Chamber execs weigh in on SnowGlobe
By Kathryn Reed
SnowGlobe can be a divisive topic even in the heat of summer. For those who are bothered by the electronic music festival, their angst never really goes away.
Tami Wallace of the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and Steve Teshara with Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce flanked South Lake Tahoe Mayor Wendy David during her monthly “conversation” at the senior center on Wednesday. The purpose of the gatherings is for members of the community to ask questions about any topic, though usually there is a theme to start with.
The chamber presidents couldn’t escape having to weigh in on SnowGlobe.
“We are in support of SnowGlobe to an extent,” Wallace told the group. “We think it is absolutely in the wrong venue.” She said she’s tried to find a location other than the ball fields, but has been unable to.
Teshara said his chamber supports the event, but recognizes the impacts it has. He is hoping the changes made by the promoter for this year will bring significant improvements to those who are bothered by the noise.
One attendee at the July 18 conversation asked if the chambers could sponsor a gathering for business owners who have been bothered by SnowGlobe. So often all that is reported is how businesses support SnowGlobe and see it as a positive.
The woman who spoke talked about how she does everything she can to prohibit concert-goers from renting her vacation rentals, saying SnowGlobers are bad for business. She said there are enough families wanting to come to the South Shore at New Year’s that the music festival is not needed any more.
Others pointed out how the event has made Stateline less of big deal; and that it’s easier on public safety resources.
In responding to a question about why the casinos don’t do something interesting on New Year’s Eve for the crowds, Teshara said the reasoning is that so many who spill out into the highway at the bewitching hour are underage. The casinos don’t have any desire to attract more young people.
Vacation home rentals and the beach at Beach Retreat/Timber Cove were other topics.
SnowGlobe is a great event that brings lots of business to town. It is also an event that floods at least three local neighborhoods with music at high decibels over a three day period and late into the night. These are homes with kids, pets, retirees and local working people who are not able to easily pickup and move during one of the busiest holidays of the year. The effects are real and are literally earth shaking to those closest to the event.
The SnowGlobe organization has stepped up. They are hiring a sound engineer and are working to mitigate the sound as best they can and the organizers should be applauded for responding so responsibly. SnowGlobe should be given every chance to improve this event and will hopefully be successful.
The same can not be said of the City or the TRPA who are both ignoring existing requirements as defined in the well established Bijou/Al Tahoe Community Plan. Despite filing an official complaint last March (before SnowGlobe elected to step up to resolve these issues) with the TRPA and notifying both the City and the TRPA via multiple emails and through official channels as well as in person to the City Council, no changes have been made to the existing rules. I am told they met once with no seeming changes beyond limiting the event to end by 10 PM. All existing noise limits are thus far unaltered and remain such that the event will continue to be in violation of established regulations as it always has been.
The sad truth is that SnowGlobe could improve this event but will still be in violation of existing laws despite making every effort to improve the event. If local residents are not satisfied with the changes SnowGlobe makes, residents could still individually file official complaints with the TRPA, the City and/or El Dorado County and still be within their rights as the laws currently stand. If this event is going to continue, both the TRPA and the City of South Lake Tahoe need to address existing laws and update them accordingly. I know they can ignore my single complaint but I wonder if they can ignore the complaints of the over 200 local residents who signed a petition to move/modify or end this event? How long will the TRPA fail to enforce their own rules with the City?