Editor’s Note: The transformation is complete! We are now publishing all briefs — mostly News Briefs, but also Business Briefs as well as Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up transition announcements as they come our way — online first, weekly. See a rundown of the most important information that fits in print each month, but catch breaking information only on moonshineink.com.
News Briefs
Town Seeks Feedback for Short-Term Rental Regulation
TRUCKEE
A public community survey, available through Jan. 24, considers potential updates to the Town of Truckee’s short-term rental ordinance. Bronwyn Roberts, the town’s public information officer, described STR regulation as “a complex community issue which has sparked significant community engagement from the inception of the ordinance,” adding that the goal of the survey is to gain as much input as possible from the local workforce and homeowners.
The three updates that are being recommended at this time include:
- A cap on the number of STR registration certificates issued.
- The creation of a waiting period after a property sells before it can be eligible as an STR.
- The phasing out of STRs in multi-family housing units.
The Town of Truckee formed a stakeholder advisory committee to study STR management options and provide recommendations, made up of a broad range of stakeholders that met over a three-month period during which they considered data from the makeup and use of the current STR inventory in Truckee, tools used in similar destination communities, and findings from a literature review of several academic studies on these potential tools and their impacts on the housing market. The information received in the survey will be presented to the Truckee Town Council at the Feb. 8 meeting. The survey includes an informational video from the town.
~ Town of Truckee email
NLTRA Board of Directors Seeks to Fill Six Seats
NORTH LAKE TAHOE
The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association’s mission focuses on fostering economic health, community vitality, and environmental sustainability that benefits local residents, businesses, and visitors. The organization is currently seeking candidates for its board of directors to help guide its work under the North Lake Tahoe Tourism Business Improvement District and in contracts with Placer County that focus on destination management and marketing, housing and transportation, and sustainability initiatives.
There are six seats open for election:
- North Shore Lodging/Property Management seat
- Food & Beverage Businesses At-large seat
- At-large seat
- Palisades Tahoe Ski Area (organization-designated seat)
- Resort at Squaw Creek (organization-designated seat)
- Squaw Village Business Association (organization-designated seat)
Qualified members have until 5 p.m. on Mon., Jan. 31 to submit an application. Eligible candidates must be an owner or manager of an active, current business (or the designated representative of that business) within the NLT TBID district or a member in good standing with the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, with an office in the NLTRA membership area or North Tahoe as defined in the corporation by-laws.
Interested candidates must complete the application and direct any questions to Anna Atwood: anna@gotahoenorth.com or (530) 581-8722. Please send applications to Anna or deliver in person to the NLTRA:
North Lake Tahoe Resort Association
100 N. Lake Blvd.
Tahoe City, CA 9614
~ NLTRA update
State Offers Screening Tests and Information to Childcare Providers for Lead in Water
NEVADA
The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, and Washoe County Health District, is offering all licensed childcare providers throughout the state the opportunity to screen for lead in their drinking water systems with expert guidance, technical assistance, and educational resources provided every step of the way.
Funded by a $418,000 EPA grant, this voluntary program is available at no cost to all licensed childcare providers, with first priority given to those located in historically underserved and disadvantaged communities. All childcare providers will be receiving enrollment information from NDEP’s contractor, TruePani, and are encouraged to review additional outreach materials online at ndep.nv.gov/lead.
Test results, with follow-up support, will be sent to each facility to be posted and shared with parents and caregivers, and will be available on NDEP’s website. If elevated levels of lead are found, NDEP stands ready to work with childcare centers to provide recommendations and discuss funding opportunities that may be available to them through NDEP’s current grant programs, and potentially through the federal American Recovery Plan Act or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Nevada Lead Testing Program is part of a nationwide effort established by the federal 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. As part of the WIIN Act, the EPA provides grant funding to states to test the drinking water in schools and childcare centers for lead.
~ State of Nevada press release
Business Briefs
Gravity Haus Announces New Community Outpost
TRUCKEE
Gravity Haus, a social club for modern adventure travelers and mountain town residents, has announced its fourth location with the purchase of the Cedar House Sport Hotel in Truckee. The Cedar House team will remain in place at the hotel. Existing reservations will be honored and guests can continue booking reservations at cedarhousesporthotel.com. Gravity Haus membership is not required to book lodging at Cedar House. The on-site restaurant, Stella, will operate on its current schedule: breakfast seven days a week and dinner Thursday through Sunday. Full details are available at stellatruckee.com.
Conceptualized by Denver-based entrepreneur Jim Deters and his wife, Alicia, Gravity Haus membership offers an authentic mountain lifestyle by fusing work, play, travel, and sustainability. Gravity Haus’ adventure-focused locations seek to solve the problems of “where to play” and “where to stay,” and offer members on-demand outdoor gear access, functional co-working spaces, a watering hole, a home base to meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts, amenities, and a variety of expert-led group fitness and recovery programs — all accessed by Gravity Haus members and hotel guests using the Gravity Haus Mobile App.
Gravity Haus intends to invest in a property improvement plan and rebrand the property as a community-driven asset, Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe, in 2022. Gravity Haus offers four membership levels, starting at $70 per month for 12 months, including a new local membership for Truckee/Tahoe residents looking for unlimited day access to the local amenities. Learn more: gravityhaus.com/membership.
~ Gravity Haus press release
New Compost Drop-Off Option
TRUCKEE
Mountain Hardware & Sports has installed a Keep Truckee Green food waste bin at 11320 Donner Pass Rd. in Truckee. The bin is located in the rear parking lot near the store’s shipping and receiving ramp, off Forest Lane. Only the following may be composted: Fruits or veggies, flowers, eggshells, meat, bones, avocado pits, and coffee grounds (no filters). For more information about the do’s and don’ts of composting, as well as other drop-off locations, visit keeptruckeegreen.org/residential-waste-recycling/compost-drop-off.
~ AH
Tahoe Fund/Raley’s Partnership Launches New Donation Program
LAKE TAHOE
The Tahoe Fund and Raley’s have partnered with the social good platform PixlBank to launch a unique social campaign designed to promote responsible tourism and inspire residents and visitors to reduce plastics in Lake Tahoe.
The campaign focuses on the “Drink Tahoe Tap” message and is part of a larger initiative called I Love Tahoe.
In stores or online, people will be directed to the Drink Tahoe Tap campaign page on the I Love Tahoe website where they can upload a photo of themselves drinking Tahoe Tap water. They can then share their photo directly to their social media pages to unlock a $10 donation from Raley’s that will go toward installing water refill stations to help reduce plastic water bottle waste in Tahoe and to work with partners at UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association. The campaign is an extension of the partnership with Raley’s to promote Drink Tahoe Tap water bottles in stores. Drink Tahoe Tap water bottles are available for purchase at all nearby Raley’s locations.
~ Tahoe Fund press release
Moving In, On, Up
Nevada County Welcomes Dr. Sherilynn Cooke as Public Health Officer
NEVADA COUNTY
As of Jan. 1, Dr. Sherilynn Cooke will serve as Nevada County’s health officer for 18 months.
Dr. Cooke earned an MD from Stanford University and a Masters of Public Health from University of California, Los Angeles. She specializes in internal medicine and has worked in public health and primary care medicine.
Cooke replaces Dr. Scott Kellermann, who agreed to serve as Nevada County’s interim Health Officer on a contract basis through 2021. With Kellermann’s contract ending on Dec. 31, Nevada County began recruiting for a new health officer in September, working with a professional recruiting firm to attract top talent.
Each county in California is required by statute to have a health officer who is a licensed physician (either an MD or a DO). The Health Officer is responsible for carrying out sections of the State of California’s Health and Safety Code and serves as the physician of record for all Public Health clinical services. As the new Health Officer, Dr. Cooke will report to Public Health Director Jill Blake.
Dr. Glennah Trochet will remain as Deputy Health Officer to support the Public Health department as Dr. Cooke transitions into the position.
~ Nevada County press release
Notice of Council Reorganization
TRUCKEE
At the regular meeting of the Truckee Town Council, held on Dec. 14, 2021, the council reorganized as follows: Courtney Henderson, mayor; Lindsay Romack, vice mayor; David Polivy, council member; Jan Zabriskie, council member; Anna Klovstad, council member.
~ Town of Truckee news alert
Newly Appointed Director of Planning and Building Department
EL DORADO COUNTY
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Karen Garner as director of Planning and Building, effective Jan. 1.
Garner has more than 25 years of local government planning and building experience, including nine years of executive experience. Her expertise includes leadership, project management, organizational development, economic and community development, parks and recreation, strategic planning, and operations.
Previous to this appointment, Garner served as the community development director for the City of Gilroy where she was responsible for building, planning, housing, code enforcement, fire prevention/Hazmat, and wastewater pre-treatment. Her first day in the office was Jan. 3. Her salary is $182,062.
~ El Dorado County press release
Tahoe Forest Health System Welcomes New Nurse Practitioner
TRUCKEE
Tahoe Forest Health System is pleased to announce that Jessica Hepner, MS, AGACNP-BC, has joined its team at the Tahoe Forest MultiSpecialty Clinics – Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine.
Hepner received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and her Master of Science with a trauma, critical care, and emergency nursing specialty at the University of Maryland. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Hepner’s office is located on the first floor of the Medical Office Building at 10956 Donner Pass Rd., Ste. 130 in Truckee. New patients are accepted. For appointments, please call (530) 582-6205.
~ TFHS press release
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