EDC gathering input on strategic plan
Few people turned out Oct. 15 to hear Laree Kiely from the Kiely Group talk about El Dorado County’s future. Photo/Jessie Marchesseau
By Jessie Marchesseau
El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel hosted a community meeting at South Lake Tahoe council chambers at the airport on Thursday evening as part of the process to develop a three-year strategic plan for El Dorado County. The focus of the meeting was to inform citizens about the planning process and to encourage participation in the countywide citizen engagement survey.
Excluding county employees and media, community attendance Oct. 15 amounted to less than a dozen.
Novasel explained to those present that the Board of Supervisors, along with county department heads, created a draft of the strategic plan outlining what they deemed to be important topics. Now they want to know what the community thinks is important. This is where the survey comes in.
“This survey is going to do a lot for me to try to understand what those top issues are,” said Novasel.
The county has hired the Kiely Group to conduct the citizen engagement survey, which will be available to the public until Nov. 2. It asks questions like, “Do you use county government services?” and “Which county services have the most impact on your quality of life and why?” It also asks for suggestions about each of the five areas of focus the county has identified for the plan: economic development, public safety, infrastructure, healthy community, and good county governance.
Laree Kiely of the Kiely Group reported that so far they have received about a thousand surveys, paper and online. While she did not reveal the results of the surveys, she did offer some demographic information about who has taken it thus far:
· 32 towns are represented
· 64 people from Lake Tahoe
· Majority of respondents are in the 50-65 age group
· 66 percent are women
· 29 percent are government employees (the survey was sent out to them first)
· 26 percent are retired
· 50 percent said they do not use county services.
Kiely said that last statistic confirms what she suspected is going in: a lot of people don’t even know what county government does. She pointed out that if they are simply driving on the roads, they are using county services.
“The really positive outcome, kind of the unintended consequence of this survey, is if they even read the questions of the survey, they will be more educated about what county government does, and that is a win all around,” she said.
At one point, attendees were asked to voice what their main concerns for the county are. Responses included the environment, public safety, Tahoe Paradise Park, happy and healthy residents, open space, adequate services for tourists, public transit, and maintaining the status quo. A sign-up sheet was also passed around for anyone wanting to be in a future focus group.
Sherman Fox, training and organizational development specialist for El Dorado County, explained the process moving forward: once the surveys are completed and results are in, the data will be analyzed and focus groups formed to delve deeper into the most popular topics. The information will then be given to the goal-setting team who will determine if the county’s original objectives need to be altered to coordinate with public concern. The intention, he said, is to have all this done and for the board to have a new three-year El Dorado County strategic plan ready by Christmas.
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Note:
· To participate in the survey, go online.
Worthless, worthless and totally worthless.
How to waste lots of money given to outsiders. Shame on Nova what’s her name and the entirer BOS.
The last paragraph proves beyond a doubt the county hierarchy is psychotic.
So, the answer is (once again) consultants? Consultants reliably provide one thing, they provide rationale for preconceived ideas. I agree, “don’t”, worthless.
In my opinion, this survey, which I just completed on line, is very poorly done and is not asking the right questions. For instance, the survey will not allow you to assign an equal priority for county activities. How idiotic is that? It forces you into a priority you don’t believe in.
Further, any survey which indicates that the person answering does not use County services should be deleted from the entire project. If they do not see how they use County services almost every day, how valid can the rest of their opinions be?
I want to say “so typical of our County” to send this out and poorly advertised at that, to try to get a plan out by Christmas.
It really seems that the county does not welcome comment. It is unfortunate that so few people attend these meetings, but it is also due to the fact that the County has a terrible record of transparency and creates the distinct impression that no matter what the public says, the County is going to do what it wanted in the first place.
The Norma Santiago “Smart Hub training center” fiasco still smells as bad now as it did when it popped up out of nowhere. I and most people I have spoken to believe there are deals already in a pipeline for Meyers that just depend on getting a plan that authorizes the zoning etc.
Cranky. Norma Santiago was elected in 2005. Look at South Lake Tahoe now versus 2005. Are we better off now then 10 years ago, I think so.
Dennis Crab? LOL!
Ted Long? LOL!
Yes, I live in El Dorado County… South Lake Tahoe.
George Carlin said, “I don’t vote because the people that own this country are going to do as they please anyway.”
So people I agree with the Queen…Remain calm and carry on.
P.S. side note: look at what $60,000,000.00 worth of consultants did for the Park brothers at the HARD ROCK
P.P.S. Look at all the “Fractional residences” being built along Pioneer Trail, all the way into town…hmmm
Robin. The Koch Brothers are only two votes, same for Bill Gates.
I believe the $60 million was for more the “consultants.”
Don’t worry, Meyers is still “Suckin’ in the Seventies.”
Myers is still ‘suckin’ in the Seventies?
You lost me Rock…what R U talking about? TYPO?
If you think the Koch Bros and Bill Gates have only two votes U R not counting all the people that DEPEND on them for a living.
Robin i am confused what timeshares are you talking about? There hasnt ever been a new built timeshare along pioneer. There are 2 that i know of along pioneer and both of those were old motels that were converted to timeshares. The last timeshares built was Sierra Shores next to safeway on 50
Reloman,
Isn’t the Zylanta in Lakeside Park being built as a timeshare?
relo..I am confsued myself! I am not a real estate person and when I discovered that ‘fractional residence’ is another word for time share I was stunned. Apparently houses can be listed as single family homes and then these single family homes can be listed as “fractional residences” and sold as timeshares to others stunned me.
When you click on the real estate sites you can see these. For instance Candlewood Dr in Highlandwoods.
There are 18 properties but 82 address’s…with lots of addresses and each one costs $89,900.00. I asked one local guy on Candlewood Dr. which coincidently does not drive anywhere, it is a dead end street, lounging next his huge 5th wheel what was the deal and he told me that the deal was…ready….”You snooze you lose.”
P.S. Highlandwoods Candlewood Dr guy told me this, ‘you snooze you lose’, several years ago…to some people this has been along time planning!!!
It is invasive and pervasive
Tahoe advocate, currently that project is suppose to be condos, that was the word I received when Mr Feldman spoke at a meeting within the last month.
Robin, that would requira lot more than just buying home and selling it as. I am not as up to date on timeshare subdivisions but i do know that you would need city and county approval as you are making new subdivision. Most if not all timeshares I have heard about are on TAUs no RUUs
Put “fractional residence” into your search and tell me what your computer says
These are not “sub divisions” they are stand alone private residences for example 3 bed/2/ba that are selling shares of that residence. they appear to be everywhere.
2790 Springwood Dr=private residence and
977 Creekwood Dr=Creekwood Lodge (same house)
Creekwood Lodge with 6 different address’s 977, 978, 979, 980, 981, 982 Creekwood Dr.
Wow Robin- This is ‘newsy’ stuff. Thanks for passing it on.
Isee…YW Anyone who knows about these ‘fractional residences’ and where they all are…I would appreciate knowing exactly what myself and apparently many others have been ‘snoozing’ through.