TRPA renews search for executive director

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Lake Tahoe Basin's bistate planning authority, will renew its search for a leader.

The TRPA is having to revisit the selection process for the executive director position after the governing board's two top choices decided they didn't want the job.

Greg James, director for the water department in Inyo County, Calif., surfaced as the top candidate in a pool of more than 100 applicants that tried for the position, but turned down the agency's $100,000 offer. Two weeks later, Pamela Wilcox, Nevada State lands director and No. 2 pick of the governing board, announced she was out of the running.

Both said personal matters wouldn't allow them to take the position.

A third finalist, Bill Allayaud, Salt Lake City's principal planner, is the only candidate left in the top three picks.

The TRPA began searching for an executive director in January when Jim Baetge, TRPA's leader for five years, resigned for health reasons.

Acting executive director Jerry Wells will be leave Friday for a new position in Eugene, Ore.

Larry Sevison, the governing board's chairman, said he's confident that TRPA's staff will get the job done until a new leader is hired.

"The senior managers at TRPA have many years of experience in carrying out the duties of the agency as prioritized by the Governing Board and staff in the annual work program," he said. "Those priorities include facilitating the funding and implementation of the Environmental Improvement Program, streamlining the permitting process in cooperation with the local governments, and continuing to build consensus with our many partners in the Lake Tahoe community. I am confident our staff will continue to get the job done during this transitional period."

The 14-member governing board will examine its options in hiring an executive director Wednesday at its board meeting at the North Tahoe Conference Center, 8318 North Lake Blvd. in Kings Beach, Calif. The board will also appoint an acting director for the agency while it continues looking for a permanent leader. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.