News Briefs
Recall of Trustees Schmitz and Dent Fails
INCLINE VILLAGE
An organized effort to recall Sara Schmitz and Matthew Dent, trustees for the Incline VIllage General Improvement District, has failed.
Of the required 1,801 valid signatures for each trustee, there were 1,726 for Dent and 1,687 for Schmitz, per the Nevada Secretary of State.
Schmitz and Dent declined to comment on the announcement.
Trish McKowen, who was part of the recall committee, told Moonshine Ink the final result was a surprise. She said they had collected 2,216 signatures for Schmitz and 2,140 for Dent, but that some were ultimately not recognized by Washoe County due to duplications, ineligible signatures, and the like. The committee is working with an attorney to understand what possibilities exist.
Voters were not notified of the curing process, and not all voters had the same amount of time to resubmit their signatures, McKowen added.
“We’re not giving up … We’re going to submit this within five days to the secretary of state,” she said. “We can ask for a recount. We can also ask for signature verification and why certain ones were tossed … We’re hopeful, we’re not giving up. [We’re waiting for] the attorney to give us solid answers regarding the NRS statutes and what our next steps are.”
Moonshine Ink reported on the background of the effort in August.
~ AH
Supervisors to Vote on Economic, Housing Amendments
AUBURN
Next Tuesday, Oct. 31, the Placer County Board of Supervisors will vote on whether or not to adopt a package of amendments to the Tahoe Basin Area Plan. The goal of the amendments is to entice developers to build in the Tahoe City and Kings Beach communities and thus revitalize their economies.
“What is currently before us, the Tahoe Basin Area Plan amendments, do limit certain kinds of development and encourage the construction of workforce housing which helps sustain our local communities and businesses who are in desperate need of workers,” shared Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson in an Oct. 23 bulletin.
Discussions have gone back and forth in recent years: some are concerned the proposed amendments make it too easy for development and increase density, others are frustrated with a lack of new developments because of the restrictive red tape. Read about some of the communities’ original concerns in Moonshine’s reporting from last November.
The package was meant to go before the board of supervisors in January of this year, but delays due to residential and business concerns slowed the process. First, the North Tahoe Regional Advisory Committee recommended approval of the TBAP amendments with conditions. Then, the county’s planning commission continued the item to a later date, citing concern over building height as a main pain point.
County staff returned to the public with a watered down version of the proposed TBAP amendments this past summer, curtailing both building height and building length. An amendment that would have allowed an increase in building height from the current maximum 56 feet up to 72.7 feet, as well as up to 500 feet for town center building lengths, was removed.
The Placer County Planning Commission recommended approval of the latest TBAP amendments, which can be found at placer.ca.gov/3342/tahoe-basin-area-plan, in August.
Materials for the Oct. 31 board of supervisors meeting can be found here.
~ AH
Applications Reopened for STR Workforce Housing Token Pilot Program
TRUCKEE
The Short-Term Rental Workforce Housing Token Pilot Program incentivizes the creation of workforce housing units by offering in-kind payment for deed restrictions in the form of tokens. The token program offers an additional avenue to obtain Transient Occupancy Registration Certificates, in exchange for creating deed-restricted workforce housing. Participants are required to deed-restrict the workforce housing units for a 15-year term, which sets legal limits on the use of the property.
On Sept. 12th, Truckee Town Council awarded the first three tokens to applicants and updated the token program application process. Throughout Fiscal Year 23/24, the token program will remain open for applications. Proposals will be reviewed by staff and will be accepted until June 30, 2024, as long as tokens remain available. Proposals meeting minimum qualifications will be brought to town council for review at least once per quarter.
Click here to download the token program application and application instructions.
For any questions about the token program, please contact Lynn Baumgartner, housing program analyst, at (530) 582-2492 or lbaumgartner@townoftruckee.com or visit townoftruckee.com/token.
~ Town of Truckee press release
California Invests $3.7 Billion to Continue Rebuilding Transportation Infrastructure
SACRAMENTO
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) last week allocated more than $3.7 billion for projects to rebuild the state’s transportation infrastructure to enhance safety and create more convenient options for travelers.
More than $2.3 billion comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), the bulk of which is going to over 600 cities, counties, and regional agencies to improve bridges, travel times, and air quality; reduce planet-warming pollution; increase highway and rail safety; and provide transportation services. Nearly $169 million in funding is from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Projects the CTC approved include:
- Interstate 80, Nevada County: $14.8 million to grind pavement, place polyester concrete, replace concrete slabs and striping, and rehabilitate drainage systems from the Placer County line to state Route 89 in the Truckee area.
- Interstate 80, Nevada County: $13.1 million to grind pavement, place polyester concrete, replace concrete slabs and striping, and rehabilitate drainage systems from state Route 267 to the Sierra County line.
- Town of Truckee: $700,000 to purchase up to six new electric transit vehicles for the town’s microtransit fleet.
SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared equally between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.
For more information about California transportation projects funded by the IIJA and SB 1, visit rebuildingca.ca.gov.
~ Caltrans press release
Reminder: Parking Restrictions Take Effect Nov. 1 East of Emigrant Gap
TAHOE CITY
Placer County officials are reminding residents and visitors that annual winter parking restrictions in the county’s higher elevations will take effect Nov. 1 and last through May 1, 2024. Parking along county maintained roadways east of Emigrant Gap (e.g., North Lake Tahoe, Serene Lakes, Olympic Valley, and Alpine Meadows) will be prohibited during this time because of snow plow operations.
Compliance will help avoid damage to parked vehicles as well as snow removal equipment and, most importantly, will prevent delays to snow removal operations. County officials stress the importance of adhering to these restrictions even during mild weather as snow maintenance operations may still be taking place.
When parking in downtown areas, visitors should only use designated public parking lots. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed and fined or towed, if necessary.
The board of supervisors recently adopted an updated schedule of parking fines that goes into effect on Nov. 30. The fine amounts for violating the snow parking restriction will increase from $98.50 to $150 for the first offense, from $198.50 to $250 for the second offense, and from $298.50 to $450 for the third and subsequent offenses.
More information can be found here for winter parking restrictions and snow removal zones. The updated parking fine schedule is located here.
~ Placer County press release
Notice of Preparation for Rezone Program Environmental Report
AUBURN
A notice of preparation for a draft environmental impact report for Placer County’s proposed Housing Element Sites Rezone project is now available for public review and comment through Nov. 20. A public Environmental Impact Report scoping meeting is scheduled for Nov. 3.
The Housing Needs Rezone Program is part of the county’s 2021-2029 Housing Element, a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing and accommodating Placer County’s housing needs while ensuring equitable access to housing options. State law requires the county implement a rezone program by May 2024 to identify opportunities for multifamily residential development.
The project currently comprises 74 properties dispersed throughout unincorporated Placer County totaling approximately 250.1 acres. The sites are generally located in established communities such as the North Auburn, Dry Creek, Bowman, Penryn, Newcastle, Granite Bay, Sheridan, and Applegate communities, as well as south of Truckee within the Lake Tahoe region.
The notice of preparation is available for review at the following locations:
- Auburn Library
- Rocklin Library
- Roseville Library
- Tahoe City Library
- Truckee Library
- Placer County Development Resource Agency
- Online: placer.ca.gov/9455/60593/housing-element-sites-rezone
Any member of the public seeking more information regarding the project may contact senior planner Kally Kedinger-Cecil at (530) 745-3034 or kkedinge@placer.ca.gov.
~ Placer County press release
Town to Host Full Moon Hikes this Weekend
TRUCKEE
It is not just about stargazing and ensuring stars shine brighter. Light pollution and artificial light disrupts ecosystems, wastes energy, and is harmful to human health. Brighter residential nighttime lighting is associated with reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, impaired daytime functioning, and obesity.
With Daylight Saving Time ending Sunday, Nov. 5, it will be getting darker earlier, and the Town of Truckee is encouraging community members to consider their actions and impact. The town suggests households turn off interior lights when they aren’t in use and turn exterior lights off by 10 p.m. Additionally, consider the impact of holiday lighting and consider dark sky-friendly and motion sensor options for exterior lighting and security needs.
Learn more about preserving dark skies at darksky.org. Join the #DarkSkies movement!
The town is partnering with Tahoe Adventure Company for two $5 full moon hikes this weekend.
The fairly easy hike up Donner Summit is suitable for anyone 8 years and older. Along the way, guides will talk about the local natural and human history, as well as full moon and astronomy fun facts. Upon reaching Donner Summit, participants will be treated to stunning views of the full Hunter Moon as it rises above Donner Lake. This is typically a $90 value.
When: Saturday, Oct. 28, at 4:30pm
How to book:
- Follow the Tahoe Adventure Company link.
- Go to the Full Moon Hiking Tours section and select “Book Now”.
- Indocate the number of people to join the tour and then pick Oct. 28.
- Apply the promo code DarkSkies23 and fill out your details to complete the transaction.
~ Town of Truckee press release
Free Bulky Item Drop-Off Event Set For Nov. 4
TAHOE VISTA
Placer County will be hosting a free “bulky item” drop-off event, allowing residents to dispose of unwanted large items.
The event will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the parking lot of the North Tahoe Public Utility District offices, located at 875 National Ave. in Tahoe Vista.
Open to all Placer County residents, up to three items such as mattresses, furniture, appliances, and more can be dropped off for free. No household hazardous waste or green waste will be accepted. ID and proof of residency required.
~ Placer County press release
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