Survey less than flattering to South Tahoe

unedited 2/09 Tahoe Mt. News

By Kathryn Reed

It was like a slap across the face to the City Council members who sat stoically as the results of a survey were projected on a big screen for all to see.
No one had much to say when the presentation came to end Jan. 27. They did agree the comments would be a good launching point to formulate a strategic plan for South Lake Tahoe. It has been two years since the city put goals in writing. The council expects to set a date this month to work on the strategic plan.
Many of the results from the October-November survey are not surprising. Respondents are most unhappy with the price of housing, and opportunities for shopping and jobs. What might be deemed worse news is that only a quarter of survey takers rate the overall quality of business and service establishments as excellent or good.
The natural environment is what most said they like about the town. Recreation was a category with 75 percent saying the services are excellent or good.
Of the 1,450 surveys sent out, 45 percent, or 638, were returned. Ninety-seven percent of respondents live in town year-round.
Most like South Lake Tahoe as a place to live and feel safe here. However, less than half think the town is clean.
More than half don’t like the new development in town, and only about 30 percent like the overall appearance of South Lake.
They praise public safety, but less than half believe the city is prepared for an emergency.
The ease of using a bus, cycling or walking got more fair and poor marks than excellent or good. On the flip side, more than half think it’s easy to get around in car.
Of the eight categories under transportation services, only snow removal and street cleaning earned an excellent or good from more than half of the respondents. Sidewalk maintenance and street repair each registered about an 80 percent fair or poor rating.
City Manager Dave Jinkens said the public trust ratings “have an interesting twist.” That’s because the overall image or reputation of the town came in with about 70 percent marking excellent or good. But drilling down, the overwhelming majority was critical of the value of services for the taxes paid and how city government welcomes citizen involvement. Even more people don’t like the direction the city is going and think the city is doing a lousy job of listening to residents.
Survey takers who’ve had contact with city employees have mostly good things to say.
Each survey asked about where people shop. Forty-five percent go off the hill for health services, 25 percent eat or seek entertainment out of town, 62 percent buy household items elsewhere, 90 percent buy computer and electronics someplace else, and 73 percent buy general retail like clothing outside of South Lake.
Variety, cost and store selection are what drive people to shop someplace else.