Group takes step for loop road to go to voters

By Lake Tahoe News

Three former South Lake Tahoe city councilmembers and a founder of the city are on a quest to get the loop road before the voters.

Bruce Grego, John Cefalu, Bill Crawford and Laurel Ames have filed a notice of intent to circulate a petition regarding the loop road.

The loop road is a project spearheaded by the Tahoe Transportation District to realign Highway 50 so it goes behind Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and MontBleu casinos. It would make the current highway a city and county street from about Park Avenue to Lake Parkway. It would also require the demolition of several residences and a handful of businesses in South Lake Tahoe.

“While the group has serious concerns about the loop road project, including the use of eminent domain, they believe that putting this decision in the hands of the voters will empower the community to get involved and make an informed decision on a project that has far reaching implications now and in the future,” Grego said in an email to Lake Tahoe News.

The foursome wants to prohibit the city from approving or supporting the loop road. That is what would be before voters.

City Attorney Tom Watson has 15 days to write a legal summary that does not exceed 500 words and he must write a ballot title, assuming one can legally be written. If it cannot, the petitioners could start over.

Assuming Watson writes the summary, the quartet must publish the intent in an adjudicated publication, and then take that document to the city clerk. Then the group must get nearly 1,000 valid signatures on the petition. If certified by the county elections department, it goes on the ballot.

The city would be responsible for bearing the costs of the election, which could be about $10,000.