Denise Davis – IVCB Forum Moderator
Good morning, forum. Good to see everyone on this snowy morning. I’m Denise Davis, your moderator. Ronda Tycer is our forum recap editor, and John Crockett is our tech guru.
As a reminder, our meeting is being recorded. Before you begin speaking, please state your name. While speaking, be respectful—personal attacks will not be tolerated. If you’d like to share URLs, post them in the Chat Box and they’ll be included in the meeting recap. We partner with IVCB Community 1st.org and IVCBA.org to get information out. So, be sure to visit their websites and sign up for their newsletters. If you did not get an email regarding today’s meeting, you can sign up for our forum meeting notices and recaps by sending an email to us at ivcbcommunityforum@gmail.com. All right Kari. What is happening at IVGID?
Kari Ferguson – Incline Village General Improvement District Communication Coordinator
Hello. We have a page on our website, so link to the banner on the top. Click it for venue modifications and closures, which is a really handy thing. You can put our website on your phone, and click it there before you go to a venue. So, the list of closed venues is growing by the hour.
The Administration Building is closed until Monday at 893 Southwood. All the employees are working remotely. You can email me if you like at kmf@IVGID.org and I can contact whoever you need to contact over there if it’s an emergency for today.
The Public Works office building is closed today as well. If you have a water and sewer emergency, please dial 775-832-1203. Or you can also email me and I can get in touch with the pipeline crew.
The Golf Pro Shop is closed today. There will be no meetings at the Chateau. Sometimes there are community meetings there, but there’s nothing happening today.
The following Recreation Programs are cancelled today:
Aqua Fitness this morning, which didn’t happen because the pool opening was delayed a little bit. The Community Snowshoe is not happening tonight. That would not be an enjoyable thing to hike to Snowflake Lodge in a blizzard. I’ve done that before and it’s not great. Youth basketball is also cancelled. And the youth dance is cancelled for today.
That’s our update of closures today, and we had some closures yesterday. The kids are out of school in Incline. They called that last night. They sent the kids home with an emergency dismissal at 1:30 pm. Anyways, that was a new one. So that was fun.
Some of the things that are coming up once we are on the other side of the storm include a ton of meetings logged for next week. We had a Board of Trustees meeting last Wednesday the 28th. Next week we have the Capital Investment Committee at 3 pm on March 4th. We have a special Board of Trustees meeting at 3:30 pm on March 6th. We have a special meeting of the Golf Advisory Committee at 3 pm March 7. And we have another Board of Trustees meeting March 13. I don’t have the time for that yet, and there’s no agenda yet. It might be on the long-range calendar. I’ll update after I look at the website. Then on March 27th we have a Board of Trustees Town Hall at the Chateau from 6-9 pm. That is when you get to go and ask questions.
That’s our latest. Let me see, the Golf meeting agenda is posted, the March 6 Board of Trustees special meeting agenda is posted, and the March 4 Capital Investment committee agenda is posted online. I’m sure the packet for the Golf meeting will be online this afternoon. It’s a busy meeting month in March.
We had our first ever Passholder Breakfast at Diamond Peak last Saturday. We had almost200 people. People came up early and got to ride the chair and make some early turns on the mountain and got to enjoy a lovely continental breakfast by our F&B crew. That was a really fun event and something we’ve never done before. It was just a season pass perk. You didn’t have to buy a ticket; you just had to RSVP. It was very exciting. I think we’ll be doing that again next year. Another thing for season passholders at Diamond Peak, we have our BBQ on March 10th, the same day as our Village Ski Loft Demo-Day, which is like Christmas on the mountain. You get to try out all the different skis and the greatest and latest stuff, and you can make a deposit to purchase skis. It’s very exciting. I wanted to let everyone know about those fun things happening at Diamond Peak.
And then I want to give a shout out—is the sheriff here? I do see Chief Sommers. So Tia and Chief Sommers, and the sheriff, thank you for your assistance yesterday with our Tyner road closure. Our crew was out working all day–in that windy, stormy day—fixing a “service saddle.” There was a leak on a 15-inch water main from a failure in a service saddle. When that happened, the road needed to be worked on. Washoe County Roads came up with their equipment, even with the weather as it was. The road would be in horrible shape if they did not help us out. Right now it’s still very uneven pavement on the 800 block of Tyner. If you’re traveling up there, please use caution. Post-storm, there will be more repairs on that road. They have to wait until temperatures get higher to do the final fix on that.
There was a small water outage at certain areas of Tyner yesterday as well. And as a former Tyner person, I know it’s hard up there already. So, we appreciate everyone’s patience and time. Everything is now working. They got everything finished yesterday afternoon. They did have to go to Sparks to get supplies, which was unexpected.
That is the main update I think, Denise, unless I forgot something. You always keep me accountable.
Denise Davis
We still have our Water Service Line Inventory survey. I’m sure we can still use some more input.
Kari Ferguson
Yes we can. We have over 100 people who have logged on, which is very appreciated. We have been contacting all the local schools, and going directly to their maintenance person, to handle that portion of it. And now we’re reaching out to homeowners associations as well, because that will be a whole… they will have the plans for their complexes, which is very helpful. I’m glad you mentioned that because on our website it is usually right at the top of the banner. But because of the storm and yesterday’s road closure and water outage, I wanted to make sure those were front and center for everyone. So I took the survey notice off, but it will come back on Monday. It’s always online and I’ll put the link in the Chat, but it will be back up on the front of our website once the storm has gone.
Denise Davis
I have the URL up there for you. So maybe if you’re staying at home off the roads you can take a second to log in and check that off your to-do list.
Kari Ferguson
Watch the video. It’s super helpful. I’m thankful the Public Works staff didn’t think I was crazy. I was “Like let’s do a video, it makes it so much easier.” They said, “Yeah, let’s do it.” It’s only a couple of minutes long. It totally explains everything. I don’t expect everyone to know where their water service line enters the house. That’s not something most people know. So, I was really excited. If you watch that video on the page, it will help, I promise.
Denise Davis
Thanks, Kari. And just to let everyone know, part of the reason we’re having a variety of IVGID meetings is because we’re getting into the budget season. The Capital Investment committee will be meeting Monday March 4 at 3 pm, Zoom only.
The Capital investment meeting is to review capital projects for the first half of 2024, and also to give input into the budgeted capital project list for the trustees. At the IVGID special meeting on March 6 at 3:30 pm, online and in person, the general business items will be to consider the appointment of Bobby Magee to the general manager position, and the fiscal year 2024-25 Board of Trustees budget retreat. I didn’t see the Golf meeting agenda posted yet. I can’t tell you what’s on it but I do know if you listened to the last Golf Committee meeting, you know they are preparing a presentation to update the community on golf as far as getting a new manager of golf and what the financials look like for golf. Are there any questions for Kari? Seeing none… we will move on to Chief Sommers. Is there anything going on in your world today?
Ryan Sommers – North Lake Tahoe Fire Department Chief
I’m listening to other agencies. Everybody’s starting to get busy, so we may get busy soon here as well. Obviously, avalanche dangers are high today. So, hopefully there won’t be people in the backcountry. But we can’t stop them. So, just go back there properly equipped. I just want to echo what Kari was saying. IVGID and Washoe County Roads did an exceptional job yesterday. In my opinion, for such a large line it had very minimal impact or time without water. So, kudos to IVGID and WC Roads. They did an extremely good job I believe. That’s all I have.
Denise Davis
Any questions for Chief Sommers? We appreciate all your efforts and the efforts of the Sheriff Department to keep us all safe. So, hang in there—this storm will pass. I don’t see anyone from the Sheriff Department. Linda, do you have anything from the IVCBA?
Linda Offerdahl – Incline Village Crystal Bay Business and Community Association (IVCBA)
We cancelled our annual meeting last night because of the storm—and it’s a good thing we did. We’re hoping to reschedule it for March 20. Some of our partners—the Visitor Bureau, Travel North Tahoe Nevada has a strategic planning survey out right now. You can find it on our website under News. If you go to Surveymonkey.com, it’s Travel North Tahoe Nevada Strategic Plan Survey. It’s probably out on social media too. That’s just not one of the things I follow so much.
The Boosters have their crab feed coming up on the 16th. But, it’s no longer crab. They’ve got a really weird thing. But it’s a backyard BBQ, which might be very appealing in the midst of all of this snow. That is the Incline High School’s biggest fundraiser.
We’re in the process of getting our Live-Work-Play magazine to the printer, so the spring issue should be out at the end of March.
IVCBA is starting a new promotion for businesses. It’s a Restaurant Week starting April 15, right after tax season. That’s a tough time for our local businesses because there is not too much going on that would bring the second homeowners back. I think everybody knows “We the People” is going to the State contest. That is exciting. And the Star Follies is coming back May 3 and 4. That’s our best community gathering both for the cast and also just to watch. So, mark your calendars. That’s it.
Denise Davis
Thanks, Linda. John, do you want to fill us in on Library activities?
John Crockett – Washoe County Incline Library Head Librarian
No update today.
Denise Davis
I do have an update from NV Energy. They are having a community meeting March 13 from 5-7 pm at the Chateau. The announcement says, “NV Energy will be hosting a community meeting in Incline Village featuring an in-depth presentation on our work to prevent natural disasters as part of our Power-safe NV program. Our goal is to communicate with you and your neighbors about our activities and the purpose of this work in your community. Details are below. Snacks and beverages will be provided. We’re looking forward to seeing and speaking with you.” So again, it is Wednesday March 13 from 5-7 pm. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Presentation begins at 5:30 at the Chateau.
Another reminder is that your fourth property tax bill is due Monday March 4 to Washoe County. That’s always happy news, right?
I also want to let you know about some meetings with the County. The Planning Commission is scheduled to meet Tuesday March 5. The Board of Adjustment meeting that was to be held on Thursday March 7 has been cancelled. The Board of Adjustment is the board on which Kathie Julian serves.
The Reno Transportation Commission (RTC) has several meetings coming up. I know we’ve discussed trying to get a connection to RTC. On March 6 is a Citizens Multimodal Advisory Committee meeting. On the 7th is the Technical Advisory Committee. On the 15th is an RTC board meeting.
I also want to let you know that the Tahoe Fund and the US Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) have partnered to provide an innovative community-driven, “restroom mural painting project.” They need help. “They are seeking community-based artists to beautify the interiors of highly-visited LTBMU restroom facilities with painted murals which helps to diminish vandalism and encourages people to take better care of Tahoe. Inspired by a similar project by the Basin Land Management in Henry’s Lake, Idaho, the murals will transform the interiors of these facilities, and bring them alive with depictions of Tahoe’s plants, animals, and beautiful landscapes.” They have information posted on their website. The restrooms at which they are looking to do this project are at the Stateline lookout in Crystal Bay, the Logan-Shoals Vista Point on Highway 50 on the East Shore, and at the Tallac Historic Site. So If you’re an artist or know of an artist who might be interested in that project, I put the URL for the website in the Forum URLs that will be in our recap. The deadline to apply for that is March 29.
I also want to let everyone know that MAP—the Mountain Area Preservation Group—will be having a “Land Use Lunch Hour” via Zoom on Thursday March 7 from noon to 1 pm. MAP is legally challenging TRPA’s Phase 2 housing amendments for violating the Bi-State Compact, the Regional Plan, and TRPA regulations. There’s nothing simple about legal proceedings. So, over the next few months, MAP will be doing a deep dive into the main legal arguments. This month find out more about TRPA’s last minute code changes and how the TRPA violated and weakened their own affordable housing policies. I believe you need to register so you get the Zoom link for that meeting. So I have put the URL in the Forum URLs and it will be in the recap. If you want to learn more about MAP and their efforts.
I want to let everyone know TRPA has put their Public Participation Plan document online and they are looking for comments. Their posting says, “The TRPA places a high value on public participation in planning and decisions. The public should be given ample opportunity for early, meaningful, and continued involvement. Specifically in the agency’s transportation planning, collecting diverse public opinion is important for determining the types of projects that meet public needs and ensures funds are directed to the areas of highest need. The agency is releasing the draft of the 2024 Public Participation Plan for a 45-day public comment period. The draft plan outlines key decision points for consulting with affected communities and local, regional, state, and federal agencies and tribal governments. This announcement and the comment period are required parts of the Public Participation Plan.” Please check that out if you’re interested. The public-comment period ends April 5, 2024.
Another item from the TRPA is the Active Transportation Plan. The post says, “TRPA is encouraging public review and feedback on a key transportation plan that will improve Lake Tahoe’s bicycle and pedestrian system and encourage public involvement in transportation improvements. The Active Transportation Plan focuses on connecting all methods of travel that do not rely entirely on a car, like walking, biking, and rolling (wheelchair, scooter, etc.). The TRPA encourages the public to review the draft 2024 Active Transportation Plan at www.trpa.gov/atp. Submit comments by March 15 to Ryan Murray at murray@trpa.gov. The final plan is to be presented to the TRPA Governing Board for potential adoption at the March 27 meeting. Check that out and comment as you like.
The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) Program Implementation Committee (PIC) meeting is scheduled for March 6 at 2 pm. On the agenda is “Conduct a public hearing and recommend approval of the TRPA’s 2024 Active Transportation Plan to the Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization (TMPO) governing board.” As you may be aware, the TMPO is a slice of organization that’s also part of the TTD and the TRPA.
Discussion items for the meeting include an information update on TTD’s Clean Transit Initiative and an informational update on the Active Capital Improvement Program project. So please check in on that meeting and stay informed.
That is my list of upcoming meetings.
We had a CAB meeting on Monday evening. I was traveling so I was not there. Did anybody attend the CAB and can give us an update? I see no hands. I also was not able to listen in to the TRPA Governing Board meeting. Does anybody want to give an update on that? I don’t see any hands. All right, then, I’ll open it up. Does anyone have a topic of conversation? It’s a quiet day. It must be the snow. Ronda did you have anything I’m forgetting?
Ronda Tycer – Incline Village Resident
One thing I can say about the CAB meeting on Monday is that it was a bit of a disappointment to me. As you know I’m very invested and involved in where TTD is going to put its mobility hub in Incline Village. Carl Hasty was kind enough to participate. But he sort of reiterated everything that we already know, which is that the Old Elementary School is still on the list. It still seems to be the preference for them. But they are of course investigating other places. The one he mentioned was the college. He said they were seeing if there was something that could work there.
My input at the CAB was that Alexis Hill had mentioned something at the previous TTD meeting that was concerning. She said that wherever we put these mobility hubs, we need large parking lots. She said we don’t want to redo the Regional Transportation Plan. We’ve already got authorization for these large lots. My interpretation of what she was saying was wherever we put the mobility hub in Incline we will have a large parking lot. So, at the CAB I immediately asked the question of her and Carl if that was the case, and presented my position, which is that we don’t want large parking lots in Incline Village which will attract people to drive into the village and park here. I’m sure that fell on deaf ears.
My concern is that TTD in reality is still focused on the Old Elementary School. The hope I have is that they will be able to somehow compromise and make a small mobility hub that doesn’t take up all the 6 acres, and that they can do something else like mixed-use on the rest of the 6 acres. So, that’s really my hope at this time. I’m not hearing a lot of other alternatives being explored.
That’s my update on TTD. If you want me to come back and “gravel through” the TRPA meeting, I will.
Denise Davis
Have a drink of some hot tea and we’ll get back to you.
Helen Neff – Incline Village Resident
So, Ronda, I totally agree with you. I did hear Commissioner Hill saying that at the end of the TTD meeting. I actually requested the transcript because I wanted to confirm what had been said. And I share your frustration that, with all the input we gave, the plan is still… you know she said, “I don’t want to give up parking lots. We worked hard on them, so let’s not give them up.” I felt it was a very closed statement, and she was saying it to the board that was going to make this decision. Like, “this is my opinion”—and the way I heard it was—“Everyone’s going to come along with me on this.” I’m not sure if that’s what she meant. I actually sent her a message asking her, and I did not get an answer. I think it was loud and clear in all the public comment that we’re asking for parking lots in Reno and Carson and Meyers and Truckee or Sacramento, or wherever it makes sense. Then bring the buses to the lake. The way that would work most efficiently is if the neighborhoods have their TART transit and if there’s a bus that goes entirely around the lake in each direction. And it is set up so residents and visitors can use it. I get the feeling they are looking just on what is needed for visitors, and not trying to have a system that works for both.
The other thing that bothered me is that they approved the affordable housing amendments, and are telling developers you can build affordable housing without parking requirements. And yet the TTD is saying we need parking. And I’m trying to mesh that together.
My point about sharing the transit system is that I grew up in Honolulu. I think it was in the 60s or 70s that the privately-owned buses went bankrupt, so the city took over. They put together a bus system that we locals used and tourists used. I lived up on the mountain at the top of Monolani Heights. I remember coming home from school and getting on the bus and there would be all these tourists on the bus. It was great. They could pay 25 cents and get a tour. Or you know they could get up on the mountain and see the views. We all shared it just fine. It was very efficient and very reasonable for both visitors as well as the residents. Anyway, I share your frustration, Ronda. I don’t know if that helps. I think we have to just keep speaking up.
Denise Davis
Well, I know that from reports given at various transportation meetings that Andy Chapman at our Visitor Bureau reported that a large chunk of the ridership on TART Connect are locals. I know from another transportation meeting I listened to, TART services near Truckee also serve a large slice of people who are locals. I believe they also have another section of Tart Connect. And I believe they were reporting that a significant amount of ridership on their Tart Connect in the Truckee area are people getting to work. It’s a system that can be used by all if we can figure out how to make it mesh together. As we know and Helen Neff can attest, she tried to get from Truckee back to Incline, and it was not easy.
Helen Neff
Tart Connect is great. I’m not so sure it’s sustainable at no charge. I think there are certain people who would not mind paying for it. Just as if I were in New York City and calling an UBER, I would expect to pay for it.
The point is that Tart Connect operates within different zones. I believe we need something that connects the whole lake. I went down to Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe the other day for lunch. I’m retired. I have time on my hands. If I could have, I would have gone to 28 and gotten on a bus. I would have preferred that rather than driving in kind of iffy weather. And I would have gotten on a bus back. I can walk from 28, but if I couldn’t, I could call TART Connect. And if I had visitors, I would love to take them to 28 and say get on this bus and go around the lake. You can get off where you’re interested. You can then get back on. And come back at the end of the day. I’d be done with them.
And if someone is in Reno and they want to go to Sand Harbor, they can take a bus to Incline Village and get on the round-the-lake bus, and get off at Sand Harbor. There are all these reports about linking Tahoe. I believe there are three different transit agencies and it’s very hard to get a “shared services” agreement. Everyone has their turf. So, I’m not sure it could ever happen. But I think it would be something that would work for our lake.
Denise Davis
I’ll just add a comment. I have talked to Carl Hasty more than once about a system that works like the hop-on/hop-off buses I’ve traveled on in numerous places, pointing out that if people can rely on the bus being relatively on time, people would be willing to use it. It’s just a non-starter with Mr. Hasty. He’s told me in no uncertain terms, he’s not interested in a system like that. I’m just kind of like… I see it work in a lot of other places. I don’t understand his unwillingness to entertain the idea. We have a lot of people who just want to ride around and look.
If we can get traffic decreased then public transportation can run relatively on time. I had a friend who tried to take the bus to a job on the West Shore, and there were days it took 2 hours to get there. People want solutions. I think we’re willing to participate. What we have right now doesn’t seem to have jelled. I’m not opposed to public transportation. I’ve attempted to use it.
But it did not work. I remain hopefully optimistic. I just wish we could get something progressing.
Helen Neff
I feel your pain too regarding the mammoth lift of TTD being open to new ideas. That’s why the comment about the parking. Hill’s comment, “You know we’ve worked on it, we’ve planned it, so let’s do it… whether we need it or not,” was upsetting.
Denise Davis
I’ll just remind everybody, the RTC is having several meetings in the next week or two. I’ve tried to make some inroads at the RTC. Can’t we have a bus service from the Summit Mall up to Sand Harbor? The answer I always get is, “We’ve had pilot programs and there wasn’t very much ridership.” My understanding is the last pilot program was attempted in 2020, which as you’ll recall, was during the pandemic. People were only allowed to ride in related groups—families or people who lived together. So in my opinion, that can’t be held up as an attempt because we had extreme extenuating circumstances. You had to make reservations days in advance. You had to ride with people you lived with because of COVID. So, in my opinion, it is not a good thing to hold up as “Oh well, we tried it and it didn’t work.” The fact people rode it during the pandemic says to me they’re willing to try something—anything. I don’t know if we can make any inroads with RTC if we just keep hammering away at it. When I brought it up to Mr. Hasty and the RTC, they were both like, “Well, if the other person wants to talk to us… we’re here to talk.” I’m like, “ Why am I as a citizen trying to get the two of you to communicate?” I find that very frustrating.
Helen Neff
Everything you’re saying is completely true. But the key point is that If RTC runs a bus to Incline Village, if there’s no way for people to get around once they get here, nobody is going to take it. It is linking Tahoe. The whole region has to be looked at as one place that people want to visit and get around once they get here.
Denise Davis
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I know there is a vision and a plan to make all this work. It’s just that in my experience, and the experience I’ve heard from other people – there have been parts of the transportation plan implemented, but they’re not connected to the other parts. People try to use it, get frustrated, don’t have a good experience, and are not only unwilling to give it another try, but then they tell their friends about their poor experience. This continues to be an uphill battle in my opinion. I wish we could make some headway in some of these directions. Just try some other things.
I don’t think we’re all a bunch of no-nevers. I don’t think we’re nimbys. I don’t think we’re any of that. I think that sometimes we just have a different perspective. I personally feel like I’ve made a lot of effort to be heard. I feel I get listened to but I don’t get considered.
Okay, Ronda are you recovered enough to give us a little TRPA report?
Ronda Tycer
I’ll give a few more words on the TTD. The meeting was all about the regional transportation effort. There were regions, like South Lake Tahoe, that decided their main effort should be local transportation. They don’t have a TART in South Lake Tahoe. Cody Bass, the new mayor, was emphasizing that, right now, they’re just trying to get their Lake Link and bus service and some kind of transit along the main line, and get all of that together. Carl Hasty said, “Okay that’s fine, but we can’t wait for you to do that before we get regional transit.” Regional transit was the focus of that meeting. It was clear from the county representatives that they recognize they’re responsible to their constituents to get the transit running in their areas. They understand TTD’s message, which is, if they combine together, they’re eligible for a different kind of funding, and much more funding. It’s obvious the main issue all around the lake is funding. Until some kind of funding comes in—I keep thinking maybe billionaires will chip in—and say “I’m going to help fund the link from Reno to Tahoe” or the link from …
By the way I don’t think we need a bus around the lake so much as we need microtransit linked around the lake. I think the microtransit would serve very well if linked to Reno’s bus coming up here. Then microtransit could go to various places of interest along the East Shore. The main thing Hasty keeps harping on is that the East Shore is a parking disaster. So they are trying to get enough parking places off of that highway so they don’t have the safety issues that we have all summer long with people parking helter-skelter along that stretch.
So, those were the main issues brought up and talked about. But it all came down to financing. Now we’re looking at the various ways we could finance, and I really believe the financing should be on the backs of the people who use the buses. A portion should go to the counties; a portion should go to the region. And we should all be willing to pay to get the transit that we need. That’s all I want to say about the transportation meeting.
The TRPA meeting was just a rubber-stamp meeting. We all knew they were going to approve the TBAP, the Tahoe Area Plan for Placer County. They did rubber-stamp it and it was unanimous. It got a lot of conversation from the public. As we know there is an ongoing lawsuit. Interestingly the lawsuit was never mentioned by anybody until public comment. There is a lawsuit, which is against the increases in density—I think it is at this point. Apparently Placer County did make a slight concession on the height, but as far as parking and density, it did not. So there is the ongoing lawsuit with that, and then there is the MAP lawsuit as well.
Denise Davis
Right. Thank you for the update, Ronda. I appreciate it. And just a final comment about transportation, I have been trying to figure out transportation for a couple of years now. I listen to two transportation meetings each month. I was always under the impression that TTD was in charge of all the transportation in the basin. Technically they are. But how it works in day-to-day functioning is that Placer County is the driving force—operational manager—of transportation in the north shore. They have taken on the operational management of that. Basically they organize the north shore—so Truckee, Tahoe City, Incline Village. And then the south shore, the TTD takes more of the management role. Yet the south shore—their micro transit is called Lake Link instead of Tart Connect. I will tell you that during and since the pandemic they continued to have issues with not enough bus drivers. That impacts their route and their scheduling. They are having a hard time keeping their routes up, which is also feeding into the problem that people can’t rely on the bus to get to work. So, they stop riding the bus. It’s like, “I may be able to get home from work, or I may not.” It’s kind of a day-to-day thing on some of these routes. The issues the south shore is facing seem to be a little bit different from those on the north shore. I just want to add that even though the TTD is our basin-area organization, in reality, they’re kind of the south shore and Placer County is kind of the north shore.
Helen Neff
I just want to come back to the TRPA meeting. Ronda, thank you for your recap. I was babysitting that day at Monterey Aquarium trying to listen to the meeting and look at sharks and keep a bunch of kids occupied. I can’t give a good report, but I can tell you that I did make public comment on the Transportation Committee—which was held before the TTD meeting— about the Vision Zero strategy, which I knew everyone was going to approve, and pat each other on the back and say what a wonderful thing it was. And it is a wonderful thing. I’m very happy that it was approved. My point in my public comment is that transit now needs to be part of the entire planning process. When you’re making a housing amendment, how does it affect the Vision Zero strategy to keep our roads safer? Julie Regan came on and said, “Of course it’s going to be.”
And I continue to use 947 as an example. Before it was approved, no consideration was given to any kind of traffic or any safety at that intersection. When I spoke at the Washoe County Planning Commission and made comments there, they said, “Not our job. It belongs to TRPA.” That’s on the recording. I went back to TRPA, and they said, “Not our job.” The developer said, “The intersection was bad before we were going to build so why are we responsible for it”? So, it’s a continual passing of the buck in regards to transportation. I know a lot of people here do attend TRPA meetings and make comments. So, if people are so inclined—when there is a zoning or development code amendment—to remind Executive Director Regan that she said on February 28 that “Vision Zero will be part of all planning processes”—if you have any concerns for transportation or its safety.
Denise Davis
Thanks, Helen. You bring a lot of insight. You have spent a lot of time reading through reports that the rest of us will never see.
Helen Neff
I never thought I would do this. But when you try to cross, when you step into a crosswalk on State Route 28 with the walk signal in your favor, you expect to make it to the other side of the street. You don’t plan that it’s going to be 52 days later until you get home. And still years later… I’m still suffering from PTSD. People say, “Oh, you’re fine; you look fine.” But, I am not fine. You don’t think it will happen to you. And I just want to say to everyone—I know there’s not that many people on the meeting this morning— but it could happen to you or it could happen to someone you love. It is important that our streets be safe.
Denise Davis
Thank you, Helen.
Kari Ferguson
I just want to concur with Helen. About 19 years ago I tried to get that intersection across from the skate park … to get something done there, because that’s such a scary intersection. When my daughter was little, I remember I almost got hit with the stroller several times…probably a dozen times. Even after pressing the button… It’s like nobody knows what the button means. So, this intersection has been a long-time problem. So, I just want to say on a personal note unrelated to IVGID of course, something has to be done there. It’s so scary.
Denise Davis
Thanks, Kari. Are there any comments from anyone else on any other topic? I’ll remind everyone we do have campaign season coming up. And we did, as a forum, discuss how we wanted to handle any candidates who wanted to come and speak to us. And the consensus was that we would again have candidate statements at the end of our meetings. And this year we have booked our room for a little bit longer so if people want to ask questions of candidates that will be available after 10 am after the meeting ends. So that’s how we’re going to handle candidates during this upcoming election season. Are there any final comments from anyone? We’re happy to see everyone today. Please stay safe and off the roads if you don’t have to go anywhere. We will see you in 2 weeks on March 15. Bye.
PARTICIPANTS
Chris King
Denise Davis
Helen Neff
John Crockett
John Eppolito
Jon Davidson
Kari Ferguson
Linda Offerdahl
Marsha Berkbigler
Pam Straley
Ronda Tycer
Sam Levin
CHAT LOG
09:10:10 From Beth & Jon Davidson: Good morning from Redwood City, CA as we are awaiting a break in the storm!
09:29:25 From Linda Offerdahl : Travel North Tahoe Nevada Strategic Plan survey: surveymonkey.com.
FORUM URLS
Our email is:
Washoe County Sheriff Office (WCSO)
non-emergency dispatch 775-785-9276
Incline substation Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Washoe-County-Sheriffs-Office-Incline-Village-Substation-143827955640457/
Red Day / Green Day info
775-833-5555
https://www.washoecounty.gov/csd/operations/roads/Snow%20and%20Ice/snow_ice_ops_incline.php
“Where’s My Plow?” real-time map
https://www.washoecounty.gov/csd/operations/roads/Snow%20and%20Ice/snow_ice_ops_incline.php
North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District website
non-emergency fire dispatch (Grass Valley) 530-477-0641, then pick 7
Washoe County emergency alert sign-up
https://www.washoecounty.gov/em/RegionalAlerts.php
Washoe Regional Emergency Information Center
https://www.EmergencyWashoe.com/
IVGID water service line survey
https://bit.ly/IVGIDPWLeadandCopperSurvey
(URL is case-sensitive)
Mar 4 – IVGID Capital Investment Committee meeting – ZOOM ONLY
Mar 6 – IVGID BOT special meeting – 3:30 pm
https://www.yourtahoeplace.com/uploads/pdf-ivgid/2024-0306_BOT_Special_Agenda.pdf
Mar 6 – TTD Program Implementation Committee meeting
Mar 7 – Mountain Area Preservation (MAP) Land Use Lunch Hour – Zoom
TRPA 2024 Active Transportation Plan – deadline for comments is Mar 15
https://www.trpa.gov/trpa-releases-draft-bicycle-and-pedestrian-plan/
TRPA 2024 Public Participation Plan – deadline for comments is Apr 5
https://www.trpa.gov/2024-public-participation-plan-draft/
Tahoe Fund call for artists
Washoe311 – request for service
call 311 or 775-328-2003
https://washoecountynv.qscend.com/311/request/add
All applications for Washoe County Commission District 1
https://www.washoecounty.gov/csd/planning_and_development/applications/apps_commish_district_one.php
Neighborhood Meetings for upcoming projects
https://neighborhood-washoe.hub.arcgis.com/
IV/CB Community 1st meetings and community info
IVCBA (Incline Village Crystal Bay Community and Business Association)
ivcba.orgReplyForward
Attendee panel closed