SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – We reached out to all of the candidates for the two open positions on the South Lake Tahoe city council, asking for them to respond to some questions. Sadly, not all responded, but the public will get to hear from a few of them in the order their replies were received, one candidate a day Tuesday-Friday.
Today is Heather Cade-Bauer. She has been living in South Lake Tahoe for 24 years and is a Procurement Contract Coordinator. In October 2020, she moved to South Lake Tahoe for a seasonal position at Kirkwood alongside her future husband, Nick. During that time, they both fell in love with the area and decided to make South Lake Tahoe their permanent home.
Why are you running for City Council and what are your qualifications?
My motivation for running is simple: I want to be a voice for all people of South Lake Tahoe. As a longtime resident of South Lake Tahoe, I care deeply about the community and have developed a strong understanding of our community’s needs. Through my personal experience living, working, playing, and raising a family here, I have gained a firm understanding of the issues that matter most to our community.
Over the years, I have actively served on several community boards, including the Sierra House PTA, Lake Tahoe Community College Classified Employee Union & Classified Employee Senate (LTCC CEU & CES), Tahoe Parents Nursery School (TPNS), and the South Tahoe Disc Golf Association (STDGA). These roles have allowed me to consistently be a voice for the people I am serving and learn about opportunities and challenges within our community.
Additionally, I have several years of experience in the public sector working in procurement and negotiating contracts, as well as negotiating on behalf of the LTCC CEU. I feel my ability to listen and unite differing opinions is what makes me best qualified for the city council.
Are you for or against Measure N, and why?
Measure N has brought forth a critical conversation in our community, and I believe it’s important to acknowledge both the concerns and hopes that it has sparked among our residents.
The reality is we are facing a real housing crisis. Many of our local workers who are essential to our community’s well-being are struggling to find affordable housing. It is imperative that we take steps to ensure South Lake Tahoe remains a place where people who contribute to our community can afford to live and thrive locally.
Measure N does raise significant concerns due to the potential burden of proof it places on homeowners and tenants. After reading the measure and attending the recent forum, I understand the concerns shared by homeowners and tenants who feel that this measure will place an undue burden on them, invading their privacy, and forcing a tax on second homeowners without representation. It is important that we balance the need for more housing while ensuring that property rights are respected, and that compliance does not become overly complicated or intrusive.
While it’s important to address housing shortages and preserve the integrity of our neighborhoods, Measure N does not seem to offer a balanced or fair solution. Solutions should focus on encouraging long-term rental opportunities and affordable housing development, rather than punishing residents with complex and intrusive regulations.
What is your stance on Tourist Occupancy Tax, would you like to see it raised, or remain the same, and why?
I am not in favor of increasing the TOT at this time. With the current economic challenges, we should focus on managing resources more efficiently, seeking alternative funding, and stimulating economic growth rather than placing additional burdens on visitors and residents.
The city should prioritize fiscal responsibility by focusing on essential services, cutting unnecessary expenditures, and identifying alternative revenue streams. Promoting year-round tourism through diverse attractions and events could help increase revenue. Additionally, I believe the city should explore public-private partnerships and seek grants for infrastructure and community projects. Engaging the community to ensure transparency and creative problem-solving is key. We must also prioritize long-term planning to ensure we are prepared for future economic challenges while protecting vital services like public safety, housing, and environmental sustainability.
What is the role of government in creating affordable housing? Do you think the City of South Lake Tahoe has done its fair share, and why?
The role of government in creating affordable housing is essential, as it sets policies and creates incentives to ensure housing meets the needs of residents across income levels. The city plays a direct role in zoning, partnering with developers, securing funding, and ensuring infrastructure supports new developments.
In South Lake Tahoe, while some progress has been made – such as the Sugar Pine Village project – the demand for affordable housing still far exceeds the supply. The high cost of living in a resort town, combined with limited land for development, makes this a persistent challenge.
I believe the City Council should take a more proactive leadership role in addressing the housing shortage. This includes fostering partnerships between the city, private developers, and nonprofit organizations to create housing that is both affordable and sustainable. While the city cannot directly fund housing, it can create incentives, such as tax breaks and streamlined permitting processes, to encourage developers to build affordable units that meet strict environmental standards.
Additionally, updating zoning laws to allow for mixed-use and higher-density developments, as well as offering financial incentives for eco-friendly designs, can help spur development. The focus should be on creating affordable workforce housing for essential workers in industries like education, healthcare, and hospitality.
In summary, while the city has made some strides, there is still much more work to be done to meet the current housing crisis and ensure that South Lake Tahoe remains an affordable, livable community for our residents.
What would you do to bring higher-paying jobs and new business to the community?
To bring higher-paying jobs and new businesses to the community, I would focus on the strengths of South Lake Tahoe while addressing its challenges.
One of the key barriers to higher-paying jobs is the skills gap. By partnering with local educational institutions, like LTCC, we can offer training programs tailored to high-demand industries like healthcare, emergency services, hospitality, and sustainable energy. Encouraging apprenticeships, internships, and certifications in these fields would help residents develop the skills needed for higher-paying jobs.
South Lake Tahoe has a unique opportunity to position itself as a leader in sustainability. By creating incentives for companies in the clean energy, environmental technology, and green building sectors, we can attract businesses that align with the city’s natural environment and values. These industries often offer higher-paying jobs and can thrive in a community like ours that emphasizes environmental stewardship.
Making it easier for businesses to start and grow in South Lake Tahoe would be another priority. This could include simplifying the permitting process, offering tax incentives for small businesses or startups, and making zoning more flexible to accommodate new types of businesses. Additionally, the city could create mentorship or support programs for local entrepreneurs to help them navigate the complexities of starting a business.
In summary, bringing higher-paying jobs and new businesses to South Lake Tahoe requires a multi-faceted approach, focusing on education and training, business-friendly policies, and attracting industries that are a natural fit for our community. By supporting entrepreneurship and innovation while strengthening workforce development, the city can build a more resilient and diversified economy.
Are you a team player? How do you work to bring consensus on an issue? Give some examples.
Yes, I am a team player, and I firmly believe that collaboration leads to better outcomes. In my current and past positions, I frequently work with diverse groups of individuals, often with differing perspectives, to achieve common goals. I focus on fostering open communication, ensuring that everyone feels heard, and finding common ground.
One key example of my team approach was during a recent statewide request for proposals (RFP) for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, where I was tasked with bringing together representatives from various community colleges to collaborate on the development of the RFP and scope of work. Many participants had different priorities based on their specific campuses, but by encouraging open discussions and focusing on the overarching goals, we were able to reach a consensus that benefitted the entire system and resulted in the award of three statewide EV charging station contracts to meet the needs of the various campuses. This approach helped build trust and maintained a shared focus on the end goal.
Another example of this was during my last year at LTCC as the CEU president and lead negotiator. The administration wanted to shorten the amount of time employees would have off during the 2023 winter break. After listening to both sides, I found that most classified employees wanted to continue using their available leave to take the full two weeks off. To advocate for this, I wrote a letter on behalf of the employees and personally reached out to each one to gather signatures. Out of 74 employees, 69 signed the letter, and we were able to convince the administration to maintain the full two-week break.
These examples highlight my ability to listen, communicate, and unite people around shared goals. I believe that listening, remaining flexible, and maintaining a focus on common objectives are key to achieving consensus. As a City Council member, I would apply this same approach to ensure that the best solutions are reached for the community.
What is your plan to ensure you are speaking for, and voting for the constituents?
I will focus on open communication, transparency, and active engagement. I believe in maintaining an open line of communication with the community and would regularly attend local events and meetings to listen to residents’ concerns and gather feedback.
I feel transparency is key to ensuring trust and would make it a priority to clearly explain the reasons behind my votes and positions on issues. This could include publishing a blog or newsletter summarizing each City Council meeting, explaining how I voted and why, and outlining the feedback I received from constituents leading up to the decision.
To ensure I am accountable to the community, I would make a commitment to review my performance regularly, seeking feedback from constituents on how well I am representing their interests. This could be done through surveys and/or listening sessions, where I can assess whether I am meeting the needs of those I represent.
In summary, my approach to ensuring I’m speaking and voting for the constituents would be rooted in consistent engagement, transparency, and accountability. I want to ensure that the community knows they have a voice in every decision I make and that I am always accessible to them.
How many City Council meetings have you attended? What would you do to bring more of the public to the table and get them to attend and involved?
I have attended several City Council meetings via Zoom and the September 24th meeting in person. I plan to attend the remaining meetings in person through the election. Additionally, I have watched many of the recorded meetings online.
In my current role, I focus on outreach efforts to engage community college representatives in statewide meetings and committee work. These efforts have successfully increased participation across the system. I attribute this success to a personal approach, where I make direct contact with individuals to ensure they feel welcome and included. This strategy builds relationships and fosters a sense of ownership, leading to higher engagement.
As a City Council member, I would bring this same approach to encourage greater public involvement. By reaching out directly to residents and organizations, offering multiple avenues for participation—whether in-person, via Zoom, or through recorded sessions—and highlighting the impact they can have on decisions, I believe we can make City Council meetings more accessible and meaningful to more people.
The budget was just passed for the coming year. What do you think of it?
I believe the recently passed budget reflects thoughtful planning and addresses some of the city’s most pressing priorities, including infrastructure improvements and affordable housing. I am pleased to see the allocation of $1 million toward the affordable housing project. This demonstrates a commitment to addressing one of the community’s top concerns. Additionally, the use of unassigned excess reserves and the Measure S fund balance for capital improvement projects will help maintain and improve our city’s infrastructure, which is critical.
Overall, this budget shows a balanced approach to managing the city’s financial resources, addressing immediate needs, and planning for the future. It is important to ensure that the City Council remains focused on continuing to secure additional funding and partnerships to address ongoing challenges, particularly affordable housing. I support this budget as a strong step in the right direction for South Lake Tahoe.
What is the most pressing issue facing the South Lake Tahoe City Council and the City?
The most pressing issue facing the City of South Lake Tahoe is achieving a balance between sustainable development, particularly affordable housing, and environmental preservation. Tahoe’s natural beauty attracts tourists from around the world, fueling our local economy and creating demand for a robust workforce. Without affordable housing for Tahoe’s workforce, we are jeopardizing the very foundation of our economy.
I’ve seen firsthand the consequences of Tahoe’s increased housing costs. I have witnessed many families move to the Carson Valley, or other states because they could no longer afford to live here. This exodus has increased the burden on local businesses that can no longer obtain, or retain, reliable employees. Businesses have been forced to either reduce hours of operation or close which diminishes the experience for locals and visitors.
At the same time, we must be mindful that development cannot come at the cost of Tahoe’s environment, the heart of our community and economy. To ensure the long-term viability of both our local economy and environment, we need innovative, environmentally responsible housing solutions that allow our workforce to live and thrive locally while protecting the natural beauty that makes Tahoe special.
Provide a statement of why people should vote for you.
People should vote for me because I will be a voice of reason who listens to everyone and works to bring people together, rather than creating more division. My approach is rooted in open communication and collaboration, ensuring that all perspectives are considered.
With my experience in advocacy and consensus-building, I am well-equipped to navigate complex issues while prioritizing the best interests of our community. I believe in fostering partnerships to create meaningful opportunities and improvements for our community.
If elected, I will work hard to ensure transparency, accountability, and real progress on the issues that matter most to our residents. Together, we can create a more livable, vibrant, and inclusive community for everyone. Let’s move forward united for the future of South Lake Tahoe.