BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA
TUESDAY 11:00 A.M. SEPTEMBER 2, 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 12:38 p.m. in special 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, Chief Deputy County Clerk Catherine Smith called roll and the Board conducted the following business:
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Chair Hill noted that the Granicus system was experiencing technical issues, which resulted in the screens used by Board members not functioning correctly. She explained that the system would be reset the following day and opined that because the Board would not be voting on any of the items on the meeting’s agenda, the device issue would not cause significant problems.
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25-0622 AGENDA ITEM 3 Public Comment.
Mr. Oscar Williams greeted the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and remarked that the time was already 12:40 p.m. He introduced himself as a resident of Reno since 1993. He displayed a document and inquired if the Board received a copy. Chair Hill confirmed she had a copy of the document, and Mr. Williams apologized if the other Board members had not received one. No copy was submitted for the public record. Mr. Williams recounted that he had sent the Board a letter over a year prior regarding the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for elections. He explained that his letter mentioned the word generator because the COOP itself did not include that word, particularly in the context of a backup generator. He believed the lack of such language was notable because a power outage during the 2024 general election at the Washoe County Administration Complex had halted the counting process the day before the final vote count, which he
thought was November 11. He explained that the backup generator had not worked, and the redundant backup generator was disconnected during the incident. He noted that the protocol at that time, according to the COOP, was to move the ballots to continue counting. He remarked that the former Registrar of Voters (ROV) had a tabulator at the annex. Mr. Williams opined that the former ROV did not feel it was necessary to move the ballots and proceed with counting, which caused a loss of valuable time. Mr. Williams emphasized that elections were in jeopardy and referred to a cyber attack against the State of Nevada. He noted that there was no viable plan to continue to conduct the elections should there be a loss of power in the Washoe County Administration Complex or if the State’s servers become inoperable for any reason. He noted that he had a short list of topics to present to those in Chambers that could be discussed to offer a solution and opportunity for the BCC to readdress the current COOP. He opined that the more electronic voting methods were relied on, the more at-risk elections were put due to the associated potential of malware, power loss, and hacking of State systems. He believed that elections could be protected from such risks by pursuing specific processes, including using hand-marked paper ballots with a ballpoint pen at the polls. He recommended using backup-powered lighting kits in case of power outages to ensure the continuation of the voter check-in process, which he expected would only cost a few hundred dollars to provide in an average location. He acknowledged that his suggestion might require a paper backup of the voter roll, similar to a process utilized in Pennsylvania. He hoped the Board would have a chance to read his document thoroughly, noting that he had also sent a copy to Chief Deputy District Attorney (CDDA) Michael Large. He acknowledged that the BCC might not have had the opportunity to address his letter yet. He noted that the letter was only intended to allow the Commissioners to prepare for a worst-case scenario. He opined that if there were an election currently, the County would struggle to complete it. He stated that it was everyone’s duty to ensure there was a better election plan.
Ms. Penny Brock introduced herself and expressed disappointment that the agenda did not mention the County’s elections. She acknowledged that the Board might still discuss the topic and was surprised that it was not listed on the agenda due to ongoing investigations of the State of Nevada and statements from the White House. She suspected that the State investigations would be connected to the elections that had occurred in Washoe County since 2020. She displayed documents, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. Ms. Brock referred to one of her documents, reporting that President Donald Trump had indicated the week prior that he would initiate an executive order to dictate that voter identification be a necessary part of every vote, without exception. She continued reciting from the document, which demonstrated that President Trump had voiced disagreement with mail-in voting for all those except the very ill or members of the United States (US) military stationed far away, also indicating that only paper ballots should be used. Ms. Brock suspected the Board would discuss housing during the meeting and voiced her confusion regarding the definitions used to describe the topic. She hoped the BCC would define the kind of housing expected to be addressed. She referred to another of her submitted documents, which reported that President Trump’s administration planned to remove any illegal immigrants from Section 8 housing by requiring proof of citizenship from all tenants and enforcing Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980. She suspected Washoe County would face the issues she had referred to. She
opined that residents were concerned about higher crime rates in the County compared to the rest of the Nation, citing statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). She reported that the violent crime rate in Washoe County had consistently been above the national average since 2015 and reached a ten-year high in 2017 with over 530 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. She referred to another document she submitted to the record, which indicated that the County’s crime rate received a grade of D. She asked whether someone would discuss the current crime rate in the area. She noted that she did not find the crime statistics for 2025 anywhere online and reported that the data posted for the 2024 crime rate was incomplete. She opined that there was a huge crime issue in the County and emphasized the need to address it. She reiterated her curiosity regarding why crime statistics were not posted for the residents of Washoe Valley. She asserted that people were afraid and would not go to downtown areas, as they felt unsafe. She emphasized that individuals did not want to walk in certain neighborhoods due to the lack of safety.
Ms. Sandee Tibbett introduced herself and displayed a document, a copy of which was placed on file with the Clerk. Ms. Tibbett voiced her intent to address the quality of life and the growing danger that homelessness posed to the citizens of Washoe County. She urged the Board to boldly shift how homelessness was handled. She stated that the Washoe County 2024 Point in Time (PIT) Count reported 1,760 homeless individuals, with 363 unsheltered people contributing to rising safety concerns. She described the presence of encampments along the Truckee River and across the County’s parks and freeway ramps, which she correlated with increased crime rates and aggressive behavior that frightened residents and strained businesses. She recounted an incident that occurred while she was at work the previous week, when a homeless man entered her workplace and threatened to pour a drink over the books sold at the establishment. She noted that after she got the man to leave the business, he threw the drink on the building before leaving the bottle in the parking lot. She opined that such events were no way to run a business. She reported that the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office (WCRMEO) data from 2024 noted 77 homeless deaths, including 6 homicides, many of which were attributed to fentanyl and methamphetamine overdoses. She stated that the nature of those deaths indicated a dangerous intersection of homelessness and substance abuse, which made local streets and public spaces unsafe by eliciting a strain on emergency service resources due to the need to respond to daily incidents at homeless encampments. She opined that the Nevada Cares Campus failed residents since its opening at a cost of over
$80 million in 2021, as the homeless population in Reno increased by 2,000 percent from 80 unhoused individuals to 1,800. She asserted that while the County invested money into the facility, reports indicated that the Cares Campus lacked accountability, as federal regulations prevented the enforcement of requirements for participants to be sober, working, or seeking treatment. She explained that some of the graduate participants of the Care Campus turned free housing into locations for themselves and others to use substances, which perpetuated crime and dependency rather than solving it. She opined that the failure of the Cares Campus was proven by the occurrence of 23 deaths at the facility since 2021, including 6 overdoses. She reported that the County’s data demonstrated that only 7 percent of clients secured permanent housing, while 37 percent returned to homelessness within 6 months. She opined that such rates did not show progress and instead represented a cycle of waste and harm. She suggested that it was time to stop
perpetuating a failed model, and she urged the Board to change procedures to empower local churches to lead the coordination of care. She said local faith communities had long provided compassionate and effective support while using fewer resources and having greater accountability. She believed that churches could offer holistic care by addressing addiction, mental health, and job training without restrictive federal mandates while fostering significant rehabilitation. She advised that the County could partner with trusted institutions to redirect funds to support proven outreach efforts, rather than expanding a program that drew more vagrant individuals to Reno. She asked the Board to act protectively.
12:50 p.m. The Board recessed.
2:04 p.m. The Board reconvened with all members present.
25-0623 AGENDA ITEM 4 Special presentation by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners. State of the County: Washoe at Work Serving Our Community. Each Commissioner will provide an overview of County progress on strategic initiatives and outline future priorities in key focus areas, including Senior Services, Behavioral Health, Citizens Advisory Boards (CABs) and Community Outreach, Attainable Housing and Eviction Mitigation, and Quality of Life in Washoe County. This presentation is intended to inform the public and promote transparency regarding the County’s direction and ongoing efforts. Manager. (All Commission Districts.).
Chair Hill indicated that there were tables in the Washoe County Administrative Complex atrium hosted by many organizations and nonprofit partners who received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). She noted that ARPA funds allowed the BCC to forge strong public private partnerships (PPPs) and urged the public to help and support nonprofits. She said that the State of the County could not occur without incredible staff, elected officials, and department heads. She thanked interim County Manager (ICM) Kate Thomas for her leadership and looked forward to the future.
Chair Hill thanked and indicated that Senator Angie Taylor, Second Judicial District Court (SJDC) Judge Egan Walker, Reno Sparks Indian Colony (RSIC) Chairmen Daryl Gardipe, City of Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson, Ward 4 Councilmember Charlene Bybee, Ward 2 Councilmember Dian VanderWell, Ward 5 Council Member Joe Rodriguez, Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan, Sparks City Manager Dion Louthan, Washoe County School District (WCSD) Board of Trustees (BOT) Chair Elizabeth Smith, Trustee Diane Nicolet, Trustee Coleen Westlake, Trustee James Pheonix, Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) President Jeffrey Alexander, General Improvement District elected representatives, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) representatives, Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) representatives, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) representatives, local boards and commissions representatives, and Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) representatives were in attendance.
She explained that she and her fellow Commissioners would present and introduce five subjects of importance as part of the County’s Strategic Plan.
Vice Chair Herman noted that she was honored to serve as the District 5 Commissioner and the BCC Vice Chair. She said that District 5 covered a large portion of the County from the North Valleys to the Oregon border, which contained a lot of land and voices to hear from. She indicated that many of her constituents chose a rural way of life, which she was deeply committed to protecting. She mentioned that she spent the last ten years ensuring residents had a voice in County decisions that affected them because she thought that being a Commissioner was about listening to what people wanted and doing her best to make it happen. She asserted that she was a strong supporter of the CABs and believed in the value they brought to the community. She said that not everything about the CABs looked the way she wanted; however, she believed that any opportunity for people to come together, share thoughts, and be heard by elected officials was special. She pointed out that the video presentation highlighted the CAB program and other ways the County gathered public input. She opined that the CABs were only one way the County stayed connected to the community and hoped that the presentation would inspire more people to become involved. Vice Chair Herman conducted a video presentation regarding CABs, community engagement, volunteer opportunities, public impact, past County events, and the importance of community voices.
Commissioner Clark thanked the public for taking the time to attend the State of the County event. He recalled that he adopted a dog from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and learned that dog adoptions were free for seniors. He said that seniors were a large part of the County’s population and that some needed assistance with socialization, food insecurities, and housing. He indicated that Senior ResQ helped individuals if their rent increased until they could find new housing. He relayed that he represented District 2, which included South Reno and Washoe Valley, but viewed his role as Commissioner to serve all Washoe County residents. He thought that seniors were special and believed that anyone who knew him understood that he tirelessly advocated for ensuring seniors had access to services, dignity, connection, and the quality of life they deserved. Although he believed there could be possible efforts to improve the Senior Center food, he felt that the County had made progress. He highlighted the $2.8 million investment toward the Senior Center that included a range of enhancements, such as a high-tech telehealth medical care station. He believed that while there was a lot to be proud of, the County was committed to creating better care and stronger services for the seniors. Commissioner Clark conducted a video presentation regarding the Senior Center’s recent renovations, improvements, and enhancements.
Commissioner Garcia noted she was proud to be the District 3 Commissioner, which included Downtown Reno, West Sparks, and Sun Valley. She said she was honored to conduct a video presentation that highlighted the County’s powerful work to ensure that people, both present and future, could live in the community. She explained that while some people may not interact with CABs or be seniors, everyone interacted with housing. She said she cared deeply about ensuring that residents could find and stay in housing that met their needs. She explained she wanted her children to have the
chance to live in the area without the constant pressure of increased rent or out-of-reach mortgages. She said that the County was working towards a more attainable future by updating the Washoe County Development Code (WCDC) to allow for more flexible and creative housing types. She reported that 50 permanent supportive housing units recently opened to provide long-term affordable housing with onsite supportive services, such as mental health, substance abuse counseling, nursing care, and employment assistance. She said that the County was researching new ways to support the community. She hoped those in attendance enjoyed the video presentation. Commissioner Garcia conducted a video presentation regarding the County’s efforts towards housing variety and eviction mitigation.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Chair Hill and those in attendance. She believed that the most critical responsibility that she held as a Commissioner was ensuring that the community had the resources it needed. She thought that behavioral health was central to public safety, family stability, workforce readiness, and community wellbeing. She said that people who struggled with mental illness or substance use disorder often ended up in the justice system, jails, or emergency rooms. She noted that the County had taken bold steps alongside partners to reimagine behavioral health responses, including mobile response teams, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, and reopening the crisis care center as the Washoe Behavioral Health Center dedicated to children and adolescents. She mentioned that behavioral health was not easy and required collaboration, investment, and persistence, but progress represented a turning point for the County while saving money. She indicated that the Competency Court was championed by Judge Walker and demonstrated promising results. She said that the program diverted 5,800 jail days within the first 10 months, which saved taxpayers $2.9 million. Commissioner Andriola conducted a video presentation regarding the County’s behavioral health transformation, and how it was building a more intelligent system of response to give residents a chance to heal and thrive.
Chair Hill thanked City of Sparks Councilmember Donald Abbott, Judge Lynne Jones, and District Attorney (DA) Christopher Hicks for their attendance. She said that the County worked hard for seniors and to understand community needs, behavioral health, attainable housing, and eviction mitigation. She believed that there were many challenges and never enough funding to help everyone in need. She recalled that ICM Thomas presented the County’s financially challenging budgetary outlook at the previous BCC meeting. She indicated that the Comptroller’s Office was closing out 2025; however, the County would be overbudget for personnel and underbudget in service and supplies. She said that tax revenue had increased throughout the State, and that the County was bracing for tough financial times. She noted that there was a lot to celebrate and reasons to come together as a community to make Washoe County a great place to live. She opined that the reason people lived in the area was due to the quality libraries, parks, and cultural amenities, which she believed made people want to raise families in the area and gave seniors a place to come together. Chair Hill conducted a video presentation that highlighted the many ways the County enhanced quality of life, including a Rancho San Rafael Regional Park update, new fitness courts, the opening of a new Riverbend Park access point, library resources, and an expansion of arts and culture.
Chair Hill asserted that there were many things to celebrate about Washoe County, and while there were challenges, she knew that everyone would work together. She appreciated the community’s support and indicated that after that day, the video presentations would be made available on the County’s YouTube page. She explained that the County Manager recruitment was open, and searches were underway. She said she was excited to find a new County Manager and relayed that public interviews would occur. She thanked everyone in attendance for their support.
2:46 p.m. The Board recessed for a photo.
2:51 p.m. The Board reconvened with all members present.
25-0624 AGENDA ITEM 5 Public Comment.
Ms. Pam Darr remarked that she did not sign up early and was surprised to be called to speak so soon. She greeted the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). She explained that she had attended Senior Fest and received many interesting items. She described the event as busy and reported that her husband would soon be on Medicare, which prompted her to find information on the topic. She indicated that she did not yet qualify for the program. She wanted to address concerns and a request she had not been able to mention during a previous BCC meeting, as she could not fit the discussion within the three minutes she was given to speak. She described witnessing a homeless individual verbally harass two employees at a CVS Pharmacy, noting her fear during the incident and that the establishment was still dark. She wondered whether the occurrence had been addressed, and explained that she had ideas to suggest. She proposed that management companies could collaborate with commercial properties to create deterrents that would make it uncomfortable for the unhoused population to sleep in those locations. She opined that a meeting to address similar matters was necessary. She stated that substantial funds were spent to help people and many issues were being addressed, except for keeping residents safe as they went through daily routines. She reported that unhoused individuals were moving to more northern areas, particularly towards Vista Boulevard, where fewer resources were available. She questioned why the homeless population would travel to that region. She acknowledged that while everyone was doing what they could, people could have been hurt during the incidents she had witnessed, and she did not want to see such things happen again. She explained that despite others describing most homeless people as safe, an individual could never know that for certain, as one might be unaware when an unhoused person was having a bad reaction to substances. She reiterated that consideration should be given to the people trying to go through their daily routines. She explained she did not know why or how homeless individuals were going to places they should not be. She suggested that the County host a meeting with the Cities of Reno and Sparks. She opined that the City of Sparks was doing a lot to address the issue. She described feeling sad when visiting the National Automobile Museum in Reno and asserted that the City of Reno was not doing enough. She explained that she had tickets for the Broadway Comes to Reno series, which her mom had often taken her to. She reported frequently giving those tickets away because she struggled to have a good time when visiting those areas of Reno, as the location made her sad. She asked how she was supposed to attend events in Reno
when she felt bad for unhoused individuals, who she believed needed a sense of purpose and things to do. She requested more to be done between the Cities of Reno and Sparks and the County on the issue and reiterated her suggestion for the jurisdictions to discuss ideas. She recounted that her brother had installed lighting for a Catholic church to keep homeless individuals from sleeping behind the establishment, as the church wanted the unhoused to seek help directly rather than hiding in the dark. Ms. Darr stated that people had to find help in such a way to get what they needed and live a blessed life.
Ms. Janet Butcher introduced herself and noted her assumption that she would be one of the last people called to speak. She expressed disappointment that the meeting attendees left and could not listen to what those speaking had to say about the County. She reported that she had unexpectedly come to Reno 33 years prior and had grown to love it, though she did not feel the same any longer. She noted that one of the reasons she had come to feel that way was due to certain occurrences in the Spanish Springs area that were not addressed during the meeting’s discussions of the quality of life in Reno. She recounted that it took her an hour to reach the airport a few days prior. She sympathized with those who had to commute to Reno daily for work. She did not understand why things were regularly changed, rezoned, and built. She acknowledged that while Chair Hill had expressed happiness with living in a multi-faceted community, Ms. Butcher stated that individuals like herself moved to the area to escape those things. She explained that she lived in Northwest Reno after 18 months searching for a home in that location. She noted that it used to take her 12 minutes to reach North McCarran Boulevard, and inquired why it would currently take an hour to travel to the airport. She believed that the only action being taken was to increase construction. She expressed frustration with the additional trucks she anticipated would be on the road. She said that it was no wonder that drivers cut other vehicles off and that there were many accidents and fatalities in the area, as she thought those individuals were unhappy and angry. She thanked the Board and opined they should be ashamed of those incidents.
Mr. Mac Rossi introduced himself and explained that he did not bring notes. He stated that the acronym CAB stood for County Advisory Board. He reported serving on the City of Reno’s Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) for ten years. He explained that he was part of the Verdi Citizen Advisory Board (CAB), which he reported was fading because it did not attract attendance. He noted that he attended the CAB meetings every other month and had noticed that development was no longer being addressed during those meetings, which he suspected had caused the decrease in attendance. He opined that because CABs were based on the community, development matters needed to be heard during those meetings. He explained that people had attended CAB meetings and asked him why they would not be hearing about ongoing development, to which Mr. Rossi would answer that they would have to go to another department for such matters. He opined that CABs and development should be blended to give the community opportunities. He stated that the County had a great program, noting that he had brought his concerns to the City of Reno several times with no results. He opined that everyone involved, including the developers, related individuals, and the County, needed to collaborate before any development proceeded. He commended the Board but noted that the Verdi CAB hosted more people conducting presentations than those attending to watch them.
Ms. Nicol Herris greeted the Board and those in attendance. She thought the videos had been great and noted that it sounded as though the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce was pitching for people to come to Washoe County. She stated her interest that there was no list of all the great parks in the County, and was disappointed that she had waited for her local park or library to be mentioned only for them not to be selected. She speculated what it might be like if she were a community member who did not know the number of County parks or the festivals held within them. She remarked that it seemed like a festival was held in the County every weekend, with events like Burning Man bringing in significant funds. She believed that those were matters that the community and other individuals could be educated on. She stated that it was of considerable concern that other departments were not reporting on the excellent quality of life or experiences, noting an example of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) not providing information on public safety. She observed a lack of financial details despite figures suggesting an approaching strict budget. She inquired about trends, past occurrences, the rate of population growth, and future forecasts. She opined that community members needed to be incentivized if the Board wanted their participation. She noted that the nomenclature used to describe the quality of life was very different currently compared to when she arrived in the area years ago. She stated that she was ten years older than she was at the time of her arrival in the region, and what was important to her previously was no longer of the same significance. She emphasized the importance of keeping a timeline reference, which she said was not being done. She opined that for the videos displayed during the meeting to be relevant and for there to be accountability and transparency for everyone in Chambers, the public needed to have a reason, as she thought the Board would return to ask for more money. She emphasized fire protection and reported that she had spent a week away from her home during the Davis Fire and felt her house might as well burn in such a case, as she did not know what she was supposed to do. She noted that her comments reflected the other matters she felt were missing from the meeting's presentations. She expressed frustration about the duration of the videos compared to the overall presentation and recounted her prior experience requesting blue-ribbon committees and workshop meetings while at the podium.
Ms. Penny Brock introduced herself and displayed documents, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. She noted that she had spoken during the meeting’s previous public comment item at 11:30 a.m., before an extended recess. She recounted expressing hope that the videos would address elections during her earlier comment, as she believed they posed a significant problem. She thought the Board would know that Nevada was under investigation for the elections since 2020, as she had previously addressed the matter. She explained that the Civil Rights and Criminal Divisions of the Department of Justice (DOJ) were involved and had begun investigations. She noted that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appointed someone to investigate the elections of six swing states, including Nevada. She said President Donald Trump had selected Edward Martin as a special prosecutor to investigate the elections further. She asserted that those agencies and individuals would visit swing states, noting that Washoe County would be included. She explained that she had previously voiced doubts that the meeting’s presentations would address elections and expressed disappointment that she had been proven correct. She opined that elections were the key to good government and that
voters were denied a good election. She stated that election integrity was missing and mentioned that there were many reports on Facebook. She introduced the Facebook account named Washoe Election Integrity Reporter for those interested in what was happening throughout the Nation. She recited from a social media post by President Trump, which indicated his intent to implement an executive order supporting the requirement that voter identification be needed for every vote without exception. She also noted that the document declared that there would be no mail-in voting unless an individual were very ill or a member of the United States (US) military stationed far from the Country, and that only paper ballots would be used. She had repeatedly mentioned throughout the year that paper ballots would be coming and that there would be no universal mail-in ballots. She had done so to enable those overseeing the County’s elections department to implement those requirements, which she anticipated would be in place for the primary elections in June 2026. She emphasized that those elections would occur in nine months and inquired whether the Registrar of Voters (ROV) was prepared, as she thought he had a background in technology rather than elections. She asked the BCC what they planned to do and urged them to consider her comments, as people wanted the mentioned requirements in place for the 2026 elections.
Ms. Sandee Tibbett introduced herself and intended to finish her earlier comments regarding the homeless population. She asked the Board to protect the County’s citizens and restore safety. She wanted the BCC to partner with local churches to help implement a more effective, community-driven solution. She thanked everyone involved with bringing the Nevada State Fair back to the Reno Livestock Events Center. She explained that she and her family were always fans of the annual fair, as they got discounted wristbands for unlimited rides, spent the entire day enjoying the exhibits showcasing Nevada, viewing the well-raised farm animals, and eating traditional fair food. She looked forward to taking her grandchildren to their first Nevada State Fair in June 2026. She expressed gratitude for the outstanding work of the current Library Board of Trustees (LBT). She noted that the LBT had shown unwavering strength and commitment to building a balanced library system that served the entire community under the leadership of LBT Chair Ann Silver. She stated that despite the LBT facing relentless criticism, they prioritized transparency, accountability, and a shared vision for a library that reflected the community’s values and mission statement. Ms. Tibbett described the LBT’s resilience and dedication as inspiring. She thanked the BCC and Assistant County Manager (ACM) David Solaro for supporting the LBT, which she opined had worked tirelessly to make local libraries the cornerstone of Washoe County. She was disappointed by the recent vote from Chair Hill and Commissioners Andriola and Garcia to approve the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s (TRPA) amendments despite overwhelming community opposition. She noted that legal obligations were cited as the reason to dismiss residents' pleas after they had voiced concerns about increased density and the risks associated with delays in wildfire evacuation. She disagreed with the Commissioners' prioritization of bureaucratic mandates over the constituents they served, who feared for their safety and the character of their communities. She opined that the decision ignored the petitions and public comments urging them to protect Lake Tahoe’s integrity. She urged the Board to listen to the community, show bravery by challenging external mandates, and prioritize the voices
they represented. She emphasized that Washoe County deserved leaders who stood alongside residents rather than against them.
Mr. Pete Todoroff introduced himself as a resident of Incline Village and thanked Commissioner Clark for standing up for the area. Mr. Todoroff noted that he had been a property manager for five associations in Incline Village. He described a friend who was a retired colonel and had served as president of one of the associations Mr. Todoroff had worked for. Mr. Todoroff explained that his friend once said that the cost of fire insurance for one of his associations with 245 condominiums was $1 million per year. He noted that the fire insurance for those properties was not transferable to new owners when selling the condominiums. He reiterated his gratitude to Commissioner Clark. He opined that if other members of the Board had acted as Commissioner Clark had, the actions of the TRPA might have been swayed, particularly because one of the Commissioners had formerly served on the TRPA’s governing board. He thanked Commissioner Clark for supporting the community that had voted for him. Mr. Todoroff agreed with Commissioner Clark’s previous statements that the TRPA did not vote him into office, as it was the Incline Village residents and the County's citizens who did. He concluded his comments and thanked the Board.
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Chair Hill asked for County Manager and Commissioners’ announcements.
* * * * * * * * * * * Commissioner Clark asked that a different date be chosen for future State
of the County meetings. He explained that, due to the Special Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, he missed Senior Fest at the Reno Town Mall, which was the first time he had missed it in 12 years. He felt that the event was one of the most important dates on seniors' calendars, and he believed it was unfair that he and the seniors in attendance at the BCC meeting had to miss Senior Fest.
3:12 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:
Jessica Melka, Deputy County Clerk Lizzie Tietjen, Deputy County Clerk Brooke Koerner, Deputy County Clerk