What’s New
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS AT COFFEE TALKS - JOIN US
ROADWAY VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROJECT
CODERED EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM APRIL IS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH
SPRING CLEAN UP LEADERSHIP LUNCH
NEED FOR SPEED BROADBAND SURVEY FOSTERING PETS IS THE KEY
TO SAVING MORE LIVES CELEBRATING TAHOE-TRUCKEE
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
INTRODUCING OFFICER CARLOS GOMEZ OPEN RECRUITMENTS
YOSEMITE POLICYMAKERS CONFERENCE APRIL IS EARTH MONTH
MEETING & EVENTS
NEVADA COUNTY CONNECTION
Town Manager Report
By: Jen Callaway, Town Manager
Happy Spring Truckee!
The weather is changing, and spring is certainly in the air - I hope you all are taking time to enjoy this season new beginnings! Here at the Town, we have been working on summer readiness, emergency preparedness, housing, and climate initiatives. We are excited to kick off Climate Action Month in April and have several special social media posts to share throughout April to encourage environmental stewardship and to highlight current goals, projects and programs. Stay tuned!
We have welcomed several new employees to the Town this past year and have enjoyed getting to know our new family members and watch them grow in their roles and learn about the Town. One position that became open and has been in process of recruitment is our Police Chief.
Talk From The Town Talk From The Town
TOWN OF TRUCKEE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Town Manager Report Continued
we will reassess. I wish to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Chief Renfrow and his command staff, Lieutenant Madden, and Support Services Manager Deverie Acuff for their continued commitment to the Town, Truckee PD, and our whole community. I am confident that we are in good hands with their leadership.
Also, thank you to everyone who participated in the interview process – this is a crucial position for our community, and I value broad participation and broad perspectives in making the right decision for Truckee!
Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s newsletter and feel free to reach out at any time with comments, questions, or concerns. You can always reach me at [email protected] or 530-582- 2901. All my best, Jen Callaway
Police Chief Recruitment Process
Finalist interviews were conducted the week of March 14th with an extensive process, including interviews with a community panel, public safety panel, Town employee panel, the Town’s Department Head team and Command Staff within the Police Department. Two candidates were invited to participate in this process which spanned two days and allowed for a lot of individual time with each candidate.
Following the interviews, I debriefed with each panel, discussed both candidates to assess if either would be the right fit for our community.
After several days of absorbing the feedback received and reflecting on time with each candidate, I have decided to not move forward with either candidate at this time. Acting Chief Renfrow has agreed to remain in the acting role for the next six months – at which time
Community Discussions at Coffee Talks - Join Us
By: Bron Roberts, Public Information Officer
On March 29, 2022, Mayor Henderson and Vice Mayor Romack hosted a Coffee Talk at Wild Cherries Coffee House. It was an open conversation on any topic our community members wanted to talk about and a chance for members of the public to get to know our elected officials in a casual setting.
Coffee Talk meetings are open to everyone- no reservation or sign up required. Sit down with regional elected officials and community leaders to discuss issues that are important to you.
Councilmember Klovstad and Council member Zabriskie will be at the Lifthouse Coffee Co. on April 16, 2022, at 9:30 AM to talk about ways we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and the Town’s consideration of reach codes.
Town Manager Jen Callaway and Acting Police
Chief Danny Renfrow will also be hosting a Coffee Talk at the Lifthouse Coffee Co. on April 19, 2022, at 8:30 AM. This talk will give our community the opportunity to ask questions about our police department. Come join them for a cup of joe and a chat! To learn more about upcoming Coffee Talks, go to CoffeeTalk.app.
encouraged to subscribe to CodeRED to stay informed in the event of an emergency.
If you were a subscriber of Nixle you will need to subscribe to CodeRED.
Beginning June 1, 2022 all emergency alert communications will be sent via CodeRED.
Register for CodeRED emergency alerts:
• Online truckeepolice.com/disaster- preparedness
• Call 211 or 1-833-DIAL211
• Text ReadyNevadaCounty to 99411 and follow the prompt to register
CodeRED Emergency Alert System
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM – KEEP EVERYONE
CONNECTED
Truckee Police Department and the Truckee Fire Protection District are switching
from Nixle to the CodeRED Emergency Alert System as our primary method of communication during critical incidents.
CodeRED is an opt-in notification system, and these alerts may be received as text, email, landline, cell phone, and TTY. By joining CodeRED we will be on one platform with Nevada County, creating continuity between our jurisdictions. Residents and visitors are
April is National Donate Life Month
By: Judy Price, Town Clerk
On April 12, 2022, the Mayor will proclaim April as Donate Life Month. Truckee has historically been a leader in its residents saying yes to organ and tissue donation at the DMV.
This speaks to the generosity and consideration for others that our Town has and is something to be very proud of.
This touches very close to home for us at the Town of Truckee. We have had an employee in need of a kidney transplant, as well as relatives, neighbors, and friends that have been in need, willing to donate, and even very special community members that are living donors for others. One of our Town employees received tissue in the form of a tendon that allows her to walk, run and bike.
You can show your support - April 22 is blue and green day. Wear it, decorate it, and celebrate it with us. Learn more at registerme.org.
By: Deverie Acuff, Police Support Services Manager
Spring clean-up sand recovery project. They will be out in our street sweepers picking up as much of the traction sand as they can to keep our storm water infrastructure clean and clear!
Roadway markings are also being refreshed and repainted, starting with the school zones and continuing on all main roads.
Spring Clean Up
By: Riley Morrison, Street Maintenance Supervisor
On March 28, 2022, Mayor Henderson, Vice Mayor Romack, and Councilmember Klovstad joined some of our Town of Truckee leadership to host a lunch with eight students from Truckee High School. In honor of Women’s History Month, the leadership lunch was a moment for Town of Truckee leaders and elected officials to sit down with some of our young community members to discuss what is important to them and how we can do more to include them in our decisions.
Although there was no set topics or agenda for the lunch, the group discussed many issues facing our community, including climate change. It was a great chance to have open, meaningful dialog about town issues with some
incredibly intelligent students. We hope to create more opportunities to engage with our young community members and are excited to see what these passionate future leaders and changemakers achieve.
Students included Isabela Morales, Allie Crews, Misaki Vaughn, Abby Stein, Emma Bragg, Mia Jones,
Elsa Pekarek, and Juliana Campos-Taylor.
Leadership Lunch
By: Bron Roberts, Public Information Officer
The Spring season is here, and the snow is melting fast! The rapid snow melt is revealing a reminder of the destruction that severe weather can have on our neighborhoods.
The Town of Truckee Public Works road crew have been out cleaning up the storm debris from the Town maintained right of way throughout our neighborhoods, and there is still a lot to do. The crew will be out cutting down damaged trees, chipping, and hauling off the debris from the Town right of way on an ongoing basis.
In addition to the storm debris clean up, Public Works road crew will be out doing our annual
“Need for Speed” Broadband Survey
The data gathered will help expand broadband in Nevada County by identifying locations where internet service is inadequate.
Nevada County invites all residents and businesses to participate in a new survey that will assess high-speed internet (or “broadband”) availability and reliability across the County.
The results of the survey will help the County prioritize new broadband projects, apply for funding, and advocate to elected officials and state regulators.
“We need a precise snapshot of internet access in Nevada County. We know there is a need out there. Now we are asking for the public’s help to get an accurate picture of where the gaps in service are,” says Board Chair Sue Hoek.
The survey, at www.mynevadacounty.com/
broadband, takes less than 5 minutes to fill out and is available in both English and Spanish.
Respondents who have internet access will be prompted to test their internet speed and provide the results. Those with slow speeds or no available internet at all are especially encouraged to participate.
Those with no internet access are encouraged to take the survey from the library, a friend’s
house, work, or school. They can also call the broadband hotline at (530) 562-4992 to respond over the phone.
County officials will provide the survey results in an online map that will not include specific addresses or personal information.
“We set a goal of at least 3,000 survey responses to really understand what’s going on, down to the street and the neighborhood. This is the kind of information that internet service providers will need to build new networks,” says Steve Monaghan, the County’s broadband lead and Chief Information Officer.
“It truly is a community effort. We hope every household and business will participate and help spread the word. This is the next step in attracting funding and prioritizing neighborhoods to get us all better connected,”
adds District 1 Supervisor Heidi Hall.
The survey and dashboard are available online at mynevadacounty.com/broadband.
Downloadable and printable flyers can be found online. For additional assistance, please contact the broadband hotline (530) 562-4992 or visit your local Nevada County Library branch.
Provided by Nevada County
Fostering Pets is the Key to Saving More Lives
The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (HSTT) helps dozens of under-resourced and overcrowded shelters by transferring pets to our facility. Right now, many of those partner shelters are experiencing animal turn-in levels that we haven’t seen in years. We are committed to saving animals’ lives and want to increase the number of pets we can help, and that’s where you come in! By opening your home and heart to a foster pet, you’ll be helping them have the bright future they deserve. Watch the video linked here to learn the vital importance and heartwarming rewards of fostering.
HSTT is looking for volunteers to participate in our foster program. A foster family provides a nurturing environment for pets awaiting their forever homes. The program caters to what works best for the foster and their home setting, allowing fosters
to choose whether they want to temporarily take in dogs, cats, puppies, or kittens. HSTT provides all the support, medical care, and supplies needed, and the foster provides love and care to an animal in need.
If you’d like to learn more about the program or become a foster family, please reach out to Samantha Laroche, Foster Program Manager, at [email protected].
Neonatal Kittens
With kitten season fast approaching, we need trained foster families ready to help! Helping an orphaned kitten become strong and independent is one of the most rewarding foster tasks there is, however, it takes commitment, time, and training to do it comfortably. That’s why we offer special training for folks interested in providing care for teeny-tiny kittens.
Prior to attending our Neonatal Foster Training, you must complete HSTT’s online Foster Training if you haven’t already done so. This training can be done online. You can be prepared to confidently care for tiny baby kittens with less than two hours of your time.
Our next Neonatal Foster Training will be held on Wednesday, April 6th at 3:15 pm. Here’s how to get involved:
1. Become an HSTT Foster
Complete HSTT’s online Foster Application and attend our half-hour online Foster Training - if you’re already a trained foster skip to Step 2 2. Become an HSTT Neonatal Kitten Foster Attend our Neonatal Foster Training, now being held in person at the shelter - sign up for training by emailing [email protected] - if you’ve already attended our neonatal training but would like a refresher, you’re welcome to join us!
Sign up for training today to make a life-saving difference for orphaned kittens tomorrow.
By: Alison Herzog, Animal Shelter Manager
By: Bron Roberts, Public Information Officer
On March 21, 2022, women business owners and co-owners from the Tahoe-Truckee area gathered at the Veterans Hall to participate in a historic photo. The event correlated with Women’s History Month and was the idea of five local business owners who wanted to celebrate and recognize the number of women-owned businesses in our region.
Megan Bristol (Tahoe Modern), Jillian Akers (The Board, Truckee), Ruthanne Zouboukos (Elopement Photographer and Planner), Em Deane Kelley (Locals Creative), Laura Visconti (DRINK COFFEE DO STUFF) and Larissa Martinez (Truckee Love) spread the word and invited all female business owners to join in this opportunity to network and support one another. Although many couldn’t attend, the organizers were pleased with the great representation of strong and innovative entrepreneurs.
In the last two years of the pandemic, we have seen our business community be challenged
by operational restrictions, staffing availability, and the ongoing housing crisis. To see business owners coming together and supporting one another speaks to the core of their survival and success. They have all shown resiliency, made changes, and pivoted where necessary, and most notable, have supported and held each other up. We hope to watch our business community thrive and look forward to the next historic photo with many more of our business owners who were not able to attend.
This photo was captured by Dave DePuy and documented in an article written by Judy DePuy in the Sierra Sun.
Celebrating Tahoe-Truckee Women in Business
We are excited to welcome our newest Truckee Police Officer, Carlos Gomez. When he was a child, Carlos immigrated to Mexico with his parents and younger sister, Karla. At the age of 10, Carlos moved back to the United States with his family, and has been part of the Truckee community ever since.
Carlos attended public school through the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District and is an alumnus of Truckee High School. After high school, Carlos became a VIP, or Volunteer in Policing, for our Department. Carlos has
said this program was paramount in inspiring him to pursue a career as a Police Officer: “I had the opportunity to participate in various assignments and meet officers who came from different backgrounds... The VIPS program provide[d] me with insight of how interesting and rewarding a law enforcement career can be.” Carlos followed through on this goal in his education, earning his Associates degree in Criminal Justice after three years at Sierra College.
Carlos was grateful to earn enough credits
Introducing Officer Carlos Gomez
Provided by Truckee Police Department
to transfer to the prestigious University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. While attending University of California, he also worked as a Community Service Officer and was employed by UC PD – Berkeley. Here, Carlos would protect his fellow students’ safety by escorting his peers in the evenings and providing security for special events at the college. He was promoted to a supervisory role, developing changes to Department policy, and recruiting other Community Service Officers to the campus.
After indicating his interest in a career at TPD, Carlos was hired as a police officer trainee to attend the Sacramento Police Academy, graduating in December 2021; the photo below shows Carlos with his father on graduation day.
Although he is one of our younger officers, Carlos has already demonstrated how his breadth
of experience will make him an excellent officer: he is compassionate, detail-oriented and focused on keeping our community thriving.
He is also incredibly active, enjoying physical activities like hiking and long bike rides on his days off. We look forward to watching Carlos grow as a Police Officer, and can’t wait to see how his career develops.
Introducing Officer Gomez Continued
By: Bonnie Thompson-Hardin, Human Resources Administrator
Do you want to be part of a team working to make significant contributions to the local economy and quality of life? The Town is on the hunt for great people to join our team! The Town values integrity, teamwork, excellence, commitment, and accountability and offers a generous benefit package. Truckee is working hard to ensure that our staff are offered the best work environment including flexible work schedules, in-office dogs, and casual dress. Having the ability to enjoy your career with us, while making sure you have time to hit the slopes or kayak down the Truckee River is imperative to the Town of Truckee’s success.
We have some exciting opportunities available:
Public Works: Although we are sad to see the snow melting, our Public Works team is looking
to fill several full-time Street Maintenance Worker II positions as we move into spring.
These rockstar employees plow our roads in the winter and maintain our roads and drainage systems in the summer. This is the job for you if you enjoy driving heavy machinery, can see yourself behind the wheel of a blower, have a drive to serve our community, and have a Class A or B license (or are in the process of getting one). Applications are due by April 15.
Housing: Workforce housing availability and affordability is one of our community’s biggest challenges. The Town of Truckee is leading the way with innovative housing solutions to address this challenge and is seeking an Administrative Analyst II to oversee the administration and growth of Truckee’s
Open Recruitments at the Town of Truckee
Open Recruitments Continued
housing programs and work collaboratively to develop new programs. Applications are due by April 12.
Information Technology: We are excited to fully staff our Information Technology (IT) Division. We are holding the first round of interviews for a Chief Information Security and Technology Officer and are recruiting for an IT Systems Analyst to round-out the Department. The Town has recently hardened its IT security systems and these will be critical staff positions to ensure the Town stays on the front lines of IT security and provides tools to Town staff. The IT Systems Analyst position closes April 1.
Animal Services: Do you have experience and passion for caring for animals? We have full-time and on-call positions available at the Animal Shelter that the Town shares with the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. Typical
duties include cleaning dog runs and cat housing, shelter janitorial duties, feeding and medicating animals, maintaining records of shelter animals, and socialization of animals.
This position also assists with intake and redemption of animals, behavior assessments, and issuing of dog licenses. Applications are welcomed until the position is filled.
Apply today! Please visit the Town website for more information about our open jobs and how to apply. You can also call Kim Harris in HR at 530-582-5508 with questions.
By: Mayor Henderson & Councilmember Klovstad
Yosemite Policymakers Conference
In March Mayor Henderson, Councilmember Klovstad, Assistant to the Town Manager Hilary Hobbs, and Nevada County Supervisors Hardy Bullock and Heidi Hall were honored to attend the 30th Annual Yosemite Policymakers Conference. This conference brought together more than 120 mayors, city council members, county supervisors, city managers, and other senior executives from across California to share tools and partnership opportunities to implement innovative solutions to our most pressing community challenges.
Sessions touched on many of Truckee Town Council’s priorities, including:
• Addressing the housing and homelessness
• Investments in a more resilient California
• Next generation movement and mobility
• Powering our communities: advancing clean energy
• Recovery and resiliency and the Community Economic Resilience Fund
• Supporting virtual life post-pandemic
• Equitable and adaptive leadership
We were all inspired by these presentations.
We made great connections with other elected officials and industry leader to improve our community. Look for action plans and next steps around some of these topics in the upcoming Talk from the Town newsletters!
By: Melanie Conti, Administrative Analyst I
April is Earth Month
April is Earth Month, and we are excited to kick off the celebration encouraging action in our community! Then, on Saturday, April 23rd, find us at the Tahoe-Truckee Earth Day Festival at Palisades Tahoe! Don’t miss the Envirolution Trashion Show and opportunities for activities the whole family can enjoy.
Leading up to Earth Day, we will be focusing on the many ways you can be earth friendly in Truckee and live a low-carbon lifestyle. Get started with these three easy actions:
1. Ride your bike to work - With an extensive regional bike trail network, it is easier than ever to ride a bike to get to work or shop
for groceries.
And now with dozens of bike manufacturers offering
electric models, there really is something for
everyone. Replacing your automobile trips with a bicycle or e-bike doesn’t just reduce your carbon footprint, it is great for your health and productivity. Check out a map of Truckee’s bike paths, and a link to Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition for other resources like safety tips, parking information, and regional bike maps.
Stay tuned for an e-bike share program coming to Truckee! The program will start this summer with ten docking stations and a total of fifty pedal assist e-bikes.
2. Reuse reusables - In the time of disposable culture, we want to encourage you to use reusable items! Reusable grocery bags, travel coffee mugs, and reusable water bottles have become simple ways to integrate durable
products into our everyday lives to reduce unnecessary waste of single-use items. Did you know you can order your take-out meal in a reusable Green Box from several participating restaurants in Truckee?
Follow along in the development of Truckee’s Single-Use Foodware Reduction Ordinance working to reduce the amount of disposable foodware distributed in our community.
3. Be energy efficient – Did you know that energy use in Truckee accounts for 59% of the total community greenhouse gas emissions?
We’ve all heard it before—turn off your lights when not in use or turn down the heat on your thermostat. But you can take it a step farther and replace aging lights and appliances with Energy Star certified products, install a smart thermostat, or if you are a TDPUD customer, schedule a free energy assessment of your home. Here are some links to local energy conservation programs (TDPUD, Liberty Utilities).
Over the coming months the Town will work with a stakeholder advisory committee and conduct public outreach to consider “building reach codes,” or higher energy efficiency standards for Truckee. Learn more about what reach codes are and why they are under consideration.
Learn more about all things sustainability in Truckee at keeptruckeegreen.org.
Upcoming Truckee Meetings & Events
Want to get involved in your local Town Government? See the Town’s Calendar of upcoming meetings and events to participate. Be sure to check the Town’s website for any changes.
Nevada County Connection
Heart of Gold Ride proceeds benefit teen mental wellness. The inaugural Heart of Gold gravel race, a 55-mile ride with a 31-mile timed segment,
occurred November 8, 2021 and brought together over 200 riders to raise funds and awareness for teen mental wellness.
Nevada County Supervisor Hardy Bullock served as race event chair of The Heart of Gold and shared, “The Heart of Gold is an opportunity to compete against some of the best riders in the state while increasing awareness for mental wellness in Nevada County”.
Nevada County CEO Alison Lehman, along with Supervisor
Hardy Bullock presented proceeds from the ride to the Truckee Tahoe Unified School District Board of Education at their March 16, 2022 meeting. TTUSD Board Member Kirsten Livak shared, “I know that you are really identifying the need and really moving energy and resources toward the need. Really excited for this opportunity to integrate this into our Nevada County schools.” The date for the 2022 Heart of Gravel Ride has been set, October 8, 2022. Learn more about the ride and the need for teen mental wellness funding at www.heartofgoldgravel.com.
The 30th Annual Yosemite Policymakers Conference brought together local leaders from around the state to discuss housing, transportation, energy and more while looking toward resiliency and equity for our communities. Among many informative presentations were those from California State Senator Bob Wieckowski, and Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams focused on the importance of innovation in local leadership, and the importance of long-term commitment. Exciting new green technologies including Bloom Energy were featured.
Nevada County District V Supervisor Hardy Bullock, District I Supervisor Heidi Hall, Town of Truckee Mayor Courtney Henderson, Truckee Councilwoman Anna Klovstad and Assistant to the Town Manager Hilary Hobbs were in attendance. Supervisor Bullock is looking forward to working directly with Town partners on the new concepts and visions from this impactful conference.
The Hirschdale Recreational Planning Stakeholder Group Final Report has been issued, along with anticipated time frames for the report’s recommendations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, recreation impacts along the Truckee River in Hirschdale reached all-time highs, including litter, camping, human waste, and trespassing on private property. A community listening session was held last fall to hear community concerns around the impacts.
Following the listening session, Supervisor Bullock and County staff gathered feedback from interested parties and formed a working group composed of the varying stakeholder interests. The working group, facilitated by former Town Manager Tony Lashbrook and supported by county staff
Presented By: Supervisor Hardy Bullock
Nevada County Connection
including Nevada County Community Development Agency Director Trisha Tillotson, held meetings to seek a resolution.
The great work of the stakeholder group culminated in a report describing the history, existing conflicts and challenges, and proposed resolutions. County staff also composed anticipated timelines for the report’s suggested resolutions. For more information, download the report, review anticipated timelines or subscribe to stay updated, visit www.mynevadacounty.com/
hirschdale.
Join the Truckee Library for events throughout April! For more information on any of the following programs, please contact the Truckee Library at (530) 582-7846.
• Month of April Poet Tree - Visit our “Poet Tree” during National Poetry Month where you can select a poem blossom to read and savor, a Shel Silverstein poem leaf to color, or write your own poem on a leaf to hang on the Poet Tree and share with the community.
• April 1st: All Nevada County Libraries closed for a staff in-service day.
• April 19th at 1 p.m.: Just Books book club, discussing Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson.
• April 27th from 2-5 p.m.: Typewriter Poetry - Celebrate National Poetry Month with our local “Typewriter Poet” Evelyn Schmelling. Bring your favorite word and receive a personalized poem in return.
• Tuesdays at 11 a.m.: Coloring to Zen, an adult coloring program. All materials provided.
• Wednesdays from 4–5 p.m.: RUFF Reading. Join us for fun with the therapy animals and crafts! Read with Rufus, Simon and Gracie. In partnership with library staff, volunteers, and the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.
• Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.: Preschool Storytime; first Thursday of the month is bilingual storytime.
Naloxone / Narcan Available at no-cost in Nevada County. Naloxone is a drug used to reverse an opioid overdose, including overdoses due to fentanyl.
It is available without a prescription. After a quick training, anyone can administer naloxone to another person who has overdosed on opioids. Naloxone is available for free in Nevada County. Nevada County Behavioral Health and Public Health as well as other key community partners offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips in the community. For more information on how to access, please visit www.mynevadacounty.com/naloxone.
