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Community Development Agency, Administration and Finance Division, recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 200-2016 authorizing the Auditor-Controller to issue a one-time contribution in the amount of $15,000 to support the Tahoe Resource Conservation District efforts to survey the public’s interest in financially supporting long-term implementation of storm water, snow removal, and transportation programs in Lake Tahoe, noting that a contribution from the South Shore Snow Zone is restricted to efforts within the Zone related to funding for snow removal services, including acquisition and maintenance of snow removal equipment.
FUNDING: CSA 3 South Shore Snow Zone Service Charge/Assessments.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency (CDA), Administration and Finance Division, recommends the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 200-2016 authorizing the Auditor-Controller to issue a one-time contribution in the amount of $15,000 to support the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TRCD) efforts to survey the public’s interest in financially supporting long-term implementation of storm water, snow removal, and transportation programs in Lake Tahoe, noting that a contribution from the South Shore Snow Zone is restricted to efforts within the Zone related to funding for snow removal services, including acquisition and maintenance of snow removal equipment.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
County Service Area 3 (CSA 3) was established by Resolution 9-63 on January 21, 1963, to provide funding for “control or destruction of injurious insects” and “eradication of insects which could introduce infections or communicable diseases,” generally referred to as mosquito abatement and/or vector control. Snow removal services were added for the unincorporated area of CSA 3 on October 4, 1983, by Ordinance 3373, which also defined the purpose as “acquiring new additional snow removal equipment, including side gates,” to be used exclusively in the service area, and set the annual service fee at “no more than twenty dollars ($20) per improved parcel,” beginning with the fiscal year 1983-84.
After the addition of recreation and park services to certain areas comprising less than the entirety of CSA 3, the Board recognized the necessity to establish distinct zones within CSA 3, including Zone 2 to provide snow removal services, formed November 1, 1986, by Resolution 348-86.
Later, the South Shore Snow Removal and West Shore Snow Removal Zones were formed to replace the single CSA 3 Snow Zone on August 9, 1993, by Resolution 249-93. The action was prompted by requests from residents and voters in the Tahoma area who would consider, and later approve, a $50 annual per parcel charge to fund equipment acquisition.
The South Shore Snow Zone continues to be funded by a service charge/assessment in the amount of $20 for each improved parcel of land within its boundaries. The Zone generates $136,000 in annual revenues dedicated to the purchase of snow removal equipment and related administrative activities. Funding has not kept pace with the cost of replacing equipment. Efforts to seek approval of an increase to the South Shore assessments in 2005 failed.
The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board provided a letter to the City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, and Placer County (co-permittees) in April 2014 expressing concern that program funding requirements exceeded available resources and required each co-permittee to develop a fiscal analysis that included a long-term funding strategy. As part of that effort, the TRCD and co-permittees have collaborated financially through a project called Road to Blue and are engaging stakeholders to seek input and gauge support of potential long-term strategies.
CDA's Long Range Planning Division requested and received Board approval on October 7, 2014 (Item 19), for a one-time contribution of $5,000 to the TRCD to support these outreach efforts.
The CDA Transportation Division has continually recognized the need for alternate or increased revenues in order to continue to provide snow removal services at the same level, with limited funding for replacement of aging equipment. CDA recognizes an opportunity to leverage public outreach efforts under the collaborative endeavors of the TRCD and co-permittees to collect feedback and evaluate public support for long-term program funding strategies by including snow removal services as a subject of the outreach efforts.
CDA has identified and budgeted $15,000 for a contribution by the South Shore Snow Zone for these efforts, with the understanding that the funds are restricted for use within the South Shore Snow Zone. The remainder of the outreach efforts are being funded through contributions of the co-permittees.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board determine not to approve the contribution, outreach efforts under the Road to Blue project will be stalled until alternate funding sources may be found and the County will lose the opportunity to leverage similar efforts in exploring funding for critical maintenance and replacement of snow removal equipment that serves the South Shore Snow Zone.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
TRCD and County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Department's recommendation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The one-time contribution of $15,000 from CSA 3 South Shore Snow Zone will come from the Zone service charges/assessments. There is no impact to the Road Fund or to the General Fund. There are sufficient appropriations within the FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget; however, a budget transfer will be processed for Chief Administrative Office approval to ensure funds are appropriated in the correct Class.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
The Clerk of the Board will provide a fully executed copy of the Resolution to CDA, Administration & Finance Division, for further action.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure, Public Safety, Economic Development, Good Governance.
CONTACT
Kate Sampson, Assistant Director
Administration and Finance Division