Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association
STR GARBAGE BINS
Dear Tahoe Keys Members,
Happy Spring!
We have now had time to get acquainted with the new STR garbage bins.
This new garbage bin system, which was first discussed during a Town Hall Forum three years ago, aligns with state laws mandating the separation of our solid waste stream into three categories: recyclables, green waste (such as landscape cuttings), and garbage (biodegradable waste).
That being said, we now need to finalize where we are going to store them!
We would like to thank our members who have already found storage solutions for their garbage bins and remind everyone that the bins need to be out of sight from the street and waterways. Bins cannot be stored in your driveway or in front of your garage door. Inside the garage and/or a side yard behind an existing fence are the most obvious options.
If neither of those are available to you, creative screening may be considered. A small pony fence, boulders, or plant materials are all viable options. There are a variety of garbage screening options available on the market. Google “Trash Can Screens for Outdoor” for ideas.
Please reach out to me at linda.callahan@fsresidential. com, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the screening options you are considering. Per standard operating procedures, ACC will need to be part of this process.
Staff will soon be moving forward with the violation (bad word!) process to members that do not comply or try to conceal their bins.
In closing, the utilization of Bear Boxes will continue to be an option for our members that are interested, however the new bins are too large to fit into a bear box and will still need to be stored out of sight.
Linda Callahan Community Design and Review Manager
2025 ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMITTEE
MEETING SCHEDULE
ACC Meetings are held on Tuesdays
January 14
April 8
July 1, 15, 29
October 7
February 11
May 6, 20
August 12, 26
November 4
March 11
June 3, 17
September 9, 23
December 2
All meetings are held at the Pavilion and begin at 9:00 am unless otherwise posted. ACC application submittals are due by Wednesday prior to the meeting date. For more information, please contact Linda Callahan, ACD Manager, at (530) 542-6444, ext. 239, or lcallahan@tahoekeyspoa.org.
TKPOA MAY 2025 CALENDAR +
By Dave Peterson
Well, the skis are stowed and the boat is tied up at the dock. Trails are still snowed in, but they are melting fast. Spring is here!
Here are some quick updates to significant issues:
Indoor Pool. As luck would have it, when the contractor demolished the old pool decking, he found that the drainage system was completely corroded and partially non-functional, and needed to be replaced. The board met in a special meeting on 4/23 and approved another $125k to get that done. Like I’ve said before, EVERYTHING got old at once, and replacing infrastructure is our reality for the next few years. Unfortunately, indoor pool reopening will be delayed until the end of May at the earliest, and probably into June.
Ala Wai Tree Removal; why us? A member flagged me down after a meeting and asked a very good question: who owns the Ala Wai medians, and if not us, why are we paying for tree removal, landscaping, etc.? The answer is: the City of SLT owns all streets in the Keys, including the curbs and storm drains, and including the medians on Ala Wai. The problem is, landscaping the medians is their lowest priority for use of tax dollars. So sometime in the past, TKPOA decided to adopt the median landscaping to meet our own aesthetic goals. Yes, the City ought to be doing it, but they can’t even keep the potholes in the city filled. We had to adopt the landscaping or go without.
Waterways. Houston, we had a problem. We opened special assessment ballots at the 4/16 board meeting, and unfortunately, we had so many invalid ballots that we failed the quorum. So, we have to vote that one again. You should receive a new ballot soon for the 4-year special assessment to fund development of a long-term weeds management plan, environmental document preparation, and permitting of the plan. This is the same question you voted on before, but we need to do it again.
Evidently, the thing that most often invalidated ballots was the info you had to write on the outer envelope: name, keys address, signature, and account number. We have determined that you don’t need to write your account number, but you do need to write in the other three items.
As with all Keys ballots, it is important that all members
exercise their right to vote. There is a drop box for ballots in the Pavillion. Or you can mail it in.
Drinking Water. No updates.
St. Moritz and Bavarian Isle Bulkheads. Town hall meetings were held April 17 and 24 to explain the problem and discuss the way forward. Member committees are to be formed for each subdivision to explore alternatives, permitting requirements, financing alternatives, implementation strategies, etc. Interim chairmen have been identified to get the 2 committees up and running: Alan Nicholson for St. Moritz Isle, and Mel Meyers for Bavarian Isle. Thank you both for stepping up! Heather has sent eblasts to all members in each group soliciting self-nomination forms for the committees. The interim chairs will screen applications and recommend a slate for board approval. I will serve as board liaison to both committees. This is an important topic for these two subdivisions, and it is made difficult by independent ownership, yet interconnectedness. And the TKPOA has very limited authority. I look forward to the collective rollup of sleeves to find the best solution(s) and get them implemented.
Coves 2B, 4, and 5 Bulkheads. No updates.
Townhome Landscaping. Landscaping has been affected by tree removal, but we should have a plan by the end of May.
Townhome Boat Stickers. Townhome owners, it is time to get new stickers at the Pavillion. You will need your registration and insurance certificate.
Tahoe Marina Shores Remodel. The project has begun, and it will be a construction site for a while. Parking is reduced to one spot per unit. Owners might want to get in the habit of contacting TKPOA facilities before coming up so that you can be prepared for what you will arrive to find.
Lawsuits. This my annual plea for members to bring your issues to our GM and/or the board before launching a legal missile. Please remember that when you sue the HOA, you are suing your neighbors. And if it is a suit regarding a townhome issue, costs incurred by the HOA will be charged to that specific townhome subdivision. It is best if we just work it out, whatever it is.
Spring has sprung. Time to get the lawn chairs out and lawnmower gassed up (or plugged in)!
At the April 16th, 2025, Board of Directors meeting, the balloting for the Waterways Special Assessment failed due to not meeting quorum by 2 votes. Although 813 ballots were received (a large amount), unfortunately 50 ballots were declared invalid due to incorrect/incomplete information on the outer envelope. This was an unusually high number of disqualified ballots.
At the April 23rd, 2025, Special Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved a new ballot and balloting period for the Proposed Waterways Special Assessment. This new ballot is an exact repeat of the previous Waterways Funding ballot.
HOW IS QUORUM ACHIEVED?
To achieve quorum, a required number of valid ballot envelopes must be received by the Inspector of Elections. For a proposed Special Assessment, the quorum requirement is 50% of the membership plus 1. For the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association (TKPOA), this quorum requirement is 765.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 4(b) of the First Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of Tahoe Keys ("Declaration") and Civil Code Section 5605, a majority of a quorum of the members is required to approve the proposed Special Assessment. Pursuant to Civil Code Section 5605, for purposes of this vote, quorum means more than 50% of the members of the Association. Each Lot has 1 vote.
HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY BALLOT WILL BE COUNTED?
A valid ballot envelope must be returned to the Inspector of Elections with the homeowner of record’s printed name, signature, and TKPOA Property Address on the outer ballot envelope.
Example of a valid ballot envelope
Examples of invalid ballot envelopes
NEW BALLOTING PERIOD FOR WATERWAYS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT
Ballots were mailed out to members on April 24th, 2025, for the Proposed Waterways Special Assessment. A Special Board Meeting will be held on Thursday May 29th, 2025, to count the ballots.
Members will be voting on the same proposed special assessment allocation methodology as before, for 16 equal payments, beginning in July 2025:
Ballots can be mailed to the Inspector of Elections at 1251 Golden Bear Trail, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 or dropped off at the ballot box inside the Pavilion Office lobby located at 356 Ala Wai Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. Ballots must be received no later than May 29th, 2025, at 10:05 AM Pacific Standard Time.
The deadline to return ballots may be extended if sufficient ballot envelopes are not received. Once your secret ballot is cast, it cannot be revoked. A ballot is "cast" when it is received at the location designated by the Inspector of Elections.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the TKPOA Pavilion Office at info@tahoekeyspoa.org or (530) 542-6444.
3. EXEMPTIONS FROM IRRIGATION SCHEDULE
No exceptions to irrigation schedule for new plant material (including new turf), other than drip irrigation systems as reviewed by Architectural Control and per the prior irrigation rule schedule. Drip irrigation systems must comply with the Irrigation Limits listed in Section 10.1.
10.03a Drip Irrigation Schedule
• Even Numbered Street Addresses: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Odd Numbered Street Addresses: Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday
• Landscape irrigation on Saturday is prohibited.
10.03b Turf Reduction Exemption
The Board of Directors, at the request of the Water Conservation Committee, will allow temporary relief from the Emergency Landscape Irrigation Rule for newly-installed turf provided it does not exceed 25% of the property's Total Landscape Area.
The temporary relief would allow new sod to be irrigated twice a day for Days 1 thru 14 and once per day for Days 15 thru 21 and on Day 22 going forward owners will need to follow the Emergency Landscaping Irrigation Rule.
Should an owner decide to re-seed their turf and it is reduced to a maximum of 25% of the property's Total Landscape Area, then the owner would be allowed to water twice a day to prevent the top 2 inches of the soil from completely drying out until the grass grows to a height of 1 inch (usually 3 to 4 weeks) at which time the owner would need to change their irrigation schedule to follow the Emergency Landscape Irrigation Rule.
Exclusions to the definition of a property's Total Landscape Area includes impervious areas such as, structures, driveways, walkways and hardscape patios and decks. Additionally, BMP infiltration trenches and landscaped areas supplied by drip irrigation would be excluded.
This temporary relief measure is applicable only to new sod or seeding of turf and does not apply to existing lawns.
4. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
No Owner, nor an Owner’s tenant, contractor, employee, or agent may engage in any of the following activities: Irrigation is Prohibited on Memorial Day Weekend, July Fourth Weekend, and Labor Day Weekend Allowing water to flow over the ground surface or from sprinklers onto surfaces that are not able to absorb water or onto neighboring properties.
Use of a hose without an automatic shut-off nozzle.
Use of water to wash sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, decks, patios, or other improved areas.
Any activity prohibited by federal, state, or local law or regulation.
Connecting Tahoe Keys Members to Socials, Activities, & Each Other!
Welcome to Spring!
As we enjoy the warm sun, blossoming wildflowers, & our summer residents returning, we have some exciting opportunities to meet more home owners. Whether you have a few hours to spare or a whole lot of time, we’d love to hear from you
If you have a passion you would like to share or want to connect with others who share similar interests, please let us know! Whether you’re an expert in a particular field or just enthusiastic about a hobby, you have the opportunity to inspire others and help strengthen our community as a leader or mentor.
We’re also looking for friendly neighbors to host events, such as potlucks or block parties, and/or lead activities such as book club, fishing, or yoga. We are open to all ideas. These are wonderful opportunities to help foster connections, bring neighbors together, and help us organize socials & activities for all
A big thank you to all of our Activity Leaders who have offered to volunteer their time so far. Feel free to reach out to them directly.
f Hiking - Svetlana Raleigh, Svetlana.Raleigh@gmail.com
f Men’s Golf - Jim Crecelius, JCrecelius8@hotmail.com, 209-607-6806
f Mountain Biking – Lisa Moranville, hermosabeach147@gmail.com f Pickleball - Jeff Williams, JeffW8948@gmail.com
Your participation, whether big or small, will help us grow stronger together. Whether you offer to help setup/cleanup a social, host an event, lead a group activity, or join our committee; we look forward to hearing from you! Our email address is: KeysLife@myyahoo com
4/12/25
Wine Tasting Social
Issue #6 f April 2025
Socials & Events
Friday, May 9, 2025
Potluck Dinner CLICK HERE
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Bingo Social CLICK HERE
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Memorial Weekend CLICK HERE
Please see flyers for details! Activities
Men’s Golf - Keys Strokeaholics Tuesday mornings June to October
Hiking - Tahoe Keys Trekkers Wednesdays beginning in June
Mountain Biking, Pickleball, & Walking details coming soon
Become a TKPOA VIP!
A special thank you to Matt & Heather Pratt, owners of Bradley Ranch Winery & Brewery, for collaborating with us and supplying all of the wine, beer, & cups. Thank you to all of the TKPOs who supplied us with a delicious potluck buffet . We all had a great time & look forward to more socials!
Share your business name, your collaboration ideas, & how we can work together to create value for all Tahoe Keys Members. We are also accepting donations to be raffled at our events & gifted to new homeowners
4/18/25 Game Night
Online questionnaire link to be added to our small group contact lists: CLICK HERE or scan QR code.
BOTTOM BARRIER PROGRAM FOR 2025 SEASON
BY: WATERWAYS DEPARTMENT
With summer approaching, the Waterways Department is reintroducing the Bottom Barrier Program. We encourage all homeowners to participate by installing bottom barriers around their boat slip area from the shoreline to the edge of their dock space. The shoreline area accounts for one-third of the total lagoon acreage. Harvesting inside each slip is not feasible therefore bottom barriers could be a simple solution each homeowner can do to keep the weeds from overgrowing within their individual boat slip areas.
Bottom barrier material can vary, and installation can be done by any certified diver. To make it as easy as possible for implementation, Lake Defense Force has offered their services for this 2025 season. Homeowners can contact them directly and their crew of divers will be onsite in June to do the installations. Lake Defense Force is offering either the individual purchase of the bottom barriers or a rental program. They will bring the materials and do the installations in June, then return to remove the barriers at the end of the season around October. If you purchase the barriers, they will remove them from the waterways in the fall and leave them at your property for future use; if you opt for the rental program, the divers will remove them from your waterways and property entirely.
To comply with permitting requirements, we ask that any homeowner wanting to participate in the Bottom Barrier Program to fill out a brief application form (Form 19). This form, available online, via email, or in person at the pavilion, allows the Waterways Department to track locations and ensure the program remains within the permitted five-acre limit. Additionally, all bottom barriers must be removed by November 1st to maintain compliance.
While there are various options available for purchasing the material and doing the installation, we encourage the use of Lake Defense Force for a streamlined experience. Bottom Barriers can improve not only the aesthetics around your dock but also reduce the overall fragment dispersion that we combat so heavily every year.
This is a voluntary program. TKPOA will not be paying for the Bottom Barriers nor its installation. The cost of the bottom barriers depends on the size of the installation area and the company selected to do the work. We recommend contacting companies directly to get their price list for your specific needs.
If you choose to participate and would rather install the
bottom barriers yourselves, please regard the following information:
Bottom barriers are typically made from permeable, tarp-like material that are weighed down to rest on the lagoon floor, preventing sunlight from reaching aquatic weeds. This method is relatively simple to implement and can have great success.
We have found that the most effective installation involves securing the barriers with either 3/8” rebar or concrete-filled PVC pipes, spaced every six inches and around the perimeter. Using sandbags or any other loose material that could add sediment into the water is not allowed. Unproperly weighted bottom barriers will float to the surface causing issues and eliminating the effectiveness.
When determining the bottom barrier size you need, it is important to account for a four-inch overlap with each barrier to prevent weed growth in between the gaps.
Eight weeks is the minimum recommended duration for the barriers to be in place. Ideally installation would happen before the spring growth begins and left in place long enough into the fall to prevent the later season growth we experience with certain species. This lengthened approach will disrupt the plant reproduction cycle further increasing the beneficial gain of using bottom barriers.
To participate in the Bottom Barrier Program, please fill out Form 19 which can be found on both the tkpoa.com and keysweedsmanagement.org websites. Please return the completed applications to the Waterways Department via mail, in-person, or by email. Feel free to contact the Waterways Department for any additional questions: waterquality@ tahoekeyspoa.org ; 530-542-6444.
Please contact Jay O’Neal at Lake Defense Force to schedule your installation: jay@lakedefenseforce.com 206-640-5584 lakedefenseforce.com
Additional vendors to purchase bottom barrier materials: lakebottomblanket.com lakemat.com lakematshop.com
TOWNHOME CORNER
THE "KEYS" TO FINDING WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ON THE WEBSITE
Need to find your cove’s specific information?
A lot of information concerning townhome cove owners has been posted on the website. Here are the steps to access this information:
• Go to www.tkpoa.com
• Sign in (on the right side)
• Click on the tab “Docs”
• Select “Documents”
• Select “Townhome Oversight Committee” from the menu
• In this folder are the following (select and then look for your Cove’s folder):
» Cove Financial Reports
» Cove Newsletters
» Cove Town Hall Presentations
» Meeting Agendas
» Property Insurance
» Townhall Surveys
» Prior Cove Advisor Meeting Documents
Need to submit a Workorder or TOC Agenda Request?
Click on header "Townhomes”.
• Select “Work Order” to submit a work order, snow removal or call request.
• Select “Agenda request” to submit an item for the next TOC meeting.
Need the zoom link for an upcoming meeting?
Click on the header "News"
Select "Events.”
Scroll down to see the calendar, search for the date, and click on the event to find the zoom link.
Looking for a proposed rule or policy change?
Click on the header “Docs”
Select “Documents”
Select “Rules & Procedures”
Select “Rule Change Notifications”
WANT TO PAY DUES ONLINE?
Click on header “Pay Dues”.
A new window will open on the FSR Click Pay website. You will need to sign in with your Click Pay user ID and password to proceed.
"Terrific! As my realtor for the sale of my Tahoe Keys home, Peter's years of experience and expertise of the market was instrumental in obtaining top dollar for my property. His excellent communication skills and professionalism made the whole process seem effortless from start to finish. I would highly recommend Peter to anyone who is looking to buy or sell!"
JOAN H.
