August 2015

Water Use Reduction
Thank you for taking a proactive water-reducing stance with Tahoe Donner. On June 22, Tahoe Donner Association received approval for a hardship petition filed with the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD) as permitted in accordance with TDPUD’s Stage 4 Ordinance 2014-05, which states that commercial, non-ornamental landscape users can petition to be given a target in lieu of any prescriptive restriction set forth. Specifically, Tahoe Donner Association (TDA) requested the ability to aggregate all TDA business water meters into one target in order to maximize water conservation efforts while maintaining business and customer service levels at each amenity. By doing so, TDA and TDPUD can still meet the intent of the emergency drought law, as well as achieve the end result of the California State Water Resources Control Board’s 2015 emergency drought regulations of 28 percent set for the district and its customers. As of mid-July, Tahoe Donner is meeting and exceeding our 28 percent reduction in potable water goal.

Within the approved petition, Tahoe Donner staff requested the ability to apply an Alternative Means of Compliance (AMC) method to the golf course watering and other turf supplied by the Tahoe Donner’s turf watering system. This will result in watering on days not allowed under advertised prescriptive water days, but permits Tahoe Donner to be more efficient while still achieving water conservation targets. AMCs are common in southern California and are now being developed throughout the state. They are based on the realization that golf course managers are driven to use the least amount of water possible and possess the technology and responsibility to do so. Given the approved target and method, the golf course will be able to irrigate in a healthier, more efficient manner. Tahoe Donner operates the most sophisticated irrigation control system available that is heavily monitored throughout the golf season. The golf course property is approximately 200 acres, 95 of which are irrigated turf.

TDA staff has identified several areas that are targeted for water reduction to the overall water consumption efforts. These include: only providing water to guests upon request, eliminating outdoor showers at the Trout Creek Recreation Center, as well as installing water control push buttons on all amenity showers. All of the amenity ornamental planter box popup sprinklers will be replaced with drip systems, and in some cases irrigation will be abandoned. Conserving water is a priority to the team at Tahoe Donner and to our community. With TDPUD’s full support, we can now more efficiently conserve water with the implementation of our extensive water procedures and protocol.

New Smoke-Free Policy
Tahoe Donner Association is also taking the lead on reducing fire danger this summer and fall through the implementation of a smoking ban on all Tahoe Donner-owned property. Tahoe Donner Association’s board of directors voted on May 30 to prohibit smoking at all amenities, common areas, and other association-owned properties as a result of extreme fire danger, to be effective June 1 through the end of the year. This ban includes such facilities as the golf course, parking lots, open space and trails.

Pursuant to authorities provided under the Tahoe Donner Association, Covenants Rule, II. General Common Area, Other Association Owned Property and Amenity Rules, “Smoking at outside amenities is limited to those areas where cigarette ash receptacles are provided. During periods of extreme fire danger, as designated by local, state or federal authorities, smoking may be prohibited at all outside amenities, on common areas, and on other association-owned properties.” The board initiated the smoking prohibition.

Fines for violation of the smoking rule start at $50 and may be assessed per incident, on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis according to the nature and severity of the infraction and at the discretion of the Covenants Committee.

Trail Pass Program for Public
New this year is a summer public trail pass program. This program is a voluntary monetary contribution for public trail users. Its purpose is to recognize the financial commitment and trail maintenance efforts the association has made and continues to make on the 45+ miles of multi-use single-track and double-track summer trails.

For those who are not Tahoe Donner members, a suggested donation of $5 for adult and $2 for child daily use, or $30 for adult and $15 for child summer pass is encouraged, and is available for donation at Alder Creek Adventure Center, Bikeworks, and Member Services; online at our ShopTD site; and at select iron rangers at the major trailheads of Glacier Way, Teton Way and the Euer Valley gateway located at Alder Creek Adventure Center. Trail access for members and guests of members is free. Thank you for contributing to the Tahoe Donner Association trail system.

General Plan – Seeking Input
Our 20-year General Plan is being updated this year. Investment in Tahoe Donner’s future is guided by this plan, which serves as our long-term infrastructure (capital) investment plan for improving and replacing major facilities. Annually, a portion of the annual assessment is directed to the Development Fund to specifically allow the association to reinvest in our amenity infrastructure to address outdated capacity or improved and expanded services for the members. The last several years have seen significant reinvestment from the development fund, guided by the long-range general plan, which has included major land purchases with the Euer Valley, Bucknam, and McGlashan Springs parcels, a new forestry facility, expanded Lodge Restaurant & Pub, new Alder Creek Adventure Center (in progress), remodeled Equestrian campus (underway), snowmaking for the Downhill Ski Area learning center and Snowbird Chairlift (being installed fall 2015), along with many smaller service improvement projects.

In order to update the current general plan, the general plan committee is seeking Tahoe Donner owner input. This fall the committee will be conducting an online survey of the membership to broadly determine the priorities and values members see for the future of our capital infrastructure as we continue to focus our limited resources on improving our amenities and services at Tahoe Donner.

Member ID Cards
As a reminder; Membership ID cards are used within Tahoe Donner and each property is entitled to as many as four member ID cards for qualified individuals. Each property may purchase up to four additional member ID cards for qualifying family members. Your member ID card identifies you as a member and affords you access to the private and public amenities at the member rate, where applicable. Each property is also entitled to a maximum of two transferable guest cards for use by property owner’s guests to gain access to the private amenities, where guest access fees will apply. Up to four guests may gain access on a single transferable guest card. Upon payment of the annual recreation fee, a member and any other eligible members associated with that membership are granted access to the Beach Club Marina, Northwoods Pool, Trout Creek Recreation Center and the Tennis Center without having to pay the daily entrance fee. The 2015-16 Recreation Fee is $260 and is valid from May 1, 2015 through April 30, 2016 and can be purchased at the Member Services office at Northwoods Clubhouse. If you have elected not to purchase the Recreation Fee, then daily entrance fees will apply to your amenity visits. The entrance fee for the private amenities, including Trout Creek Recreation Center, the Tennis Center and the Beach Club Marina, is $6 for members and $8 for guests. This fee provides access to all these amenities for the entire day.

Parking Lot Safety
You may have noticed the new speed bumps this summer at Trout Creek Recreation Center and Northwoods Clubhouse. Tahoe Donner installed them to keep traffic slow – less than 10 mph – in the busy lots where there is a high level of pedestrian and family activity. We thank you all for reducing your speed and cautiously navigating the parking lots. Now it’s your turn to improve the safety on all our roads within Tahoe Donner by slowing down and not exceeding the posted speed limit on our community roads.

There’s plenty of summer ahead! Stop by and pick up a weekly activity guide at any of our amenities to help plan your summer at your personal mountain resort!

Robb Etnyre | General Manager