Signage at old Motel 6 property shows plans for restoration of 31 acre acquisition

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) has placed signals at their newest acquired property in South Lake Tahoe, showing the Upper Truckee Marsh that will be restored once Motel 6 and the old Carrows are demolished next year.

Multiple agencies have been involved in the project so far, including those who helped finance the purchase from the Knox Johnson family. The CTC is the lead agency and was supported by funding partners The California Wildlife Conservation Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tahoe Fund, and League to Save Lake Tahoe. They acquired 31 acres of environmentally sensitive land which is adjacent to the CTC's 560-acre Upper Truckee Marsh property to the north.

This CTC acquisition includes 25 acres of mountain meadow and wetlands, a two-acre single-family homesite, and four acres of former floodplain. Lake Tahoe lost nearly 30 feet of its famed water clarity following the development boom of the 1950s and 60s and damage to the Lake’s natural water filters. The four acres of floodplain are now occupied by Motel 6, a vacant restaurant building, and a paved parking area. Tahoe Resource Conservation District owns the 206-acre Johnson Meadow property across US50 to the south.

A chainlink fence has surrounded the property along US50/Lake Tahoe Blvd. along a very visible section of the community. At its last meeting, the City Council approved the creation of a Memo of Understanding (MOU) between the City of South Lake Tahoe and the CTC. The City wants to be an active participant in planning for the restoration of the site and desires to work with the CTC to avoid nuisance conditions pending completion of the demolition of the structures, which is anticipated to be complete by October 2025.

"The MOU includes terms regarding property maintenance standards, the timing of demolition, potential use of the Motel 6 buildings for public safety training prior to demolition, potential use of Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) development rights on the property for projects within the City that will have an economic or environmental benefit with a preference for affordable housing, and collaboration on restoration and future public access to and recreation on the site," stated the Council's agenda on Sept. 24, 2024.

MOU timelines:
October 2024: DGS to submit preliminary plans for Public Works Board approval to enter into the working drawing phase of the demolition and site stabilization.

October 2024-February 2025: planning and completion of working drawings for
demolition and site stabilization, to include permitting from City, Lahontan Water Quality Control Board, El Dorado County Air Quality Mitigation District, and State Fire Marshal.

February-April 2025: project bid period, to include preparation of bid package, prebid walkthrough, contract award, and contract execution.

May-October 2025: demolition, to begin when the TRPA grading season opens on May 1, 2025.

The Conservancy will remove the 1970s-era motel and vacant restaurant and retire or transfer the property’s development rights and coverage for future use on town center redevelopment. The Conservancy will preserve the surrounding mountain meadow and wetlands. The acquisition presents opportunities to restore wetland habitat on the newly acquired property itself as well as future restoration at the Upper Truckee Marsh.

The land protected by this acquisition is part of the homeland of the waší∙šiw (Washoe people—the people from here). The waší∙šiw are the aboriginal stewards of the land in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin. As a sovereign nation, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, as it is known today, continues to advocate for the protection and preservation of waší∙šiw ɁítdeɁ (the Washoe people’s homelands).

“The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California is supportive of the incredible work being done by the Conservancy,” said Washoe Tribe Chairman Serrell Smokey. “The Conservancy has been a great partner and their work to protect, preserve, and re-establish healthy ecosystems within the Tahoe Basin should be celebrated. Addressing decades of overdevelopment in very delicate and fragile ecosystems, such [as] the Upper Truckee, is not something that happens overnight. While we celebrate this as a huge victory for the Tahoe Basin, it is also important to acknowledge that this will have profound and far-reaching impacts as we continue to imagine a healthy future for the Tahoe Basin with Washoe Culture and Peoples at the center.”

The signs placed in front of the chainlink fence show some Washoe phrases:

gó∙laš wé∙wɨs – Coming Soon

mí∙leɁ hutí∙weɁ deḱéšeɁguwa mášašé∙setigábigi – More Nature (More nature/ everything that lives and how they live you will get to know in the future.)

ťáŋlelši dáɁawágaɁa hutí∙weɁ Ɂíwi dewesuḱá∙ḱɨm tékewšigiháka Ɂitŋáwa Ɂí∙sáŋaɁa hutí∙weɁ géyeɁí∙yaluŋ Ɂíške báɁyaɁ – The California Tahoe Conservancy, supported by partners, has acquired this environmentally sensitive land and is removing the development.

ťáŋlelši dáɁawágaɁa hutí∙weɁ Ɂíwi dewesuḱá∙ḱɨm gádaɁéšibetiɁa Ɂúdi datánuɁeyišgešigi mugá∙gɨmaɁ wát tánu Ɂí∙yeɁgápɨlaɁ dahutí∙weɁ dewémi Ɂida deḱéšeɁášašé∙šetiaɁ heligi. – The Conservancy is also engaging the community about the future of this site for Lake Tahoe’s environmental and public access.

For more information on the project: https://tahoe.ca.gov/knox-johnson-and-motel-acquisition-and-demolition-project/

MOU:

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN the CALIFORNIA TAHOE CONSERVANCY AND the CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is entered into this 24th day of September, 2024 (“Effective Date”), between the California Tahoe Conservancy, an agency of the State of California (“Conservancy”) and the City of South Lake Tahoe (“City”), as may also be referred to throughout this MOU as “Party” or collectively as “Parties.”

RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Conservancy is a landowning state agency with the mission to lead California’s efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin, including improving forest health and reducing risks from wildfire on Conservancy lands;
WHEREAS, the Conservancy owns approximately 800 real properties located in the City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, California and manages those parcels pursuant to its standards and statutory obligations;
WHEREAS, on March 29, 2024, the Conservancy purchased two parcels comprising of approximately 31 acres of environmentally sensitive land including critical wetland and meadow habitat within the City of South Lake Tahoe, known as El Dorado County Assessment Number (AN) 031-290-037 and AN 031-290-039 and depicted on Exhibit “A” (together referred to as the “Property”);
WHEREAS, AN 031-290-039 (the “Motel Parcel”) contains an existing motel, restaurant building, and parking area, which the Conservancy intend to remove as part of restoring and preserving the Property and protecting and improving the water quality of Lake Tahoe;
WHEREAS, the Property is in a highly visible location on Lake Tahoe Boulevard/US 50, which is the main commercial corridor through South Lake Tahoe;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the City’s police powers under California Constitution art. XI, § 7, South Lake Tahoe City Code chapter 4.60 regulates abandoned or substantially damaged nondwelling structures, finding that their existence “is considered an attractive nuisance, as such structures are found to constitute neighborhood blight and deterioration in the community” and
“represent a significant safety hazard to the surrounding neighborhood”, and authorizing public nuisance abatement and/or administrative citations for violations where certain conditions are met;
WHEREAS, South Lake Tahoe City Code chapter 4.65 regulates abandoned or substantially damaged dwelling structures;
WHEREAS, the acquisition and management of real property by the Conservancy is governed by the Conservancy’s enabling legislation (Gov’t Code §§ 66905 et seq.), the Public Contract Code, the Property Acquisition Law (Gov’t Code §§ 15850 et seq.), and State real property, procurement, and contracting policies;
WHEREAS, the demolition and site stabilization work on the Motel Parcel is a major capital outlay project that is required to be carried out by the California Department of General Services (“DGS”) pursuant to the capital outlay process set forth in the State Administrative Manual. This
includes such steps as project review and approval by the State Public Works Board, preparation and review of preliminary plans and working drawings, contractor selection, and oversight of contract implementation;
WHEREAS, although as a state agency, the Conservancy enjoys sovereign immunity from certain local ordinances when it is acting in its governmental capacity;
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the comprehensive nature of the State’s requirements with respect to standards governing maintenance, demolition, restoration, and management of the Property, the Parties desire to work together to integrate State and local standards, and to avoid public
nuisance conditions from arising at the Property, to the extent feasible;
WHEREAS, since acquisition, the Conservancy has taken steps to secure and maintain the Property including: (1) arranging to have California Highway Patrol conduct a complete sweep of all buildings and meadow to ensure no trespass, encroachment, fire, or safety hazards were occurring; (2) securing commitments from previous tenant for resolution of City permit violations occurring under tenant’s control (i.e. unauthorized boarding up of the Motel
building); (3) installing fencing and 24-hour surveillance to prevent future trespass and encroachment; (4) facilitating removal and donation of furniture and mattresses to local nonprofit organizations; and (5) partnering with South Tahoe Refuse to ensure all remaining mattresses, box springs, and refrigerators are recycled and disposed of properly;
WHEREAS, the Conservancy is working closely with DGS to complete the demolition of existing structures, which is subject to state procurement rules, and is anticipated to be completed by October 2025;
WHEREAS, on June 20, 2024, the Conservancy Board authorized acceptance and expenditure of up to $900,000 in federal, state, or other funding for planning for the restoration of the Property; and WHEREAS, the City and the Conservancy desire to work closely and cooperatively with each other to advance and prioritize the expeditious demolition and removal of the existing structures and restoration of the Property to protect public health and safety. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises, covenants, and conditions of the Parties as hereinafter set forth, the Parties agree to take the following actions.

PURPOSE
Purpose. The purpose of this MOU is to memorialize a cooperative relationship between the Parties and establish joint strategies as they pertain to (1) the demolition at and restoration of the Property; and (2) demolition of dwelling and nondwelling structures at other parcels within the City that the Conservancy may acquire in the future.

MOTEL DEMOLITION AND PROPERTY RESTORATION
1. Property Maintenance Standards. During the term of this MOU, and to the extent practicable and not inconsistent with State laws or procedures, the Conservancy agrees to maintain the Property in accordance with the following standards:
a. The Conservancy will board up the two motel buildings on the Motel Parcel in accordance with plans approved by the City.
b. Until the completion of site stabilization, the Conservancy will maintain a perimeter fence to secure Motel Parcel from trespassers and maintained consistent with the conditions of the fence permit issued by the City on June 6, 2024. The Conservancy is investigating the feasibility of adding screening material to the portion of the perimeter fence fronting Lake Tahoe Boulevard/US 50 and will do so if feasible.
c. The Property will be kept free of trash and debris to the maximum extent practicable, including coordination with the California Highway Patrol to prevent the establishment of encampments.
d. The Conservancy will maintain the vegetation fronting Lake Tahoe Boulevard/US 50 to keep a neat appearance without overgrown weeds.
e. Until the completion of site stabilization, the Conservancy will post signage on the Motel Parcel in a location visible from Lake Tahoe Boulevard/US 50 to inform the public about future restoration of the Property.
2. Timing of Demolition. The Conservancy anticipates the following timeline for demolition of existing structures on the Motel Parcel, and will keep the City informed of any delays in the timeline:
a. March-September 2024: Planning and completion of preliminary site plans for demolition and site stabilization.
b. July 2024: State Legislature approval of Conservancy’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget, to include approval of capital outlay project for demolition of structures on the Property.
c. October 2024: DGS to submit preliminary plans for Public Works Board approval to enter into working drawing phase of the demolition and site stabilization.
d. October 2024-February 2025: planning and completion of working drawings for demolition and site stabilization, to include permitting from City, Lahontan Water Quality Control Board, El Dorado County Air Quality Mitigation District, and State Fire Marshal.
e. February-April 2025: project bid period, to include preparation of bid package, prebid walkthrough, contract award, and contract execution.
f. May-October 2025: demolition, to begin when the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (“TRPA”) grading season opens (May 1, 2025).
3. Public Safety Training. Prior to demolition, the Parties will coordinate on use of the structures on the Motel Parcel for emergency services personnel training, recognizing that the Conservancy will require a license agreement with the City separate from this MOU. The Conservancy will prioritize scheduling training for City Police and Fire Department personnel, with the option for the City to bring Lake Valley Fire Protection District and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District to participate in the training. City Battalion Chief Justin Keys (jkeys@cityofslt.us) is the City’s main point of contact for emergency services personnel training. The City understands that any trainings that would require use of the interior of the motel buildings must occur before the Conservancy has boarded up the
buildings as provided by section 1.a. above. If the City or another public safety entity removes boards from the motel buildings to facilitate training, the City agrees that the Conservancy will have no responsibility to replace them, notwithstanding section 1.a.
4. Use of TRPA Development Rights. The Conservancy allocates TRPA development rights for projects across multiple jurisdictions within the California portion of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Nevertheless, the Parties will discuss the potential for using TRPA development rights from the demolition of the existing structures on the Motel Parcel within the City of South
Lake Tahoe for a project or projects that will have an economic or environmental benefit, with a preference for affordable housing. Anticipated projects and options for use of development rights will be considered at the Parties’ quarterly meetings.
5. Restoration and Public Access. The Parties desire that following restoration, the Property include opportunities for public access and recreation, including but not limited to the city bike path known as the South Tahoe Bikeway currently existing on the Property. As part of
restoration and public access planning, the Parties understand that alternative routes across the Property may be proposed for the South Tahoe Bikeway. The City agrees to execute a license agreement or an easement with the Conservancy for the South Tahoe Bikeway, in both its current and any future location, and to continue to maintain the South Tahoe Bikeway. The Conservancy agrees to include the City in the restoration and public access
planning process and the City agrees to allocate adequate time and resources to participating in the planning process.

DEMOLITION OF STRUCTURES GENERALLY
6. General Maintenance. If, during the term of this MOU, the Conservancy acquires a parcel located within the City that contains a dwelling or nondwelling structure that the Conservancy intends to demolish, the Conservancy will provide the City notice of its plan to maintain the structure such that it does not become a public nuisance or a safety hazard prior to demolition. The Conservancy further agrees to proceed diligently towards demolition, consistent with State laws and procedures.
7. Public Safety Training. The Conservancy agrees to coordinate with the City on opportunities to conduct emergency services personnel training on parcels acquired by the Conservancy that contain dwelling or nondwelling structures.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
8. Communication and Coordination.
a. Quarterly Meetings. The Parties shall meet quarterly to discuss the status of the elements of this MOU. If desired, the Parties may include this discussion in their regularly scheduled quarterly meetings.
b. Dispute Resolution. In the event of any dispute arising under this MOU, the Parties agree to notify the other Party in writing of the nature of the dispute, at which time the City Manager and Executive Director of the Conservancy shall attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute by negotiation.
9. Term. The term of this MOU shall be 10 years from the Effective Date.
10. Extension and Amendment. This MOU may be extended or amended as necessary by mutual consent of the Parties by execution of a written amendment signed and dated by all Parties. This MOU will be reviewed by the Parties annually and extended if necessary.
11. Termination. Any Party may terminate its participation in this MOU by providing ninety (90) days’ written notice to the other Party.
12. Other Related Agreements. This MOU in no way restricts the involved Parties from participating in similar understandings and/or activities with other public or private agencies.
13. Public Documents. Information provided to any government agency pursuant to this MOU may be subject to state law including but not limited to the Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et. seq).
14. No Funding Obligation. No funds shall be owed, due, payable to or from either Party pursuant to this MOU and there is no cost or resource sharing contemplated in this MOU.
Specific work projects or activities that involve the transfer of funds, services, or property among the signatories to this MOU will require execution of separate agreements and be contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. Such activities must be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority. This MOU does not provide such authority.
Negotiation, execution, and administration of each such agreement must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations.
15. Counterparts. This MOU may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
16. Governing Law. This MOU must be construed according to its fair meaning and as if prepared by all Parties. This MOU must be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California in effect on the Effective Date. Any action or proceeding seeking any relief under or with respect to this Agreement shall be brought solely in the Superior Court of
the State of California for the County of El Dorado.