We have much to celebrate in our community. We need to celebrate our success and the contribution made by prior city council members, individuals, and local organizations. We need to give credit where it is due. Then, we need to assess things that need to be done to further improve our hometown. Thanks to all who contributed and contribute in a positive way to our future and thanks to residents who participate in our local governance process. It is vital that our citizens remain vigilant.
I would also like to thank all city employees who work every day for providing the best service possible to the people of our community. I believe they want to do the best job possible based on policies adopted by the city council. In addition, I want to thank the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk (and their staff) for their assistance in providing a good orientation to me as a new city council member. To have continued success in the future, we need their continued support and advice.
Things learned in the campaign During election campaigns, candidates for office generally say a lot of things about what they plan to do or want to do once elected to public office. When candidates do speak up clearly voters have a better insight of where their candidate stands on policy and what they want to do. Once elected, the time for talk is over, and the newly elected official must then “walk the talk” and suggest actions that keeps promises made during the campaign about important issues. To do otherwise is to be a fraud on matters promised to voters.
I understand how the city government operates, and I know that policy direction is set by the city council, which is why I am writing and reminding everyone what positions I took during the campaign with the hope that the city council will discuss and support these policies and strategies with strong community support The policy ideas are all about making South Lake Tahoe residents, business owners and operators and employees safer, more economically successful, business and investment friendly, and affordable. They are also about addressing existing city housing needs without increasing taxes.
With each local election the community expects change, and the city organization cannot rely on old strategies and priorities without considering the change in the political environment and the basis in which candidates for office ran. Said in a different way, “elections have results”, and they are supposed to have results.
Cities prosper when they have sound economic development policies and focus on business retention, business expansion, and environmentally friendly new business development. City officials (and regional officials too) must know what actions they should and should not take to grow the local economy, encourage investment in the community, improve the tax base without raising taxes, and foster job growth. Artificial barriers to economic and job growth must be removed whether imposed locally or regionally.
The following is a list of ideas for discussion by the City Council and our community.
1. Support resources needed by police and fire to protect our community from man-made and natural events.
2. Ensure that Federal and State land parcel owners inside the city limits and in Tahoe Region are provided with adequate funding on an urgent basis to reduce the risk of fire on their lands not by clear cutting but by removing dangerous fuel accumulations on the ground floor of their parcels. Expedite fire safety projects in environmental review. The current fires in the Los Angeles area and our region’s experience with fire demand action now!.
3. Appoint a City Council Ad-Hoc Committee to engage regional partners and Federal and State (California) officials to provide adequate funding to USFS and CTC for fuel reduction on the ground floor of their public lands in the City limits and Tahoe Basin to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire. Explore use of Lake Tahoe Restoration Act funds for this purpose.
4. Support providing sufficient personnel and resources to the city public works department every year to ensure that all city streets are repaired and maintained annually (holes in the streets, crack seal, slurry seal etc.) to extend the life of existing streets.
5. Ensure that the city and region evaluate the adequacy of evacuation routes in the event of an emergency and identify mitigation measures needed to address deficiencies. Ensure that evacuation routes issues are factored into planning decisions at the local and regional levels to avoid after built “burning in place” scenarios.
6. Examine existing tools in State law that do not require local tax increases to help with financing needed affordable housing assistance programs, infrastructure improvements, and public facilities.
7. Appoint a City Council Ad Hoc Council subcommittee to examine ways to ensure that the “hole in the ground” is completed using existing tools in State law and motivating the landowner. The current condition of the property is unacceptable.
8. Establish and implement a city government business outreach, business retention, business expansion and new business development program that includes an examination of regulatory reform needed to grow the local economy and create new jobs. Expert advice is needed to frame the issue and undertake the review. What steps are needed to become more business friendly?
9. Make certain that all technology deployed in the city limits by telecoms are safe based on the latest science.
10. Ensure that city-supported affordable housing is made available first and foremost to existing city working locals and seniors in need.
11. Strengthen the city government’s authority over land use and regulatory issues consistent with regional thresholds that return power to the people, businesses, and investors in South Lake Tahoe through a community-oriented City General Plan…and collaboration with our partners at TRPA.
12. Outreach to existing providers of affordable housing to see if there are opportunities for cooperation on meeting local housing needs.
13. Advocate for all governments that make up the Tahoe Region to do their fair share in meeting affordable housing needs and do not expect South Lake Tahoe to do it all for them. TRPA should play a key role in gaining regional support for this idea.
14. Take steps that ensure that South Lake Tahoe Seniors Inc. are permitted to continue using the existing City/County Senior Center for as long as they wish to do so and use the kitchen facilities for senior activities. This is the wish of the Board of Seniors Inc. Seniors in South Lake Tahoe need to be in control of the facility they have used for many years and deserve the respect to be allowed to do so.
15. Agree to a long-term strategy to use PUC Rule 20 funds, and State and Federal fire mitigation funds to underground all utilities in the city limits for safety (to reduce the risk of fire and electrocution) and reliability reasons during all weather conditions and climate change. The ratepayer must not have to pay the cost for this conversion. Making South Lake Tahoe safer from catastrophic fire makes the Basin safer.
My hope is that we can begin the conversation about building a vibrant, safe, and affordable South Lake Tahoe.
Sincerely,