sustainability

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Council will hold their first scheduled meeting of 2021 on Tuesday with discussion and possible vote on new proposals from the the City of South Lake Tahoe response to COVID-19, a summary of the new housing program and near term rental housing strategies, and the 2020 Lake Tahoe Airport Economic Impact Study findings.

The January 5 meeting starts at 9:00 a.m. and can be viewed on Channel 21 or online.

The agenda also includes consent items:
- Emergency Order No. 6 which authorizes cannabis retailers to temporarily operate curbside pickup.

It was a great honor to serve as a member of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board of Trustees for the last four years. As previously reported, I am stepping aside to focus on my career and raising my beautiful baby girl. I said many times while I was on the Board that every family in the District was my family, and every child in the District was my responsibility. Now that I have a child of my own, I think the parents of LTUSD will understand when I say that I need to focus on my own family for the time being.

The ban on Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) in South Lake Tahoe is looming and the City is now working on putting holes in it. The first attempt is being presented Tuesday, Nov 3 at the City Council meeting. The City plans to allow 200 “Hosted” short term rentals in our neighborhoods. It will require a tenant or owner to host guests in their ‘homes’ to be available to respond to complaints within 60 minutes of issues being reported. On the surface this seems a reasonable alternative until we consider the realities and how this might actually be used.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The public is being invited to give input on the 56-Acre Project in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. As the City of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County work out the financial arrangement of using county land, plans are underway for how it will look. Through a grant, the California Tahoe Conservancy gave the funds needed to create the master plan for the area.

Autumn’s reflections have begun and Lake Tahoe’s forests and wildlife are preparing for the winter. While fall is generally a treasured time of year at the lake, a sense of uneasiness hangs in the crisp air as we brace for the next phase of the COVID crisis.

Summer was record breaking on many fronts. Businesses and agencies with major staff and budget shortages were suddenly required to manage the pandemic, following strict protocols. Trash overflowed on our pristine beaches and roadways. Follow that with more than 8,300 wildfires and 4 million acres burned in California alone.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are three open seats on the South Tahoe Public Utility Board of Directors this election season, two for a four-year term and one for a two-year term.

South Tahoe Now reached out to the candidates and below are their answers to a set of questions. For the two four-year terms, incumbent Kelly Sheehan is running for reelection, Duane Wallace is running after being appointed to fill Jim Jones's spot on the board until this election, and they are joined by David Peterson.

On April 18, 2017 the South Lake Tahoe City Council unanimously passed a resolution to: 1) Power the South Lake Tahoe community with electricity provided from 100 percent renewable sources by 2032 and 2) Reduce community carbon emissions from baseline by at least 80 percent by 2040, and reduce municipal emissions by 50 percent by 2030.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Years of planning for the future of transportation around Lake Tahoe has led to the creation of a Regional Transportation Plan. Join the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) on Monday, October 12 during a one-hour webinar on the draft plan starting at noon to learn more (register here).

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. — The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is calling for nominations for projects completed in 2019 that display outstanding environmental design to be recognized in the 2019 Best in the Basin awards program, the agency announced today.

Nominations are due by September 28, according to TRPA.

Now in its 29th year, TRPA’s annual Best in the Basin awards program showcases projects around the lake that demonstrate exceptional planning, implementation, and compatibility with Tahoe’s natural environment and communities. The categories are:

STATELINE, Nev. - It’s “last call” to local non-profits to get their applications in to LTVA by Monday, August 31, 4:00 p.m. to be considered for record funding distributions of $250,000 resulting from the 31th American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament. The application is available online at:
https://ltva.org/american-century-championship-donation-request-application/

STATELINE, Nev. - While the crowds weren't there in 2020 for the 31st annual American Century Championship in July due to COVID-19 safety concerns, its impacts will be felt for years to come by the community. The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (LTVA) will distribute a record $250,000 to local non-profits after the players in the popular celebrity tournament gave up the $600,000 in prize money. It is all being donated to Covid-19 relief organizations, equal justice initiatives and South Tahoe-based non-profits.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Tahoe Public Utility District invites private well owners to take a 5-10 minute survey about their well, water usage, and any concerns they may have concerning their well. For participation in the survey the District is offering guidance on well maintenance, a free site check to help prevent contamination from entering the well, and free water testing to understand the well’s water quality.

August 19, 1973 - May 18, 2020 - Sloan Michael Gordon signed off on a life lived to its very fullest on May 18, 2020. Though taken far too soon, Sloan managed to live 10 lives in the span of his 47 years, punctuated by adventure, mischief, and quality time with his family and friends.

Celebrations have taken on many new forms since the start of social distancing. Birthday parties have become processions of cars parading past a celebrant’s home—people honking and waving, tossing candy and small gifts (for later disinfecting, then enjoying). And huge international celebrations like the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this week have moved online, giving room for individuals to celebrate and explore the conservation movement in new ways.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Heavenly Mountain Resort staff delivered ten pallets full of food and beverage items to Bread & Broth on Friday and pallets of soup Monday, with pallets of granola bars and soup going to the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe.

Since closing, Vail Resorts in the area, Kirkwood and Heavenly, have delivered food to South Lake Tahoe non-profits, at least 25,000 pounds worth (or 12.5 tons). Previous trips to Bread & Broth included fresh fruits and vegetables.

They are also supplying staff to help with the Bread & Broth 4 Kids program, when possible.

The ultimate mission of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) is to help youth thrive. Sadly, it is our students - not we, adult, decision-makers - who will most suffer climate change. LTUSD must also support the future health and well-being of our students.

So, in 2017, the School Board formally resolved to:

Increase reliance on clean, renewable energy sources to power the District’s facilities, in line with and in collaboration with, the City of South Lake Tahoe’s recent pledge to power 100 percent of our electricity use with renewable energy by 2030.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - New plans have been released on the State Route 28 corridor from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. After the success of the East Shore Trail from Incline Village to Sand Harbor, the plan is to continue the shared-use trail with other improvements to highway safety and infrastructure; summer recreational access; water, air and scenic quality; and increase non-motorized access to the corridor.

The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has issued a draft decision for the proposed improvements to this area.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Everyone has seen the pictures, piles of broken plastic sleds left behind in the snow, trash left behind on the beaches and even pet waste disposal bags left along the trails.

Shared on social media, these photos of irresponsible people enjoying the beauty of Lake Tahoe have spread like runny pancake batter. The reason most visit and live around the Lake Tahoe Basin is for the natural beauty everywhere one looks. The majestic peaks and pine-tree filled mountains, the crystal blue water, beaches lining much of the 72-mile circumference of the pristine Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Timing seems perfect to have a fleet of electric buses for the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD), but trustees have the purchase of just one on their Friday night agenda along with the purchase of four diesel buses.

The Board's annual organizational meeting is set for December 13 at 5:00 p.m. instead of their normal Tuesday meeting. During the meeting, they will elect a new board president and clerk, and elect representatives to El Dorado County School Boards Association and Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, and assign annual duties for the trustees.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - MTV has released their daily lineup and single ticket sales for the 9th annual SnowGlobe Music Festival taking place in South Lake Tahoe December 29-31, 2019.

The VIP three-day passes are all sold out, but single festival tickets make it easier for fans of specific artists or time constraints. A limited quantity of Advanced Single Day general admission and VIP tickets have been released.

When the 'Advanced' ticket tier sells out their 'Last Chance' tickets will immediately go on sale, normally at a higher rate than those purchased early.

The Christina, a 65-foot yacht that once called Lake Tahoe home, is now an iconic art car that has been cruising along the playa in the Black Rock Desert. She is returning to Lake Tahoe during "Docked at Hard Rock" November 1-2.

Flipper Manchester, a South Lake Tahoe construction company owner, was originally hired to demolish the yacht that had been dry-docked at the Tahoe Keys Marina for years.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to several hundred Tahoe City residents on a warm summer evening in August. I was there for a celebration that has been a long time coming.

Residents gathered in the parking lot of the blighted Henrikson Building to take a ceremonial swing of the hammer — to say goodbye to an eyesore of a building whose useful life came to an end years ago. They were also there to celebrate what will soon take shape as Tahoe City’s first new hotel in more than 60 years.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The proposed 2019/20 budget for the City of South Lake Tahoe was presented to the Council Tuesday by City Manager Frank Rush who showed where $119M will go should they agree and approve at their September 17 meeting.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe will host four celebrity meet-and-greet opportunities during the 30th annual American Century Championship Celebrity Golf Tournament next week, July 9-14.