News Briefs
Placer County Staff Advances Tahoe Biomass Project, Seeking Public-Private Partnership
AUBURN
The Placer County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized county staff to prepare and release a request for proposals for the proposed Cabin Creek biomass facility project in North Lake Tahoe.
The board’s approval of the Request for Proposal process came after receiving a project update from county staff on the feasibility of the construction and operation of a biomass facility.
The proposed facility site is the Eastern Regional Landfill located in Placer County.
The facility would not only assist with mitigating wildfire risks but also create renewable energy or other renewable biomass fuels by using thermochemical conversion technologies. Biomass facilities produce energy using wood scraps left over from forestry operations or residential defensible space clearing, helping remove a hazardous source of fuel for wildfires. They also generate heat and a byproduct called biochar that could be used as fertilizer and in water filtration processes.
Recent catastrophic wildfires, including the River and Mosquito fires, have highlighted the need for local biomass facilities to take the surplus of biomass material resulting from forest fire cleanup, forest management projects and residential defensible space efforts. However, the lack of local facilities has caused this material to be shipped long distances to biomass facilities already approaching capacity limits, driving down its value and burdening residents with increased disposal costs.
In response, Placer County has for years pursued plans for a biomass facility to effectively manage and utilize excess woody biomass material in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Currently, agencies employ various tactics to reduce wood scraps left on the ground during routine healthy forest maintenance, including open pile burning.
Open pile burning is necessary to reduce fuel loads, especially in the absence of a regional biomass facility, but can create temporary smoky conditions, and also releases carbon into the atmosphere.
Advanced technologies used in modern biomass facilities, on the other hand, can trap carbon and other pollutants, helping agencies reduce even more fuel loads, which decreases the risk of wildfire, reduces air pollutants compared to open pile burning, and is better for the environment.
~ Placer County press release
New Website, Logo to Launch Next Month
TRUCKEE
The Town of Truckee will launch a new website at the end of March that includes updated branding and logo. The hope is to inspire enhanced community engagement and jurisdiction cohesion, particularly amid a number of town divisions and projects with their own identity, separate from the town’s current official logo.
The new website will include more information about disaster preparedness, ideally becoming a hub regarding wildfire- and storm-related impacts. The logo will be updated across town materials, equipment, and property.
“The process for the creation of an entire branding system has been driven by employee feedback,” shared Bron Roberts, communications program manager for the town. “We had more than half of our employees choosing to offer their guidance and advice during development of this branding toolkit, and individual divisions are still working on their own representations. The process of internal input is similar to what other surrounding agencies have done with their branding effort, including Nevada County.”
The town entered into a contract agreement with CivicPlus for website design and hosting in July 2023. The total cost of that contract to date is $57,331. Expectations for the scope of work can be found in the Request for Proposal, first advertised February 2023. The total projected expenditure for the town branding project is $155,000 and comes out of the general fund.
“We are happy to be preserving the history of Truckee with the current logo being retained as the official seal of Truckee and an array of other logos, illustrations, fonts, colors, and division specific icons to support branding and recognition for the Town as an organization. Creating an entire system will help represent our government agency across various channels and assets,” Roberts said.
No public input was sought during the process, which began this past September. Roberts explained that all town staff were invited to participate in the process. Over half (86) took the initial survey and 40 attended the first workshop.
One town employee who asked to remain anonymous shared frustration over the logo and branding update with Moonshine Ink, saying if so much money is being spent on such a process, taxpayers should be involved.
According to Roberts, many staffers are excited about the update.
“Not everyone has expressed support for the new branding, but like other design and artistic processes, it is unlikely that full support is attainable,” Roberts said. “Unfortunately some staff that may not be in favor of the branding may have chosen to not participate in the internal process beyond the initial survey.”
Currently, different divisions at the town are working on their individualized iconographies in advance of the branding update next month.
~ AH
$5,000 Awarded to Help Trafficked Women
TRUCKEE
Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner (SITD) was able to support both Awaken (Reno) and Sierra Community House (Truckee) with $2,500 each thanks to the generous support of the Whittier Trust.
Sierra Community House (SCH) provides 24/7 support to women, men, and children subject to sex trafficking or domestic violence. The support ranges from hotel rooms, food, clothes, and comfort in Truckee and North Tahoe. In addition, SITD has placed posters highlighting the services in Truckee, Tahoe City, and Kings Beach.
Awaken in Reno has set up transitional housing for women and their families who have been trafficked. This grant will be used to help furnish the supportive housing.
SITD President Cathy Leibow said, “I am so pleased we can support women in our community getting the help they need to get out of dangerous situations and rebuild their lives for themselves and their children.”
SITD holds monthly club meetings on the second Thursday of each month at noon. All are invited to join as a guest by emailing info@sitd.info. For more information, go to sitd.info or contact Cathy Leibow at info@sitd.info. SITD hosts its annual Wine and Restaurant Faire in June and Soroptishop for Holiday Shopping featuring local artisans Nov. 16.
Soroptimist (soroptimist.org) is an international volunteer service organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. SITD is a 501(c)(3) organization.
~ SITD press release
Tax Savings Deadline from 2023 Winter Storms Nearing
NEVADA CITY
Due to the excess damage in Nevada County as a result of the winter storms in February and March 2023, a large number of properties qualified for a temporary reduction in assessed value by the assessor’s office. As a result, these qualified applicants collectively received more than $5.5 million dollars of value removed from their assessment. However, there are more owners who may still qualify for this temporary relief from last year’s storms and the application is due no later than Monday, April 1.
Under Section 170 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code, property that has been damaged by misfortune or calamity may qualify for a reduction in assessed value, which can result in the lowering of property taxes. To qualify for the reduction, the damage from the calamity must exceed $10,000 in market value and an application must be filled out in the assessor’s office within one year of when the calamity occurred to potentially receive the reduction.
Upon receiving a proper application, the assessor shall appraise the property immediately before and after the damage or destruction. If the sum of the full cash values of the property before the damage exceeds the sum of the values after the damage by $10,000 or more, the assessor shall also separately determine the percentage reductions due to the damage. The assessor shall reduce the values appearing on the assessment roll by the percentages of damage or destruction computed pursuant to this subdivision, and the taxes due on the property shall be adjusted as provided. When the damaged property is rebuilt in a like or similar manner, in a timely manner (normally within the next five years), the property will be restored to its prior assessed value for property tax purposes. Typically, claims are processed within 30 to 90 days after receiving all necessary information. Once the analysis is complete, the assessor’s office will notify the property owner of their decision.
Those who believe their property is still eligible for the reassessment from last winter’s storms, please submit the Calamity Reassessment Claim Form to provide the assessor’s office with the information needed to determine if an adjustment is justified. Please attach any photos, cost estimates, or other documents that may indicate the level of the damage.
The form is also available on the Assessor’s website at nevadacountyca.gov/163/assessor. Those with questions about the form or process, please contact the office at (530) 265-1232 or assessor@nevadacountyca.gov.
~ Nevada County Assessor’s Office press release
Town Seeks Two Additional Community Members to Join R2SC Steering Committee
TRUCKEE
The Town of Truckee is looking for two local residents to join an important committee that is helping to shape the future of the downtown area. The River Revitalization Steering Committee (R2SC) was formed in 2023 to work collaboratively with landowners, business owners and other Truckee River stakeholders to create opportunities for the revitalization of the river corridor.
A diverse group of 16 local community members was appointed last fall, and now the town is looking to fill two additional residential seats with community members who live in the area. Residents who live on East River Street, West River Street (including Donner Creek Mobile Home Park), Riverside Drive, or Foxmead Lane are invited to submit a letter of interest by March 1. People can send the letter via email to Truckee’s assistant to the town manager, Hilary Hobbs, at hhobbs@townoftruckee.com.
The committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. at town hall. Learn more about the R2SC at: townoftruckee.com/river
~ Town of Truckee press release
Supervisors Deny Rise Grass Valley’s Idaho Maryland Mine Project
NEVADA CITY
On Feb. 16, after six hours of public comment over two days, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to deny Rise Grass Valley’s Idaho Maryland Mine Project and Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
“This has been a fair and consistent process,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Hardy Bullock. “Supervisors have been engaged and heard from the community and from the applicant. Our job is to reflect the values and vision of our community.”
The supervisors’ decision is consistent with the planning commission’s unanimous recommendation in May 2023 that supervisors deny the proposed Idaho Maryland Mine – Rise Grass Valley Project and the Final EIR.
Watch the recording of the Feb. 15 and 16 board special meeting online via Nevada County’s YouTube channel. Additional information and documents about Rise Grass Valley’s proposed Idaho Maryland Mine project can be found at nevadacountyca.gov/immrise.
~ Nevada County press release
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
Steve Randall Joins Bike Trail Board
RENO
Former Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District GM Steve Randall has joined the Tahoe Pyramid Trail board. The TPT is a nonprofit organization with the goal of creating a trail that runs along the length of the Truckee River. To date, the trail is 81% complete.
Randall has a history with the trail, specifically its construction through the canyon. He served as the rec and park general manager from 1985 to 2023 and was responsible for oversight of all district functions and activities including administration, finance, human resources, parks and recreation operations, and public outreach. Randall came to Truckee in 1985 to serve as the GM. Under his tenure, the district grew and now includes 14 parks, facilities, and community centers. The district has received many awards over the years, including the Best Park and Recreation District in the State of California in 2004, 2010, and 2017, as well as for Best New Facility in the State of California for River View Sports Park, the Community Recreation Center, and the Community Aquatics Center.
Randall is active in community service as a member of the Truckee Rotary Club, sitting on various boards and commissions, and chairing many community special events. He has been awarded Citizen of the Year in Truckee twice, been Rotarian of the Year three times, and grand marshal of the July 4th parade. During his tenure as general manager, Steve worked with Janet Phillips and the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail to secure grants, trail construction, and project management for the California sections of the trail.
~ TPT enews
