News Briefs
Town Awarded $4.4 Million Grant for Transportation Project
TRUCKEE
The Town of Truckee’s Keep Truckee Moving Project has been awarded approximately $4.4 million to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by providing a new transit center/mobility hub, app-based, on-demand transit technology, and advancing the transition to a zero-emissions transit fleet. This grant will help fund transformative projects that will modernize the town’s local and regional transit systems aimed at significantly reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses, vehicle miles traveled, and associated congestion.
The Keep Truckee Moving project is a comprehensive program of projects developed to meet the current and future transportation needs of our residents and visitors while reducing the impact on the environment and by leveraging app-based on-demand technology aimed at getting our residents to and from their destinations safely and efficiently. More specifically, the project will support the following:
- Purchase of two electric passenger transit vans to replace existing diesel transit vehicles in the Fiscal Year 2024/25.
- Purchase of seven electric transit vans to expand the transit fleet and begin the transition to zero emissions, with a goal of 64% zero emissions by 2026.
- Purchase of app-based, on-demand transit technology to allow the town and its contractors to schedule, dispatch, and manage on-demand transit service.
- Funding for public charging infrastructure at the proposed Railyard Mobility Hub.
This grant will allow the Town of Truckee to continue taking steps toward a greener future. Town Manager Jen Callaway expressed her gratitude and said “We are so excited about this grant and grateful for the award as this is really a surge that will further ignite and validate our efforts to move Truckee’s mobility goals forward.”
~ Town of Truckee press release
Public Forum On Vacation Home Rentals
LAKE TAHOE, WEST SHORE
A vacation home rental public forum for the residents of Meeks Bay, Tahoma, and surrounding areas will be held on Thursday, May 25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Meeks Bay Fire Station. Participants may also join the meeting remotely via Zoom.
The purpose of this public forum is to present to the public the vacation home rental program update presentation and to receive questions and comments; it is solely an information-gathering exercise.
“This forum will allow for interested parties to hear the presentation that was made to the [El Dorado County] Board of Supervisors on May 2,” said Supervisor Brooke Laine. “We welcome your questions, comments, concerns, and experiences related to the vacation home rental ordinance.”
The current vacation home rental ordinance, No. 5146, has been in effect since September 2021. On May 2, 2023, the board received a presentation on a vacation home rental program update and provided direction to staff regarding four amendments to the vacation home rental ordinance. Supervisor Laine will be assembling a vacation home rental advisory committee with herself as the single decision maker to include staff and stakeholders to explore further potential adjustments and/or amendments to the vacation home rental ordinance.
~ El Dorado County press release
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Community Coffee Talks
LAKE TAHOE
Starting this summer, Julie Regan, executive director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, will be hosting a series of morning coffee sessions around Lake Tahoe. These hour-long sessions aim to foster meaningful discussions on critical issues affecting our diverse communities.
Responding to the community’s growing desire for enhanced communication about TRPA’s programs and upcoming projects, Regan is excited to connect with residents in an informal and engaging setting.
“I recognize the importance of hearing directly from our community members. Sitting down over a cup of coffee or tea provides an ideal platform for sharing concerns, ideas, and aspirations,” Regan said.
The inaugural Coffee Talk with Julie will take place on Thursday, May 25, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the TRPA office, located at 128 Market St. in Stateline, Nevada.
A North Shore Coffee Talk session will be held on Thursday, June 22, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Tahoe City Public Utility District, located at 221 Fairway Dr. in Tahoe City. To reserve your spot for either session, please email trpa@trpa.gov. Space is limited.
~ TRPA press release
Housing Needs Survey
TRUCKEE/TAHOE
Mountain Housing Council of Tahoe Truckee, a program of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, is asking employers, employees, and residents of Tahoe/Truckee to complete a new housing survey as part of an updated assessment of the region’s housing needs. The survey results will provide an update on the key findings of the 2016 and 2021 Truckee North Tahoe Regional Workforce Housing Needs Assessment, and assist MHC partner agencies in updating housing policy and developing appropriate housing strategies specific to our resident, in-commuting, seasonal, and unhoused populations.
Complete the 2023 Regional Housing Needs Survey today; deadline for responses is Monday, May 22.
~ Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation enews
Legislation Protecting Lake Tahoe
WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) passed legislation to protect Lake Tahoe through the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Her bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act will help deliver more federal funding to Lake Tahoe to support environmental protection and habitat restoration programs. The bill will now advance to the full Senate for consideration.
“This bill provides needed continuity to the programs that are central to preserving and restoring the Lake Tahoe Basin and ensuring equitable access and enjoyment for this and future generations,” said Julie Regan, executive director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. “On behalf of Lake Tahoe’s conservation partners, we appreciate the leadership of Sen. Cortez Masto and Tahoe’s congressional delegation in moving this legislation forward.”
~ Senator Catherine Cortez Masto press release
Community Engagement for Parking Management Program
TAHOE CITY
North Lake Tahoe residents, homeowners, and visitors are encouraged to share their thoughts to help shape a new parking management program under development by Placer County’s Department of Public Works.
Presented to the Placer County Board of Supervisors, the goal of the program is to make more efficient use of existing infrastructure in the North Tahoe region, reduce transportation impacts on the environment, reduce traffic congestion, and minimize regional delays. Although still in the planning phase, the program would include paid parking in public parking lots within Tahoe City and Kings Beach town centers, as well as recreational beach sites, and the establishment of specific residential permit parking zones.
Parking management was originally recommended in the county’s Resort Triangle Transportation Plan, which was approved by the board in 2020. It was developed to work together with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Regional Transportation Plan. Both plans encourage a shift toward alternative modes of travel and away from the use of personal vehicles.
The resort triangle is generally defined as the area shaped by state Route 89, state Route 267, and state Route 28, east of the Sierra Nevada Crest within Placer County. These well-known routes connect the Town of Truckee to North Lake Tahoe communities and frequently suffer from seasonal traffic impacts.
“This year’s record snowfall led to winter peak visitation days at ski resorts and we know that summer peak visitation strains our roadways and parking resources,” said Placer’s public works deputy director, Rebecca Taber. “We’re working hard with our regional partners to come up with solutions to reduce traffic congestion and shift to alternative modes of travel and this parking management program will be a key part of that plan.”
Initial phases of the program would look to establish “pay to park” within commercial town center county parking lots and roadways, as well as existing parking located along SR 28, which would require Caltrans’ participation. The parking management program would also create parking limitations in residential areas within a three-to-five-minute walk to town with permits for residents and guest passes to reduce spillover parking into adjacent neighborhoods. The program has not yet set parking pricing in both Tahoe City and Kings Beach town centers and recreational beach sites.
The public will have a chance to share comments on the proposed parking management program through two in-person community engagement events planned for May 31 in Kings Beach and June 6 in Tahoe City, as well as a virtual meeting to be held later this summer. To learn more, visit placer.ca.gov.
~ Placer County press release
Volunteer Organization Donates to Help Stop Sex Trafficking
TRUCKEE
On April 25, Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner hosted a program on sex trafficking. Melissa Holland from Awaken and Andrea Chapman and Nancy Settle from Sierra Community House presented an overview of sex trafficking and prostitution in Reno and the Tahoe/Truckee areas. They highlighted the services that both groups offer to help people leave those situations, get into a safe environment, and develop skills and confidence to rebuild their lives.
Because of the generous grant from a local donor, SITD was able to grant $5,000 to Awaken and Sierra Community House. The grants will be used for three projects: $2,000 will be used to prepare backpacks with items that women who are escaping violence or trafficking need such as clothes, shampoo, and underwear; $500 has been used to print “STOP TRAFFICKING” signs that direct people to a 24/7 hotline manned by Sierra Community House; and $1,500 is being used for a celebration for seven trafficked girls who are now graduating from high school.
After the program meeting, SITD members posted informational flyers around the community to help stop trafficking in our area.
SITD holds monthly club meetings at 12 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Truckee airport. All women are invited to join as a guest by emailing info@sitruckeedonner.org.
~ SITD press release
Utility District Enters Second Season of Pioneer Trail Project Construction
TRUCKEE
Truckee Donner Public Utility District will soon restart construction work on the Pioneer Trail Pipeline and Pump Station. This project began in September 2022, and will result in a new water pipeline and pump station to serve the Tahoe Donner area. This highly-anticipated water project is critical to the health of the community’s water service, and it will strengthen the reliability of TDPUD’s water delivery system.
This work requires closures to the Trout Creek Trail, as it did last fall. TDPUD and the project contractor, C&D Contractors, have spent time figuring out the best way to approach this project in order to complete the work in this year’s shortened construction season, while also being mindful of the community’s use of this trail and attempting to have the least amount of impact during peak periods. Given this year’s big winter, crews have been delayed on starting the project until after Memorial Day, and the work that remains on the project will take a few months. Recognizing that closing the trail during the height of the summer would be detrimental to the lives of many of our residents and visitors, TDPUD has worked out an accommodating solution.
The trail will close from approximately May 30 to June 30, then reopen for July 4 weekend and remain open through Labor Day. It will then close again until work is finished in the fall. This plan balances the needs of the community with the needs of the utility, and will allow for the project to be completed without cutting off access to the trail during its busiest time of use.
During the closure, the Trout Creek Trail will be closed to all access from the trailhead at Northwoods Boulevard, to about a half mile east of the Trout Creek Bridge. While a section of the trail starting from the trailhead in downtown Truckee will remain open, the trail will not be passable from end to end. Access from downtown Truckee to the Pioneer Commerce Center will remain unaffected.
The new pipeline will connect existing water piping on Northwoods Boulevard to a new pump station located to the southwest of the intersection of Pioneer Trail and Comstock Drive. This project will improve TDPUD’s capacity and resiliency in providing potable water and fire flow into Tahoe Donner. Four fire hydrants will also be added to the Trout Creek Trail area. TDPUD will also be installing $1 million of new primary power and communications conduits in a joint trench along with the water pipeline for future network build out. TDPUD also plans to repave the full width of the trail in areas that are disturbed by construction. For more information about this project and a map of the closure area, visit tdpud.org/pioneerpipeline.
~ TDPUD press release
Boat Launch Opens for the First Time in Years
TAHOE VISTA
The North Tahoe Public Utility District will open the boat launch at the Tahoe Vista Recreation Area for the first time in two years on Friday, May 26, pending water levels.
The Tahoe Vista boat launch will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., from May 26 through June 23. Beginning Saturday, June 24, the launch will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Operations beyond Labor Day weekend will be dependent on weather, staffing, and demand.
The Tahoe Vista Boat ramp will be open only to motorized vessels that have received a TRPA Aquatic Invasive Species inspection prior to launch. Inspections will not be available at the ramp. For a list of inspection locations and hours, please visit tahoeboatinspections.com.
Residents may purchase a one-time launch pass for $17. For non-residents, the fee for a one-time launch pass is $60 ($17 launch fee and $43 environmental and facility impact fee). One-time launch fees may be purchased in-person at the TVRA boat launch via credit card only, no cash will be accepted at the launch ramp.
Residents may purchase a boat launch season pass (unlimited launches) for $170. For non-residents, the boat launch season pass fee is $600.
Season passes can be purchased online in advance at ntpud.org, and must be picked up in-person at the district’s main office in Tahoe Vista, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Verification of NTPUD residency is required to receive the resident rate. NTPUD residency is defined as a property owner who pays the district’s Community Facilities District (CFD) fee on their property tax bill. For renters, the owner of your property must assign resident benefits to you by completing the NTPUD Assignment of Benefits Form, prior to purchase.
More information about the district’s Resident Benefit Program is available online at ntpud.org.
~ NTPUD press release
Best for Women Event
TRUCKEE
Soroptimist International of Truckee-Donner held an award night to honor Woman of Distinction Megan Seiffert, founder of Headwaters Science Institute, for her many years encouraging and educating youth in science. She founded the Headwaters Science Institute to encourage youth to understand and pursue science. Their mission is “fostering curiosity through science.” Seiffert was awarded $500 to donate to the charity of her choice, which was Headwaters Science Institute.
Kim Bateman, dean, Sierra College Tahoe-Truckee Campus, presented a keynote speech which highlighted the discrepancy of wages between men and women. Bateman concluded by noting how the awards given that night helped women achieve their goals.
SITD provided over $27,000 in financial awards for scholarships and grants. The Live Your Dream Award ($10,000) was awarded to women with dependents needing financial aid to improve their career opportunities. The winners included Jazmin Garcia, Angele Marie Carroll, Christy Kathleen Goldsworthy, and Sydney Taylor. The Career Advancement Scholarship ($16,000) was awarded to women who want to improve their careers through additional education or training. Winners were Malenie Coral, Sabrina Futral, Perla Mendez Mayra Plascencia, Araceli Lopez, and Jasmine Sanchez. The Violet Richardson Award is for a high school girl who volunteers in her community. It was given to Zuridey Vazquez-Lopez from North Tahoe High School. She was awarded $300 for herself and $300 for the charity of her choice, which was the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.
~ SITD press release
Paddling Into Summer
TRUCKEE
With an impressive “Just Keep Paddling Bear,” Sierra State Parks Foundation, the local nonprofit partner to the eight California State Parks in the Tahoe/Truckee area, kept its title as master snow sculptors with a first-place finish in SnowFest’s Snow Sculpture Content. The parks foundation stole the show with a massive canoeing bear and extends its gratitude to River Ranch Inn for hosting this wonderful community event.
~ Sierra State Parks Foundation press release
Business Briefs
Martis Valley Massage Expands
TRUCKEE
Martis Valley Massage, a local wellness destination, is excited to announce its expansion in the Soaring Ranch Shopping Center. The grand re-opening is scheduled for June 10 with an open house that will take place from 3:30 to 7 p.m. With the expansion, Martis Valley Massage is tripling its size. It now features six treatment rooms, a river lounge room with a complimentary tea station, and a larger lobby with expanded retail options. The spa now offers an expanded range of services, including massages, facials, waxing, and eyebrow treatments. Notably, the day spa is now offering group packages for parties, celebrations, and retreats. Martis Valley Massage aims to meet the growing demand for exceptional wellness experiences while creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.
~ Martis Valley Massage press release
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