meeting

As most people have experienced, cell phone coverage around Lake Tahoe can be trying at times, especially during heavy tourist days when thousands of extra users are in the area. Combine that with over half of homes ditching their land-lines and relying only on cell phones, demand has greatly increased.

Lake Tahoe cell phone coverage may soon be improved as Verizon is working with Liberty Utilities and NV Energy and local governments to place small, seven-foot, grounded cell towers on top of current power poles on all sides of the lake.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Local philanthropist Lisa Maloff, the "Angel of Tahoe," donated $5.8 million to Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) back in November of 2014 for the creation of a University Center that would make four-year degrees a reality on the South Shore. The first shovels hit the dirt one year ago, in June 2017.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (Ad Hoc Committee) will be meeting the public tomorrow, July 26, at the Magnet School in Meyers at 5:30 p.m.

This VHR meeting is especially important since this Board already voted yesterday in Placerville on VHR Ordinance changes that affect everyone in the County South Lake Tahoe area.

These new Ordinance changes are outline here under attachments – VHR Conceptual - Item #1 :

https://eldorado.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3579809&GUID=7BD4C4E0-9B86-4E06-9052-6A82B2C...

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has invited the public to their Fire and Life Safety Protection meeting on Tuesday, July 24 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Fire Training Center located at 1195 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Fire Chief Jeff Meston will present the community’s risk assessment and fire operations "Standards of Cover" document.

There will be time for questions and answers and refreshments will be served.

During the July 24 El Dorado County Board of Supervisor's meeting, the next phase of additions to the Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance will be discussed.

The ad hoc committee of Supervisors Sue Novasel and Michael Ranalli will be making the following recommendations:

Cap at a maximum of 12 overnight occupants, even if a home has enough bedrooms to accommodate more. The calculation of 2 people per bedroom plus 2. If someone wishes to have more than 12 the homeowner may apply for a conditional use permit.

All agencies which wish to request grant funding from the Board of County Commissioners, Community Grant Program for Fiscal Year of 2018-19 must complete and submit a Grant Application. Please be advised that due to limited funding, not all applicants may receive funding and some applicants may only receive partial funding.

The new multi-million dollar Robert Maloff Center at Barton Memorial Hospital is stunning, resembling a high-end health club instead of the medical and wellness center it is. Inside its wood, glass and stone walls is the Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness, bringing together services needed by those recovering from injuries and surgery into one building.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Public comment closes this week on plans released by the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) that address issues the agency is facing to be sustainable. Major changes are in store for riders.

Four plans were created as bus service cannot continue as it currently is due to several factors, including the cost of fleet replacement and improvement, funding availability and forecasted funds, regulatory compliance, and keeping and attracting drivers and staff.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors of Tahoe Paradise Recreation & Park District will be held on Thursday, July 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the park's meeting room. This meeting is rescheduled from June 28.

The board's agenda:

PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS Update
COMMITEE REPORTS - Committee Chairs
DISCUSSION AND ACTION
- Need for an additional dumpster
- Possible Reservation system for Tennis Court usage & cracks & Windscreen
- Consideration of increased use of lower Park for large Receptions
- Deck and pathway update
- Donation letter and Thank you letter Templates

There will be a special meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Monday, June 2 starting at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers at the airport.

Cannabis is the topic of the main reason for the meeting, both a vote on a tax measure for the November ballot and a public hearing on the zoning and regulations of adult use cannibus businesses and the medical marijuana dispensary.

Douglas County Manager Larry Werner has requested to be released from his contract giving a 60 day notice effective August 31, 2018.

“The time I have spent working for Douglas County has been challenging but rewarding,” said Larry. “I know that it is time for me to pursue retirement and family, but I will miss working with the great people in this community in this capacity.”

Discussion of Larry’s resignation and a plan for the future of the position will be held at the July 5, 2018 Board of County Commissioners meeting and has been placed on the meeting agenda.

On Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Sugar Pine Foundation will co-host a Tahoe yellow cress (TYC) planting with the Tahoe yellow cress Adaptive Management Working Group at Baldwin Beach, which is National Forest System land managed by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU). In addition, the LTBMU will host a TYC information booth at the Native Species Festival on June 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center.

Concern over national attention on "South Lake Tahoe being the home of the $2,000 parking ticket" may soon be a thing of the past after action initiated by City Council Tuesday.

Fines will be restructured and modified, lessening fines per occurrence of many of the violations of the vacation home rental (VHRs) ordinance. Some of the fines will be against the home owner only, while others to the renter only.

Jesus Christ Superstar, one of the original rock operas, will be performed at Lake Tahoe Community College in October, and directors are holding auditions for singers, dancers and musicians on July 10 in the school's Duke Theater.

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El Dorado County has supplied animal control services to the City of South Lake Tahoe since 1998.

In the past twenty years, the City has entered into seven different agreements with the County for rabies quarantine investigations, humane investigations, vicious animal complaints, shelter services, impoundment of strays, removal of dead animals from City roadways, enforcement of all State, County and City codes dealing with animals, and maintenance of a County Animal Shelter, all six-days-a-week, with options of emergency services.

The South Lake Tahoe branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), recently awarded three sponsorships to a week-long STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) focused Tech Trek Camp on the UC Davis campus in July. The winners are Kyla Schrauben, Daniela Bonilla, and Evelyn Bennett  All three girls are from South Tahoe Middle School, with an alternate, Mia Roper, chosen from Whittell.

These girls who are entering 8th grade next September were nominated by their science/math teachers and selected following a personal interview.

South Tahoe Fire Rescue graduated another session of South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) graduates during yesterday’s city council meeting.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For four months, Fire Chief Jeff Meston worked as the City's acting city manager, and today he was recognized for his extra service.

During Tuesday's City Council meeting, Meston was awarded with a certificate of appreciation from the Council for taking on the duties from February 7, 2018 to June 5, 2018.

“Chief Meston is not only recognized statewide but also nationally for his numerous accomplishments in the fire world. He took on the duty of Acting City Manager 100% and with grace, with intellect, with wisdom and with experience,” said Mayor Wendy David.

The next meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ad hoc committee has changed locations. Originally planned for Placerville, the meetig on June 11 will now be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Tahoe Science Magnet School.

Ad hoc committee members Supervisors Mike Ranalli and Sue Novasel will be joined by County staff at the meeting.

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is presenting a genealogy workshop in the South Lake Tahoe Library Meeting Room (1000 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe), June 23, 2018, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Topics covered will include: how to get started, DNA and genealogy, genealogy apps, useful websites and using the DAR pubic website for personal genealogy. The workshop is offered as a free public service. Space is limited so pre-registration is required: sallyholcombe@mac.com. Attendees should plan to bring either a laptop or tablet. Coffee, tea and cookies will be provided.

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UPDATE 7.3.18: Information in this story has changed:

There will once again be a 4th of July Parade through South Lake Tahoe, and the community is invited to participate.

Celebrate the nation's birthday on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 beginning at 10:00 a.m. There is a new route this year. The parade will be staged on Ski Run Boulevard and head West on Highway 50 to Al Tahoe Boulevard where the parade will lead up Al Tahoe Blvd. and conclude again at Bijou Community Park with a community barbecue.

Recently retired from the City of Davis, Dirk Brazil has been selected to become the City of South Lake Tahoe's interim city manager starting June 5.

Even though he doesn't start officially until next month, Brazil has been in town meeting with various stakeholders and getting to know the city.

He said a lot of things in a city are the same, departments and their functions are similar, but each one has its own issues.

South Lake Tahoe may not be known as the home of the $2,000 parking ticket after action taken by the City Council Tuesday.

National media attention spotlighted the fines ($1,000 to the renter and $1,000 to the homeowner) associated with violations of the vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance approved at the end of 2017 by the South Lake Tahoe City Council. This negative publicity has prompted some cancellations of tourist visits, or other changes to vacation plans, according to those in the industry.

We at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency are mourning the passing of Bill Morgan. In the pantheon of people who have contributed mightily to the agency’s success, Bill is in the top tier. He was executive director from April 1, 1985 to September 30, 1989, one of the most tumultuous times for TRPA. There is a high likelihood that there would be no TRPA if Bill had not been at the helm and found ways to bring disparate parties together.