SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On Tuesday, city council met to discuss the formation of an ad hoc electric utility committee, discuss getting a new city attorney and have a public hearing on new refuse fees. They also gave keys to the city to Lake Tahoe Community College figures and passed a motion to provide cannabis tax revenue funds to nonprofits for another year, which can be read about in their own stories.
Consent agenda and public hearing
One consent agenda item was on city council protocols. In the recent past, meetings have dragged for hours and the council held a special meeting to create new protocols. These included having earlier agenda publications, the mayor’s discretion to reorder agenda items to improve public participation and adding a timer to councilmember displays when speaking.
Dan May spoke on the item and noted that the council should also use the “questioning” section of their process for actual questions, not just statements. He also told city council that he was glad to hear their thought process on how they voted and what they care about, but that it was better fitted to op-eds rather than speeches during city council time.
On the consent agenda was also the South Tahoe Refuse delinquent refuse fees report, which was also passed by the planning commission, where they heard no objections. The item was brief with city council as well, so South Tahoe Refuse will file the report with the county to property tax rolls for collection.
Electricity utility committee
In previous years, Liberty Utilities and the city discussed a franchise agreement which did not come to pass, though the company continued to pay franchise fees to the city. Liberty recently approached the city again with the interest in speaking on a franchise agreement again. The committee established in the motion would engage with their discussion.
Councilmember Scott Robbins said part of the reason for the franchise agreement falling through before was the limitation of solar to 1 megawatt, which would have stopped South Tahoe Public Utilities District from building their solar array.
Mayor Cody Bass noted that because an election is coming up, Mayor Pro Tem Keith Roberts and councilmember David Jinkens would be the only members guaranteed to stay on city council. Jinkens agreed and noted that that they could provide more continuity on the discussion.
With the additional comment that a franchise agreement would ultimately be brought back to the entire council for approval, the motion to establish the committee with Roberts and Jinkens passed unanimously.
City attorney services
City attorney Heather Stroud announced her resignation in May, and her final day at the city will be July 1. After proposals were submitted for interim services, city council interviewed those candidates in closed session and selected Sergio Rudin from Best Best & Krieger LLP as the interim city attorney.
Rudin will serve for six months as they seek out a new city attorney and be paid an amount not exceeding $200,000 for the entire contract.
The city manager would be responsible for finding an executive search firm, which would then recruit a new city attorney. The item requested $50,000 for the process
Jinkens suggested that the council approve the executive search firm, which Bass disagreed with, as it would slow down the process. Robbins also disagreed, saying that they would not provide value to approving the search firm, and their appointment of the city attorney would be much more important.
With the addition that the search firm be experienced in placing city attorneys in California, the motion passed unanimously.
Dissolution of the South Tahoe Joint Powers Parking Financing Authority (STJPPFA)
In 2002, the city and the South Tahoe Redevelopment Agency established the STJPPFA to facilitate the financing of improvements like the public parking garage. The agreement went until 2042, but the bonds were fully paid off in January 2024.
The council approved the motion unanimously.
Agenda planning calendar and city council reports
The State of the City Address will be taking place on June 24, starting at 4:30 p.m. City council will be holding a special meeting in July to discuss the tobacco moratorium and potentially the California Tahoe Conservancy land exchange.
Stroud spoke to the council as it was her last meeting. “I have been sitting in this seat for almost eight years and I really appreciate having the opportunity to serve this community… I like to think I left things better now than when I got here.” She expressed that she felt the city was in good hands with Rudin.
Bass said that Stroud really stabilized the city legally, especially during his initial time serving on referendum. He also presented Stroud with a key to the city.
City clerk Susan Blankenship said, “Yes, we will get along fine without you, but we will miss you very much. You make being here bearable some days. I really need you.” City manager Hilary Roverud also said she was looking forward to maintaining a friendship with Stroud beyond her position. Councilmember Heather Horgan also expressed her support for professional connections with women like Roverud and Stroud.
Blankenship also noted that the mayor issued a proclamation for the 90th anniversary of the movie “Rose-Marie” which was partially filmed in Lake Tahoe.
With the upcoming election, Blankenship expressed that she hoped for a boring election season. “That’s what clerks love.”
The Bijou connector trail on Al Tahoe is finishing up and Lake Link’s expansion to the rest of the city will be complete in mid-July.
The next regular city council meeting will take place on August 11.
