Four vying for El Dorado County Supervisor, District 5

There are four people running for El Dorado County Supervisor for the 5th District on June 5: Incumbent Sue Novasel and challengers Kenny Curtzwiler, Norma Santiago and Jeffrey Spencer. The 5th District covers Pollock Pines to South Lake Tahoe and Tahoma.

South Tahoe Now asked each candidate the same questions, and here are all of their answers, exactly as they were presented to us.

Sue Novasel

Occupation: El Dorado County Supervisor – District V
Past political history:
2015 – Present: County Supervisor, District V
2003– 2015 – School Board Trustee and Past Board President – Lake Tahoe Unified School District

1.Why are you running? I am running because I want to continue to protect and improve the quality of life for our County and our local communities. I have had tremendous success and the respect of my colleagues during my first term as your Supervisor. I believe my 15 years of public service experience and 30 years on various public and private local organizations, my integrity and my continued commitment to work for our community make me the best candidate for the job.

2.What will you bring to the office? Being a Supervisor isn’t about me but rather we. The most important part of this job is to possess the skills, professionalism, and experience to work with others on a board. I have brought respect and mutual cooperation to the District. I have over 15 years of experience as a public servant and an excellent working relationship with the current Board. I was recently made Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors, which is an honor and an important job for the future of our Board as well as our District. I have the unique skill set needed to collaborate and build consensus with my fellow Board Members, which is how things get done. I work hard to accomplish the needs of District V.

3.What do you think is the number 1 issue facing District 5 and what do you plan on doing to address it? Affordable housing is a critical issue throughout our District. Development (and redevelopment) needs to focus on how to address the lack of housing by offering projects that give our citizens the ability to live and grow in walkable, bike-friendly communities – ones that offer plentiful recreation while meeting the infrastructure needs. An important part of this work is to bring both public and private organizations to the table. As a governing board member to the TRPA and member of the newly-formed Housing Tahoe program, I am currently collaborating with all agencies to search for ways to create incentives and break down barriers that have locked out affordable housing in our communities.

4.There are four other supervisors running the County. How will you get District 5's voice heard? My voice comes from my constituents in District V. I created an electronic newsletter describing what is going on in our communities, so everyone can stay informed. The newsletters also include a survey, so I can stay informed on what is important to you. In order for those priorities to come to fruition, however, collaboration and respectful dialog with fellow board members must take place - that is key to having a voice at the table. It takes skillful conversation and can only be learned through experience and the trust earned from those experiences. Too often in today’s politics, people are exposed to chest-beating and a desire to be the loudest voice in the room. I have learned that the best way to gain respect and hence have a voice, is to listen to everyone’s opinion, ask appropriate questions and then make a decision based on what is best for our county and our district.

5.What do you think about:

a) The Meyers Area Plan I am very proud of the plan. The Meyers Area Plan, which was unanimously approved recently by the TRPA and the Board of Supervisors, updates the 1984 Meyers Community Plan. I worked alongside 11 other community members and with over a dozen public agencies over 4 years to develop that master plan for the Meyers corridor area in the 1980’s. It was the first Community Plan to be approved not only by the TRPA but also incorporated into the County’s General Plan. The new plan expands the area of influence to include residential and recreational areas, thereby addressing the needs of a larger population and allowing some growth while protecting and enhancing environmental needs of our community. I applaud all those involved in the many years of public meetings and planning to produce a new blueprint for the Meyers area.

b) Vacation Rentals Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) are a ballooning type of lodging creating some real issues when dealing with unruly, rude and/or over-bearing home renters. I feel that the biggest issue for the County is how to create new regulations so that enforcement can work to ensure quiet, peaceful neighborhoods. As a member of the County Ad Hoc Committee for VHRs, I am studying enforcement issues and programs throughout the state, looking for viable solutions. We have already established that a new system of enforcement – one done through our Code Enforcement department rather than the Tax Collector – and an important first step in the right direction. Other issues such as clustering, total occupancy, bans and moratoriums are all to be studied within the public meetings being held presently with the Ad Hoc Committee and recommendations from the Committee will be brought forward to the Supervisors. A public process has been established where all sides of this contentious issue have been allowed to voice their concerns and issues. We need a balanced approach to this issue, weighing the desire for quiet local neighborhoods with the fact that tourists, too, would like to experience our beautiful neighborhoods.

c) The County Budget Back when I took office in 2015, our County budget was upside down. We were spending more than we had and there were no plans for financing our end-of-life buildings, infrastructure or CalPERS retirement payments. Since that time, our new CAO and the Board have collaborated to develop long-range goals to bring down our debt, (socking away $5.7 million for CalPERS and “pre-funding” future debt with another $1.3 million) while addressing decaying roadways and facilities. In Tahoma, when a road overlay project didn’t work, our Department of Transportation stepped in and used general fund money to repair and complete the project as needed. In Pollock Pines, we saved enough to purchase a park that will ensure recreational activities for the next generation of county citizens. And, in South Lake Tahoe, we purchased the old Al Tahoe Post Office in order to fix the decaying El Dorado Center, which is home to many vital community services. I also helped secure another $2.5 million per year for roadways that was being held for only a small section of west slope projects. These are just a few examples of where our county funds are being allocated and, without proper financial planning and development, would not have been possible.

6.Anything else you'd like voters to know about you and your plan? I feel that I am uniquely qualified to get the best results for our community. I have devoted myself for the last three and a half years as your District V Supervisor and, as the current Vice Chair for the Board of Supervisors and the representative to the Board on the California State Association of Counties (which represents all 58 counties throughout the state), feel I possess the qualifications and experience that are so vital to representing the District.

I currently serve and represent District V on organizations such as: First 5 El Dorado County Children and Family Commission, TRPA Governing Board, California Tahoe Conservancy Board, the South Lake Tahoe Solid Waste JPA and the Tahoe Transportation District Board. I also serve on several Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Committees, studying issues and bringing back recommendations to the full board on a large range of issues including broadband, cannabis and vacation rentals.

My experience on other community boards such as Lake Tahoe Community College’s Foundation (past board president), Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe (past board president) and Lake Tahoe Wildlife Center (past board president) demonstrates my ability and commitment to working hard in order to get things done. I care deeply about our community and want to continue to ensure our quality of life is protected, valued, and improved upon. I believe in strong leadership, fiscal responsibility, supporting public safety and strengthening our economy while protecting the environment. That’s why I invite voters to support me and vote for me on June 5th.

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Norma Santiago
Occupation: Community Consultant; Sierra State Parks Foundation, Board Member; El Dorado County Mental Health Commission, Associate Member

Past political history: I was elected on three occasions to represent Lake Tahoe residents as their District V Supervisor on the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. Within that capacity, I served on the:
• El Dorado County Water Agency
• Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
• Mental Health Commission
• El Dorado County Transportation Commission
• Tahoe Transportation District
• California Tahoe Conservancy
• Chamber of Commerce liaison
• Tahoe Paradise (Park) Resort Improvement District
• South Lake Tahoe Recreation Joint Powers Authority
• California State Association of Counties (CSAC), Board of Directors, El Dorado County Representative

1. Why are you running? I thrive on being in service to the community.
I love being the kind of supervisor that listens and works with the community on delivering solutions that best serve them.

2. What will you bring to the office? I am the candidate who best suites the next stages of Lake Tahoe’s evolution in refining a vision and implementing ways to improve technology, advance economic clusters for education, tourism, recreation and environmental science; and, for taking steps in creating the kind of community that will thrive with diversified opportunities for families, the workforce, business, visitors, and assisting those in need within our community.

3. What do you think is the number 1 issue facing District 5 and what do you plan on doing to address it? Housing.

District 5 has been facing a housing crisis for several years and it is time to make a commitment to solve this issue. There have been many studies and gatherings that have led to more studies and gatherings.

Policy changes need to be addressed to move towards building a sustainable, diverse inventory of housing for our residents: revising ordinances for vacation home rentals, converting tourist accommodation units to create some workforce housing, incentivizing short term rentals to become long term rentals and conformance to the 2008 California State Aeronautics Act zoning could seriously impact housing stock.

There is a direct relationship between housing and jobs. The opportunity for varying, well-paying jobs is not only contingent upon a strong and diversified economy, but also on a solid housing policy that creates a diversified housing inventory. We cannot have one without the other.

This issue can only be solved by strong leadership and political will. This will be one of my focused priorities and I fully intend to utilize all available resources by the combined agencies at the Lake to finally provide improvements for affordable workforce housing.

4. There are four other supervisors running the County. How will you get District 5's voice heard? By bringing issues effecting the district to the forefront. For years the District was seen in isolation and even a drain on county resources; however, that began to change when I made an ongoing effort to demonstrate how issues pertinent to Lake Tahoe impact the rest of the county. Specifically, there are the issues of stormwater management, watershed restoration, and forest health just to name a few. Finding common ground and solutions that benefit the entire county while building solid relationships with other board members creates a mutually respectful working alliance.

5.What do you think about:

a) The Meyers Area Plan — The plan was driven by members of the Meyers community and addresses many of the concerns expressed during the 18 months it took to get it to its draft form. Overall, the plan is a good, solid plan with built in flexibility to respond to any changes that may occur down the line. The majority of the Meyers community wanted a plan that creates a sense of arrival, maintains the rural ‘feel’ of the community; maintains the scenic attributes of the corridor, provides for bike trails and access to the recreational opportunities found in Meyers. Overall, the plan does that.

b) Vacation Rentals — The current escalation of problems with vacation rentals began approximately two years ago. The County while very aware of the issue; was slow to respond. I do believe that all processes have their place; however, given there is a sense of urgency from the community to get to an effective, solid solution quickly, processes should be shorten and expedited. My biggest concern now is that the rate of issuing new permits exceeds the rate to getting to a solution to some of the more complex issues surrounding vacation homes. It is like a “closing the barn door after the horse is let out” scenario which will create more problems. Consideration and much discussion should be given to having a moratorium on the issuance of new permits to give all effected parties an opportunity to formalize solutions to the these more complex issues.

Given my experience with the last revision of the County ordinance, it was very clear that properties under the management of a local property management company were less troublesome and in greater compliance. I would also like to how this could be used in the context of the ordinance.

Finally, it is time for the County to make a policy statement that clearly indicates that these are commercial enterprises and are subject to the same regulatory oversight as any commercial business. It is my understanding that, legally, vacation home rentals are considered single family homes and, thus, are a permissible use in the neighborhood. However, it is well within the County’s authority not to allow certain business type activities in neighborhoods. What is being witnessed in the neighborhoods are small lodging properties that are causing havoc in neighborhoods. The revise ordinance has to have a provision addressing this.

c) The County Budget — The County budget is the clearest policy statement the County has. Given how monies are allocated, one can easily decipher the County’s priorities in terms of the services it provides. The budget should also reflect the County’s mission: “El Dorado County government shall provide efficient, courteous, and effective services and infrastructure for safety, protection, and well-being of our residents, businesses and visitors.” I have and will, if elected, continue to advocate for investments that best support this mission.

6. Anything else you'd like voters to know about you and your plan? Anyone aspiring to public service attains their position because of the people. There is an obligation to listen to them. Unfortunately, people are not being heard and that’s why I’m running again.

I am and will always be a dedicated public servant. Leadership is not about the years of experience but about what you do when you’re in a leadership position. In the aftermath of the Angora Fire, I, working with El Dorado County staff, state and federal agencies was able to bring to a community devastated by a catastrophic event a solution that helped them towards the road to recovery. This clean up and recovery achievement then known as the Angora Protocols have become the basis for recovery efforts across the nation. The success in the implementation of these protocols required a complex coordination of local, state, and federal resources. It also required a lot of political will.

When a program or project is not generating the good results we anticipate, we have to make changes. Do you want a County Supervisor that constantly talks about change or one that has proven she makes change happen? I listen, I respond, and I am committed to bringing about community driven solutions.

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Jeffrey L. Spencer
Occupation: Planning Professional
Past political history:
• Board of Directors, Natomas Basin Conservancy
• President, Dry Creek Conservancy
• Planning Commissioner, Yuba City, CA
• Chairman, Antelope Planning Council, Antelope, CA
• Board Member, Sacramento Quality of Life Committee
• Vice President, Antelope Community Association
• Member, Sunrise Parks & Recreation, Park Development Committee
• Member, East Antelope Specific Plan Steering Committee

1. Why are you running? Serving the people is what I have done for over 40 years. In addition to serving my country for 8 years in the US Army, I served as a professional planner for various transportation agencies in the county, state and federal governments. Before and during my tenure as a transportation planner, I served two growing communities as a planning commissioner and was appointed to various environmental boards and conservancies. My experience serving the people did not end there. I was heavily involved with many non-profits whose goal was to maintain quiet, peaceful environments and managing the growth in communities in Northern California. A lifetime of experience has prepared me to tackle the current and impending economic, transportation and environmental issues that face all of El Dorado County.

2. What will you bring to the office? I possess the expertise, heart and tenacity to tackle our ever present and growing issues. We are a small community, yet have big problems. Our past elected officials have been locals with a passion and interest in resolving some of the issues, but they lack the experience needed to get the job done. I not only have the passion and interest, I have over 30 years experience working with communities and agencies in issues similar to ours.

I believe we lack of a big picture view. Our issues are not just challenges we are facing locally, they are being felt across the region. Each has a direct effect and impacts one another. To resolve these and future issues, it will require new approaches, new ideas and an experienced individual. I can hit the ground running with my vast private, regional, state and federal contacts to forge partnerships and overcome the obstacles we face. I have built solid relationships with government officials and business leaders at all levels, and am experienced and comfortable working with our State Legislature and the US Congress. No other candidate brings this kind of experience, the experience that is needed to resolve our complicated economic, housing, transportation and environmental issues.

3. What do you think is the number 1 issue facing District 5 and what do you plan on doing to address it? If I have to pick one issue to focus my energy on it would be our housing crisis. To implement laws and regulations and encourage managed, affordable housing growth would have an immediate impact on, and help to resolve the transportation and economic issues we face.

An affordable place to live is no longer available for many of our younger, middle income, and senior residents. The main issue for the basin is its very limited affordable housing. In the basin, as houses are being bought up by non-residents and investors as second homes and vacation rentals, it leaves less and less inventory for our local residents to live in. As mentioned, the VHR issue is a huge contributing factor. Roughly 53% of the existing housing stock in our county is owned by non-residents and investors. The result is our inventory of homes to rent or purchase dwindles and is driving up the cost of housing. Currently many of our local residents can't afford to live where they work. This is where traffic and pollution become a problem as these folks have to move their family off the hill and commute to find a place to live. The pressures from development and sprawl are important on the western slope part of our district, and needs to be addressed. As more building occurs on land close to Sacramento, the encroaching development is working its way up the hill towards our rural communities. The people voted to remain rural and their lifestyle is being threatened. Pollock Pines is experiencing growth pressures as investors and developers seek cheap land.

4. There are four other supervisors running the County. How will you get District 5's voice heard? I will listen to the citizens of District 5 and voice their wants and needs. Building consensus is what I did for six years as a National Team Leader for the US DOT, and I received an award from the Secretary of Transportation for building partnerships. My job was to work with people on various national boards and committees and meeting regularly with other government agencies around the country to implement ideas and solutions to their transportation problems. Then with the Sacramento Transportation Authority, my job was to work with and educate a 16 member board, which included Sacramento County supervisors as well as city council members, as well as constituents in business and neighborhood groups on the Measure B proposal. I also have experience as a Yuba City and Antelope, CA planning commissioner in which I worked side by side with four additional members addressing the needs of the community.

5. What do you think about:

a) The Meyers Area Plan Specific area plans are good allowing people in the community the control over how things grow and change. These plans are vision documents and the Meyers Area Plan is just one of many being developed around the Tahoe basin. Many of the citizens within the Meyers Area Plan boundaries are becoming frustrated as they feel they have very little input as to its outcome. With our current Supervisor having to recuse herself from the planning and negotiations, the Meyers area doesn't have a representative with insight to the needs of our community. I actually have hands on experience in dealing with developing an area plan as a Planning Commissioner for Antelope, CA. During my tenure as President, I made the effort to ensure local control was established and asserted. The key to a successful area plan is to have community input and to consider and implement their ideas and wishes when possible. It is also imperative that we adhere to the document and not deviate due to political pressures from developers and investors.

b) Vacation Rentals Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) is a complicated issue. Although I support private property rights, one of the basic principles in real estate, is the right to quiet enjoyment of one’s personal property and often times that law is broke.

Jim Hamilton, 2005 president of the California Association of Realtors, told a group, "Real estate was never intended to be an ATM machine. This country was not founded on owning a home and making millions of dollars. Real estate should be about home ownership." South Lake Tahoe has 15,000 housing units, but more than half of them are second homes or seasonal rentals, owned by non-resident investors and speculators that have driven up the cost of housing to be unaffordable to residents that live here. Only 18% of local residents can afford to buy the median-priced home, and 75% of our residents spend more than 50% of their income on housing.

One of the major issues and contributing factors complicating this issue is the local zoning laws are not being adhered to. Zoning, in its basic form, attempts to separate residential property use from commercial property use. We are experiencing incompatible uses. Houses are generally built for families and not typically built to be used as a business. Today, these are being advertised internationally by online services and our housing stock is being snapped up by outside investors solely for the purpose of making a profit. Vacation-home owners say they rely on the income. That makes them a commercial enterprise. We have to use our common sense.

These 'businesses' are operating between our laws and ordinances. For example, hotels must follow many rules and ordinances to operate. Bed and breakfast inns are considered an expanded home occupation and can only be authorized by approval of a special use permit. They must obtain a business license and operate under many rules and ordinances. Weddings, receptions, fund raisers or similar events attended by non-guests, are subject to conditions of approval in the special use permit. They must have an owner present to manage the property. Why then do VHRs get a pass on these rules and get to operate somewhere in between the hotel and B&B?

New construction proposed on a bed and breakfast, or exterior remodeling of the building to be used for the inn, is subject to architectural review by the approving authority as part of the special use permit process. This determination will be based on compatibility with neighborhood building style, building materials and any historic style indigenous to the area. None of this regulation is applied to VHRs. Mega-homes are being built in our neighborhoods specifically for the purpose of being a VHR.

I support a cap on the number of licenses issued in a particular area, as well as strict enforcement of the current laws in place. The number of VHR's in the county is affecting the pool of affordable housing by taking long term rental properties off the market. Because of the high demand for property as an investment rather than a residence, an inflated property value is assigned to the properties in the area making purchasing a home for a family almost impossible for the average middle income wage earner.

I also have proposed instituting a Vacation Home Owners Association (VHOA) to police the members. This way we are able to limit exhausting our local law enforcement resources enforcing the laws and there is a governing body to manage the whole industry locally. VHRs are an industry and we do not want to suppress commerce, but we must also protect the rights and liberties of our residents.

How is it an investor can bid up a home with the intention of making it a business, yet use a standard market appraisal and obtain a regular mortgage? Any other business has to use proper methods such as an income-based appraisal and business financing. We have to question the logic of building mega-structure that do not fit the character of neighborhoods, and allowing businesses to operate in our residential neighborhoods. Absentee investors do not live and work here.

My priority lies with the residents who live here and vote for me to represent them. My goal is to look at existing regulations and ordinances on VHR's to enforce what is already on the books and not add to the confusion of regulation.

c) The County Budget The County budget is something I will pay close attention to. There seems to be too many things draining it, making the current budget ineffective and unable to meet the needs of the people it should serve. One of the important items that the county government, or any government agency for that matter, should be focusing on investing in the local infrastructure and health and safety protections, supporting the residents’ quality of life.

6. Anything else you'd like voters to know about you and your plan? I am bringing all my experience in planning, land use, real estate, transportation and environmental protection to the position. No other candidate brings the breadth of experience that helps address the County's issues. I want to encourage constant and open communication within the various communities and ensure they have a voice and they are heard. I want to open the chance for our citizens to participate by sitting on the various boards and councils so that the individuals who are passionate about an idea, plan, project or cause can be a part of the solution. The district supervisor should not be the only voice that is heard. I will also see that there is clarity in the rules and transparency in our government. I am a representative of the people and will bring a centered perspective to the Board of Supervisors.

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Kenny Curtzwiler
Business Owner

Every time these poll questions come out, those of us that are running will answer in generalities and not specifics as most would want. The reason we do this is to try and please everyone and naturally for votes. Rather than answer all of these questions I am going to answer only one and then ask you, the readers, questions.

1. Why are you running? I am 41 year resident that has had to work two jobs just to survive up here and like most, I am probably one paycheck away from going under. I am and have always been committed to this community through my actions and writings. I am not afraid to stand up front and question the actions that our government leaders take and along with questions I produce solutions. If I am wrong I will admit it and work with everyone to better our community. I am easily accessible and can be reached almost anytime. When someone contacts me I will respond with anything they need and I return phone calls. Please contact me to voice what it is YOU would like to see rather than read what I want. My thoughts and wants should reflect the community. Thank You. Kenny Curtzwiler Home Phone-530-577-5678 Cell Phone-530-308-5265 Email- skibumfamily@sbcglobal.net

My Question to the community: Ask yourself how much representation or contact have you had with a county supervisor in the last 12 years and have there been any improvements to the community up here in South Lake Tahoe. Are you again willing to pay someone full time for part time representation. Remember our current supervisor’s recusal from the Meyers Plan, The Heavenly Plan and the million dollar county courthouse in Placerville. We need representation here, in our community as well as Pollock Pines.