By Kathryn Reed

Bear cans and defensible space were the two primary concerns of residents who turned out for a neighborhood meeting this week.

South Lake Tahoe has divided the city limits into six areas, even though there are really 20 distinct neighborhoods. This was the fifth meeting of residents since last fall. Here is the neighborhood map.

The idea is to revitalize the neighborhoods with a little help from the city and the bulk of the effort coming from residents.

“You can tell when folks come to the meetings they are tired, but they have some hope left,” Tracy Franklin, the city’s marketing and outreach coordinator, told Lake Tahoe News after the April 17 Neighborhood Service Team meeting that includes Tahoe Keys, Tahoe Island, Tahoe Valley and Gardner Mountain neighborhoods.

While the areas are large to begin with, the future may call for breaking them into the 20 smaller neighborhoods.

The definition of the teams is, “It is a group of neighbors working together for the good of all, with a common vision, goals and objectives. A Neighborhood Service Team makes decisions on common problems within a community by sharing ideas and solutions.”

Tracy Franklin leads a community neighborhood meeting at Tahoe Valley Elementary School. Photo/Kathryn Reed

At this particular meeting garbage bears, overgrown lots, and graffiti were the major topics by the residents.

Franklin followed up with information for the meeting attendees who provided their email address. It had contact info for the fire department — (530) 542.6162.  That’s who to call regarding defensible space.

And she checked in with South Tahoe Refuse about getting a group deal on the bear-resistant cans that come with a lid that screws shut.

Franklin’s email said, “A marketing campaign could be launched in town to get local residents to sign up for the purchase of their bear can(s). South Tahoe Refuse was contacted regarding this idea and STR does not purchase the containers. It was suggested that local hardware store vendors be contacted to discuss the potential of purchasing bear containers. Currently the bear containers are sold in town for $99 each. It would be ideal to try and reduce the cost to $50-$60 per can. A volunteer is needed to head up this effort.”

Jim Marino, capital improvement manager for the city, spoke about the roadwork in the neighborhood that will start in July. Venice Drive from Tahoe Keys Boulevard to Aloha Drive will be like new by the end of summer. Work on it will be after the bulk of the tourists have come to town, but it could be torn up for a month.

“The roads in this town are simply sitting on native material,” Marino explained.

Fill was brought in by the Dillingham Corp. in the 1960s when the Tahoe Keys was built.

“Traffic in town this year will be a mess,” Marino said. The city, Caltrans and South Tahoe Public Utility District have projects on the books.

The city expects to go out to bid on Tuesday for its road projects, with possible awarding of a bid by the City Council on June 19 and construction starting in July.

In the state streets – to the right of Keys Boulevard when entering off Highway 50 – an asphalt rubber seal will be applied with the intent it will give the roads another eight to 10 years of life.

This neighborhood group, likes others before it, agreed to a neighborhood cleanup day. It will be June 2. Caltrans donates the bags, CalStar donates plastic gloves, the city has a jug of water, residents do the sprucing up. The California Conservation Corps often helps as do various nonprofits. Franklin drives a pickup to haul away the debris.

A Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association employee said all residents are invited to the June 23 Tahoe Keys Garage Sale at the parking lot of the homeowners association as well as the June 25 5:30pm Lawn Care and Water Conservation program at the TKPOA office.

Here is a list of future neighborhood meeting dates.