News Briefs
Final Three Basin Wildfire Evacuation Simulations Continue to Spotlight Infrastructure Limitations, Public Safety Dangers
INCLINE VILLAGE
The final Lake Tahoe Basin Independent Wildfire Evacuation analyses, released Oct. 23, include evacuation simulation times for three additional Tahoe study areas. This follows the Aug. 15 release of evacuation simulations for the Placer Tahoe and Washoe Tahoe study areas.
The three new evacuation simulation study areas are Douglas Tahoe, El Dorado South Shore Tahoe, and West Shore Tahoe.
This brings to completion the first-ever Tahoe Basin Independent Wildfire Evacuation Analysis, combining artificial intelligence (AI) and real-life Sierra Nevada wildfire experience. Evacuation simulations for these three study areas continue to reveal Tahoe workers, residents, and visitors to California and Nevada’s iconic Lake Tahoe could face hours-long, potentially life-threatening, slow evacuations.
The newly released evacuation simulation times for the Douglas Tahoe study area reveal it could take 5 to 7.5 hours to evacuate the area; for South Shore El Dorado Study Area (including Meyers and Fallen Leaf Lake) it could take 8.5 to 11 hours; and for the West Shore Tahoe study area 4 to 8.5 hours.
Commissioned by tahoecleanair.org, the models provide hypothetical “no-notice” versus “planned event” evacuation simulations. The models incorporate operational expertise from veteran firefighters and emergency management experts involved in some of the West’s most catastrophic wildfires, including the 2018 Camp Fire.
Based on first-hand knowledge of decades of extreme fire behavior and incorporating AI technology, experts from PyroAnalysis and Ladris conducted over 400 Tahoe wide evacuation simulations to help provide accurate highway and feeder road capacity limitations.
Further, AI evacuation modeling software estimated potential evacuation times based on a variety of road closures that create choke points. These bottlenecks could reasonably be expected during a fast-moving wildfire evacuation in peak summer tourist season, which coincides with peak wildfire season.
The completed analysis is available at tahoecleanair.org.
~ Tahoe Clean Air press release
Steps We Take to Ensure a Safe, Secure Election
EL DORADO, NEVADA, PLACER COUNTIES
As registrars of voters, we know that trust in elections has become a matter of great public concern. We’d like to share with you why you can trust our election procedures and processes.
Rigorous Checks and Balances
We complete public state-mandated tests of ballot-counting equipment to ensure that it is properly reading and tabulating votes. After every election, we hand count ballots from randomly selected precincts to see if the machine tally matches the hand count.
Secure Mail-In Voting
Our system of checks and balances extends to the processing of vote-by-mail ballots. When we issue your vote-by-mail ballot, it is given a unique identifying number that appears only on the ballot return envelope. When you return that ballot, our staff compare the signature on the envelope with the signature on file to ensure authenticity. To ensure our staff can accurately compare signatures, they receive forensic signature verification training; signatures flagged as non-matching are reviewed again by at least three staff members. Any discrepancy leads to immediate contact with the voter to resolve the issue before the identification envelope is opened.
Once we verify your signature and that you have not yet voted in this election, only then will the ballot be separated from the identification envelope and processed for tabulation. Your voting history is part of your voter file and is updated in real time. If we see that you have not yet voted in the current election, then we will give you credit for voting. Our staff will mark you as having cast a ballot in our system, and that information is immediately transmitted to the secretary of state. If you move within the county or state, your voting history moves with you.
Transparency at Every Level
Transparency is a pillar of election administration. Every step of the process is open to observation by the public. Anyone can watch all aspects of the elections process, including ballot counting, ballot scanner testing and the election canvass, an internal audit required by state law. We also encourage people to apply to be poll workers to witness firsthand our dedication to fairness.
We are also required to publish Election Night results and continue publishing updates until every eligible ballot is counted. During the elections canvass, we will continue to count ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day, as long as those ballots are received up to seven days after the election (no later than Nov. 12).
Constant Improvements
We continuously work to improve election security and constantly update our procedures to stay ahead of any potential threats. Our election systems undergo a detailed certification process, and we work with cybersecurity experts to ensure our systems are protected against any interference.
Opportunities to Get Involved
As always, we are here to answer your questions.
For more information, visit:
~ El Dorado, Nevada, and Placer counties Registrar of Voters press release
Board Denies Appeal, Approves Construction and Operation of Sawmill
TRUCKEE
At its Oct. 8 meeting, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors denied an appeal filed on behalf of Friends of Prosser Truckee to reject the construction and operation of a sawmill off Highway 89 and just west of Prosser Creek’s inlet to the Prosser Reservoir. Moonshine Ink first reported on the appeal in a September article, Proposed Sawmill Appealed, Residents Plea for Improved Safety Efforts.
Appellants requested that instead of approving the project, known as Alpenglow Timber, an environmental impact report be performed to understand the full effects on the surrounding land and people. Residents have frequently vocalized their concerns for safety, as the sawmill will sit adjacent to the Klondike Flats neighborhood, which comprises 20 homes.
The board’s early October approval was unanimous upon conditions: maintaining vegetation for sight distance at the intersection of Highway 89 and Klondike Flat Road, and the addition of an earthen and vegetated berm abutting Klondike road, in order to provide additional sound attenuation for the residential neighbors.
“While I’m sympathetic to change,” said District 4 Supervisor Susan Hoek of those who spoke against the project, “there’s the other part of it that says change comes with safety and fire safety is a huge component that we look at every day.”
It is possible for the appellants to file a California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit against the county, though the Friends of Prosser Truckee declined to comment on next steps.
~ AH
Board to Hear Palisades At Tahoe Specific Plan Item in November
KINGS BEACH
The Placer County Board of Supervisors will reconsider the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan at its Nov. 19 meeting in North Lake Tahoe. The board will consider the plan’s project entitlements and certification of the project’s environmental impact report, including both the original EIR and the partially revised EIR.
The meeting will be held at the North Tahoe Event Center (8318 North Lake Blvd. in Kings Beach) starting at 9 a.m. and is anticipated to be live-streamed via YouTube on the Placer County channel. The meeting agenda will be published here at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
The Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan proposes an 85-acre resort village that redevelops the existing ski resort base area at the west end of Olympic Valley. The plan includes 8.8 acres for employee housing, a community market, shipping and receiving and employee intercept parking. Known as the eastern parcel, this portion of the development would be located 1.3 miles east of the resort near the entrance to Olympic Valley.
Read Moonshine Ink’s latest reporting on the project, as well as most recent decisions made by area commissions, in Planning Commission Approves Palisades Tahoe Development Without the Water Park.
Learn more about the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan here.
~ Placer County press release
Printer’s Error May Cause Election Results Delay to Ensure Accurate Results
NEVADA CITY
A printer’s error on vote-by-mail ballots could delay election results from the Nov. 5 General Election due to readability issues. Luckily, the problem was immediately identified and is being addressed to ensure accuracy.
It is unclear at this time how many of the nearly 77,000 ballots issued are affected by the error. To date, the Nevada County Elections Office has received about 13,500 ballots.
“We have identified an issue with ink overspray on some ballots that is preventing our election equipment from processing those ballots. The error isn’t visible to the naked eye, and did not come up in our pre-election testing” said Registrar of Voters Natalie Adona. “To ensure every vote is counted, we will review all affected ballots and rescan using in-house printers so they can be processed. This procedure requires more steps than usual but maintains the integrity of the election, and all steps will be carefully monitored to ensure accuracy and transparency.”
Adona is strongly encouraging anyone interested to observe the ballot counting and rescanning process at the Elections Office at 950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City. Anyone may simply show up at the office and ask to observe. The office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 4 and will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
For details about Nevada County Elections, including vote center hours and locations, visit nevadacountyca.gov/november5election.
~ Nevada County press release
Tahoe’s Online Nonprofit Directory
LAKE TAHOE
With over 80 charitable organizations providing services and programs benefiting Tahoe, tahoegives.com makes it easy to browse through nonprofits serving Tahoe to discover local organizations and their missions.
As the season of giving approaches, the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation encourages people to think about how they plan to harness the power of good and to connect to causes they believe are contributing to the transformation of Tahoe.
We encourage giving in all seasons, and collectively on this Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3. Visit tahoegives.org for more.
~ Tahoe Parasol press release
Don’t Drop the Top Nets Its Biggest Collection Yet
OLYMPIC VALLEY
Keep dropping off those tops! The Shane McConkey Foundation’s latest collection and sorting of plastic bottle caps and lids is keeping another 2,000-plus pounds of plastic out of landfills. The foundation gathered with 120 volunteers at Truckee Elementary earlier this month to sort the 1,945 pounds of tops that had been dropped in collection bins throughout the region.
While the type of plastic that most bottle caps are made of is indeed recyclable, copious amounts of caps typically find their way into landfills, as most municipal programs do not recycle those classifications.
So, what happens to all of those plastic caps once they’re sorted? Well, ones that are dirty or are not recyclable — of which there were 400 pounds separated out from the bunch this year alone — regrettably do end up at the landfill. The bulk of the caps, however, has been upcycled into benches.
Don’t Drop the Top is funded by the North Tahoe Community Alliance’s TOT-TBID Dollars at Work program, which aims to enhance community vitality and environmental stewardship and promote economic health in the stunning North Lake Tahoe region.
To date, 35 benches have been sold and donated by the Shane McConkey Foundation since the start of Don’t Drop the Top, and each year the volume of caps collected continues to grow. This time around, enough caps were upcycled to create a total of approximately 20 benches and garden boxes. Upcycled benches or raised garden beds are available in a variety of colors and can be preordered online at shanemcconkey.org.
Locations that host a drop box for tops include Truckee Town Hall, New Moon Natural Foods in Tahoe City and Truckee, and the Truckee-Donner Community Swimming Pool. Don’t Drop the Top will also be adding new locations for collection bins in the coming weeks at Truckee Elementary School, Tahoe Lake Elementary, Sugar Pine Cakery and Cafe, the Tahoe City Visitor Center, and the Kings Beach Visitor Center.
While folks can be well-intentioned when they drop various items in the collection bins, please note that only certain types of caps can be upcycled. Learn more at shanemcconkey.org.
~ Shane McConkey Foundation press release
New Futurepreneurs Pitch Camp Week
TRUCKEE
Sierra Business Council (SBC) and the Truckee Chamber of Commerce are excited to announce a Futurepreneurs Pitch Week, a week of workshops culminating in a showcase for Tahoe/Truckee teen entrepreneurs presenting their innovative business ideas to the community on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. in Truckee Town Council Chambers. This gives them the chance to win prizes and receive feedback from an expert panel of judges, as well as the audience of community members.
Teen Pitch Week, a series of workshops delivered by Sierra Business Council built upon a successful program with Tahoe Silicon Mountain, is designed for participants to hone their skills, learn about successful pitch techniques, and craft a winning pitch. Taught by SBC and other seasoned mentors in collaboration with Truckee Chamber of Commerce, the futurepreneurs will distill their presentation skills and information into a five-minute presentation, referred to as a pitch, identifying their value proposition and their organization’s capital needs. The showcase will feature the finalists from Teen Pitch Week.
Teenagers at any school in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe are all welcome to apply. An existing business is not necessary, teens will work on business ideas together on the first night of the week. The series, held at SBC’s office in Truckee, will begin Dec. 2 and continue all week from 5 to 7 p.m.
Futurepreneurs is supported by Plumas Bank.
Applications are currently being accepted for Futurepreneurs. For more information and to apply please visit bit.ly/3YjAglf.
~ Truckee Chamber of Commerce press release
Placer County Launches New Community Engagement Platform
AUBURN
Placer County residents now have a new way to participate in local government initiatives with the launch of Engage Placer. This new online platform — engage.placer.ca.gov — provides a space for community members to learn about, participate in, and share feedback on county programs and projects that are open for public input.
Engage Placer is powered by Social Pinpoint, a platform that provides simple and impactful ways for the public to share ideas and get involved. Its interactive design fosters meaningful and accessible community participation at all levels of government decision-making.
The county will continue to use traditional engagement methods to interact with residents in person. But the online platform is expected to provide ease of access throughout the planning process, so residents can conveniently stay updated on projects they are following and provide feedback at every stage.
Currently, Engage Placer features projects and initiatives that relate to long-term planning such as the county’s general plan update and the parking management program in North Lake Tahoe. Over time, additional projects and initiatives will be added.
Find out more by visiting engage.placer.ca.gov or email the platform managers at engage@placer.ca.gov.
~ Placer County press release
Locals Honored With Gold Medal Book Award
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA
Local writers Leticia Aguilar and Eve Quesnel attended the 26th International Latino Book Awards ceremony at Los Angeles City College in Burbank on Oct. 19. In the category of Women’s Issues, they won the gold medal for their book, Leaving Patriarchy Behind: One Woman’s Journey.
Read Moonshine Ink’s reporting on the book in the story The Past Shapes You; It Does Not Define You online.
~ Eve Quesnel, Special to Moonshine Ink
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
End of an Era at Tahoe Guide
LAKE TAHOE
After nearly 43 years of serving the community, Tahoe Guide, formerly Tahoe Weekly, published its last print edition on Oct. 9. This decision was not made lightly.
While its readership is at an all-time high, the continued decline in advertising coupled with a continued increase in expenses since the start of the pandemic was a hurdle the publication could not overcome.
For the meantime, Tahoe Guide will continue to operate its website at yourtahoeguide.com, social media accounts, and monthly newsletter while the team figures out next steps for its content and brand.
To recover some operation costs, they are teaming up with tahoe.com to publish a winter edition that will be distributed on stands from the end of November through March lake-wide, in Truckee, and Olympic Valley.
“But we’re not ones to give up so easily,” says Katherine Hill, publisher and owner, in a note to readers. “Our hope is to continue our website and newsletter if you are willing to help, bringing you the content you enjoy. Would you consider contributing $25 a year to subscribe to our monthly newsletter?”
Visit tahoeguide.fundjournalism.org/donate to subscribe.
~ Announcement from Tahoe Guide
TRPA Board Welcomes New General Counsel
LAKE TAHOE
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board has voted unanimously to offer the position of general counsel to attorney Graham St. Michel to oversee compliance cases, violation settlements, and other legal issues for the bi-state agency. He will fill the position held by John L. Marshall, who served as TRPA counsel for a total of 25 years.
St. Michel, who is a graduate of South Tahoe High School, has served as TRPA’s associate counsel since February of this year. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California and a juris doctorate from Lewis & Clark Law School. St. Michel has practiced law for 16 years including private practice and serving as in-house counsel with the California Department of Conservation and the California Tahoe Conservancy.
Marshall was a key member of the legal team that successfully defended regional plan policies protecting sensitive stream environment zones in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, Tahoe Sierra Preservation Council v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, is often cited in environmental law and public policy literature.
~ TRPA press release
