SLT Council Candidate Bruce Grego

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 Bruce Grego

Profession: Attorney

How many years in SLT: 53 years

1. Explain why you are running for City Council and what your qualifications are.  I have broad experience with local government and I have supported multiple local measures in which you, the majority of voters, have supported.   With many years of involvement in local affairs in varying capacities, I am concerned about the future of our community. I believe we need City Leaders that are more experienced and seasoned. Many of the candidates running for office this time have no prior government experience. I have served our community in many capacities, 5 years on the council, 9 years on the planning commission; I directly participated in a number of measures that were placed on the ballot. I am presently a board member for the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and member of the Advisory Planning Commission for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.  Not to discount the value of new candidates with new perspectives, my years of involvement and experience has given me insights on the workings of government and the challenges in translating the promises of a campaign into council action.  I am concerned about our future as the result of the poor decisions that this council has been making on our behalf, such as placing a tax increase measure on the ballot, but not the Loop Road; warming up to the Tahoe One basin wide funding (taxing) initiative controlled by the TTD; and, support of the placement of cell towers in residential neighborhoods

2. There has been talk about making South Lake Tahoe a Charter City. Are you for or against this, and why?   I do favor a Charter City. A charter city would provide greater flexible and authority in many areas including planning, in the structure of the Council, in the area of personnel and in contracting for service.  However, I would continue to support the prevailing wage laws for our City.  

3.  How many council meetings have you attended (Remotely and in person) and participated in?  I have been attending council meetings since the 1970s, and have acted as a council member for 5 years, and only missed maybe one or two meetings over that period.   I attend council meetings when issues need addressing.  I am no stranger to the City Council or City meeting.   The answer is “Many”. What changes, if any, would you bring to the table on how meetings are run?  Ideas for more public participation?   The Council needs to better control the agenda. Too many issues are addressed and approved by the City Council with insufficient notice.   What do I mean about “insufficient notice”? Packets are available late Thursday for a council meeting the following Tuesday.  We need a longer period of time between the availability of the agenda and the time that matter is heard.  I will propose that agenda packets are made available two weeks before the Council meets to discuss these items.  Time for public participation needs to be expanded.  Way too often, staff presentations absorb most of the time on an agenda item.   Sometimes, more often than not, staff seems to be an advocate more than an advisor to the council; we need to draw clearer lines of staff’s responsibility to the Council.  Recently, an agenda package exceeded 1400 pages, and sometimes Council meetings run far too long, exhausting the Council and preventing thoughtful evaluation.  I find it frustrating that the Council found time to propose a ballot measure to increase sales taxes in our community (Measure S), but no time to place the Loop Road Question on the ballot.

4. Are you for or against the US50 Revitalization Project, known as the Loop Road, and why?  I do not support this project.  This project will be detrimental to the South Lake Tahoe Business our community. I have and continue to support having this question presented to the voters for approval, the People need to be heard. This project is being support by narrow interest groups in the Stateline Area.

5. What are your thoughts on the 56 Acre Parcel and what should be included?   I want to make sure that our senior community needs are adequately addressed, including the senior nutrition program which requires a full kitchen. 

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.   You compromise when you can, and stand on principle when you need to.  “Cooperation”, “Collaboration” and “Team Player” are nice words, but each person elected to the Council have a vision and sometime these visions collide. There are some on the Council today that support One Tahoe, I oppose this program and no doubt, if elected, strong differences will occur on this issue.    The important thing however, is being willing, and I am, to work with other council member on other items, not allowing differences or disputes on any one item to prejudice my willingness to work with the same council member on different issues.   Further, despite strong differences on some issues, you must be willing to support other Council members on projects they feel important. 

7. What is your top priority and why?   I have more than one major or top priority. I am not a single issue candidate.   Without trying to be all inclusive:   Housing is important for our community and local and agency government has not been successful in materially expanding our base.   We need to reduce regulations and fees for housing development to encourage the private sector.    I oppose the Tahoe One Transportation Initiative where the Tahoe Transportation District, an unelected body, will have taxing authority and control the number of persons that can come into the Basin.   Road improvements are an important priority.   I do not support allowing cell towers in our neighborhoods. The question of the Loop Road must be placed on the Ballot for the voters to approve or reject.   I support preserving the character of our neighborhoods.   We have not done what needs to be done to reduce the fire hazards in our community and to look beyond our community in dealing with this issue;  removal of wood debris from vacated lots (public and private); we need to compel TRPA to move forward to thin out areas of trees and vegetation that present potential fire hazards; and, we need to consider placing electrical power lines underground (too many fires are started by downed power lines).    We must make sure that any large projects are fully funded and comply with permit condition so as to prevent another Project 3 (the hole).     

8.      What do you see yourself accomplishing as one of five council members in your first six months?  Developing and implementing programs for Fire Safety, controlling the agenda (as discussed above), engaging One Tahoe initiative, and making housing more affordable.

9. South Lake Tahoe is very polarized right now. As a councilperson, what would you do to create a more cohesive and respectful community?  Treating all council members with respect and supporting them when you can for projects they want.  Sometimes it is not possible to avoid disagreeing, but my duty is not to the City, but to the voters.

10.   Anything else you’d like to add?   Yes, I am concerned about the substantial donations some candidates in this election are being given. Both John Friedrich and Cristi Creegan have received $5,000 each from one person in Glenbrook. Nevada interests have long sought to control our Council. Nevada Chamber has endorsed both of them and is expected to make similar donations supporting candidates they feel would support the One Tahoe Initiative and the Loop Road. I have a history of being independent. I will not allow special interests to control my candidacy or my actions on the Council.  

Previous candidate responses
Daniel P. Browne, Jr.
Keith Roberts
Leonard Carter
Scott Robbins
John Friedrich