mayor

Chanukah -The Festival of Lights- for many of us brings back fond memories of childhood years and serves to renew our sense of identity. The Chanukah lights provide us with warmth, joy, strength and inspiration. Such is the purpose of a community-wide celebration to be held at the Ski Run Marina on December 12, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

Location

After months of debate and community discussions, South Lake Tahoe will have a new Vacation Home Rental Ordinance (VHR) starting December 21, 2017, but don't expect the discussions to be over.

The City Council will continue to evaluate the ordinance and look at it during a meeting a least quarterly as they look at what is working and what still needs adjustment.

Main points of the VHR ordinance:

"We need the community to get together and collaborate," said SLT Councilman Jason Collin during Tuesday's Council meeting. "Its polarized the community."

Collin was discussing the South Lake Tahoe Vacation Home Rental Ordinance after another full day of a City Council meeting focused on the subject of vacation homes in the community.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council voted Tuesday night to stop issuing permits for vacation home rentals (VHRs), at least temporarily.

If anyone thought they knew how the South Lake Tahoe City Council was going to vote on the proposed Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Ordinance on Tuesday they were most likely surprised with the turn of events after hours of public comment and Council discussion.

City staff had two weeks to create a new Vacation Home Rental Ordinance based on input and bring it to the Council to vote on a first reading October 17.

The City Council has sought to create an ordinance that both recognizes and protects the City's vibrant VHR industry while also improving the quality of life of the citizens.

The following is a letter received concerning the Sass Talk published on October 7:

I hate to waste my time, but I cannot let the erroneous propaganda put out by the Emperor of City Hall go unrebutted. The City will not let go of this “nuisance” problem as it diverts focus on the dismal road conditions that the City has neglected for years. Also, City management has totally failed to provide a reliable snow removal system as we experienced last winter.

They were builders, doctors, lawyers and teachers
Our Dad, he ran the B of A
They were leaders, doers, big picture seers
The biggest picture of all they saw it every day

Mt. Tallac stood vigil
Tahoe lies blue and clear
In meadows the streams ran swift and clean
The way they had for millions of years
They knew they had to protect it
They fought for it those women and men
I'm proud our Dad Tom Regan he was one of them

But there were clear-cutters, dealers, dice-rollers
Passing through try'na turn a quick buck

A planned food truck event in South Lake Tahoe had to be cancelled this summer due to the prohibitive costs and processes involved in putting on such an event.

"We are so hungry to get a food truck culture going in Lake Tahoe,” said Rob Giustina of On Course Events, the company who had planned the "Tahoe Truck Stop" food truck weekend event.

More than a few people have asked me if I was frustrated by this last city council meeting and the 6.5 hour discussion regarding the revised VHR (Vacation Home Rental) ordinance. I thought the City Manager's introduction on why we were looking at a revised ordinance and the staff presentation on the revisions were excellent and on point. At first I was a little confused about some of the council questions of staff but reminded myself that the VHR sub-committee made up of Mayor Pro Tem David and myself have been living, sleeping and eating the VHR issue for over two years.

There is no need to rush into an ordinance regulating the sale of marijuana in South Lake Tahoe. That was the overwhelming opinion of the SLT City Council Tuesday night after a special, four-hour long Cannabis Workshop.

"We owe it to our community to make sure we take every measure to protect them," said SLT Mayor Austin Sass.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - "We've been waiting to be in South Lake Tahoe for a long time," said R. Adam Smith, Executive Director of Store Development for Whole Foods in Northern California. "Couldn't be more thrilled than to be here today."

Smith took part in Monday's groundbreaking at the new Bijou Marketplace along with the Jim Halferty and Chris Peto of Halferty Development Ground, the owners of the property along Highway 50 and the corner of Ski Run Boulevard, and local officials.

South Lake Tahoe is about to be invaded by a fleet of 200 cutting-edge lime green "smart" bicycles. LimeBike out of the Bay Area unveiled their new dockless ride share on Tuesday, giving the public a sneak peak of what will officially start on the South Shore Saturday, July 15 for a pilot program.

"We are thrilled to be here," said Andrew Savage, Vice President of Strategic Development for LimeBike. "This will make mobility more fun."

"It was so frustrating and only so much we could do," recalled Kit Bailey of the U.S. Forest Service during Saturday's Angora Fire First Responder Remembrance Ceremony. "Its miraculous nobody got hurt."

On the 10th anniversary of the devastating fire that destroyed 254 homes as it burned quickly through 3,100 acres in the Meyers area of the South Shore, fire responders gathered at the Lake Valley Fire Department to honor those who served that day, and to honor the resilient community that supported them.

The Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe was a vision that began 25 years ago when the late Brooks Park and now General Manager Bobby King were talking about a complete experience for golfers who could also stay after a round of golf.

Park's grandfather David bought 571 acres of pastureland at Lake Tahoe in 1896. The property included the historic Friday's Station where the family operated it as a way station and butcher's shop for those crossing the terrain from 19818-20.

The Zalanta Resort at the Village celebrated the completion of their first phase Tuesday with a grand opening and ribbon cutting for local dignitaries.

On what was formerly known as "the hole," Zalanta is the first whole ownership luxury condominium residences in the Lake Tahoe Basin since Lakeland Village was completed 30 years ago.

The 30 residences are all one-story and available in 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom units. The cheapest unit, priced at $950,000, and the most expensive at $2.125M have both sold as well as several other residences. The second phase will add another 60 residences.

The public is invited to the dedication of a new public safety memorial wall at Happy Homestead Cemetery on Friday, May 19 at 1:00 p.m.

Local law enforcement and fire departments will be participating, with South Lake Tahoe Mayor Austin Sass, El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel, fire and police chiefs speaking during the ceremony. A large contingent of agency equipment is expected along with honor guards and traditional bell ringing.

This past city council meeting all 5 council members agreed to have staff present us a ballot measure that would increase the city sales tax by 1/2%. This came after a survey was completed and results were presented by the outside independent company contracted by the city. The results indicated that almost 68% of the survey respondents supported the increase as long as the funds would be dedicated by law to roads.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. - Residents of South Lake Tahoe take pride in their city, its beauty, charm and recreational opportunities, and action during Tuesday's City Council gave people another reason to appreciate their community.

In honor of Earth Day, the City of South Lake Tahoe joined at least 26 other municipalities in the United States, and the latest in a growing coalition of mountain communities, to commit to 100 percent clean and renewable electricity by the year 2032.

A packed house at MontBleu Resort on Saturday night was on hand to see Blue Angel Cafe owner, and Lake Tahoe Community College Board Trustee Jeff Cowen win the mirror ball trophy for the 5th annual Tahoe Arts Project's Dancing with the Tahoe Stars.

Cowen, and his professional partner Rhonda Keen performed a Bollywood number that brought down the house.

South Lake Tahoe – Tahoe Chamber would like to thank Councilmember Davis, Mayor Sass, and the Council for the invitation to attend the City Council February 14 special meeting and for the opportunity to present the business community’s priorities to the City as they prepare for their strategic planning retreat.

Several years ago, the Tahoe Chamber and its members established a vision and a set of priorities for the South Shore community titled Tahoe Future 2020. The vision statement from that document reads:

The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless held an open house Wednesday, February 22 to show the community their new winter home, introduce volunteers and board members, answer questions and honor South Lake Tahoe Councilmember, and Mayor Pro Tem, Wendy David.

David has been a driving force in the community to provide the basic, necessary temporary shelter to those in housing insecurity during the dangerously cold season.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless invites the South Shore community to attend their second annual Warm Room Open House on Wednesday, February 22 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 2179 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe. The Warm Room provides overnight refuge from the elements in a safe and warm environment for adult men and women who are experiencing homelessness.

The Open House offers visitors a chance to tour the 2016-2017 space of operation, to meet volunteers and Board members, and to ask questions about the program and homelessness in our community.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - There are basic rules when behind the wheel, not only in fair weather, but also in stormy and snowy weather as South Lake Tahoe has been experiencing.

Here are tips for driving in snow from the American Automobile Association (AAA):
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly
- Drive slowly
- The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds
- Know your brakes
- Don't stop if you can avoid it
- Don't power up hills. ...
- Don't stop going up a hill
- Stay home

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. - I could not be more honored and excited to represent this community as your Mayor. Having served on City Council for two years, I have learned that there are deeply passionate and extremely knowledgeable citizens and fellow council members who care immensely about our community and the decisions made by our City.