BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA
TUESDAY 10:00 A.M. SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
PRESENT:
Alexis Hill, Chair Jeanne Herman, Vice Chair Michael Clark, Commissioner Mariluz Garcia, Commissioner Clara Andriola, Commissioner
Janis Galassini, County Clerk Kate Thomas, Interim 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:
25-0649 AGENDA ITEM 3 Public Comment.
Mr. Aaron Katz provided documents, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. He introduced himself as an Incline Village resident and informed that he attended the meeting to talk about the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) and their presentation. He asked why IVGID requested the hearing, and he wondered what they intended to accomplish. He stated that IVGID had not told the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) anything about their financial state of affairs. Mr. Katz advised that he submitted a written statement that he asked to have attached to the minutes of the meeting. He said that he provided a copy of a letter from the Nevada Department of Taxation (NDT) indicating that IVGID was on fiscal watch and could not handle their finances. He remarked that the hands-off approach taken by the County towards IVGID had to end. He discerned that the County was the source of governance for the area, not IVGID. He added that residents needed protection, and he asked Commissioners to provide that protection. He reported that in October 1965, the County held hearings to evaluate IVGID’s request for public recreation powers. He commented that Harold Tiller, known as the father of Incline Village, provided testimony to the County in which he represented that if the County gave IVGID the basic power of public recreation, it would only be used to acquire and operate public parks and beaches, and the funds that would be used to acquire and operate those facilities would be limited to IVGID’s ad valorem taxes. All other contemplated recreation facilities were to be privately owned and operated. Mr. Katz stated that information was in the letter that he attached and asked the Board to review. He remarked that after securing the power on a divided 3-2 vote, IVGID immediately adopted a recreation tax to pay for bonds whose proceeds were used to acquire the beaches. He
opined that the tax was disingenuously called a fee. He theorized that because the artifice worked so well, it became the blueprint for subsequent IVGID operations. He said that IVGID could not afford the costs and forced residents to subsidize activities with an invalid tax. He believed that IVGID lied to the County, which was fraud in the inducement. He advised that the two parts to a remedy were recission and criminal charges. He explained that recission meant taking away the power, which he reminded Commissioners they had a means to do through a validation petition under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 43.100. He implored Commissioners to instruct their attorneys to pursue the remedy for the protection of local parcel owners in Incline Village.
Ms. Judith Miller read from a document and displayed charts, copies of which were distributed to the Board and placed on file with the Clerk.
Mr. Terry Brooks shared an original poem about his reflections on numerous issues created by racial discrimination, including housing, economics, education, and job prospects.
Ms. Tracey Thomas read from a document and displayed an executive order, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk.
Ms. Janet Butcher read from a document and displayed an executive order, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. She added that she was concerned about local elections, which she opined had not gotten any better. She recalled that in recent months there was an issue with a cyberattack on the State. She reported that elections were being centralized, and she wondered what contingency plans the Secretary of State (SOS) had in case there was an issue on Election Day. She reminded everyone that Constitution Day and Citizenship Day was a federal commemoration observed every year on September 17th.
Mr. Michael Smith advised that he had not attended BCC meetings recently, but he felt compelled to return after reflecting on his commitment to the values of the Country. He revealed that he served the Country for 30 years as a Navy fighter pilot. He expressed his deep concern about the reprehensible assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk and what it represented for the Country and free speech. He added that if condemnation was expressed by individual Board members or by the BCC collectively, he missed it, but he thanked them and felt that was appropriate for local leaders. Conversely, he discerned that the moral depravity of anyone who held left-wing views and stayed silent or worse, posted celebratory or hollow justification for the murder of Mr. Kirk, was exposed. He spoke about anger and its twin, hatred, and theorized that the vivid and horrific images of Mr. Kirk’s assassination could easily stir those sentiments. He shared that seeking guidance from scripture and listening to speeches from Mr. Kirk eradicated those emotions, and he hoped for families and the Nation to be engaged in a mission of being closer to Christ. He said that many people who held Mr. Kirk in high regard for his effective messaging were shaken by the event and subsequent justification from the political left. Mr. Smith stated that sadness would remain, and empathy for the family, friends, wife, and children of Mr. Kirk would not abate anytime soon. He communicated that prayers for
healing would continue, and emerging resolve to purge the Country of cultish, liberal, left, and fanatical ideologies would strengthen. He suggested that it would no longer be necessary to advise someone to take the high road, because conservative American principles were the high road. He advised that he would treat any reference to fellow Americans with suspicion, and he conveyed that people had awakened to a dark and unfathomable reality that the political left was void of any American identity and was replaced by a foreign influence, domestically bred cult ideology, or both. He recalled the words of former President Ronald Reagan saying It isn’t so much that liberals are ignorant. It’s just that they know so many things that aren’t so. He believed those words could no longer be echoed because a new portrayal had emerged in which liberals were not ignorant; they were depraved, misled, indoctrinated, and consequently anti-American, void of empathy, compassion, humanity, honesty, civility, and faith. He said that retaliation was not in his nature, but he commented on the urgency of focused efforts to dismantle the corrupt liberal institutions that threatened American values and the future of the Country. He summarized that, in words he supposed only a fighter pilot could understand, a merge had been reached, and the fight was on.
Ms. Lynette Cardinale introduced herself as an Incline Village resident. She shared that she was speaking to the BCC again to address the recreation fee and the fractured society and culture in Incline Village. She described that Incline Village was a community of full-time residents, renters, second homeowners who came and went approximately every six months, and Short-Term Rental (STR) users who visited from time to time. She said communication was null, dim, and dismal. She spoke about the assassination of Mr. Kirk on September 10, 2025, and alluded to connections between that murder and circumstances she perceived in Incline Village. She recalled that IVGID trustees Sarah Schmitz and Matthew Dent disclosed that there was corruption within the IVGID financials. Ms. Cardinale reported that current IVGID board members indicated on their election platforms that they were going to help, but she opined that they did not provide the help they promised. She determined that IVGID board members were concerned with self-interest. Ms. Cardinale remarked that Incline Village residents could not afford the recreation fees that were being imposed alongside taxes. She reasoned that if the fee was truly a fee, then it would be voluntary for her to pay, and she would receive some substance or service from it, which she stated was not happening. She said that it was unfair and corrupt for IVGID to continue to pile recreation fees onto citizens who were holding up the financial corruption of Incline Village. She predicted that the upcoming IVGID presentation would be superficial, and nothing would rectify or reconcile the finances of the organization. Ms. Cardinale supposed the presenter would indicate that IVGID was doing their best to try and get through the problems, but she argued that IVGID had not done anything to help residents. She added that IVGID went so far as to call out residents who spoke against them and accuse those vocal residents of being a detriment to IVGID moving forward. She said that she had been a resident of Incline Village since 1992 and would not be quiet, just as Mr. Kirk refused to be quiet. She summarized that there were things going on and it was the responsibility of the BCC, as overseers of Washoe County, to make sure that corruption and illegal fees were not allowed to continue. She felt that if the BCC did not step in to help the citizens of Incline Village, residents would experience unfair taxation without representation.
Ms. Patricia Owens shared that she moved to Incline Village in 1989 and had been a full-time resident, taxpayer, and property owner for 36 years. She disclosed that she lived alone on a fixed and limited income and would be 84 years old in October 2025. She described that she had been a recreation member for over 20 years and was half of a senior couple membership. She informed that many widows, widowers, and older seniors lived in Incline Village and their taxes went up to $1,375 that year. She revealed that in the past, she was able to be part of a senior couple to get discounted membership at the recreation center. She said she was told the prior month that she could no longer be part of a senior couple membership unless she lived with someone. She explained that she and her friends took advantage of the recreation opportunities and used the pool to swim. She stated that she was too old to get married, and she did not want to live with somebody. She reported that her recreation partner was over 80, and without any notice or any community input, the IVGID trustees changed the rule in a way that would raise her fee by an additional
$155 to be an individual member as opposed to part of a senior couple. She said that as a super senior over 80, she could ski for free, but she communicated that even though she used to love to ski, it was too dangerous for her now. She hoped that the IVGID board would get involved. Ms. Owens conveyed that she made a presentation to them and called and wrote to them, but she did not receive a response to her request about having a meeting with some other seniors who were suffering from the new membership rate rule. She thanked Board members for their time and hoped they would do something to help Incline Village seniors.
Mr. Frank Wright introduced himself as a resident of Crystal Bay. He said that he spoke at a BCC meeting in August and wanted to share some information that he thought Commissioners needed to pay attention to. He divulged that Chief Deputy District Attorney (CDDA) Michael Large was his personal attorney, and they had known each other for 15 years. Mr. Wright revealed that he found IVGID out of control as an organization, and he and CDDA Large fought a legal battle against them. Mr. Wright expressed concern and frustration about the financial practices of IVGID and was especially skeptical of the lack of limitation on the fees being charged to Incline Village residents. He did not think the revenue collected from fees was being used in ways that were beneficial to most residents. He summarized that the recreation fee was a phony tax, and there was no way for anyone to protest it, which made it illegal.
CDDA Large confirmed that, as Mr. Wright mentioned, he represented Mr. Wright approximately 15 years prior on a matter when he was in private practice with the law firm of Laxalt & Nomura. CDDA Large advised that nothing in his representation of Mr. Wright or his representation of the BCC was in conflict. He said he did have some knowledge of Incline Village from that, and he wanted to clarify his association with Mr. Wright and IVGID for the record.
Chair Hill thanked CDDA Large for the clarification.
Ms. Mari Hutchinson introduced herself as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of STEP2, a local nonprofit organization, and she disclosed that she attended the meeting to speak to the Board about Commissioner Garcia’s selection of STEP2 for
potential funding support. She thanked Commissioner Garcia and shared that STEP2 was founded in 1986 on the premise that a woman battling substance use disorder (SUD) should not have to decide between receiving treatment or being a mom. Since 1986, STEP2 had served over 5,000 women in the community. She described that STEP2 had a campus in north Reno with an SUD residential facility. She said that most STEP2 participants started their programming there, lived in the facility, and received intensive SUD treatment. She added that there were 25 cottages of varying size on the STEP2 campus where a woman would reunify with her children and live for a year while continuing to receive outpatient services and going through a workforce development program. She said that the goal at STEP2 was not just to get their participants clean, sober, and prepared to be productive members of the community, but also to get them to work so they could support themselves and their children through reunification. She reported that STEP2 worked closely with the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as well as Child Protective Services (CPS) to provide a healthy and safe environment for women to get clean and sober, then reunify with their children. Ms. Hutchinson commented that STEP2 could not accomplish their mission without community support, and they had been fortunate in receiving support from many generous individuals and companies over the years. She pointed out that because they were a private, local, nonprofit organization, 100 percent of every dollar donated to STEP2, whether through direct donation or fundraising events, stayed in the community and helped local families.
Mr. Oscar Williams stated his appreciation for the presentation provided by Registrar of Voters (ROV) Andrew McDonald the prior week, but he expressed disappointment that Mr. McDonald did not offer plans for operational continuity. Mr. Williams viewed that there were significant issues that needed to be discussed at some point, and he thought the presentation the prior week would have been a good opportunity to do so. He described that he was watching local news on the television (TV) the prior night and was simultaneously on his computer. He said that the internet went out, and he reported that his internet service through Spectrum typically went down for a few minutes daily. He said that his service was restored less than 10 minutes later, but his TV stayed on during the outage because he had an antenna. He described that he paid a small amount of money for the antenna and did not have to pay periodic licensing or maintenance fees. He added that the antenna worked in all sorts of weather, and it served as his continuity of operations plan so he could watch football when his internet service went out. He reasoned that logic could be applied to elections and common-sense solutions could be devised for what to do when the power went out or servers at the State level went offline. He noted the potential for problems at polling locations and at the central County facility, and he surmised that there needed to be a plan for each location and different contingencies for different threats, including power outages, cyberattacks, or the introduction of malware. He recalled that Mr. McDonald cited a mail voting rate of 58.2 percent, but Mr. Williams pointed out some factors that brought the validity of that figure into question. Mr. Williams specified that differences in how the two major parties conducted elections, lack of representation for non-partisan voters in the reported numbers, and glitches in the system affected the 58.2 percent that Mr. McDonald highlighted. Mr. Williams found that figure misleading and added that he was curious about the details of voting equipment. He
supposed that other people would also want to know specific information about the 3,000 pieces of voting equipment Mr. McDonald referred to.
Mr. Mick Homan introduced himself as an Incline Village resident and a member of the IVGID Board of Trustees. He opined that, for the most part, the comments that the BCC heard from Incline Village residents who sent notes and attended BCC meetings were not representative of the community at large. He shared that the vast majority of residents were positive, hardworking, and recreation-minded and they provided constructive comments to the IVGID board. He communicated that many Incline Village residents moved there because of the outstanding amenities and the value residents got for those amenities. He cautioned that there was a small, vocal minority of residents who continued to spread misinformation. He said that group made repeated, unsubstantiated claims of fraud, malfeasance, and criminal activity. He described that, despite convincing the prior IVGID board to spend almost half a million dollars of their resident’s taxpayer dollars searching for alleged fraud, none was found. He advised that the same group of residents continued to mention the facility fee as an illegal tax, which Mr. Homan countered was somewhat laughable. He stated that NRS 318.197 clearly provided the foundation for the fee. He recalled that one Incline Village resident challenged the fee all the way up to the Nevada Supreme Court, lost, and had to pay IVGID hundreds of thousands of dollars for legal fees. He noted that the citizen group mentioned fiscal watch, which he admitted IVGID deserved. He informed that IVGID had historically experienced issues with their accounting and controls but were functional through 2023. He revealed that in 2023, abusive behavior by the IVGID board and certain community members decimated their staff. He divulged that IVGID lost about 80 percent of their finance and accounting staff in the middle of a difficult and poorly planned system conversion. He explained that they lost the ability to produce financial statements, but he reported that strong progress was being made. He said they had a new board with fantastic skills and leadership including attorneys, certified public accountants (CPAs), and a human resources (HR) professional. He shared that IVGID hired a highly qualified General Manager (GM) with decades of experience successfully leading multiple government organizations. Mr. Homan indicated that the new GM built his finance and accounting leadership team with highly qualified and experienced people who had led organizations and worked in the public sector for multiple agencies. Mr. Homan revealed that the IVGID board successfully completed the fiscal year (FY) 2024 audit and the disclaimer that they received in 2023 was removed. He noted that there was still a qualification on the audit that they were working on. He summarized that IVGID made strong progress in completing the systems integration and addressing their controls. He said they were producing monthly reports, but he stipulated that there were still some quality control issues that the IVGID board continued to address and fix. He announced that the IVGID board and leadership were fully committed to remediating their issues and getting back on track. He said that it would take time, but they were doing what needed to be done.
Ms. Pam Darr recalled that it had been a week since she addressed the issue of growing homelessness in the area, and she predicted that she would address it again. She felt that more needed to be done. She spoke about someone she knew who lived at the Cares Campus when it first opened. She recalled that the Cares Campus was envisioned
with the goal of getting homeless people out of downtown Reno and connecting them with the services they needed. She said that goal was not met, and homelessness had grown to every corner of Washoe County and into Storey County. She reported that there were homeless people as far away as the Anytime Fitness facility in the Red Hawk area of Spanish Springs. She described that she had a friend who went to that gym at midnight and encountered homeless people coming out from behind the nearby shopping center. Ms. Darr did not know why there would be homeless people in that area at midnight, and she observed that there were no services there. She suggested that a workshop was needed because neighborhoods were increasingly being affected, which she predicted could be a safety issue. She spoke about going to a vigil for Mr. Kirk in downtown Reno the prior Friday night, where she observed many homeless people who did not seem to be getting the help they needed. She outlined that a lot of money was invested in the Truckee Riverwalk, and it was initially beautiful but had since become full of homeless people sleeping on benches. She believed that those people needed to access resources. She reasoned that there had to be a solution, and the Cares Campus was not enough. She determined that the Cares Campus facility was built, and people went there in huge numbers, but if Washoe County was going to provide service of that level, every county should do so. She did not understand why all the responsibility should be placed on Washoe County. Ms. Darr described that she broke down crying on Thursday thinking about what happened to Mr. Kirk, was then angry on Friday, and still felt numb. She spoke about another political assassination in Mexico, and she expressed concern that people would not serve in office if threats of violence continued or escalated. She said violence should never be a solution, and people were better than that. She summarized that political division needed to end if the Country was going to be united. She recalled a young couple she spoke to who felt concerned that if a professor they had at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) knew their party affiliation, it would have affected their grades. She restated that ending someone’s life was not an acceptable solution to turn to, and people could do better.
Chair Hill asked for a member of staff to follow up with Ms. Darr to provide her with information about the Homeless Outreach Proactive Engagement (HOPE) team so she could better assist people who she saw out in the community.
Ms. Penny Brock displayed a document, a copy of which was placed on file with the Clerk. She said she wore black in mourning for the recent assassination of Mr. Kirk. She believed that Mr. Kirk’s death represented an attack on the First Amendment, and when a debate could not be won, Mr. Kirk was silenced by death. She felt that at the previous BCC meeting, the Commissioners had taken away the community’s First Amendment rights. She explained that by having a non-action presentation by the ROV, public comments were not allowed, which denied the voters and citizens their First Amendment rights. She read from a document that discussed the role of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Center for Internet Security (CIS) in Washoe County elections. She claimed that the CISA would be addressed by President Donald Trump’s administration. She displayed and read from a document that mentioned the censorship industrial complex to describe CISA. She felt that the public did not want an outside organization affiliated with the Washoe County ROV’s Office. She indicated that Washoe County voters wanted to oversee elections. She alleged that voters did not
want to use the Dominion Voting System or other electronic voting machines and believed that voters wanted hand-counted paper ballots. She urged the BCC to listen to the voters because the Commissioners worked for the public. She claimed that Nevada was ranked the worst in the Nation and asked the Board to restore election integrity. She stated that she would bring the Rasmussen Report to a future BCC meeting.
Mr. Nicholas St. Jon displayed a document, a copy of which was placed on file with the Clerk. He felt that the allotted three minutes were insufficient to provide information and present issues to the Board, and he requested to be added to a future agenda to allow additional time for discussion. He explained that he had spent several months preparing a 2024 general election integrity report, which he had previously presented to the Board, and he believed the report revealed numerous anomalies and discrepancies. He expressed frustration that the Board appeared to ignore his request when he asked them to raise their hands if they had read his election report. He questioned the purpose of having prepared the report if no one would review it. He suggested that the Board had been instructed not to respond or communicate with him. He alleged that, according to federal law, the Board’s silence and lack of response constituted fraudulent behavior. He thought that the Board may have read his report, but chose not to respond. He said that if the Board members cared enough about free and fair elections, they would invite him to the podium during Commissioner announcements to seek clarification. He felt that voters had lost trust in the Washoe County ROV’s Office. He referred to Exhibit C of the document he displayed and pointed out that the items in red indicated inconsistencies with mail-in ballots and early voting statistics. He noted that the section of his document related to Election Day contained only four rows of data, two of which, he claimed, contained incorrect information. He stated that due to those errors, his confidence in staff accurately counting 264,333 ballots was low. He believed that during the election, there had been considerable manipulation of the voter rolls. He alleged that during the 2024 election cycle, 11,400 voters were added, 2,500 were switched from inactive to active status, and 3,510 voters were removed. He questioned why voters would be removed during an active election cycle and suggested that the public should be alarmed. He stated that his data showed that 988 voters were removed in a single day, with 498 removed on a Sunday. He suggested that removing voters based solely on an automated program was illegal, yet 988 voters were removed. He asked how the ROV’s Office had enough staff to accomplish that.
Ms. Kit Waite thanked Commissioner Andriola for posting a recent comment regarding Mr. Kirk and appreciated her speaking out against the act of violence. She acknowledged that not all Commissioners may be heavily involved in social media and technology, and she questioned why other Commissioners had not commented. She suggested that Chair Hill made other public social media posts, which Ms. Waite viewed as self-righteous statements, about making communities safer and building a better community as Governor, yet had not commented on Mr. Kirk's assassination. She expressed concern that Chair Hill could make public posts without condemning acts of political violence. She felt that Chair Hill should have spoken out in support of freedom of speech, regardless of her opinions about Mr. Kirk. She said that Mr. Kirk died fighting for the First Amendment and the right to express one’s views freely. She hoped to hear the Board’s thoughts and opinions on the events of the previous week. She requested a future
agenda item to discuss plans for how the BCC would carry on Mr. Kirk's legacy of free speech within Washoe County. She believed that incorporating free speech activities would enable the community to communicate and express differing opinions in a constructive way. She thought that a lack of communication could lead to more acts of violence like the recent tragedy.
Ms. Trista Gomez described the recent Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) hearing as difficult and unpleasant to watch. She expressed concern about ongoing issues with agency collaboration that limited the BCC’s ability to vote against actions that were not in the best interest of residents. She informed she would pause for a moment of silence to reflect on the recent political shooting, and a second moment of silence to reflect on the rhetoric, vitriol, divisiveness, and the troubling justifications she had heard from many people in public offices. She hoped that Washoe County HR would reach out to its conservative employees to ensure they felt safe in their current work environment. She urged the BCC to explore ways to collaborate more effectively with the community to achieve shared goals. She referenced her background in social work, which she felt was a liberal profession. She clarified that she was not liberal, a fact that many people only became aware of when she ran for County Commissioner. She believed that working together required effort and mutual recognition from both parties. She noted that violence and intolerance must end and added that such issues could not be solely eliminated by addressing isolated incidents. She felt that Washoe County HR needed to address the concerns, and if not, those issues would persist. She suggested that there had been numerous conversations about policies that had a negative impact on residents.
Ms. Claudia Casteneda displayed a document, a copy of which was placed on file with the Clerk. She shared information about Operation Revival, a nonprofit program that had been in place since 2021. She explained that the program was a food pantry that served the community on the first and third Saturday of each month. She stated that, on average, 224 families were served each month, with an average of approximately 1,000 individuals. She noted that of those served, 15 percent were seniors aged 60 and older, 30 percent were children between 0 and 18 years old, and 42 percent were adults between 19 and 59 years old. She explained that Operation Revival offered a mentoring program, which served five Title I elementary schools and one middle school in Sun Valley. She shared that during the previous week, 176 students in Grades 4 through 8 were mentored. She mentioned that Operation Revival offered a resource fair, which, in 2024, served 130 families, or about 400 individuals. She invited the BCC to participate in the upcoming Operational Revival Resource and Health Fair in Sun Valley, which would offer a food pantry, various services, and a medical clinic. She encouraged the Board to learn more about Operation Revival and to consider volunteering at the event.
25-0650 AGENDA ITEM 4 Announcements/Reports.
Interim County Manager (ICM) Kate Thomas announced that Agenda Item 13 was pulled at the recommendation of the applicant.
Vice Chair Herman mentioned that on March 26, 2025, former County Manager Eric Brown had emailed the Board of Commissioners (BCC) a copy of President Donald Trump's executive order regarding election integrity. She said that the executive order introduced new measures to ensure free, fair, and honest elections, with the goal of strengthening voter confidence in the electoral process. She added that the executive order stated that the potential loss of funding and federal enforcement could be used to encourage the Board to make an informed decision. She explained that there had been local incidents that suggested potential glitches in Washoe County’s electoral procedures. She remarked that the Board was likely aware of troubling reports and noted the extended delays in receiving election results. She felt that, as a senior member of the BCC, she had a responsibility to remind the Board of its duty to the voters regarding elections in Washoe County. She proposed a new election integrity bill, which she believed would help restore sanity, sanctity, and respect to the County’s election process, and would align with the presidential executive orders issued in March. She urged staff to schedule a hearing on the resolution that would allow the BCC to deliberate and vote before October 16, 2025. She distributed copies to the Board and placed them on file with the Clerk. She expressed appreciation for each member of the public who provided public comment.
Commissioner Garcia shared that hundreds of people attended the Foster, Adopt, and Mentor (FAM) Fest, formerly known as Have a Heart, at the Sparks Marina. She stated that the program had been active for many years and she directed the public to the website for more information. She said that the event highlighted the shortage of foster and adoptive families. She explained that the website provided information on how the community could volunteer their time to serve as a mentor to help children at various stages of their lives. She mentioned that during FAM Fest, testimonials were shared by mentors who were recognized for their dedication and long-standing relationships. She thanked everyone involved in organizing a successful event and for their continued efforts to raise awareness.
Commissioner Andriola echoed Commissioner Garcia's sentiment for FAM Fest. She said that after attending for the past two years, she understood that mentoring just a few hours a month could make a significant difference in children’s lives. She hoped the community realized that there was a shortage of mentors. She explained that while she worked alongside Judge Egan Walker over the years, she observed that foster children who had not been mentored or adopted often ended up in the legal system and, in some cases, incarcerated. She believed that dedicating just a few hours each month to mentoring could help break the cycle of youth incarceration. She found the event deeply moving and was committed to doing what she could to support the cause. She noted that the 2025 event was significantly larger and surpassed the attendance of the previous year. She congratulated Sheriff Darin Balaam on his victory. She recognized Constitution Day, which commemorates the formation and signing of the United States (US) Constitution on September 17, 1787. She recalled a recent trip to Philadelphia and shared how it deepened her appreciation for the significance of the historic day. She said that the more she read, the more she appreciated the forefathers who helped form the great Nation. She stated that she had been working with staff from the Human Services Agency (HSA), constituents, veterans, and veterans’ organizations to organize a Veterans Day event. She announced
that the observance of Veterans Day would take place on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Sparks Senior Citizens Center, and noted that responses for attendance at the event were requested. She encouraged attendance and provided the website and phone number for the Washoe County Senior Services Center to confirm attendance or find additional information.
Commissioner Andriola expressed concern over a recent tragedy and the challenges of maintaining civility with one another. She believed that everyone could make a commitment to better understanding one another through public comments or conversations. She mentioned the Dignity Index and encouraged the public to familiarize themselves with it during the crucial moment in the Country. She believed that the message from the Governor of Utah resonated with everyone, including the hope of young adults who had come forward as catalysts for change. She emphasized the importance of respecting differences and believed that having various opinions was crucial to success, although it could be difficult. She shared that the Spanish Springs Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) members and leadership had discussed ways to bring the Dignity Index to the forefront of the Spanish Springs CAB. She emphasized the importance of being mindful of differences when communicating and the need to avoid being judgmental. She explained that she was not involved with creating the Dignity Index, but believed it was a valuable tool that the public should take time to understand.
Commissioner Andriola indicated that she would like to revisit the previous Strategic Planning Meeting, during which the BCC discussed its priorities. She noted that the BCC had voted on and provided staff direction on various projects within the Community Services Department (CSD). She requested that the Board review the current list of priorities, assuming many of them had been completed or were nearing completion. She recalled a conversation with her colleagues about prioritizing the equine business ordinance and noted that several other projects had been prioritized and appeared to have been completed. She said that she had suggested several projects and believed other members of the Board may also have recommendations. She requested that Chair Hill and ICM Thomas add an item to an upcoming agenda to reprioritize projects, rather than waiting for the next strategic planning meeting.
Chair Hill agreed that the BCC needed to refocus on the strategic planning
priorities.
Commissioner Clark mentioned that while he waited for a handyman to complete a project at his home, he stumbled upon a YouTube video titled A Brutally Honest Burning Man 2025 Review. He explained that the video was about two disc jockeys (DJs) from Southern California who attempted to rent a motorhome to attend the Burning Man festival. He noted that once the rental company learned the two were attending the Burning Man festival, they were denied the rental. He said that, instead, they rented a car and drove to Reno. He asked the Board and the community to focus on what had happened during their journey to the Burning Man festival. He stated that the men stayed at a motel near the County Administrative Complex and had recorded a video that documented their trip. He mentioned that the video showed the men being accosted in the motel parking lot in broad
daylight by drug dealers and working women. He believed the events shown in the video had unintended consequences and the video had already been viewed by many people. He felt the video portrayed Washoe County negatively, and hoped the issues of homelessness were not being overlooked. He hoped that Washoe County would prioritize improving the area near the Truckee River, which he described as one of the most beautiful features in the State. He thought that a priority should be improving the area near the Cares Campus. He noted that specific area of Reno needed increased law enforcement patrolling throughout the day. He encouraged the community to watch the YouTube video and felt that the County should be embarrassed by the way Reno was portrayed.
Commissioner Clark shared a book he had read, titled How to Counter Group Manipulation Tactics, and read a brief paragraph from it. He felt that the book contained similarities to the Dignity Index. He recommended that the public read the book, suggesting it would offer a better understanding of what he believed occurred during the BCC meetings. He thought that the book explained how the Delphi Method worked and how a group of individuals could behave as if not everyone was allowed to have a voice. He explained that, although he was not a devotee of political activist Charlie Kirk, he felt that it was wrong for anyone to be killed for voicing their opinion. He mentioned several public figures who had been shot because they expressed their views. He shared that in 2024, Chair Hill unilaterally removed public comments and stated that a potential agenda item was being considered that would allegedly restrict the Commissioners' right to make open comments. He felt there were similarities between taking away the Commissioners’ right to speak and silencing Mr. Kirk with a bullet, and believed that in both cases, voices were being silenced. He explained that the Commissioners listened to all the public comments, and while they may not agree with everyone, he appreciated that the public voiced their concerns. He thought that having a difference of opinion did not justify silencing people's voices.
Commissioner Clark mentioned the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) and thanked Mr. Aaron Katz, Ms. Judith Miller, Mr. Michael Smith, Ms. Lynette Cardinale, and Mr. Frank Wright for their public comments and for bringing IVGID issues to the Board's attention. He appreciated Mr. Katz for providing historical information about IVGID. He said that he was uncertain about the content of the presentation for Agenda Item 6A1 and thought that the IVGID board members were relatively new to managing the organization. He mentioned that those individuals should not be held accountable for any possible public-facing mismanagement that may have occurred in the past. He explained that what he found most troubling were the allegations of a lack of financial oversight and auditing for several years, as well as the failure to provide a platform that allowed the public to voice their opinions. He recalled that Mr. Wright had previously made a public comment that stated that IVGID had no recourse. He suggested that someone provide detailed information to the BCC and recommended that the County insist on an audit to determine what occurred. He noted that Ms. Miller had done a great job with her presentation and thanked her for providing the Board with a helpful handout that outlined the key issues to be addressed. He urged the Board to determine what had happened so that they could decide how to move forward.
Commissioner Clark explained that a member of the Library Board of Trustees (LBT) gave an interview on Kolo 8 News Now, during which they discussed layoffs and reduced library hours. He questioned why a County employee would self- appoint themselves as spokesperson for the BCC and County leadership. He explained that employees in leadership roles should be responsible for speaking on behalf of their organizations. He questioned why the incident had occurred and suggested that a new County employee would not make it past probation if they spoke on behalf of their manager. He was unclear why the County’s Human Resources (HR) department would allow someone to make statements that created hard feelings by sharing that library staff would be laid off. He speculated that similar situations had occurred in the past and felt that such comments created unnecessary conflict. He requested a staff report to provide additional information on the matter.
Chair Hill highlighted that the Washoe County Behavioral Health Center had broken ground. She shared excitement about the newly remodeled building and the benefits it would bring to the community. She thanked the BCC for deciding to build a facility that would serve the most vulnerable youth with acute behavioral and mental health needs. She believed it was an opportunity to support the community, which would help youth return to school and would reunite them with their families. She explained that the facility would be an incredible asset to the County. She applauded Washoe County for building a facility following the closure of West Hills. She expressed her concerns that the BCC had not been informed that 20 library positions were being frozen and that library hours would be shortened. She emphasized the need for better communication between the BCC and the LBT to understand the direction the LBT had given staff after the BCC had fully approved the library budget. She acknowledged that while the BCC had asked the LBT to identify inefficiencies, the intention was not to leave 20 positions unfilled or to reduce library hours. She felt that hours had recently been expanded to better serve working families during a time of economic hardship, when libraries were a crucial resource for the community. She requested a meeting with staff to better understand the LBT’s activities and determine a more effective way to communicate, keeping the BCC informed of any decisions being made. She believed that the BCC determined the final library budget and asked for clarification. She apologized to the community and expressed the BCC’s commitment to do better. She thought that the LBT would give the BCC a presentation in October and hoped to figure out how to move forward without jeopardizing essential community services.
25-0651 5A1 Proclaiming September 16th, 2025 as National Voter Registration Day as received by Registrar of Voters Andrew McDonald. (All Commission Districts.)
Vice Chair Herman read the proclamation.
Deputy Registrar of Voters (ROV), Reginald Greer, explained that African American men secured the right to vote through a long struggle that involved several key
moments in United States (US) history, most notably the ratification of the 15th Amendment in 1870. He noted that, unfortunately, discriminatory practices were used to prevent people of color from exercising their right to vote. He mentioned that while several laws extended voting rights to minority Americans, it was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that legal barriers that prevented minority Americans from voting were banned.
Deputy ROV Addison Vetter stated that women in the US gained the right to vote in 1920, following the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which had been preceded by decades of activism through suffragists who fought to secure equal voting rights. She explained that since then, the power of women's votes had helped shape elections, drive policy change, and strengthen democracy. She mentioned that in 1975, Congress amended the Voting Rights Act to require bilingual election materials in areas with large language minority populations, which helped ensure fair access for non-English speaking voters. She stated that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 further strengthened voting rights, required full accessibility throughout the voting process, and ensured that voters with disabilities could fully and equally participate in elections.
ROV Andrew McDonald mentioned three ways to register to vote. He said that the public could register on the ROV’s website, in person at an approved State agency, or by mail. He explained that the public could call the ROV’s Office to request a registration form be mailed to them. He outlined the qualifications to register to vote, stating that a person must be a US citizen and be at least 18 years old by Election Day. He noted that a person could pre-register at the age of 17. He added that a person must have continuously resided in Washoe County for 30 days prior to Election Day, while living in their precinct for at least ten days, and provide proof of valid identification and residency. He stated that roughly 500,000 people lived in Washoe County, and of those, 400,000 were over 18 years old. He stated that as of September 15, 2025, there were 344,000 active registered voters, indicating that 14 percent, approximately 56,000 Washoe County residents, were not registered to vote. He urged unregistered citizens to register and explained that voting was a right, which he encouraged the community to exercise.
Chair Hill thanked ROV McDonald for the presentation and acknowledged the outstanding work of the ROV Office.
Mr. McDonald suggested that Mr. Oscar Williams and Mr. Nicholas St. Jon contact him directly so he could address their concerns. He explained that he would be open and transparent.
Chair Hill commended Mr. McDonald for his leadership.
On the call for public comment, Ms. Tracey Thomas provided and read a document regarding her concerns related to inefficiencies within the ROV’s Office, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk.
Mr. Nicholas St. Jon shared his concerns regarding voter rolls. He referenced a report he had previously submitted to the Board and alleged that 3,510 voters
were removed during the election. He claimed that 988 voters were removed on a single day, 498 on another day, and 604 voters who had cast ballots were also removed. He questioned why someone who voted on Election Day would be removed from the voter rolls when voter registration was being encouraged. He felt that removing 3,500 voters, approximately 1 percent of the electorate, seemed excessive. He expressed concern about maintaining accurate voter rolls. He suggested that the Board issue a proclamation for voter roll cleanup day, which could be celebrated once the voter rolls had been updated. He explained that he had interviewed two families in which two individuals had died before Election Day, yet their votes were still counted. He thought that Washoe County would not want to be known for such issues. He stated that, in addition to adding voters to the rolls, the ROV’s Office should also ensure that individuals who were not eligible to vote had not voted.
Chair Hill urged Mr. St. Jon to report the instances of deceased voters to the Secretary of State (SOS).
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 5A1 be adopted.
25-0652 5B1 Proclamation for the week of September 14-20, 2025 as National Forensic Science Week. (All Commission Districts.)
Commissioner Clark read the proclamation and encouraged anyone interested to visit the forensic laboratory.
Sheriff Darin Balaam introduced Forensic Science Division Director Steven Johnson. Mr. Johnson emphasized the talented individuals who worked at the laboratory and indicated that there were roughly 50 staff members who constantly worked forensic cases for agencies throughout Nevada. Chair Hill expressed gratitude toward the Forensic Science Division staff and stated that they had a difficult job.
On the call for public comment, Ms. Annemarie Grant thought that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) may have wanted to hear her remarks before they voted. She believed that real forensic science should be about uncovering the truth, not covering up evidence. She noted that Sheriff Darin Balaam was in attendance and pointed out that her brother, Mr. Thomas Purdy, was murdered at the Washoe County Jail in 2015. She indicated that Mr. Purdy was hogtied and suffocated; however, Chief Medical Examiner and Coroner Dr. Laura Knight falsely ruled his death as excited delirium. She did not think that excited delirium was a scientific concept but rather junk terminology designed to excuse deputies from accountability. She reported that her family was not the only victims of what she believed was junk science, due to Mr. Nico Smith’s death, which was also labeled as excited delirium, although she believed he was asphyxiated at the Washoe County Jail. She mentioned that there had been 16 in-custody deaths and that if the BCC were to recognize National Forensic Science Week, they should talk about real forensic science. She asserted that actual science exposed misconduct and did not excuse it. She opined that if the BCC respected science, they should acknowledge the misuse of
the label excited delirium and work with families who were misled through transparency and reform. She pointed out that her family would not remain silent and would not accept false science as an excuse for lost lives. She said that her loved ones deserved the truth and demanded justice. She recalled that she would be at the federal courthouse for the eighth year to demand accountability from the County.
On motion by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 5B1 be adopted.
25-0653 AGENDA ITEM 6B1 Presentation by Dr. Laura D. Knight, Chief Medical Examiner and Coroner, on the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) accreditation process; and acceptance of a certificate in recognition of NAME Accreditation of the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, effective August 13, 2025. Regional Medical Examiner. (All Commission Districts.)
Chief Medical Examiner and Coroner Dr. Laura D. Knight indicated that the Medical Examiner's (MEs) Office was accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), which was the national professional organization of physicians, MEs, medicolegal death investigators, and associated administrators who perform the official duties of investigating deaths of public interest in the United States (US). She noted that NAME promoted excellence in medicolegal death investigation and autopsy performance and was a voluntary accreditation process. She believed the accreditation was an honor and a significant achievement for an office, signifying to the public a high level of performance and competence in public service.
Dr. Knight reported that there were over 2,000 medical examiners and coroner offices in the US; however, only 82 of them were NAME accredited. She explained that the NAME inspection included 352 detailed and individual criteria regarding the facility, quality assurance, reporting standards, and administration. She noted that a qualified inspector, who was typically a medical examiner, performed a physical inspection of the facility while also investigating staffing, policies, and procedures. She stated that the ME’s Office received no deficiencies of any type and achieved a perfect score during its inspection in July 2025.
Dr. Knight acknowledged that the NAME accreditation was over a decade in the making, thanks to her predecessor, Dr. Ellen Clark’s vision, which made the new facility possible. Additionally, the ME’s Office was listed in the medical examiner system rather than a coroner system, as specified in Washoe County Code (WCC). She thanked her staff and indicated that they were dedicated professionals, and, without their contributions, the ME’s Office would not have the accreditation. She expressed gratitude towards Operations Manager Justin Norton, Administrative Assistant Chelsea Houston, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Clare Bryce, Medicolegal Death Investigator Supervisor Rudolph Bein, Medicolegal Death Investigator Supervisor Kelli Oxborrow, Medicolegal Death Investigator Supervisor Sarah Turner, and the County leadership team.
She explained that through staff support, the ME’s Office was allowed to focus on its mission to be a regional center of excellence in death investigation.
Chair Hill congratulated Dr. Knight and her staff. Commissioner Andriola presented Dr. Knight with the NAME accreditation certificate and noted that Dr. Knight had already recognized the hard work involved in receiving the NAME accreditation, providing exemplary service, and promoting high standards to the community.
On call for public comment, Ms. Annemarie Grant believed that her brother, Mr. Thomas Purdy, was murdered while in custody of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). She reported that her brother had a mental health crisis at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino and had asked for help. She noted that after he asked for help, he was hogtied and suffocated. She thought that the ME’s Office chose to protect law enforcement instead of telling the truth because her brother’s death was labeled as excited delirium by the ME’s Office. She asserted that excited delirium was rejected by the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and banned in California because it was not a legitimate medical diagnosis. She said that the ME’s Office witnessed the video of her brother's death. She speculated that excited delirium was used Nationwide to excuse killings by law enforcement. She mentioned that her brother was hogtied like a wild animal, and his life was taken. She pointed out that her family was not the only one impacted and that Mr. Nico Smith’s death was also labeled as excited delirium. She said that there had been 16 deaths at the WCSO and wondered how many were cover- ups or labeled as suicides. She opined that when an ME engaged in deception, it destroyed the public’s trust and guaranteed other families' suffering. She explained that her brother came to the area on vacation and left in a body bag. She believed that residents deserved a better ME who did not use discredited junk science to shield law enforcement. She demanded that the BCC open an independent review of Dr. Knight’s conduct and reliance on the label of excited delirium. She expressed that it had been almost ten years since her brother's death; however, it still felt like the first day. She asked that the BCC remember that her brother was a human being who deserved truth, a life, and an accurate record of how he was murdered.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 5B1 be accepted.
11:50 a.m. The Board recessed.
11:53 a.m. The Board reconvened with all members present.
25-0654 AGENDA ITEM 6A1 Michaela Tonking, IVGID Board Chair and Robert Harrison, IVGID General Manager to present an update on the services offered and financial updates from the Incline Village General Improvement District organization. (All Commission Districts.)
Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) Board of Trustees Chair Michaela Tonking and IVGID General Manager (GM) Robert Harrison conducted a
PowerPoint presentation and reviewed slides with the following titles: IVGID Venues & Operations Overview; Untitled Photo; IVGID’s Vision, Mission, Value and Mantra Statements; IVGID’s Board of Trustees; IVGID’s Senior Leadership Team; Demographic Data- Incline Village & Crystal Bay; How does IVGID support its amazing amenities?; Public Works; Public Works - Water & Wastewater Services; Public Works – Engineering; Community Services Venues; Diamond Peak Ski Resort; Incline Village Golf Courses; Parks & Outdoor Recreational Opportunities; Tennis & Pickleball Center; Incline Village Restricted–Access Beaches; IVGID Challenges & Opportunities; Thank you!.
Ms. Tonking introduced herself to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and explained her role as the IVGID Board of Trustees Chair. She mentioned that she was privileged to serve her second term in that position and to have grown up in Incline Village. She stated that Mr. Harrison had served as the IVGID GM for approximately seven months.
Ms. Tonking remarked that some things had changed since IVGID was initially asked to provide its presentation a few months prior. She acknowledged that while there was no slide in the presentation regarding IVGID’s financial situation, she wanted to discuss the topic, particularly because Commissioner Clark mentioned it. She reported that, as stated by IVGID’s Treasurer, the organization was placed on financial watch status by the Nevada Department of Taxation's (NDTs) Committee on Local Government Finance (CLGF) several months prior, which she acknowledged was not done without reason. She disclosed that IVGID had since completed its 2024 audit and provided it to the State. She explained that IVGID had also secured a new auditor since the contract with the previous auditor had expired. She disclosed that budget workshops were reinstated in 2025, where public input and comments were provided, with four sessions held throughout the winter. She described IVGID’s audit committee, which comprised members of the public and two members of the IVGID Board of Trustees. She noted that the audit committee provided oversight to ensure the audit process ran more smoothly than the previous year. She indicated that further progress was required to introduce a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, as the previous attempt in 2020 was less successful than the organization had hoped. She explained that the introduction of the ERP system had since been budgeted to ensure that funding was available for IVGID to contract with Tyler Technologies, so more progress and eventual completion of the system could be finalized. She reiterated her desire to address IVGID’s controls, as the organization had conducted a fiscal risk audit approximately 16 months prior, and the information had not been included in the presentation's slides.
Ms. Tonking introduced the IVGID’s Vision, Mission, Value and Mantra Statements slide. She explained that IVGID’s vision statement was designed to maintain the reputation of the community as an excellent place to live, work, recreate, visit, and invest. She read IVGID’s mission statement, noting that the organization was a fiscally responsible community partner that provided utility, service, and community-oriented recreation programs. She recited IVGID’s mantra of One District, One Team.
Ms. Tonking showed the slide titled IVGID’s Board of Trustees. She explained that IVGID’s Board of Trustees consisted of five members who served four-year terms and were elected on a 3-2 cycle. She stated that the IVGID Board of Trustees members had a lot of expertise. She explained that IVGID Trustee Ray Tulloch and IVGID Secretary Dave Noble both had utility experience, as Mr. Tulloch worked as a consultant for utilities and Mr. Noble formerly worked for the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of Nevada. She explained that Michelle Jezycki, Vice Chair of the IVGID Board of Trustees, had experience with human resources (HR), as she used to be an HR Director for the United States (US) Senate. Ms. Tonking explained that the IVGID Board of Trustees Treasurer, Mick Homan, was the former Chief Accounting Officer of Procter and Gamble. Ms. Tonking noted that she had a similar accounting background in school funding for several states across the Country. She said that all IVGID Board of Trustees members participated in the organization as a hobby for which they were paid a little bit, since they each had other full-time commitments.
Mr. Harrison greeted the Board and expressed appreciation for the Commissioners watching the presentation. He displayed the IVGID’s Senior Leadership Team slide and introduced himself, explaining that he joined IVGID at the end of January. He described his career, noting that he had worked in city management for over 30 years across three states. He stated that his most recent experience before relocating locally for his current role with IVGID was based in Yakima, Washington. He noted that he had the opportunity to meet some of the local administrative and elected leadership during his time in the region, who he thanked for being very responsive to IVGID when the district encountered issues and for always being willing to help. He voiced appreciation for that, as the experience locally had been very different than what he experienced with many other counties he had worked with throughout his career. He referred to the listed members of IVGID’s senior leadership team on the slide, noting that an image of himself was shown on the far left side. He introduced IVGID’s Director of Finance, Jessica O’Connell, reporting that she had over 30 years of financial experience in California, ranging from work as an accounting clerk to her current position as a finance director. He stated that IVGID’s Director of Administrative Services, Susan Herron, worked in various roles with the district for 30 years. He explained that Mike Bandelin, IVGID’s Director of Community Services, was most recently promoted to that position and had just won a legacy award from the association Ski California. Mr. Harrison noted that Mr. Bandelin had a career of over 30 years in the ski industry and had worked other jobs for the district for 10 years prior to that. Mr. Harrison described Mr. Bandelin as a very committed individual. Mr. Harrison introduced IVGID’s Director of Public Works, Kate Nelson, and explained that she had joined the district approximately four years prior, after working in the private sector.
Mr. Harrison showed the slide titled Demographic Data- Incline Village & Crystal Bay. He explained that the slide included data about the local community, including statistics for households, median age, population density, income, and racial demographics.
Ms. Tonking introduced the slide How does IVGID support its amazing amenities? and explained that she wanted to discuss IVGID’s facility fee, which had been
mentioned at the meeting during earlier public comments. She noted that the district used IVGID’s facility fee, which was divided into community services and a beach fee because different individuals had varied access to the fee’s related amenities. She reported that the facility fee was primarily used to deal with the district’s capital improvements and debt. She explained that IVGID kept the facility fee consistent from fiscal year (FY) 2011 to FY 2022 at $830 per parcel, before decreasing it to $780 per parcel in FYs 2022 and 2023 due to the district having excess reserves at that time. She recounted that the IVGID Board of Trustees lowered the fee further to a rate of approximately $450 per parcel in FYs 2024 and 2025. She noted that the district had lost much of its reserves and could not keep up with the region’s maintenance and infrastructure due to aging. She attributed the need to make up for the losses from the previous year to the recent fee increase. She noted that IVGID was given the ability to implement the increased fee through the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 318.197. She reported that IVGID followed NRS 318.210 to ensure that the matter was conveyed properly through open forum and discussion. Mr. Harrison said that, contrary to what had been stated earlier, the facility fee was entirely legal and had been tested throughout all levels up to the Nevada Supreme Court. He referred to earlier comments from Mr. Homan, who mentioned that the matter received a decision from the Nevada Supreme Court, where a $247,000 judgment was given for legal fees to be recovered by IVGID for what the district considered a frivolous lawsuit.
Mr. Harrison displayed the slide titled Public Works. He explained that IVGID’s public works began with fundamentals like sewer and water, which he opined every community needed to have and remained an important part of what was done at IVGID’s Public Works Department. He introduced the Public Works - Water & Wastewater Services slide and reported that the district had approximately 8,120 water users and 8,031 wastewater users. He noted that those services consisted of a relatively complicated system due to the region's variety of hills and environmental challenges. He explained that IVGID had limitations from the federal government related to where the district's wastewater could go. He noted that IVGID could not continue to discharge that waste into the Lake Tahoe basin and had to send it elsewhere via pipeline. He explained that IVGID recently completed the replacement of that system through a project costing over $40 million to transport waste to Carson City. He remarked that many years ago, someone had the forethought to purchase over 900 acres of land in Carson City, where the district’s wastewater was currently disposed of. Mr. Harrison showed the Public Works – Engineering slide. He explained that IVGID had an engineering team that conducted most of the district's capital projects and improvements, one of the largest of which was replacing a house at one of the primary beaches in Incline Village. He stated that aside from the fundamental public works, what made IVGID special was the vast community services the district offered.
Ms. Tonking referred to the Community Services Venues slide and explained that she would quickly read through its contents. She noted that there were additional slides describing the community services that the BCC could investigate further. She wanted to prioritize discussing how IVGID hoped to increase its partnership with the County and addressing matters that were mentioned by her constituents. She noted that IVGID had a ski resort, two golf courses, a recreation center, a tennis and pickleball center,
a boat ramp, a pool, and three beach locations offering paddleboarding and kayaking. She explained that slides detailing the amenities offered by IVGID would be reviewed quickly, and she encouraged the Board to enjoy looking through them.
Mr. Harrison referred to the Incline Village Golf Courses slide while noting the images of Incline Village’s golf courses. He introduced the slide titled Parks & Outdoor Recreational Opportunities by explaining that the district had a variety of recreational amenities. He referred to the slide’s listed offerings. He opined that the wetlands hunting program was interesting because the program converted 900 acres with 17 duck blinds that Incline Village residents and other citizens of Washoe County could lease from IVGID to engage in hunting on that land. He acknowledged the other listed recreational opportunities and explained that they were primarily paid for through the recreation and facility fees that IVGID charged. He asked the Board if he was still within the allotted time for the presentation or if the BCC was providing him with extra time. Chair Hill responded that the timer provided a general guide and confirmed that the Board wanted to ensure they heard the whole presentation.
Mr. Harrison introduced the IVGID Challenges & Opportunities slide. He referred to his earlier statements of gratitude for his chances to work with local appointed and elected officials. He acknowledged that, although IVGID had not had a significant opportunity to work with four of the Commissioners, the district had collaborated with Chair Hill on several matters, and her support was appreciated. He referred to the slide’s listed challenges that arose either directly or indirectly with IVGID. He described the need for transportation improvements and recalled a meeting held the day prior between IVGID and Sheriff Darin Balaam. Mr. Harrison explained that discussions were held during that meeting regarding two intersections that had caused some concern, including those on Southwood Boulevard and Incline Way and Southwood Boulevard and Tahoe Boulevard. He explained that the intersections could be improved, as near-miss accidents were regularly seen at those locations.
Mr. Harrison indicated that there had been a significant increase in electric bike (e-bike) usage in Incline Village. He stated that IVGID would gladly provide input and feedback on enhancing e-bike safety and regulation as their popularity continued to increase. He asserted that workforce housing was an issue for IVGID and the local business community. He reported that IVGID worked with the Incline Village-Crystal Bay Association to discuss opportunities for collaboration on workforce housing. He acknowledged that Commissioners had been actively involved in those matters, which were efforts IVGID supported. He provided an update on parking regulations and reported that the addition of boat parking at Diamond Peak Ski Hill that year had allowed individuals to lease a parking space so boats and trailers would not take up space in the street. He explained that the presence of those boats and trailers had caused challenges for pedestrians on foot and others within the community who rode bicycles. He thought it would be great to consider whether there were additional parking regulations for the streets in Incline Village that the County could implement. He appreciated the County’s continued support of IVGID’s senior programs over the years and noted an active community of senior
citizens in the area. He reported that Incline Village had many youth programs that IVGID supported.
Mr. Harrison stated that public records continued to pose an issue. He opined that some individuals in the community abused the public records process. He explained that a recently submitted public records request (PRR) was estimated to cost IVGID over $40,000 for their attorneys to review the records for redactions. He stated that the $40,000 could be invested in the community in several better ways rather than being spent on trying to have those public records reviewed. He noted that IVGID was willing to work with the Office of the County Manager (OCM) if they were considering public records action at the State Legislature to investigate whether some reform could be done.
Ms. Tonking thought snow removal was the only topic left to discuss. She was certain the Board would hear more conversations from IVGID on the matter as the winter season approached. She opined that the sooner the district could start working on pathways, the better, because many people at the town center walked instead of trying to drive through the ice and snow. She appreciated everyone's time and willingness to work with IVGID and thanked the Board.
Chair Hill thanked Ms. Tonking and Mr. Harrison, noting her appreciation for the overview. She described the presentation as great and explained that the Board had not been able to get presentations from all of the County’s multiple General Improvement Districts (GIDs). She acknowledged that Vice Chair Herman had requested the presentation and inquired whether Vice Chair Herman wanted to start the discussion or ask any questions. Vice Chair Herman indicated that she did not. Chair Hill thanked Vice Chair Herman for requesting the presentation. Chair Hill stated that more GIDs would present before the Board to inform them of what the districts were doing and how the BCC could support them.
Commissioner Garcia greeted everyone and thanked Mr. Harrison and Ms. Tonking for their time and patience. She prefaced her question with a request to forgive her ignorance, as she was operating from her knowledge and awareness of the Sun Valley General Improvement District (SVGID). She acknowledged that everyone would know that the SVGID operated their district's water, sewer, trash, and parks. She explained that the SVGID did not have recreation passes or punch cards despite those operations. She recalled visiting IVGID’s website to familiarize herself with who did and did not have access to the district’s offerings. She noted her service on the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission (WCOSRPC). She stated that it was very important to her that all constituents of every background and age had access to the amenities that were so desired in the community. She recalled that during the presentation, Ms. Tonking had described IVGID’s two branches of community service and beach fees and mentioned that certain people have access. Commissioner Garcia noted that on IVGID’s website, while looking specifically under the renters and tenants category, there appeared to be a form available for tenants to fill out with authorization from their landlord. She asked if she was correct in assuming that if she were hypothetically a landlord with a two-bedroom home
she was renting, she would then have the choice of whether or not she could issue a recreation pass to her tenants.
Ms. Tonking responded that all of IVGID’s facilities, except for the district's beaches, were considered public facilities, meaning anyone could utilize them. She noted that discounts were offered and were part of what was considered with the facility fee. She explained that residents of Incline Village with a picture pass received a discount, and landlords could decide whether or not to give that picture pass to their tenants, as the tenants paid the fee to their landlord to be in the area. She stated that the only purpose of a picture pass was to access certain deed-restricted beaches because the restriction had specific language defining who could access the beaches. She noted that because residents owned the beaches and IVGID only managed the activities there, owners had to determine who their guests were and who could have beach access, which she also attributed to the deed restriction.
Commissioner Garcia asked when the deed restriction began, and Ms. Tonking answered that it was implemented around 1968. Commissioner Garcia asked if that was when IVGID was established. Ms. Tonking clarified that the deed restriction began soon after the district was founded. She noted that the beaches were acquired a few years after IVGID was founded, with certain properties buying into the beach access while others did not.
Commissioner Garcia emphasized that she was not criticizing Ms. Tonking and thanked her for her service and for coming to the community to fulfill that role. Commissioner Garcia clarified that she felt it was strange that the County would have an amenity that was not available to the public. She asked whether Ms. Tonking said that IVGID’s parks, hunting, ski resort, and golf courses were all open, with the restriction only applying to the beaches. Ms. Tonking confirmed that was correct because the beaches were on deed-restricted land, making them slightly different from a public amenity. Commissioner Garcia asked if there had been any appetite or discussion about redoing the restrictions. Ms. Tonking stated that she did not think there was any desire for that, as she believed people were very protective of the deed restriction. Mr. Harrison clarified that all parcel owners living in Incline Village had access to those beaches, and it was only the general public who did not have the same access because of the deed restriction. He stated that it had been very important to IVGID to ensure the preservation of their community’s private access to those beaches. He noted that an individual had to be a parcel holder to be granted preliminary access. Commissioner Garcia commented that it was difficult for her to accept that the people in the service industry who were feeding, waiting on, and cleaning the rooms of everyone would not have access to a public amenity. She thanked Ms. Tonking and Mr. Harrison.
Commissioner Andriola thanked the presenters for coming. She acknowledged that she was unaware of all the details regarding how IVGID operated. She thanked IVGID for working with Washoe County Treasurer Justin Taylor on the transposition issue in IVGID’s fees. She asked about the status of those efforts, whether they had been finalized, and whether the time, overtime, and factors needing corrections
had been reimbursed. She commended IVGID for recognizing that there was a mistake and for the staff at the Treasurer’s Office immediately doing what they could to ensure that residents would be informed. She wanted to make sure everything had been rectified.
Mr. Harrison thanked Commissioner Andriola and explained that he really appreciated the response from Mr. Taylor and the Treasurer’s Office staff. He disclosed that IVGID experienced an unfortunate transposition error between the district’s two fees. He reported that IVGID received a bill and had a conversation related to the variance between staff overtime costs and straight time costs. He believed those matters had been processed and stated that IVGID was paying for all out-of-pocket expenses and overtime costs associated with the Treasurer’s Office staff redoing the work. Commissioner Andriola opined that was great and asked whether the invoice for the time allocations had also been processed, as the Treasurer’s Office staff had been taken away from their standard work to rush and accommodate the situation. She did not know what the classification for that work would be. Mr. Harrison thought the total cost for overtime was approximately $8,000 in addition to the out-of-pocket expenses.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Mr. Harrison for his cooperation in working through that issue. She wanted to voice appreciation for Mr. Taylor, Mr. Harrison’s leadership and time, and the IVGID Board of Trustees. She mentioned that Mr. Harrison’s sharing of the IVGID Trustees' professional experience was very helpful in understanding what they contributed to the board. She explained that being on the PUC was a very regulatory role, and she suspected it was likely one of the most highly regulated positions in the State of Nevada. She acknowledged Ms. Tonking’s financial background and noted the expertise she brought as the IVGID Board of Trustees Chair. Commissioner Andriola asked Ms. Tonking if she was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Ms. Tonking replied that she was not. Commissioner Andriola reiterated Ms. Tonking’s financial background, which she supposed the IVGID Treasurer also had in their role.
Commissioner Andriola wondered about the transparency surrounding the potential misunderstandings or perceptions of IVGID’s financial audits and whether that information would be made available, as the district was a public entity. She noted that she would relate her question to the presenter's earlier point about public records. She mentioned that she sometimes thought about public entities providing more transparency and clarified that she was not implying that IVGID was not offering transparency. She indicated that she thought making the financial audit available for everyone on IVGID’s website would be beneficial and asked whether it currently was. Mr. Harrison and Ms. Tonking confirmed that it was available. Commissioner Andriola thought that was great and opined that it might be helpful if the presenters wanted to return to discuss the financial component of IVGID, should Chair Hill agree with that suggestion, as the matter was related to her district. Commissioner Andriola referred to Commissioner Garcia's earlier comments regarding how the GIDs were unique. Commissioner Andriola thought the unique framework of IVGID might make it helpful to provide explanations regarding where the district’s money was spent, how those things worked, and the district’s distinct expenditures. She noted Chair Hill’s prior mention of her strong commitment to talking about some things that had transpired, remaining watchful but conducting the financial
audit, and having controls in place that were still being followed. Commissioner Andriola thought it would be helpful to consider having the presenters return to give everybody an overview of those matters if Chair Hill agreed that doing so would be beneficial. Commissioner Andriola thought such a presentation would be helpful, as she believed that navigating governmental websites was not always easy. She noted the importance of informing residents that the information was available to them and taking the opportunity to allow them to learn and know it was there. She thought it was very important for public entities to respond to PRRs, and that offering more information as a commitment to transparency would allow for better targeting of questions and responses.
Ms. Tonking agreed and thought IVGID could bring its financial director for a presentation where they could also navigate the district’s website and show where a lot of that information could be found if Chair Hill decided that was the action she wanted to take. Ms. Tonking agreed with Commissioner Andriola’s earlier statement that navigating government websites to obtain the correct records was not the easiest task. She affirmed that IVGID could conduct the presentation, show the website, and provide an overview of the district’s fees. She noted that they were trying to host town hall meetings, with one held about a month prior, to show the capital work the district was doing, how and why the fees had fluctuated, get feedback from the community, as well as inform residents what the district was spending money on, what the costs of the fees were, and evaluate if that fit the community’s wants and needs.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Ms. Tonking and recalled that Ms. Tonking cited several statutes during the presentation. She asked whether any of the statutes or current policies outlined the level of audit IVGID had, as there were different levels of auditing.
Mr. Harrison responded that IVGID was a public agency, which meant they got audited. He explained that IVGID was meeting regularly with the CLGF for the NDT. He reported that IVGID would meet with the CLGF again the following Thursday to provide them with an update. He stated that IVGID believed in full transparency, which he appreciated Commissioner Andriola mentioning. He noted that IVGID thought there was some difference between abuse and the full transparency that every democracy needed to function effectively for the public. He stated that IVGID would happily return before the BCC to share the district’s finances with the County.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Mr. Harrison and opined that sharing the highest level of responsibility for the financial audit and how it was outlined was important. She reiterated that not everyone understood that there were different levels of auditing. She stated that a government entity was subject to the highest level of auditing that one would anticipate and expect. She thanked Mr. Harrison for his commitment to transparency and for what the district was trying to do, because that information was not in the presentation. She noted the importance of mentioning transparency and the taxation work IVGID was going through. She asked when IVGID anticipated being taken off the financial watch list. Mr. Harrison responded that it would likely take at least a year. He noted that one of the requirements was getting an auditor in place, which IVGID faced challenges with, given
the lack of ability to produce an audit. He reported that IVGID had found an auditor two years prior, who had since been working with the district. He noted that the auditor belonged to one of the top 15 largest audit firms in the Country. He explained that IVGID conducted a one-year self-imposed time and materials audit with that firm because the district wanted to show that it had improved. He explained that significant time was spent over the past seven months unwinding some of the work that had gone into a very poor ERP financial transition, which had since been completed. He reported that while the audit firm had already begun some of the work, IVGID could not meet the statutory deadline for the following year with that audit because the district had been so delayed. He affirmed that he expected IVGID would meet the statutory audit requirements the year after that and moving forward, as the audit firm would incorporate the district into its future timelines. Commissioner Andriola thanked Mr. Harrison for recognizing that there was a need to do what was necessary.
Commissioner Clark stated that the Board had heard a lot from citizens who had shown up at the BCC meeting that morning after driving down from Incline Village to put their comments on the record. He recalled that one of the citizens' allegations was that they had no control over what occurred in the area or the ability to challenge decisions. He asked for an explanation of how Ms. Tonking was elected Chair of the IVGID Board of Trustees. He noted that while Incline Village was part of Chair Hill’s district, none of the Commissioners lived in that area. He suspected he knew how that election happened, but wanted to get the information on the record. He thought there was an election in Incline Village and that all the IVGID Board of Trustees were elected officials, so if an individual was unhappy with what was taking place, they could support another candidate or run for office themselves to try to fix the issue. He asked if Ms. Tonking could provide an overview of that process. Ms. Tonking answered that the IVGID Board of Trustees was part of the regular election cycle. She explained that three members were elected the previous November and would serve a four-year term. She noted that two new people would be up for election in the middle of that four-year term, or every two years during what was considered a midterm election. Commissioner Clark asked for the total number of members of the IVGID Board of Trustees. Ms. Tonking responded that there were five members. Commissioner Clark noted that the number of members was similar to the BCC and reiterated that he wanted to get that on the record for those who said they had no recourse and could not do anything. He opined that those individuals could vote if they chose to. Mr. Harrison agreed and reported that there was recently an election for three seats on the IVGID Board of Trustees. He explained that the three incoming trustees were elected with 75 percent of the vote, which he thought was an overwhelming majority. He opined that the community reflected their intent to bring accountability to the local government through those election results.
Commissioner Clark asked whether Mr. Harrison had only served in his position for seven months. Mr. Harrison confirmed that was true. Commissioner Clark indicated that it seemed like Mr. Harrison had entered the role at a challenging time. Commissioner Clark stated that it sounded as though there were many unhappy people and noted that he had heard about the matter for years. He recalled that the Board heard comments from a public speaker and acknowledgment from the District Attorney’s (DAs)
Office that the issue had been occurring for 13 to 15 years. Commissioner Clark understood that there was a resident in Incline Village who wrote a book about it that was recently published. He reiterated that there were many unhappy people in that area. He thought it was incumbent upon the IVGID Board of Trustees and IVGID staff to try to make those residents pleased with what was occurring in Incline Village. He emphasized the number of displeased residents and noted that they did not come to feel that way overnight. He suspected that those issues might have been happening since IVGID’s inception, but acknowledged that he was uncertain, as he did not live in that area. He noted that it seemed like the question of finances and audits was always the issue. He opined that it did not sound good that the State of Nevada was investigating IVGID’s finances and had placed the district on the financial watch list. He stated that it was not appealing to the public, and it was IVGID’s responsibility to figure out how to get their support.
Commissioner Clark stated that he liked what Commissioner Garcia had mentioned about the access to amenities for everybody, as he found the current situation disagreeable. He opined that an individual might float to the area from the water, land on the restricted beach, and hang out before leaving when they were done. He opined that the entire idea of exclusion seemed off when related to State resources.
Commissioner Clark asked how many audits were available and whether an individual could examine IVGID’s finances from 1965 to the present. He inquired if IVGID had records for that information, should somebody want to see it. He reiterated that the presenters had inherited the issue, as Ms. Tonking was a new IVGID Board of Trustees member and Mr. Harrison had recently begun his position. Commissioner Clark noted that whatever had happened before they began their role was in the past. Commissioner Clark referred to Commissioner Andriola’s earlier point about transparency. He advised that individuals should exonerate themselves if they become aware of another person committing any wrongdoing. He theorized that the truth needed to be revealed, and people should not be shielded from blame. Commissioner Clark opined that the best way to move forward was for IVGID board members to acknowledge what happened in the past, but inform people that IVGID was doing the right thing now.
Commissioner Clark asked for information about the 900 acres of land that was purchased in Carson City. He inquired if that land was located near East 5th Street by the Nevada State Prison. He questioned whether that was the basin they referred to and asked where it was located. Ms. Tonking responded that the land was closer to the Johnson Lane area. She described that the land went through a nearby golf course in Clear Creek and ended in a wetland. She noted that duck hunting was done in the area three times a week during the hunting season. She stated that anyone in the area could sign up to participate, with residents eligible for a discount. Commissioner Clark noted that he was familiar with that area but had also seen a water treatment facility with holding tanks near East 5th Street. Ms. Tonking did not think those water tanks belonged to IVGID, which Mr. Harrison affirmed. Ms. Tonking noted that IVGID had recently completed redoing its pipeline a few weeks prior because all of the district’s wastewater had to be brought down from Incline Village. Commissioner Clark asked if the ponds in the area Ms. Tonking described were where IVGID discharged the waste. He inquired whether there was any
chance of the wastewater escaping into the Carson River. Ms. Tonking noted that the ponds in that area were filled with clean, treated water. She explained that IVGID had a water treatment plant within the district, which was funneled down through pipes to be used by the golf course and other ranches while transported to IVGID’s land.
Commissioner Clark asked Mr. Harrison to tell the BCC more about what he had previously mentioned regarding public record reforms. Mr. Harrison responded that IVGID appreciated the advice that the Board provided about transparency, as the district also believed that the best government was one that was open. He opined that trust was built by being transparent with all of the district's documents. He reported that IVGID had all of the district's audits, dating back many years. He thought IVGID likely received approximately 85 PRRs for the year, some of which were easy and could be produced quickly, while others were more akin to requests for data rather than records. He noted that in many cases, IVGID would not respond to such a request, as the only response the district could provide would be an apology, since such a request was not necessarily for a record. He explained that the other type of PRR was what he considered abusive. He referred to the individual who wrote the book Commissioner Clark mentioned previously, noting that the same person placed the $40,000 PRR on IVGID. Mr. Harrison stated that complying with the law costs a significant amount of money, and he reported that IVGID had few staff members. He explained that IVGID had a clerk dedicated full-time to the district’s records and an administrative services director who oversaw and engaged in some of that work as well. He stated that IVGID’s goal was always transparency and to produce those records as quickly as possible, but emphasized that $40,000 was a lot of money for the district.
Commissioner Clark wanted to put his support for PRRs on the record. He opined that taxpayers paid for the compilation and storage of the records, and citizens had every right to see them. He thought that the restriction of public records was often abused, particularly by bureaucratic people, and clarified that he was not saying that Mr. Harrison would do so. He noted that if IVGID wanted to support transparency, the distribution of public records should be available. He suggested that if it costs IVGID thousands of dollars to compile the records, the district should consider its method for storing records and investing in ways to make them easily retrievable so that it would cost less. Mr. Harrison responded that Commissioner Clark provided good advice, but he countered that the suggestions did not address IVGID’s problem. Mr. Harrison explained that the issue was the requirement for IVGID’s legal team to review the records for redactions, which was the primary cost. He noted that IVGID had the systems in place to respond to PRRs, and the district had entirely remade its website the year prior to make it easier for citizens to request records. He reiterated that the redaction process was required by law and had a cost associated with it that IVGID could not recover from. He explained that it was not that IVGID did not want to provide the requested records; the district just asked for more definition in PRRs rather than producing every affiliated document. He noted that the individual mentioned by Commissioner Clark was welcome to the records, but it would cost IVGID a lot of money. He explained that, as IVGID considered opportunity cost, the
$40,000 from a single PRR could be invested in many better ways.
Commissioner Clark indicated that he disagreed with Mr. Harrison on the matter. He compared Mr. Harrison’s thoughts on PRRs to the problem he faced with the County when attempting to get public records. Commissioner Clark noted that he was an elected official, and he also had to file for PRRs. He recalled being told somewhat recently that he would have to wait eight or nine months to be given the records he requested. He expressed that he knew how frustrating it was to be the person submitting PRRs and noted that the issue had two sides.
Chair Hill thanked Ms. Tonking and Mr. Harrison, noting the Board’s appreciation for the explanation of how IVGID worked. Chair Hill stated that the BCC looked forward to continuing the dialogue. She wanted to add to Commissioner Garcia’s earlier questions. Chair Hill explained that she knew there had been a public swim day in the past for all kids in Incline Village, regardless of whether or not they were residents of the area. She expressed uncertainty about whether IVGID was considering hosting that event again, and she noted that the swim day had to be relocated to Sand Harbor because the children in the community whose families were renting could not participate in IVGID’s event. She voiced her concern for community members who worked and lived in the community but could not access all the amenities.
Ms. Tonking responded that IVGID had its legal counsel review that area. She explained that the event was a swim safety day hosted by the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD). She explained that the event was reinstated to ensure that it could be held. She noted that IVGID formerly had employee beach access at the district’s beaches, but the prior IVGID Board of Trustees removed that due to fear of breaking the deed restriction. She explained that some legal work had been done on the matter, and IVGID had since asked residents to sponsor those employees as their guests. She explained that would allow the sponsored employee to pay the fee and be given access. Chair Hill thanked Ms. Tonking for her work in trying to be more inclusive. Chair Hill noted that she would continue to talk with Ms. Tonking about other issues.
Commissioner Clark mentioned the discussion about IVGID’s public swim day that used to be held for the community and asked if the district still held that event. Ms. Tonking responded that it was not a public swim day. She clarified that the event was for water safety and hosted by NLTFPD. She explained that the event had always been held at IVGID’s beaches in the past, but approximately three or four years prior, it was moved to Sand Harbor because of the factors Chair Hill previously alluded to and the actions of the prior IVGID Board of Trustees. Ms. Tonking elaborated that the current IVGID Board of Trustees had since sought legal counsel to ensure the event could be held again. Commissioner Clark asked for confirmation on whether the event would return. Ms. Tonking confirmed that it had returned, noting that the event was held in May. Commissioner Clark offered Ms. Tonking suggestions for other opportunities to engage the rest of the County, including a swim day for County employees, Commissioners, fire department staff, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) personnel.
Chair Hill thanked Ms. Tonking and Mr. Harrison and indicated that the Board would speak with them again soon.
Deputy County Clerk Evonne Strickland reminded Mr. Harrison that he had asked for a document to be distributed to the Board and placed on file with the Clerk. Ms. Strickland asked if Mr. Harrison wanted to speak about that document.
Mr. Harrison thought the Board already had the document, which outlined the history of IVGID’s facility and recreation fees. He noted that IVGID had two fees and explained that individuals living in Crystal Bay did not have access to IVGID’s beaches in Incline Village, so they were not charged the annual beach facility fee, whereas all other residents were. He noted that the document had two columns, with the first displaying what everyone in Incline Village paid. He stated that the second column showed costs without the beach fee included for those living in Crystal Bay. He wanted to demonstrate that there was a lot of history to the fee, which had not fluctuated much until the previous few years. He recalled that the fee was consistently maintained at $830. He stated that he intended the document to provide the BCC with additional data.
Chair Hill stated that work was being done on the e-bike situation. She encouraged continued collaboration and noted that the Community Services Department (CSD) had done substantial work on it. She urged Mr. Harrison and Ms. Tonking to inform the County of what it could do to support IVGID on that issue. Chair Hill noted that parking was constantly being discussed with the WCSO and was something she would follow up on. She referred to the snow removal issue for pathways in Incline Village and explained that a small snow removal machine was purchased that had broken down numerous times throughout the season. She recalled that requests were made for Placer County and other counties to lend their snow removal machines, which were also broken down. She emphasized that extensive effort was being put into the matter. She noted that there was a desire to work in partnership with the private companies doing snow removal and subsequently moving their snow on the pathways in Incline Village. She opined that more work could be done to collaborate on the matter. She thanked Mr. Harrison and Ms. Tonking again. Mr. Harrison noted that IVGID appreciated those efforts. He explained that as a GID, the district did not have police powers and relied on the County to put that in place. He thanked the BCC for working with IVGID.
25-0655 7A1 Approval of minutes for the Board of County Commissioners' regular meetings of August 19, 2025, and August 26, 2025. Clerk. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0656 7B1 Recommendation to authorize the Tax Collector to strike names and amounts identified on delinquency/uncollectible Personal Property Tax list for fiscal years 2018-2019 through 2022-2023, totaling [$145,700.78]. Comptroller. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0657 7C1 Recommendation to accept the Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) FY26 sub-grant award from the State of Nevada, Division of Child and Family Services in the amount of [$30,496.00; no
county match] retroactive for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 to support child abuse prevention services and activities; authorize the Director of the Human Services Agency to retroactively execute the subaward; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0658 7C2 Recommendation to accept an FY26 In Home Services – Representative Payee Services subaward from the State of Nevada, Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) in the amount of [$80,400.00;
$12,060.00 county match] from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 to provide money management and supportive case management to eligible individuals aged 60 or older in Washoe County; authorize the Director of the Human Services Agency to retroactively execute the grant award documents; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0659 7C3 Recommendation to accept an FY26 Differential Response subaward from the State of Nevada Division of Child & Family Services in the amount of [$172,545.00; no county match] retroactive to July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 to support Differential Response services to at-risk families in the child welfare system; authorize the Director of Human Services Agency to retroactively execute the sub-grant agreement and related documents; and direct Finance to make necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0660 7C4 Recommendation to accept the FY26 - FY27 Fourth Amendment to Grant Agreement for the Fund for Healthy Nevada award from Nevada Clinical Services, Inc. through the State of Nevada, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Public and Behavioral Health in the amount of [$221,969.00 in FY26 and $222,597.00 in FY27; no county match] retroactive to July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027 to support a healthy meal program to the residents of Men’s and Women’s CrossRoads Program and Senior Services; retroactively authorize the Director of the Human Services Agency to execute the grant award; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0661 7D1 Recommendation to retroactively approve a two-year Interlocal Contract between Washoe County and the State of Nevada acting by and through the Nevada Division of Forestry and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, effective July 1, 2025 in the amount of [$41,378.00] per fiscal year, for a total amount not to exceed [$82,756.00], for the purpose of participating in the Wildland Fire Protection Program, in which the State provides fire incident resources, equipment and financial assistance in the mitigation of wildland fire incidents. Manager. (All Commission Districts).
25-0662 7D2 Recommendation to approve transfer of collected 12% indirect costs on salary from eligible approved projects from October 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, totaling [$83,330.56], from ARPA-SLFRF Awards to the General Fund. These include Public Defender Personnel $41,185.94; Juvenile Services Mental Health $10,723.73; Community Reinvestment_RevRec $31,420.89.
According to the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Compliance and Reporting Guidance, recipients are permitted to charge both direct and indirect costs to their SLFRF award as administrative costs if they are accorded consistent treatment per 2 CFR 200.403. Indirect costs are general overhead costs of an organization where a portion of such costs are allocable to the SLFRF award such as the cost of facilities or administrative functions like a director’s office.
Washoe County’s indirect costs are collected at a rate of 12% on the base salary of grant funded positions provided by ARPA-SLFRF. Indirect costs are collected as an offset to the positions funded in Community Reinvestment by the General Fund.
And, if approved, direct Finance to make necessary journal entries and unbudgeted transfers. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0663 7D3 Recommendation to approve, pursuant to NRS 244.1505, Commission District Special Fund disbursement in the amount of [$7,500.00] for Fiscal Year 2025-2026; District 3 Commissioner Mariluz Garcia recommends a [$5,000.00] grant to STEP2 – a nonprofit organization created for charitable, religious, or educational purposes – to support the mission of breaking the cycle of addiction and violence in families, by empowering women to build and maintain a clean and sober life; and a [$2,500.00] grant to New Revival Church – a nonprofit organization created for charitable, religious, or educational purposes – to support the food pantry, Willa Mae’s Closet, and school partnership taking place at Operation Revival in Sun Valley; approve Resolutions necessary for same; and direct Finance to make the necessary disbursements of funds. Manager (Commission District 3).
25-0664 7E1 Recommendation to accept a fiscal year 2026 Office of Traffic Safety grant award [amount not to exceed $20,000.00, $5,000.00 County match required] as administered from the State of Nevada Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety, Federal FY 2026 project number 69A37523300001640NVA, to enhance traffic enforcement focused on apprehending impaired drivers and reducing traffic crashes caused by impaired driving for the grant period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026; authorize the Sheriff to retroactively execute the award document; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Sheriff. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0665 7E2 Recommendation to accept a fiscal year 2026 Office of Traffic Safety grant award [amount not to exceed $15,000.00, $3,750.00 County match required] as administered from the State of Nevada Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety, Federal FY 2026 project number 69A37524300004020NV0, to enhance traffic enforcement in school zones within the Washoe County School District; provide education to students on best practices for walking, bicycling, and using other modes of non- motorized travel to arrive at school safely; and provide information to vehicle operators on safe driving behaviors to practice in and around school zones and school routes for the grant period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026; authorize the Sheriff to retroactively execute the award document; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Sheriff. (All Commission Districts.)
On the call for public comment, Ms. Tracey Thomas displayed an image, a copy of which was placed on file with the Clerk. She indicated that her displayed image was originally for Agenda Item 13, which was pulled; therefore, she wished to use it for Agenda Item 7E1. She said that there was a training program that allowed employees to become staged impaired drivers, enabling the Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy (NNLEA) to test the volunteers to learn how to handle situations involving potentially impaired individuals. She noted that the facility where the program took place hosted numerous programs from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD). She believed that an easement through the middle of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) would cause issues and thought that it would be better to locate the easement along the edge of the property or connected to Sagehen Lane. She did not believe that a road through the EOC was beneficial because the EOC parking lot was often full of vehicles and personnel during emergency events. She expressed appreciation for the WCSO and TMFPD programs. She pointed out that her image displayed a smooth and gradual decline that connected to Sagehen Lane, which would be better for an easement.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Vice Chair Herman, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Consent Agenda Items 7A1 through 7E2 be approved. Any and all Resolutions or Interlocal Agreements pertinent to Consent Agenda Items 7A1 through 7E2 are attached hereto and made a part of the minutes thereof.
25-0666 AGENDA ITEM 8 Recommendation to: 1) accept the State of Nevada, Division of State Parks, Land and Water Conservation Fund LWCF 32- 00413 “Swan Lake Acquisition & Development” grant [in the amount of
$1,106,000.00 with a Washoe County cash/in-kind match in the amount of
$1,106,000.00, equaling 50% of the $2,212,000.00 project total]; 2) approve the Project Agreement with a grant period from execution through August 4, 2028; 3) authorize the Director of the Community Services Department
[Eric Crump] to sign the Project Agreement and any subsequent documents related to the grant on behalf of the County; and 4) direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. The LWCF grant funding will be used to purchase a 13.325-acre property located at 0 Lear Boulevard, Reno, Nevada (Assessor Parcel Number 568-100-12) for inclusion into the Swan Lake Nature Study Area. Grant funds will also be used for construction of a raised boardwalk, interpretive sign replacement, and design work for drainage improvements and restoring Horse Creek where it crosses County property. Community Services. (Commission District 5.)
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 accepted, approved, authorized, and directed.
25-0667 AGENDA ITEM 9 Recommendation to: 1) adopt Resolution R25-101, declaring Washoe County’s intent to convey a portion of Assessor Parcel Number 021-270-44 (Dedication Area 2 (+/- 76,210 square feet) and Area 3 (+/- 79,048 square feet) as identified on the Dedication Tract Map of Alexander Lake Road) to the City of Reno, without charge, for use as a planned public roadway and right-of-way within the Talus Valley residential development, pursuant to Nevada Revised Statute 277.053; and
2) approve Washoe County’s authorization of the Dedication Tract Map of Alexander Lake Road as the property owner of Dedication Area 2 and Dedication Area 3. Community Services. (Commission District 2 and 4.)
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 9 be adopted and approved.
25-0668 AGENDA ITEM 10 Recommendation to accept an FY26 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) subgrant award from the State of Nevada, Division of Child and Family Services in the amount of [$415,000.00; $103,750.00 county match, including up to $30,000.00 for participant gift cards] retroactive for the period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 to support victim services including emergency assistance to include housing assistance, locksmith services, non-county travel, case management, mental health services, gift cards for groceries and relocation fuel and food; authorize the Director of Human Services Agency to retroactively execute the sub-grant agreement and related documents; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (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 accepted, authorized, and directed.
25-0669 AGENDA ITEM 11 Approve a request to initiate proceedings to amend the Washoe County Code (Chapter 50 – Public Peace, Safety and Morals) to increase the buffer between housing and open space in the area south of Golden Eagle Regional Park due to housing development encroaching on open spaces; and direct the County Clerk to submit the request to the District Attorney for preparation of a proposed ordinance, pursuant to Washoe County Code Section 2.030 and 2.040. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
Commissioner Andriola indicated that she, Assistant County Manager (ACM) David Solaro, and Interim County Manager (ICM) Kate Thomas were committed to the safety of Golden Eagle Regional Park (GERP) with the assistance of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), the City of Sparks, the tribal communities, the United States Forest Service (USFS), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). She noted that everyone was working together to ensure the GERP was a safe place, and she wished to recognize the hard work involved over many years in creating a designated shooting facility and safety solutions.
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 directed.
25-0670 AGENDA ITEM 12 Recommendation, in accordance with NRS 244.1505 and NRS 433.742, to de-obligate previously approved allocations of Washoe Opioid Abatement and Recovery Funds (WOARF) non- bankruptcy funds through the One Nevada Agreement in the amount of [$442,716] for the Northern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance Building Communities of Support project that no longer needs the previously approved levels of funding and to approve allocation of Washoe Opioid Abatement and Recovery Fund (WOARF) non-bankruptcy funds through the One Nevada Agreement, in the total amount of [$442,716], to The Reno Initiative For Shelter And Equality for the Building Communities of Support project; approve associated resolutions, and authorize the County Manager to sign necessary award documents.
And, if approved, direct Finance to make necessary net zero cross-fund and/or cross-functional budget appropriation transfers and budget amendments. Manager. (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 12 be deobligated, approved, authorized, and directed.
25-0671 AGENDA ITEM 13 Recommendation to consider an easement purchase and sale agreement between Washoe County (“Grantor”) and Dandini Spectrum Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation (“Grantee”) (DSH) for design, construction, installation, use and maintenance of a requested emergency access road, including relocation of an existing public utility easement and associated improvements over, across and through a portion of Washoe County property Assessor’s parcel number (APN) 520-250-31, (5100 Spectrum Boulevard, Regional Public Safety Training Center) located at the terminus of Spectrum Boulevard Reno, Nevada at a cost of [$650,000.00]. Said easement request would provide for emergency ingress/egress to the adjacent City of Reno approved residential development; and if approved, authorize the County Manager to execute all necessary documents. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
This item was pulled.
25-0672 AGENDA ITEM 14 Recommendation to (1) approve a new FY26 Capital Improvement Project – Washoe County Special Operations Division Hangar approved by the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) committee September 3, 2025; (2) accept the Hangar Sale Agreement dated September 18, 2025 between the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (“Seller”) and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (“Buyer”) for the purchase of the permanent structure known as Hangar 5 (approximately 39,600 sq ft) at the Reno-Stead Airport in the amount of $1,750,000.00; (3) accept the Noncommercial Ground Lease at Reno-Stead Airport for a proposed fifty
(50) year Ground Lease Agreement with the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority for a 2.12+/-acres (92,350SF) site which would allow the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to use the premises for the purpose of housing Hanger 5 for RAVEN operations, secure storage Special Operations assets, a controlled environment for rapid deployment, training and general office related activities for the proposed lease period of October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2075 at $29,100.00 per year received as mutually agreeable in-kind services provided by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to be negotiated annually at equal or greater than the rent; (4) accept a direct grant award [$1,500,000.00, no match required] from the William N. Pennington Foundation to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office through the Washoe County Honorary Deputy’s Association for the purchase of Hangar 5 from the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority from the grant dated June 10, 2025; and if approved, direct Finance to make the necessary net zero cross-functional budget appropriation transfer and budget amendments [net impact to the
general fund $0.00]. Sheriff. (All Commission Districts.)
Chair Hill indicated that Agenda Item 14 had been in development for quite some time and asked Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Sheriff Darin Balaam if he had any additional comments.
Sheriff Balaam noted that the WCSO had been working on the sales agreement of Hangar 5 for almost two years. He said that the WCSO’s current hangar was too small to hold the four aviation helicopters in use. He reported that the William N. Pennington Foundation had kindly provided a grant that allowed the WCSO to purchase Hangar 5, which provided them with the opportunity to store the aviation units, regional bomb squad, special weapons and tactics (SWAT) assets, search and rescue assets, and, hopefully, a mobile command post in one location rather than various buildings. He thanked the William N. Pennington Foundation for the grant.
Chair Hill congratulated Sheriff Balaam on the great work and expressed how lucky the County was to have a generous community.
Vice Chair Herman congratulated Sheriff Balaam on the purchase of
Hangar 5.
Chair Hill thanked the William N. Pennington Foundation and reiterated her appreciation for their partnership. She expressed gratitude towards the dedicated staff and partners involved in assisting the County during a budget deficit. She asked Sheriff Balaam if any United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations would take place at Hangar 5. Sheriff Balaam indicated that there would be no ICE operations conducted at Hangar 5 and noted that it would only house specialized equipment for special operations.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 14 be approved, accepted, and directed.
25-0673 AGENDA ITEM 15 Public Comment.
Ms. Tracey Thomas indicated that President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14287 titled Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens was created to protect the sovereignty of the Nation, the safety of the citizens from international cartels and other transnational criminal organizations along the southern border of the United States (US), and against terrorists or other malign actors who intended to harm the US and American people. She noted that anyone who violated the US’s immigration laws and entered the Country illegally had committed a crime. She believed that the cartels took advantage of the US’s weaknesses by exploiting citizens of other nations and their families through coercion and threats. She recalled conversations with the construction industry that
allowed a builder to contract with one person who was responsible for assembling a crew that was under the control of the cartels, which required the builder to pay and use criminals. She believed that the only way to stop the cartels from victimizing their own people was to prevent the cartels from getting away with their actions. She felt that political extremists made public comments from paid scripts that only protected cartels and not the deported individuals. She thought that the Democrats’ purpose was to promote fake propaganda that set targets on local law enforcement who were merely enforcing laws. She asserted that all policies and practices that favored aliens over American citizens must cease. She speculated that the only people kidnapped and disappearing in the US were those being trafficked for pedophiles or used for organ harvesting. She said that people were hijacking terms used for real issues, and it was desensitizing the community against those who organized pedophile trafficking rings. She encouraged the Board to educate themselves on the seriousness of the pedophile epidemic from websites such as awakenedjustice.org, ourrescue.org, and timtebowfoundation.org.
Mr. Nicholas St. Jon was not present when called to speak.
Mr. Bryan Grant indicated that his uncle, Mr. Thomas Purdy, was murdered by the Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO). He recalled that his uncle was the father of two children and had come to Reno on vacation, but instead of flying home in a plane, he flew home in a body bag due to the negligence of the WCSO. He said that his uncle was hogtied while four 240-pound (lb) deputies got on his back and smothered him. He noted that the WCSO defended their actions and claimed that his uncle kicked them; however, he wondered how someone could kick when they were hogtied. He explained that others had experienced the same occurrences that his uncle endured, and he felt that the WCSO had a pattern of mistreatment. He said that there were 16 deaths since Sheriff Darin Balaam took office, and he thought that Sheriff Balaam had shown no accountability but instead had promoted the deputies involved in his uncle’s death. He also indicated that a WSCO Deputy was promoted after the death of Mr. Justin Thompson. He said that the WCSO continued to recommend the medical vendor that was involved in his uncle’s death. He pointed out that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) renewed the medical vendor’s contract for millions even though there were multiple deaths under their care. He thought that the County was protecting its image instead of executing justice.
25-0674 AGENDA ITEM 16 Announcements/Reports.
Interim County Manager (ICM) Kate Thomas reminded those in attendance that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting on September 23, 2025, was canceled and that the next meeting would be held on October 14, 2025. She indicated that the Library Board of Trustees (LBT) would finalize its fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget on October 15, 2025, and present it to the BCC in November.
Vice Chair Herman indicated that she had spoken to ICM Thomas about having Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) Chief Richard Edwards attend BCC meetings to provide updates pertaining to wildfires and fire prevention. ICM Thomas
relayed that Chief Edwards may be able to participate in the October 14, 2025, BCC meeting.
Chair Hill thanked everyone for a great meeting.
* * * * * * * * * * *
12:54 p.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:
Lizzie Tietjen, Deputy County Clerk Jessica Melka, Deputy County Clerk Heather Gage, Deputy County Clerk Brooke Koerner. Deputy County Clerk