To the community,

Tuesday night at the Rec Center, a group of local citizens met to discuss the qualities they want to see in our next city manager. Here are some of the comments.

1. Most important, we need a city manager who can build positive working relationships with groups like TRPA, the county, the state, our neighboring counties, Nevada, Lahontan, the Forest Service, CTC, the public utilities, local businesses, non-local businesses and the local citizens. Once these constructive bonds are formed, it will be easier for Tahoe to grow and prosper. And we will have a more powerful voice. For example, we will be able to go to Washington, D.C., as a group and ask for the $100 million needed to fix our streets.

2. We need a city manager with vision. Someone who can see that Tahoe is not like any other city in the world. Hopefully, this new manager will come from a community with similar governmental and environmental demands, like a community on the California coast.

3. There was some discussion about the differences between people with corporate backgrounds verses civil service backgrounds. Corporate people thrive on reaching solutions that benefit all parties at the table. They know how to strike deals that satisfy people on both sides of an issue. And someone who knows how to promote the beauty of the lake and the High Sierra.

4. Someone who is enthusiastic about making Tahoe 100 percent  sustainable.

5. Someone who think “out of the box”.

6. Someone who is not afraid to be criticized.

Ernie Claudio, South Lake Tahoe