More of these water refill stations will soon be found around South Lake Tahoe.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In 2016, the City of San Francisco was the first American municipality to ban the sales of water that comes in plastic bottles. At the time it was called a bold move that was building on a global movement to reduce the huge amount of waste from the billion-dollar plastic bottle industry.
South Lake Tahoe was an early adopter of the single-use plastic bag ban, as well as bans of single-use plastic, styrene, and straws.
Now South Lake Tahoe will be added to the list of cities starting to ban water sold in plastic bottles by April 2024 through a phased approach. During their Tuesday meeting, council members voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that updates Chapter 4.175 (Polystyrene and Plastic Food Packaging Regulations). It establishes a municipal use and commercial ban on single-use plastic water bottles smaller than one gallon, to be phased in over time.
The municipal use ban will be effective on April 22 (Earth Day), 2023, and the commercial ban will be effective one year later, on April 22, 2024. This allows time for the City and others to develop alternatives for accessible drinking water.
"We are Lake Tahoe, we have a responsibility to act," said Councilman Cody Bass. He was echoing comments made before him by Mayor Pro Tem Cristi Creegan and Councilman John Friedrich.
"This is an opportunity to change people's behavior," said Creegan. "It will take education."
Plastic bottles break down into tiny pieces (microplastics) that can be found in the lake and water bottles are the most commonly sold in South Lake Tahoe. At this time, soda bottles and other beverages sold in plastic will still be available. Water sold in reusable cans and boxes is becoming more popular, and they will still be allowed.
To accommodate the change, the City will apply for grants and look for partners to add more refillable water stations in South Lake Tahoe, and look to team with Drink Tahoe Tap, the regional outreach message of the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association.
"We are not here to ban water, just ban the container it comes in," said Mayor Devin Middlebrook. He noted there are alternatives for vessels available and the move offers an opportunity for entrepreneurs and businesses to come up with new ideas, just as they have with items like banned styrofoam coolers.
Tamara Wallace was the only council member to question the ordinance passing at this time. She wanted the infrastructure in place for water stations and drinking fountains first. Wallace said she doesn't want families to choose soda over water because that is the only option. She was also concerned that businesses would bear the brunt of the costs with no more water sales.
"Let's do this properly," said Wallace though she ended up voting with the other four to make it unanimous approval.
There were many members of the public who participated in the discussion, both from in Council Chambers and online. People from both sides of the issue spoke.
Staff and council agreed there will be a lot of needed education as they move forward with the ordinance. They said they'd rather educate than fine. There are fines associated with the ordinance. A violation by any person, food provider, or vendor is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 for a first violation, not exceeding $200 for a second violation within one year, and not exceeding $500 for each additional violation within one year.
Also, part of the new ordinance is removing exceptions for hardship in all parts of the code, including polystyrene raw food packaging.
— No food provider shall sell or otherwise provide prepared food in EPS single-use foodservice ware.
— No vendor shall sell or otherwise provide EPS foodservice ware or expanded polystyrene products.
— No person shall distribute EPS foodservice ware or expanded polystyrene products at a city facility or city-affiliated event, and all city concessionaires, lessees, licensees, and permittees for facility use, special events, and temporary activities shall comply with this section. No city funds shall be used to purchase expanded polystyrene products.
— Products made from expanded polystyrene which are wholly encapsulated or encased by a more durable material are exempt from the provisions of this section. Examples include surfboards, life preservers, and craft supplies which are wholly encapsulated or encased by more durable material and coolers encased in hard plastic.
The ordinance also has the City as the enforcement agency for the state's Single-Use Foodware Accessories and Condiments law and makes other edits for clarity and consistency with state laws that came into effect after the City's original ordinance was adopted in 2018.
The Council's action did not include plastic toiletry bottles used in motels as that is being covered by a new law. The state of California is officially banning single-use plastic bottles used in hotel and shared home bathrooms. It will be in phases. Starting on January 1 of 2023, it will be illegal to use the small plastic bottles for shampoo, conditioner, lotion, or any other single-use application in a hotel that's larger than 50 rooms.
By January 1 of 2024, it will be illegal to use them in smaller establishments including shared homes. The law encourages the use of larger, multi-use bottles similar to what the average consumer buys for their homes.
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Each year since 1997, the League to Save Lake Tahoe has rallied volunteers to revitalize forests, meadows, marshes and streams damaged by natural disasters, development from decades past, and agriculture.
Healing lands impacted by wildfire is the focus of this year’s event.
The Nevada Division of Tourism, Travel Nevada, kicked off a statewide roadshow to inspire destinations across Nevada to apply for consulting services to energize their local economies by creating new experiences for travelers.
Does your child hate to read? Is your child bright in many ways but still struggles with reading and spelling?
Literacy Volunteers for Children has tutors available to help students improve their reading skills.
Happy Friday Carson City! Let's take a look at what is happening throughout the region this weekend!
The Blue Angels will once again dance across the sky at the Minden-Tahoe Airport’s Aviation Roundup which takes place this year on Oct. 1 and 2.
The Minden-Tahoe Airshow is a bi-annual event showcasing airshow performers, aerobatic performers, military jet demonstrations, and more.
Kids and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center, located at 2869 Esaw St. in Minden is hosting a series of workshops by Connected Horse, a research-based program designed to support people diagnosed in the early stages of dementia and their care partners.
The fall workshops run for two consecutive Saturdays.
Get ready for Glam n' Glitter, a touch of romance, lots of jokes, sultry singing, and a Gangsta' Style Accident—OR, was it MURDER???!!
Set in 1938, it's the opening night at the newest cabaret in that famous restaurant, Cabin in the Sky. The new owner has lined up some sizzling entertainment for you and his gangsta' pals. Of course, nothing goes as planned, even that most shocking event!
The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit is investigating a hit and run crash with major Injury that happened on Sept. 12, 2022 at around 4:50 p.m.
Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting the first case of monkeypox in Lyon County. The case is isolating at home and does not require hospitalization. CCHHS has investigated and conducted contact tracing. No additional cases have been identified and no other information is available.
Bonanza Kennel Club of Carson City will hold its annual AKC All-Breed Dog Shows, Obedience and Rally Trials at Fuji Park in Carson City Oct. 1-2, 2022. More than 750 dogs will be at the show.
The 5th Annual Night Under the Lights Skate, BMX and Scooter competition returns to the Mills Park Skate Park in Carson City this Saturday, Sept. 24.
With the first day of fall officially arriving Thursday, the past few days of much cooler weather, rain and even high elevation snow will be replaced with a warming trend, bringing sunshine and temperatures to the mid 80s for most lower valley locations by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
The first Candy Dance was held in Genoa in 1919, and came about as a fundraiser to purchase street lights for the tiny town tucked away against the Sierra mountains in the Carson Valley.
Now, over 100 years later, the annual Arts and Crafts Fair is still being held.
A 27-year-old woman was booked Tuesday for a misdemeanor failure to appear warrant and a contempt of court warrant issued out of Dayton Township Court. Bail: $1,645.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying a couple allegedly involved in several vehicle break-ins and related credit card fraud.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In 2016, the City of San Francisco was the first American municipality to ban the sales of water that comes in plastic bottles. At the time it was called a bold move that was building on a global movement to reduce the huge amount of waste from the billion-dollar plastic bottle industry.
South Lake Tahoe was an early adopter of the single-use plastic bag ban, as well as bans of single-use plastic, styrene, and straws.
Diagnosed with a rare lung disease in 2009, Dina Jennings is awaiting a life-saving lung transplant. She is one of the more than 600 Nevadans and 100,000 people in the U.S. on the national transplant waiting list.
This is an installment in a series of "On the Record" pieces highlighting the policy stances of candidates running for major offices in the 2022 Nevada election. Check back in the coming days and weeks for additional coverage. You can find our coverage of Fiore’s opponent, Zach Conine, here.
Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore described herself as a “workaholic” during a Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce candidate forum last month.
Come out to support the kitties of Catmandu and find a bargain too. The fall yard sale will is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at 3831 Southpointe Dr. in southeast Carson City. Fabulous prices, nothing over $20. Everything is affordable and either new in boxes or gently used items. The kitties thank you. Meow.
MINDEN — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office would like to warn members of the public to be aware of and help protect the elderly against being victims of gift card fraud.
A Fall Craft Show and Bake Sale will be held Saturday, Oct. 8 to benefit the Dayton Senior Center.
Happy Wednesday Carson City! Fall is here and Max is the perfect pet to cozy up with and enjoy a pumpkin spice latte. This silly, sweet two-year-old terrier mix is a cuddle expert and lover of stuffed animals.
Max would be the perfect addition to just about any home. He is friendly, social and favorite of our volunteer dog walkers.
Two California women were arrested Tuesday for multiple counts of alleged grand larceny, commercial burglary, conspiracy to obtain money using stolen credit cards and other offenses, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office booking report.
The Nevada Patient Protection Commission will discuss Wednesday a new survey adding urgency to the need to lower health care costs in Nevada.
In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, Partnership Carson City is teaming up with the Suicide Prevention Network and Partnership Douglas County for a Prevention Starts Here Mental Wellness Awareness Event and Walk this Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McFadden Plaza in Carson City.
Carson City will be receiving a chunk of $3.7 million in federal money to construct an outdoor recreation visitor center, Nevada U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen said Tuesday.
The Carson High Senator's Cycling cross country mountain bike team raced to a 2nd place overall finish Saturday at the Walker River Rendezvous. The top finishers for the team were:
On Friday, The Art Market will be hosting a pop up arts and crafts events for children in the Carson City area south of Carson City in Douglas County.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects announced Tuesday the filing of a new legal motion to bring an end to failed federal plans to construct a repository for the nation’s highly radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, 65 miles northwest of Clark County’s populated areas.
In partnership with the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, Western Nevada College’s Adult Education program invites you to celebrate National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, September 19-23.
When people think of Alzheimer’s disease, they often picture someone who requires long-term care, has difficulty remembering names and faces, and is struggling with daily tasks.
Wolf Pack Meats, the only USDA-certified meat processing facility for the region, will be temporarily stopping operations beginning Oct. 31, 2022.
According to Shauna Lemieux, Director of Marketing for UNR’s College of Agriculture, the closure is occurring due to financial instability, and the University will be attempting to secure an outside vendor to take over the production operation.
A 33-year-old man was arrested Monday for suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office report.
The results are in, and Carson Middle School has been named the overall winner in the Summer Reading Challenge, where nearly 70,000 minutes were spent reading (69,262 to be exact) between June 1 and August 6, 2022.
An early season storm will continue bringing cool temperatures around the Carson City area and chances for rain, and even some snow for elevations above 9,000 feet through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 is National Voter Registration Day! Go online to RegisterToVoteNV.gov to verify or update your voter registration information or contact your local county clerk or registrar's office.
Lyon County Manager Jeff Page notified the Board of Commissioners of his intent to retire on Sept. 19, 2022.
Page has served as County Manager since June of 2010. Page has been with Lyon County since 1985 starting as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff. Page worked for the Sheriff’s Office and held a variety of positions until he left in 2006 as a Captain.
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