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CALFIRE
2020 was the worst recorded fire season in California history and 2021 is not looking good. There’s a huge increase this year due to the lack of snow and rain in our area. On May 1 the snowpack was at 59% of normal and there were no late spring rains. Fire spread predictions are approximately 6 weeks ahead of normal and the fires we’ve had are extremely hot and fast moving. An update of what they have done and are doing include: 

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE
If you're a homeowner that abuts the forest and you'd like to implement that hundred feet of defensible space behind your property out into the forest, we have that capability to do so to get you that permission fairly quickly to implement. Recreation updates included Sugar Bowl Snow Play, Tahoe National Forest Truckee Ranger District recently approved 35 miles of native surface trail open to class 1 e-bike, and they are looking to formalize the Cabin Creek parking into a more professional manner with a hard surface for plowing, greater capacity and better winter access. 
Presenter: Jonathan Cook-Fisher, District Ranger

CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL/ CHP
We are expecting a busier summer than last year with more visitors - which means the California Highway Patrol will target everything they normally do including speeding, DUIs, seatbelts, distracted driving, cell phones as well as be all around the lake doing their normal parking enforcement. In addition, CHP will have their bike patrol out all summer long which also helps with community engagement.
Presenter: Lt. Matt Tweed

TAHOE CITY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
Boat Launches around the lake are closing due to low water levels creating an increasing demand at the Lake Forest Boat Ramp. In response, TCPUD closed the campground to provide overflow boat trailer parking which creates 24 additional spots. They also announced their newest property, the Tahoe City Community Center, located at the old Maritime Museum, 401 West Lake Blvd. The property includes 11 acres with a 2-story log building. They are preparing the grounds, gardens, casibo, ponds, and electrical for outdoor concerts - available for rent for public/private events plus staff on the 2nd story of log building.
Presenter: Kay Bernston, Parks Facilities Superintendent

NORTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
Rehabilitation is underway for the sewer pump stations at Tahoe Vista and Moon Dunes. The new sewer pump and upgraded electrical equipment will make the systems much more reliable. You can still access both beaches while under construction. Also, their crews recently removed synthetic turf on field 4 at the North Tahoe Regional Park with the new turf expected to done this fall. They are also working on a new paved pathway into the tennis courts. And the low lake level forced NTUD to shut down the Tahoe Vista boat ramp. 
Presenter: Justin Broglio, Public Information Officer

TAKE CARE TAHOE
Take Care Tahoe is the unified stewardship campaign for the entire Tahoe region. Their messages are designed to be witty and stand out but also be straight to the point, with the mission of connecting people to Tahoe and inspiring a culture of responsibility and respect. Outdoor recreation exploded quite a bit and to help avoid some of those issues, Take Care Tahoe has implemented a useful website where visitors can really connect and learn more about the Tahoe region including public beach information, biking information, maps, public transportation information, trail information, volunteer resources, and guided hikes. To compliment the site, they offer a lot of in situation signage available for purchase. In addition they implemented on the ground education with their Take Care Ambassadors program -  offering five different programs and totaling 75 ambassadors.
Presenter: Crew Stover, Program & Outreach Coordinator

CLEAN TAHOE PROGRAM
Clean Tahoe is a nonprofit organization based in South Lake Tahoe with a proven track record to assist communities with litter and garbage abatement. Placer County and other neighboring jurisdictions in the region are collectively contributing funding to Clean Tahoe to have them address and clean up litter hotspots. This program will complement the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal Service, because while they take care of all of our trash, they're not set up to do the boots on the ground litter patrol. The whole idea here is not to worry about jurisdictional boundaries - when someone from the public sees a problem trash can, it doesn't matter whose can it is, they can call it up. Launch is planned for the end of the month. 
Presenter: Peter Kraatz, Assistant Director of Public Works

COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT EFFORTS FOR STRS

As we head into summer, our noise complaints are going to go up as people are outdoors and windows are open. We do have a very full enforcement schedule and our staff is available with very few gaps throughout the week. We are hoping that the ordinance continues to work as it has with our local contacts resolving issues and really limiting the impact on our neighborhoods. Please call our 24/7 hotline at 530-448-8003 to report a violation and speak directly to enforcement staff.

JAN-MAY 2021 complaints | 83
• Noise | 43
• Trash | 8
• Parking | 21
• Occupancy | 1
• Permit requirements | 10 

Presenter: Jayme Paine, Supervising Code Compliance Officer

PROJECT UPDATES  

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IN EASTERN PLACER

Tahoe City Downtown Access Improvement Project | This project is designed to improve vehicular circulation and access to parking in the downtown core of Tahoe City to address existing commercial development in parking. The environmental document for this project was recently approved by our Board of Supervisors and we are now commencing with detail, design and looking into securing funding. Target construction date for this project is 2023.

Traffic Crossing Guards Program | We've again hired a contractor to provide pedestrian flaggers at high-volume crosswalks in both Tahoe City and Kings Beach. The locations include the Commons Beach Road crosswalk at Hwy 28 in Tahoe City, and the four crosswalks at the two roundabouts in Kings Beach. The contractor will typically perform the work on Thursdays at Commons Beach, and Saturdays and Sundays in Kings Beach - usually from about 12-4 pm to capture the highest volumes of pedestrians and help with improving vehicular flow through the two town centers.

Pilot Signalization of Grove St & Hwy 28 | We've been working with Caltrans for over a year to get permitting to deploy a temporary signal to improve car and pedestrian safety and control their movements at this high volume intersection. We will monitor traffic conditions to determine how effective it is and whether we want to consider a permanent signal. We're excited to launch this in July and we'll run it for as long as we can, until the snow flies.  

Our Roads | We have 150 miles of roads between North Lake Tahoe, West Shore and up to the Serene Lakes area. We are planning to perform surface treatments in the Regency Way neighborhood. We hope to address the Timberland neighborhood next year.  

Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program | This long standing program addresses requests by various neighbors on our County roads asking about traffic calming and what can be done about slowing down cars. The most recent one is on Fairway Dr. In Tahoe City and the Board of Supervisors recently approved building three speed cushions to be spread out along the road.  

Truckee River Trail and Access Plan | We still need to do about 25 miles of trail which is primarily in Martis Valley and then and then along the Truckee River. We plan to launch into the formal environmental analysis effort on July 9, opening the formal notice of for comments by the public and then closing on August 8 with a public meeting on July 21 during that period.  

Martis Valley Trail | Construction has begun to connect the East end of Martis Valley up to Northstar Drive. Hopefully next year another section of trail will fill the gap so we’ll have a paved trail all the way from the Town of Truckee into Placer County and up to Northstar Drive.  

Presenter: Peter Kraatz, Assistant Director of Public Works

Tahoe City Lodge | We are pleased to announce that this project is moving forward and have been working with a development team on finalizing their improvement plans. We hope to have a building permit issued towards the end of summer so that they can get their footing set before winter comes.  

Sugar Bowl Tube Park | This project is located on the north side of Sugar Bowl Resort, west of Lake Mary and will include 600 feet with 2 sets of five parallel groomed runs and a centrally located magic carpet on 7.75 acres owned by Sugar Bowl Resort and USFS. It also includes snow making equipment, 206 parking stalls, temporary service structure for phase one with a permanent facility in phase two. Project is scheduled for Zoning Administrator public hearing on July 15. 

Brockway North Hotel | Predevelopment application for a potential mixed use redevelopment project at 8602 North Lake Blvd and includes a 4-story building with 21-unit boutique hotel, 9 condo units, restaurant, retail, meeting/seminar room, outdoor public performance site/playground/public art. Expect public outreach in late summer.

Tahoe Inn Workforce Housing | Predevelopment application for a potential workforce housing redevelopment project at 9937 North Lake Blvd at Stateline and includes 51 multi-family and 60 multi-person units in 2-3 story buildings and about 2,000 square feet of commercial use. No formal application submitted to date. 

Presenter: Crystal Jacobsen, Deputy CDRA Director

SUDDENLINK | We are looking into passing a County ordinance so we can start to fine Suddenlink for their service meeting certain standards including lack of investment and customer responses. Please forward your concerns along to our office – we are keeping a log and forwarding them off to Suddenlink. 

TRANSPORTATION FUNDING | We need to find a regional revenue stream to sustain and expand our micro mass programs throughout our entire region year-round as well as make that a part of the way we live up here. Our systems are not seamless nor fully connected and we will continue to look into free, frequent service in the Basin. 

BIOMASS | Placer County, surrounding counties and special districts are looking into ways we can stop paying money to haul our wood off the hill by trying find a local biomass plant. In addition, we're collaborating on ways we can use that energy and wood product right here in our region. 

HOUSING | It is beyond a crisis! It is a horrible situation for our employers and employees that are being kicked out of their homes. Our region is losing long-term rental space at a very rapid rate and we are working every opportunity we can to revise ordinances to ease the situation so we can get some housing projects going. We are way behind and none of us anticipated Covid and the pressure it created for our community. We all know this is a very challenging time. I encourage you to join our July 27 Tahoe Board of Supervisors Meeting for a more thorough report on housing updates.