South Lake Tahoe Residents Have Many Upcoming Opportunities to be Involved in the Future of the City

The City of South Lake Tahoe is encouraging residents to be informed and engaged in the community and is offering several opportunities in the coming weeks to do just that.

"In an engaged community, every person has the information, the opportunities and the support needed to take action and lead change throughout their lives," according to the Knight Foundation. "When people become involved, and exercise their full democratic rights, they make their lives and those of others better."

To be informed, help design solutions and take action, the public in invited to participate in the future of the airport, learn about Bijou area BMP projects, help plan a compromise with paid parking as well as be a part of the strategic plan for financial policies.

Join the City Council and staff at a public workshop on Monday, February 10 at 3 p.m. in the council chambers. They will review their strategic priorities developed over the last two years and develop a criteria for future ways to reinvest in the community. Help impact future financial policies.

The second opportunity to be involved comes on February 13th when the public can engage with the City Council and City staff to work on a plan for the future direction of the airport. This is the first public meeting on the airport and everyone is encouraged to attend and participate. The meeting is in council chambers (at the airport) at 5:30 p.m.

At the last city council meeting it was decided that local meetings need to be held at different times of the day in order to involve more local citizens in the process. Because of this, the next City Council meeting will take place at two different times on Tuesday, February 18. At 9 a.m. and again at 5:30 p.m., the public can attend the council meeting and listen to discussion on amendments to the paid parking policy. There is always time at every council meeting to speak. Weigh in with your solutions.

The last February meetings will take place on Thursday, February 27. The City is asking for community participation on the Tahoe Valley Area Plan. Residents can help shape the future of the area known as the "Y" at the 6 p.m. meeting in the council chambers. Also being held on this date are community meetings on Bijou Area Best Management Practices (BMP). City engineers will be meeting with property owners within the Bijou commercial code to help them receive their TRPA BMPs retrofit certification. These meetings will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Aspen Room at the City's Recreation Center and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center. To find out if your property is eligible, contact Trevor Coolidge at 530-542-6042 or by email at tcoolidge@cityofslt.us.

City Manager Nancy Kerry, the City Attorney Tom Watson and other staff members are currently out in the community speaking at group meetings to listen to the public's ideas on many different topics. If your group would like them to speak, call them at 530-542-6000.