RECAP BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S MEETING
FEBRUARY 16th, 2023
The action item that dominated the February 16th Board of County Commissioner’s (BOCC) meeting was the approval of an Interlocal Agreement between Douglas County and the Tahoe Douglas Visitor's Authority (TDVA) to partially fund the operation of a Micro-Transit System in South Lake Tahoe.
The Micro-Transit System provides residents, tourists, and workers in certain areas of South Lake Tahoe free transportation. Contractually, the County is legally bound to provide the system with up to one-half of 1% of its annual Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) earned in Lake Tahoe. The TOT tax generates over $1.2 million per year.
The BOCC voted 4-1 to provide $520,000 in funding for the remainder of this fiscal year. Commissioner Nowosad was the lone no vote.
Commissioner Nowosad wanted to provide $30,000. Commissioners Rice and Hales wanted to provide the full ½ of 1% or $600,000.
In its presentation, the operator of the Micro Transit System stated the first-year cost would be $1,440,000 and that it had raised $920,000 from other sources. As a result, I made a motion to fund the system the remaining $520,000 ($1.44 million minus $920K). Commissioner Gardner seconded my motion and Commissioners Rice and Hales voted for it also.
I understand the need for a service of this type, the overwhelming support from residents and businesses, and that all of the money provided is earned in the Tahoe Township and must be spent on transportation there. However, I did not see a rational basis to provide more money than was necessary to fully fund the service.
*** In a 4-1 vote, the BOCC approved the Parks and Recreation 2023 Program and Facilities Manual which increased various fees for use of its facilities. I was the lone no vote.
I voted no because the fees associated with the Lincoln Park Buoy Field are to be increased by 150% from $2,000 to $5,000 for a three-year period. County staff said this increase was needed to cover the full cost of maintaining the Buoy Field but did not have documentation to provide the Board with what those costs are. I would never vote to subsidize this service with taxpayer money, but I felt that before such a large increase was approved the Board should see what the costs actually are.
*** The BOCC continued its review of its Norms and Procedures but ran out of time before any substantive decision was made. | 
