City Council candidates answer the questions: Keith Roberts

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 Keith Roberts who is the chief operation officer for Tahoe Investment Capital & Stewardship. He has lived in South Lake Tahoe for 14 years, having moved to town for the skiing and the trees.

Why are you running for City Council and what are your qualifications?

Our city is divided. I bring experience from several commissions and boards in town (Planning Commission, Police Advisory, Commission On Aging, Culinary Advisory, and many other boards around town), plus executive-level management in several large union totels; skills learned in these meeting rooms will transfer well to unite our City Council and to work together again. I can have a calming steady influence because I have done that wherever I go.

Are you for or against Measure N, and why?

That’s a NO; it is poorly written, no guarantees of any income or how it would be spent, massive staffing additions to enforce it and it is hugely invasive to the privacy of ALL who live here.

What is your stance on the Tourist Occupancy Tax, would you like to see it raised, or remain the same, and why?

I do not feel a TOT increase is needed. We are already very high. Our city is still rebuilding from the COVID-19 years. Room nights are down. Now is not the time. In addition, the best way to increase TOT to the city is to grow back our tourism economy making income to the businesses, employees and the city government grow from a stable increasing tourism rather than to try to drain money from a suffering economy. That is the road to ruin. We can build back the right way so that all can afford to live and work here.

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 City of South Lake Tahoe has been recognized as one of the top ten front-runner cities in California for its results in Affordable Housing. We received options for additional funding because of it. With 500 units currently in construction, I look forward to seeing results so we can fine-tune the next rounds of efforts. I was proud as a Planning Commissioner to be able to review and forward projects to the City Council. It is imperative with the transient nature of our workforce, that the city must work to help our small business owners keep fully staffed. The government's role is to encourage, and streamline regulations helping remove barriers and time delays from beneficial housing projects.

What would you do to bring higher-paying jobs and new business to the community? 

First, City Council efforts should focus on helping our current businesses and filling existing leaseholds. I hope to see The Mid Town Area Plan move forward, which will help rejuvenate the city's appearance, driving more business and increasing employment opportunities. The Black Hole needs to be filled. I'd like to see LTCC become a full-fledged four-year college. Those jobs pay well and are steady year-round employment. I believe we can become a specialty medical destination. The new events center is bringing good mid-week events that help smooth out the shoulder seasons and provide year-round jobs for locals. I'd like to see us return to being the wedding capital of Northern California again. I'm looking forward to hearing what ideas our residents have to improve our community. we have a lot of intelligent,caring people living here.

Are you a team player? How do you work to bring consensus on an issue? Give some examples.

The short answer is yes, team player describes me. Under a newly installed union contract, executive chefs and union stewards are normally fierce adversaries, I am still friends on FaceBook with all the union stewards I have worked with! Honesty, avoiding labels and accusations keeps the conversation on topic which helps achieve solutions that work for everyone. Interest-based bargaining is meant to give all the chance to understand each other's true needs versus just take hard-line positions. People don't care what you know till they know that you care. Then the complex problems melt away as both sides work together to solve them.

What is your plan to ensure you are speaking for, and voting for the constituents?

Listen. listen. listen, before making any decisions get the facts first.

The Council has discussed hiring a Social Media Team and I feel that is one of the most important issues and will fight to get it in place. I've been surprised at how many people I speak with don’t know what’s happening around town; the good news needs to get out there, our community will be more informed and less afraid to get involved.

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've been to over three dozen, maybe more, including all the Planning Commission meetings. It was gratifying becoming part of planning for the future of the City and having the Council approve those plans. In essence, I have already worked with council members. That gives me the confidence that I can do the job. And, I speak Spanish fluently, so I can reach out to our growing population of citizens. One successful way is the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lake Tahoe Program. Citizens Academies are great also. Any time people can look behind the scenes, they realize they can make a difference, and they do.

The budget was just passed for the coming year. What do you think of it? 

I think the budget looks fine. I have reviewed it and understand the details and agree with the overall use of the funds. The City has consistently run with a healthy 25 percent reserve in case of any downturns. Each of the last few years they have had an additional 5 to 7 million dollars left over to fund special projects. I'm pleased that they bought about 7 new plows and have put much more money into road repairs (more needs to be done on potholes) and reopened Fire Station #2. A budget is just a starting point, it needs to be a living document, reviewed, revised, and refined constantly. Accounting was my major in college.

What is the most pressing issue facing the South Lake Tahoe City Council and the City?

Better paved roads, better snow removal, better and more bike paths, increased transportation, more buses with expanded service hours, and public safety, including fire, crime, and the illegal drug epidemic that is killing our children. The city has made a lot of improvements in the last few years, but we cannot slow down on those efforts.

Provide a statement of why people should vote for you. 

I believe I can be a calming cohesive improvement to a current, sometimes hostile council. I know I can because that is what I do now and have done wherever I've been. As a chef, I have worked alongside all our blue-collar workers for over 40 years so I know their pride and their challenges; as a previous owner of two restaurants and currently overseeing six boutique restaurants in town, I also know the heart and souls of our small business owners and their calloused hands from facing their challenges, heartbreaks and satisfying successes. Solutions need to work for everyone; the entrepreneur needs staff so he must provide them with enough support, but the worker also needs the entrepreneur to flourish so employment opportunities will continue to increase. I have the right Recipe for success; Blue Collor Pride with an entrepreneur’s vision, mixed with a lot of common sense and no-nonsense.