public works

A measure to advance environmental restoration and forest management activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin yesterday passed out of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The legislation would reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, originally passed in 2000, which has helped advance one of the most comprehensive watershed restoration programs in the nation-the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, or EIP.

South Lake Tahoe Councilwoman Angela Swanson has declared her candidacy for El Dorado County Supervisor District 5. "There is no better time to jump in," said Swanson of her announcement. "I am in the final year of my council term and will leave office having accomplished many of my goals and with an in-depth knowledge of the key issues affecting the district." Swanson cites economic redevelopment, smart growth and community investment as her top priorities along with building cohesiveness within the newly expanded district.

A full agenda awaits the South Lake Tahoe city council on Tuesday, November 5 and contains key topics from a presentation on the parking meter situation to Mayor Tom Davis's State of the City Address.

Here are a few of the key agenda items:

State of the City Address
Public comment on items NOT on the agenda (3 minute maximum)
Presentation and update on the City's parking meter program
Citizen's Academy Graduates acknowledged
Authorize purchase of 1740 D Street for Public Works Street Division use

South Lake Tahoe City Manager Nancy Kerry announced Friday the appointment of Raymond Jarvis as director of Public Works and Mary Morris as Administrative Services director both of whom will begin their service with the City on August 12.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe will be giving a presentation on the evenings of March 13-14 about Pipe Keepers, a new volunteer monitoring program.

Pipe Keepers is a volunteer based monitoring program that examines turbidity (clarity) of water that enters Lake Tahoe and its tributaries through storm drains.

Created in response to a resident’s concerns about a neighborhood storm pipe discharging dirty looking water directly into Lake Tahoe, Pipe Keepers began in the Fall of 2012 with trained local volunteers sampling outflow from storm drain pipes throughout the Tahoe Basin.

The City of South Lake Tahoe’s Public Works Snow Removal Operation visited Sierra House Elementary Schools kindergarten and first grade classes to promote snow safety today. Street Supervisor Azril Kalik shared important safety reminders to Ms. Wilson and Ms. Tabor’s first graders.

“When you see the snow removal machines in your neighborhood, it’s important to go inside and play to remain safe. Remember to keep toys, sleds, shovels and your pets out of the road so they do not get damaged,” said Kalik.

The existing 2 percent Transient Occupancy Tax, which is up for renewal on the June 5, 2012 ballot, has funded a number of North Lake Tahoe public improvement projects and services since voters first authorized it in 1996.

The renewal, called Measure F, is not a tax increase and, if passed, would continue to be paid by lodging guests only via the TOT bed tax when they spend the night in North Lake Tahoe. North Lake Tahoe residents would not be taxed under Measure F.

The South Tahoe Public Utility District will have a regular board meeting on Thursday, February 2 at 2 p.m. at the District office at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive. The agenda can be found here.

Items on the agenda include a resolution establishing criteria for determining whether a public works project is "substantially complex.” Defining a project in this way will allow the District to withhold retention funds for contractors higher than the federal limit, which is 5 percent.

Harry Reid today hailed passage of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2011 out of the Environment and Public Works Committee. The act, which Reid sponsored in 2009, would restore and protect the ecolog...

By Li Terrell
The South Lake Tahoe City Council voted October 18 to approve the budget for Fiscal Year 2011-2012, which imposed layoffs for 19 employees who were relieved of their duties last Friday, November 18.

As an early snowstorm descended on South Lake Tahoe the first week of October, the continuing winter of economic discontent looks bleak for the city’s budget woes and employees facing layoff. Seventeen positions are still on the chopping block. At least half of those positions are linked to street maintenance and snow removal operations. While negotiations between the bargaining units and the city continue to be held, there is a hint of an impasse — while the city functions on only an interim budget until the end of the month.