By Mick Akers, Las Vegas Sun

Even with its recent push to attract technology-related companies, Nevada still ranks relatively low compared to the rest of the country in its tech workforce.

Nevada is No. 38 in the nation in tech employment, according to the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) Cyberstates 2017 report released earlier this month. Nevada also ranked No. 38 in 2016’s report.

The study showed that Nevada has 31,003 tech industry employees, working in 5,003 tech businesses. The tech sector makes up 2.5 percent of the overall workforce in the state.

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The environmental document for the loop road is looking at affordable housing going in where these businesses are located. Photo/LTN file

Publisher’s note: This is one in a series of stories about affordable housing in the Lake Tahoe-Truckee region. All articles may be accessed via the home page under Special Projects, 2017 Affordable Housing.

Updated April 15:

By Kathryn Reed

Transit oriented development – it’s the latest buzz phrase in the basin. Simply put, it means creating commercial and residential areas that are walkable-bikeable and have easy access to public transportation.

At today’s Tahoe Transportation District meeting the board will hear a presentation about how housing ties into the proposed loop road project.

The district has identified 78 residential units in South Lake Tahoe that would have to be leveled if and when Highway 50 is rerouted behind Harrah’s and MontBleu. Fifty-five of those units fit the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s definition of needing to be deed restricted based on low income criteria. Finding the right mix for the remaining 23 is still in the discussion phase.

TTD has pledged to not have any decrease in housing stock because of the highway project. The bi-state agency has also expressed interest in creating more housing than what it removes.

In the loop road’s environmental document, which will be released this month, three locations were studied for where affordable housing could be located. Affordable in this case goes beyond the legal income based definition.

“When it comes to workforce housing, this is primary housing, and what supports and engages a transit system,” Carl Hasty, TTD chief, told Lake Tahoe News. This would be multi-family housing – apartments, townhomes – no single family residences. And not second homes or vacation rentals.

Hasty has been contacted by three potential developers about affordable housing. But before those projects can be talked about in any seriousness, the highway project needs to have a preferred alternative and be green-lighted.

The three areas the environmental impact statement looked at include: the triangle area where the Naked Fish and Bottle Shop are located; directly across the street from there; and the strip of land behind Raley’s at Stateline behind the center and paralleling what would be Highway 50.

This latter area has been talked about by Terry Hackett, the center’s owner, as a potential location for senior housing. Parking could be underneath, with a couple floors of housing above it.

However, Mike McKeen who owns the Naked Fish-Powder House building told Lake Tahoe News, “Low income housing at our property will never happen. I would only be open to condos like the Zalanta project.”

The environmental document is exploring density, commercial floor area constraints and other factors.

Hasty has received a letter of interest by a developer who would like to build 142 units on land that is being studied in the EIS.

“The concept they are suggesting to me is something that we should take a look at,” Hasty said. “I first need a decision about (the highway) project.”

TTD is working with other entities on the housing issue. With TRPA, the city and Douglas County, the plan is to send out a request for proposal seeking “an experienced person or firm to assist the group in addressing housing needs through eligible projects and act as a bridge between the public agencies and the private sector development community.”

Tom Lotshaw, spokesman for Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, told Lake Tahoe News, “Major projects like the proposed Highway 50 project are one place where we can work together to make sure housing improvements are incorporated and a benefit of the final project. These types of transformative transportation projects are a great opportunity to improve not only our transportation system, but to incorporate elements that improve housing options, spur community revitalization and mixed-use redevelopment, and improve the environment.”

Another player in all of this housing talk is the California Tahoe Conservancy. It has several parcels that staff and the board have earmarked to sell. All are located in the Tahoe Valley Area Plan. Here is the CTC land map.

“We are now exploring, among other options, whether we should partner with TTD in soliciting interest from developers to provide housing and/or mixed uses on these parcels,” Patrick Wright, CTC executive director, told Lake Tahoe News.

One area the TTD is eyeing is acreage on Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Tata Lane that CTC owns. Hasty has been approached about a 120-unit development there.

The cost to relocate the displaced residents in the highway realignment project will be incurred by TTD.

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Notes:

·      TTD meeting is April 14 at 8:30am, TRPA offices, 128 Market St., Stateline.

·      The Douglas County commissioners will hear a presentation from Hasty on April 20 about TTD’s role in housing and how the county can be a partner.

·      A similar discussion will occur at the May 2 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting.

By Andrew Josuweit, Forbes

When Adam Reres was in high school, he decided to take a different route than many of his peers. Rather than go straight to the four-year school of his dreams, he decided to start his education at a community college.

“My decision to go to community college was mainly based on cost,” said Reres. “Community college was about one-third of the tuition of a four-year school. And with all of the core requirements accounted for, it was my gateway into a four-year program without wasting money on unnecessary credits.”

Community colleges offer an affordable alternative to four-year schools; Reres’ approach saved him thousands of dollars. While some people view them as a less glamorous option, there’s no doubt that community colleges offer tremendous value – $20,000 or more in savings for many students.

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By Zlati Meyer , USA Today

Whether it’s pizza from a wood-fired oven or a glass of wine while shoppers stroll the aisles, some grocers are turning portions of their stores into a nosher’s delight — and creating tough new competition for fast-food chains and traditional restaurants.

The phenomenon is growing fast enough both in prevalence and sophistication that the food industry has coined a name for these combination grocery stores and eateries — the “grocerant.” Customers get the convenience of being able to order a meal, then fill their shopping carts with home essentials while they wait. Stores pick up extra sales.

Grocerants generated 2.4 billion visits and $10 billion in sales in 2016 by promoting restaurant-quality freshly prepared foods, which are on trend with the contemporary palate, reports The NPD Group, a research outfit. Grocerant visits have increased close to 30 percent since 2008.

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By Jason Blevins, Denver Post
 
If there’s a takeaway from the industry-shaking news of Aspen Skiing Co.’s partnership with private equity firm KSL Capital in the $1.5 billion takeover of Intrawest’s six mountain resorts, it’s that the details are scant, but big investments in Steamboat and Winter Park are coming.

“There is no more passionate customer base than skiers in any business we have ever come across,” said Eric Resnick, the chief of Denver-based KSL Capital, which has raised more than $7.5 billion for 30 hotel and resort investments since 2005.

“We have earmarked a lot of capital for improvements to be able to continue to reinvest significantly in the communities and the mountains,” Resnick said. “What’s exciting is being able to bring new opportunities with these communities and with these mountains to those customers who are already so passionate.”

Aspen Skiing chief Mike Kaplan said “it’s too early to say” whether his four Roaring Fork Valley resorts will unite with Intrawest’s Winter Park, Steamboat, Stratton, Mont Tremblant, Snowshoe and Blue Mountain as well as KSL’s Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows under a ski pass to combat Vail Resorts’ wildly popular Epic Pass.

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Truckee Donner Public Utility District is issuing a warning about scammers claiming to be collections agents.

Callers are impersonating the utility company claiming that an account is delinquent and must be paid immediately by a pre-paid debit card, credit card or money transfer. If refused, the caller will threaten disconnection from a remote location or after normal business hours.

Here are a few facts:

• TDPUD mails monthly bills with past due balances, 15-day notices, and 48-hour notices if balances are past due
• TDPUD sends automated telephone messages asking customers to contact the office
• TDPUD may disconnect service for nonpayment after multiple notices, but only during normal business hours
• TDPUD will never ask for a pre-paid debit card or money transfer.

TDPUD recommends hanging up on the caller immediately. If a scammer contacts you or if you feel that a crime has been committed, report the incident to your local law enforcement agency. Call 530.587.3896 during normal business hours and ask for the status of your account.

By Brian Melley, AP

We were trudging up the side of a mountain on skis to measure California’s massive snowpack when a late blast of winter stopped us in our tracks.

I started the morning less concerned about strong winds forecast and light snow than keeping pace with veteran snow surveyors in the thin Sierra Nevada air and getting over steep, icy 11,700-foot Kearsarge Pass. Now, shy of that goal, I was struggling to keep warm and stay upright.

 Howling gales warned to brace for impact. It didn’t matter. Gusts bowled me over and toppled Kevin Klinefelter. Staggering to our feet, we followed John Dittli, making turns in a near-whiteout between foxtail pines. Blown downhill to our cars, we decided to return another day.

The arduous work of snow surveyors is largely unknown to most Californians, even as measurements they compiled of a near-record snowpack bolstered Gov. Jerry Brown’s decision to lift an emergency declaration after five years of drought.

Crews stay out as long as two weeks in alpine wilderness, battling the elements, skirting avalanche terrain and plodding through deep powder to gather the data — a practice that has endured even as new technology tries to gauge the state’s expected water supply from snowmelt.

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·      Through June, Squaw Valley will offer a number of youth training camps. Details are available online.

·      Tahoe Transportation District has closed the Y transit center in South Lake Tahoe because of vandalism and homeless people sleeping there. Buses still service the center.

·      Sen. Dean Heller and Rep. Mark Amodei, both Nevada Republicans, will have a joint town hall on April 17 from 9-11am at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Room C1 to discuss health care and immigration.

·      Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus’ annual spring concert series is April 22-23 in the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley from 2-4pm. For more info and tickets, go online.

·      Eric Buss headlines Magic Fusion at The Loft in South Lake Tahoe from April 13-25.

To the community,

The board of directors and staff of Austin’s House would like to thank the entire community for the tremendous support of our ninth annual Cowboy Mardi Gras fundraiser in February.

Our successful event was another display of how wonderful and supportive the Carson Valley and Carson City communities are. Each dollar raised is used to support ongoing operational expenses at Austin’s House to provide emergency shelter and compassionate care to children ages 0-18 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

We would like to express a special thank you to Patty Clark, founder of the Austin Kirby Foundation, and foundation supporters, for their very generous donation of $52,500. A huge thank you to our event sponsors, Dick Campagni Carson City Toyota and GE Oil & Gas. The fundraising committee also thanks Bill Henderson and his staff at the Carson Valley Inn for the exceptional customer service during the planning of the event and the event itself. The fun and flashy table decorations were donated by Jennifer McLaughlin at Sierra Event Rentals. Much appreciation to each business and/or individual that donated items for the silent auction/raffle, the list is long and we appreciate your generosity. We also could not have pulled off such an event without the help of our many volunteers. You know who you are and you are invaluable to Austin’s House.

Additional appreciation goes out to the following businesses/individuals for purchasing tables:

Coldwell Banker – Minden/Carson City
Douglas County
Edward Jones – James Berston
Guild Mortgage – Minden
Heritage Law
Hettrick Electric
Sierra View Equipment
Town of Genoa
United Electrical Services
Patty Clark
Rick Lusby
Vicki Preston
Brenda Robertson
David Shriver.

Austin’s House relies on the generosity of the Northern Nevada community to continue our mission of caring for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. We must raise more than 50 percent of our operating expenses, and we are so grateful for your support. For other ways to assist throughout the year, call 775.267.6711.

Thank you,

Jacquie Manoukian, vice president board of directors

Tahoe Regional Young Professionals is hosting a gathering April 19 centered on recreational marijuana in California and Nevada.

The panel of local and regional experts including: Lori Ajax, chief of the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation for  California; Sherellen Brook Gerhart, physician from Barton Memorial Hospital; South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler; local dispensary owner Cody Bass, and more. Each panelist will face a round of moderator questions followed by an open question and answer session with the audience.

The free talk will be from 6-7:30pm at the Tahoe Beach Retreat Conference Center, 3411 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe.