At Lake Level September 2022 The official newsletter of the City of South Lake Tahoe

Budgets and Beers with Mayor Middlebrook

Join us for Budgets and Beers on Wednesday, September 14 from 5:30-7pm at South Lake Brewing Co. Mayor Middlebrook along with City Manager Joe Irvin and Finance Director, Olga Tikhomirova will share highlights from the City's 2022-2023 budget. For more details, go to: https://www.cityofslt.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1860.

Don't miss out on South laKE tAHOE'S Multicultural Celebration!

The City of South Lake Tahoe, with the Multicultural Alliance Committee, will host their first Multicultural Celebration on Saturday, October 1 from 11am-5:30pm at Bijou Community Park. This one-day free event celebrates the diversity of cultures in our community through art, music, food, and entertainment.

Interested in being a vendor at the event? There's still time. Go to the following link to fill out the vendor application. The deadline to sign up as a vendor is Saturday, September 10.

Last, but not least, we would like to thank our sponsors and supporters for the upcoming event:

• Community Sponsor: South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association
• Event Supporters: South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling, and Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition

To learn more, visit: https://cityofslt.us/1251/Multicultural-Celebration.

Summer Isn’t Over Yet!

There’s still time to get out and have some shoulder season summer fun in the City of South Lake Tahoe’s parks and beaches.

Bijou Golf Course is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays into October. Join us for a fun game of golf on Tahoe’s oldest golf course located at 3464 Fairway Ave. For tee times, visit: Info/Tee Times. Walk-up players are also welcome.

Campground by the Lake is open seven days a week into October. The Campground is located in the heart of South Lake Tahoe at 1150 Rufus Allen Blvd. It is conveniently located and within walking distance to the shores of Lake Tahoe and one of South Lake Tahoe's most popular parks and beaches, Lakeview Commons at El Dorado Beach. Located within the campground are coin operated heated showers and restroom facilities. The campground is accepting reservations in loops D, E, & F on the southwest end of the campground. Those planning to get out and enjoy Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area during the day will enjoy the convenience and beauty of Campground by the Lake. Reservations.

The Recreation and Swim Complex located at 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd. is open Mondays - Fridays year-round. Amenities include a 25-yard indoor swimming pool, changing/shower facilities, gymnasium with basketball and pickleball courts, fitness classes, weight/fitness room, various meeting rooms and kitchen for rent, ping pong tables, outdoor playground, outdoor volleyball and basketball courts, and picnic area. Info/Hours/Programs

The South Lake Tahoe Recreation Complex has the only year-round public pool in South Lake Tahoe. This six-lane, 25-yard pool offers public lap swim, water exercise class, and public recreation swim each day. We are also excited to announce the continuation of the popular masters swim program through September. Register for masters swim.

Recreation staff are also planning to offer an American Red Cross certified lifeguard training course to the public this fall. The course provides participants with the knowledge and skill to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies. Participants will be trained and certified to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illness until EMS take over. Upon successful completion, participants will receive the ARC Certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED which is valid for two years. Pool jobs are cool jobs! Lifeguard positions are available to those who successfully pass the course. Email us if you’re interested at kedwards@cityofslt.us.

The Parks and Recreation Department continues to work hard to provide safe, fun, and memorable experiences for residents and visitors of South Lake Tahoe.

Article submitted by Kelley Edwards, Recreation Manager.

Learn more about Measure g

Check out our FAQ'S about Measure G

Q: What is Measure G?

A: The South Lake Tahoe City Council placed Measure G, the South Lake Tahoe Cannabis Funding/ Taxation Measure on the November 2022 ballot. If approved by South Lake Tahoe voters this November, Measure G would enact administrative change on how cannabis business fees are collected in South Lake Tahoe; converting existing cannabis business development fees to comparable 6% gross receipts tax on retail/distribution/manufacturing and $20/square foot of canopy on cultivation.

Q: Why was Measure G placed on the ballot?

A: As part of an ongoing review of government practices, South Lake Tahoe identified the annual cannabis development agreement review process as cumbersome and in need of streamlining. After consultation with community nonprofit organizations and cannabis businesses, the City elected to place Measure G on the November 2022 ballot for local voters to consider.

Q: Will Measure G impact non-fiscal cannabis regulations?

A: No. Adult-use cannabis businesses have been operating legally in South Lake Tahoe for two years. In that time, under existing regulations, there have been very few reported problems for residents, patients have had better legal access to marijuana prescribed as medication, and the businesses have not attracted crime. Measure G would not impact these regulations.

Q: How will Measure G impact the community?

A: The funding that businesses have generated for grants for local non-profit organizations will continue under Measure G.

Measure G funding will help maintain general fund services in South Lake Tahoe such as 911 emergency response services, wildfire prevention, and snow removal, among other services. Measure G will also mean that visitors that come to South Lake Tahoe and purchase cannabis while here will continue to contribute to the local services they use.

Q: Are there fiscal accountability provisions in Measure G?

A: Yes. Measure G includes accountability requirements including public disclosure of all spending and annual independent financial audits which will be available online. All funding will continue to be required to be used for the benefit of the South Lake Tahoe community and cannot be taken by the State.

Q: How can I get more information about Measure G?

A: Please visit us online at www.cityofslt.us/MeasureG for more information.

A message from Fire Chief Jim Drennan

It has been a busy summer for South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, but thankfully there have been very few vegetation fires in the Lake Tahoe Basin or in Northern California. Quick, someone knock on wood.

Over the last several weeks we have brought on three new defensible space inspectors who will start working throughout the city to meet with homeowners and discuss ways to make their homes defendable and as fire safe as possible. All three positions are fully funded through a grant and will allow us to keep them busy through the end of the year.

As a reminder, we are still adhering to a basin-wide burn ban which prohibits the burning of solid fuels (charcoal and wood) for cooking and as always, no open burning within city limits.

We saw a slight uptick in rescue calls on the water and have been out on Marine 17 responding with our neighboring agencies on several rescues and searches. Please remember that cold water shock can be deadly and PLEASE wear a life jacket when you’re out on the lake. If you don't have a life jacket, they are available at each of our fire stations.

In other news we will be recruiting for a new Fire Marshal and holding a Battalion Chief test soon. More to come on that very soon but we are excited to rebuild the Fire Department Prevention Bureau. We are also expecting to receive a new type I engine next summer from Pierce Manufacturing. Three of our personnel, along with a city mechanic, were able to go out to Wisconsin in August to finalize the specifications. This engine will replace a fire engine that has been in service since 2003.

As thankful as we all are for the recent rains and general lack of smoke this summer we still need to remain careful and fire safe. The typical fire season in the Sierras doesn’t begin until late August and then into the Fall. With that in mind remember to work on your defensible space at home, prepare a go bag and keep yourself informed about fire weather conditions and potential red flag days. To learn more, visit tahoelivingwithfire.com.

Stay safe!

Jim Drennan, Fire Chief SLTFR

September City Council and Commission Meetings

Open House being held at Al Tahoe Pioneer Cemetery

Al Tahoe Pioneer Cemetery Improvement Committee (ATPCIC), in partnership with the City of South Lake Tahoe, will be hosting an Open House on Thursday September 22, from 4:30-6:30pm at the Al Tahoe Pioneer Cemetery, located at 790 Alameda Avenue. The public is invited to this informational event for a guided site tour and to learn more about the collaborative efforts ATPCIC and the City have accomplished and continue to work toward the preservation, protection, and commemoration of the historic site.

The ATPCIC consists of representatives from the Lake Tahoe Historical Society (LTHS), National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Kiwanis Club of Tahoe Sierra. The committee has met with City representatives since 2019 to coordinate the restoration, maintenance, and protection of the Al Tahoe Pioneer Cemetery. During this partnership, site improvements ,including a new fence, signage, and security improvements, have been underway. The ATPCIC requests additional community support to complete the remaining restoration efforts, which include repairing broken headstones and purchasing 111 headstones for unmarked graves that have been desecrated, deteriorated, and weathered overtime.

Your input is needed on the future restoration of the Al Tahoe Cemetery

Help us by filling out the Al Tahoe Pioneer Cemetery Restoration & Improvement Project Survey, by going to the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q77MRHH.

To learn more about the Al Tahoe Pioneer Cemetery, visit the City’s website: https://www.cityofslt.us/1250/Al-Tahoe-Pioneer-Cemetery and the Lake Tahoe Historical Society: http://www.laketahoemuseum.org/pioneer-cemetery-.html.

Article submitted by Faye-Marie Pekar, Engineering Technician.

Thank you to Sierra Nevada Alliance

On August 9, the City and its partner, Sierra Nevada Alliance (SNA), celebrated the successful end of a service year with its most recent CivicSpark fellow, Zoe Kusnick. The City would like to express tremendous gratitude to SNA and Executive Director Jenny Hatch for her support in partnering to provide four fellows which have helped move the needle on achieving climate goals.

Kusnick gave a riveting and sobering presentation to council on the progress of achieving greenhouse gas reductions and implementing the Climate Action Plan (CAP). Notable progress during her service term included: moving forward three City properties for solar installation; authorship and adoption of an Electric Vehicle Siting Plan which will help scale public and fleet electric vehicle charging; contracting with a consultant on the development of building reach codes (with stakeholder engagement meetings forthcoming); adopting a resolution aspiring to 24/7 carbon-free energy community-wide by 2030; engaging with TRPA on Commute Tahoe to reduce the number of cars on roads; and, helping the City hire its first Sustainability Coordinator dedicated to implementing the CAP.

There was much to be proud of, but Kusnick did drive home a sense of urgency to pick up the pace of progress. Our science-based goal would have our city reducing as much greenhouse gas as is released by 2797 gas vehicles a year, or (put another way) as released by the total energy used by 1635 homes each year until 2030. The Climate Action Plan lays out a variety of strategies to achieve greenhouse gas reductions to get us to that goal. The 2021 greenhouse gas inventory will be the first update since the CAP was passed and should be released next year (data collection is ongoing now).

To get us there, she made six recommendations. 1. Expand the sustainability department if possible. 2. Establish and grow a dedicated sustainability account. 3. Maximize building electrification with an equity focus. 4. Continue to explore local energy control options. 5. Release a Climate Action Plan tracking website and get public feedback to refine it. 6. Continue building regional partnerships, with Truckee in particular.

We are going to do our best to implement those recommendations. Thank you for your passionate service to our city, Zoe, and we wish you the best as you grow in your renewable energy career!

Article submitted by Sara Letton, Sustainability Coordinator.

Update on City's Housing initiatives

August was a big month for housing in the City of South Lake Tahoe with three major milestones reached. The accomplishments are real steps forward in addressing the affordability crisis facing the City of South Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe region.

First, site preparation and infrastructure work will begin this fall on the first 68 units of the Sugar Pine Village affordable housing project. The project will ultimately be built in four phases to provide a total of 248 housing units and will provide critical workforce housing to residents earning between 30-60% Area Median Income (AMI).

Second, the City Council, at its August 9th meeting, approved expansion of the on-going Lease to Locals long-term rental incentive grant program. The expansion of the program includes extending the operation for another year and modifying program guidelines to increase program efficiency. The program has been successful in incentivizing the use of the existing housing stock for long-term rental housing.

Third, the City’s state mandated Housing Element, which was adopted by the City Council on June 21, has been determined to be in full compliance with State Housing Element Law. This certification will ensure the City’s continued eligibility for future grants to support the City’s housing initiatives, which includes the construction of more housing.

While these milestones serve to highlight the most recent and tangible accomplishments, they are but a sample of the aggressive workplan the City is pursuing to address the housing needs. Efforts continue to secure more funding, expand housing programs, and ensure the basic health and safety of the City’s housing stock.

To read more about the City's housing programs, visit: https://www.cityofslt.us/381/Housing-Programs-and-Resources.

Article submitted by Zachary Thomas, Housing Manager.