5 people pull papers to run for South Tahoe council
In the first week of election filing, five people have taken out papers to run for South Lake Tahoe City Council.
They need to turn in the papers to be on the November ballot.
The potential candidates as of July 20 are: Bruce Grego, Clinton Schue, Austin Sass, JoAnn Conner and Stacey Wheeler.
The seats occupied by Grego and Hal Cole are open. Cole is leaning toward running, but has not committed.
The filing deadline is Aug. 10.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Why aren’t there term limits for the city council seats. Cutting the full medical insurance would likely accomplish the same purpose.
There’s still plenty of time for the perpetual whiners to jump right in the Council race. The amount of time and effort involved might surprise you. I don’t think anybody does the job for the medical insurance.
Tea Total, you’re right, at least in my case. I am self-employed, so carry my own medical and certainly would not cancel if elected. I am hoping to be a fresh voice, give the small business people better representation, and keep SLT money in SLT, not support Nevada. Right now, we need to take care of ourselves first.
TeaTotal:
I completely agree with your comments. With all the criticism and complaining about the City Council from a plethora of individuals I can’t believe that only five people have taken out papers to run for the two seats that are available in November, and one applicant is a sitting Councilmember thus making that only four new people interested in running at this time. I would also speculate that the current five Councilmembers who have established lives and businesses/careers prior to being elected likely had health insurance prior to taking office and they may even have declined taking the City’s coverage as their primary insurance to prevent possibly placing at risk their already existing coverage, especially since their terms would eventually conclude with no guarantees that the local constituency would re-elect them at which time their eligibility for the City paid coverage would terminate.
I think city council members should be paid more. In order to attract qualified middle class candidates, these positions should be paid.
Also, I think that city council members, just like company executives (through the Sarbane Oxley Act)need to take more personal responsibility for decisions they make. We need to revers the current trend of cities going bankrupt.
Yougetwhatyoupayfor:
You might be on to something. Councilmembers make extremely important decisions regarding large amounts of taxpayer monies and I’ve always believed that these individuals should need to demonstrate in advance of running for office that they possess the ability to understand and interpret the financial data communicated in GAAP and GASB prescribed and independently audited financial statements which accurately portrays the financial condition of a jurisdiction, and to be able to recognize what important information maybe be missing, such as huge liabilities regarding legacy expenses related to current and future retiree healthcare and retirement costs. These legacy costs have become astronomical at every level of government and if a decision-maker doesn’t know how to interpret what’s being reported to them and doesn’t even know that something important is missing then they’re lacking the basic qualifications required to make informed financial decisions on behalf of their taxpaying constituents.
I’ve written before that Councilmembers should have the ability to read and interpret financial statements which are how financial information is accurately communicated, and the predominant responses I got were “that if this was a requirement then no one would run for office”. That would likely be better than having the truly unqualified running the show and spending money recklessly, unless the goal is to ensure a reason to complain about unqualified elected officials.
There is a significant time commitment involved both in running for, and serving on, the City Council! More time than people realize! Credit to those who choose to run. But this being America, I have every right to criticize if I see fit!
I didn’t say make personal attacks, but criticize their policies! I don’t care how much effort is put into running and serving on the Council, there is no rationale to raise our taxes (or fees). They are already excessive! What’s also excessive, is the City’s bloated bureaucracy. I will freely criticize any Council matter that avoids taking on the latter, and tries to do the former!
I wonder how many people who live on the California side of the South Shore community (City of SLT and the El Dorado County area) are employed by the Nevada Casinos that still have gaming and provide lodging and entertainment. These California residents work and earn income in Nevada but likely spend most of their income with local California businesses, with California utility companies, California insurance companies, etc. If those Casinos failed and all those California residents lost their jobs I don’t believe the local small businesses on the California side of the Stateline would be capable of putting all those people to work. I also wonder how many of those California businesses at and nearby the Heavenly Village would be able to survive if there were no Casinos helping to provide tourist customers to their businesses. I firmly believe that the communities of South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County are extremely interconnected and without one another neither can succeed. The City needs the customers that the Casinos attract (in addition to other customers that our natural environment attracts) and the Casinos need the workforce that the City/El Dorado County residents provide. To think that either would flourish without the other is unrealistic and short-sighted; and an “us against them” mentality is not a viable solution. That invisible demarcation called Stateline is just that, invisible. Working together we will hopefully succeed, divided we will likely fail. There is a delicate balance between the autonomies of South Shore businesses in Nevada and California.
You get what you pay for? Stockton’s mayor makes $82,000 annually and the countil makes $24,000. Not sure about the benefit package. What exactly did that get the City of Stockton??
Hello 4-mer, I agree that the communities are interconnected and probably always will be. SLT, for example, has a number of well paid city staff that work here, but live and spend most of their money in Nevada.People live and work on both sides of the state line for their own reasons. However, working “with” Nevada still does not equate to demolishing our businesses for the Loop Road to benefit Nevada. Just so you understand my stance and why.
Medical ins. is not the only benefit. Total benefits are $2200.00 to $2600.00 per mo., thats right about $30,000.00 per year plus their $500.00 per month. $36,000.00 per year is more that 2X the min. wage for a 40 hour week.
Well said 4-mer! I totally agree.
I’m not sure about everyone else, but I know I couldn’t live on benefits, no matter how little or big.
Holding an elected position is a thankless job. If its a partisan position you’ll be only making about half the people happy, and the other half against you. If its non-partisan, you’ll just get criticized for doing what you believe is right.
If anyone has delusions or has ever borrowed mass amounts of money using some ones credit other than yours or has no thought of ever paying it back. Has ever started projects like the tahole or the loopy bypass. we have a job for you please sign up for city council. we must carry on the tradition.
Hi JoAnn,
I believe that people traveling eastbound on Highway 50 up from the Placerville area likely have determined in advance if they’ll want to stop someplace in SLT between Pioneer Trail and Stateline or push through to Carson City, Reno, etc. When they reach the east end of Pioneer Trail to go on through Stateline there isn’t even easily recognizable parking for people who are unfamiliar with that area to make it simple for them to pull over let alone be able to patronize local shops. I think that through traffic should be re-routed with a Highway 50 realignment of some sort and the area from Pioneer to Stateline on the California side (and hopefully on through the Nevada side to Edgewood) would have slowed, one-lane traffic in either direction with roadside diagonal metered parking so people can easily pull in and park without needing to look for an obscure shopping center entryway or parking garage. With regard to westbound traffic on 50, I suppose that Nevada could say that a Highway 50 realignment in that direction would eliminate those drivers from seeing the last businesses located in Nevada and just dumps everyone into California to go through a lengthy stretch of South Lake Tahoe. Plus, there is lousy parking on that side of Highway 50 from Stateline to Pioneer so people can’t just pull in and park to patronize local shops. The revenue generated from the parking meters could help defray the City’s costs for construction of a “Main Street” type area from Pioneer Trail to Stateline and help pay for the maintenance to that stretch of roadway. Since that road would be a City owned street versus a U.S. Highway it would be much simpler to close the road and have festivals such as a Winter Festival, Art and Wine Festival, July 4th Celebration, New Year’s Eve Festival, etc. The configuration of that area right now is unattractive and doesn’t work well. I never go to the shops at the Stateline area due to traffic congestion and lousy parking. If I could just pull into a metered parking space and throw in some coins instead of using longer and more costly parking in the garage and then walk a lengthy distance to any store I might go to a shop up there once in a while.
I think working with Nevada would be trying to find some way to make that area more appealing, attractive, and pedestrian friendly throughout the area from Pioneer Trail to Edgewood.
4 mer usmc, well said. Conner’s type of thinking is typical of the narrow mindededness that shows up way too often in this town in segments of the business and enviormental community. Its about working together and having an open mind to big ideas instead of narrowly focusing on small issues. Lets focus on solutions that will enable the lake and entire south shore to thrive in decades to come.
4-Mer, you got it exactly. You should run. I would vote for you.
dryclean:
Thank you, and congratulations to you on possessing the fortitude to read my extremely long post. Brevity in writing is not my strong suit.
John,
Thank you also, but I couldn’t run if I wanted to as I’m an El Dorado County resident. I do hope there will be a strong selection of qualified Councilmember candidates from which SLT residents can select. I’m afraid that SLT can’t weather the current economic decline much longer and believe more macro thinking needs to be initiated and less micro thinking.
Side note:
I shop at Stateline and there are meters for parking, though not many. (under the Gondola and on the street between Embassy and the Timber Lodge.
The shops all have great deals and many aren’t as expensive as one might think. And many are run by small, local business people.
Great new pizza at Base Camp (but a bit pricey) but such an amazing pizza I’ll be back.
Now I hope the Y can generate more places to shop and enjoy with the addition of a good anchor, TJ Maxx.
dryclean, agree with you too!
Dryclean, did you really read my post? I don’t believe I have ever said there couldn’t be a different solution to the Loop Road, but I also don’t believe “working together” means tearing down SLT businesses just to help Nevada. Both sides need businesses to be profitable and I just can’t see how destroying businesses that pay into the revenue for our city and employ SLT and Nevada residents helps anybody. That is not a compromise.
4-mer, I agree more metered parking at the Stateline area would be helpful and much more desirable than parking citations. Take a look at what they are doing to increase accessability and create more parking in the Harrison Avenue/Lakeview Commons/original 56 acre project and see what you think. I would also advocate we LOWER the price of the parking garage and fill it up more often since it would be more affordable.
Hi JoAnn,
Along with your comments about potential condemnation of properties to accommodate the current TTD Loop Road Project design you’ve stated on numerous occasions that this Loop Road configuration would just help and benefit Nevada. Could you please provide clarification how this would only benefit Nevada.
Many thanks.
4-Mer I agree. I actually think TRPA’s new plan to allow more dense development and transfers of coverage into the urban areas could greatly enhance our chances for a true multi-venue entertainment center. I was talking with a guy at TRPA the other day about the idea and he thinks the new regional plan would accomodate this type of development. I can just imagine closing the central street and having live music playing most weekends. It could be awsome.
JoAnn, I took a walk along Lakeview Avenue Sunday afternoon. Large parking lots built not long ago and meant to accommodate beach goers and boaters at the Commons site had reached their capacity. Cars were parked all along the dirt shoulders of both Harrison and Lakeview Avenues.
As the town center at Harrison is developed and this area becomes increasingly attractive, the need for more parking will also grow. If you plan to run for city council you need to look squarely at our transportation needs. Parking and the need for more and more of it has already become a problem without a solution in our small town. And if you believe the Lakeview Commons beach area is any different I’d like you to explain how.
John:
I think serious consideration of having that stretch of Pioneer Trail to Stateline a City owned street versus a U.S. Highway with slowed, one-lane traffic in either direction from Pioneer to Stateline on the California side and hopefully on through to Edgewood on the Nevada side with roadside diagonal metered parking and the ability to close that road for festivals, music, etc., may help provide the impetus for a developer to come in and take on some type of project at the failed convention center site. Let’s face it, the current configuration of Highway 50 through the Stateline area is bleak, but having a plan to perform some great infrastructure improvements to that area could make a difference in someone being willing to make an investment at that site.
The truth is that unpopular decisions come with leadership and for someone to be an effective City Councilmember they must place the well-being of the entire community before that of a select few. Right now this community needs to find a way toward some real economic growth if we are to survive because the status quo is not working. We need leaders who are creative and not afraid to make those unpopular decisions.
4-mer-usmc, so agree with your last 3 comments. Connor represents small businesses. Big ideas wont come from her. Her self acclimed mission is top potect the small guy. Thats exactly why she cant see the big picture. Self explanatory.
JOHN, your wishesfor our town are right on.
4-mer-usmc, there is one in this group who can lead and make those decisions and love community. Stay tuned. We’ll see if this person turns in their stuff and actually runs. Not sure I’m 100% sold they will get in the race. Sometimes these people chang their minds because they are too busy, not enough $$, no one cares, etc.
Hi 4-mer, my comments regarding the Loop Road benefiting Nevada are based on the fact that California businesses will be negatively impacted or dissolved completely. That means the City will lose tax revenue, some TOT, and business license fees. The small businesses will not survive a “relocation” and the larger businesses like Raley’s, Sports Ltd, and Holiday Inn will be hit with such losses, one of the owners has already said he will close his doors. Additionally, there are hundreds of people employed in that area that will lose their jobs. Not easy to replace here and in this economy, so if those people move away to find work, the town, including large “businesses” like Barton and the school district could also suffer more downsizing.And where will those workers that live in those motels find comparable housing, if they find jobs, that does not also cost additional money for transportation, which at best, is unreliable during the winter. We can’t overlook the trickle down effect. Seems like SLT is giving up quite a bit with the current scenario; what sacrifice is Nevada making? The current proposed configuration of the Loop Road would by pass the remaining SLT businesses in the Village Center and dump them right at Edgewood, which is building a new lodging property.
Headroom, I agree that the current parking near Harrison Avenue and Lakeview Commons is not adequate. The plan is to make some of the streets one-way and add diagonal parking close to the shops, and a reasonable walking distance to the beach. When completed, their will actually be approximately 80 additional spaces in that area.
Headroom, I agree that the current parking near Harrison Avenue and Lakeview Commons is not adequate. The plan is to make some of the streets one-way and add diagonal parking close to the shops, and a reasonable walking distance to the beach. When completed, there will actually be approximately 80 additional spaces in that area.
4-mer, one more comment: I haven’t seen any good argument that is reasonable excuse for taking away anyone’s business, Nevada or SLT. Other options need to be explored.
Dryclean, I really don’t think you know enough about me or my background yet to make a decision, but I will say this: I am open to listening. What is your vision for the town of South Lake Tahoe?
Hi JoAnn,
Thank you for your reply. With regard to the Loop Road-Highway 50 Realignment Project I personally think it was incredibly short-sighted of Carl Hasty and the TTD Board to present only one option because doing so made people feel like that idea was being jammed down their throat, and nobody likes that. I would suggest that they select three alternatives and present all the pros and cons regarding each and then the alternative that provides the most positive results with the least negative impact could be considered. But, I think some type of Highway 50 Realignment must be done because the fact is the Highway 50 area adjacent to and at the Stateline on the California side are a diesel and gasoline exhaust filled, choke inducing disaster that is pedestrian, visitor, and motorist unfriendly and those idling vehicles are worse for the environment than if they just moved through without stopping. And for the record, when I’m at work (in a casino) I’m frequently told by guests that while they’d like to go shop at the Heavenly Village or the Crescent V Center (both in California) they don’t want to walk along Highway 50 because it’s like walking on the side of a freeway (which it is). Another frequent complaint is that there is no easily recognizable roadside parking adjacent to those California located shopping areas making for easy access, and the third complaint is that when those individuals want to drive leisurely in that area to see what shops are available they can’t because a diesel semi-truck or a vehicle that just wants to get through town is running up the back of their car trying to push them along. And of course you just haven’t lived until you’ve sat outside on a bench at the Heavenly Village eating an ice cream cone when a diesel big-rig rolls past spewing exhaust everywhere–ah, good times!
The point is, issues aren’t all black or all white and they need individual evaluation to determine the best results for the majority of the community. Unfortunately that sometimes means some people may be impacted but when the needs of the minority outweigh the needs and benefit of the majority that becomes the tail wagging the dog. Like I said before, with leadership comes unpopular decisions and for someone to be an effective City Councilmember they must place the well-being of the entire community before that of a select few. Our community needs to find a way toward some real economic growth if we are to survive because the status quo is not working and we need leaders who are creative and not afraid to make unpopular decisions.
Hope all is well for you JoAnn, and many thanks for producing the inaugural July 4th parade and celebration; I’m already looking forward to next year!
Hi 4-mer, that is the outcome of the TTD meeting last Friday – we got them to agree to consider options other than just razing those buildings and homes. They should come back to the table by September. Yes, we do need economic growth and I think a lot of us would like more walkable options. Unfortunately, a lot of people are working when the meetings are held for input. I don’t promise to have all the answers and I don’t own a “majic wand.” I hope I can offer some fresh ideas and outlook.
In any case, I will continue to offer special events like the parade in the hopes that we can get more people to come here and enjoy!
Thank you for your input and the kudos.You have some great perspectives, and I hope we can get Meyers even more involved in the future. Good people out there doing good things too!