Former City Manager Nancy Kerry honored with proclamation and party

Nancy Kerry has been gone from her position as the city manager of South Lake Tahoe since March, but she finally got the credit due for her many accomplishments and contributions during a standing room only celebration Tuesday evening.

Over 75 community leaders came together to present Nancy with a proclamation signed by both Mayor Wendy David and Mayor Pro Tem Tom Davis, their last official act with the City.

The list of tributes spoken during the evening is a lengthy one.

"She is truly the smartest person I've ever come in contact with," said Ginger Nicolay-Davis, former school board member and local business woman.

Former Mayor Hal Cole called Nancy a "rock star" and many spoke of her as being a collaborator that brought many good things to South Lake Tahoe.

Marketing guru Carl Ribaudo said he will think of Nancy every time he drives by the wayfinding signs installed throughout South Lake Tahoe. It was a lengthy process to get them placed, and he related a story about how Nancy told him she'd take care of it, and she did.

Nancy also spent years getting the electronic Caltrans signs placed in town that alert drivers how many minutes it will take them to Meyers, Placerville and Sacramento. She fought hard to get them installed so people wouldn't spend time on the roads, creating congestion on major travel days. Tourists and locals could see the times on the signs (and their computers and Caltrans apps) and hopefully choose to enjoy the beaches, resorts and town longer, and leave during an easier travel period.

"We owe you a debit of gratitude," said Mansoor Alyeshmerni who has owned the Ski Run Marina since 2003.

Since Nancy's list of accomplishments during her time in South Lake Tahoe was longer than most in her position, a public proclamation was asked to take place at a City Council meeting. Councilwoman Brooke Laine and Mayor Wendy David both asked for it to be on an agenda but instead decided a party where everyone could speak would be best.

What is normal for city managers is to have a kind departure when they leave. Most stay only three-five years as they are looking for the bigger cities with their bigger paychecks. Being a city manager is perhaps the only relationship one goes into planning to separate and most know they'll go. Kerry says she loved and cared for South Lake Tahoe and wasn't looking for that next big step. She served as city manager for almost six years and worked for the City for 9.5 years.

Laine organized the Tuesday party at Riva Grill where City staff, local dignitaries, business owners, new and former city councilmembers, and many others joined in several standing ovations and rounds of applause.

"Nancy resigned, the City accepted, then we transitioned to another manager," said Brooke Laine. "This was overdue."

During her years with the City, Kerry is credited with, among other things, bringing in over $7.5M in to help local contractors during the recession through neighborhood stabilization grants. She knew the local housing problem was significant and contractors needed to work so the funds wen to rehabilitating and remodeling homes.

Jim Gorman started his business due to this program and thanked Nancy for the opportunity and acknowledged her daily collaboration to get things done. His wife "B" Gorman said one can see Nancy's contributions to the community whenever they drive through South Lake Tahoe, saying that the former city manager was" never an egomaniac, but a collaborator."

She also facilitated getting an empty lot and aging motel sold, allowing the Bijou Marketplace to be built with acres of environmental improvements to reduce sediment loads from entering the lake.

"It's been a great privilege to be a leader of the team, nothing on this proclamation was accomplished by just me, but accomplished by a great team," Nancy said to the gathered crowd. "I was more honored than anything to be a member of the team."

Tom Davis reminded her that they had a great leader.

She said the City employees were willing to take on extra tasks to accomplish a goal during her tenure. When she hired people she says she looked for those with a "can do" attitude, and because they were of this caliber they didn't stick to a Monday through Friday 9-5 timeframe.

The proclamation:

Whereas, Ms. Kerry served as the City Manager of the City of South Lake Tahoe since 2012 and

Whereas, Ms. Kerry served as Assistant to the City Manager & the Redevelopment Agency & Housing Manager on behalf of the City of South Lake Tahoe from 2008-2012 and

Whereas, Ms. Kerry effectively managed The City through the Great Recession by focusing on our core economy, attracting capital investment, and identifying opportunities to strengthen our fiscal core and therefore moving us into a period of economic renaissance and

Whereas, Ms. Kerry established the One South Shore Economic Development Task Force with a community investment goal of one billion dollars in ten years and thus attracted significant capital investment and

Whereas, Ms. Kerry demonstrated great leadership as the lead negotiator in a three year process to acquire an old and dilapidated hotel in the town center; reselling said property to a developer to construct a grocery store and other commercial spaces and

Whereas, during Ms. Kerry’s tenure, the City’s financial stability significantly improved effectively growing the general fund reserves from $9.8M (2011/2012) to $20.9M (2017/2018) and as a result, the City is well prepared to meet the financial challenges ahead and

Whereas, Ms. Kerry designed and implemented a strategy to resolve unfunded post-retirement benefit plans which eliminated decades of debt and unsustainable medical costs which resulted in statewide recognition and requests to replicate the strategy for other agencies and

Whereas, Ms. Kerry worked with Councils and Management Teams to develop annual business plans implementing the City’s shared vision and priorities with agreed upon outcomes and

Whereas, Ms. Kerry created the “City University” training program which leveraged in-house talent, designed new employee recognition strategies, and re-established the “Citizen’s Academy” to increase understanding of City operations among community members and

Whereas, Ms. Kerry demonstrated an uncanny ability to track down high ranking state officials and thereby negotiated with the State of California to allow the City to retain all of its $4M of housing fund balance following the disillusion of the Redevelopment Agency and

Now, therefore, let it be resolved that the City of South Lake Tahoe extends to Ms. Kerry its most sincere appreciation for her service and dedication to the City; and

Be it further resolved that the City of South Lake Tahoe extends its best wishes to Ms. Kerry in her further endeavors.

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Joanne Marchetta added her own line to the proclamation, "Whereas Nancy Kerry is a strong woman and some people just don't like strong women." The crowd roared with laughter.

Kerry has been looking for jobs, but questions surrounding her separation have clouded the search, and organizers wanted to clear things up.

"There is no way we'd sign this [the proclamation] if there was something wrong," said Tom Davis who just wrapped up his latest stint on the City Council. "I want to correct the record." Davis offered to go to any city Kerry has applied to and vouch for her. "That is how much I respect Nancy and her performance for our City," he added.