BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA
TUESDAY 10:00 A.M. MAY 27, 2025
PRESENT:
Alexis Hill, Chair Jeanne Herman, Vice Chair Michael Clark, Commissioner Mariluz Garcia, Commissioner Clara Andriola, Commissioner
Janis Galassini, County Clerk Eric Brown, County Manager
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners convened at 10:00 a.m. in regular session in the Commission Chambers of the Washoe County Administration Complex, 1001 East Ninth Street, Reno, Nevada. Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our Country, County Clerk Jan Galassini called roll and the Board conducted the following business:
25-0330 AGENDA ITEM 3 Public Comment.
Mr. Terry Brooks read an original poem regarding the issues of homelessness, job insecurity, and pollution.
Mr. Bill Miller introduced himself and displayed a document, a copy of which was placed on file with the Clerk. He greeted the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), County staff, and his fellow local residents. He recited from the document he submitted. He noted that he was happy to have returned from a long absence caused by distractions from an election the previous year and increased proposals for data centers in 2025. He acknowledged and thanked the Board for accepting the County’s Sustainability Plan created by Sustainability Manager Brian Beffort and FUSE Corps Executive Fellow Emily Stapleton. He opined that approving the plan was courageous. He emphasized that many individuals realized and appreciated that there was a political risk to vote in favor of plans that did not produce immediate results or anything measurable for several years. He thanked the Board for supporting the plan despite his acknowledgement that promising to improve people’s lives after five years was not a compelling campaign argument. He opined that data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) presented a new challenge and a future that many did not anticipate. He stated that just two years prior, most people considered data centers and AI obscure concepts. He noted that the governing boards of major technology companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, and Tesla were not unfamiliar with those ideas and quietly worked outside of public view to plan and implement them, despite the high energy and water consumption rates they caused. He reported that while he and others were comparing products with Energy Star certifications,
those technology companies purchased square miles of land in Nevada to construct data centers that consumed more electricity and nearly as much water as small cities. He remarked that those companies would only employ perhaps a dozen individuals in return for their high energy and water consumption while demanding onerous tax abatements despite offering the State almost nothing in exchange. He stated that the residents of Nevada were in a battle for their survival that began without warning, as he believed that the onslaught of data centers could conceivably consume all of the State’s scarce resources and drive locals out of the area. He explained that, according to an article within the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) publication, MIT Technology Review, the proposed and approved data centers at that time would increase Northern Nevada’s power grid by 40 percent and consume billions of gallons of water every year, with many more data centers expected in the future. He opined that the technology companies had efficiently utilized the advantage of surprise and a disjointed political system. He stated that the only advantage the residents of Nevada had was that they had no options aside from choosing to work together or fall together. He opined that for local residents to succeed, they must be unified, creative, passionate, and committed. He noted that residents and technology companies could only coexist if the people were put first, though he believed that locals were considered an afterthought. He thanked the Board for their foresight and asked that they extend that farsightedness to managing the existential threat data centers presented to Nevada's beautiful way of life.
Mr. Lee Pearson introduced himself and displayed documents. No copies were submitted for the public record. He explained that he lived in the Horizon Hill subdivision. He noted that people were attempting to rezone a proposed site called the Seneca Hills Business Park from a residential zone to what he speculated was a primarily industrial zone, as noted in the handbook for the district plan. He explained that the Seneca Hills Business Park claimed to have a sanitary sewer report based on another report he displayed with his documentation. He speculated that the Seneca Hills Business Park wanted to tap into the Horizon Hill residential sewer system, as the business park’s sewer report took place a mile and a half from their location. He wanted to know if someone could look into the matter further, and described that he had lived in the Horizon Hill subdivision for the previous 20 years. He noted that he was unsure if the residential sewer system could handle the demand from the proposed business park or how the Board would determine who would be best suited to investigate the sewer system’s capabilities. He emphasized that he wanted to request help to find answers for his concerns and learn who would be physically investigating the ground at the site to determine whether shared use of the residential sewer system would work. He acknowledged that the plan to utilize the residential sewer system might look very good on paper, as an individual could go on their computer, study a map of the area, and note the measurements to assume that the system could guarantee high water usage per minute. He disagreed with that assertion and reported that the Horizon Hill subdivision’s residential sewer system was originally constructed in 1964 as an open pit. He described the system in further detail, including details regarding a manhole cover over the sewer system and disconnected pipes that dropped sewer waste from the homes in the subdivision. He explained that the waste would fall into the system via disconnected pipes, be taken out across Virginia Street through an open pipe, and be disposed of. He reiterated his belief that the business park wanted to facilitate their project
site with the residential sewer system. He requested to be advised on moving forward or to connect with someone who could visit the site and conduct a feasibility study for the shared use of the residential sewer system. He concluded his comment by thanking the Board.
Chair Hill thanked Mr. Pearson and explained that staff would contact him to answer his questions. Mr. Pearson thanked her. Chair Hill asked that the Board also be included in that process.
Mr. DeAndre Burleson introduced himself and displayed several documents. No copies were submitted for the public record. He explained that the first document he displayed outlined his active court case with the Reno Municipal Court (RMC). He showed additional related documents, such as his standard case summary. He noted that he received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that were effective until March. He opined that those benefits did not mean much due to their value of $25. He explained that he was eligible to receive Nevada Medicaid insurance. He recounted his recent visit to Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH), where he was denied service for a COVID-19 (C19) immunization and standard sexually transmitted infection (STI) and sexually transmitted disease (STD) evaluation due to a discrepancy in his insurance benefits. He emphasized that as a result, he had been unable to see a doctor. He expressed his desire to address those issues and continue updating the Board on such developments. He displayed the appointment cards associated with that NNPH visit and his insurance. He reported that he received WellCare, which he expressed excitement about. He described working with the Reno Housing Authority (RHA) to reinstate his housing with a case manager and an ongoing court case. He reiterated that he had medical coverage, SNAP benefits, and an active court case with the RMC.
Chair Hill thanked Mr. Burleson and asked whether he had since received his C19 immunization. He responded that he did not receive that treatment, as the NNPH employee told him there were issues with his medical benefits from insurance providers such as Humana and Aetna. Mr. Burleson supposed that the benefit discrepancy resulted from calling several phone numbers advertised by Medicare insurance plan providers on television commercials.
Chair Hill asked if Mr. Burleson had connected with his Washoe County case worker, and suggested they could help him address those issues. Mr. Burleson reported that the caseworker had not called him, and he was still waiting to receive a Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) bus pass from them. Chair Hill hoped that the Board could have that staff member reach out to Mr. Burleson again, as they wanted to ensure he could receive his C19 vaccination. Chair Hill thanked Mr. Burleson.
25-0331 AGENDA ITEM 4 Announcements/Reports.
Commissioner Garcia mentioned that she recently attended a ribbon-cutting for the first CrossRoad Families program. She said that the program was an addition to the existing men’s, women’s, and children’s CrossRoad programs, and she felt the community should be proud. She added that Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality (RISE) had,
ironically, purchased the building with a $1 million grant from opioid litigation. She noted that the funds were used to purchase the property at 1050 West Second Street. She described it as a beautiful old brick building built in 1932, with many bedrooms and bathrooms, and thought it would be perfect for families entering recovery together. She thought that oftentimes the mother or father was separated from their children, and the facility would be the first to serve families together. She mentioned a two-part podcast that discussed the CrossRoad programs and encouraged the community to learn about them. She felt that amazing things were being done that put Washoe County on the map nationally, and she believed that should be regularly celebrated.
Chair Hill thanked Commissioner Garcia for her comments. She congratulated Commissioner Garcia on a successful Biketopia event.
Commissioner Andriola shared that the Tahoe Reno Regional Planning Agency was currently looking at planning and research for data centers in the region. She wondered if anyone had feedback, was interested in sharing information, or wanted to be a part of the process. She indicated that it was unclear when the process started, but shared that at the agency’s prior meeting, it was noted that the planning portion would proceed. Chair Hill thanked her for the update and clarified that it was the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency (TMRPA). Commissioner Andriola confirmed that TMRPA was correct. She pointed out that there were individuals who looked ahead for potential impacts on the community, not only directly, but regionally. She explained that she attended a national conference for water reuse, and there was a great deal of discussion about data centers. She thought it was great that best practices happened not only across the Nation, but also through studies and research. She noted that the goal was to create master plans and ensure that everyone adhered to them, which she thought was helpful information.
Commissioner Clark said that he recently had the opportunity to travel to Winnemucca. He mentioned that it was refreshing to see the large event that was held there. He stated that he met the mayor, spoke to the undersheriff, and had an enjoyable family experience. He encouraged residents who lived in Northern Nevada to explore Nevada. He explained that there were opportunities to vacation locally, attend festivals, camp, stay in hotels, and eat at restaurants to boost local economies. He said he enjoyed his time in Winnemucca.
25-0332 5A1 Presentation by the 2024-2025 Washoe County Leadership Academy (WCLA) participants on their class project, focusing on the earthquake preparedness. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
Community Outreach Coordinator Alexandra Wilson welcomed the 2025 Washoe County Leadership Academy (WCLA) graduates to present their 2025 community earthquake preparedness project.
Mr. Michael Feese, Mr. Charlie Nyguyen, Mr. Dawson Deal, Ms. Tiffany Kress, and Ms. Libbie DeHart conducted a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed slides
with the following titles: Shake Safe Washoe; Background & Need; Campaign Strategy; Research Committee; Develop Q&A to Engage Community; Main Categories for Questions; Written Communication Committee; Emergency Management Website Refinement; Creation of Link Directory; PSA Billboard Concept; PSA Billboard Concept Examples; Events Committee; “Shake Up Washoe” Hockey Night; Thank You To Our Partners; Next Steps; Production & Social Media Committee; “Shake Up Washoe’ Event Social Media; Earthquake Preparedness Social Media Package; Earthquake Awareness Video Shorts; Shake Safe Washoe.
Ms. DeHart read from the Background & Need slide and mentioned that the region was very seismically active, with 30 faults that could cause damage. She indicated that the WCLA created Shake Safe Washoe and recited the Campaign Strategy slide regarding key messages, target audience, and the campaign's strategy. She explained that the four committees involved in Shake Safe Washoe focused on research, written communication, events, and production.
Mr. Feese indicated that he was part of the Research Committee that answered questions from other committees, created questions for a trivia night, and engaged on social media. He read from the Main Categories for Questions slide regarding the four categories of earthquake-related questions presented to the community.
Mr. Deal mentioned that he was the lead for the Written Communications Committee that focused on improving information accessibility on the Emergency Management (EM) website. He read the proposed areas of improvement on the Emergency Management Website Refinement slide and explained that the EM website had many pages of important information but was long and lacked visual hierarchy. He noted that link trees were accessible, and he further detailed the home page proposed additions and reorganization on the Creation of Link Directory slide. He indicated that the Written Communications Committee organized a public service announcement (PSA) billboard concept that would ask residents if they were prepared for an emergency. He discussed the purpose and placement of the billboard proposal on the PSA Billboard Concept slide. He explained that a billboard space was donated by Lamar Advertising Company and referenced the examples on the PSA Billboard Concept Examples slide. He said that the link displayed on the slide was a proposed vanity domain. He hoped the striking backdrop and image of a family’s destroyed home due to an earthquake would encourage residents to prepare for an emergency.
Ms. Kress said that Mr. Deal and the Written Communications Committee did a great job clarifying information and creating accessible formatting. She reported that the Events Committee partnered with the Nevada Seismology Laboratory and the Reno Ice Raiders for a Shake Up Washoe Hockey Night. She noted that there was an event table with information regarding earthquake preparation and a go bag raffle. She mentioned that the Nevada Seismology Laboratory organized a seismic activity on the ice rink with the goal of fun education. She explained that school-aged individuals were taught to shelter in a doorway during earthquakes. She believed that partnerships needed to continue with the Nevada Seismology Lab and other sporting teams to continue earthquake awareness. She
hoped a collaboration with the Reno Aces could occur to measure seismic activity at a Reno Aces home game. She indicated that a three-dimensional (3D) shake table demonstration was held at the Reno Ice Raiders event to display what occurred when items were not secured in a home during an earthquake. She believed that it would be beneficial to have shake tables at libraries and schools for better education on earthquake preparedness.
Mr. Nyguyen explained that he was the head of the Production and Social Media Committee that assisted in the creation of a PSA series which focused on earthquake safety and preparedness. He said the committee started by writing scripts and storyboards to break down the essential safety information in short and accessible formats and that each PSA covered topics such as how to prepare the home, what to do during an earthquake, and where to find reliable updates. He noted that the final product was eight short-form videos that could be shared during preparedness weeks, on social media, or during real- time disaster recovery.
Ms. DeHart referred to the Earthquake Preparedness Social Media Package slide and said social media content should be ready to publish if an event occurred. She indicated that the package created was gifted to the County to provide to the public. She reported that the quick response (QR) code on the Shake Safe Washoe slide allowed individuals to research what the WCLA created. She hoped to see the project move forward with the committee's suggestions and said the goal was to provide earthquake information to the community.
Chair Hill applauded the WCLA for donating their time and passion to the County. She mentioned that the WCLA worked on projects outside of their personal and work lives to commit to a better government. She wished to hear from each graduate about what they learned from the academy.
Mr. Feese recalled that it was rewarding to visit the County staff who were passionate about their jobs. He was impressed by the breadth of work the County provided. He believed that the County did a lot and was a part of many aspects of residents' lives without asking for a thank you.
Ms. Kress noted that she did not realize the number of compassionate programs the County had. She felt that the different facilities for homelessness and drug abuse to better the community were incredible. She said that she witnessed the other side of government involving compassionate support programs.
Ms. DeHart indicated that a forgotten element of government was the connections and networking available. She mentioned that she moved to Reno eight years ago and worked from home. She explained that her father was a former WCLA graduate, which inspired her to find ways to contribute to the community through the program. She noted that she learned about organizations she had never heard of and made friends through the program. She commented that she was grateful for everything she learned from the WCLA.
Mr. Deal mentioned that he was a recent political science graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and that he had interned with a Senator. He explained that he wanted to serve his community and become an elected official in the future. He noted that the WCLA provided him with excitement because he was able to witness the County’s progress and programs. He thought it was neat to see the different services provided by the County, such as water filtration and the Medical Examiner’s (ME) Office, which he would not have known about without the WCLA. He believed that there was more progress to make in the community in critical areas such as mental health. He said that the WCLA was inspiring, and he hoped to take everything he learned to his future career endeavors. He felt that educating constituents about local government operations was a quality investment. He recalled that the WCLA graduates provided feedback to the organizing staff and hoped that the WCLA continued to improve and grow every year. He appreciated the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), County Manager Eric Brown, and the support staff for creating the program.
Mr. Nyguyen explained that he graduated from the Youth Leadership Long Beach Academy 30 years ago and the Leadership Long Beach Academy 10 years ago. He said that he was a Burning Man representative for the last 20 years and that Reno was his home. He mentioned that the WCLA provided him with ways to give back. He appreciated the time and efforts of the County and thought that the staff provided a lot with so little.
Commissioner Garcia believed there were other WCLA graduates in attendance and announced that they were welcome to speak. She explained that WCLA graduates stood out to her when reviewing applicants for boards and commissions because they had received thorough and comprehensive onboarding. She recalled that she attended a conference the previous week that had a preparedness slide that she felt was important to highlight due to the region's emergency events. She believed that conferences should provide educational slides regarding safe evacuations. She thought that the billboard proposal was an important reminder for adults.
Ms. Beck Marko said that she enjoyed meeting everyone through the WCLA. She indicated that the graduates were cohesive by providing something different to the team. She noted that the Clifton Strengths activity was beneficial for her understanding of her own leadership style while working with others. She enjoyed being taught how to work together in a leadership capacity and appreciated the WCLA’s positivity. She thanked the BCC and said that the WCLA was a rewarding program.
Ms. Heather Bolen indicated that she had lived in the area for over ten years and never knew what the County did. She explained that she was not a politically informed individual and did not have political aspirations. She noted that she managed a senior housing complex in the community for Volunteers of America (VOA) and witnessed many aftereffects from the County’s services. She mentioned that she went home every day excited from the information learned and that she shared her experiences with everyone she knew. She hoped the County would continue the WCLA because it distributed important information.
Mr. Leo Horishny reported that he was a former WCLA graduate and that he heard about the program through his own concerns with illegal dumping. He explained that he learned a lot from the WCLA to make the community better and that there were opportunities to give back by participating.
Commissioner Andriola apologized for not being able to attend the graduation and congratulated the WCLA. She noted that the Great Nevada Shake Out would occur on October 16 and thanked the WCLA for focusing on earthquakes and sharing concerns with the community. She believed that the graduates were advocates for the County and that the County performed a breadth of services that people frequently asked about. She mentioned that the tools and resources provided were great and thought that the graduates should be commended for their service. She indicated that disasters did not discriminate, and preparedness was essential to understand before an event occurred. She told the community to stay informed, make a plan, and build a kit. She hoped the graduates could attend the Spanish Springs Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) meeting because building an emergency kit would be discussed.
Commissioner Clark congratulated the graduates and appreciated their
report.
Chair Hill thanked the graduates for taking the time to work with the County and looked forward to seeing them in the future.
25-0333 5B1 Presentation by Dr. Laura Knight regarding an update on the current status of the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, innovative and collaborative programs in the office, and a summary of key data over the past several years regarding deaths in Washoe County. Manager's. (All Commission Districts.)
Chief Medical Examiner Laura Knight conducted a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed slides with the following titles: Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office – Operational Update; Regional Center of Excellence in Death Investigation (2 slides); Most Valuable Resource Our 39 Employees; What We Do (3 slides); Annual Deaths Reported to WCRMEO; Death Investigator Scene Responses; Manner of Death – WCRMEO Accepted Cases; Washoe County Suicides; Washoe County Homicides; Washoe County Drug-Related Deaths; Grants & Revenue; Innovation, Efficiency, & Collaboration; Organ & Tissue Donation; Thank you.
Dr. Knight said that the WCRMEO aimed to be the regional center of excellence in death investigation. She reviewed the slide titled Regional Center of Excellence in Death Investigation and mentioned that the statutory jurisdiction was Washoe County, per Washoe County Code (WCC) and Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). She stated that the WCRMEO served 19 counties in Northern Nevada and California. She noted that smaller counties did not have the population to support having their own medical examiner's office. She believed that Washoe County provided a vital service in the region that generated approximately $1.6 million in annual revenue.
Dr. Knight reviewed the second slide, titled Regional Center of Excellence in Death Investigation, and said the fleet consisted of five scene response vehicles, including one of the County's first electric vehicles (EV). She explained that the fleet also included six mass fatality trailers of varying sizes and capabilities. She said the WCRMEO met industry benchmarks by completing and finalizing more than 90 percent of autopsy reports within 60 days or less. She stated that the WCRMEO would soon be nationally accredited. She noted that the office applied for national accreditation through the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). She added that the required documents had been submitted, and staff were waiting for the on-site inspection. She explained that the accreditation was a decade-long dream for the office, which was part of why the new building was needed.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Most Valuable Resource: Our 39 Employees and said that the employees made the workload possible. She noted that there were ten intermittent hourly death investigators, and 18 full-time medicolegal death investigators and autopsy technicians. She explained that the investigators and technicians traveled to death scenes and assisted with autopsies. She said those individuals included line investigators, lead, and supervisory positions. She stated that there was a small but mighty administrative staff of three, including transcriptionists who typed autopsy reports and managed death certificates. She noted that there was a grant-funded position for an applied forensic epidemiologist that they would begin the recruiting process for soon. She said the data specialist who input national violent death data into databases to help with prevention efforts had been with the WCRMEO for several years and was funded by federal grants. She stated that there was an indispensable operations manager, five medical examiners, three assistant medical examiners, a deputy chief, and herself as the chief medical examiner. She added that they were all licensed physicians who were board- certified forensic pathologists.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled What We Do and said that Washoe County provided continual death scene responses. She stated that staff made next-of-kin notifications per NRS. She explained that scientific identification was performed in people who could not otherwise be identified due to the state of their remains. She pointed out that the x-ray photograph on the slide was taken with a LODOX StatScan. She said the WCRMEO had a varied caseload and completed between 1,150 and 1,400 body examinations annually, with the majority being complete autopsies. She noted that the office operated independently of parallel investigations by law enforcement.
Dr. Knight reviewed the second slide titled What We Do and explained that the WCRMEO offered a vast amount of critical data for death prevention efforts, which was included in an annual report for the County and the region. She stated that there were additional specialized reports, such as a quarterly substance abuse report, which provided information to the Substance Abuse Task Force. She hoped more sophisticated data could be supplied once the forensic epidemiologist was hired. She said having additional capacity was exciting because analyzing data and providing those reports was not a statutory responsibility but was important for the community. She reviewed the third slide titled What We Do and mentioned that WCRMEO was responsible for preparing for mass fatality
events. She noted that staff conducted at least two exercises per year and ensured there were resources in place as a precaution.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Annual Deaths Reported to WCRMEO and said reported annual deaths grew rapidly over the years. She thought the increase was due to the surge in population as well as changes in the death investigation system. She explained that in 2007, the office became a Medical Examiner's Office instead of a Coroner's Office. She noted that there was a steep increase after the community was educated about what deaths should be reported. Caseload peaked in 2021 with the pandemic, due to the excess mortality from COVID-19 (C19). She mentioned there was some recovery in numbers since that time, but it had not decreased significantly, because of the drug epidemic.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Death Investigator Scene Responses and stated that it reflected the number of scenes that death investigators traveled to, investigated, and photographed. She noted that there was a significant increase over the years, but from 2023 to 2024, numbers decreased slightly, which was attributed to a slight decline in drug-related deaths.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Manner of Death – WCRMEO Accepted Cases and reviewed the manner of deaths over the last six years. She noted that in 2021, natural deaths peaked, which was a result of the pandemic. She thought what was more striking was the steady increase in accidental deaths up until 2023, which was directly related to the drug epidemic of mostly methamphetamine and fentanyl deaths. She stated there were modest increases in suicides and homicides.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Washoe County Suicides and said Washoe County and Nevada, in general, had a high number of suicides, with the most common method being firearms. She indicated that suicide was a preponderance of men over women, which was a Nationwide statistic. She noted that seniors accounted for more than a third of suicides and were overrepresented in Washoe County as well as the State. She moved to the slide titled Washoe County Homicides and stated that most homicides were male, the majority due to firearms. She said the age range slightly differed, and there were more adults in the middle span of their lives involved in homicides. She added that there were 47 homicides in 2024.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Washoe County Drug-Related Deaths and mentioned there was a slight decline from 360 deaths in 2023 to 283 in 2024. She explained that although there was a decrease, drug-related deaths were a significant problem. She explained that drug-related deaths were predominantly male, and the most common drug was methamphetamine, followed by fentanyl, and often the two were used together.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Grants & Revenue and said budgeted revenue steadily increased over the years. She said as costs increased, so did their fees to other counties, which increased revenue due to the interlocal agreements. She explained
that multiple grants were awarded throughout the years, as well as a partnership with Nevada Donor Network to use space for tissue procurement, which was part of the building design. She stated that the WCRMEO tried to be as self-supporting as possible. She noted the steep increase for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 was because of a large opioid response grant that would pay for the forensic epidemiologist, as well as various operating expenses and staff.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Innovation, Efficiency, & Collaboration and said the office's goals were innovation, efficiency, and collaboration, which allowed for a cost-effective operation. She explained that an example of innovation was the LODOX x-ray scanner, which saved one to two full-time employees (FTE) annually because of how quickly x-rays could be taken. She noted that the office initially received a refurbished unit, and soon after, it needed to be replaced. She mentioned that the scanner was added and replaced using grant funds. She said there was extensive collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), medical students, and medical examiners. She added that they did research with the UNR School of Medicine, as well as the Anthropology Department, and were excited about that academic connection, which allowed them to have a fellowship program to train future forensic pathologists and keep them in the State.
Dr. Knight reviewed the slide titled Organ & Tissue Donation and mentioned that the data spoke for itself and thought the WCRMEO made a difference in Nevada with organ and tissue donation. She was proud that they collaborated on 42 organ donation cases in 2024.
Chair Hill thanked her for the presentation and said she was inspired by the WCRMEO. She mentioned that WCRMEO Operations Manager, Justin Norton, gave her a tour a few years back, and she remembered seeing the staff who were passionate about their work. She noted how difficult and emotionally heart-wrenching that work could be and recalled seeing a staff member crying while transcribing. She hoped Dr. Knight would share her appreciation with the staff, so they felt seen by the Board. She acknowledged that the WCRMEO made a difference. She thanked Dr. Knight for being an inspiration. Dr. Knight appreciated the feedback and said she would share it with her team.
Vice Chair Herman thanked Dr. Knight and the staff for their hard work and echoed Chair Hill’s comments.
Commissioner Garcia said the presentation was excellent and the data was eye-opening. She felt Dr. Knight’s team and media interactions were great. She added that in her experience on the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), she had noticed how well Dr. Knight handled family and personal issues. She also acknowledged Mr. Norton’s involvement in those situations. She believed the WCRMEO saved lives. She asked what was offered for training and support for the FTE’s to keep them healthy and sound. She believed reading the headlines, being involved, and reliving it in the courtrooms was difficult.
Ms. Knight said the office had a nationally recognized, robust wellness program. She noted that staff had spoken at national conferences about wellness because it was a relatively new topic in the coroner and medical examiner’s world. She stated that for emergency situations, staff had access to a contracted counselor who helped them with critical incident stress management debriefs after particularly terrible incidents. She noted that those horrific incidents were where staff had a personal connection to the deceased and could empathize with them. She added it could also be someone in their family, or a first responder. She gave the example of the recent Care Flight crash. She said those incidents could be tough to deal with, so it was beneficial to have the extra support of a counselor. She mentioned that staff were exposed to baby deaths and suicides every day. She advised that the Legislature recently passed a statute that allowed funding from death certificate fees to be used for employee programs. She said the programs helped staff recognize the signs of burnout and trauma before it happened and understand how to deal with it, as well as do things that were refreshing for the soul. She mentioned that baby goat yoga was a staff favorite, a minimal cost, and a team-building exercise. She said the WCRMEO was aware of wellness issues because they wanted to retain employees and avoid burnout and turnover. She stated that burnout and turnover were seen during the pandemic, and the WCRMEO had learned from that.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Dr. Knight for leading a great organization. She recalled having toured the WCRMEO and noted that the staff were gracious, but she thought their jobs were difficult. She appreciated Dr. Knight’s response to Commissioner Garcia’s question because she had also asked about staff support during her tour. She congratulated Dr. Knight ahead of the anticipated accreditation. She wondered if grant funding was in jeopardy, as various federal funding changes had occurred.
Dr. Knight explained that she monitored funding closely because of the federal grants, but it appeared that executive orders had not impacted the grants in their realm. She explained that a consortium of forensic science organizations collaborated with the professional organization, and they received regular briefings and updates. She stated that the BCC would be the first to know if the WCRMEO were going to lose any grants and required action from the BCC.
Commissioner Andriola recalled a prior discussion and said she felt there were times when the WCRMEO brought families in, and compassion was needed for the hardest discussion one could ever have.
Dr. Knight stated that staff had the incredibly tough job of talking to people on the worst day of their lives when an individual found out their loved one had passed. She said they had a private room dedicated to families in the front lobby. She mentioned that in the old building, there was one room that was a combination of a conference room, a break room, and a room where staff met with families. She noted that families came to the office for various reasons, such as to pick up property from their loved one or to identify someone by looking at a photograph taken of their face. She felt those were the most challenging parts of the job, although staff may have different answers because they did
the job each day. She said it was tough when she spoke to family members to explain what happened to their child, or shared complicated autopsy findings. She noted that she had cried with families, which she believed was okay and was part of being human.
Commissioner Andriola thought some things that Dr. Knight spoke about were easily forgotten by the community but were a reality. She thanked Dr. Knight for caring about the mental health of the team.
Commissioner Clark thanked Dr. Knight and staff for the good work and the report. He thought they all did a great job and asked her to relay that message to her team.
Chair Hill looked forward to continuing to support the WCRMEO. She said the Board would continue to promote organ and tissue donation because she felt it was important.
25-0334 6A1 Recommendation to accept monetary donations from various donors in the amount of [$2,036.34] and from Petco Love in the amount of [$885.00] and donations of dog/cat food and treats from the SPCA with an estimated value of [$893.12], and recognize numerous citizens and businesses who donated animal food and various goods with an estimated value of [$2,763.95] to Washoe County Regional Animal Services (“WCRAS”) retroactive for the period of January 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025, to be used for the humane care and treatment of sick and/or injured, stray, abandoned, or at-risk animals; express appreciation for these thoughtful contributions; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Regional Animal Services. (All Commission Districts.)
Commissioner Garcia thanked Petco Love and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Northern Nevada for their donations.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 6A1 be accepted.
25-0335 7A1 Approval of minutes for the Board of County Commissioners' workshop of January 28, 2025. Clerk. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0336 7A2 Approval of minutes for the Board of County Commissioners' regular meetings of April 15, 2025, and April 22, 2025. Clerk. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0337 7B1 Recommendation to 1) approve roll change requests, pursuant to NRS 361.765 and/or NRS 361.768, for errors discovered on the 2021/2022 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 secured and unsecured tax rolls 2) authorize Chair to execute the changes described in Exhibits A and B and
3) direct the Washoe County Treasurer to correct the error(s). [cumulative amount of decrease to all taxing entities $155,899.23]. Assessor. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0338 7C1 Recommendation to: (1) approve the disbursement of bond liquidation proceeds [in the amount of $103,625.83] from Western Insurance Company which is the final disbursement received by Washoe County as part of a bond liquidation resulting from Washoe County Claim No. 400935 against Bond No. BDS30398, Halprine Road, Record of Survey Map 4843; and, (2) approve the accompanying Agreement and Release of All Claims between Washoe County and the property owners of Assessor Parcel Numbers 016- 881-01, 016-881-02, 016-881-03 and 016-881-04, releasing Washoe
County of any and all liability associated with the use of the bond liquidation proceeds to correct private roadway deficiencies that were the subject of the original Bond No. BDS30398; and (3) direct the Comptroller’s Office to issue a check to Sierra Stripers & Asphalt Paving Inc., [in an amount not to exceed $103,625.83] upon the completion of the work and with the written acceptance of the property owners. The private roadway is located in the Southeast Truckee Meadows and provides access to four (4) residential land parcels and is connected to Geiger Grade Road. Community Services. (Commission District 2.)
25-0339 7C2 Recommendation to accept a Quitclaim Deed from the City of Reno to transfer ownership of Assessor’s Parcel Number 086-303-18 located at 455 Pompe Way, in Lemmon Valley, to Washoe County ownership. This parcel is located in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood risk area and the property has been approved to be included as part of the approved FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (Program). There is no cost to Washoe County to accept the Quitclaim Deed for this property and any future costs associated with the FEMA Program will be identified and presented to the Board of County Commissioners for possible approval. Community Services. (Commission District 5.)
25-0340 7C3 Recommendation to approve an Employee Residence Agreement between Washoe County and Andrew Brown (Community Services Department, Operations Division employee) effective May 27, 2025, to allow occupancy within the County owned residence located at Bowers Mansion Regional Park, 4005 Old Highway US 395 N, Washoe Valley, Nevada, to provide caretaker and security services to the entire facility in lieu of monthly rent, an estimated rental value of $2,250 per month. [Required $500.00 security/cleaning deposit has been paid by employee]. Community Services. (Commission District 2.)
25-0341 7C4 Recommendation to approve the reappointments of Neal Jones and Kevin Joell for terms beginning July 1, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2029, for the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission. Community Services. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0342 7C5 Recommendation to reappoint, pursuant to NRS 278.040, Robert M. Flick to the Washoe County Planning Commission representing Unincorporated District 4, which generally includes portions of Sparks, Spanish Springs, Hidden Valley, and East Truckee Canyon areas, to serve a second full term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending on June 30, 2029, or until such time as Mr. Flick no longer serves on the Planning Commission or a successor is appointed, whichever occurs first. Eligible applicants include: Robert M. Flick and Randy Zachary. Community Services. (Commission District 4.)
25-0343 7C6 Recommendation to approve the reappointment of Leo Horishny to the Washoe County Board of Adjustment to represent Commission District 3 (the unincorporated County area of District 3 generally includes portions of Panther Valley south of Sagehen Lane and Sun Valley generally north of Dandini Boulevard, south of 7th Avenue and west of a boundary extending along Leon Drive to Wall Canyon Drive to Lupin Drive to Klondike Drive), to fill a term beginning on July 1, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2029, or until such time as Mr. Horishny no longer serves on the Board of Adjustment or a successor is appointed, whichever occurs first. Community Services. (Commission District 3.)
25-0344 7D1 Recommendation in accordance with NRS 244.1505, to approve Community Support grant award to: 1. Artown, a nonprofit corporation organized for charitable, religious, or educational purposes, in the amount of [$55,000], to support the month-long summer arts festival for two years, [$30,000] 2025 and [$25,000] 2026; approve Resolution 25-41 for the same; and 2. City of Reno, a government entity, Wildlife Protection Fence South, in the amount of [$20,000] to support the removal of exiting fence that is failing, installation of new Nevada 4-wire and NDOT 4-strand fence, installation of new NDOT and Type 2T cattle guards, and installation of pedestrian gates in south Reno. The project area is from Toll Road to just north of Geiger Grade Road; approve Resolution 25-42 for the same; direct Finance to make the budget disbursements. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0345 7D2 Staff recommends the Board approve a re-purpose of funding previously approved for the Senior Innovation’s mobile kitchen to the Senior Innovation’s ceiling, LED lighting, and stage for the auditorium; as well as a cross-fund budget appropriation transfer of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) in the total amount of [$93,000] for the Senior
Innovations Project, from Other Restricted - SLFRF COVID Recovery to the Capital Improvements Fund to be used for the above mentioned facility improvements to the Senior Center at 1155 E. 9th Street. (Net-zero impact, no additional funding is requested). And, if approved, direct Finance to make necessary net-zero, cross-fund, and/or cross-functional, budget appropriation transfers. Manager’s Office. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0346 7D3 Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners adopt the 2025 Washoe County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan is created under the authority of the Stafford Act, as updated by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and federal regulations (44 CFR § 201), which require communities to identify local hazards, assess risks, and develop strategies to reduce the impact of disasters. If adopted authorize the County Commission Chairman to execute a Resolution to promulgate the plan. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0347 7D4 Recommendation to accept a FFY 2018 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grant from the State of Nevada, Division of Emergency Management awarding [$4,800, $1,600 County match]. Twenty-five percent County match to be provided by in-kind personnel. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grant provides funding to assist states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. Grant term is retroactive from December 23, 2024, through January 27, 2026. If approved authorize the County Manager or his designee to sign the grant award documents when received; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Manager. (Commission District 1.)
25-0348 7D5 Recommendation to reappoint, per NRS 501.260, Steve Robinson and Ryan Browne to the Wildlife Sportsman positions, defined as individuals who are hunters, trappers, anglers, or are engaged in ranching or farming in the county, to the Washoe County Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife (WCABMW), with terms beginning June 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2028. Manager's Office. (All Commission Districts.)
On the call for public comment, Mr. Neil Jones thanked the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for listening to him speak. He stated that he was currently a board member for the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission (WCOSRPC) and was seeking reappointment. He explained that two years ago, he was humbled and honored that the BCC voted him onto the WCOSRPC. He said he took his position very seriously and was the current chair of that board. He noted that he had a passion for parks, which began during his childhood and continued to adulthood and then to his retirement years. He said that after his first retirement, he worked for California State Parks for six and a half years as a land surveyor. He added that he was in private practice until his recent second retirement. He explained that as chair of the WCOSRPC, he had a vision to direct the Parks Department into a financially sustainable position for the
foreseeable future. He thought the BCC might have wondered how he would accomplish that. He displayed a document. No copy was submitted for the public record. He mentioned that financial sustainability, capital investment, and social equity were three policy documents that he used during his time with the City of Napa. He received those documents when he requested them from the City of Napa’s park planning director. He stated that he chose the City of Napa because the department was in a serious financial condition a few years prior. He indicated that they were financially sustained after utilizing those policy documents and had a well-funded parks department that could move forward. He explained that the policies were imperfect, but he felt it was a success story. He believed that after reviewing those documents, essential policy decisions could be made. He said the WCOSRPC could not afford even one bad decision. He felt that the policies were a great start to financial sustainability, and that getting started on the right track could be challenging. He noted that swimming lessons for underprivileged children were an example of a program that he felt should be subsidized. He thought it was important for the youth to be exposed to water. He explained that a master's swim program was an example of how the facility could be paid based on the use of the pool. He thanked the BCC for their time and said he would appreciate their consideration for reappointment.
Mr. Robert Flick said he sought reappointment to the Washoe County Planning Commission (PC). He stated that his motivation was simple. He noted he was a Marine Corps Officer and combat veteran. He explained that when he and his wife moved to Washoe County from California, they realized that they had never been treated so well, not only by the County government but also by the citizens whom they had never met. He said they both decided that if they could give back to the community, they should. He noted that he had an expansive background but had spent several years on a city council in Vista, California, and was the first elected mayor. He added that while living in California, he served on the planning commission and various regional boards that dealt with sewer, the federal government, and grants. He felt he could apply those experiences to his position on the PC. He described a time when he felt deeply touched and welcomed when he visited a restaurant and a child approached his table to meet him, leaving him speechless. He stated that he loved the area, and it was his home. He said his wife had recently passed away and added that the Medical Examiner's (ME) Office did a fantastic job. He believed he could give back to the community that had given him so much. He mentioned he had been through annexations and knew about public meetings. He explained that sometimes meetings and the press could get out of control, but in the end, the law needed to be adhered to, which was what was best for the community. He thought that if the community did not agree with the decisions that were made, they would bring those issues to the BCC for changes. He said he would appreciate the BCC’s reconsideration.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Consent Agenda Items 7A1 through 7D5 be approved. Any and all Resolutions or Interlocal Agreements pertinent to Consent Agenda Items 7A1 through 7D5 are attached hereto and made a part of the minutes thereof.
25-0349 AGENDA ITEM 8 Recommendation to 1) approve roll change requests, pursuant to NRS 361.765 and/or NRS 361.768, for errors discovered on the 2024/2025, 2023/2024, 2022/2023, and 2021/2022 unsecured tax roll 2) authorize Chair to execute the changes described in Exhibit A and 3) direct the Washoe County Treasurer to correct the error(s). [cumulative amount of decrease to all taxing entities $528,376.41]. Assessor. (All Commission Districts.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 8 be approved, authorized, and directed.
25-0350 AGENDA ITEM 10 Recommendation to approve the reimbursement of costs incurred by the City of Sparks, the City of Reno, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, and Washoe County for expenses related to and in support of the Enhanced 911 Emergency Response System as recommended by the 911 Emergency Response Advisory Committee on April 17, 2025, in an amount not to exceed [$1,986,359.93] as specified within the adopted Enhanced 911 Fund’s operating budget. Technology Services. (All Commission Districts.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 10 be approved.
25-0351 AGENDA ITEM 11 Recommendation to approve and ratify the First Addendum to the P25 Radio System Interlocal Agreement, June 2020. The addendum specifically addresses increased construction costs associated with the P25 Radio System, which have increased by [$3,963,706] since the execution of the P25 Radio System Interlocal Agreement. The addendum specifies the shared financial responsibility among Partner Agencies ensuring that each entity contributes proportionately based on their usage of the system. Washoe County’s share of the increased cost is [$876,031.21] of which [$452,954.99] would be utilized in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and [$423,076.22] in Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Technology Services. (All Commission Districts.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 11 be approved and ratified.
25-0352 AGENDA ITEM 9 Introduction and first reading of an ordinance amending Washoe County Code Chapter 100 (Buildings and Construction), pursuant to NRS 244.105, to update the editions of the specialized or uniform codes adopted by reference. The newer editions for adoption by Washoe County include: the 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments; the 2024 versions of the International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Energy Conservation, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Wildland-Urban Interface, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes; the 2024 Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes; the 2023 National Electrical Code; and the 2024 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 54 and 58 Codes; and all matters necessarily connected therewith and pertaining thereto. And if introduced, set the public hearing for second reading and possible adoption on June 10, 2025. Community Services. (All Commission Districts.)
County Clerk Jan Galassini read the title for Bill No. 1930.
Division Director Planning and Building, Kelly Mullin, conducted a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed slides with the following titles: Building Code Amendments Ch. 100 Introduction & 1st Reading; Intent of Amendments; Background; New Editions; Regional Amendments for Northern Nevada; Recommendation; Thank You.
Ms. Mullin said that Chapter 100 and the Washoe County Building Code (WCBC) were updated relatively regularly. She reviewed the slide titled Intent of Amendments and shared that updated additions were adopted by reference for the specialized and uniform building codes. She noted that those codes were updated in coordination with other Northern Nevada jurisdictions. She stated that International Codes (I-codes) were a set of minimum life-safety building codes and were adopted in many jurisdictions across the United States (US).
Ms. Mullin reviewed the slide titled Background and explained that if the I- codes were adopted, they would include a six-month grace period and go into effect on July 1, 2025. She noted that customers could choose from either the 2018 or the 2024 codes, with full implementation on January 1, 2026. While reviewing the slide titled New Editions, she stated that the additions shown were proposed to be updated, along with the relevant appendices found in the Staff Report.
Ms. Mullin reviewed the slide titled Regional Amendments for Northern Nevada and said it was a collaborative process with other jurisdictions throughout Northern Nevada over the past 18 months. She said there were seven subcommittees and one steering committee to get the Northern Nevada amendments proposed for adoption. She explained
that the specific adjustments for the region were to ensure that the changes reflected and supported climatic and geographic characteristics specific to Northern Nevada.
Chair Hill thanked her for the hard work and thought it was exciting. She asked about the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) codes for home hardening and wondered if there would be a separate topic for adding additional requirements. She mentioned that she and Commissioner Clark met with the Arrowcreek Homeowners Association (HOA) and several other HOAs in South Meadows to discuss ways to look at fire prevention within the WUI. She said she was unsure if staff had additional conversations regarding that.
Ms. Mullin explained that Washoe County adopted Chapter 5 of the WUI code, and the fire districts adopted the remainder. She indicated the fire districts, specifically the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD), were looking into additional codes. She believed TMFPD intended to bring the discussion to the Board of Fire Commissioners (BOFC) for adoption. She said that WUI was discussed regularly. She stated that staff interfaced with the fire districts to determine whether there was conforming water, distance, and sufficient defensible space on each property, which led to what the building construction type needed to be, and what hardening requirements were.
Chair Hill said she appreciated the update and being made aware of important changes that needed to be made.
Commissioner Andriola believed that all the groups listed in the presentation put forth a great deal of work, time, and had many robust discussions, depending on the changes in the I-codes. She thanked the staff for their hard work. She explained that there were many hours that went into collaboration with the jurisdictions and noted the uniqueness of those jurisdictions, and the effort to come to a professional compromise on what to adopt. She mentioned that she had previously been a part of that process and felt it was interesting, especially when transitioning back to a steering committee. She thought that the clarification regarding the fire districts' information was helpful because some of those codes crossed over.
Commissioner Clark thanked Ms. Mullin for the report and thought it was informative. He felt that the grace period allowed individuals to avoid being caught off guard and allowed flexibility in plans and how the County would enforce codes.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
Bill No. 1930 was introduced by Commissioner Andriola, and legal notice for final action of adoption was directed.
25-0353 AGENDA ITEM 12 Discussion and direction to staff regarding legislation or legislative issues proposed by legislators, by Washoe County, or by other entities permitted by the Nevada State Legislature to submit bill draft requests, or such legislative issues as may be deemed by the Chair or the Board to be of critical significance to Washoe County. Pending legislative
bills can be located here:<<https ://www. leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bills/List». Current bills the County is tracking that may be reported on or discussed are listed under Government Affairs at <https://www.washoecounty.gov/mgrsoff
.gov/mgrsoff/divisions/government-affairs/in dex.php> by 6:00 p.m. the Friday before the meeting. Due to the rapid pace of the legislative session, additional bills upon which comment may be sought from the Board of County Commissioners will be posted as soon as known. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
County Manager Eric Brown indicated that Government Affairs Liaison Cadence Matijevich was unavailable, but that she had provided updates for the Board. He mentioned that it was the final week of the legislative session, and the last day was June 2, 2025. He stated that May 28, 2025, was the deadline for exempt bills to be passed out of the committee. He said Ms. Matijevich expected that legislators would waive the rules for a small number of bills, particularly emergency measures introduced by the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House. He noted that, to date, 1,194 bills and resolutions were introduced, seven bills were signed by the Governor, and 54 bills awaited action by the Governor. He noted that the Governor vetoed one bill, Assembly Bill (AB)
306. He said that, excluding dead bills, Washoe County was tracking 521 bills, or bill draft requests (BDRs), and completed 240 fiscal notes to date. He explained that Senate Bill (SB) 319, the fire consolidation study, passed both houses and awaited enrollment and delivery to the Governor. He mentioned that AB 333, the Washoe County fairgrounds lease amendment, passed out of both houses and was waiting for enrollment and delivery to the Governor. He stated that at the March 11, 2025, Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, the Board adopted a position to support AB 333. He explained that AB 597 was introduced on May 26, 2025, as an emergency measure for Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager and related to voting in the primary elections and the presidential preference primary (PPP). He indicated that staff were in the process of reviewing the bill to identify if the County would have any challenges implementing the provisions of it. He said Ms. Matijevich had not completed an analysis yet but would provide the information to the Board when available.
Chair Hill thanked Manager Brown for the update. She stated that Commissioner Garcia requested an update on the Board’s position on the recount. Commissioner Garcia said she received a message from staff that Ms. Matijevich would provide that information. Commissioner Garcia noted that she did not realize how many election bills there were until her briefing, and she thought an update would be helpful.
Commissioner Andriola expressed her appreciation for Ms. Matijevich for her hard work since the legislative session was in its final days. She thought Ms. Matijevich likely felt like there were 48 hours in a day, not 24. She said the Board appreciated her hard
work. Chair Hill explained that a lot of work was done behind the scenes for the bills that did not move forward to ensure that there were no additional unfunded mandates.
There was no public comment or action on this item.
25-0354 AGENDA ITEM 13 Public Comment.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
25-0355 AGENDA ITEM 14 Announcements/Reports.
County Manager Eric Brown said there were two board openings. He noted that there were three open seats for the Board of Equalization (BOE) and applications were due by June 20, 2025. He added that there was one open seat for the Board of Adjustment (BOA), District 4, and applications must be submitted by May 30, 2025.
Vice Chair Herman mentioned that she had previously requested a copy of the Washoe County Leadership Academy’s (WCLA) annual budget report. She noted that she had not received it and requested a copy. She asked if the officers of the various Citizen Advisory Boards (CABs) could give the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) a presentation.
Chair Hill said that was a great idea and stated that she would work on those
requests.
Commissioner Andriola expressed her appreciation for the individuals who submitted applications for the various boards. She described her experience of contacting each applicant as amazing, and felt she learned a great deal about each person. She shared portions of conversations with some of the applicants, and noted she was impressed by their backgrounds, which showed dedication and commitment. She thought if she mentioned those conversations, it would explain the applicants’ plans from their individual perspectives. She indicated that State agencies were more likely to listen because they knew it was a Washoe County board. She said she spoke with all the applicants, and the dedication of the board members needed to be commended. She encouraged the community to continue to share information about open board applications. She believed that the more applicants there were, the better the quality. She felt that she reviewed only great applications. She explained that being on a board took a great deal of work and time and would not be done for the stipend alone. She said that instead, it was done for the dedication to making a difference in the community. She noted that there were additional calls to make, and it brightened her day making them. She stated that during the calls, she heard what the applicants believed the board had done right, how they thought the board could address challenges, and what the applicants could contribute to lift the board in a positive way. She felt it was necessary to take the time to thank the applicants.
* * * * * * * * * * *
11:31 a.m. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned without objection.
ATTEST:
ALEXIS HILL, Chair
Washoe County Commission
JANIS GALASSINI, County Clerk and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
Minutes Prepared by:
Jessica Melka, Deputy County Clerk Lizzie Tietjen, Deputy County Clerk Brooke Koerner, Deputy County Clerk