PEAKS

Opportunity to fund improved rec center

South Lake Tahoe City Council is seeking to bring a pair of tax measures to residents in November — one being a two-percent increase to the Transient Occupancy Tax to improve the city’s decrepit recreation center. According to a recent Tribune article, the increase would raise about $2 million for the update. Improving the rec center seems like a no-brainer. Let’s make it a place lots of people like to visit. It’s a service to the community worth offering.

VRO conversations continue

South Lake Tahoe City Council is reconsidering a recent move to ban multi-family properties as vacation rentals. This seems like a good move. Certainly in some instances a multi-family property would be better used for long-term, year-round rentals — like an apartment complex. But to make a sweeping judgment that all multi-family properties would no longer qualify as vacation rentals seems ill advised. Would approving rentals on a case-by-case basis — looking at all factors surrounding specific properties — make more sense? It’s a big topic, and one that certainly needs more research before making a final decision.

A long calendar of summer events

Live at Lakeview’s free summer concert series features a diverse musical lineup. Plus, there’s tons of event fun to be had at Tahoe’s South Shore — and around the lake. Locals and visitors should also stay tuned for Truckee Thursdays, Harveys Summer Concert Series, Fourth of July celebrations, the Valhalla Art, Music and Theatre Festival and more! Check out Lake Tahoe Action and the Tribune weekly, especially on Fridays, for event features.

And the beautiful weather

Tahoe Fund recently announced that, “The only thing that runs deeper than Tahoe is our desire to preserve it all, so you can enjoy it all. Warm temperatures are driving strong spring runoff, bringing the lake level up to 6,224 feet. This is a foot above the rim, but still five feet from the maximum of 6,229 feet.” Bluebird skies and pleasant temperatures will make for a busy weekend around Tahoe, no doubt.

VALLEYS

Plague …

A flea, sampled from a chipmunk at South Lake Tahoe’s Fallen Leaf Campground, tested positive for bubonic plague. Although this is relatively normal for the Sierra Nevada, it’s still disconcerting. Please prevent plague exposure by staying away from diseased or dead rodents, not camping by burrows and keeping dogs leashed.

Bear killed recently at North Shore

A bear was recently euthanized by Nevada Department of Wildlife after it raided a cooler left in the back of an open-air Jeep parked at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park near Incline Village. According to reports, efforts to scare the bear away failed. This could have been avoided if the owner of the Jeep had locked the food away from reach. It’s the public’s responsibility to secure food and trash so wildlife doesn’t come looking for an easy meal.

Readers, tell us your “peaks” and “valleys” by writing a letter to the editor — crow@tahoedailytribune.com.