SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On Tuesday, city council met to discuss the mid-year budget, including fees for the new rec center. They also discussed the possible use of the old rec center and the proposed resolution on opposing federal overreach and protecting resident regardless of immigration status.

Mayor Cody Bass was not present at the meeting, so Mayor Pro Tem Keith Roberts conducted the meeting.

Public comment

Several public comments concerned Liberty Utilities, both the recent news that they would no longer be supplied power by NV Energy and their proposed smart meters. CEO and President of TAHOE SPARK, Danielle Hughes said she has been advocating at the legislature and requesting an emergency order from the governor.

Hughes also said she had proposed bills and pushed for more local control and oversight of utility systems. “This was set up in 2013 to manipulate the market,” said Hughes. She asserted that the Greenlink transmission project in Nevada would be to supply power to data systems, that costs had gone up by paying tie-ins to PG&E and that Liberty Utilities had no oversight from regulatory bodies in California. She also said that both she and fire chiefs were submitting letters of protest and hoped that the city would allow her to educate them.

John Messina, Melissa Soderston and Erick Asbury commented on the smart meters, saying that they were inadequately tested and could impact electricity usage measurements for those who utilize their home’s electricity at peak hours, such as those who work at home. “We need to get Liberty in here and hold them accountable,” said Messina.

Asbury and Soderston both suggested that the city consider its own utility options, as it was previously suggested and has been done in other areas of California. Councilmember Scott Robbins noted that a municipal power option is the norm in Truckee and had pitched the idea to city council before. “I can’t help but notice that everybody hates government regulation until they want government to help them and regulate something,” said Robbins.

Ann Bryant of the BEAR League proposed that the city consider an annual vaccine that would sterilize bears, especially as the majority of break-ins are from mother bears with dependent cubs. The BEAR League reportedly has buy-in from the Oakland Zoo, the California Conservation Society and Montana’s Science and Conservation Center. Bryant suggested that bear #753, also called Hope, be a target study once her cub was no longer dependent on her. “This is one bear, one effort. She’s going to die if we don’t do something, the Department of Wildlife is refusing to relocate her or put her in a sanctuary.”

Interim city manager Hilary Roverud noted that the local president of Liberty Utilities agreed to appear before city council on April 21.

City commissioner reports

Student advisors Mira Donahue and Sebastian Guerrero shared that the district and city were putting on an event called “How to Start a Business” on April 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the South Tahoe High School library. The event would connect students with businesses, feature a local business panel and help students see how they could connect to careers in town.

Consent agenda

Robbins requested to pull the report on the 2025 housing element for the council to review it at a later date, but would approve the report in order to meet the Housing and Community Development deadline.

Councilmember Heather Horgan also requested to hear how the funds were being used by Vista Rise Collective. During public comment, Dan May thanked the city for their continued cooperation with Vista Rise Collective, who provide needed services, and said they would likely be amenable to presenting to council on their funds.

Several public comments addressed the vacation home rentals (VHRs). May asked why the item was on the consent agenda, as the second reading was a regular item previously. He also hoped that council had learned its lesson on hasty decision-making. “We got the worst of both worlds, because now people both sides aren’t happy with how that went.”

Others complained that locals were not being considered, stated they should wait to make an ordinance until after the appeal had passed through court and that VHRs had not gotten proper enforcement.

VHR owners spoke about their support, which was echoed by Caleb Fry. “In a tourism economy, we need leaders who are unafraid to stand up for tourism,” said Fry.

The consent agenda passed with the two reports slated for future meetings. Robbins recorded a no vote on the VHR item.

Mid-year budget overview and fees study

Financial director Olga Tikhomirova presented the mid-year budget review, requesting the addition of certain staff, such as establishing a full-time communications manager, a financial services manager and maintenance technicians to the airport. This would come with eliminating other positions such as the financial services supervisor and communications and project specialist.

The proposed review also requested changes to the budget, especially as the Transient Occupancy Tax was down. Operating revenues were relatively flat compared to the projected budget, though some expenditures were pushed off. The total revenue adjustment was approximately $1.6 million, with expenditure adjustments at roughly $5.6 million.

The item passed unanimously.

Regarding the fee study, Horgan asked about fingerprinting, which has a cost recovery of $85. Horgan noted that cost was much higher than other cities. Councilmember David Jinkens also said the appeals fee could disincentivize or disenfranchise lower income people from appealing. Robbins also wanted subsidizing for building permit fees for smaller properties.

Ultimately, the council passed a reduction or elimination for fingerprinting for volunteers (as well as setting cost recovery at $49), a refund structure for appeals and the model of EMS under recovery. The other items were to return to council at a later date for direction.

Reuse of the old recreation and swim complex

In the past, city staff have considered demolishing the old recreation center. Its age means many of its systems are at the end of its life, and the demolishment of the old center would count towards mitigation for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). El Dorado County also required demolition of the complex as a condition of the 56 Acres agreement.

Jinkens was interested in other groups utilizing the building, not having the city operate it. Legally, the city could lease it out to groups, but Jinkens said he was disappointed in the item.

Public works director Dr. Q said, “Someone who wanted to come in and use that building would have to spend millions of dollars to get it to a usable condition.” He suggested that they might be better off tearing down the building and making a new one rather than trying to retrofit.

Public comment expressed disappointment that the city had not allocated budget to tear down the old rec center while building the new one. Others suggested that the space could be used for more centrally located city services, a free youth community center, moving the senior center over or a community arts and culture center. The Boys and Girls Club also expressed interest in utilizing the gym there.

Parks and rec commission member Peter Fink said, “The structural integrity of that building has been seriously compromised, especially after the 2022-2023 storm.” He added that the facility was not built efficiently and was not cost-effective. “The expense of just occupying that building is high.”

Roberts said he wasn’t against running a feasibility study, but that it was unlikely that the site could paid for by groups.

Robbins expressed interest in having a makerspace or arts and culture center, though he also asked for them to solicit interest from groups who wanted to use the building.

A motion directing city staff to solicit interest from other groups passed unanimously.

Resolution on immigrants and federal overreach

City council considered a resolution that reaffirms the city’s commitment to the rights, dignity and safety of all residents, regardless of immigration status. The resolution also opposes unconstitutional federal enforcement actions and overreach.

Indivisible leader Colleen Bye, who wrote the resolution, said that the resolution was not about sanctuary cities. She also noted that Erick Asbury had made a post with misinformation, deriding the resolution by referencing paid protestors and claiming the Indivisible leader was Susan Chandler (who is a member the South Lake Tahoe Democrats Club).

“At its core, the resolution is about public safety and community trust,” said Bye. She asserted that the resolution keeps the city aligned with the law, kept taxpayer dollars for residents and supported people.

Soderston said that she had urged city council to make some sort of statement regarding immigrants and expressed that she wanted the city to provide actionable items to help immigrants along with the statement.

Julie Lowe, who presented the resolution previously, said, “There’s a quota going on and ICE is rounding up people, no matter what their documentation status is. They’ve killed people. To me, it’s so important that we affirm our commitment, our strength and protect the most vulnerable community members.”

Messina said that this kind of resolution was putting a target on immigrants here for ICE to pay attention to.

Scott Loberg stated that he was in support of legal immigration, but that illegal immigrants should not receive this support and suggested turning the old rec center into an ICE detention center. Asbury suggested that this would remove federal and state funding, and encouraged no action.

Robbins again spoke about performative actions, saying, “Sometimes a performative action has real value. Sometimes it may be the only thing you can do, to say to a group, ‘We don’t think you’re subhuman, we do think you have value.'” He continued that the city could help immigrants apply for green cards, but that it was important to reaffirm the statement.

Horgan said that she worried this resolution could divide the community and distract from local governance. However, she said she turned around on the item when Robbins referenced the pride flag crosswalks and that it was important to express support and welcome their residents.

She also said that Nevada City and Sacramento had also passed such resolutions—more than 22 cities in California have done so, according to her research.

Jinkens expressed concern that the resolution could cloud impact on police response to crime, especially around “undocumented offenders with serious criminal convictions.” He also was concerned around the resolution’s claim that the federal government was “acting unconstitutionally.”

As Jinkens commented and claimed he was worried about “people getting their throats slit in buses,” public tension rose to the level of yelling.

Roberts said that he supported due process and taking care of residents, but also expressed hesitation around monitoring unconstitutional actions, which could open the city to litigation. He said he believed it was unfair to legal immigrants, criticized Robbins for supporting a performative action, and said, “This is nothing more than a campaign effort… this is hugely divisive and stirring the pot.”

He continued that he worried about alleged crimes by undocumented individuals. Robbins was quick to comment that legal residents have stolen from the city, including the former mayor.

Robbins said, “Mayor Pro Tem Roberts, I’m disappointed that you’re perfectly willing to acknowledge the labor of undocumented immigrants, but not to acknowledge their personhood and equality. We should be picking a side and it’s the side that says, ‘I believe in human equality.'”

The item received a split vote and failed to pass.

Horgan asked city staff to potentially draft a resolution that would be more amenable. Jinkens again expressed that he was concerned about public safety. Police chief Jeff Roberson said that the preamble in the resolution aligned with government code, and would not change the way they operationally worked.

Horgan’s motion for city staff to amend the resolution and bring it back (likely in May) passed unanimously.

Amendment to Joint Powers agreement

Director of Parks and Recreation John Stark presented on an amendment to an agreement between the Joint Community Facilities (JCFA) and South Lake Tahoe Recreation Facilities Joint Powers Authority (JPA). Through the proposed ballot measure called Measure G for June 2026, these amendments would increase JPA contributions for maintenance of the community playfields at the community college and Tahoe Paradise Park, provide contributions to maintain Lake Tahoe Unified School District fields and broaden bike trails among other items.

Measure G would go to the ballot along with June primaries.

Robbins proposed a motion to approve the amendments to the JPA and to bring back a resolution for deliberation among the council regarding Measure G. That motion passed unanimously.

Agenda planning calendar and council reports

Roverud noted that the upcoming planning calendar would change due to items being moved up in timeframe.

City clerk Susan Blankenship informed the council that a proclamation declaring May as mental health awareness month was requested by Angie Reagan of Peace Love Tahoe.

Robbins will be out for most of April.

Horgan noted that the city was in shoulder season and said that given the high gas prices, people should stay up on the hill and support local businesses.

The next city council meeting will take place on April 21.