Review

Lake Tahoe’s two regional bi-state agencies for transportation, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and Tahoe Transportation District (TTD), are inviting the public to attend interactive open houses this month to learn more about draft proposals to improve Tahoe’s highway corridors and share their ideas and input.

The open houses are Tuesday, May 17 at the North Tahoe Events Center in Kings Beach, and Tuesday, May 24 at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel in South Lake Tahoe. Both are from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Nominations are now being taken by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition for the annual Lake Tahoe Bicycle Achievement Awards. Each year, people who have made significant advancements to promoting safer bicycling opportunities for the Lake Tahoe region are honored.

To nominate a candidate (individual, business, agency, or organization), send your nominee’s name and say something about their contributions to Tahoe bicycling. The Bike Coalition’s board of directors will review all nominations and select the winners.

“How is human trafficking defined”? “Which is more common, labor or sex trafficking”? “What are the challenges faced in combating human trafficking”?

Federal activities at Lake Tahoe are the topic of the next Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee (LTFAC) meeting on Thursday, April 14, 2016, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Donald W. Reynolds Nonprofit Community Center, Meiling Training Room, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village, NV 89450.

The proposal to install a 60-foot-long tunnel extension at Cave Rock this summer is the subject of a public hearing by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on March 31, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

The agency's hearings officer will meet with all interested parties, public included, on the Nevada Department of Transportation's project to create a safer tunnel due to the falling rock and deteriorating hillside on the westbound lanes of Highway 50 entering the tunnel.

On Thursday, the California Tahoe Conservancy Board awarded more than $7 million for seven watershed restoration and forest health projects around the lake. Thirteen different applicants submitted 32 grant requests totaling $30 million, but with just $13,950,000 to give out, it was a very competitive process.

The money comes from Proposition 1, the $7.545 billion water bond approved overwhelmingly by California voters in November 2014. It was divided around the state to agencies like the Conservancy for water supply infrastructure projects.

The South Shore of Lake Tahoe is divided by lines. These state, county, and city lines work well on a map, but they do not define the day-to-day reality of the people who live and work in this community. In the last decade we have seen definitive projects reshape South Shore – Heavenly Village, Lakeview Commons, Harrison Avenue Streetscape. We have seen new bike trails and the opening of a bi-state park.

Grand Ole Opry star and future country music legend Emi Sunshine performs at The Crystal Bay Club, Nev., on May 8 at 8:00 p.m. Emi Sunshine LIVE at the Crystal Bay Club Crown Room! Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM.

$15.00 in advance, $20.00 day of the show • 21+
Crystal Bay Club Crown Room, 14 Highway 28, Crystal Bay, NV 89402
(775) 833-6333

www.crystalbaycasino.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/1067584199952160/
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1700505396BA0D98

Do you want South Lake Tahoe to look like a ski resort? A modern mecca? A mountain hideaway? Give your input on what future buildings in the city limit should look like at the next City of South Lake Tahoe Design Review Guidelines Public Workshop at Council Chambers on Wednesday, February 17 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This is the second workshop held for the public on design. During the first one last month, participants were able to rate photos of signs, buildings and overall look of a community. Those not attending also participated by completing an online survey.

A different kind of presentation will be made on the US50/South Shore Revitalization Project this week, one that will include a question and answer period and not just the open house atmosphere of recent Tahoe Transportation District meetings on the project. For the past several years, TTD has been holding public meetings and talking with the community shareholders in order to formulate the best plan for the future of Highway 50 through the Stateline portion of South Lake Tahoe, a plan initiated in 1980.

The agenda for the South Lake Tahoe City Council was a light one this week.

The plastic bag ban ordinance was amended to only affect grocery stores and not retail outlets. Former Mayor Hal Cole asked for the issue to be brought back before the council in October. "I thought we were only voting to bring the ordinance back for review, not to pass it," Cole said about his vote on October 15, 2013.

Plastic Bag Ban Timeline

September, 2012 - City's Sustainability Committee eyes plastic bag ban

Improving transportation options for bicyclists and pedestrians is one of the most effective strategies to conserve and restore Lake Tahoe’s environment, revitalize the economy, enhance recreation opportunities, and improve public health, according to Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) officials.

As we welcome in 2016, the City of South Lake Tahoe would like to reflect on the accomplishments of 2015. The following is a summary of accomplishments during 2015.

Strategic Priority: Fiscal Sustainability
The most important issue facing cities and local agencies is continued steadfast attention to the budget, both short term and long term fiscal impacts.
· FY 15/16 budget adopted on time and without use of alternative revenues (3rd consecutive year).
· Adopted 5-year Financial Forecast and 5-Year Capital Investment Plan.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

11/29

10:15 p.m. - Possession of Controlled Substance - Thunderbird Cr - A 29-YEAR-OLD MALE SUSPECT WAS CITED FOR POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

11/30

The Loop Road project in South Lake Tahoe has undergone changes, from being a federally funded project to realign Highway 50 to evolving into a community development project that promises to beautify, provide new gateways and gathering places. Without this plan being a federal project allows local control and development.

The revamped US Highway 50/South Shore Community Revitalization Project will be presented to the community during an open house on Tuesday, December 1 at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Lake Tahoe Community College’s Writers’ Series continues on Friday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Roberta Mason Library with visits from poet and journalist Ilyse Kusnetz, and teacher, farmer, and poet Julia Shipley.

The two writers will read selections from their works, answer audience questions about their writing process, and sign copies of their books for sale that night. This event is free and the public is welcome to attend!

Tuesday's agenda for the South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting appears to be a fairly short one.

Council members will start off with a recognition of the recent graduates of the South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) program.

Lake Tahoe has been recognized for another important conservation success. Our region’s proactive, collaborative strategy to protect Tahoe yellow cress, begun almost 15 years ago, is working so well that the plant does not need additional protections under the federal Endangered Species Act.

It's been almost 100 years since Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote, "A goal without a plan, is just a wish." This is still true today, and the City of South Lake Tahoe has been busy getting area plans completed so current and future goals could be planned.

They have joined forces with El Dorado County to come up with a Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan for the Lake Tahoe South Shore, and not only is it ready to look over, the public is invited to participate in its review during an upcoming meeting.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, El Dorado County, and members of Tahoe Backcountry Alliance announced today they are partnering to create a coalition of stakeholders to maintain and enhance public access for winter backcountry skiing and snowboarding.

“We’re optimistic about this opportunity to work together to get back some of the access that we have lost in the past, and work to enhance access in the future. Let’s together reclaim and preserve backcountry access in the Tahoe Basin,” said Mike Schwartz and Todd Offenbacher, of Tahoe Backcountry Alliance.

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 through December 7, 2015. This enrollment period is one of the few times Medicare beneficiaries can change, enroll into or disenroll from, a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO) or a Part D drug plan. Changes to plans will be effective January 1, 2016.

With the devastating fires currently burning in California it brings to the forefront emergency preparedness.

September happens to be National Preparedness Month and El Dorado County's Public Health Preparedness and Response reminds residents to make an emergency communications plan for themselves and their families. Planning ahead will help protect families, neighborhoods and communities when emergencies and disasters arise.

Residents go to the City for a number of requests, and in order to make sure procedures are followed on those requests, new policies were created Tuesday during the South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting.

A Champions Plaza Recognition Policy was created in order to know how to handle the expected requests for names to be placed at the new venue at the corner of Highway 50 and Lakeview Avenue. The sculpture was selected earlier this summer.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) and California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) will be trading 1,961 acres under a proposed land swap on the north, south and west shores of Lake Tahoe. Urban lots would go to CTC and the larger parcels would go to the USFS.

The agencies will hold two meetings where the public will have the opportunity to review the plan and offer feedback.