News Briefs

Area Fire Districts, Agencies Send Support to L.A.

NORTH TAHOE/TRUCKEE

The nation watches in horror as multiple wildfires rage through the Los Angeles area, causing evacuations, displacement, and five fatalities to date. The two largest fires, Palisades (more than 20,000 acres burning in the Santa Monica mountains and along the coast) and Eaton (nearly 14,000 acres in the Altadena/Pasadena area), both sprang up Tuesday, Jan. 7.

North Tahoe and Truckee agencies have all responded to the emergencies by sending crews and equipment.

• Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer (NEU) Unit: 
  • Overhead personnel: 16
  • Suppression personnel: 92
  • Engines: 9 
  • Crews: 3
  • Dozers: 2
• North Tahoe Fire Protection District
  • 1 engine (4 personnel)
  • Overhead personnel: 4
• North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
  • 1 strike team (5 engines, 22 to 25 personnel)
• Tahoe National Forest
  • 3 engines (5 personnel each)
  • 1 water tender (2 personnel)
  • 7 single resources:
    • 2 public information officers
    • 1 fireline safety officer
    • 1 patrol/prevention tech
    • 1 dispatcher
    • 1 DIVS (division/group supervisor)
    • 1 helicopter manager
• Truckee Fire Protection District
  • 1 engine (4 personnel)

Visit fire.ca.gov/incidents for up-to-date information.

~ AH

NV Energy Proposes a Wildfire Self-Insurance Policy

NEVADA

NV Energy submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) for the establishment of a wildfire self-insurance policy. This policy aims to address the financial impacts of a catastrophic wildfire in order to better protect customers and the company from the financial impacts of such an event. 

A wildfire self-insurance policy is a financial strategy that utilities use to fund the substantial expenses of catastrophic wildfires on communities and individuals. NV Energy’s proposed fund will be built through additions to customer rates and a co-payment from shareholders and invested to grow over time. This approach ensures that 100% of the funds are available to support the communities served.

If approved, the policy will be funded on a jurisdictional basis. Sierra customers in Northern Nevada, who face a higher risk of wildfires, will cover a larger portion of the costs compared to Nevada Power customers in Southern Nevada. The average residential customer at Sierra Pacific Power would see their bill increase by about $2.40 per month, while an average residential customer at Nevada Power would see an increase of about $0.50 per month. The policy is proposed to be collected over 10 years to avoid sudden rate increases, providing stability and predictability for customers.

The full filing can be found on the PUCN website here. The policy will be reviewed and is subject to approval by the commission.

~ NV Energy press release

North Tahoe Community Alliance Issues Call for Board Members

TAHOE CITY

The North Tahoe Community Alliance (NTCA) is seeking candidates for its board of directors. The organization is focused on leveraging the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program to foster economic health, community vitality, and environmental sustainability that benefits local residents, businesses, and visitors.

There are nine seats open for election as identified:

• Homewood Mountain Resort (organization-designated seat)
• Everline Resort & Spa (organization-designated seat)
• Northstar California Resort (organization-designated seat)
• Palisades Tahoe (organization-designated seat)
• Squaw Valley Business Association (organization-designated seat)
• Tahoe City Downtown Association (organization-designated seat)
• North Shore lodging/property management
• At-large, food & beverage
• At-large seat

Qualified members have until 5 p.m. on Feb. 3 to submit an application to serve on NTCA’s Board of Directors. Eligible candidates must be an owner or manager of an assessed active, current business (or the designated representative of that business) within the NLT-TBID district as defined in the corporation by-laws.

The election will occur in March 2025 and new board members will be seated in April 2025. Information and applications to apply for one of the available seats will be available online at northtahoecommunityalliance.com.

Interested candidates must complete the application and direct any questions to Anna Atwood: [email protected] or 530-581-8722. Please send applications to Atwood or deliver in person to the NTCA at 100 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145.

~ North Tahoe Community Alliance press release

Free Electrification Coaching Offered to Residents

TRUCKEE

The Go Electric Truckee Tahoe program launched its free, personalized electrification coaching service, offering technical assistance to home and building owners in the Truckee/Tahoe region. This service is specifically for those interested in replacing natural gas appliances with heat pumps for space heating and cooling and water heating. The personalized coaching service helps walk interested residents and businesses through the electrification process by connecting them with qualified contractors, researching relevant rebates and funding opportunities, and helping them complete an online home assessment.  

Go Electric Truckee Tahoe is the new name for the Climate Transformation Alliance (CTA) program formerly known as Truckee Tahoe Building Decarbonization Pilot Program. The program is hosted by the CTA and Sierra Business Council (SBC), the nonprofit facilitator of the CTA. Go Electric Truckee Tahoe emerged from CTA and SBC’s shared goal of achieving a carbon-free community for Truckee and Lake Tahoe.

Electrification resources for contractors and homeowners alike can be found on the program’s website. More information is available at goelectrictruckeetahoe.org. 

~ Sierra Business Council press release

New Elected Officials Sworn In

TRUCKEE/NORTH TAHOE

The following individuals will be sworn in this month to serve as elected officials through 2028, based on the results of the 2024 General Election.

• Alpine Springs County Water District: Robert Tetrault; Albert Clement
• Incline Village General Improvement District: Michaela Tonking, incumbent; Mick Homan; Michelle Jezycki
• North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District*: Susan Herron, incumbent; Phillip Klein; Kenneth Leijon
• Placer County District 5 Supervisor: Cindy Gustafson, incumbent
• Tahoe City Public Utility District: Dan Wilkins, incumbent; Judy Friedman, incumbent; Elleyne “Ellie” Beals
• Tahoe Forest Hospital District: Alyce Wong, incumbent; Robert Darzynkiewicz
• Truckee Donner Public Utility District: Jeff Bender, incumbent; Steve Randall; Courtney Murrell 
• Truckee Sanitary District: Michael Salmon
• Truckee Tahoe Airport District: David Diamond, incumbent; Greg Horvath; Teresa O’Dette, incumbent
• Truckee Town Council*: Courtney Henderson, incumbent; Lindsay Romack, incumbent
• Washoe County Commissioner District 1: Alexis Hill, incumbent

* not contested

~ AH

Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up

New Hospital CEO Identified, Announcement To Come

TRUCKEE/NORTH TAHOE

After Tahoe Forest Health System’s former CEO Harry Weis departed May 2024 under claims of a retaliatory atmosphere, the district began the process of hiring a recruiting firm to hire and transition in a new head.

Last month, the board of directors interviewed the top three candidates out of that process. As of Jan. 9, the field has narrowed further. 

“The board identified a highly qualified candidate who they believe is well equipped to lead the health system into the future,” read a statement shared with Moonshine Ink by the board of directors. “At this time, the board is in the final stages of contract negotiations and is unable to disclose the candidate’s name due to confidentiality requirements. We are committed to keeping the public informed and will share more information, including the candidate’s name and start date, as soon as we are able.”

~ AH

Truckee Meadows Fire Chief Retires

RENO

The board of fire commissioners for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) named Deputy Fire Chief Dale Way as the interim fire chief until a permanent chief is named later this year. The move comes as Fire Chief Charles Moore retires on Jan. 24.

Chief Moore will retire after 45 years in the fire service. Chief Moore began his career as a volunteer firefighter and started his professional career in 1981 in Vail, Colorado. He has held many positions in the fire service, including firefighter, driver/operator, lieutenant, captain, and fire marshal.

Chief Moore developed an agency focused on high-performing Advanced Life Support (ALS) and started several programs designed to help reduce the risk of wildfire.

Some programs and initiatives under Chief Moore’s leadership include expanding the fire district’s paramedic and ambulance program, creating a new wildland fuels division, and completing Station 33 on Foothill Drive. A groundbreaking was recently held to expand Station 37 in Hidden Valley, and other stations are being designed for Washoe Valley and Interstate 80 near the Mustang Exit. Under Chief Moore’s tenure, new fire apparatus, including a ladder truck, multiple ambulances, and state-of-the-art fire and brush engines were put into service. Chief Moore also instituted bi-yearly green waste collection days, enabling residents to dispose of their dry and dead vegetation in an effort to encourage citizens to create defensible space.

~ Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District press release

Friends of the Truckee Library Promotes April Cole

TRUCKEE

Friends of the Truckee Library (FOTL) announced the promotion of Campaign Director April Cole to be its first-ever executive director. Cole and FOTL are leading the drive to build a new Truckee Regional Library, in partnership with the Town of Truckee, Nevada County, and Placer County.

Cole is a long-time community leader in Truckee, including past service as president of the Rotary Club of Truckee. In Cole’s years as campaign director, FOTL and its partners have chalked up an impressive string of successes, including securing a library site at the Truckee Regional Park, raising over $2 million, initiating design of the new facility, engaging thousands of community members, and garnering endorsements from over 40 organizations. 

To ramp up for a capital campaign for the new library, FOTL has also added substantial expertise, hiring Sara Schrichte as campaign manager and welcoming Kate Korsh to the FOTL board of directors. 

The current Truckee Library was built in 1975, when its service area included only 2,000 people. Today, the library serves more than 20,000 people and has too little space to offer the range of services now standard in modern libraries nationwide. The new library will be located in the regional park, will increase capacity from 54 people to 693 people, and will feature dedicated spaces for children, teens, makers, technology, and community events.

~ Friends of the Truckee Library press release

Jason Burke Joins Tahoe Transportation District as Senior Transportation Planner

LAKE TAHOE

The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) welcomes Jason Burke, AICP, as its new senior transportation planner. Burke brings experience in urban planning, stormwater management, and climate resilience to the role, further strengthening TTD’s commitment to delivering sustainable and innovative transportation solutions for the Lake Tahoe region.  

Burke joins TTD after serving as complete streets program manager for the City of South Lake Tahoe, where he led efforts to protect Lake Tahoe’s water clarity by reducing sediment and nutrient pollutants in urban runoff and improving community mobility options. His work included designing and maintaining urban runoff treatment systems, advancing Complete Streets initiatives, and supporting multimodal transportation projects that benefit the community and visitors alike.  

Burke holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo and a bachelor’s degree in geography from Southern Oregon University. He is also an active community member, serving on the board of directors for the Tahoe Resource Conservation District.  

For more information about the Tahoe Transportation District and its ongoing projects, visit tahoetransportation.org.

~ Tahoe Transportation District press release

Business Briefs

Meet Your Backcountry Partner at the Avalanche Education Series

TRUCKEE

Truckee locals Daniel Feldman and Richard Bothwell launched their website and app, SlabLab, in November 2024. SlabLab is a backcountry skiing app that provides users a member network for meeting backcountry partners in one’s area, as well as free research on the backcountry. 

Feldman and Bothwell started SlabLab with qualitative research on the human factor of backcountry skiing. After interviewing and talking with several backcountry skiers, they discovered that many people have trouble finding backcountry partners, and created their partner network. In addition to the online platform, they have hosted several in-person events to bring together backcountry riders.

Feldman and Bothwell are hosting a meetup event in collaboration with Tahoe Mountain Sports’s Avalanche Education Series at Alibi Ale Works on Jan. 15. The speed-dating-type event will facilitate meet and greets between attendees who want to get into the backcountry. Bothwell and Feldman will also speak about their research on the human aspect of backcountry skiing and how to determine who could be a good fit for one’s quiver of backcountry partners.

Learn more about SlabLab and their research at slablab.co/research. For more information on the Avalanche Education Series click here. 

~ MR

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Hosts Free Introductory Snowboard Experience for Kids

RENO

On Jan. 11, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe will host a free introductory snowboard experience for kids ages 7 to 12. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., kids interested in learning the basics of snowboarding can drop in and will have access to the resort’s Specialty Snowboard Park and Learn to Snowboard set-up.

“This event is the perfect opportunity for kids interested in snowboarding to learn the basics and have some fun in the snow,” said Mike Pierce, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe marketing director. “While it’s not an official snowboard ‘lesson,’ there will be multiple stations set up that are designed to provide an intro to the basic skills of snowboarding. The best part is, there’s no cost, and no equipment is needed. Kids just need to show up to participate.”

The event will take place near the Main Lodge on the west side of the Show-off Trail by the Magic Surface Lift.

Learn more at skirose.com.

~ Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe press release