The Incline Village General Improvement District is considering a proposal that would allow the district to move from its current space and into the building currently occupied by the nonprofit Parasol Foundation.

“We have an immediate need to replace our replace our administrative facility,” said IVGID General Manger Steve Pinkerton. “We’ve been planning on that since about 1999.”

Under the proposal, IVGID would relocate from its current space at 893 Southwood Blvd., into the Donald W. Reynolds Community Non-Profit Center at 948 Incline Way.

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Currently, IVGID leases the land that the center is built on to a nonprofit called the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation. The foundation built the center, also known locally as the “Parasol Building” and “DWR Center.” There are 11 other nonprofit organizations currently occupying office space in the building.

“This proposal is plainly outside of IVGID’s charter to provide water, sewer, trash and recreation services for the communities of Incline Village and Crystal Bay. This proposal means that IVGID would assume all of the PTCF’s (Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation) responsibilities to the D.W. Reynolds Foundation, including responsibilities for the management of the center’s 11 resident nonprofits and their office space … But really folks, why can’t IVGID just rent office space?”Karen HorvokaIncline Village Resident

Under the proposal, brought forth by the Parasol Foundation, IVGID would take over maintaining the building and would also move into the structure. The foundation would remain in the building as a tenant.

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According to its website, the Parasol Foundation supports the local community by partnering with donors to make their giving more meaningful. Last year, they awarded grants to a large number of recipients, including Incline High School and Middle School, the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, and IVGID.

They built the DWR Center with a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and under that agreement the Parasol Foundation is required to keep its offices in the building and continue to provide space to local tax exempt organizations.

“Parasol has made it clear to us that they are proposing this modification, they are not mandating this, but they believe it is something that’ll be in everyone’s interest,” Pinkerton said. “Should we decide not to move forward with this, they will continue their operations.”

IVGID has been considering relocating its administrative offices for sometime, according to documents and Pinkerton himself.

He said that the building IVGID’s offices are currently located in is outdated, and that the district is limited in the programming and recreation activities they can offer. Moving the administrative building near the recreation center would, he said, provide and opportunity to offer more programs.

The current IVGID building is not compliant with the American with Disabilities Act, has high levels of radon, and portions of the building were built with asbestos, according to district documents.

Pinkerton said that if IVGID moved into Parasol’s building, and took it over, they would likely sell the former administrative building.

Following a presentation of the lease proposal at the May 10 IVGID Board of Trustees meeting, Incline Village resident Judy Miller said during public comment that she doesn’t believe that the district even has the authority to operate a nonprofit center.

At the same meeting, Incline Village resident Karen Horvoka said “This proposal is plainly outside of IVGID’s charter to provide water, sewer, trash and recreation services for the communities of Incline Village and Crystal Bay.

“This proposal means that IVGID would assume all of the PTCF’s (Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation) responsibilities to the D.W. Reynolds Foundation, including responsibilities for the management of the center’s 11 resident nonprofits and their office space … But really folks, why can’t IVGID just rent office space?”

In a later interview with the Sierra Sun, Pinkerton disagreed and said the district does have the legal authority to take over the building and the responsibilities outlined in the proposal, and that renting would not make sense for their operation.

“Typically as a government agency when you’re going to be around for 30-40 years, the numbers don’t work out for renting,” Pinkerton said. “There aren’t buildings around here big enough for us and we have a lot of sensitive information so we usually like to have a building we’re in control of for our computer systems and all of our data.”

He said that district staff is planning on providing their board with a financial analysis of several options, possibly by their June 12 meeting.

Amanda Rhoades is a news, environment and business reporter for the Sierra Sun. She can be reached at arhoades@sierrasun.com or 530-550-2653. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @akrhoades.