Mayor's State of the City Address: "No progress will ever be made without change"

For his "State of the City" address, South Lake Tahoe Mayor Hal Cole took everyone on a trip through the city, celebrating the successes of the last year and creating an anticipation for a future seen with new investments, an improved economy, more businesses and a community that will continue to thrive.

One can start on their own visual trip along with Cole, all of which has been covered on South Tahoe Now over the year. He began at the airport with the new Airport Master Plan. He expressed his desire to see a redesign of the city's center lobby, welcoming the visitor and those that live here to a true hub of government. He passed by the welcome sign outside the airport which he created with the help of his family, friends and employees and then moved to the Y with the upcoming Tahoe Valley Plan, BevMo, TJMaxx, a new home for SUPTahoe and South Shore Bikes and Sonney's BBQ Shack. His journey then went by the old Springmeyer Garagewhich is the future home of Auto Zone, the remodeled Swiss Chalet which opens this week as Cold Water Brewery and the addition of Blue Dog Pizza.

Cole's car ride through the city's successes then passed Al Tahoe and the future excitement and energy that will soon be coming at Lake Tahoe Community College and Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

The car needs to slow down along the recently completed Harrison Avenue Project, Champion's Plaza, the continued successful Lakeview Commons, and by the future 56 acre project area. The Alta Mira building was recently torn down by the Conservancy, creating more open space and views of the lake. You'll pass through the $18 million Bijou Erosion control project and the Ski Run Marina with its new parking area and display of local art and the anticipation of what the southwest corner will become now that three developers are trying to buy the property from the city.

As we near the city limits, Cole's car passes by the Highland Inn which is being torn down for restaurant and retail space. The Chateau Project right before the state line is taking shape and the completion of the long vacant space doesn't seem too far in the future. Even though the city limits is also the state line, Cole said what many others in the community are expressing, "The state line is becoming more blurred." Action on both sides of this blurred line keep visitors moving back and forth, enjoying all the area has to offer. The Nevada side $84 million remodeling projects of Hard Rock and MontBleu and the $100 million lodge and garage being built at Edgewood Tahoe.

"The current renaissance of our community is widespread and doesn't end at the state line," Cole said.

Cole thanked the Councilmembers Swanson, Laine, Davis and Connor for their support and work in helping complete the route of success that South Lake Tahoe has been on.

Part of the State of the City Address focused on finances, and how the City was faced with $47 million in unfunded liabilities, created a partnership with employees and worked to restructure benefits enough to where the unfunded amount could see a reduction by $36 million in the near future.

"If I could summarize the year I'd say we are poised for success," according to Cole.