City Council candidates answer the questions: Nick Speal

South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates were recently given the opportunity to answer some questions to be published on South Tahoe Now. Candidate Nick Speal said he did not receive the emailed questions, so we have given him the opportunity to answer them.

What is your Occupation?
I’m an Affordable Housing Advocate – a co-founder of Locals for Affordable Housing 501(c)(4).

I am also the president of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, a member of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to the City and the County, the Governor’s appointee to the Tahoe Transportation District, and a mentor with SOS outreach. I previously served on the City’s Planning Commission and worked as an engineer at Zipline, delivering medical products to remote hospitals.

What brought you to South Lake Tahoe and how long have you lived here?
I moved to Tahoe for the skiing during the epic winter of 2016/2017 and have since stayed for the community, outdoor access, scenic beauty.

Why are you running for City Council and what are your qualifications?
I am running for City Council to advocate for meaningful and impactful solutions in our community. I’ve been regularly attending City Council meetings for the past 5 years, where I’ve enjoyed what I’ve learned and the connections made in Council chambers, but it has been frustrating to watch many kick the can down the road. The Tahoe Prosperity Center’s South Shore Needs Assessment determined we need 3,290 additional housing units by 2026 to adequately house our workforce, and TTD recently released a report projecting that our bus system is going to run out of funding and cut service by 2027. I’m proud of the work the City has done and believe we’re heading in the right direction - but in order to solve our community’s challenges and remain a vibrant and amazing place to live, we need a local funding source and to incentivize more full-time occupancy of our existing housing supply.

This commitment to solutions has earned me the endorsement of the Democratic Party.

Are you for or against Measure N, and why?
As one of the authors and lead proponents of Measure N, I support this solution because it addresses our most urgent funding needs without raising taxes on locals. Measure N shifts the incentives to reduce the loss of local housing to vacant second homes, and raises money dedicated for affordable housing, road repair, and improved public transit. However the voters decide, I will remain committed to solutions to these critical needs. Learn more at www.VibrantNotVacant.com.

What is your stance on Tourist Occupancy Tax, would you like to see it raised, or remain the same, and why?
The City studied several funding sources to meet our critical needs for affordable housing, road repair, and improved transit. I believe the strongest solution is Measure N because it will help local businesses by creating more workforce housing, while also incentivizing year-round occupancy for more stable off-peak customers. I am open to a TOT increase as a second choice to fill this critical funding gap.

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?
A government that refuses to address the housing crisis is failing to meet the needs of its community. I have been disappointed in some of the other candidates and council members who have said no to proposed solutions while failing to come up with alternatives. “Now is not the time” is a refrain that is tone-deaf to the urgent needs of a community losing local families and businesses struggling to find and retain staff.

Any serious solution requires two essential elements. First, it must shift the incentives to protect local housing from increasingly being bought up by second homeowners. Second, it must include a substantial funding source to meet the scale of the need.

While I was on the Planning Commission, we worked to remove some of the barriers that were making it harder to build more housing in Tahoe, but further action is needed to prevent new housing from becoming vacant second homes. I look forward to working with local developers and contractors to figure out how we can remove barriers and increase incentives for building more local housing and less luxury homes.

What would you do to bring higher-paying jobs and new business to the community?
First, let’s keep the good jobs we already have. I look forward to working together with Barton to try to keep medical jobs in South Lake Tahoe, and with the Nurses Union in support of their longstanding effort to secure a fair contract. I’m proud to be endorsed by our local Carpenters Union and share their commitment to fair wages, benefits, and apprenticeship to develop skilled local workers in the trades, especially as we continue to invest in major projects like the rec center, new fire station, and affordable housing.

Professional jobs at the hospital, college, and other top employers often go unfilled due to housing challenges, so we must address the housing crisis to fill these roles and ensure we keep these jobs here in our community.

Additionally, I am an advocate for zoning changes to make it easier for new businesses to open in our community. The Mid-Town Area Plan is a good opportunity to redevelop small pockets of walkable business districts, like what was done near Sprouts Cafe on Harrison Avenue. I’d like to see similar developments of sidewalks and street lighting near Sidellis and Coldwater Breweries to create more opportunities for business growth and development, as well as a vibrant, walkable experience for locals and visitors alike.

Are you a team player? How do you work to bring consensus on an issue? Give some examples.
I believe in working together on collaborative solutions, and I believe I am the only candidate capable of bridging the divides on City Council right now. I’ve worked closely with Scott Robbins on policy solutions for years, however, we have very different styles of communicating and working with others. I bring a more collaborative approach and have worked with existing council members and other candidates on the Planning Commission and on the Tahoe Transportation District. On the Planning Commission we achieved unanimous support on many issues by engaging in working together, finding common ground and moving forward with consensus. This is the approach I look forward to bringing to the City Council.

What is your plan to ensure you are speaking for, and voting for the constituents?
I’m actively involved in many local organizations, from bike advocacy to youth mentorship, where I hear from the public on a daily basis. I enjoy the many conversations I have with locals while volunteering at the Bike Coalition’s many bike valets, and while riding the local bus. In addition to finding creative ways to increase participation at public meetings, I look forward to holding regular office hours where constituents can come discuss their issues, so I can bring their concerns to the City Council.

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’m a regular attendee at City Council Meetings, having attended at least forty meetings since 2020, sometimes in person and other times online. Once the new rec center is open, I hope we can move City Council meetings there in order to be more accessible to the community. Hosting watch parties at the Airport bar once it reopens may also be a fun way to get more folks engaged.

The budget was just passed for the coming year. What do you think of it?
I was surprised to not see any other city council candidates at the budget meeting in August. With increasing funding needs, some politicians were trying to spend down the rainy day fund, but I agree with City staff about the value of holding enough reserves to be prepared for an emergency.

After larger than expected revenues last year, I support the Council’s actions to put this one-time surplus into the roads, which are overdue for repair.

What is the most pressing issue facing the South Lake Tahoe City Council and the City? Affordable housing is the most pressing issue that South Lake Tahoe City Council must address, opening the door to economic vitality and preserving quality of life. Additionally, the City Council must address sustainable development and re-work transit solutions in our community. I look forward to working on solutions on all these fronts.

Why should people vote for you?
We owe it to our incredible community to solve our challenges and strive for a vibrant and sustainable future. I have the experience and commitment to implement the pragmatic changes needed to help ensure South Lake Tahoe remains an amazing place to live and visit for generations to come.

To learn more about why I was endorsed by the Democratic Party and the local Carpenters Union, please visit my website, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.