Our Mission
Representing the people of the historic Donner Summit community for the preservation of the area’s rugged mountain character and natural resources by providing active coordination for community development issues.
Read more about the DSAA's Vision and past projects
Events, Government, Local Info, Meetings, News 2 comments

Re-zoning Soda Springs; a meeting for Soda Springs property owners

By on January 18th, 2012

Donner Summit Area Association (DSAA) invites you to a meeting to discuss the various options for a zoning change for the properties along Old Highway 40 between the I-80 Interchange and the “Blinking Light” in Soda Springs. 

 The current zoning for that stretch of road is “Commercial Highway” (CH), a vestige of the time when Highway 40 was the main east-west access road over Donner Summit.  A couple of projects have been proposed for the area but had to be scrapped because the CH zoning does not permit many uses, such as office space or community meeting facilities.  Some of the businesses currently in operation are not really permitted under this zoning, as the County Planning Department could not issue a use permit for them.

 To resolve these concerns, DSAA proposes to apply to Nevada County (with the strong support of 5th District Supervisor, Ted Owens) for a rezoning of the corridor, based on the willingness and preference of the individual property owners.  The first opportunity for you to discuss the various zoning designations and the pros and cons of each, will be at the meeting on January 19.

Re-zoning Soda Springs
Thursday, January 19th
6:00 p.m.
Coldstream Room, Judah Lodge, Sugar Bowl

Jobs, Local Info, News No comments yet

Donner Summit Representative Sought for TMA Board Seat

By on January 18th, 2012

The Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association Board of Directors is accepting letters of interest to fill a vacancy to represent the Donner Summit on our Board.  Applicants must be residents of the Donner Summit area or represent a business located on the Summit.

Preferred Qualifications include current employment or involvement in the transportation field, knowledge of regional and local transportation issues and commitment to the TNT/TMA’s goal of improving air and water quality and economic stability through development of transportation resources and increased mobility by all modes of transportation.

Board Members are required to attend monthly Board of Directors meetings, held the first Thursday of each month, typically at Granlibakken Resort andConferenceCenterinTahoeCity, 8:00 a.m., and they are encouraged to become involved in transportation-related issues and solutions; working with the TMA Staff.  Help us make things happen!

Founded in 1990, the TNT-TMA is a public-private non-profit organization dedicated to developing innovative transportation and air quality solutions in the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee Resort Triangle. Its Board of Directors consists of business and citizen representatives from North Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Incline Village and government representatives from counties and regional transportation planning agencies with responsibilities in the North Lake Tahoe Truckee “Resort Triangle.”

Letters of interest should be mailed to TNT/TMA Board, Attention: Jan Colyer, Executive Director, P.O. Box 2566 Kings Beach, CA. 96145 or faxed to 530-546-3531,  or mailed to tnttma@sbcglobal.net later than Feburay 23, 2012 for consideration at the March 1st Board of Directors meeting. For more information contact Jan Colyer at 530-546-2912 or tnttma@sbcglobal.net.

Meetings, Utilities No comments yet

DSPUD rate increases, SLCWD assessment district

By on January 14th, 2012

SLCWD has applied for funding for its portion of the sewer expansion project from the US Department of Agriculture.  Ballots for the formation of an assessment district have been counted, with 85% voting to pass the assessment district.

The DSPUD held a Prop 218 hearing on December 6 to consider an increase in the District’s sewer rates for rate payers outside of the recently formed community Facilities District (CFD).  A CFD is a financing mechanism which allows project costs to be collected through property taxes instead of rates.  The Prop 218 vote passed with two rate payers opposed; rate increases will begin January 2012.  DSPUD is working to secure financing through the State Revolving Fund while rates are low.

The Reason for the DSPUD Rate Increase:

In 2009, the State of California issued a new waste discharge permit to the District with more stringent requirements which required significant plant upgrades. The State mandated that the District come into compliance by April, 2014.

For the past two and a half years, the District has worked with engineers on a wastewater upgrade and expansion project that will assure that the wastewater treatment plant meets the 2014 compliance deadline. 

Rates Inside and Outside of the CFD

Earlier this year the District established Community Facilities District (CFD) No. 1 in order to fund its State mandated Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade and Espansion Project.  Three Improvement Areas were created inside CFD No. 1.  Property owners, rate payers and registered votes were asked to vote on the CFD.  Areas #1 and #3 voted in favor of the CFD, (a 2/3 yes vote of ballots returned is necessary for approval) and will have their share of the Project collected through their property tax bill, making the special tax eligible for a tax write-off.  These voters are considered inside CFD No. 1.  However, voters inside Improvement Area #2 voted against the CFD and will have to pay for their share of the Project through sewer rates.  They are considered outside CFD No. 1.

CALCULATED DSPUD WASTEWATER RATES AND CONNECTION FEES THROUGH 2016
  Calculated Rates
Rates by Customer Current 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
  Effective Date: 1/1/2012 7/1/2012 7/1/2013 7/1/2014 7/1/2015
Existing Customers Charge per EDU per Month
Inside CFD No. 1 $110.32 $110.32 $110.32 $114.83 $116.24 $117.58
Outside CFD No. 1 $110.32 $127.03 $143.06 $164.28 $165.69 $167.02
             
Future Customers            
Inside CFD No. 1 $45.72 $45.72 $46.12 $47.99 $48.58 $49.13
Outside CFD No. 1 $45.72 $62.43 $78.86 $97.44 $98.02 $98.58
             
Connection Fee: $1,070 prior to 4/1/2012    
Outside CFD No. 1 Only $1,772 4/2012 – 6/2012    
  $2,362 7/2012 – 6/2013    
  $3,542 7/2013 – 6/2014    
  $5,312 7/2014 – 6/2015    
  $7,672 7/2015 – 6/2016    
Transportation No comments yet

2012 Public Bus

By on January 10th, 2012

Click on the map below to find the current public bus schedule:

News No comments yet

Thanks to our end-of-year donors

By on December 31st, 2011

Our sincere thanks go out to those who have included Donner Summit Area Association in their end-of-year giving.  We are very grateful for the support that will help us serve the people and the land of Donner Summit.  However, we are still short of our year-end fundraising goal. 

If you have not yet made a donation, we hope you will consider DSAA as we head into 2012.  Donations are accepted by mail and through the Paypal link on our website.

2012 will be another busy year for Donner Summit.  We can expect a lot of discussion about Donner Summit’s future with a potential sale of the Royal Gorge property and new developments proposed in Soda Springs.  Households and businesses in Soda Springs, Norden, Sugar Bowl, Donner Ski Ranch, Boreal, Auburn Ski Club and Serene Lakes will begin paying for the wastewater expansion project, expected to break ground in 2012.  Please help DSAA keep bringing information to the community by making a donation by mail (PO Box 674, Soda Springs 95728) or through the Donate button on our website.  Please check in on our website at www.DonnerSummitAreaAssociation.org and our Facebook page for regular news and updates about the area.

Events, Safety No comments yet

CPR/AED Class at Soda Springs Fire Station

By on December 17th, 2011

Next month the Soda Springs Fire Station will be hosting an AHA Heartsaver CPR/AED class:

Thursday, January 12, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Soda Springs Fire Station, Sherritt Lane
Register by contacting TFPD offices, station 91 @ 530 582-7850, M-F, 8am-5pm
  • Providing both initial certification and renewal. (minimum age 16)
  • Cost $30, includes card, textbook and “barrier’ device
Development, Events, Government, Local Info, Meetings No comments yet

Placer County Planning Commission to Review Sierra Sun Villas Project

By on December 6th, 2011

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Planning Commission Chambers

 3091 County Center Drive, DeWitt Center (Bell Rd. & Richardson Dr.), Auburn, CA  95603

10:00 a.m.

A condominium project is being proposed for the area across from the Sugar Bowl gondola.  The Donner Summit MAC took its first action with a motion to tentatively support his project pending any major changes to the EIR or objections by Sugar Bowl.

The Planning Commission will consider a request from Valen & Linda Brost for a General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation from Agriculture/Timberland combining 80 acre minimum to Tourist Resort, a Rezone from RES (Resort) to RES PD 10.2 (Resort, Planned Residential Development of, 10.2 units per acre) and a Tentative Subdivision Map and Conditional Use Permit for a proposed 12-unit, 3-story condominium development. The applicant also requests approval of the use of a temporary sales trailer for the subdivision. The Planning Commission will also consider adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed project.  The project is located on the north side of Donner Pass Road,  approximately 2.7 miles east of Interstate 80, across from the Sugar Bowl gondola.

County Staff:

Planning: Gerry Haas (530) 745-3084

Engineering and Surveying: Rebecca Taber (530) 745-3110

Environmental Health: Justin Hansen (530) 745-2300

 

Events, Jobs No comments yet

Clear Capital Hosting a Career Fair in Truckee

By on November 15th, 2011

Thursday, Nov. 17th, 4:00pm – 7:00pm

Full Belly Deli (10825 Pioneer Trail, 530.550.9516)

ClearCapital.com/Jobs

 Working a full-time job doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the Tahoe lifestyle. Clear Capital’s Truckee office is open 7 days a week, allowing flexible work schedules so you can get out and play on the mountain.  Add competitive pay, health benefits, 401(k) and amazing people and you can’t go wrong.  Now hiring for several Operational Support positions.

Events, Uncategorized No comments yet

Donner Trail School’s Annual Thanksgiving Fundraiser

By on November 7th, 2011

DONNER TRAIL SCHOOL THANKSGIVING DINNER

Friday, November 11th, 5:30 p.m.

Mt. Judah Lodge, Sugar Bowl

Advance tickets available at The Summit Restaurant and the Soda Springs General Store
$12 adults  $5 child

Ticket sales, raffle and auction proceeds go to the Donner Trail Parent Teacher Organization, a nonprofit organization that provides playground equipment, science, art, music and much more to the students of Donner Trail School.

Utilities No comments yet

PG&E Plans Interrupted Service

By on November 7th, 2011

PG&E will be temporarily interrupting electric service to the Soda Springs area in order to install new overhead equipment on electrical facilities on Thursday, November 10th from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Questions and concerns should be directed to NICOLE RUBIO, 800-225-8429.  You can also reach PG&E at their 24-hour customer service number: 800-743-5000.