sustainability

For 20 years, every August we’ve paused to reflect on our collective commitment to Lake Tahoe’s restoration at the Lake Tahoe Summit. This year, with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein hosting the event, the issue of climate change will be front and center. Climate change poses incredible challenges for Tahoe, affecting not only the health of its famously cold, clear waters, but the health of its expansive forests and what is to become of our $5 billion outdoor recreation-based economy.

The Al Tahoe Safety and Mobility Enhancement Project, also known as the “Safe Routes to School” project will begin with striping bike lanes on Al Tahoe Blvd. beginning the week of July 17th. The pilot project will be the first step towards the full project planned for 2019. As part of the project Class 2 on street bike lanes and a Class 1 off street multi-use path will be added in conjunction with vehicle lane restriping. To test of the concept plan, the pilot project introduces the bike lanes now by reconfiguring two of the four vehicle travel lanes and keeping the 2 way center turn lane. .

Starbucks operations in Nevada’s Carson Valley plans to grow substantially over the next year with the addition of 700,000 square feet to the distribution portion of the Starbucks Carson Valley Roasting Plant and Distribution Center in Minden, Nev. The expansion will bring nearly 100 new jobs to the location in the first year after completion, bringing the distribution workforce to nearly 350.

There is a full slate of events in South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area this weekend. On Al Tahoe Boulevard, one can hit the Lake Tahoe Home and Garden Show, Earth Day, and Ladies' Morning Out on Saturday.

The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) was proud to be one of the fourteen organizations and individuals who spoke in favor of the proposed City Council Resolution establishing renewable energy and carbon emissions reduction goals at Tuesday’s Council meeting.

A standing room only crowd applauded enthusiastically when the Council voted unanimously to support the resolution after proponent Nick Exline offered several minor but important amendments on behalf of the community-based “100% Renewable Collaborative.”

The South Lake Tahoe City Council will vote Tuesday on adopting a resolution to use 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2030.

"This could be a historic moment for the community, as we would join a growing movement of communities taking control of their energy future to tackle climate change," said Devin Middlebrook, TRPA Sustainability Program Coordinator. "We expect a big crowd of supporters wearing white shirts and 100 percent stickers in solidarity."

There are now 27 cities in the United States committed to operating with 100 percent renewable energy, will South Lake Tahoe be #28?

Cities already on board include both large an small communities. Some of those are Madison, Wis.; San Diego, Calif.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Pueblo, Aspen and Boulder, Colo.; and Moab, Utah. Efforts are currently underway for Truckee to join that group. Even Las Vegas operates their municipal buildings and facilities with 100 percent renewable energy.

Humans produce carbon pollution. It's no secret. When we drive our cars, heat and light our homes, grow our food... we emit CO2. All around the world, habitats called carbon sinks have absorbed approximately 25% of this carbon pollution reducing the risk of global warming impacts without imposing a monetary cost on society.

The South Lake Tahoe Democrats will meet monthly at the Lake Tahoe Golf Course beginning March 16 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month, and Democrats and progressives are encouraged to attend.

Items on the March 16 agenda include:

- Reports from subcommittees on local immigration issues, health care, candidate recruitment and more

South Lake Tahoe – Tahoe Chamber would like to thank Councilmember Davis, Mayor Sass, and the Council for the invitation to attend the City Council February 14 special meeting and for the opportunity to present the business community’s priorities to the City as they prepare for their strategic planning retreat.

Several years ago, the Tahoe Chamber and its members established a vision and a set of priorities for the South Shore community titled Tahoe Future 2020. The vision statement from that document reads:

“Bread & Broth’s Monday Meal event is always heartwarming and we are very happy to be able to participate in the Adopt A Day of Nourishment program,” commented Michelle Bergstrom, Montbleu Resort Casino’s director of Administration. As the Adopt a Day sponsor for the December 19th dinner held at St. Theresa Church, Montbleu donated $250 to provide the funds to cover the meal costs to provide over 100 meals served to the evening’s dinner guests.

A passionate crowd of about 90 people attended the first of at least two public meetings on the future of the Theatre Arts program at Lake Tahoe Community College Tuesday evening.

The one thing everyone could agree on is the importance of having live theatre in South Lake Tahoe, but how that theatre and the program supporting it will look in the future is uncertain. Will it be a community based theatre, or will it continue to be a college run program?

A special meeting dedicated solely discussion of the future of the Lake Tahoe Community College's Theatre Arts Program will be held by the school's Board of Trustees on Tuesday, November 29 at 6:00 p.m. in their board room.

It is an exciting time to live on the South Shore – during a critical point in our region’s evolution and potential. It is time to set our course: moving away from bickering and blaming, exclusionary special interests and single-industry dominance to consensus-building and proactively choosing progress. Whether we live in Nevada or California, everyone benefits from uniting towards a sustainable vision for the South Shore.

Civic technology and how it can be used to better connect the community to local government is the focus of the next "Tahoe Talks" brown bag lunch discussion series on Wednesday, September 21 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Learn more about civic technology and how local governments are working to use technology to reach community members. Join experts from local jurisdictions and the community to learn more about tools available to change your community.

Speakers:

During their April 19 meeting, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Lake Tahoe Unified School District’s Safe Routes to School Master Plan. With this approval, the Supervisors support plans to improve pedestrian and bicycle access and safety around Lake Tahoe schools through infrastructure upgrades, education and encouragement programs, and better enforcement of traffic laws.

South Lake Tahoe will celebrate Earth Day with a full day of education, live music, arts and crafts and with local vendors and food at Bijou Community Park on Saturday, April 23, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Recognize and celebrate our region’s unique beauty while being educated about local environmental issues. The public is invited to the free event where they will learn about ways to counteract global climate change through recycling and composting, alternative energy, water conservation, sustainability, and reducing our ecological footprint.

Volunteers will be canvassing the community from Meyers to Round Hill this week to assess the employment needs of local businesses including their current employment situation, determine future needs, and ensure Tahoe can attract and retain talented workers for a variety of occupations.

Between 2003 and 2013, Lake Tahoe experienced a steady decline in jobs, with 5,500 jobs lost. Since then, there are several factors affecting the prosperity and sustainability of both the current and future workforce and economy.

The Society of Professional Journalists has awarded Jason Paladino, Sierra Nevada College Tahoe graduate and native of Truckee, Cal., their NorCal 2016 James Madison Freedom of Information Student Award for his investigation into the Navy’s Sea Dragon program.

The New Year is getting off to a phenomenal start with snow falling at Lake Tahoe. It seems long ago since we’ve had snow around the lake, but as California and Nevada continue to grapple with four years of drought and water shortages, the snow couldn’t be falling at a better time.

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.

On June 14, 2014, the South Lake Tahoe City Council voted to delay the implementation of the second phase of the plastic bag ban in the city. Originally slated to begin on October 15, 2014, the Council, by a vote of 3-2, moved the start date out one year to October 15, 2015.

Now that the second phase of the ban has started, Mayor Hal Cole wants to revisit that portion of the ban.

Cole said he wants to undo the ban on plastic bags for retail stores and asked for the topic to be on an upcoming agenda.

The final portion of the Class 1 bike trail network between Meyers and South Lake Tahoe was formally opened Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Members of the El Dorado County project team were on hand along with current Area 5 Supervisor Sue Novasel and former Supervisor Norma Santiago. Partner agency staff were also there to celebrate the completion.

Several South Lake Tahoe projects were awarded this week by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) as being the "Best in the Basin" for demonstrating exceptional planning, design, and compatibility with Lake Tahoe’s environment and communities.

The projects that were recognized upgraded highways, built new bike trails, improved water quality, restored environmentally-sensitive areas, remodeled blighted commercial buildings, and created defensible space for better wildfire protection.

The Best in the Basin award winners are: