SLT Council Candidate Keith Roberts

South Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers will be published in the order received.

Today's candidate is Keith Roberts.

Profession: Executive Chef

How many years in SLT: 5 years

1. Explain why you are running for City Council and what your qualifications are. I see South Lake growing so fast and so much money coming into the town; I want to be part of the Team that makes sure we manage that growth and all the challenges it brings in terms of traffic; trash; ecosystem destruction and fire danger. Making sure we remain stewards of our land preserving it for locals and visitors alike.

2. There has been talk about making South Lake Tahoe a Charter City. Are you for or against this, and why? I do not support moving to a Charter City; many of the advantages of Charter Cities have disappeared in the last decade and in my opinion, it hands over too much power to the City Council Members. They would have too much control of our funds and budget; we need to improve the influence our residents have on our local government, not hinder it; We need our residents to trust in us as Leaders.

3. How many council meetings have you attended (Remotely and in person) and participated in? What changes, if any, would you bring to the table on how meetings are run? Ideas for more public participation? I have been to several meetings and from what I have observed, I would mandate that the Agenda for each meeting is available to the public two weeks prior to the meeting instead of just a couple days; giving the public time to review and research items to be discussed prior to the meeting and giving them time to prepare their presentations.

4. Are you for or against the US50 Revitalization Project, known as the Loop Road, and why? I do not support the Current Loop Road Project; it directs too much traffic away from the businesses on HWY 50; it displaces too many people without enough new housing; displaced children may need to travel further to school; it will increase traffic on Pioneer Trail; I don’t see it improving the travel needs of locals. The Idea of a Loop Road to diminish traffic through the Casinos for safety is a good one; also to be able to avoid congestion through the Casinos would greatly enhance the travel experience for locals passing through for work or shopping. I will greatly support a plan that can accomplish this without so many negative impacts on our Residents. I do not support the current project as planned but I do support

5. What are your thoughts on the 56 Acre Parcel and what should be included? I support the Master Plan; it brings improved access to the activities; remodeled facilities; safer access to the Lake; upgrades to the campground and more outdoor healthy activities. When I am elected to City Council; I will make sure the plans reflect designs that maintain and accent natural beauty; buildings that blend into their natural surroundings instead of replacing them. Additionally, I will make the remodeled Ice Rink with locker rooms enough to attract pro hockey teams to come for their pre-season training and games; bringing fans and family during our slow shoulder season.

6. Being on council takes a lot of cooperation and collaboration. Do you consider yourself a team player? How do you work with others that may not have the same vision as you? Please explain how your election to the council will help get things done in South Lake Tahoe. Running an awarding winning culinary staff is a lot more than just good recipes; like a sports team it is about execution; motivating players to give their best takes a positive attitude, clear communication, clearly defined goals and teamwork; this is what I will bring to our City Council. Working toward goals that work for everyone in our city; my ideas are only starting points in the search for the best solution to our city’s challenges; voting against my ideas will be easy if it is the right vote for all of us.

7. What is your top priority and why? Affordable Housing is one of the hot topics of South Lake Tahoe; some of my fellow candidates have put together sound initiatives that will free up properties for purchase by people making $60,000 or so.

My focus will be on the line employee that has to work 2 jobs as a cook, dishwasher, waitress or cashier just to afford an apartment and food on the table.

There are over 400 affordable apartment units currently in the planning stages around the City; when elected to City Council my first priority will to be to make sure these plans get moved forward quickly past the planning stages and into the building phases.

Additionally, I will present legislature that adds impact fees for new developments and construction of any property that once completed and leased will require additional labor. Fees that will go to building more affordable apartments for our growing employee needs.

8. What do you see yourself accomplishing as one of five council members in your first six months? I will push forward on the planning stages of the Affordable Housing units; I will push more resources toward assisting our homeless in town; I will be drafting regulations that address new developments to design building placement away from the street; allowing natural Tahoe landscaping to keep the beautiful mountain appearance to our city instead of looking like a Drive-Thru Town; driving past trees, bushes and flowers instead of flat store fronts flush with the street..

9. South Lake Tahoe is very polarized right now. As a councilperson, what would you do to create a more cohesive and respectful community? In A Business Deal; both sides get what they want or the deal doesn’t close; I want to make sure everyone has a say in City Council Decisions. I believe there is always more than one side to every issue and we on City Council owe it to our Residents to seek out every possible solution and listen to every opinion and make every effort to make changes that are acceptable to all residents, not just the few.

10. Anything else you’d like to add? A recent decision by the City Council to approve expansion of The Tourist Corridor has been met with much criticism; while I agree that more time should have been made available to review the proposal and then a quick vote by Council did not do justice to anyone; however; I do support the expansion and goals of the Tourist Corridor. The buildings allowed to go 1 floor higher will mean smaller SQ. FT at the base, more open space, less concrete and asphalt is to be used allowing more natural trails and paths to the beach. More natural Lake Tahoe landscaping will be incorporated; making the area more attractive to our tourist pulling them out of our neighborhoods and closer to our business complexes. Quieter neighborhoods and busier businesses; it can happen! Elect Keith Roberts to South Lake Tahoe City Council to make sure it does!

Previous candidate
Daniel P. Browne, Jr.