Meet the Candidate: Bruce Grego to bring fairness and honesty to the Council

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.

Today, the first-time candidate Bruce Grego gives his responses as he seeks a seat again on the South Lake Tahoe City Council:

1. With recent changes in Senior Management at the City, is there anything you would have done differently, knowing what you know now? Please explain. First of all, I would have sought to replace the vacant positions at a much earlier date not only to promote continuity in decision making but to also save tax dollars. For example, we spent a million dollars with Nira Feeley’s law firm, an independent legal firm located in the Bay Area, to cover legal obligations where we could have saved significant dollars by hiring a replacement for Tom Watson within a month or two as a result of his vacancy. The money we saved could have been used for road repair.

Your question asks “knowing what you know now.” What do we know about the reasons for Nancy Kerry’s termination as City Manager? We have no facts to work from. The Council purposely executed an agreement with Nancy Kerry that kept the issues regarding her termination confidential and a mystery to the voters of our community. Again, I would have sought a replacement as soon as possible to continue with continuity of decision making instead of having a temporary person hold this position.

2. Do you feel there is some mistrust in local government? Why do you feel this way? Does this need to be changed and how do you suggest that change is made? I believe that the lack of transparency by the current City Council has led to mistrust in local government. Again, Nancy Kerry’s termination is shrouded in mystery. Apparently she had high performance evaluations up to the time her employment was ended and was given a two hundred thousand dollar severance bonus. There have been continued allegations that many important decisions have been made in closed session and at least one council member has complained that there have been violations of the Brown Act. The solution is to be transparent. All emails to the City Council, except from legal staff and perhaps some personnel matters, should be released to the public every 30 days. Closed session should be limited to what the law allows and no more. Our Council members must be accessible by the press to respond to questions. This is not the case now, in fact, one council member, Jason Collins, doesn’t even come to Council meetings.

3. Many people say there is money hidden in the City budget that can be spent on roads. What is your budget experience and where will you find money for roads? Recently, Measure “C” failed because the voters believe that the City has the money to fix the roads and those additional taxes were unwarranted. The General Fund expenditures are $2.6 million or 6.6 percent higher than the prior year adopted budget, mostly from employee costs and attorneys fees. It seems that we spend unnecessary monies on studies that have no value after they are printed. More importantly, as with this last budget, the City Council has abandoned its prior practices in the preparation of the budget. The Council permits staff to prepare the budget and only addresses the budget in its summary form at the time of approval. I believe this is a conflict of interest, staff solely preparing the budget, but more importantly, I feel that the Council is not fulfilling its duties by engaging staff and critically looking at expenditures. I would designate the first three million dollars of total revenue be designated for road repair and improvement before we allocate any funds to any other matter. Police and fire will still get the funds they require to operate but there are a lot of other expenditures that we need to revisit. Every time I approve an expenditure, I will ask myself is the money better spent there or on road improvements.

4. Do you think you must trust your fellow councilmembers? If yes, what will you do to keep trust levels in tact? If no, please explain why. Yes, there must be trust. Unless there is a reason not to trust, we should trust. Good faith dealings with your fellow Council members are the only way to keep their trust. Professionalism and discussions will be a top priority for me. We should not seek short term advantage at the expense of losing trust with our colleagues. Our community cannot afford another four years of a divisive Council. We need to stop the arguments and find solutions. It will be the City Council’s example of cooperative leadership that will create the atmosphere for different groups in our community to work together. We must always remember that we are here to serve the public and to work for a better community and not for any personal gain.

5. Tell us why you should be elected. I am a long term resident with long term involvement in our community. My first involvement in a city committee dates back to the late 70’s. I have had nearly nine years on the planning commission and was elected to four years on the City Council. In the meantime, I have worked with various citizens’ groups in promoting local initiatives; including Measure “P” which stopped the proliferation of parking meters in our community, Measure “T”, the “Loop Road” to give our citizens the opportunity to approve this project by ballot, the current Measure “T” regarding VHR’s for the purpose of protecting the character of our residential areas. I also worked with other citizens to oppose Measure “C” that sought to raise taxes as a means to pay for road improvement. I have been involved and I have been involved at the grass roots level. I have been a lawyer for almost 38 years in our community and I have experience in understanding legal documents. I have experience in governing and having to make the hard decisions.

6. What qualifications do you have to win a seat on City Council? Besides the qualifications I provided in answers to question #5 above, I have a reputation for fairness and honesty; I am committed to make things better for our community and not for any special interest group. South Lake Tahoe has been my home for over 50 years.

7. If elected, what would you like to see in the City over the next four years? The resurfacing of our roads. Transparency in government. A good working relationship with my colleagues on the City Council. The expansion of moderate and low-income housing. The placement of the “Loop Road” question on the ballot. Greater flexibility from the other land use agencies in our community. Support of small businesses in our community. I wish to make the City Council an example on how democracy works and what good government can be.

8. Does the City need an economic and/or housing development department? Why? I think it is an option that we should examine. Generally, I am hesitant to commit to further expansion of the number of employees that work for our City. I believe the Council needs to make the decisions and to use existing planning staff to further the objectives. I would seek the cooperation from the Tahoe Conservancy to release buildable lots that are located in well-developed neighborhoods for building residences that have appropriate deed restrictions for middle to low-income use. I would commit to permit the development of granny flats as appropriate. I would support groups that seek to expand our housing stock such as the St. Joseph Foundation. I would restrict the use of VHR’s in our neighborhoods and promote the character of true neighborhoods where children are allowed to play in our streets, collect candy during Halloween and where we get to know our neighbors. We need to restore our middle and working classes in our community so that they can support the businesses in our community.

9. What should be done with VHRs? If they stay, do you support a cap and occupancy cap? Do you think VHRs fit residential zoning? Should some rules of VHRs go to full-time residents too, including bear box and no parking on dirt requirements? This City Council has consistently ignored the pleas of local residents. I support Measure “T”; in fact, I am one of the signatories to the argument in support listed in the voter’s pamphlet. This Council has failed miserably to seek a compromise and have allowed the wholesale commercialization of our neighborhoods. Let’s face it, when vacation home rentals were established decades ago through local real estate companies, these local real estate companies oversaw this small industry. But when the internet became popular and companies like Airbnb become involved, we have seen a wholesale expansion of VHR’s in our neighborhoods. As a result, we have witnessed the construction of mega-homes, the destruction of quiet possession expected by local residents, the significant displacement of workforce housing and injury to local business that can’t find help.

Wendy David, our Mayor, particularly failed us. After participating in a subcommittee on VHR’s and bringing a compromise to the City Council supported by residents, Wendy David switched her vote causing the compromise not to be approved by the Council and causing local residents to seek the passage of Measure “T.” We need to work together but I believe the passage of Measure “T” will allow local residents to be a respected stakeholder in any subsequent negotiations on this issue. Serious concessions have to be made by the VHR industry; it can’t just be about money. The City Council’s role should be one of bringing these groups together and not to worry about the tax impacts on the City’s budget.

10. Do you favor a strong mayor city? Why? No. I cannot identify any City that has a “strong mayor’ that works any better than the Council/City Manager model we have here. I believe in democracy and I become concerned when people want to concentrate power into one person. I am sure each of us has a concern about one or more of our existing Council members and their ability to govern. Can you imagine any of them becoming a “strong mayor” and the possibility of damages to our community? Governing should be difficult, respecting all views is important; compromise is essential and good faith cooperation with your colleagues a necessity. Dictatorships are very efficient in governing but how just are they?

For a look at the previous candidate replies:

Wendy David - http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/29/2018/meet-candidate-wendy-david-seeks-second-term-south-lake-ta...

Patrick Jarrett - http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/30/2018/meet-candidate-patrick-jarrett-would-see-south-lake-tahoe-...

Austin Sass - http://southtahoenow.com/story/10/01/2018/meet-candidate-austin-sass-says-experience-key-serving-com...

Devin Middlebrook - http://southtahoenow.com/story/10/02/2018/meet-candidate-devin-middlebrook-says-transparency-and-tru...

On Thursday, look for replies from Tamara Wallace.