2024 Elections: Vote for Climate!

Describe your concerns about climate change and our city. Are we on course to adapt to the inevitable changes?

I think it’s important to recognize that currently no single municipality is on course to be fully climate resilient. That said, we are doing much more than many.

Climate change will significantly alter the Tahoe we know today. While we are making changes in how we approach our forests, fire management, and land use, the City and surrounding areas will inevitably be impacted. Even if the City does everything we can to be a climate neutral city, that does not protect us from the surrounding regions and the climate impacts they face. For example, we are already experiencing climate refugees. While most people say they are day-trippers, we see individuals and families visiting Tahoe throughout the summer as their homes reach record-setting temperatures.

With utility rates rising, how would you enhance energy efficiency to lower costs for both the community and City facilities? How do you plan to build resilience against future energy price increases?

The 2015 GHG emissions data in the CAP shows the largest producers of emissions are building energy and transportation.

Tahoe’s infrastructure (residential and commercial properties), including City facilities, are outdated. Most of the buildings were constructed in the 1970’s, with outdated building codes that are not environmentally friendly. I think a housing and/or commercial rehabilitation program to upgrade windows, lights, roofs, and insulation would have a massive impact. There are a few financial programs that benefit low-income people with these upgrades, but I would target a program in the City for low and middle income populations with homes or apartments through targeted outreach and education so more people are saving money on utilities while increasing energy efficiency.

To meet the City’s emissions reduction targets, transportation and building energy strategies and actions must be prioritized. Which of the strategies (14 strategies) and actions (27 specific actions) identified in the City’s Climate Action Plan would you prioritize implementing? Why? (Note: a summary of the strategies and actions proposed in the CAP can be found on page 4 of the Executive Summary).

I believe that land use policies have the ability to meet emissions reduction targets because land use policies also have the ability to create the incentives to encourage alternative modes of transportation and building efficiency through redevelopment.

For example, by encouraging higher density building along transit corridors, we can encourage people to walk to businesses and amenities in their neighborhoods without the need for a car. This also enhances economic development. In addition, we know many workers live in the Carson Valley and work in South Lake Tahoe because they can’t afford to live in the basin. By building more housing, including affordable housing, people can live and work in South Lake Tahoe and significantly reduce GHG. Redevelopment of older buildings requires adaptation to the current building code which will significantly reduce emissions from off-gassing and older materials with products that are now illegal.

Transporting our waste, and failing to remove organics, contribute substantially to GHG emissions. What ideas do you have to reduce our waste stream?

Waste reduction strategies, especially around organics, is about data, collaboration, share solutions and implementation. Data can assess how much organics are in the waste stream and target the issue. Education and engagement of the population can go a long way to reduce this issue.

In addition, technology has come a long way around waste reduction strategies. I would think about how we work with South Tahoe Refuse and other stakeholders after reviewing data to best understand how we can pair technology, education and engagement to reduce the waste stream.

How do you prioritize EV infrastructure? How would you suggest we incentivize business owner’s to install EV chargers? How can we help our local citizens do this?

California’s Building Code already requires commercial buildings to incorporate EV infrastructure. In multifamily, any alterations to parking requires 10% of parking to be used for EV charging stations. In addition, there are a couple state laws that require streamlining permit approvals for EV chargers anywhere.

In the Tahoe Basin, one of the biggest impediments to EV chargers is the coverage requirements to install them which lengthen the California streamlined process. We can work with agencies to shift incentives by reducing or eliminating these coverage requirements.

https://business.ca.gov/industries/zero-emission-vehicles/plug-in-readiness/permitting-electric-v ehicle-charging-stations-best-practices/

What projects could the City take on that would have the greatest GHG reduction potential to help achieve goals established by council resolutions?

Fixed route transit is the most important goal. Fixed route transit with increased frequencies will serve more people throughout the tough weather conditions we get and the varied jobs people work at all hours of the day. Bike routes are great, but they work in tandem to a fixed route transit system to create choice for those people that can use them, especially throughout the summer. In addition, we can leverage new construction housing projects for transportation money and improvements to ensure that people feel safe when they walk down the street, and it makes sense with where they are going.

Another option is to create shuttles to popular recreation destinations on fixed schedules. I have lived in Tahoe a long time and if I want to go backcountry snowboard to a popular spot, or go mountain biking, we all drive separately. A shuttle would allow us to leave a car at home, meet at a centralized location, and have more time with my friends. This would especially be cool for shuttle rides/hikes/etc.  

Describe your concerns about climate change and our city. Are we on course to adapt to * the inevitable changes?

Located in such a special and environmentally sensitive place, South Lake Tahoe is vulnerable to the accelerating impacts of climate change. The Caldor and Dixie fires were unprecedented, being the first mega-fires to ever cross the Sierra Nevada mountains. In recent years, increasingly variable winter weather has been taking its toll on our infrastructure and our economy.

I am concerned that we aren’t doing enough to face these existential threats head-on. While I am proud of South Lake Tahoe’s ambitious clean energy goals, we have not made enough progress towards them with a utility provider that has been stagnant on solar expansion.

As we see warmer winter rain storms, flooding erodes our streets, expanding cracks and potholes. I have been a proponent of Measure N, the citizen’s ballot initiative that dedicates funding to our roads and stormwater infrastructure, along with affordable housing and transit, all without raising taxes on locals.

With utility rates rising, how would you enhance energy efficiency to lower costs for both * the community and City facilities? How do you plan to build resilience against future energy price increases?

Efficiency comes in two ways: 1) cleaner energy sources and 2) reducing energy waste, and we must pursue both.

The good news is that cleaner energy sources like solar are now cheaper than fossil fuels, and the technology is only getting better. As we invest in public infrastructure like a new fire station, we’ll build in electric heat pumps to take advantage of these savings.

Another major inefficiency is heat slipping through the cracks of the old buildings built decades ago. Measure N funds can be used to offer rebates to low-income homeowners and tenants for home insulation retrofits that reduce waste and lower utility costs.

To meet the City’s emissions reduction targets, transportation and building energy * strategies and actions must be prioritized. Which of the strategies (14 strategies) and actions (27 specific actions) identified in the City’s Climate Action Plan would you prioritize implementing? Why? (Note: a summary of the strategies and actions proposed in the CAP can be found on page 4 of the Executive Summary).

As the Governor’s appointee to the Tahoe Transportation District, and President of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, I have already been involved as in many of these strategies. Top priorities now underway include WB-1 improving the bicycle and pedestrian network and TR-1 supporting improvement of transit services by transitioning operations from the TTD to the City of South Lake Tahoe to run more frequent buses later at night. In my former role on the Planning Commission, I worked on Land Use Planning strategies to encourage complete neighborhoods with higher-density workforce housing closer to jobs. On the City Council, I will bring experience to the task of overseeing these strategies from the Climate Action Plan.

Transporting our waste, and failing to remove organics, contribute substantially to GHG * emissions. What ideas do you have to reduce our waste stream?

I was disappointed that compost pickup was not included in this year’s transition to new trash bins. South Tahoe Refuse does accept separated food waste for composting, but requires residents drop it off themselves. I’d like to work together with STR or local nonprofits to explore a City-wide compost pickup program to grow the participation and impact of the existing green waste program.

How do you prioritize EV infrastructure? How would you suggest we incentivize business * owner’s to install EV chargers? How can we help our local citizens do this?

Liberty Utilities offers rebates for residents who install EV chargers at home, which is typically where locals charge their cars. For visitors, the top priority is to work with community partners to install EV chargers at local hotels, allowing visitors to charge overnight, rather than wait in a public parking lot while their vehicles charge. Additionally, park-and-ride locations accessible by public transit are another critical component of EV infrastructure, allowing visitors to leave their car to charge while they explore South Lake Tahoe by bus, reducing local traffic and parking challenges. 

Describe your concerns about climate change and our city. Are we on course to adapt to * the inevitable changes?

Climate change is an urgent issue for South Lake Tahoe, which is already experiencing its effects through increased wildfire risks, changes in snowpack levels, and extreme weather events. While we have made strides, such as developing renewable energy sources and drafting the Climate Action Plan (CAP), there is still much more to be done. We need to accelerate implementation efforts, focusing on reducing our carbon emissions and ensuring that our community is prepared for inevitable climate impacts, particularly in the areas of wildfire prevention, water management, and emergency response systems.

With utility rates rising, how would you enhance energy efficiency to lower costs for both * the community and City facilities? How do you plan to build resilience against future energy price increases?

To address rising utility rates, we need to prioritize energy efficiency upgrades for both City facilities and residential buildings. This could involve retrofitting older structures with energy-efficient technologies and promoting the installation of solar panels. Furthermore, building local renewable energy capacity through solar projects will help reduce reliance on external sources, thus providing price stability. Supporting community energy storage solutions, like battery systems, can also help to balance supply and demand, especially during peak times, reducing costs and improving grid resilience.

To meet the City’s emissions reduction targets, transportation and building energy * strategies and actions must be prioritized. Which of the strategies (14 strategies) and actions (27 specific actions) identified in the City’s Climate Action Plan would you prioritize implementing? Why? (Note: a summary of the strategies and actions proposed in the CAP can be found on page 4 of the Executive Summary).

I would prioritize the following strategies from the CAP:
Electrification of transportation: Expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, transitioning the municipal fleet to electric vehicles, and incentivizing public transit ridership would help address the City’s largest source of emissions—transportation.
Energy-efficient building upgrades: We need to enforce stricter energy standards for new developments, support retrofits for existing buildings, and ensure that new construction adheres to the highest efficiency standards.
Renewable energy procurement: Accelerating local solar energy projects and improving energy storage will help South Lake Tahoe meet its 100% renewable energy target by 2030.
These priorities are essential because they address two of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions—transportation and building energy use.

Transporting our waste, and failing to remove organics, contribute substantially to GHG * emissions. What ideas do you have to reduce our waste stream?

We need to promote a city-wide organic waste diversion program, expanding beyond restaurants to include residential food waste collection. Investing in local composting facilities or partnering with nearby cities to reduce the transportation burden would further cut emissions. Additionally, increasing public awareness campaigns around recycling and waste reduction, alongside stronger enforcement of the plastic ban, will help drive down waste generation.

How do you prioritize EV infrastructure? How would you suggest we incentivize business * owner’s to install EV chargers? How can we help our local citizens do this?

EV infrastructure should be one of the top priorities, as transportation accounts for a significant portion of our emissions. We can incentivize businesses by offering tax credits, grants, or low-interest loans to offset the costs of installation. For local citizens, partnering with utilities and leveraging state or federal programs to provide rebates for home charger installations can make EV adoption more affordable. Additionally, ensuring that public charging stations are accessible, reliable, and well-distributed throughout the community will encourage broader EV use.

What projects could the City take on that would have the greatest GHG reduction * potential to help achieve goals established by council resolutions?

Some high-impact projects the City could pursue include:
Expanding solar energy capacity: Building more community solar arrays and increasing residential and commercial solar incentives will significantly lower carbon emissions.
Comprehensive building retrofit programs: Large-scale efforts to upgrade existing buildings with energy- efficient technologies will have long-term GHG reduction potential.
Municipal fleet electrification: Accelerating the shift to electric vehicles for city services, public transport, and commercial fleets.
Local waste management solutions: Reducing the carbon footprint of waste transport and improving organic waste processing will contribute greatly to emissions reductions.
By focusing on these areas, the City will move closer to its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030 while creating a more resilient, sustainable community.  

Describe your concerns about climate change and our city. Are we on course to adapt to * the inevitable changes?

I am a conservationist in that I strongly believe in the wise use of our natural resources. I am also a fiscal conservative in that I currently see the suffering of our lower-and middle-class citizens pains me to witness. The City was created in 1965 to construct the infrastructure and provide the basic services of police, fire, roads and along with the Utility District and lighting districts, that was accomplished. Much of that infrastructure was not well maintained or completed over the past 60 years, especially proper care of the interface with the forest and care of the crumbling roads. I am for making the changes towards greater sustainability but as it makes fiscal sense to do that. The taxpayers can only handle so much. The enormous financial burden on our current citizens and their children as payment for years of past neglect of this important issue gives me pause. In addition, since Lake Tahoe has been recognized as a national treasure my efforts would be to obtain more federal and state assistance in tackling the tasks ahead of us.

With utility rates rising, how would you enhance energy efficiency to lower costs for both * the community and City facilities? How do you plan to build resilience against future energy price increases?

Continue to review the possibility of The City taking over Liberty Utilities, like they did with STPUD

To meet the City’s emissions reduction targets, transportation and building energy * strategies and actions must be prioritized. Which of the strategies (14 strategies) and actions (27 specific actions) identified in the City’s Climate Action Plan would you prioritize implementing? Why? (Note: a summary of the strategies and actions proposed in the CAP can be found on page 4 of the Executive Summary).

I would like to see Hydrogen Cars for the city fleets

Transporting our waste, and failing to remove organics, contribute substantially to GHG * emissions. What ideas do you have to reduce our waste stream?

the 3 cart system was just implemented, I would like to see how effective that will be before crafting new policies; South Tahoe Refuse has been a great partner

How do you prioritize EV infrastructure? How would you suggest we incentivize business * owner’s to install EV chargers? How can we help our local citizens do this?

National interest in EV's in plummeting; I would push for more data as to the need for more chargers before we encourage businesses to make changes.

What projects could the City take on that would have the greatest GHG reduction * potential to help achieve goals established by council resolutions?

Improved and increase in our bike paths and bus service within the city will make it more convenient to leave the car at home. I do not agree with eliminating parking places because people just will park in more problematic areas. 

Please let me elaborate on my involvement on matters benefiting our environment. Im providing you with specific actions I have taken regarding serious and pressing environmental issues facing our City and region.

Generally, I support programs and activities for clean and renewable energy as long as they are feasible and cost effective. We must act as individuals and government to protect our environment and I commend those who are doing so.

Over the last few years I have been engaged in the following

Supported and spoke in favor of the CSLT plastic bottle ban;

Fully support and endorse Governor Newsom’s ban on plastic bags at grocery stores. Plastic is an insidious pollutant that we must remove from our environment.

Actively lobbied TRPA and Lahontan to take affirmative steps to remove microplastics from our environment and Lake Tahoe including deteriorating plastic faux (branches and leaves) on cell towers.

Continually engaged with regional environmental activists to require USFS and CTC to remove dangerous grounds fuels from public lands they own inside the City limits and in the Tahoe Region to better protect us from catastrophic fire.

Actively engaged over several years with activists to ensure that telecom facilities deployed in the region are safe and go through the CEQA and NEPA process. Regional and local officials need to do more to protect our community and region from the dangerous effects of radiation. Cell facilities should be placed underground and those built must be built to national fire safety standards.

Insist that before major new development is allowed regional and local officials guarantee that we have enough evacuation routes in the event of catastrophic fire. CEQA an NEPA should never be ignored.

Fully support development of alternate energy technology as long as it is affordable and attainable and goals for them are annually evaluated by policy makers.

Support full implementation of Lake Link using electric vehicles and removing the large and unoccupied TTD LA type big buses from our streets.

Support development adequate parking facilities for visitors to get visitor cars out of people’s neighborhoods by encouraging visitors to use transit.

Support development of City programs to assist working families and seniors and providers of affordable housing with assistance to make the dwellings energy efficient and safe. 

City officials must be advocates for environmental protect and economic growth and sustainability for our city.