Government Affairs Priorities
Actively Engage with Local Governments
(Revised 3/14/23, per Committee Direction 2/22/23)
Douglas County
- Identify and take strategic opportunities to underscore the importance of Lake Tahoe
and Tahoe Township to Douglas County’s tax base and revenues with the goal of
establishing, at minimum, a Douglas County Commission majority that adopts a more
favorable, supportive attitude toward the Lake.
- Maintain communications and collaborate with the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and
Carson Valley Visitors Authority on Douglas County challenges and issues of mutual interest
and concern. Provide Carson Valley leaders and residents with the data necessary to help
them better understand and support improved Lake-Valley relations.
- Actively monitor and engage with the Douglas County VHR Advisory Board as the Board
develops a set of recommended changes to the County VHR ordinance (only affects Tahoe)
and the process of moving those recommendations for review and consideration by the
County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissions. Advocate for an economic
Impact study of the VHR businesses and related support services, particularly if a VHR ban
or significant curtailment of VHRs is proposed.
- Continue to actively support the Tahoe Blue Events Center. Help to advocate for and
promote its value and benefits to Douglas County, the South Shore and the Tahoe region.
Continue to support (with Chamber SS/TMA Board representation and engagement) the work
necessary to sustain and expand, as funding allows, the South Shore Lake Link Microtransit
service.
- Continue to track and engage with the Nevada Department of Transportation project team
developing the US Highway 50 East Shore Corridor Management Plan (CMP). At the
appropriate time, ensure the Chamber Board and Government Affairs Committee receive a
CMP presentation to further our understanding of the CMP alternatives.
- Work as may be necessary to ensure completion of the funded Kahle Drive Complete Streets
Project.
- Continue to track work by Barton Health to further develop its “Nevada Campus” with
Improvements including a new hospital and expanded medical services in the Lower
Kingsbury area. Consider and provide advocacy with permitting agencies as may be
requested by Barton Health.
- Remain alert for movement by Douglas County to propose amendments to the South Shore
Area Plan (SSAP) or efforts to complete the draft (partial) Tahoe Douglas Area Plan (TDAP);
engage and advocate as may be appropriate for Tahoe Chamber.
Continue to track policy, budget and other decisions of the Douglas County School Board related to the County schools at Lake Tahoe.
City of South Lake Tahoe
- Continue to actively advocate for affordable/achievable housing, including but not limited to Sugar Pine Village (multiple phases); the City’s Lease to Locals program, projects and activities of the St. Joseph Community Land Trust, and other projects and housing initiatives within the City.
- Engage/oppose the City’s announced exploration of an increase in TOT and/or a Vacancy
Tax to fund the City’s housing initiatives. Collaborate in this opposition with other like-minded
community organizations.
- Continue to advocate for timely construction of the City’s planned Multi-Generational
Recreation and Aquatics Center and track and engage with planning and design activities
for other projects identified and prioritized within the adopted 56-acre Master Plan.
- Look for opportunities to proactively reengage the City in moving forward with transportation and mobility projects that span the state line.
- Advocacy for additional pedestrian and bicycle trails, sidewalks and related non-auto multi-modal facilities.
- Track and engage City efforts to convert the existing Bijou/Al Tahoe Community Plan to an
Area Plan, consistent with the TRPA definition of an Area Plan. Also, track and engage with
the City’s planned 2023 amendments of the Tourist Core Area Plan (TCAP) and Tahoe Valley
Area Plan (TVAP).
- Address and counter the continued trend on the part of some within the City to “put locals first” at the expense of the business and lodging community.
- Encourage the City Council and City leadership to foster improved relations with the South
Shore Nevada business community and officials in Douglas County.
- Actively engage and actively provide business community input on the City’s Climate Action Plan and adopted intensions to pursue certified “Dark Sky” designation.
El Dorado County
- Advocate for the construction/completion of the planned roundabout at US 50 and Pioneer Trail and the expansion of Meyers area trail network (bicycle and pedestrian projects consistent with the adopted Meyers Area Plan).
- Consistent advocacy for construction of the planned San Bernardino Bike Trail with
connections to Washoe Meadows State Park, Tahoe Paradise Park, and the Lake Tahoe
Environmental Science Magnet School (aka Meyers Elementary).
- Continue to engage and advocate for the business community’s preferred alternative for the
Upper Truckee River Restoration and Golf Course Reconfiguration Project.
- Continue engagement (attend meetings) of the Meyers Advisory Council and advocacy
with County officials for a more meaningful role for the Council.
- Monitor County commitment to improved snow removal and improved maintenance of
existing roads in the unincorporated portion of the County within the Tahoe Basin with the
dedicated TOT revenues from voter passage of Measure S on the November 8, 2022 General
Election ballot.
- Continue to track/engage as determined appropriate on the ordinance and related
Regulations affecting Vacation Home Rentals within unincorporated El Dorado County
Within the Tahoe Basin
- Continue to track the County’s expenditure of TOT funds, including any proposed changes
to the County’s ordinance governing the expenditure of TOT funds and consider advocacy
positions as determined to be appropriate.
Lake Tahoe Unified School District
- Maintain knowledge of issues and challenges at LTUSD and engage as appropriate from the
business community perspective (how school issues affect working families and business
owners/operators).
Lake Tahoe Community College
- As requested by LTCC senior management, advocate in support of expanding campus
educational programs, facility and infrastructure improvements (e.g., Public Safety program
building, construction of on-campus housing) consistent with the adopted LTCC Master Plan.
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
- Continue to actively participate in the TRPA Tahoe Living Housing & Community
Revitalization Working Group to help identify and advocate for TRPA Code Changes to
facilitate affordable workforce housing solutions.
- Engage with development/implementation of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan
(TRPA and Partners).
- Provide business community input on proposed amendments to Area Plans and existing Community Plan areas (related advocacy at the appropriate local government level).
- Regularly attend meetings of the TRPA Governing Board, Governing Board committees, the
Advisory Planning Commission (APC), and other TRPA-led technical working groups as
germane to the interests of Tahoe Chamber.
TRPA/Tahoe Transportation District/Local Governments/CA and NV State Officials
- Continue to engage/provide business community input with the process of seeking
consensus on the development of one or more sustainable regional revenue source for
transportation projects and transit services.
- Address and facilitate coordination/communication between City/County/Business
Groups/Caltrans/NDOT/other entities in both California and Nevada, especially relating to
transportation network and transit projects.
State of Nevada
- Establish relations with new Nevada Assembly District 39 Assemblyman Ken Gray. AD 39
Includes Douglas County and part of Lyon County.
- Continue established relations with new Nevada Senate District 17 Senator Robin Titus.
SD 17 includes Douglas, Lyon, Churchill, Esmeralda, Mineral, and part Nye County.
- Track and engage with Nevada legislation proposed during the 2023 legislative session of
interest to the South Shore.
State of California
- Establish relations with new California District 4 Senator Marie Alvarado-Gill. D-4 includes
El Dorado, Alpine, Placer, and Nevada counties, among others.
- Maintain contacts with California Assembly District 1 Assemblywoman Megan Dahle.
District 1 includes El Dorado, Placer, and Nevada counties, among others.
- Establish relations with new California District 3 Congressman Kevin Kiley. Support
orienting and engaging Congressman Kiley on Tahoe issues, concerns, and the need
for continued federal funding given that the Federal government is Lake Tahoe’s largest
landowner.
- Track and engage with proposed California legislation of interest to Tahoe. To date
Including Assembly Bill 930 (Laura Friedman) “Reinvestment in Infrastructure for a Sustainable
and Equitable California (RISE) Act of 2023.” AB 930 would permit two or more local
governments to jointly form a RISE District to unlock tax increment financing (TIF) for
infrastructure and equitable development in location-efficient areas; and Senate Bill
470: Wildfires; (Grant Eligibility; high fire hazard and very high fire hazard severity zones).
Overall
- Continue to actively engage with initiatives of the Tahoe Prosperity Center as deemed
germane to the interest of Tahoe Chamber, including but not limited to the Envision Tahoe
2.0 Prosperity Playbook for the Tahoe-Truckee Regional Economy, Housing Tahoe, and
Connected Tahoe (regional broadband).
- Look for and advocate at any/all levels (local, state, federal) existing/new funding resources
to support child care businesses and services.
- As requested by the Chamber Board of Directors, consider and engage in additional
advocacy and activities in support of projects and/or initiatives in Tahoe 2025: A South
Shore Community Vision.
Note: At the Chamber Board 2022 strategic planning retreat, the Board endorsed an
Integration of some goals of TPC’s Envision Tahoe 2.0 and the “Prosperity Playbook”
with Tahoe 2025: A South Shore Community Vision.
For more information about the activities and positions/advocacy on various issues, policies and projects, contact Steve Teshara, Director, Government Relations at info@tahoechamber.org.
Partial List of Tahoe Chamber Government Affairs Partners and Resources:
Lake Tahoe Partnership (network of Tahoe advocates)
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (VisitLakeTahoe.com)
Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority
Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce
Tahoe Prosperity Center
California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber)
Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE)
