Opinion: Is Meyers a community willing to work together?

After witnessing the Tahoe Paradise Resort Improvement District (TPRID) meeting last week I starting thinking how the residents of Meyers and Tahoe Paradise could be better served.

What happened at the TPRID meeting was a sad display of a board in action. There was yelling, arguing and, what one person witnessing everything said, “don’t air your dirty laundry in a meeting like this.”

But the yelling wasn't only from the front of the room. The few dozen people in attendance yelled back. This was a board meeting, not a community meeting. There is protocol and certain times the public is invited to speak. For the future I suggest the board follow the agenda and allow the public to speak during scheduled times just as the City Council and Board of Supervisors do. A well functioning board has subcommittees who take on a portion of duties and then come back to the whole board with recommendations. Perhaps TPRID can create community groups to ensure projects are evaluated in a timely fashion and completed as identified.

Many attended the meeting because of notices handed out that the park was about to be closed, which wasn't on the agenda or is in anyone's plan. Whomever handed out the notices just wanted to stir up emotions and they were evident during the over three hour meeting.

As I've seen in many meetings in Meyers, there is passion and community involvement, which is great. People care. What I suggest to be able to move forward is a united focus because you can't have 2,000 different opinions on what is the right plan and expect success. The process takes concessions and teamwork or else there will never be any results.

Tahoe Paradise

The residents deserve to see their money spent on the projects promised by the board. It appears that not much is being done and they are about to lose a $65,000 improvement grant unless they act quickly and get projects completed.

Residents need to take note on what is happening with their board, three of whose terms expire in December according to county documents. The park can be a great revenue generating vehicle as well as providing the family friendly activities the area is known for.

Just because things have always been done a certain way doesn't mean its the right way today. Is a resident manager needed? Would a larger recreation center and hired employees better serve the area and allow to get projects completed?

Meyers Community

Meyers is a historic part of the Lake Tahoe basin that was established in 1851 and it played a role in times of wagon trains, the Pony Express and farming. The town deserves support and protection.

The Meyers community is always described as a community focused on recreation and the environment. They live out of the city limits for many reasons including jobs, the river and open land and the neighborhoods.

They are passionate, that's evident from the arguing, raised voices and yelling out during meetings.

At the Board of Supervisor's meeting on Tuesday it was mentioned by both board members and community members that intimidation and scare tactics have been used during the Meyers Area Plan process. Why resort to that if you care about your neighbors and your community? "Bogus scare tactics are driving the process," said resident John Dayberry. "Meyers is extremely bi-polar right now." Dayberry said that he'd like to see a formalized group to represent the residents in the planning process.

Supervisor Brian Veerkamp from Area 3 said it best I think. "Meetings are only as good as the people you get to them." Encourage everyone to take part in the process. I just suggest that people do it without clicks of their tongues and shakes of their heads when their neighbors are speaking.

Grassroots efforts are to be commended, but that isn't what is happening in Meyers. The county has paid for the plan process so far, a grassroots movement would work to get something changed with signatures and unified efforts.

California Special Districts

One thing the Meyers area residents may be able to do that might solve a lot of their issues is to become one big special district. The Tahoe Paradise Park is already a small one, but one larger one to encompass the whole area might be the answer.

The North Lake Tahoe Utility District is a great example of how a special district works in the state of California. The district is over Parks & Recreation, Planning & Engineering as well as running the area’s utilities. The local event center even falls under the realm of the district. The region has a lot of the problems the South Shore has since their county seat is over a mountain top as well.

Nearly 85% of California’s special districts perform a single function such as sewage, water, fire protection, pest abatement or cemetery management. There are multi-function districts, like community services districts (like the Tahoe Paradise Park district), that provide two or more services. The fire district could even fall under the special district.

There are over 2,300 special districts in California. They are governed by an independent board of directors elected by those people who live in the district or they can be appointed to a fixed term by the Board of Supervisors.

These districts have different ways of funding from fees collected to property taxes.

Why This Could Work

If you witnessed the dysfunctional Tahoe Paradise board, you know there are problems and an elected board and policies and procedures in place would prevent such a display. There are a lot of activities in Meyers that could bring in revenues. Weddings are very popular in the park but brides and vendors don’t currently have it easy should they want to book at the park which offers beautiful and affordable weddings for many couples every year.

The words "Brown Act" were mentioned at least two dozen times during the Supervisor's meeting as well as the Tahoe Paradise Park meeting. Bringing a district that is audited and held accountable will be transparent and ease a lot of minds and people would ensure the Brown Act would always be followed. (The Brown Act mandates open meetings where the public has a chance to speak. Secret workshops and study sessions are no longer involved unless the public is invited).

A special district would bring accountability and professionalism to the area along with a sense of uniform pride. With all of the active residents participating in the Meyers Area Plan process it shows that they care about their town.

A special district would give the local community the voice they say they miss in Placerville. There would still be a county supervisor for area 5 as well as representation in the district.

I encourage open and kind dialogue and lets get away from the dysfunctional name calling, intimidation and scare tactics. I challenge you to investigate the facts and not to react to a piece of paper hanging anonymously on a door frame.