trash

More changes to VHR ordinance in El Dorado County to be discussed

During the July 24 El Dorado County Board of Supervisor's meeting, the next phase of additions to the Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance will be discussed.

The ad hoc committee of Supervisors Sue Novasel and Michael Ranalli will be making the following recommendations:

Cap at a maximum of 12 overnight occupants, even if a home has enough bedrooms to accommodate more. The calculation of 2 people per bedroom plus 2. If someone wishes to have more than 12 the homeowner may apply for a conditional use permit.

South Lake Tahoe Police busy with Phish concert goers and trash

South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) had their hands full on Tuesday before, during and after the first of two Phish concerts at the outdoor arena at Harveys Lake Tahoe.

Trash including empty alcohol bottles and beer boxes littered much of the open space surrounding Stateline and Cedar Avenues where hundreds of fans lined the streets. In addition to the trash, pop-up tents with vendors starting selling clothing and other items illegally.

The owner of the corner property, chateau at the Village, sent out crews to help clean, according to SLTPD Lt. David Stevenson.

Nearly 500 gather up 1,458 pounds of trash from Lake Tahoe beaches

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - 499 volunteers hit the beaches of Lake Tahoe Thursday as part of the annual July 5 Beach Cleanup crew. Each year, volunteers hit the beaches to pick up trash left over by holiday revelers.

This year they removed 1,458 pounds of litter from five beaches: Commons Beach in Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Kiva Beach, Nevada Beach and Regan Beach in South Lake Tahoe. Not only did they comb the six miles of beach, but they also sorted and counted the items collected.

Learn how to "Take Care" of Lake Tahoe" via new website

The Tahoe Fund has launched a new website, Take Care Tahoe (www.takecaretahoe.org), to connect visitors and locals with all the events and volunteer opportunities that Tahoe has to offer in keeping Lake Tahoe and the surrounding lands pristine for generations to come.

USFS offers safety tips, provides alcohol ban and parking info, and wishes all a Happy 4th!

The Fourth of July holiday period is upon us and signifies the busiest time of year in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) asks residents and visitors to keep the following tips in mind to help everyone enjoy a safe and fun holiday.

To promote public safety, the annual alcohol ban will be in effect at the following locations:

· Nevada Beach on July 4, from 6 a.m. until midnight.

DCSO SWAT team and Harrah's Tahoe employees clean up homeless encampments

A group from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office SWAT team and Harrah's Tahoe recently swept an area known for homeless encampments in the forest behind both Harrah's and MontBleu.

They cleaned up make-shift campsites which contained bedding, furniture, drug paraphernalia and rubbish.

The officers issued an illegal camping citation to one person.

South Lake Tahoe vacation rental fines to change

Concern over national attention on "South Lake Tahoe being the home of the $2,000 parking ticket" may soon be a thing of the past after action initiated by City Council Tuesday.

Fines will be restructured and modified, lessening fines per occurrence of many of the violations of the vacation home rental (VHRs) ordinance. Some of the fines will be against the home owner only, while others to the renter only.

Letter: Why treat all VHR owners the same?

I have been following the VHR news and comments. It appears that some view all VHR owners as irresponsible neighbors. While I can’t speak for all VHR owners, perhaps sharing our VHR’s story will illustrate that that perception is not always accurate. This is provided as one owner’s perspective.

In 1978, four families partnered to purchase a Tahoe Keys condominium.

Lake Tahoe Yoga volunteers work on Elks Point bike path

Volunteers with Lake Tahoe Yoga came together to clean up the bike path that runs from Elks Point Road to Pine Ridge. The studio, serving the South Lake Tahoe area community for ten years, demonstrated their dedication to keeping Tahoe blue with a focus on Ahimsa (non-harming) and rallying residents to help on the path.

USFS and Starbucks teams clean Spooner Summit sled hill

We've all seen the discarded sleds and other trash spread over popular roadside sledding areas around Lake Tahoe, and a recent cleanup got rid of the trash at Spooner Summit.

The Tahoe Fund organized the clean up day with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Starbucks of Incline Village.

Found during their morning cleanup efforts were lots of broken sled pieces, beer bottles, soda cans, gloves, wrappers and plastic utensils.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

5/17

4:10 a.m. - Coroner's Case - South Lake Tahoe - 29-YEAR-OLD MALE DECEASED.

5/19

Save a bear - be smart about food storage/trash disposal in the outdoors

Several Lake Tahoe agencies have joined together to remind residents and visitors to practice proper food storage and trash disposal at all times while in bear country. Intentional or unintentional feeding of bears can result in the bear being killed, fines and/or jail time for violators. Every year law enforcement and state wildlife officers respond to hundreds of calls in which bears may pose a public safety threat and/or are damaging property. In some cases, the animals are euthanized.

Become part of the solution and help save our Tahoe bears!

Keep Tahoe Red. White and Blue Beach Cleanup

Event Date: 
July 5, 2018 (All day)

About the Event

After Tahoe's celebrated July Fourth festivities, our beaches are thrashed with trash, which can hurt wildlife and lake clarity. Each year, hundreds of Tahoe residents and visitors turn out for our largest cleanup of the year to remove litter from our beaches. Help Keep Tahoe Blue by joining a beach cleanup site!

We will provide cleanup materials, refreshments and raffle prizes.

Be sure to bring:
Reusable water bottle, sunscreen, cleanup gloves (if you have them), hat, sunglasses and wear comfortable clothing and shoes, as well as any snacks that you would like.

Volunteers collect 2,465 pounds of litter at “Spring Cleanup” event

On Saturday May 12th, 294 volunteers scoured South Tahoe neighborhoods to help clean up litter and kick off the summer with a sparkling clean town. The groups of volunteers covered nineteen different locations and gathered an estimated 2,465 pounds of trash and debris from our environment.

Volunteers took to the streets along Lake Tahoe Blvd and around Stateline, Ski Run, Bijou, Al Tahoe, Rufus Allen, Tahoe Sierra/Sierra Tract, Tahoe Island, Gardner Mountain, and the “Y”. Some neighborhoods had multiple groups fanning out to cover more ground.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue

The following are the 45 incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Cal-Tahoe JPA ambulances responded to from May 1-8, 2018:

5/1

10:57 - 1000 block of Glenwood Way - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
11:23 - 2800 block of Springwood Dr - False alarm or false call, other
13:10 - Barton Hospital - EMS call, Interfacility Transfer
18:04 - 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd - Alarm system sounded due to malfunction
16:41 - Barton Hospital - EMS call, Interfacility Psych Transfer

Spring Cleanup 2018 coming up in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
May 12, 2018 - 9:00am

Help spruce up South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods and "Keep Tahoe Clean" on Saturday, May 12 during the 3rd annual Spring Cleanup day. Last year, 118 volunteers spent a morning picking up nearly 1,500 pounds of trash.

The Clean Tahoe Program and City of South Lake Tahoe are organizing the day, so get together with your friends, family and neighbors to remove litter from our community. Check-in at the cleanup locations will begin at 9:00 a.m. and volunteers will be assigned a stretch of road to clean. Afterwards, everyone will meet up at Bijou Park for a FREE lunch and celebration.

New updates to County VHR ordinance could be in place by July

The El Dorado County Vacation Home Rental Ordinance was first created in 1997 and updated in 2004. At this time there are 900 permitted vacation home rentals (VHRs) in the County, 800 of which are in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

What started out with a “Good Neighbor Policy” has morphed into neighbors versus neighbors in El Dorado County and an ongoing VHR discussion as Supervisors work to create a new ordinance.

VHR ordinance focus of special Board of Supervisors in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
May 2, 2018 - 6:00pm

The last few attempts to have a special El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting on vacation home rentals (VHRs) have been met by bad weather and an overcrowded venue. The VHR meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, May 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the South Tahoe Middle School multi-purpose room.

A revised VHR ordinance is the only item on the agenda.

The Board is looking at eight revisions to the current Ordinance:

1) Restructure the violation and penalty provisions;
2) Clarify the language throughout the Ordinance;
3) Require exterior signage;

El Dorado County Supervisors approve bear box ordinance

In an attempt to keep trash contained and not easy for wildlife to access, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors approved a new ordinance Tuesday that has rules for single family residents, multi-unit complexes, businesses and vacation home rentals (VHRs).

The ordinance affects those living in the unincorporated area of the Lake Tahoe Basin, including Meyers and Tahoma.

There will be progressive enforcement by the El Dorado County Environmental Management Department:

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

4/13

FIrst phase of El Dorado County VHR ordinance closer to approval

Weather has not be the best friend of those wanting to get a revised vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance for El Dorado County. Snow and unsafe travel conditions for staff driving to South Lake Tahoe from Placerville for the meetings lead to the cancellation of the March 3 and March 24 meetings, and the original February 1 meeting had to be stopped due to overcrowding. The next Board of Supervisors meeting on VHRs will be in South Lake Tahoe on May 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the South Tahoe Middle School multi-purpose room.

Mexican national to do time and pay to fix land used for illegal pot grows in Sierra

A 31-year-old man from Michoacán, Mexico was sentenced Monday to two years and two months in prison and ordered to pay $32,712 in restitution to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for the damage to public land and natural resources.

USFS gives opening dates for Lake Tahoe recreation areas

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will soon begin the process of opening recreational facilities in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Weather and snow conditions permitting, Inspiration Point will be the first site to open on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Baldwin and Nevada beaches open April 28. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center opens Friday, May 25. The Tallac Historic Site parking area opens Tuesday, May 15, and will be staffed beginning Saturday, May 26.

The following is a list of opening/service dates, weather and snow conditions permitting:

Earth Day Community Cleanup

Event Date: 
April 18, 2018 - 9:00am

Join in on the League to Save Lake Tahoe's community cleanup day on Earth Day, April 18. During the snow melt, trash can become exposed and the League is inviting everyone to join in as they celebrate Earth Month. Kick off the warm season and join in for a cleanup! Cleanup materials will be provided and all volunteers will be treated to a lunch, raffle and prizes.

Bring a reusable water bottle, gloves and friends.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

3/29

Column: Working together for a healthier Lake Tahoe

Earth Day at Lake Tahoe has a special meaning. Working together through the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, more than 50 local, state, federal, nonprofit, and private sector partners are implementing projects and programs to conserve the Tahoe Basin’s environment and fix past environmental harms.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue

The following are the 153 incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Cal-Tahoe JPA ambulances responded to from Mar. 1 - 15, 2018

3/1

04:32 - 1600 block of Marshall Ct - Special type of incident, Dispatch error
05:37 - Barton Hospital - EMS Call, Interfacility Transfer - Dispatched & cancelled en route
09:41 - 3700 block of Blackwood Rd - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
12:31 - 800 block of Rubicon Tr - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
12:21 - Heavenly - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury

California State Parks seeking volunteers for Earth Day work at Grover Hot Springs

Event Date: 
April 21, 2018 - 9:00am

The 20th annual Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup is taking place at 40 parks up and down the state of California on Saturday, April 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The closest park with a project the public can work on is Grover Hot Springs.

Work there will be to continue maintenance of, and improvements to, the Native Plant Demonstration Garden including irrigation and weed removal, Grover Meadow invasive weed removal and landscape enhancements such as trash pickup, raking, clearing fire rings.

South Lake Tahoe meeting on vacation rental ordinance for El Dorado County

Event Date: 
February 1, 2018 - 5:30pm

Vacation rentals in El Dorado County in the Tahoe basin outside the South Lake Tahoe city limits will see new regulations in the future, many of which will be conceptually approved during the Board of Supervisors meeting in South Lake Tahoe February 1.

BEAR League helps Oakland Zoo in creating new bear habitat

A mother Black Bear saved from being euthanized, along with her three cubs, are now calling the Oakland Zoo California Trail expansion their new home.

Letter: VHR company responds to public letter

In Response to Mr. Scott Ramirez’ Letter to the City Council 01/21/2018

Dear Mr. Ramirez,

My name is Joshua Priou and I manage the property that is located directly across the street from you, I have been the sole property manager since it became a Vacation Home Rental in 2012. After reading your article I became quite saddened to hear of your concerns and I felt it was necessary to clarify and shed some light on your comments.

Letter: An open letter to South Lake Tahoe City Council

Dear Council Members:

My name is Scott Ramirez, I am a long time resident of South Lake Tahoe. Some of you know me and my family and are familiar with our activities to support our town. We are advocates for our community and volunteer where we can.

South Lake Tahoe Warm Room report card - A+; Volunteer training next week

The Tahoe Coalition for Homeless (TCH) made a presentation to the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) board members Tuesday, updating them on the Warm Room, and how things have gone since opening in their new home January 1, 2018.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

1/3

2:10 p.m. - Disorderly Conduct: Alcohol - Sierra-at-Tahoe - ADULT MALE WAS ARRESTED FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION

1/4

No moratorium on vacation rentals in El Dorado County

Tuesday's El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting was just as all other meetings about vacation home rentals have been: A full house and a large contingent passionately representing both sides of the issue.

Supervisor Shiva Frentzen sought conceptual approval of an urgency ordinance to place a moratorium on the issuance of new vacation home rental (VHR) permits in the unincorporated portions of the County located in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

SnowGlobe wrap up: Global attention, donations, the environment and fields

As the tents are taken down, the stage removed and all other components of SnowGlobe disappear for another year, an evaluation of the Community Play Field and other aspects of the seventh annual event in South Lake Tahoe are being made. There may be negatives to the popular event that draws in 20,000 people a day, there are also many positives to be celebrated.

There is more to the three-day festival, SnowGlobe, than music and crowds, a side of the event many aren't aware of.

SnowGlobe thrills attendees as Khalid and others take the stage

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - Fans of electronic music have flocked to South Lake Tahoe for the annual SnowGlobe outdoor music festival held December 29-31 at, one the Community Fields. The predominately under-30 crowd come from colleges and communities hundreds and even thousands of miles away to enjoy a specially gathered group of top artists in the electronic dance music (EDM) field.

Along with the fun though comes issues common at most music festivals: noise, trash, underage drinking and drugs.

Free recycling of Christmas trees in South Lake Tahoe

Weekly residential customers of South Tahoe Refuse and Recycling in Nevada and California can now get rid of their Christmas trees through their free curbside recycling program.

From December 26, 2017 through January 8, 2018, place the tree out on normal trash pick-up days for pick up.

To have them pick up trees, make sure the following are done:

Cut tree into six-foot lengths.
Remove tinsel, lights, nails and stands from your tree.
Flocked trees are not accepted as they cannot be recycled into compost.

From homeless to housed, EDSO Homeless Outreach Team is making a difference

"Instead of trying to find a way to eliminate the homeless, we now have the ability to change homelessness with a new approach - and it is working," said El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Macras.

South Lake Tahoe man arrested on theft and drug charges

A 38-year-old South Lake Tahoe man was arrested early Saturday for felony suspicion of attempted commercial burglary and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

William Jack Phelps was taken into custody in the 4200 block of South Carson Street.

According to the arrest report, a security guard contacted the sheriff’s office regarding a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Big Lots, 4215 South Carson Street.

Tools in place as new VHR rules go into effect in South Lake Tahoe

The City of South Lake Tahoe put the finishing touches to the new Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance Tuesday, paving the way for what community members have asked for: More enforcement, better monitoring and rules to bring reasonable calm to their neighborhoods.

"This is a code with real teeth," said SLT Police Chief Brian Uhler. "It's a clear and simple message that we're not fooling around. There are strong laws for staff to carry out."

Garbage rates going up in South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County

Residents in South Lake Tahoe will soon be paying more for garbage pick-up after the South Lake Tahoe City Council voted 4-1 to approve South Tahoe Refuse's request to raise rates for residential customers by 8.81 percent, the biggest one-time increase ever added to the service.

The rate increase will go into effect January 1, 2018.

The monthly rate for SLT customers will go from $26.55 to #28.89 for unlimited service, and increase of $2.34. Qualified seniors (65 and over and part of Liberty Utilities Care program) will pay an extra $1.95, taking their monthly rate to $24.15.

Navy veteran goes from streets to a home for Thanksgiving

A formerly homeless Navy veteran in El Dorado County now has a place to call home thanks to the kindness of many in the community.

Keith Lozier moved into Eskaton Lincoln Manor in Placerville Monday, the first home he has had in years.

A patrol sergeant with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) first came across Lozier as he was picking up trash in the Cameron Park Safeway parking lot. He told the sergeant that he was cleaning up trash “because it was the right thing to do.”

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

11/9

Letter: VHRs in El Dorado County are out of control

Dear Editor;

In writing this letter, I am only expressing my own opinion and not that of
any organization or entity.

Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) in the County are out of control. As is
evidenced by the number of residents complaining about noise, parking, trash,
over-occupancy, etc, it is time for our government representatives to act and
change the current ordinance to respect our rights to live in peaceful
neighborhoods.

There are many issues surrounding VHRs that need to be addressed, but I

Gates at Van Sickle Bi-State Park close for season

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy has announced that the gates to Van Sickle Bi-State Park are closed for the winter season. Although the park's facilities are closed, the grounds remain open year-round and are enjoyed by those on day outings, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just having fun in the snow.

Tahoe Douglas Fire offering free ash cans to those living in their district

Cooler nights are prompting residents to start burning wood in the fireplaces and stoves, and proper disposal of the remaining ashes are important in preventing fires in trash cans and yards.

The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District has partnered with Kingsbury Hardware again to provide ash cans to the homeowners of the Fire District for the safe disposal of hot ashes. This program is available free of charge to those residents who are part of the district who use a wood burning appliance to heat their homes.

Bear gets a little help from his friends

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There weren't just hungry customers at IHOP in South Lake Tahoe Saturday morning, a hungry bear also decided to stop by.

The large bear got into the dumpster around 8:00 a.m. as staff was taking trash out on October 14, but once in he couldn't get out.

Lake Tahoe recreational areas and forest roads begin their seasonal closures

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will soon begin closing recreational facilities and forest roads around the Lake Tahoe Basin for the winter season. Seasonal closures apply to many Forest Service recreation sites including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and forest roads. Keep in mind that Tahoe Valley and Zephyr Cove Resort campgrounds remain open year-round along with Camp Richardson and Zephyr Cove resorts and beaches.

Opinion: Rebuttal to SassTalk

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.

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