SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – As the South Lake Tahoe community continues to come to grips with the admitted embezzlement of funds from Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church, the City has been seen in a bad light because of the actions of its former mayor.
While City operations were not affected, the ability of the City Council to function well has been.
The South Lake Tahoe City Council had problems before former mayor Tamara Wallace’s embezzlement (which the church says was over $400,000) and the arrest of the current mayor, Cody Bass.
I have been watching South Lake Tahoe City Council meetings for years, and have seen some that are a highly functioning team, and others that need constant supervision.
As recently as fourteen months ago, there was a City Council that knew the art of collaboration and doing what was best for the community, together. Now you have individuals who function as individuals, incapable of bending their firm beliefs to do what is best for the South Lake Tahoe community. The discussions are endless.
All of the recent evening meetings have been an example of the council’s inability to keep focused in order to tend to the business at hand. Meetings are required to end at 10 p.m., and it takes a majority vote of the council to allow them to go longer. City staff, speakers, and any interested members of the public have to stay. People are tired, irritable, and not all agenda items are heard or voted on.
It is hard to be in public office, granted. Not many can devote the time, energy, and open themselves up to constant criticism and observation, after all, how do you keep everyone from both sides of a topic happy?
The community does deserve a positive movement in its leaders.
During the December 9 meeting, the City Council will be faced with voting on a fifth member for the second consecutive meeting or voting to wait until a June election to fill the position for a few months.
This should not happen. I call on the four Council members to make a decision and appoint one of the two dozen residents who stepped forward to fill Wallace’s open seat until the November 2026 election. During the last meeting, members of the Council said they wanted to hear from the public in an election, and not vote someone in until then. The election is in June, certified 30 days later, then there is normally no July meeting, so the new member would only sit on the dais in August, September and October until the next election in November will fill three seats whose terms end then. The candidates would have to pay fees and campaign for a three-month position. There are too many required assignments for the Council to be filled by four members.
Some people submitted their applications to sit on the City Council who have sat on City commissions and are familiar with the open meeting laws (the Brown Act). This is a necessity since even some currently sitting on the Council appear not to be fully familiar with that law.
In the 2024 election, Aimi Xistra came in third in a two-seat election. She is one of the interested residents who put their hat in the ring for the current open seat.
The 2024 top three results of 7 candidates:
DAVID JINKENS 3,593 26.01%
KEITH ROBERTS 2,621 18.98%
AIMI XISTRA 2,405 17.41%
The 2022 top three results (for three seats) of 11 candidates:
SCOTT ROBBINS 2,052 14.81%
CODY BASS 1,997 14.42%
TAMARA WALLACE 1,831 13.22%
Note that Xistra’s vote count tops all of those who ran in 2022. To me, that shows the public is behind her taking a spot. There were several great candidates, so I hope we see them again in November after getting their feet wet in the public realm before then.
Waiting will only continue a common 2-2 tie on issues – a fifth is needed. Politics need to stay out of this, Republican or Democrat – get the most qualified to take the council to November’s elections.
After a seat is filled, the rest of the Council’s problems need to be addressed.
Number one is decorum: The decorum of a city council involves maintaining order, respect, and efficiency during meetings, ensuring all participants (council members, staff, public) act professionally, avoid personal attacks/profanity, stick to the topic, obey the mayor with guidance from the city attorney and city manager, and allow the public a fair chance to speak. There should be no response from the Council during public comment, as it is a violation of the Brown Act (though they can ask a clarifying question).
The Council needs to dress and act respectively, and conduct their “outside” lives in the same manner. You are under a national microscope right now, and you represent South Lake Tahoe in the public eye.
The Council also needs to treat staff with respect.
The Council needs to focus on the issues and avoid personalizing debates, and listen with an open mind. This also needs to happen during their conversation with each other. Shouting, raised voices, and snarky comments have no place on our City Council.
If one watches meetings from the last year, they will see councilmembers commenting longer than was really necessary. Making a point is one thing, but to continue the discussion reminds me of social media – there is no “win” to a discussion when it goes on and on. State your reasons for voting and understanding an item, but to hear from members five, six, or seven times on each agenda item doesn’t gain anything.
Some cities put time limits on debate. Some limit discussion by any councilmember who makes a motion will be limited to five minutes of debate at the time of making the motion, and an additional five minutes after debate by all other councilmembers has been completed. Each councilmember not making a motion is limited to five minutes’ debate on that motion. They don’t allow any councilmember to speak more than once on a particular matter.
Be efficient and respectful. Ensure orderly, democratic, and effective meetings. Continue to provide a safe, productive environment while guaranteeing the public’s right to be heard.