BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA
TUESDAY 10:00 A.M. JANUARY 14, 2025
PRESENT:
Jeanne Herman, Vice Chair Michael Clark, Commissioner Mariluz Garcia, Commissioner Clara Andriola, Commissioner
Janis Galassini, County Clerk Eric Brown, County Manager
ABSENT:
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:
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Vice Chair Herman requested a moment of silence for those affected by the California fires. She believed the fires were horrendous and had caused grief. She indicated that the County was fortunate to have a good fire department and programs to clear brush. She thought the lack of brush clearing in California was a fire issue.
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25-0003 AGENDA ITEM 3 Public Comment.
Washoe County Library Branch Manager John Crockett displayed a document, copies of which were distributed to the Board and placed on file with the Clerk. He referred to the Incline Village Library document and said the library had partnered with the Washoe Tribe and local artist Ms. Sara Smith. He noted the mural created a culturally significant, unique space that honored the land's original inhabitants. He mentioned the library’s To Go Kiosk provided access to books, engagement, and excitement for early literacy. He reported that the library had added programs such as Paws 2 Read. He said that in 2024, the old library building was reopened as the Incline Village Community Center. He communicated that the library was a resourceful place because it offered opportunities for citizens to make public comments during the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) meetings.
Mr. Roger Edwards informed the BCC that he received another late notice regarding his water recharge bill. He noted that July would mark eight years since the program had been shut off. He felt the BCC invited legal issues by not addressing his concerns. He said he had been a North Valleys CAB member since January 2000. He did not know why the recent CAB meeting was canceled and felt cancellations were a recurring issue. He believed CABs were important for the community and thought that without them, there was a lack of continuity. He opined that CABs informed the BCC what was occurring in neighborhoods.
Mr. Terry Brooks recited a personal poem regarding money, education, and
homelessness.
Mr. Paul White hoped the BCC had read a recent article in the Reno Gazette Journal (RGJ) regarding the library. He said he did know what it would take for the BCC to address issues at the library. He noted that Karma Box and the Cares Campus were dropping off vanloads of vagrants. He mentioned the library offered unlimited pornography and asserted that Library Director Jeff Scott had lied to the BCC three times, as reported in the recent RGJ article. He reported that Mr. Scott noted the library would lose money if they did not allow individuals to watch pornography and stated that according to the Supreme Court, there was no obligation to allow pornography in a public library. He relayed that Mr. Scott said there were privacy screens on the computers and that librarians watched for inappropriate activities. Mr. White had spoken to six librarians who indicated the library policy stated they could not monitor or observe individuals. He said that black light searches were conducted at the library, which found evidence of masturbation. He indicated Media and Communications Program Manager Bethany Drysdale spoke about the stabbing of a homeless individual and said that more resources were being investigated. Mr. White felt that the homeless did not want anything to do with the Cares Campus or Karma Box. He encouraged the BCC to ask the Fire Department how many fires the homeless set every day. He said the BCC supervised the Cares Campus, but a Commissioner had tried to enter the Cares Campus unannounced and was not allowed in.
Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) Veterans Upward Bound Program Assistant Director Susan Elbe said she was attending the meeting instead of TMCC Director Robert Hernandez. She noted that Mr. Hernandez had been the Director of the Veterans Upward Bound Program since 1989. She indicated that the program was a part of the Federal TRIO Grant Program (TRIO) and that the program assisted pre-college veteran students with onboarding and application processes. She commented that the program also offered math and English tutoring, which was critical for those who had been out of school for more than five years. She thanked Vice Chair Herman for the contribution to the Veterans Upward Bound Program.
Mr. Craig Bronzan noted that he was a candidate for the Alternate Senior Advisory Board Member position. He mentioned that he was the Chair of the City of Reno Recreation and Parks Commission and had been involved with parks and recreation for over 50 years. He felt that one of his greatest achievements was his 2024 graduation from the Washoe County Leadership Academy. He reported that his daughter was a member of
the 2025 Washoe County Leadership Academy, and he believed that the staff assigned to the leadership academy were top-notch, wonderful, and inspiring.
Ms. Suzanne Boroughf felt the failure of Washoe County Question Number One (WC1) would be damaging to the library and the community. She believed the library was crucial because it was linked to the Strategic Plan regarding vulnerable populations and innovative services. She noted that South Valleys Library staff were helpful and knowledgeable. She observed card groups at the library, which she thought allowed for people to be social. She was part of a ukulele group that met once a week at the library and said the group was made up of mostly seniors. She communicated that the group was a great way to have fun, meet new people, and play music. She indicated that the ukelele group also practiced and volunteered at nursing homes. She was concerned that cuts to the Library’s budget, hours, and staff could impact the community.
Mr. Drew Ribar reported he had a lawsuit against Washoe County Library System (WCLS), Library Director Jeff Scott, and Build Our Center, Inc. He said he filed a notice with the Clerk seeking a Summary Judgement against Build Our Center, Inc. due to the lack of timely response. He noted that shortly after the Summary Judgement notice, Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Michael Large forwarded a message to another attorney. He commented that Sierra Crest Business Law Group’s Senior Attorney Alison Kertis then informed him that she was representing Build Our Center, Inc. He questioned how DDA Large knew to contact Ms. Kertis and felt it was unethical and outside the rules. He would be sending information to the Library Board of Trustees (LBT) regarding Mr. Scott’s approval of compensatory time for staff to attend a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) event. He informed the BCC to contact him if they would like to see more emails regarding the Library. He asked the Commissioners if they knew the WCLS had blocked five people from their social media posts because they did not like their comments. He speculated that Chief Deputy District Attorney (CDDA) Mary Kandaras knew about the occurrence. He believed the County had problems and claimed he had a lot of evidence. He asked if the BCC knew that Our Center gave free tickets for pride events to County staff.
Nevada Veterans Coalition Chaplain and Treasurer Sharon Serenko indicated that the Nevada Veterans Coalition was the Honor Guard at the veteran’s cemetery in Fernley. She reported that if they received the donated funds, they could further one of their projects to honor all veterans. She said the coalition maintained a small office in Fernley where veterans could seek advice and assistance with their benefits through Veterans Affairs (VA). She noted that the coalition also aided the cemetery when unforeseen events happened. She communicated that the coalition had replaced the batteries and the brake system for the cemetery’s electric vehicles. She commented that the coalition had provided thousands of dollars in equipment, manpower, flags, and cleanup services. She said the Honor Guard oversaw Wreaths Across America, the Memorial Day services at the cemetery, and said their focus was to honor veterans and their families. She informed the BCC that the members were volunteers and considered what they did a calling. She concluded that the coalition did not charge for services but accepted donations.
Ms. Alanna Fitzgerald displayed a document, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. She appreciated the BCC and Chair Hill for their work in the community. She felt the information in her document was important for the County’s strategic objective regarding vulnerable populations. She believed that the services provided assisted the community. She wanted the BCC to keep those services in mind when discussing the budget process.
Good Shepherd’s Clothes Closet President and Chaplain Chaz Blackburn was thankful to the community for raising $112,000 through grants and donations to help the Mission. He noted the Mission gave over $1.2 million worth of clothing to those in need. He informed the Mission was $4,000 under their budget and expenses minus the purchase of a $40,000 truck in a different year. He indicated that the Mission started a new partnership with the Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA). He wanted to help the Cares Campus strategically through programs and encouraged the community to contribute. He hoped the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) Wolfpack team would win their sports event that evening. He represented the Nevada Donor Network (NDN) and reminded everyone about organ and tissue donation. For those interested in learning more about NDN, he recommended they visit NVDonor.org. He encouraged the County to provide better education and communication regarding tax caps. He thought education would be beneficial for seniors because his aunt had overpaid her taxes since 2020. He praised and appreciated the Washoe County Opioid Abatement and Recovery Fund’s (WOARF) staff for their work.
Men’s Crossroads Program Manager Jimmie Drury was grateful for the BCC’s unwavering support. He believed the process of recovery could be very lonely and that Crossroads was focused on the community and addressing isolation. Support outside of the Crossroads community meant more than he could express. He hoped that people saw that Crossroads wanted to connect with the larger Washoe County area. He indicated it was Crossroads’ project and mission to have a stronger sense of solidarity outside of the program and that it was only possible with the BCC’s support. He thanked and appreciated the BCC.
Mr. Kevin Lystedt noted he was a Crossroads graduate and employee. Before entering the Crossroads program, he was addicted to drugs and alcohol and felt that his behavior was criminal and shameful. He had no hope nor any idea how to stop his addiction. He said Sober 24 got him into the Crossroads program, and while he was scared at first, he found out the program was what he needed to change his life. He hated his life before the program and felt he failed at fatherhood. He had hoped that he could be a good grandparent once recovered. He learned how to change his thought process, better react to obstacles, and care for himself through the program. He addressed his traumas and fears while accepting himself and was amazed by the brotherhood and support at Crossroads. He felt that the staff at Crossroads gave him every resource available to recover while being caring, encouraging, and firm when necessary. He was now a proud member of the Crossroads staff and was grateful to share his experience, strength, and hope with the men in the program. He woke up eager to face the day clearheaded and was excited for his
future. He had a relationship with God, and his family was happy to have him back. He was happier and healthier than he had ever been.
Mr. Steven Markley mentioned that before he started the Crossroads program, he was unhoused and an intravenous (IV) drug user. He was treated with dignity and compassion at Crossroads, which made him want to be a better person. He had attended nine recovery programs and felt that Crossroads was unique because they identified the individual’s needs. He felt victorious when he arrived at Crossroads and said they celebrated his success by pushing for growth. He could not emphasize the importance of having a program that was managed and guided by people with lived experiences. He felt that Crossroads could not exist without the BCC’s support and said that the BCC was a part of the Crossroads team.
Mr. Josh Shay read a personal letter regarding his time as an addict. He had felt shackled in fear and dependent on his addiction. He struggled to accept that the drug he was addicted to, for staving off his depression, could also take his life. He was torn between living and his addiction. The Crossroads program saved him and welcomed him with warmth and acceptance. Despite his instinct to run away, he stayed and was taught with compassion. He had never experienced the unconditional love that Crossroads gave him. He believed Crossroads saved his relationship with his family and had faith in him. He needed a solid foundation to grow and thought Crossroads provided that. He was committed to fostering growth and recovery to create a space where others could thrive and receive support.
Mr. Jose Cruz Carlos Villegas found out the community and the BCC financially supported his room and board at Crossroads. He was grateful for the support. He felt that he was constantly running away from his issues when he was addicted, but the Crossroads program made him feel like he was at home.
Mr. Michel Pedrozo was thankful for the help the BCC gave to Crossroads. He said his life would have been different if it were not for the support. He wanted to reciprocate the assistance he had been given. He was shown that the community was great, and he was proud of it.
Ms. Stephanie Myers noted that she was a Crossroads Women and Children graduate and a RISE employee. She had been an opioid drug user, a mother without her children, and had no will to live. After surviving an overdose, she realized that she needed help to recover. She expressed gratitude towards the Crossroads program and for the community support. She found meaning and purpose at Crossroads while developing tools to become healthy, happy, and confident in sustaining change. She hoped other people like her could find their way to Crossroads and thanked the BCC for their support.
Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN) Government Relations Shane Piccinini thanked everyone from Crossroads for their testimonies. He expressed gratitude towards the BCC for their gift to the FBNN and a continued partnership. He noted the FBNN served over 155,000 people every month and he never wanted to forget the great
support from the community. He encouraged everyone to take a tour or to meet the staff at the FBNN.
Mr. Timothy Brazil stated he was a fentanyl addict and had been through many experiences that made him want to give up. He tried committing suicide and overdosed many times. The Crossroads program allowed him to rebuild his life and speak to his children every day. He thanked the BCC for their support.
Mr. Tanner Ramociotti felt the BCC’s support had changed his life. Before the Crossroads program, he felt suicidal and had overdosed. He was now close to his family and was thankful for the support. He felt like an outstanding member of the community because he got help.
Ms. Trista Gomez felt the government was evasive, nontransparent, and unaccountable. She believed that Vice Chair Herman and Commissioner Clark voted for the needs and wishes of the residents. She mentioned that Commissioner Clark acknowledged and advocated for residents. She was glad the Housing Affordability Package 2.5A was postponed for further discussion. She reported the residents had to pursue legal disputes to be heard by the BCC. She noted that residents were not opposed to outcome-based programs, and she was happy to listen to the graduates of the Crossroads program. She encouraged paying attention to the outcome of money spent.
Mr. Bruce Foster displayed a document, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. He commended the graduates of the Crossroads program and felt it was important for them to get help. He recalled a meeting with Mayor Hillary Schieve regarding the homelessness issue and said that tough love was agreed upon. He mentioned that his daughter was addicted to methamphetamine and was taken to Elko for rehabilitation. He was thankful she was doing well. He witnessed homeless people lining up to enter the Downtown library. He recalled an article in the Reno Gazette-Journal regarding pornography at the library. He referred to Commissioner Andriola’s support of President Donald Trump but questioned if President Trump would support Commissioner Andriola. He said that a Republican in name only (RINO) was more dangerous than a Democrat.
Ms. Patricia Owens felt that the Library played an important role in her life. She indicated that it was a place of comfort, a source of information, friendly, and humble. She said she was technologically challenged and that the library staff was always helpful. She noted that the youth programs were wonderful and believed the programs improved the quality of life for everyone. She had volunteered at the Library for over 25 years and thought people appreciated the Library. She commented on the many amenities that made it a welcoming atmosphere. She felt that WC-1 confused people into thinking it would create a new tax. She hoped the BCC would not cut library resources.
County Clerk Jan Galassini advised the Board she received emailed public comments which were placed on file.
25-0004 AGENDA ITEM 4 Announcements/Reports.
Assistant County Manager (ACM) Kate Thomas pulled Agenda Item 7E1.
Commissioner Clark said he was inspired by the Crossroads program graduates' and employee’s comments. He felt the program displayed how County programs should be run. He wished the graduates continued success on their journey. He received an email from Chair Hill expressing that unless there was good reason for a Community Homeless Advisory Board (CHAB) meeting, there was no need for them. He believed that it would be beneficial for the Crossroads graduates to attend CHAB meetings. He was not a subject matter expert on homelessness but he thought the people on the streets could have insights into what it was like. He believed that the CHAB and Citizen Advisory Boards (CAB) were similar and wanted the BCC to be educated about helping homeless individuals change their lives.
Commissioner Clark addressed Mr. Roger Edwards’ comments regarding the water recharge program. He noted the County discontinued the program because nature recharged the water naturally. He apologized to Commissioner Andriola for mistakenly alleging Mr. Edwards was in her district. He felt there was a problem with the County charging late fees for a service that was not being offered. He believed that the problem needed to be resolved as there were larger concerns. He speculated that people in the neighborhood were not asking for a refund; however, they did not want to be billed anymore. He asked how much it cost the County to mail bills to those residents. He said it was always good to hear from Mr. Terry Brooks. He mentioned Mr. Paul White’s allegations regarding the Library. He felt the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) should act on the facts from Mr. White’s comments and that the BCC’s involvement with the Library was to appoint individuals to the Library Board of Trustees (LBT). He indicated that if anyone had concerns with the Library, they should address them with the LBT. He reported that the LBT Chair, Ann Silver, wanted to look at the budget and find out if there were cost-cutting opportunities. He did not think laying people off or cutting hours would be the result but said the budget needed to be looked at.
Commissioner Clark mentioned that when he was the Assessor, he had support from the Village League to save Incline Village, which fought for over $1 million in refunds. He reported that according to the Nevada Supreme Court, the refunds were due to excessive property taxes imposed by the County. Since becoming a Commissioner, he had experienced pushback and requested that the bullying stop, but he felt he was not heard. He recalled that on November 15, 2024, he was accused of recusing himself and storming out of a meeting. He declared that those statements were not true and were false accusations from a Commissioner who did not like him. He noted that the Commissioner labeled him as an arsonist on national news. He said he never stormed off the dais and had the film to prove it. He indicated that he had left after District Attorney (DA) Nathan Edwards stated he could not opine whether Commissioner Clark could recuse himself. He had spoken to Director of Human Resources Patricia Hurley and filed a formal complaint. He expressed that the misleading behavior needed to stop and that politicians should apologize when they were wrong. He had apologized to Commissioner Andriola many times and hoped she
would accept his apology. He communicated that in the past, he had apologized for many comments that were misconstrued as negative toward staff and asked for the same grace. He requested that the Chair be voted upon because he felt there was personal vindictiveness occurring against him. He wanted the Chair of the Board to be a one-year position instead of two.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Vice Chair Herman for the moment of silence and expressed gratitude towards the Crossroads program. She noted that it took the community, staff, and dedication to be successful. She attended her first Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) meeting and said they were conducting a session on January 16, 2025, regarding environmental services and air quality health management. She encouraged everyone interested to attend.
Commissioner Garcia felt that it was good to start the new year with a fresh start. She was looking forward to 2025. She congratulated two sworn-in colleagues and believed public service was not for the weak-hearted. She was amazed by the Crossroads program and felt that it took courage to share vulnerable experiences. She looked forward to seeing the new Crossroads facility soon.
Vice Chair Herman mentioned that she had supported Crossroads since its inception. She encouraged people not to feel bad about being nervous public speakers because she still felt scared being in front of a microphone. She felt the Los Angeles fires brought awareness to the inability to bring insurance to people in need. She felt the BCC was responsible for addressing insurance concerns. She requested that the BCC receive a presentation from insurance companies because there were people in the County who had lost their home insurance and had issues during fires.
25-0005 AGENDA ITEM 5 Presentation and possible direction to staff of the Washoe County Financial Outlook for Fiscal Year 2026 and Budget. The overview includes a review of the General Fund’s financial results for Fiscal Year 2024, a Mid-Year 2025 review, and economic, revenue and expenditure trends, Board of County Commissioner strategic goals, known cost increases, unquantified/outstanding cost impacts, and a general outlook for Fiscal Year 2026 and Budget. Finance. (All Commission Districts.)
Budget Manager Lori Cooke conducted a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed slides with the following titles: Fiscal Year 2026 Preliminary Financial Outlook (2 slides); FY 2024 General Fund Financial Results (2 slides); FY 2025 Year-to-Date Review (2 slides); FY 2026 Financial Outlook, Economic Outlook – National; Economic Outlook – State of Nevada; Economic Outlook – Washoe County; Strategic Planning Direction; Financial Outlook – Preliminary (2 slides); Fund Balance – General Fund; FY26 Budget Information – Preliminary (2 slides); Summary (2 slides); Next Steps; Questions/Discussion?; Supplemental Information – Conf. Board; Supplemental Information – Infrastructure Scorecard (4 slides).
Ms. Cooke read the Fiscal Year 2026 Preliminary Financial Outlook slide and pointed out that the fiscal year (FY) for the County and the State extended from July 1 of one calendar year to June 30 of the next. She specified that Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026) referred to the FY that would end on June 30, 2026. Ms. Cooke showed the FY 2024 General Fund Financial Results slide and explained that FY 2024 ended in a slightly better financial position than anticipated for a combination of reasons that were listed in the slide. She noted the County was still receiving Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds related to a flood in the North Valleys in 2017. She spoke about a Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirement that certain items, including leases, be identified as intangible assets. She said those items were included in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) that was presented to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) on December 10, 2024, and were reflected in multiple categories that had a net zero result. She noted that those items were relatively new and had only been shown that way for the prior two years. She stated that the Unspent Encumbrances category was comprised of anticipated income or expenses that remained unrealized as of June 30. She clarified that some contingency funds were used in FY 2024 but not the entire budgeted amount.
Ms. Cooke mentioned the December 31, 2024, close date on the FY 2025 Year-to-Date Review slide and noted that some data might change slightly, but the figures reported were mostly accurate. She articulated that the 46 percent figure for Revenues & Transfers In and 48 percent for Expenditures & Transfers Out were not unusual. She said revenue and expenses varied from month to month rather than representing a consistent twelfth of the budget. She pointed out the impact of the finalization of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Ms. Cooke shared that there was a lot of discussion and speculation about the economic forecast, even at the highest levels, and noted rate cuts from the Federal Reserve that occurred in 2024. She mentioned that local effects of large- scale economic factors, particularly upcoming federal administration changes, were difficult to predict. Ms. Cooke reviewed the Economic Outlook -State of Nevada slide. She clarified that Taxable Sales were a portion of the Consolidated Tax (c-tax) distribution that local entities received. She said c-tax was highly influenced by Clark County, which was the largest county in the State. She reviewed information on the slide that came from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR). She imparted that as the job market in Northern Nevada shifted towards new types of industries and more high-tech jobs, job seekers did not always have the skills needed to fill the available jobs. She noted that although people did not associate Nevada with farming, there was a robust agricultural job market, and the seasonal nature of that work impacted unemployment numbers. Ms. Cooke spoke about the Nevada housing market and said the perception of the market depended on what it was being compared to. She acknowledged that housing prices had increased, and she identified the existence of two parallel housing markets in Nevada.
On the Economic Outlook – Washoe County slide, Ms. Cooke clarified that the Reno metropolitan statistical area (MSA) included Storey County along with Reno and Sparks. She explained that inflationary impacts from prior years often flattened but did not typically return to their original lower levels. Ms. Cooke showed the Financial Outlook -
Preliminary slides and noted that the projected $27 million structural deficit included impacts of the CBA and other related trends in salary adjustments that were implemented due to findings from the Korn Ferry classification compensation studies. She theorized that inflationary impacts from prior years might continue to have an effect beyond what was calculated in the FY 2026 Base Budget. She highlighted significant increases in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) contributions, which she added would be further explored later in her presentation. She said that, as a PERS employer, contributions from the County were not discretionary. She added that adjustments to that contribution were not within the purview of the County or State but were overseen by the PERS board, and the rates were set by actuarial determination. She said the County received notice of the rate increases in December 2024 and tried to update budget forecasts accordingly. She emphasized that PERS contributions increased significantly and represented a large part of the benefit increases seen in the FY 2026 projections. She noted that the 83 percent projected for property tax and c-tax were standard and had been at that level for at least five years. She noted a typo at the bottom of that slide where NRS was written as NTS. In addition to the 15 percent increase in applications cited in her slide, Ms. Cooke disclosed that FY 2024 ended better than anticipated, which extended the timeline for adjustments to be made. She commented that the County was an organization that relied on personnel to provide services, and she noted the positive impacts of salary increases and the newly approved CBA on County Human Resources (HR). She shared that the number of applications for County positions increased 15 percent between 2023 and 2024 and disclosed that multiple County employees chose to postpone their retirement and continue working. She said the most recent employee survey revealed that 80 percent of the employees who responded were very satisfied with their wages and benefits. She reasoned that constant turnover had a negative fiscal impact and made it more challenging to provide services effectively and efficiently. She described that there were six Special Revenue and Proprietary Funds that were self-supporting and did not get a General Fund subsidy. She explained that all of those funds also had staff, and some had a higher percentage of people as part of their service delivery than others. She stipulated that the same analysis of requests, submissions, and forecasts done for the General Fund needed to apply to Special Revenue Funds and Proprietary Funds.
Ms. Cooke displayed the Fund Balance – General Fund slide and explained how the figures shown related to the previous slide. She said the top left corner of the slide showed a visual representation of projections from the FY 2025 Adopted Budget and highlighted the projected increase of General Fund deficits in FY 2028, FY 2029, and FY 2030. She warned that the trend had accelerated, and the Ending Fund Balance percentage originally projected for FY 2030 was now projected for FY 2028. She explained that she chose the yellow, red, and purple colors to represent the degree of concern, similar to a weather forecast.
Ms. Cooke displayed the FY26 Budget Information – Preliminary slides. She noted that although ongoing operations needed to be funded, adjustments could be made to service levels. She opined that implementing the multi-year CBA was good from a forecasting perspective and provided some degree of certainty concerning personnel costs. She stated that normal personnel cost growth projections accounted for merit
increases. She pointed out the significant increases in the PERS rates, particularly for police and fire department employees, which she said was sometimes called the public safety rate. She contextualized the increases by saying that if a police or fire department employee had a salary of $100,000, the County would be obligated to pay almost $60,000 in PERS contributions. She said the percentage was not insignificant. She added that the regular employee rate for FY 2026 was 36.75 percent, which equated to almost $37,000 for PERS if the employee’s salary was $100,000. She noted that those rates had escalated over prior years and had a large impact on various budgets. She clarified that the County was required to make PERS contributions and had no direct control over the increases. She remarked that agencies and municipalities that had a lot of expenditures related to police and fire personnel were going to be staggered by the increases. She reported that she was not aware of such significant increases in the past, and she did not know what was going to happen, given the unprecedented changes. She mentioned the State of the State address from Governor Lombardo was scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on January 15, 2025. She said she did not yet have the Governor’s recommended budget but expected to have it soon. She acknowledged issues with funding the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and alluded to slides later in her PowerPoint presentation that contained supplemental information about the shortfall and an updated Infrastructure Scorecard. She said the Community Services Department (CSD) worked with asset allocation to establish asset values and specify what the anticipated annual investment would be for each component. She expected infrastructure would be discussed at the BCC Strategic Planning Workshop on January 28, 2025. She explained that the Roads Fund was a Special Revenue Fund. She disclosed that it was experiencing structural issues that affected the ability of the County to maintain and invest in the roads. She noted the primary funding source for the Roads Fund was motor vehicle fuel tax, which she divulged was not keeping pace with costs. She recalled alerting the BCC to the issue, which responded by approving one-time funding to bolster the Roads Fund. She clarified that the revenue source was not ongoing.
Ms. Cooke showed the Summary slide and explained that, for a time, the County was unique in seeing increased c-tax receivables during COVID-19 (C19). She disclosed that there was not a revenue drop-off at that time, unlike during the Great Recession. She explained that c-tax had since slowed due to a combination of factors, including reduced consumer spending. She said the trend was discernable the prior year and had continued to flatten. She reported that there was direction from the County Manager to department heads to adjust accordingly. She conveyed that there were plans to change the budgeting process, and it would become more transparent from the Commissioners’ perspective. She noted that statutory deadlines were fixed, and her department would continue to provide updates and presentations to the BCC and talk with Commissioners individually. She informed the Board that starting in FY 2026, any savings within departments would not be available for reallocation. She described the reappropriation process that occurred in prior years. She said an attachment was presented annually with the audit that showed budgeted funds that were unspent at the end of the prior year and said those monies had been allowed to be reappropriated. She noted that the reappropriation from FY 2024 into FY 2025 in the General Fund was approximately $3.8 million, and she reasoned that the reappropriation process added uncertainty. She cautioned that issues needed to be addressed and savings needed to be found in other ways, including
updates to operations and policies. She advised that other measures, like hiring freezes and reduction plans, were not being recommended yet but could become necessary. Although she could not say with certainty that those measures would be needed, she felt it was prudent to state for the record that it was possible. She disclosed that she was aware that at least one agency had already implemented a fairly steep budget reduction.
Ms. Cooke showed the Next Steps slide and explained that March 25, 2025, was the target date for the Budget 101 presentation, which she hoped would be informative for both the public and the BCC. She advised that the presentation and discussion would provide a broad overview of the budget process but would not go into details about line items. She noted that April 15, 2025, was the statutory deadline for the County to submit the FY 2026 Tentative Budget to the State. She added that a presentation to the BCC of the Manager’s Recommended Budget was also scheduled for April 15, 2025. She stated there was a statutory requirement for a Public Hearing of the tentative budget to occur in May, no earlier than May 19, to meet the requirement for the final budget to be submitted to the State Department of Taxation by June 1. She said that the Five–Year CIP was presented to the BCC separately from the budget and was also submitted to the County Debt Management Commission (DMC). Ms. Cooke informed the Board that there were many related deadlines in addition to the high-level timeline she provided to the BCC that day.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Ms. Cooke for her dedication and praised her thorough understanding of the county budget. She expressed her enthusiasm about the Budget 101 session planned for March 25, 2025. She clarified that, even though the information Ms. Cooke shared was not joyous, she applauded the commitment to transparency and alignment between the County and the State of Nevada’s Open Checkbook. She recalled her request for a Budget 101 session and appreciated that request being granted. She hoped the session would be recorded and made available on the Washoe County Open Checkbook website landing page for anyone who was unable to attend but wanted to develop a deeper understanding of the County budget. She remarked that it was not surprising to any jurisdiction, including Washoe County, that c-tax was projected to decline. She theorized that federal administration changes might offer opportunities concerning consumer spending, business, and jobs. She noted the prevalence of unfunded mandates that sometimes arose from legislative sessions, and she hoped that would not happen with the upcoming session. She anticipated learning more during the Governor’s State of the State address the next night. She trusted that departmental leadership would evaluate their budgets to avoid duplicative services, identify efficiencies, and optimize the effective impact of services. She echoed Ms. Cooke’s observations that the County was in the business of customer service and provided essential services to the community. Commissioner Andriola observed that some County functions were required to comply with State or federal mandates. She acknowledged that return on investment (ROI) was difficult to discern for essential services, but she thought it was important to evaluate what was being done and how money was being spent. She reasoned that careful evaluation would enable necessary cuts to be made without impacting essential services. She predicted that there were opportunities for cross-functionalization and expressed her interest in seeing how budget projections developed as department heads had the opportunity to refine their strategies. She opined that the budget shortfall projections the County was facing were
unlikely to go away. She remarked on the commitment of County staff and cited Ms. Cooke and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Abbe Yacoben as examples. She appreciated the way County staff worked to do more with less, and she thought there was an opportunity to look at how customers could be best served through work that was even more efficient and effective. She recommended an external evaluation of processes to get a fresh perspective. She said that when people were so familiar with the status quo, it could be difficult to envision a different approach. She noted that there were many departments in the County and over 3,000 employees, which translated to a lot of moving parts. She viewed the upcoming circumstances as opportunities. She praised the County for its culture of conservative stewardship of the taxpayer dollar. She reported that she sat on many committees and commended the proactive work that was being done by the County’s financial team. She said she was eager to have the Budget 101 session, where the public would have the opportunity to understand the complexity of the County budget. She thanked Ms. Cooke for her time and for providing the information. She commented that she looked forward to hearing about the opportunities that would be found to meet the budget challenges creatively.
Commissioner Garcia thanked Ms. Cooke for her presentation. She asked when the County was notified about the Nevada PERS contribution increases.
Ms. Cooke recalled being notified in early December. She explained that the Nevada PERS board met in November, and official notification was sent to the County after that meeting. She spoke about the process her department used to conduct budget simulations for personnel, which included projected merit increases and PERS estimates. She said the model was robust and her department and Technology Services (TS) immediately prioritized making the necessary changes to be able to provide an updated forecast to the BCC. She revealed that the PERS increase was projected to be between $9 million and $10 million and would be shown in the General Fund. She noted there was an offset from employees who had to share in that increase, and she estimated the net impact would be between $5 million and $6 million.
Commissioner Garcia remarked that the increase was significant and observed the adjustments the County had to make with very little warning about the change. She asked how many years Ms. Cooke had been with the County. Ms. Cooke responded that she had been with the County for 25 years. She recalled the PERS rate was just over 20 percent when she first started, after which it decreased slightly, and then either stayed flat or increased. She offered to share historical information about the PERS actuary, which she mentioned was not available on the PERS website. The information was obtained by the Washoe County School District (WCSD) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mark Mathers, who requested it and shared it with her. Commissioner Garcia trusted that ongoing operations and services would continue to be funded and said she was pleased that outcomes were being seen from salary adjustments implemented based on the Korn Ferry classification compensation studies. She expressed her concern about the infrastructure needs throughout the County. She observed there were many assets throughout the County that were aging and needed repair, which she surmised was a tremendous source of pressure. She remarked that when there were so many services and ongoing needs
throughout the County, it was everyone’s responsibility to remain vigilant about the budget. She thought the Infrastructure Scorecard was a good tool for Commissioners and the public to understand areas of struggle better. She noted the bullet point Ms. Cooke included about the budget for parks, which, 15 years later, was still only at 65 percent of what it was before the Great Recession. She said that even though the discussion that day was primarily about the prior year, the present, and the years leading up to 2030, it was important to remember that the County was still feeling the impacts and constraints of the Great Recession. Commissioner Garcia echoed Commissioner Andriola’s observations that Ms. Cooke did a tremendous job creating and communicating budget forecasts for the County. She thanked her for taking the time to present to the Board that day.
Ms. Cooke thanked Community Services Department (CSD) Operations Division Director Aaron Smith for his help with creating the Infrastructure Scorecard. She agreed with Commissioner Garcia’s observation that the County was still recovering from the Great Recession and there were infrastructure needs to address. She recalled that the transfer from the General Fund to the CIP during the Great Recession was $0. She reasoned that although the County was previously able to withstand that type of budget restriction, it might not be possible to replicate similar cuts because the starting point was markedly different. She spoke about efficiencies that had already been implemented, including changes to departmental structure and service delivery. She noted that the County was required to adhere to legislative directives and serve a population that had increased, including in rural areas that extended to the Oregon border.
Commissioner Clark acknowledged the challenge Ms. Cooke had in presenting a large amount of information to the BCC, much of which was not positive. He observed that a lot of new construction had bolstered tax rolls along with an influx of C-19 money, and yet the County was still in a bad spot. He reported that there were 31 departments in the County when he worked at the Assessor’s Office. He recalled asking the County’s Human Resources department how many departments there were now and how many had been added in the last few years. He thought it was important to monitor those changes along with all other spending. He theorized that the County had added more departments and noted that, as a fiscal conservative, he understood what was taking place and was concerned. He remarked that if Ms. Cooke, with all of her experience, had been unable to predict the steep increase in PERS rates, it was unlikely that anyone would have been able to foresee those changes. He said it would have been nice to have the information and projections before awarding a bonus and pay raise to the County Manager. He speculated that there might be other County employees in high-priority departments who would have appreciated a raise, and he wondered how plans for behavioral health might be impacted by the projected budget shortfall. He advocated for prioritizing necessary goods and services and considering the highest and best use of funds for maximum impact on residents. He surmised that with C-19 money gone and an uncertain federal funding landscape with the incoming new administration, there were a lot of variables. He said if County growth continued to outpace income generation, the cycle of overspending would be impossible to break. He felt that Commissioners needed to look carefully at everything they approved to ensure priorities stayed aligned and the pace was appropriate. He clarified that he was not lecturing Ms. Cooke and added that leaders and board members in other
municipalities needed to do the same thing. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing necessary services rather than supporting pet projects.
Vice Chair Herman thanked Ms. Cooke for sharing her extensive wisdom and knowledge. She was curious about why the County was not getting money from the new infrastructure and wondered if that would change.
Ms. Cooke responded that different types of development could take place, and available land was limited. She pointed out that new development generally went on to the tax roll at a full rate, though there were sometimes exemptions or tax credits. In contrast, she revealed that, according to the County Treasurer, close to 95 percent of parcels in the County had a tax abatement that limited the percentage by which taxes could increase annually. She explained the tax cap improved affordability for homeowners but limited the tax revenue generated from those properties. She said the abatement had a dual impact and recalled that it took the County until FY 2019 to get back to the absolute values of property taxes as they were before the Great Recession. She reported that although new development generated tax revenue, it was not a large enough component of total property taxes to balance out the properties that had an abatement. She noted that different areas of the County had different rates, but all areas were subject to the limit set in the Nevada Constitution on the overlapping tax rate, which was 3.64 percent. She cautioned that it was not possible to pick and choose different areas to tax at higher rates, even if some parcels were not at the 3.64 percent limit. She observed that new development generated tax revenue, but also impacted service needs related to the development. She summarized that the County was not seeing revenue growth that matched population growth. She noted that a 10 percent increase in property taxes would result in an approximately $26 million revenue increase to the General Fund. She remarked that even an increase of that magnitude would not address the projected deficit. She mentioned that there was a bigger question of whether development paid for itself, which she could not answer.
Vice Chair Herman asked Ms. Cooke to provide her opinion on whether it was worthwhile for the County to have done the Korn Ferry salary study. Ms. Cooke determined that the review was worthwhile, and she shared her perspective that County staff was long overdue for salary increases and had fallen behind. She referred to County policy that outlined that salaries should be in the middle of the range for similar positions in the area. She cited turnover statistics, feedback from employee surveys, and numerous people who left their positions for promotions in different departments because they had reached the upper limit within their salary band. She remarked on the loss of knowledge and experience that occurred in departments when people left because they had no other avenue to advance. She thought turnover, vacancy rates, and employee retention had all improved due to the Korn Ferry salary study. She observed that when salaries were kept flat, it created a steeper curve to try to catch up, and she theorized that effect was being seen in the budget projections. She concluded the increases were necessary for stability in human resources.
Vice Chair Herman asked for more information about reimbursements from the federal government for the 2017 flood that Ms. Cooke mentioned in her presentation.
Ms. Cooke related that over $10 million was billed and advised that she did not have the total amount on hand but would provide Vice Chair Herman with a more detailed account.
Commissioner Clark wondered how many current employees were funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). He observed that ARPA funds would soon end. Ms. Cooke responded that there were 10 full-time, permanent positions funded by ARPA. Commissioner Clark asked for more information about what the intention was for funding those positions in the future. He recalled asking in the past about how much surplus property the County had that was not allocated for County projects. He theorized that some projects could be liquidated, which would free up funds. He added that if more properties were on the tax roll, more tax income would be generated. He did not think the County should be in the business of holding property without a designated purpose. He acknowledged that the impact would probably be small, but he reasoned that every small improvement would help. He commented on a point in Ms. Cooke’s PowerPoint presentation about cash buyers coming in from other states who were less affected by property prices and interest rates than traditional local buyers. He said that when people saved up for their down payments and obtained a loan, they then had to pay the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. He opined that taxes were a component of property ownership, and anything that raised taxes made homes less affordable. He wanted to make sure people understood that connection.
There was no response to the call for public comment. No action was taken on this item.
25-0006 6A1 Recommendation to accept a donation from FTFT LLC, Hammer & Nails Regional to Washoe County Human Services Agency Child Protective Services Fund to support Have A Heart Washoe, which provides safe and stable foster and adoptive homes for children and teens in Washoe County Foster Care, in the amount of [$9,165.56] retroactive for December 16, 2024; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
Commissioner Garcia reported there was a couple who hosted a charity golf tournament to support foster and adoptive families. She thanked them for the event and believed they had done exceptional work.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 4-0 vote, with Chair Hill absent, it was ordered that Agenda Item 6A1 be accepted.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS – 7A1 THROUGH 7G1, EXCLUDING PULLED AGENDA ITEM 7E1
25-0007 7A1 Washoe County Law Library Annual Report for fiscal year 2024, including the following elements of Law Library operations: funding, collection, and personnel. District Court. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0008 7A2 Recommendation to appoint one attorney member and one non- attorney member to the Law Library Board of Trustees. It is recommended that Michael V. Kattelman serve as an attorney member and be reappointed for a two-year term expiring on January 31, 2027, and Aurora Partridge serve as a non-attorney member, reappointed for a two-year term expiring January 31, 2027. Candidates will satisfy the attorney position and non- attorney position required for the Law Library Board of Trustees. Michael
V. Kattelman (incumbent) was the only applicant for the attorney position. Applicants for the non-attorney position include Jodi Michelle Bennett and Aurora Partridge (incumbent). District Court. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0009 7B1 Recommendation to appoint to the Washoe County Senior Advisory Board Benecia Price [District 4] to the full term ending December 31, 2028, Edward Lamb [District 4] to the partial term ending August 31, 2025, Craig Bronzan [Alternate] to the partial term ending August 31, 2025, and Joellen Keil [Alternate] to the partial term ending June 30, 2025. All terms would be effective immediately. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0010 7B2 Recommendation to accept a FY25 Federal Title IV-B 1 sub-grant award from the State of Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) in the amount of [$62,004.00; $20,668.00 county match] retroactive from October 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 to improve outcomes for children and families involved with Washoe County Human Services Agency; authorize the Director of the Human Services Agency to execute the grant and related documents; and direct the Finance office to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0011 7B3 Recommendation to accept a FY25 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program subgrant award from the State of Nevada, Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) in the amount of [$252,756.00; $63,189.00 county match], retroactive from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 to support youth who are aging out of the foster care system in Washoe County with achieving greater independence as adults; authorize the Director of the Human Services Agency to execute the grant award and related documents; and direct the Finance office to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0012 7B4 Recommendation to accept a grant award from Community Solutions International for the Built for Zero Housed for the Holidays program to address unique barriers for homeless veterans to housing and to promote stability that other resources cannot cover; in the amount of [$30,000.00, no county match] retroactive to December 2, 2024 through March 2, 2025; authorize the Director of the Human Services Agency to retroactively execute the award document; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0013 7C1 Recommendation to acknowledge and approve, effective January 27, 2025, for Incline Justice Court, two (2) reclassifications and two (2) Full- Time Equivalent (FTE) changes. Reclassify Judge’s Administrative Assistant position (70000360), pay grade J150, to new classification Justice Court Administrator-Incline, pay grade J190 [$39,324- offset with reduction in intermittent hourly budget and other position changes]; Court Clerk Lead position (70008744), pay grade J150, to Court Clerk, pay grade J140 [savings $9,005]. Reduce the current 1.0 FTE Interpreter/Clerk position (70000136) to 0.80 FTE [savings $21,197]; increase the current
0.65 FTE Deputy Clerk III position (70009155) to 0.80 FTE [$17,947] and authorize Human Resources to make the necessary changes [net fiscal impact savings $-0-]. Incline Justice Court. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0014 7D1 Recommendation to approve and accept Federal 2024 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant-In-Aid Award funds from the State of Nevada to the Washoe County Library System in the amount of
$66,120.00 [$6,612.00 County match] for a retroactive term of September 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, for the purchase of equipment to create technology-equipped conference rooms at the Incline Village and Spanish Springs Libraries, and install mobile conference solutions at five additional libraries; if approved, to authorize Finance to make the necessary amendments to the Washoe County Library System’s Fiscal Year 25 budget to reflect the receipt and use of the grant funds. Library. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0015 7D2 Recommendation to approve and accept Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference (ELC) Pitch Competition grant funds in the amount of
$1,000.00 [$350.00 County match] for a retroactive term of June 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025, for the purchase and installation of a bicycle repair station at the Sparks Library; if approved, to authorize Finance to make the necessary amendments to the Washoe County Library System’s Fiscal Year 25 budget to reflect the receipt and use of the grant funds. Library. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0016 7E1 Review and approval of revisions to the Washoe County Employee Lobbying Policy; State Legislature. The policy provides guidelines and requirements for all County officers, employees and contract lobbyists
while engaged in legislative and lobbying activities with the State of Nevada Legislature and its members. The proposed revisions to the policy are intended to update the policy to conform with the requirements and definitions established in Nevada Revised Statues (NRS) Chapter 218H - Lobbying, which has been revised several times since Board adoption of the current policy in October 2012. Additional revisions are recommended for form, clarity, and to remove gendered language from the policy. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0017 7E2 Recommendation to approve, pursuant to NRS 244.1505, Commission District Special Fund disbursement in the amount of [$65,000.00] for Fiscal Year 2024-2025; District 5 Commissioner Jeanne Herman recommends a [$10,000.00] grant to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada -- a nonprofit organization created for religious, charitable, or educational purposes – to support the program’s efforts to provide food for families in need throughout the region, specifically through the organization’s Mobile Harvest program; and a [$10,000.00] grant to the Washoe County Human Service Agency - a government entity -- to support the Men’s CrossRoads program; and a [$10,000.00] grant to Safe Embrace -- a non-profit organization created for religious, charitable or educational purposes – to support stabilization and relocation services for victims of domestic violence; and a [$10,000.00] grant to Nevada Veterans Coalition – a nonprofit organization created for charitable, religious, or educational purposes -- to support the mission of honoring all veterans’ past, present and future; and a [$5,000.00] grant to the Great Basin Chaplain Corps – a nonprofit organization created for charitable, religious, or educational purposes -- to support the program’s caregiving support; and a [$5,000.00] grant to the Circle of Life Hospice Foundation -- a nonprofit organization created for charitable, religious, or educational purposes -- to support the program’s caregiving support; and a [$5,000.00] grant to The Salvation Army -- a non-profit organization created for religious, charitable or educational purposes -- to support meeting the needs of Washoe County residents struggling with food and housing insecurity and those impacted by the traumas of human trafficking; and a [$5,000.00] grant to the Veterans Upward Bound Program at Truckee Meadows Community College -- a nonprofit organization created for charitable, religious, or educational purposes -- for the purpose of supporting educational and career success for
U.S. military veterans; and a [$5,000.00] grant to Washoe County 4-H Youth Development Program of the University of Nevada Extension – a nonprofit organization created for religious, charitable or educational purposes - to support the Washoe County 4-H Large Livestock and Horse Programs; approve Resolutions necessary for same; and direct the Comptroller’s Office to make the necessary disbursements of funds. Manager. (Commission District 5.)
25-0018 7F1 Recommendation to acknowledge Receipt of Status Report of Commissary Fund set up per NRS 211.360 to be utilized for the welfare and benefit of the inmates for items such as counseling, chaplaincy services, vocational training, and certifications programs for inmates in the jail, submitted by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Commissary Committee for First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025. Sheriff. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0019 7F2 Recommendation to authorize the Sheriff’s Office to revise the fingerprinting fee from $40.25 to $39.00 [no cost to County] retroactive to January 1, 2025, to match the fingerprinting processing fee charged by the State of Nevada. Sheriff. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0020 7F3 Recommendation to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) access agreement between Renown Health and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to allow Washoe County Sheriff’s Office RAVEN Unit to have access to Renown Health’s helipad facilities for the purpose of patient transport and authorize the Sheriff to sign the Cooperative Agreement MOU. Sheriff. (All Commission Districts.)
25-0021 7G1 Recommendation to approve the reimbursement of costs incurred by the City of Sparks, the City of Reno, and Washoe County for expenses related to and in support of the Enhanced 911 Emergency Response System and portable event recording devices, as recommended by the 911 Emergency Response Advisory Committee on November 21, 2024, in an amount not to exceed [$199,594.76] as specified within the adopted Enhanced 911 Fund’s operating budget. Technology Services. (All Commission Districts.)
Assistant County Manager (ACM) Kate Thomas indicated Agenda Item 7E1 was pulled from the agenda.
On the call for public comment, Mr. Edward Lamb stated he wished to volunteer for the District 4 Senior Advisory Board seat.
Chaplain Chaz Blackburn thanked the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for considering donations to the Circle of Life Hospice Foundation and the Great Basin Chaplain Corps. He was excited that the Circle of Life Hospice Foundation had helped 28 people die with dignity since their opening. He indicated that four people were veterans, and about 70 percent of them were seniors. He stated the Foundation helped children, veterans, and seniors. He invited the BCC to a radiothon on February 20, 2025, hosted by Lotus Radio. He mentioned that the Reno Public Market (RPM) had donated a ribbon-cutting space on March 20, 2025. He believed that it was unfortunate that the Circle of Life Hospice Foundation had to turn many people away. He said there was a huge need for the Foundation, and they had received referrals from Renown, which was at capacity. He commented that the Circle of Life Hospice Foundation launched a campaign build-out plan that could take years to complete; however, they were also considering other options
for upgrades. He invited the BCC to a gala on April 11, 2025, at the Nugget Casino. He communicated that the Great Basin Chaplain Corps was made up of 54 licensed and insured Chaplains who were competent volunteers. He said the previous year, they had put in more than 1,200 service hours. He explained that there were six onboarding Chaplains, and they currently handled calls for the fire department, law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), six hospitals, human trafficking, homeless populations, and addiction recovery. He felt that the Great Basin Chaplain Corps needed about 150 to 200 Chaplains to meet the local needs. He voiced that it took about $800 to $1,200 and hundreds of hours of volunteer work for a Chaplain to be onboarded. He stated the Great Basin Chaplain Corp was a great investment because it was comprised of professionals who volunteered for 10 to 20 years. He said operation costs were about $2,500 a year for dispatch and communication systems.
Circle of Life Hospice Foundation Treasurer Andrea Pelto thanked the BCC for the donation. She noted that the guest house provided 24/7 care, and the cost for operations was about $30,000 a month. She wanted the BCC to consider how they would feel if they had a loved one they could not take care of. She said the Circle of Life Hospice Foundation could provide room and board for those individuals; however, fundraising was needed to help continue the service. She indicated that the funds benefited the community and that the stories they received were unbelievable. She mentioned that there were enough homeless people and that dying on the streets was not needed.
Ms. Pam Darr felt that more responsibilities should not be added until the County knew more about the budget. She questioned if bicycle repairs were needed at libraries. She had never heard of bicycle repair areas at libraries. She was concerned that it may take staff away from their jobs because adding duties made it difficult to get their primary jobs done. She noted that with increased prices, things needed to be considered more carefully.
Commissioner Andriola stated Agenda Item 7D2 involved a grant and would not cost the County anything.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, which motion duly carried on a 4-0 vote, with Chair Hill absent, it was ordered that Consent Agenda Items 7A1 through 7G1, with the exclusion of Item 7E1, be approved. Any and all Resolutions or Interlocal Agreements pertinent to Consent Agenda Items 7A1 through 7G1, with the exclusion of Item 7E1, are attached hereto and made a part of the minutes thereof.
25-0022 AGENDA ITEM 8 Recommendation to, (1) award a bid and approve the Agreement to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for the Melio Gaspari Water Park Safety Improvements Project, PWP-WA-2024-439 [staff recommends Sullivan Structures, LLC), for the base bid in the amount of $497,110]; and (2) approve a separate project contingency fund [in the
amount of $49,710] for a total construction cost not to exceed $546,820. The Project is located at 7100 Pyramid Way, Sparks, Nevada, and the scope of work is to design and construct upgraded safety and maintenance features for the Melio Gaspari Water Play Park. Safety upgrades include the construction of the mechanical system cover/structure, redesign and installation of certain portions of the mechanical system (i.e., water pumps, chlorination pumps, acid pumps, surge tank) to meet the latest health code standards and (3) if approved, direct Finance to make the necessary net-zero cross-fund budget appropriation transfers (net-zero impact, no additional funding is being requested). Community Services. (Commission District 2.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 4-0 vote, with Chair Hill absent, it was ordered that Agenda Item 8 be awarded, approved, and directed.
25-0023 AGENDA ITEM 9 Possible discussion and approval of the 2025 Washoe County State Legislative Principles, including an update and direction to staff regarding the 83rd Session of the Nevada Legislature. The principles are meant to serve as a framework of guidance to staff, lobbyists and elected officials in representing the County before the Nevada Legislature and provide a means to advance and protect the County’s interests on state-level issues. Among other things, they address legislative, regulatory, administrative and fiscal impact issues that may arise during the legislative session. Approval of principles may include but is not necessarily limited to the following overarching categories: effective communication, respect for governmental roles in delivering quality public service, and economic strength and diversity. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 4-0 vote, with Chair Hill absent, it was ordered that Agenda Item 9 be approved and directed.
25-0024 AGENDA ITEM 10 Possible discussion and approval of Washoe County’s Federal Legislative Principles and Lobbying Practices, including an update and direction to staff regarding the 119th Congress. The principles and practices are meant to serve as guidance to staff, lobbyists, and elected officials in representing the County before the United States Congress, the Executive Branch and Federal Agencies and to provide a means to advance and protect the County’s interests on issues at the federal level, including health and human services, land use management, capital projects, emergency preparedness, and election administration. Among other things, the principles address legislative, regulatory, administrative,
and fiscal impact issues that may arise during the 119th Congress and the County’s practices as it conducts lobbying activities to advance the County’s interests. Approval of these principles and practices may include but is not necessarily limited to the following overarching categories: fiscal sustainability, economic impacts, vulnerable populations, and innovative services. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 4-0 vote, with Chair Hill, it was ordered that Agenda Item 10 be approved and directed.
25-0025 AGENDA ITEM 11 Recommendation to retroactively approve the Detention Services Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Washoe and the United States Marshals Service to house Federal Prisoners at the Washoe County Detention Facility, [to increase per diem rate from
$109 to $160 and guard/transportation hourly rate from $34 to $82.92; estimated $1,622,424 in fiscal year 2025 and $1,769,917 per year thereafter in additional revenues for Washoe County, based on an estimated daily population of 95 U.S. Marshal's Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Bureau of Indian Affairs inmates; and if approved, authorize the Chair to execute the Agreement. Sheriff. (All Commission Districts.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 4-0 vote, with Chair Hill absent, it was ordered that Agenda Item 11 be approved and authorized.
25-0026 AGENDA ITEM 12 Public Hearing to : (1) consider objections to Resolution of Intent to Lease (R24-116); and (2) possible action to approve the Ground Lease between Northern Nevada Youth Golf Foundation, d/b/a First Tee Northern Nevada, a corporation for public benefit under NRS chapter 82, approximately 39.05 acres of land commonly known as the Wildcreek Golf Course on Sullivan Lane in Sparks, Nevada (a portion of APN 035-080-04) without consideration as authorized in NRS 244.284 for an initial term of 30 years; and (3) if approved, possible action to approve Amendment #1 to the Golf Course Development Agreement dated July 25, 2022, between Washoe County and Northern Nevada Youth Golf Foundation, d/b/a as First Tee Northern Nevada; and (4) if approved, First Tee will continue to be required to operate the golf course for charitable and affordable golf for the community on the terms specified in the purchase and sale agreement and related documents, and if the property ever ceases
being so used, it will revert automatically to Washoe County. Community Services. (Commission District 5.)
Vice Chair Herman opened the public hearing.
Director of Community Services Eric Crump indicated that Agenda Item 12 recommended the approval of a ground lease, which included approximately 39 acres, to the Northern Nevada Youth Golf Foundation. He noted that the intent to lease was originally approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in December 2024. He mentioned if the ground lease was approved the item also recommended approval of the amendment to the golf course development agreement. He commented that the proposal of the approval dated back to a series of decisions and community-oriented goals. He reported that the primary intent was to support the County’s commitment to provide affordable and charitable golf programs at Wildcreek Golf Course. He communicated that the County previously held the title to Wildcreek Golf Course. Through a proposal from Maz Golf Management, the operator of Sierra Sage Golf Course and First Tee - Northern Nevada, it was determined to continue providing golf through a transfer of land and property. He said that in 2021, the BCC approved the transfer through a purchase and sale agreement with a reversionary clause.
Mr. Crump noted that a golf course development agreement was approved in July 2022 which defined that the transfer would be completed in two phases. He said the first phase would include the transfer of the existing parcel, and the second would be the County acquiring the reversionary interest of approximately 40 acres, which the County owned through a patent from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). He explained that the County would transfer the property to First Tee – Northern Nevada. While the County was in the process of acquiring the 40 acres, he indicated it was determined that the BLM would support a lease arrangement instead of a purchase. He commented that the parcel had historically been a part of the Wildcreek Golf Course. He reported that amendment number one allowed the lease of 39 acres, removed references to the phased approach, and restated the amount available for development funds. He concluded that the First Tee - Northern Nevada Chair, Bob Enzenberger, was available for questions.
Commissioner Clark supported the golf program and asked Mr. Enzenberger if they had enough water to support the golf course. Mr. Enzenberger noted that approximately 200 acre-feet of effluent was provided by the City of Sparks and they relied on natural water from the sky.
Commissioner Clark asked if the City of Sparks donated the water, and Mr. Ensenberger confirmed that was the case. Commissioner Clark commended the City of Sparks for their partnership and donation. He indicated that water was a main concern for golf courses in arid climates.
Commissioner Garcia thanked Mr. Enzenberger for the added value to the community, which helped engage youth. She believed that many students in the program would never have had the opportunity if it was not for First Tee – Northern Nevada.
Mr. Enzenberger informed Commissioner Clark the program paid property
taxes.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Clark, which motion duly carried on a 4-0 vote, with Chair Hill absent, it was ordered that Agenda Item 12 be approved.
25-0027 | AGENDA ITEM 13 Public Comment. There was no response to the call for public comment. |
25-0028 | AGENDA ITEM 14 Announcements/Reports. |
There were no announcements or reports. |
* * * * * * * * * * *
12:42 p.m. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned without objection.
ALEXIS HILL, Chair
Washoe County Commission
ATTEST:
JANIS GALASSINI, County Clerk and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners
Minutes Prepared by:
Heather Gage, Deputy County Clerk Lizzie Tietjen, Deputy County Clerk