory to the pipeline from starter homes to family market-rate housing.

"Healthy communities offer a wide range of housing," said Irvin. "Every town is different and there is no single paintbrush fix for all. Focusing on improving affordable and other types of housing is important."

Irvin said he will be providing the support city council needs and helping them make the best decisions based on policy, and building teams to implement their vision.

"I am excited to get back together with the city council to further define and adopt their strategic priorities and put together a strategic plan," said Irvin.

Before going to Healdsburg in 2018, Irvin's over 14-year career has taken him from the City of Sequim in Washington state and Marco Island in southwest Florida.

Irvin has had held various positions in the community development departments in both Sequim and Marco Island, as well as in the city manager’s office in Sequim.
Irvin is not new to South Lake Tahoe as he was a resident between the years 2000-2003 while he attended Lake Tahoe Community College and spent many hours in the classroom and on the slopes.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from California State University Channel Islands and a master’s degree in Public Administration from The Evergreen State College.