News Briefs
Vote Center Open at Truckee Town Hall
TRUCKEE
Truckee Town Hall is open for voting.
The Town Hall vote center at 10183 Truckee Airport Road is where residents may vote, request replacement ballots, register to vote, and ask questions about the voting process. Voting hours are:
- Through Oct 25: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed 12-1 p.m. for lunch) Monday through Thursday
- Oct. 26 to Nov. 4: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
- Nov. 5 (Election Day): 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Among the choices voters are asked to make in the Nov. 5 Election are selections for candidates for president, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, state senate, state assembly, Truckee Town Council, numerous local boards, 10 state propositions, and Town of Truckee Measure E.
Voters may also return their ballot in the mail or at a drop box. Truckee area drop boxes are located at Town Hall, Grocery Outlet, 11213 Donner Pass Rd., and Save Mart, 11399 Deerfield Dr.
Ballots were sent in the mail on Oct. 7. Residents who choose to vote by mail should expect their ballots to arrive this week. Anyone who has not received their ballot by Oct. 15 may call our office at (530) 265-1298 or stop by Truckee Town Hall during normal business hours.
Check nevadacountyca.gov/november5election for information on drop box locations and hours.
Register to vote at registertovote.ca.gov.
~ Nevada County press release
Track Ballot Statistics With New Online Tool
NEVADA COUNTY
The Nevada County Registrar of Voters announced the launch of a new ballot statistics dashboard, providing transparency for voters.
This tool, available at nevadacountyca.gov/november5election, allows residents to track the number of ballots returned every weekday, offering real-time insights into voter participation.
The dashboard is scheduled to be updated by 6 p.m. every weekday and displays statistics on the party breakdown of returned ballots and the method of return. It ensures the public has access to the most current information available and is part of the elections office’s ongoing commitment to making the election more accessible and secure.
~ Nevada County press release
Free Flu Vaccine Clinics Through October
NEVADA COUNTY
Nevada County Public Health is providing a free walk-in flu shot clinic on Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 12 to 6 p.m. at the Truckee Sierra Community House Warehouse, located at 12116 Chandelle Way, Suite D2.
The vaccines are available for adults and children 3 years and older, while supplies last. No appointments are necessary.
Getting a flu shot not only reduces your risk of becoming seriously ill with influenza, but it also protects your loved ones and community members by reducing the spread of flu. Very young children and adults with chronic medical conditions or over age 60 are especially at risk of complications from flu.
Flu shot appointments can also be scheduled with your primary care physician or at local pharmacies. Public health also provides regular appointment-only immunization clinics at the Truckee Joseph Center.
For more details on clinic locations and times, visit nevadacountyca.gov/immunizations or call (530) 265-1460.
~ Nevada County press release
College Fair to Feature Top Universities
INCLINE VILLAGE
The Incline Education Fund, Incline High School, and EdPlanIt announced a college fair in collaboration with the STARS College Network, scheduled for Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This highly anticipated event will feature representatives from 25 of the nation’s top universities, providing a unique opportunity for students and families to engage directly with some of the country’s most prestigious higher education institutions.
This event is open to all local high school seniors, whether they reside in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Carson City, or Reno. Attendees will have the chance to explore various academic programs, learn about admissions processes, and discover scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
This event includes a 45-min admissions and financial aid information session and a 75-minute college fair, featuring 25 selective research universities, public institutions, and liberal arts colleges nationwide, including Barnard College, Caltech, Case Western Reserve University, Colby College, College of Holy Cross, Colorado College, Harvard College, Johns Hopkins University, MIT, Northwestern University, New York University, Princeton University, Rice University, Smith College, Swarthmore College, Tufts University, University of Chicago, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, University of Nevada – Reno, University of Notre Dame, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Wellesley College, Williams College, and Yale University.
For more information about the STARS College Network Fair, visit starscollegenetwork.org. To register, visit apps.admissions.yale.edu/register/storynevada.
~ Incline Education Fund press release
Applications Open for Affordable Housing Forums
LAKE TAHOE
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has launched the next phase of its affordable and workforce housing program, the Tahoe Living strategic priority, and announced opportunities for additional community representation.
As part of the Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin project, TRPA is accepting applications for two open seats on the Tahoe Living Working Group and seeking participants to join the Community Partner Group. Both opportunities are aimed toward representing priority communities identified in the Lake Tahoe Transportation Equity Study that TRPA completed last year.
Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin is a multiyear project that promotes equity and climate resilience through improved growth management and inclusive community engagement. TRPA formed the Tahoe Living Working Group in 2020 to provide policy recommendations that have helped the agency modernize land use policies and remove barriers to workforce housing. In June, the TRPA Governing Board added two new open seats to represent priority communities.
Apply for a seat on the Tahoe Living Working Group by Oct. 31 at trpa.gov/housing/#get-involved. Visit tahoeliving.org to learn more.
~ Tahoe Regional Planning Agency press release
Avalanche Education Scholarships Available
TRUCKEE
The Sierra Avalanche Center will be accepting applications for avalanche education scholarships now through Nov. 1, and expects to award nearly $20,000 in scholarships to approximately 30 local and regional residents for avalanche education courses this season.
The nonprofit’s James JB Brown Memorial Scholarship Program is named after the Sierra Avalanche Center’s past president and mountain guide who passed away in 2022. Brown was instrumental in creating the scholarship program and was hands-on with the selection of scholarship recipients in past seasons.
The Sierra Avalanche Center scholarships pay for professional avalanche education courses taught by local and regional avalanche education providers. Each year, residents use the scholarships to attend recreational level one and two avalanche education courses, avalanche rescue courses, and pro-level avalanche courses.
Applications can be submitted at sierraavalanchecenter.org.
~ Sierra Avalanche Center press release
Volunteers Sought to Interview Local Businesses
LAKE TAHOE
From Oct. 15 to 17, lake-wide business walks will gauge the region’s business and community needs. These walks will include volunteers walking into businesses throughout the Tahoe Basin to ask questions. All results from the surveys will be made public. The goal is to better understand the needs of business owners and employees. Local government organizations are also hoping to hear specifics about what they can do to help improve the regional economy. An online survey, available here, is open to business owners through Oct. 31, if they are unable to complete the in-person survey.
Volunteers are needed to help with the business walks. To help on Tahoe’s North Shore, sign up here. For more information, contact Adam Wilson at adam@northtahoecommunityalliance.com.
The North Shore walks will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in Tahoe City, Tahoma, and Homewood and on Wednesday, Oct. 16, in Kings Beach, Tahoe Vista, and Incline Village/Crystal Bay.
~ Tahoe Prosperity Center press release
Outdoor-Based Mentorship Program to Award Scholarships
TAHOE/TRUCKEE
Youth development nonprofit SOS Outreach plans to award an estimated $45,000 in scholarships to families this winter season. The nonprofit helps young people develop life skills through the power of mentorship in the outdoors.
To participate, youth must undergo a strength and needs assessment. Needs range from having difficulties in school to struggling with mental health to coming from a low-income household.
SOS Outreach is set to kick off its 2024/25 winter season in December with over 3,000 young people hitting the slopes through SOS programs. To learn more, visit sosoutreach.org.
~ SOS Outreach press release
Proposition 8 Property Tax Relief
NEVADA COUNTY
Assessor Rolf Kleinhans poses an important question regarding property valuation for the 2024/25 fiscal year: Could you sell your home for your current assessed value? For property tax purposes, the 2024 annual bill mailed this past September is based on the assessed value as of Jan. 1, 2024, and the answer to this question may give you additional tax relief options.
Under the guidelines of Proposition 13, the assessed (taxable) value of a property is enrolled as the fair market value at time of purchase, plus a maximum inflation adjustment provided by the California State Board of Equalization of 2% a year. This means that over time the assessed value will likely be substantially lower than the market value if that property sold today. So, if you could sell your home for the current assessed value (or above), then there is no change to the current assessed value.
However, tax relief becomes available if the market value dips below the assessed value. In other words, if you could not sell your property at its current assessed value, then a temporary reduction under Proposition 8 may be warranted. If you think this is the case for your property, you can apply for an informal Proposition 8 review, which is a free service that the assessor’s office provides. If granted, this temporary reduction in assessed value of a property accounts for value loss until such time as the value is restored.
If you have evidence that the full market value of your property on Jan. 1, 2024, is less than your 2024/25 assessed value, you may wish to complete a request for informal assessment review form, available at nevadacountyca.gov/request-informal-review by Dec. 16. For more information, contact the assessor’s office at (530) 265-1232, assessor@nevadacountyca.gov, or nevadacountyca.gov/property-assessment-basics.
~ Nevada County press release
Community Invited to Code-Amendment Town Hall
AUBURN
The Placer County Community Development Resource Agency is inviting the community to hear a presentation and provide feedback on proposed county code amendments during a town hall meeting Oct. 15.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the planning commission chambers at 3091 County Center Dr. in Auburn. It will also be broadcast via Zoom here.
The county’s zoning ordinance — a local law that regulates how land and buildings can be used in specific areas in the county — is updated periodically to clarify ambiguous or conflicting sections, comply with new laws and regulations, address emerging technologies or trends and correct errors or inconsistencies. Staff will provide a presentation on the potential amendments, explain the process for the amendments and receive community feedback.
The last time Placer’s ordinance was updated was in 2022. The potential amendments include changes to Chapter 9: Peace, Safety, and Welfare and Chapter 17: Zoning.
The full agenda for the town hall meeting is available here.
~ Placer County press release
Grading and Digging Season Ends Oct. 15
TAHOE BASIN
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is reminding residents and contractors that the annual grading and digging season for permitted projects will end on Tuesday, Oct. 15. All construction sites must be winterized through the wettest part of the year to protect Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity. Grading season in the Tahoe Basin runs from May 1 to Oct. 15 every year.
The long-standing requirement helps prevent sediment from washing into stormwater systems and the lake and prevents soil compaction and disturbance during the wettest months.
The agency will approve grading season exceptions for projects on a case-by-case basis if a public health, safety, or water quality emergency exists. Visit trpa.gov/inspections-and-securities for grading season exception information and winterization requirements.
Some activities are considered exempt and do not require TRPA approval, even outside of the grading season. These projects must still be stabilized during wet conditions and stopped when covered with snow. A list of exempt projects is under Frequently Asked Questions.
The grading and digging season for permitted projects at Lake Tahoe will open again May 1, 2025.
~ TRPA press release
Event Unites Over 50 Community Members to Address Housing Crisis
TRUCKEE
On Sept. 19, over 50 community members gathered at Alibi Ale Works in Truckee to engage with local housing experts and address the pressing housing challenges facing the Truckee/Tahoe region. The event, co-hosted by several key housing organizations, brought together the Truckee Tahoe Workforce Housing Agency, Town of Truckee, Placer County, Tahoe Housing Hub, Placemate, Sierra Community House, and the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, along with residents eager to ask questions and learn about local housing solutions.
The Hops and Homes event provided an informal yet productive setting for community members to connect with housing partners and discuss topics ranging from affordable housing developments to available resources for renters and homebuyers. Attendees were able to ask pressing questions about the housing landscape in the Truckee Tahoe area, helping to foster a stronger understanding of the regional efforts to address the housing crisis.
To learn more about housing resources in the region, visit ttjpa.org.
~ Truckee Tahoe Workforce Housing Agency press release
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
Placer Welcomes New Agency Director
AUBURN
Placer County has named Paul Hellman as director of the Community Development Resource Agency.
Hellman’s career spans over 3 decades in government service including his most recent job serving as director of resource management for the Shasta County Department of Resource Management. Prior to his role in Shasta County, Hellman served as planning manager for the City of Redding and spent a decade as a principal planner in the City of Bakersfield.
As Placer CDRA director, Hellman is responsible for overseeing land use and development, as well as open space conservation, in the county’s unincorporated areas. County services such as building permits and inspections, compliance with county codes, environmental regulation, and review of proposed land development and zoning changes all fall under his purview.
Hellman replaces David Kwong, who is now assistant city manager for the City of Rancho Cordova.
~ Placer County press release
Business Briefs
Festival Celebrates Local Artisans
OLYMPIC VALLEY
On Oct. 12 and 13, head to the Made in Tahoe Fall Festival for a celebration of all things local. Hosted at The Village at Palisades Tahoe from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., this event features a range of offerings made or inspired by the community, including local artisans, businesses, chefs, organizations, and entertainers.
The weekend will feature performances by Mr. D, Ben Fuller, Lisa & the Lawless, DJ Alex T, Moonlight Movement, Down the Rabbit Hole, Steel Sparrows, Jeremy Thomas, Peter Joseph Burtt & The Kingtide, Jonathan Hennion, Touch of Gold, Murky Deep, Tahoe Truckee School of Music Students, Truckee Dance Factory, Carnival Dogs, and The Nomads.
All proceeds from the Made in Tahoe bars will benefit the Tahoe Food Hub. See the full event schedule here.
~ Palisades Tahoe press release
New Partnership To Improve Access to Winter Sports
RENO
Mt. Rose and Snowball Effect have announced a strategic partnership to address key challenges in the winter sports industry by engaging local youth year-round. This collaboration comes in response to the industry trend of declining participation, highlighted by the National Ski Areas Association’s most recent Kottke Report.
Key aspects of the partnership include bringing snowboarding to elementary schools, stadiums, and non-winter venues in the Washoe Valley and Reno area, the development of a comprehensive curriculum, and activation plans for both on- and off-resort events and programs.
Upcoming events include the Teton Gravity Research movie premiere on October 17 and the Riglet Snowboard Games on Jan. 11, featuring free introductory lessons for children eight and under.
~ Mt. Rose press release
