City of South Lake Tahoe
City Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 9:00 am
City Hall - Council Chambers - 1901 Lisa Maloff Way,
South Lake Tahoe
NOTE: The Meeting Minutes represent actions taken during the meeting of the City Council. Complete Council member discussions on Regular Session meeting items can be viewed in archived video recordings on the City’s website at http://www.cityofslt.us Public submittals on items are retained in the administrative record and can be viewed in the City Clerk’s repository at http://www.cityofslt.us Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance
At 9:05 a.m. Mayor Bass called the meeting to order. Mayor Bass then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
Roll Call
Present were Mayor Bass, Mayor Pro Tem Friedrich, and Councilmembers Creegan, Wallace, and Robbins.
Also present were City Manager Irvin, City Attorney Stroud, and City Clerk Blankenship.
Closed Session Report
None.
Proclamations
1. Issued a Proclamation to Tahoe Youth and Family Services recognizing January 2024 as “National Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month” Public Communications
Public Comment was heard from the following people:
1. Kenney Curtzweiler- Heavenly Gondola ticket sales
2. Ed Mosur- Heavenly Gondola ticket sales, proposed vacancy tax Written Public Comments were received from the following people:
1. Asa Briggs- Cell towers
2. Nellie Bly- Councilmember Creegan
3. John Carlos- LTVA
4. John Carlos (2)- Cell towers
5. Oscar Cesare- City expenses
6. Davis Chain- Cell towers
7. Edith Chase- Cell towers
8. Ernest Coe- Cell towers
9. Rudolph Del Real- Vacancy tax
10. Rallph digia- Cell towers
11. Saundra Edwards- Councilmember Wallace
12. Danny Elfman- Cell towers
13. Robert La Follette- Outside influences to City elections and legislative actions
14. Lionel Hutz- City Attorney Stroud
15. Peter Norman- Overtourism
16. Walter Pinniped- Councilmember Wallace
17. Emily Post- TRPA and NTRPA operations
18. Jacob Riis- Public comment redactions
19. Jacob Riis (2)- Steve Teshara of Tahoe Chambers
20. Shirley Briggs- Cell towers
21. Jonathan Swift- Councilmember Creegan
22. Paul Weitz- Councilmember Wallace
23. Brent Wisner- Cell towers
Consent Agenda
Note: Item 9 was pulled from consent by Mayor Bass.
Note: Councilmember Creegan recused herself from voting on items 9 and 11 due to financial property interest.
Action: Moved/Seconded: Wallace/ Friedrich
Yes: Bass, Friedrich, Creegan, Wallace, Robbins
Action: Passed consent agenda with noted recusals.
2. City Council Meetings
Action: Passed Motion 2024-001 approving the December 19, 2023 Regular City Council and South Tahoe Redevelopment Successor Agency meeting minutes.
3. Type III Brush Engine Purchase
Action: Passed Motion 2024-002 authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute a Purchase Agreement (C-004-2024) with Golden State Fire Apparatus for the purchase of a Type III Brush Engine (including built-out) using Prop 172 Safety Sales Tax funds for an amount not to exceed $565,710.50.
4. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Police Employees’ Association Action: Passed Resolution 2024-001 approving MOU (C-005-2024) with the Police Employees’ Association.
5. Engineering Manager Position Allocation Increase
Action: Passed Resolution 2024-002 authorizing amendment to FY 2023-2024 List of Allocated Permanent Positions increasing the Engineering Manager Position from 0.33 FTE to 0.67 FTE.
6. Lake Tahoe Pavement Maintenance Grant Applications
Action: Passed Resolution 2024-003 authorizing the Airport Manager to apply for FY 2023 Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grant and FY 2023/2024/2025/2026 Federal Aviation Administration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Grant in the combined amount of $941,000, and FY 2023 Caltrans AIP Matching Grant for Lake Tahoe Airport in the amount of $22,000.
7. Transfer of Unclaimed Check Funds
Action: Passed Resolution 2024-004 authorizing the transfer of unclaimed check funds from their respective fund(s) to the General Fund pursuant to California Government Code sections 50050 through 50057.
8. Amendments to City Council Protocols Regarding Tribal Land Acknowledgement and City Council Travel Protocols
Action: Passed Motion 2024-003 approving the requested amendments to the City Council Protocols from the City Council meeting on December 12, 2023
Public Comment was heard from the following person:
1. Ed Mosur
At this time, Councilmember Creegan left the meeting.
9. Community Development Block Grant Program Coronavirus Response Allocation of Remaining Funding to Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless for Bear's Den Inn Rehabilitation in an Amount Not to Exceed $632,040
Action: Moved/Seconded: Wallace/Friedrich
Yes: Bass, Friedrich, Wallace, Robbins
Absent: Creegan
Action: Passed (1) Resolution 2024-005 amending the Standard Agreement issued under the 2020 Community Development Block Grant Program Coronavirus Response to add an amount not to exceed $632,040, for a total amount not to exceed $1,137,672; and (2) Motion 2024-004 authorizing and directing the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 (C-006-2024) to the Subrecipient Agreement between City of South Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, with the following two additions: 1) The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless and City agree to cooperate to pursue other sources of funding, including grants, to operate a winter shelter in the community for at least the next five years and 2) The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless agrees to provide an annual report to City Council, in coordination with other partners as appropriate, on resources and needs with respect to homelessness and unhoused people in the City of South Lake Tahoe.
The following person addressed the Council:
1. Kimberley Peterson, Chief Operating Officer of Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless At this time, Councilmember Creegan returned to the meeting.
10. Purchase Agreement with Keith Minor, Trustee, for Acquisition of Property at 3707 Blackwood Road for $34,506.40 for the Upper Bijou Park Creek Watershed Restoration Project Requested Action: Passed Resolution 2024-006 authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute a Purchase Agreement (C-007-2024) for the Acquisition of 3707 Blackwood Road for the Upper Bijou Park Creek Watershed Restoration Project.
11.Tahoe Fund Grant Applications for $150,000 for Microtransit Charging Infrastructure and $200,000 for Police Department Electric Vehicle Pilot Program Note: Creegan recused herself on this item due to property interest.
Action: Passed Resolution 2024-007 authorizing the City Manager to submit grant applications for a total of $350,000 to the Tahoe Fund for charging infrastructure for microtransit and a Police Department electric vehicle pilot program.
12. Pioneer Trail Safety Improvement Project Engineering/Design Budget Request For $56,000 Action: Passed Resolution 2024-008 authorizing the transfer of $56,000 of General Fund Undesignated Excess Reserve to the Pioneer Trail Safety Improvement Project (301-50038-48020).
13. Master Fee Schedule Update- Youth Basketball League Fee Action: Passed Resolution 2024-009 updating the Master Schedule of Fees and Charges for City Services to include a Youth Basketball League Fee.
At this time, Mayor Bass recused himself on the following item due to financial interest in the cannabis industry and left the meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Friedrich presided.
Regular- Unfinished Business
14. Amendments to Cannabis Ordinance, Public Safety License Ordinance, and Clean Indoor Air Amendments Ordinance Regarding On-Site Consumption, Medicinal Delivery, and to Remove Outdated Provisions Regarding Development Agreements and Existing Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Note: Mayor Bass recused himself on this item due to financial interest in the Cannabis industry.
Action: Moved/Seconded: Friedrich/Robbins
Yes: Friedrich, Wallace, Robbins
No: Creegan
Absent: Bass
Action: Passed Motion 2024-005 to hold the first reading (by title only) of Version 1 (allowing on-site consumption) and refer second reading to January 23, 2024, of an Ordinance amending the following sections of the South Lake Tahoe City Code: (1) Article X of Chapter 6.55 (Cannabis Regulations) Regarding On-Site Consumption at Cannabis Retailers, Medicinal Delivery, and to Remove Outdated Provisions Regarding Development Agreements and Existing Medical Marijuana Dispensaries; (2) Chapter 4.180 (Cannabis Public Safety License Ordinance) Regarding On-Site Consumption at Cannabis Retailers and Curbside Delivery; and (3) Chapter 4.100 (Clean Indoor Air and Health Protection) Regarding On-Site Consumption at Cannabis Retailers and to Comply with Changes in State Law on Smoking in Workplaces.
Public Comment was heard from the following people:
1. Trevor Snowden, Trevair Wheelchairs
2. Jess, Cannablue Dispensary
3. Helen Neff
4. Topher
5. Alex Gosselin, Owner of Cannablue Dispensary
6. Debra
7. Jared Benvenuto
8. Sarah Winner, Assistant Manager of Cannablue Dispensary
9. Ed Mosur
10. Liz Hallen
11. Reverend Sarah Reeves
12. Melissa Soderston
13. Ryan O’Malley, Tahoe Wellness Center
14. Cody Bass, Owner of Tahoe Wellness Center
Written public Comment was received from the following people:
1. Helen Neff
2. Diane Heirshberg
At this time, Mayor Bass returned and presided.
15. Employee Housing Regulation Update
Action: Moved/Seconded: Robbins/Creegan
Yes: Bass, Friedrich, Creegan, Wallace, Robbins
Action: Passed Motion 2024-006 directing staff to conduct a public and business outreach campaign informing workers and businesses of their rights and responsibilities with regards to employee housing, and to report employee housing complaints received by the City housing hotline to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for enforcement> A review of these efforts will be added to the agenda in September 2024, and an Ordinance for hotels to post informational signage indicating that individuals can call the City housing hotline with employee housing complaints will also be added the the Agenda Planning Calendar.
16. City Council Assignments to Subcommittees
Action: Moved/Seconded: Robbins/Friedrich
Yes: Bass, Friedrich, Creegan, Wallace, Robbins
Action: Passed Motion 2024-007 Approving City Council assignments to subcommittees- maintaining all appointments to subcommittees except for the South Tahoe Public Utilities District (STPUD) Subcommittee. Councilmember Robbins will be assigned as representative to STPUD with Mayor Pro Tem Friedrich assigned as an alternate.
Regular- New Business
17. Quarterly Update on the Affordable Housing Waitlist Action: Moved/Seconded: Robbins/Wallace
Yes: Bass, Friedrich, Creegan, Wallace, Robbins
Action: Passed Motion 2024-008 directing City staff to include the number of units represented by the people on the waitlist in the subsequent quarterly update reports.
18. Vacant and Underused Sites Inventory
Action: Received and Filed.
Public Comment was heard from the following people:
1. Ed Mosur
2. John Messina
Agenda Planning Calendar
19. Agenda Planning Calendar
Action: Received and Filed.
Updates and Announcements (City Attorney, City Clerk, City Manager) City Attorney Stroud
1. Trial for the Measure T scheduled for September 17, 2024 City Clerk Blankenship
1. Proclamation request from Live Violence Free for National Stalking Awareness Month (Council provided consensus)
City Manager Irvin
1. Provided clarification on Cannabis Tax compounding
2. City Offices closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
3. Upcoming meeting with the Interim Executive Director for Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless
4. City-wide staffing is 92.5% filled
Councilmember Reports and Comments
Councilmember Robbins
1. Proclamation request for May as Military Appreciation Month (Council provided consensus) Councilmember Creegan
1. Attended LTUSD 2x2 meeting
2. Upcoming Cal Tahoe JPA meeting
Councilmember Wallace
1. Attended Cal Tahoe JPA meeting
2. Missed California Tahoe Conservancy Board meeting
Mayor Pro Tem Friedrich
1. Attended TRPA Governing Board meeting
2. Thank you to snowplow drivers
3. Successful Tree Lighting Ceremony at Heavenly Village Mayor Bass
1. Successful New Years Eve at Stateline
Adjournment
At 12:59 p.m. Mayor Bass adjourned the meeting.
_____________________ _______________
Cody Bass, Mayor Date
Attest:
______________________
Susan Blankenship, City Clerk
The presence of electronic signature certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy as approved by the South Lake Tahoe City Council.