In addition to approving the county’s new affordable and workforce housing work plan, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a number of small projects to benefit North Lake Tahoe communities and recognized a long-serving local public servant for her many contributions to the region.
To help relieve traffic congestion and improve tourism around North Lake Tahoe, at their meeting Friday, August 11 in Auburn the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved two projects to install wayfinding signage and message boards near Northstar Resort. The board also approved a commendation for long-time Tahoe City Public Utility District employee Cindy Gustafson for her many years of service.
In the first of three North Lake Tahoe items, the board approved the Northstar Directional Exit Sign Project, which will install an exit sign on state Route 267 between Kings Beach and Truckee at the bottom of Northstar Drive to assist with wayfinding for visitors leaving the resort. The total project cost is $20,000, funded by transient occupancy tax generated in North Lake Tahoe.
The second project will provide programmable message boards at Northstar to assist with wayfinding, traffic management and communication of county information. One message board will be a permanent fixture located at the roundabout on Northstar Drive at the Castle Peak parking lot entrance and Ridgeline Drive. The second message board is a portable system that could be moved and updated depending on the flow of traffic and type of information that visitors need at any given time. The total project cost is $102,923, of which $51,500 will be paid from transient occupancy tax revenues, with matching funds of $51,423 from Trimont Land Co. (DBA Northstar California). No county general funds will be allocated for either project.
A budget revision to increase the fiscal year 2017 – 2018 funding for the Speedboat Beach Improvements Project was also approved by the board, which appropriates $275,000 from TOT funds to assist with improvements at Speedboat Beach in Kings Beach. The funds will support design, permitting and construction of a permanent restroom building to replace existing portable toilets, replace the aging wooden access stairway with a more secure metal or concrete stairway improve traction on an access ramp and provide wayfinding and interpretive signage along the access route between Harbor Avenue and Speedboat Beach. The total project cost is $637,000, of which $362,000 will be paid from Placer County park dedication fees.
The board also approved a commendation for Cindy Gustafson for her 28 years of service as an employee of the Tahoe City Public Utility District. Gustafson was recognized for her outstanding dedication to the community and her involvement with many Tahoe City projects, including the Tahoe City Lakeside Trail, Commons Beach Lake Access Enhancement Project and the Homewood Bike Trail. Cindy was also instrumental in maintaining the Tahoe City Golf Course as a recreational space for the public. The full text of the commendation is available here. Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery previously presented Gustafson with the commendation at a board reception in Tahoe City July 24.
