Davis: keep taxes low, encourage and reward incentives

Publisher’s note: Lake Tahoe News is profiling candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and Douglas County Commission. The stories are being published in the order they were received.

Name: Tom Davis

Age: No response

How long have you lived in South Lake Tahoe?: 39 years

Job/profession: Businessman

What would you build or tear down on the South Shore to make it great, as in what Whistler is like?: Millers Outpost Center at the Y. By the way, Design Workshop, who designed the current Project 1 area at Stateline, is the same company who designed Whistler.

What form of recreation do you participate in? What recreation improvements would you strive to make in SLT?: Boating, camping, bike riding. I would like to advocate for an additional dog park and for more picnic and barbecue areas with lake views. I want us to continue to make improvements on our Bijou nine hole golf course. I would also like to design and build an additional disc golf course.

Recreation tourism is expected to be the driving force of the South Shore economy in the coming years, and according to a decade-old study, the majority of the South Lake Tahoe residents would like to see cycling-type facilities and maintenance projects. So, what do you specifically plan to do to improve our substandard, dangerous bike paths and lanes and roads beyond hiring a consultant to tell us how bad they are?: The answer is, I can’t do anything about it as an individual, but by building a consensus with my fellow council members, I will continue to advocate the city to lobby for grant’s from any and all federal, state and private organizations, to build and maintain world class bike paths.

What are the three major issues facing South Lake Tahoe and how do you expect in four years to make it so they are not major issues when your tenure is through?: The economy, the hole in the ground, and the grand jury report. To encourage and promote more special events, both large and small, year-round. Eco-tourism and sell the “sizzle” to our guests of what beautiful Lake Tahoe has to offer. After the project comes out of bankruptcy, we must find a qualified developer, and make sure that the financial guarantees are in place, before any further construction resumes. When I was on the council, we required finical guarantees before the developer could even move forward, that’s why as you can see Project 1 was successfully completed. I feel with a new city manager and three new council members out of the five total council members if the new council members are willing to work well together, the grand jury report will become a non-issue in the following years.

What compelling idea have you read in the citizens’ input of the revamped, in-progress update of the city’s General Plan?: The citizens want real change, with limited red tape and they want financial incentives. The citizens also want these projects done in a fair and timely manner, not taking years to complete.

How do you plan to boost revenue in SLT?: Advocate more special events, both large and small for South Lake Tahoe. By working with Heavenly Ski Resort to bring the World Cup Ski Races back to South Lake Tahoe. I also want the city to work closely with the Tourist Improvement District and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, and bring my years of marketing experience to the table.

What stands out to you in the 2010-11 budget?: How complex the city budget really is. There are over 79 budgets within the city budget. This budget gives you a very clear understanding of what services the city provides for our community. Also, over half of the operating budget goes to our police and fire services, which has been along with snow removal my priority for years. It is also very important for the public to know, this city has been very successful in receiving grants for multiple projects and services that greatly benefit this community.

What needs to be done to allow businesses to thrive in SLT?: Reduce the regulation and red tape that has riddled and haunted our local business community. We must keep taxes low and encourage and reward incentives. I propose that the City Council form a blue ribbon task force of approximately five new business in South Lake Tahoe. We need to sit and meet with these businesses along with city, county, and TRPA representatives so we can find out exactly what government could have done and should do to encourage more businesses to relocate to the city of South Lake Tahoe.

What have you done to help South Lake Tahoe be a better community?: Where do I begin? When I first moved to Tahoe in 1971, I immediately became involved in various service clubs in Lake Tahoe. I served on the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce for 15 years and was the chamber president twice. I sat on the board of directors for LTVA for 12 years and was chairman for a term of one year. I started a successful business with my partners, which now provides jobs for over 30 dedicated employees who have stayed with our company for many years. I currently am on the board of directors of Christmas Cheer all year, which provides food for our needy families in the community. I also sit on the board of directors for the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care. I am a current member and past president of Kiwanis Club. Kiwanis Club provides thousands of dollars annually in scholarships to local students given them the opportunity for a quality college education. I was on the South Shore Marketing Council. I also had the pleasure of serving a a City Council member from 1992-2004 and served as mayor three times. I supported and implemented numerous affordable housing programs within the city.

What boards, commissions, or other experience do you have?: Airport Commission, City Council, LTVA, Lodging Association, Chamber of Commerce, El Dorado County Fair board, LAFCO, Wildlife Care, Christmas Cheer, Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, Northern Nevada Hotel Sales Management Association, Kiwanis board of directors.

Why should voters vote for you over someone else?: Because I have the experience and the commitment to getting things done. I have the ability to not only lead, but to listen to the needs of the community. This isn’t about me, its about you. The city is at a serious crossroads and it needs someone with experience who has shown success in the past. That’s why I am the right leader at the right time.

BlueGo, the public transit, is mired in lawsuits and bankruptcy. Do we need public transit on the South Shore? If so, how do you propose to make it functional?: First of all, it was a mistake that the city gave up control to the transportation district. Second, the city needs to take back control and only provide bus service to the citizens within the city of South Lake Tahoe. Finally, yes we need public transit for our locals and visitors, we need some marketing plans to encourage greater rider ship.

Do you support commercial air service at Lake Tahoe Airport? Why or why not?: Yes, it will a beneficial asset to the community, but only after the convention center is completed.

Is there any individual, group or organization you would not take campaign money from? Why?: I will not take funds from any public employee unions, refuse company due to the fact the city has an existing contract with them. I have in the past returned campaign funds to a local developer who donated to my campaign, who was involved in the convention center project. I will not take funds from Heavenly Ski Resort or Marriott Corp. Nor will I take campaign funds from the casinos. I sleep well at night knowing my obligation is to the citizens of South Lake Tahoe.

Nepotism and favoritism runs rampant in the city when it comes to hiring preferences. The council sets policy. What type of policy would you write regarding nepotism and favoritism?: I would first direct the city manager to develop a comprehensive and transparent nepotism policy.

What did you accomplish in the 12 years you were on the council?: Public funding has leverages in redevelopment Project Site 1. This resulted in $600 million in a new private investment and 300 jobs. Redevelopment is one of the largest economic drivers in the community and contributes over $2 million annually to the general fund, $2 million of redevelopment housing funds leveraged, nearly $18 million in state housing grant funds, $21 million in private investment to construct and rehabilitation, 200 affordable housing units for low and very low income persons, 45 affordable units for seniors, 18 new units for low income persons with disabilities. Also $3.2 million of redevelopment housing funds and state grants provided 46 families with new home ownership through the First Time Homebuyer Program, $1.8 million of redevelopment housing funds and stated grants improved the living conditions of 57 families through Housing Rehabilitation program; quality affordable housing, Sierra Garden Apartments, Tahoe Valley Townhouses, Tahoe Pines Apt, Senior Housing and others. Ski Run Marina project, Embassy Suites Hotel, new fire station, Heavenly Village, gondola, Linear Park, stream environment restoration projects, water quality projects, street lighting from Highway 50 and Pioneer to Ski Run and Pioneer. Implemented a comprehensive taxi cab ordinance to include background checks on all drivers to protect our locals and visitors. Lobbied state politicians and the governor of California to declare an emergency, after the severe flooding and mudslide that closed Highway 50, just after New Year’s 1997. This emergency was costing the Lake Tahoe community over $1 million a day in lost revenue. Because of our efforts Highway 50 was able to be opened a month earlier then anticipated.

How do you defend being on the council at the time when $7.2 million was taken from the general fund to pay for redevelopment and now $500,000 is paid back to the general fund each year for that thievery when it should be used for roads and other projects locals would like?: First of all, there was no thievery from the general fund, it was a loan. The Redevelopment Agency needed the funds to complete Project 1. The loan was discussed in public meeting aired on cable television with clear transparency. The loan is being paid back to the city at a rate of half a million dollars per years, from the Redevelopment Agency. Over $2 million has already been paid back to the city general fund with interest. After all the redevelopment bills are paid, which includes bond payments, the redevelopment agency contributed over $2 million dollars to the city’s general fund annually.

You and three other council candidates met with the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, though you were not invited back for the follow-up meeting with the three others, tell us about that first meeting: It was my understanding it was a business roundtable meeting, not a chamber meeting. We discussed my three priorities for the city, which are the economy, hole in the ground and the grand jury report.

Tell us something about yourself that voters don’t already know: I used to be captain of the Sahara Tahoe Yacht, I hold a 100 ton commercial U.S. Coast Guard license. I took out Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Sonny and Cher, Engelbert, Liberace, Joey Bishop, Mac Davis and many other entertainers. It was an amazing job.