LTSC Mission
LTSC History Statement
As a grassroots group the Collaborative differs from other regional development processes by enabling individuals to help shape a sustainable future regardless of their level of employment or professional affiliations. These stakeholders bring the perspective of communities and sectors that characterize the region: business owners and associations, local governments and agencies, environmental and social nonprofits, the arts community, faith institutions, educational institutions, and residents.
Members of the collaborative do not speak for their organizations, but do offer a bridge from the collaborative to their organizations and networks. As of December 2012, the Lake Tahoe Sustainability Collaborative includes about 100 Members, Advisors, and Supporters, five workgroups, and two committees.
The Sustainability Collaborative meets monthly at varying locations around the lake and the working groups are very active, engaged, and realizing early successes in sustainability. For example, one workgroup recruited five South Lake businesses into a composting program using a donated bin; and another workgroup successfully advocated for the City of South Lake to add and improve bicycle markings on city streets in the spring.
LTSC Principles
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability means something different for each community, but is centered on the long term health of communities and their environment and economy. For example:
Economic Health – Fostering thriving businesses that support local jobs in regionally-appropriate sectors including tourism, environmental innovation, and health and wellness.- Environmental Health – Maintaining and restoring the landscapes, air, and water that support the plants, wildlife, and people depending on and inspired by the Tahoe area.
- Community Health – Supporting improved alternative transportation, recreation, and important cultural, educational, and health services to support a high quality of life for residents and impress visitors.
Why is this Needed?
- There is currently no collaborative body focusing on sustainability for the Tahoe-Truckee area representing the diverse interests and sectors that characterize our unique region.
- This type of collaboration is long-needed in order to shape region-wide sustainability plans that are non-regulatory and cross-issue – addressing economic, environmental, and community health.
- The Sustainability Collaborative will be in a distinct position to coordinate among the various ongoing and planned sustainability efforts in the region.
- The Sustainability Collaborative and the efforts it guides will complement, not replace or interfere with, the Regional Plan Update and local processes and plans underway.
- The Sustainability Collaborative will focus on creating cross-issue, innovative actions and tools to increase regional health.
- The Sustainability Collaborative will attract more resources to support sustainability actions in the region.
What is the Big Idea for the Sustainability Collaborative?
As part of the Sustainability Collaborative, you will guide the development and implementation of a regional Lake Tahoe Sustainability Action Plan and provide long-term coordination, innovation, and leadership benefits to the region. This public-private partnership is not a venue for advocacy, but will define sustainability for the Tahoe region and ensure the tools developed meet the needs of the region’s communities. The Sustainability Collaborative will also educate itself through speakers, presentations, and research focused on sustainability.
Who makes up the Sustainability Collaborative?
The stakeholders making up the Sustainability Collaborative will bring the perspective of communities and sectors that characterize the region: business owners and associations, local governments and agencies, environmental and social nonprofits, faith institutions, educational institutions, and residents. There are three possible levels of engagement, depending on your availability and interest – please see the application for details. Public engagement and input is necessary to ensure that sustainability initiatives are right for, and wanted by, specific communities. In order to show transparency and build trust, meetings will be open to the public and welcoming of participation.
What is the Design of Sustainability Collaborative?
The Lake Tahoe Sustainability Collaborative is a region-wide leadership body representing the expertise of private and public sector stakeholder groups. The Sustainability Collaborative will coordinate efforts to align policies and funding to implement projects that achieve sustainability goals. There will be a Coordinating Committee to coordinate meetings, products, timeline, and ensure the Sustainability Collaborative runs smoothly and meets goals. There will be working groups providing technical expertise.
The Tahoe Partnership for Sustainable Communities is the group of entities that came together to develop the California Strategic Growth Council grant that supplies the funding to support the launch of the long-term Sustainability Collaborative. The Partnership is expected to continue as a focused workgroup under the Sustainability Collaborative to ensure grant products meet community and work plan objectives. The Partnership includes: Tahoe Prosperity Center, California Tahoe Conservancy, Sierra Nevada Alliance, City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, Placer County, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association.
How Will the Sustainability Collaborative Function?
- Decision-Making – 100% consensus-seeking ensuring that all stakeholders are included and respected. All members of the group contribute to a proposal, shaping it into a decision that meets the concerns of group members as much as possible.
- Participation Requirements – Attend meetings in person, help develop and agree to a charter, name a point person and substitute, and be non-obstructionist.
- Open Process – Anyone is welcome to attend, track progress, access notes, and provide input. The Sustainability Collaborative will agree on a process to move forward on other topics/issues if consensus cannot be reached on controversial issues.
- Existing Efforts – The Sustainability Collaborative will build on and incorporate past community input, visioning, and workshops.
Represent Your Community!
Apply for one of the three levels of engagement by Friday, April 27, 2012 using the online application. If you need help finding a free internet access point in your community, leave a message at (530) 686-5510.
Save the date for the Lake Tahoe Sustainability Collaborative kick-off meeting on Monday, May 14, 2012 (time to be determined based on Member preference). The first meeting will be in South Lake Tahoe and meetings will alternate between North and South Shores.
Get your questions answered with the FAQ at SustainabilityCollaborative.org or by contacting the Partnership team through michael@SustainabilityCollaborative.org or voicemail at (530) 686-5510.
