Publisher’s note: The following is reprinted with permission. It is from South Lake Tahoe City Manager Dave Jinkens to Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Joanne Marchetta.

Joanne,

I am in receipt of the report in the latest TRPA publication online [excerpt below] urging the board and public to support and encourage the growth and diversification of the region’s economy as a means of improving the lives of our region, improving the built environment and as the only feasible way to help finance needed environmental improvements. The message is clear from your report and from our City government assessment. A strong economy and environmental protection go hand in hand and are essential ingredients for our future.

City officials are moving forward as well with the adoption of a new City General Plan [that includes an economic development element], Tahoe Valley Community Plan, Redevelopment Plan Project Area No. 2, and implementation of the City’s Sustainability Plan. All of these local plans are important and inter-related. We know that for all of local planning efforts to be successful we need and want the support of you, the TRPA Governing Board, and your staff. I am told that your staff continues to work well with our staff in coordinating our local planning effort with the regional plan update. This is critical and demonstrates the collaborative and productive approach we all are taking.

City government officials have taken responsible and vigorous local planning to heart. We believe what the TRPA Compact urges local government officials to engage in vigorous local planning. We will do our part to define the needs and wants of our City of 25,000 hard-working and honest people and continue to work to inform you, the Board and the regional plan on needed and desirable local planning initiatives. Our goal is to see our General Plan and TVCP policies in place this year knowing well that some components of our local planning may have to wait until a new Regional Plan is adopted.

I believe we are making progress to create a plan of prosperity for our City residents and residents of the region. We are participating in the region-wide Prosperity Plan effort as well. I know the task of planning for the future is not an easy one, but the City Council and community I serve are depending on us to make needed regulatory reforms and put good planning in place to allow all in the community to prosper, grow and diversify our economy, develop as needed quality workforce housing and achieve local and regional environmental goals. I know we will not let them down. We cannot and will not fail.

Best wishes, and again my thanks to you for your help and support.

Sincerely,

Dave  Jinkens, MPA, city manager South Lake Tahoe

TRPA Publication:

Cost of Doing Nothing too High at Lake Tahoe

The facts are plain, and the research is clear: Much of the environmental damage at Lake Tahoe can be attributed to impacts from development that occurred a half century ago. By removing some of this “bad” development and replacing it with limited environmental redevelopment, we can reduce the flow of polluted runoff into the Lake. An educational briefing March 25 before the TRPA Governing Board will provide a glimpse of the current economic, environmental and social state of affairs at Lake Tahoe. The report will include findings and recommendations from community stakeholders on how to make sure the Basin is headed in the right direction.