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IVGID GM’s Corner: Free Beach Shuttle is back for the 2016 summer

Steve Pinkerton
GM’s Corner
The Red, White and Tahoe Blue fireworks this year will take place the evening of Monday, July 4.
Courtesy Jen Schmidt |

Beginning this Saturday, the Free Beach Shuttle will operate from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through August 14. It will also operate on Monday, July 4.

By the way, the Beach Shuttle will be operating extended hours on Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4. The last Shuttle will be leaving Incline Beach at 10:30 p.m. both days.

The Shuttle pickup/drop off locations include the parking lot across from the Big Water Grille, Incline High School, Umpqua Bank in the Raley’s Shopping Center, Burnt Cedar Beach and Incline Beach.



There is plenty of room in the shuttle for your beach chairs and coolers. And given the limited parking at our beaches, it is a great way for Picture Pass holders with beach access and their guests to get door to gate service to our beaches.

“This year, we expect about 11,000 visits to our beaches on the 4th of July and around 20,000 for the holiday weekend.”

For more information, you can call 775-832-1310 or visit this link on our website: bit.ly/28R0RiP.



Now let’s talk about the 4th of July as the holiday weekend is only eight days away! And as always, there will be plenty going on in our community.

Local nonprofit Red, White and Tahoe Blue has put together an impressive plan to celebrate Independence Day. Now in its 10th year, RWTB has activities planned from Friday the 1st through Monday the 4th.

Just go to redwhitetahoeblue.org for a full listing of all 45+ events they are providing for the community.

I would also recommend you visit IVGID’s 4th of July web page as well: bit.ly/28PASe0.

We’ve instituted a number of policies to ensure that beach access is as customer-centric as possible during the holiday weekend.

On the 4th, in order to expedite beach entry, we are not allowing cash or credit card transactions at our gates. For other forms of payment, you can purchase wristbands at the Recreation Center or Aspen Grove on July 4

We will also be instituting holiday pricing for transactions on July 1-4. Daily Beach Access Tickets purchased in advance of the holiday weekend are available at our regular prices.

And as always, just a reminder that all Incline Village Beaches are restricted to valid IVGID Beach Access Pictures Pass holders and their guests only.

This year, we expect about 11,000 visits to our beaches on the 4th of July and around 20,000 for the holiday weekend.

Total beach visits last year were just under 168,000 (May through September). A little over 58 percent of the visits were by Picture Pass holders.

This percentage has been in a fairly tight range since we started consistently tracking Picture Pass holder versus guest visits in 2007.

Overall visits have increased a bit since 2007, although total visits are highly influenced by three key factors: weather conditions at Memorial Day and Labor Day, our opening and closing date and whether or not 4th of July borders or falls on a weekend.

Adjusting for these factors, there has been little change in beach visits during the reporting period.

A number of folks have looked at the numbers prior to 2007 and expressed concern that our guest visits increased markedly after 2006.

After reviewing the data and checking with staff, it is apparent that guest visits were not recorded in the same manner prior to 2007.

Thus, the spike in reported guest visits starting in 2007 is likely due to a change in the way punch cards were recorded and not due to a sudden increase in guest visits.

I realize that beach access is likely the most sensitive issue we deal with at IVGID. A day doesn’t go by without a resident reminding me that restricted beach access was a key element in their decision to purchase a home here.

We take this responsibility very seriously and have developed extensive policies to make sure that beach access is consistent with our deed restrictions and with our implementing document — Ordinance 7.

Speaking of Ordinance 7, its review is on our task list for the upcoming budget year. As many of you know, we had a rather spirited discussion regarding Ordinance 7 back in 2014. I expect a follow up discussion to ensue sometime during the next twelve months.

And just a quick reminder that beach access is just one part of Ordinance 7. It also addresses overall policies for Picture Passes and punch cards at all of our recreation venues. You can review the ordinance at this link: bit.ly/28QggRa.

I can assure you that I will use this column space to keep our stakeholders informed of any future dialogue on the subject.

Hope to see you on the Beach Shuttle this summer!

“GM’s Corner” is a recurring column from Incline Village General Improvement Distinct General Manager Steve Pinkerton, who will discuss issues and offer updates regarding various district matters. He may be reached for comment at steve_pinkerton@ivgid.org.


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