Title
Supervisor Novasel recommending the Board:
1) Find that a public benefit is derived from supporting the Tahoe Fund’s efforts to sponsor and organize the 2020 Lake Tahoe Environmental Summit; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign a funding Agreement, consistent with the County’s standard form and upon the approval of County Counsel, with the Tahoe Fund authorizing payment of the $5,000 community funding contribution in support of these efforts.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Since the first Presidential Forum in 1997, federal, state and local leaders have come together to discuss the importance of protecting and restoring Lake Tahoe. This is the annual event hosted by California, alternating with Nevada each year. Senator Dianne
Feinstein is hosting this year's event at the historic Valhalla Lodge on US Highway 89, Emerald Bay Road, in El Dorado County. Each year, California and Nevada state representatives gather with high-ranking federal representatives to discuss policies that help protect and preserve Lake Tahoe. Governors from both states join Senate and
Congressional representatives and top agency directors, including the Environmental
Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources, public utility agencies, in open dialogue with local representatives. El Dorado County has always been invited, included and taken part in that open dialogue. In order to preserve funding designated for environmental projects, the event sponsor and organizer, the Tahoe Fund, (founded in 2010 as a registered non-profit corporation in the States of Nevada and California), requested Lake Tahoe public agencies and sponsors to contribute towards the costs of this annual event. As a sponsor, El Dorado County was recognized on the program with the other sponsors.
A funding agreement is required in order for the County to process the payment to Tahoe Fund. Approval by the Board provides the finding that a public benefit is derived from supporting this endeavor, which brings together federal, state, and local leaders together to discuss the importance of protecting and restoring Lake Tahoe.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve the funding request, and no funding would be provided in support of these efforts.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
August 27, 2019 Legistar 19-1246 authorizing $1,000 contribution to Tahoe Environmental Summit
September 23, 2014 Legistar Item 14-0986 version 1 authorizing $1,000 contribution to Tahoe Environmental Summit
August 8, 2017 Legistar Item 14-0986 version 3 authorizing $1,000 contribution to Tahoe Environmental Summit
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Tahoe Fund
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Board of Supervisors allocated $50,000 in the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Recommended Budget in General Fund - Other Operations (Department 15) to be available for community funding requests supported by the Board. Approval of this item would allocate $5,000 from this amount. There is no additional impact to the General Fund due to the approval of this agreement.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
None
CONTACT
Supervisor Novasel