News Briefs
Agency Partnership Program to Approve up to $500,000 in Awards
TRUCKEE
Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation is again working with the Truckee Tahoe Airport District on its 2023 Agency Partnership Program.
The Agency Partnership Program supports larger regional projects and programs — with awards of $5,000 or more — that align with TTAD’s public purpose and mission to provide safe, high-quality services and facilities, reduce impact on airport neighbors and the environment, and invest in opportunities that increase community safety and provide sustained benefit to the entire Truckee/Tahoe region. In 2022, 10 local agencies and qualifying nonprofits received awards totaling $416,397.
Prospective applicants should mark their calendars with the following application timeline/process dates:
- July 31: Application period closes
- August 2 to Sept. 13: TTCF committee review and recommendations
- Sept. 27: TTAD board of directors meeting
- Sept. 28: Notification of funding decisions
TTCF will manage the online application and administrative process for this program that is aligned with TTAD’s public purpose. TTAD and its board reserves the right to determine the final amount of funding assigned to partnerships each funding cycle.
~ TTCF press release
TART Connect Microtransit Pilot Program Expands for Spring
TRUCKEE
On March 14, the Truckee Town Council voted to approve a continuation of the current TART Connect microtransit service until June 30. The winter pilot was due to end on April 2, but will move straight into a spring pilot with expanded morning operating hours and service to the entire Town of Truckee community.
TART currently serves Tahoe Donner, Glenshire, the downtown area, the Tahoe Forest Health System district, Brockway Road through to the Truckee Tahoe Airport, along West River Street, and to Alder Creek Middle School. On April 3, it expanded to all areas within the Town of Truckee limits.
The program has to-date been operating in specific areas within Truckee due to funding sources limitations and the desire to evaluate the program in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. Due to the success of both the summer and winter pilots, the Truckee Town Council has decided that a town-wide pilot would be beneficial to understand the entire community’s appetite for this type of transit service on a permanent basis.
The Truckee Town Council has also directed staff to develop the framework for a yearlong TART Connect microtransit pilot which would operate from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Town staff are in the process of developing this final operating plan and associated budget, which will be presented to the council for consideration as part of the FY 23/24 budget process.
The Town of Truckee wants to encourage residents, visitors, and workers to use the free service to access medical services, go shopping or dining, visit friends, access a trailhead, get to work, or explore the region without the need for a private automobile. The TART Connect app is available on both iOS and Android. For more information about this program, service areas, and connections to regional transportation services, visit tahoetruckeetransit.com.
~ Town of Truckee press release
Public Hearing for Idaho Maryland Mine – Rise Grass Valley Project
NEVADA COUNTY
The Nevada County Planning Department has scheduled the planning commission public hearing for the proposed Idaho Maryland Mine – Rise Grass Valley Project on May 10. The public hearing will continue on May 11 as needed.
The planning department will issue a formal notice of public hearing in mid-April. Interested residents are encouraged to subscribe for updates on the project’s planning process at nevadacountyca.gov/immrise, including subscribing for notifications on how to submit a public comment for the upcoming May 10 public hearing.
Public hearing details: Wednesday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will continue to May 11, beginning at 9 a.m., as needed. Eric Rood Administration Center Board of Supervisor Chambers, located at 950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City.
Where to find project documents: The public can review the final EIR and a project timeline that outlines the complete EIR process and next steps at nevadacountyca.gov/immrise.
~ Nevada County press release
Take Care Tahoe Reduces Plastic Waste at Sled Hills
TAHOE CITY
With this winter’s seemingly endless snowfall, Tahoe’s sled hills have been packed with families every weekend. After a day of fun, these locations can become blanketed in broken plastic sleds and other discarded trash, creating an excess of waste on the hills and a hazard to other sledders. Take Care Tahoe and its partner organizations have set up sled corrals to help manage this issue at five of the most popular sites for sledding in the Tahoe region.
“Not only are the sharp shards of plastic sleds dangerous for other sledders, they begin to break down into microplastics that will eventually end up in the lake,” explained Marilee Movius, senior community engagement manager with the League to Save Lake Tahoe.
Take Care Tahoe encourages all users to practice slediquette. This means properly disposing of broken sleds in designated sled corrals, or using dumpsters or sealed trash cans, or simply taking trash home with them if other disposal options aren’t available. Each sled corral is a small, fenced off area made for collecting broken pieces of sleds. These corrals are located at Spooner Summit, Van Sickle Bi-State Park at Stateline, Fallen Leaf Lake Road, and Ski Run Boulevard in South Lake, and Truckee. Take Care Tahoe volunteers work throughout the winter to remove sleds and other trash from these areas.
The most environmentally friendly option is to buy a more durable sled, ideally made out of wood or metal that will last for multiple seasons. Local Raley’s stores in Tahoe provide more durable options.
Recreators are strongly encouraged to choose official sledding hills instead of pulling off the side of the road to find their small hill fun. At official sledding hills, vendors offer sled rentals, parking and restrooms, and are required to keep their hills litter-free.
~ Take Care Tahoe press release
Tahoe Transportation District Mobility Hub Questionnaire
INCLINE VILLAGE
The Tahoe Transportation District is encouraging the Incline Village community to share ideas about what a mobility hub could look like in the area. From deciding what type of amenities the hub will feature to identifying potential locations, the community has the opportunity to help shape the future of mobility options in Incline Village and the Tahoe Basin.
A questionnaire is now live and accessible by visiting inclinevillagemobilityhub.org.
In addition to the survey, the community will have a chance to learn more, collaborate with the project team, and voice their opinions at a public information workshop on Thursday, April 20, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, 948 Incline Way.
A second public information workshop will be scheduled later this summer. Details will be released closer to the meeting’s date.
~ Tahoe Transportation District press release
2040 General Plan Final Planning Commission Hearing Recap
Last week was a Truckee planning commission marathon, with back-to-back meetings on March 21 and 22 to review and provide recommendations to the town council on the Final Truckee 2040 General Plan, Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), and Final Downtown Specific Plan. After much deliberation and several proposed edits, the planning commission recommended denial of the Truckee 2040 General Plan, denial of the current version of the FEIR, and approval of the Downtown Specific Plan.
~ Mountain Area Preservation newsletter
SOS Outreach Partners with Northstar California to Expand Youth Development Programs
INCLINE VILLAGE
Youth development nonprofit SOS Outreach has impacted 170 local youth this year through its Learn to Ride and mentoring programs, which consist of five ski/ride days at Northstar California. The Learn to Ride program began in 2010 with a Vail Resorts Epic Promise grant to provide season passes, rentals, and instructors to 25 local youth. Shortly after, SOS Outreach expanded its reach by offering its multi-year mentoring program to keep youth engaged year after year until graduation. The mentor program also consists of additional workshops and community service activities to teach leadership skills and a core-values based curriculum.
“It has been incredible to grow our program and serve more youth throughout the community,” says Heather Schwartz, North Lake Tahoe program manager. “The goal is to have more kids returning year after year for the full benefits of our multi-year curriculum. After year five, we work to keep youth engaged through our Junior Mentor program and Career Development Pipeline.”
Launched in Colorado in 2020, the Career Development Pipeline provides paid summer jobs to SOS participants, ages 15 and up, with partners in the outdoor industry. This summer will be the first year that this program is offered to North Lake Tahoe teens. Participants receive mentorship from SOS and partner staff throughout the course of the apprenticeship learning work ethic, communication skills, problem solving, collaboration, and more.
Additionally, this program would not be possible without the support of the Parasol Community Foundation, Tahoe Fund, Martis Camp Foundation, and Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation.
To learn more or get involved, visit sosoutreach.org.
~ SOS Outreach press release
County Plans Innovative Model to Manage Emergency Response and Planning
PLACER COUNTY
With five declared emergencies in just two years, Placer County is now moving forward with a first-of-its-kind, emergency-response model that will enhance cooperation and coordination among the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Placer County Fire, and the Placer County Office of Emergency Services.
On March 28, a multi-disciplinary presentation detailing the new emergency-response model was provided to the board of supervisors by Placer County’s sheriff, fire, and OES agencies. The plan calls for the addition of a dedicated sheriff’s lieutenant and assistant fire chief to work directly in the Office of Emergency Services and coordinate planning and disaster response alongside the OES team.
Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo says the idea of reorganizing OES was born after several unprecedented emergencies required a long and sustained response, such as the Mosquito Fire and Christmas storm of 2021.
Integrating these two new positions within OES will allow for enhanced emergency support, incident management, and pre-incident/emergency planning. These two positions will also provide support to OES outside of emergencies including the pursuit of grant opportunities, regional training, and other areas as needed. The goals are centered around three focus areas: improved planning, enhanced public information, along with heightened operational coordination.
~ Placer County press release
New Find Tahoe Tessie App
LAKE TAHOE
After over a year of planning and development, Tahoe Environmental Research Center’s new Find Tahoe Tessie app is almost ready to debut! But before launching a wide-scale promotion for Find Tahoe Tessie, TERC is looking for people to help in the final stages of formative evaluation.
Find Tahoe Tessie is a new app developed by UC Davis TERC and partners to educate players about the effects of climate change on Lake Tahoe’s aquatic ecosystem. The result is a series of interactive games, videos, and quizzes in which players use scientific reasoning to deduce how climate change affects Lake Tahoe’s temperature, clarity, dissolved oxygen, and algae concentration — and how all these changes impact aquatic organisms. Find Tahoe Tessie not only teaches people about the effects of climate change on Lake Tahoe’s famously pristine ecosystem but also lets them snap a photo with an adorable sea monster.
Now that the app is released to the public, players are welcome to download Find Tahoe Tessie and provide feedback for the next version. You can help by providing feedback in three easy steps:
- Download the app to your phone or tablet (simply search “Find Tahoe Tessie” in the app store or Google Play store, or use the links below):
- Play through the game and pay attention to any technical challenges or difficulties you encounter.
- After you’ve completed the game, submit your feedback in this form.
If you’d like to learn more, visit the Find Tahoe Tessie webpage!
~ TERC press release
Short-Term Rental Update
PLACER COUNTY
Permit status through March 1
Total issued permits: 3,263
Total pending applications: 35
Revoked permits: 4
Citations: 50
~ Eastern Placer Bulletin
Extended Library Hours
INCLINE VILLAGE
At the March 15 Library Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees unanimously approved the expansion of hours at the Incline Village Library. The Incline Village branch will now add Saturday hours to its hours of operation.
Effective April 1, the branch will be open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New Saturday hours will allow for an increase in services, including more weekend programs and events, computer access, and access to the community meeting room.
For the most up-to-date information on library hours and services, please visit washoecountylibrary.us.
~ Washoe County newsletter
Sierra Valley’s Tour de Manure Will Not Happen in 2023
The Tour de Manure Metric Century, held annually in Sierra Valley, will be on hiatus during 2023. An enthusiastic effort was put forth by a couple of organizations looking to spearhead the event, but the Sierra County Fire District, a main partner, has voted to put the tour on ice for the time being.
The tour began in 2008 as a fundraiser for the fire department in Sierraville. Participation grew from a little more than 100 riders in the first year’s event to a sellout registration of 500 at the most recent ride in 2022. It brought thousands of dollars annually to the fire department, and eventually enabled the department to buy its first new fire and rescue truck specifically designed for local fire and rescue calls. Interest remains high, and it is anticipated that 2024 will witness the Tour de Manure’s return to the Sierra Valley.
Interested riders should continue to monitor the tour’s Facebook page for updates, and can check in to the tour’s website at tourdemanure.org as well.
~ Tour de Manure Metric Century press release
Business Briefs
Diamond Peak Extends Ski Season
INCLINE VILLAGE
With a snowpack measuring over 10 feet deep and more snow in the forecast this week, Diamond Peak Ski Resort is thrilled to announce it will be extending its 2022/23 ski season through Monday, May 1. This will be only the second time in the resort’s history that it has been open in May.
Skiers and riders looking to take advantage of the extended spring season are encouraged to purchase an unrestricted 2023/24 Diamond Peak season pass, which comes with spring access for the remainder of the current season. Diamond Peak’s Early-Bird Season Pass Sale runs through April 30, with the best prices and most perks available to both new and renewing season pass holders.
~ Diamond Peak Ski Resort press release
