Is Placer County Ignoring Community Input? June 2024 NTRAC Recap

Here’s a quick recap of the North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council (NTRAC) meeting held on June 13, 2024, focusing on the parking management plan and Kings Beach Center revitalization.

The main takeaway from the meeting was clear: community members and NTRAC members want to be part of the revitalization and planning process. However, there is concern that Placer County staff is determined to proceed with their own plans, ignoring the community’s vision and hard work.

Parking Management in Kings Beach

The new parking management plan for Kings Beach was a major topic of discussion:

• Community Buy-In and Key Stakeholders: To gain community support, the plan should clearly show the problems local residents and businesses face due to poor parking management. It’s important to engage residents and businesses as stakeholders.
• Public Input: There was strong support for forming a community advisory group to help implement the parking plan, ensuring it addresses real community concerns.
• Personal Stories: Sharing stories from local business owners affected by all-day parkers, such as those from Whitecaps and Las Panchitas, was recommended to illustrate the need for change.
• Roll-Out and Understanding: Questions were raised about the roll-out process and how to ensure everyone understands it. The updated parking management plan is set to be presented to the Board of Supervisors on June 25th.
• Dynamic Pricing, Revenue, and Expenditures: Discussions highlighted the importance of dynamic pricing for parking and the need for a Parking Benefit District with transparent accounting. This ensures that revenue stays in Kings Beach.

Kings Beach Center and Eastern Gateway

The discussion on the Kings Beach Center focused on its history and current plans:

• History and Tension: The presentation from Placer County left out significant details, leading to tension and skepticism. Many felt it didn’t address community concerns.
• Community Input: There is a strong feeling that the current project is more tourist-focused and a significant departure from the original mixed-use vision, which focused on community vitality and services.
• Public Comments: Public comments were largely critical, emphasizing that the land belongs to the community and expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency from the County.

What’s Next?

We must continue to push for our community’s voice to be heard and respected in these processes. Stay connected with us by joining our mailing list for more updates and upcoming events. Together, we can ensure that our community’s needs and vision guide plans and development efforts.