TUESDAY 10:00 A.M. OCTOBER 14, 2025
PRESENT:
Michael Large, Chief Deputy District Attorney
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners convened at 10:03 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:
Mr. Terry Brooks read an original poem regarding discrimination and
gender.
Ms. Pam Roberts displayed a document, copies of which were distributed to the Board and placed on file with the Clerk. She relayed that she was the past Senior Advisory Board (SAB) Chair who only served one term. She reported that recent attacks were made against the SAB by Commissioner Clark on October 8, 2025. She indicated that Commissioner Clark stated that the SAB was not in touch with seniors, that nothing was done at the SAB meetings, and that the SAB members were toadies for County staff because they disagreed with Commissioner Clark’s assessment of the nutrition program. She pointed out that all SAB members were seniors who represented various aspects of senior life and that the SAB was committed to making Washoe County an age-friendly community. She noted that the SAB had conducted a survey and updated the Washoe County Senior Services Plan. She said that the plan was last updated in 2014, when the County paid a large sum of money for a consultant to prepare the plan that would end up sitting in a desk drawer for years. She believed that the SAB wanted to ensure that the new plan worked by collaborating with County staff. She mentioned that the SAB held five volunteer fairs, which featured 37 vendors and approximately 336 attendees. She said that efforts were made to organize volunteers to assist non-profits that lacked the funds to hire employees. She explained that the former part-time Activity Director was great, but left because he needed a full-time job. She indicated that there were rumors that the County
might not want to fund the SAB due to budget cuts; however, the SAB unanimously approved a motion to ask County staff to continue filling the position as soon as possible, with the goal of making it a full-time job. She expressed that there was so much that she could say in defense of the SAB but concluded that she was outraged by the attacks made at the October 8, 2025, SAB meeting.
*10: 10 a.m. Commissioner Clark arrived at the meeting.
Mr. Drew Ribar displayed a document, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. He indicated that he was a candidate for Assembly District 40 and opined that people were interested in what he had to say, due to the 49 million views he had received on his channel within the last 90 days. He noted that he did not pay for views and that the people were real. He believed that people were tired of corruption and relayed that he was in a lawsuit with the County, Our Center, and the City of Reno. He reported that he had a second amended complaint with him and indicated that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) had created a ban list that included Washoe County Republican Party Chair Bruce Parks and himself. He recalled attempting to attend a recent Northern Nevada Pride event and being asked to leave, despite stating that it was a public event organized by a non-profit. He opined that the organizers of the Northern Nevada Pride event should be defunded by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) because he believed they had broken the law. He explained that the City of Reno and the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) participated in the Northern Nevada Pride event and donated $10,000 each. He stated that Chief Deputy District Attorney (CDDA) Michael Large had previously reported that the County was not collaborating with Our Center attorneys regarding his lawsuit. He explained that he had a letter from Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Lindsay Liddell that proved that the County was working with Our Center attorneys. He asserted that the County had corrupt attorneys who were lying to the court. He stated that he was running for office to combat corruption and wanted to collaborate with everyone to prevent further dishonesty. He believed that if the County had dealt with issues regarding him upfront, then the County would not have spent so much money on lawsuits. He noted that in his second amended complaint, more employees would be named. He wished that the BCC would make a motion ordering the District Attorney (DA) to address the problems he had identified within the government.
Mr. Adam Schifferdecker urged the BCC to reject the Homeland Security Grant (HSG) that would remodel the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) for the United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He believed that the community would not be safer if local law enforcement tied themselves to ICE because trust would decrease, witnesses would become afraid to speak, and solving crimes and protecting families would become more difficult. He asserted that there were moral and legal concerns when partnered with ICE because of the normalized practices seen in many large cities, such as unmarked cars, masked agents, and the detention of people who had not committed a crime. He did not believe the HSG would instigate justice. He asked the BCC to vote against the HSG and instead support efforts to build a better community. He expressed excitement towards Vice Chair Herman’s $5,000 grant proposal for the North Valleys High School (NVHS) Band. He recalled that he was involved in the marching band
and knew how the program taught discipline, teamwork, and pride, which made the community stronger. He speculated that supporting local students in the arts was an investment that benefited everyone.
Mr. Jeremiah Johnson thanked the BCC for their support regarding Agenda Item 8F3 and the CrossRoads community. He explained that CrossRoads had done a lot for himself and others within the community. He indicated that he came to CrossRoads from the Washoe County Jail and initially believed he would not be a good fit for the program. He noted that he did fit in, and it felt like a brotherhood. He mentioned that the movie room, outdoor activities, and gym allowed him to feel accepted and at home. He believed that CrossRoads reminded him that he was a leader and had helped him sharpen the skills needed every day. He speculated that the BCC’s support would help the program grow stronger and help younger gentlemen like himself feel more comfortable and willing to accept help.
Mr. Isaac Holden expressed gratitude towards Agenda Item 8F3 and the impact the CrossRoads program had on his life. He said that he would leave CrossRoads with immense growth and the ability to teach others the values of CrossRoads. He noted that being able to express his experiences and communicate with his family was magical and something he had not been able to do before attending CrossRoads. He believed that the opportunities to give back in the community were endless and ever-growing. He felt that the BCC’s support would impact the community in more ways than they knew, and he was glad to be able to show the Board the magic of CrossRoads.
Mr. Shauntez Williams thanked the BCC for their support of CrossRoads. He recalled that when he entered the program, he was afraid of not being successful; however, the support and love the program showed helped him grow. He said that because of the CrossRoads program, he was able to rebuild his relationship with his mother, aunt, cousins, and himself. He indicated that the program ensured he would no longer miss out on important moments in life and had helped him rebuild his future to become the best version of himself.
Ms. Cynthia Cooper did not support the HSG grant and ICE activity in Nevada. She reported that The Nevada Independent stated that tourism had decreased 10 percent. She indicated that much of the County’s economy was casino-based and that a 1 percent decrease in casino revenue would result in a significant loss of income. She said that ICE activity in the region had a sociological impact and speculated that it was not likely for a constituent with a lighter complexion to be detained for 48 hours and questioned about their citizenship due to a broken taillight. She recalled that the Reno News and Review had reported on stories of Chinese immigrants from the 1850s. She relayed that Chinese immigrants dug the Dayton and Genoa irrigation ditches, completed the Western Transcontinental Railroad in the 1870s, and won the Steamboat ditch contract, after which the Workingmen’s Party and Order of Caucasians called for Chinese expulsion and Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. She opined that ICE activity in the area was racist and bad for business. She urged the BCC to vote against the HSG grant.
Mr. Joshua Johnson-Slote indicated that he was living proof of a community that chose compassion over abandonment and rejection. He expressed gratitude towards those who supported CrossRoads because the commitment to aid recovery, dignity, and second chances made it possible for people like him to survive and transform. He said that when he initially joined CrossRoads, he was fragmented, emotionally broken, carried the weight of past mistakes, guilty, and shameful. He explained that he learned how to strive for structure without resorting to punishment and achieve accountability without humiliation, while fostering behavioral change through acceptance. He noted that healing did not mean radical vulnerability. He explained that he chaired the kitchen committee, mentored new members, and helped craft a legacy that turned community engagement into meaningful, reflective friendships. He asserted that CrossRoads believed in the power of purpose, which allowed him to become someone who gave freely. He did not believe that people in recovery were liabilities and thought aiding in recovery would create a return. He wished to be the torchbearer of change that he and the community needed.
Mr. Adam Wynne thanked the BCC for their contribution to CrossRoads. He noted that he was an active member of CrossRoads and that it was a great help to his life. He explained that he had been part of the program for five months and was learning how to gain back his self-confidence and self-worth. He indicated that he had learned how to be a leader and had recently graduated from the Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) training program, which had given him a new career path and purpose. He appreciated the Board for their support.
Ms. Cary Ballard noted that she was a proud graduate of the Women’s Crossroads program and thanked the BCC for their support. She explained that she was broken, scared, and unsure about her future when she entered the CrossRoads program; however, the program provided her with a safe place to heal, rebuild, and find hope. She mentioned that she had learned how to live in recovery, be a mother, and believe in herself through the program and was proud that she had rebuilt her life. She indicated that she now worked at CrossRoads and was going to school for social work. She expressed her dedication to helping others find the same hope and stability that she had been given by the CrossRoads program. She said that she was a mother of two children who had the life they deserved because the Board believed in second chances and continued to support the program that gave everyone an opportunity to start over, break cycles, and become part of something bigger than themselves.
Ms. Vanessa Villanueva believed that the CrossRoads program saved her life. She said that as a mother, there was a sense of relief and joy when she was reunited with her son. She speculated that she would not be a model citizen if the program did not exist. She indicated that CrossRoads changed her life and allowed her to have an impact that mattered. She explained that she had gained a new perspective on life and behaviors, and had learned to value aspects such as boundaries, resilience, gratitude, humility, care, integrity, responsibility, acceptance, and respect. She felt that she was given the opportunity to look in a mirror and love what she saw. She opined that every child needed their mother, and she was proud to break her family’s vicious cycle.
Ms. April Carsey mentioned that CrossRoads changed her life, and she thought that when many people entered the program, they were broken, lost, and at their lowest. She believed that the CrossRoads’ staff saw something in the program’s participants and provided structure and hope. She said that the program taught her to lead by example and showed her how to recover through compassion. She appreciated that through CrossRoads’ encouragement, she was inspired to help others, give back, and become part of something bigger than herself. She indicated that the program provided her with the tools, accountability, and support she needed to rebuild her life, reunite with her family, become a good parent, and be a better community member. She expressed honor to be part of the CrossRoads program and a community of people who cared about changing lives. She speculated that any support provided to CrossRoads would strengthen families, communities, and save lives.
Ms. Ivy Elliott said that before she joined the CrossRoads program, she was stuck in a bad situation, depressed, and had nowhere to go. She recalled that she reached out to the Women’s CrossRoads program and was admitted quickly. She explained that she was able to see a therapist to get her mental health and trauma addressed. She believed that it was essential to have support and a safe place for herself and her son. She indicated that her goal was to work in the recovery field and help others struggling with addiction and mental health because the structure, foundation, and support system she experienced at CrossRoads was important. She noted that she applied for her master’s degree in social work through the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), which she felt would not have been possible without the support of CrossRoads and the BCC.
Ms. Kaylen Saldana expressed gratitude towards the CrossRoads program. She noted that prior to the program, she felt alone and scared and had tried to find a daily escape from her feelings. She explained that she knew she needed to change and could not continue living the same way. She indicated that since joining CrossRoads, she was able to find purpose, grow, open up, and become more vulnerable. She believed that being around people who understood and shared similar struggles made it possible to build connections, strength, and hope, which in turn allowed her to reunite with her children and lead a better life. She said that she was able to be the parent her children needed and have a better relationship with family. She opined that recovery not only changed a person but also their family, bringing structure and stability into individuals' lives for the better.
Ms. Ryan Baker expressed gratitude for the support the CrossRoads family received. She indicated that the program changed her life and the lives of others. She noted that she initially did not know what to expect when she entered the program, and said it was her first long-term sobriety program, which made her anxious. She explained that she found more than just a program; she found a community with people who listened, cared, and believed in her. She mentioned that while in the program, she grew through compassion, encouragement, and a shared purpose meant to bring people together and create real change. She believed that having cottages on the CrossRoads campus offered her the chance to reunite with her son. She said that the parenting classes gave her the necessary coping and parenting skills that she would not have been able to obtain during active addiction. She asserted that the tools used at CrossRoads could inspire the next
person to give back, volunteer, support others, and build a stronger community beyond CrossRoads. She thanked the Board for believing in the program and recognizing the value in the work and the difference it made in the community.
Ms. Jill Oleary displayed a document, copies of which were distributed to the Board and placed on file with the Clerk. She read from her Protecting Financial Privacy in Washoe County document regarding her concerns, possible corrections, and what could happen if the County remained silent related to the widespread practice of banks and brokerage firms releasing private financial histories without legal justification.
Ms. DeShar Roberson said that she completed the PRSS training through the CrossRoads program. She indicated that she initially went to school for interior design and was a wedding and event planner while being an alcoholic. She noted that her grandfather and mother were alcoholics who passed away due to their addiction. She reported that it was her passion to get her life together and understand her potential to give back to the community. She mentioned that she was part of a previous program before CrossRoads, which she completed, but was dismissed due to a relationship that led to domestic violence. She said that she was now looking for a career field where she could help people get their lives back on track. She believed that she did not stand alone and that the Board's support was essential.
UNR Manager of Government Affairs Austin Daly announced that UNR would host PACK! MidTown for the fifth consecutive year on October 18, 2025. He noted that on October 19, 2025, UNR would host the Homecoming Parade for the first time in roughly 15 years. He reported that while the parade used to start at the Reno Arch and go towards UNR, that year it would be hosted on the UNR campus in front of the Joe Crowley Student Union. He mentioned that the goal was to have the parade start in downtown Reno in 2026. He stated that UNR President Brian Sandoval would host the State of the University Address, providing an update on the future of UNR, on October 20, 2025. He relayed that the Homecoming football game against Boise State would take place on October 24, 2025, at Mackay Stadium. He hoped to see the Board in attendance and urged them to reach out if they needed any further information.
Mr. Nicholas St. Jon read from a document regarding his election integrity report and his concerns regarding voting in the County, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. He asked if the Board had received his election integrity report and indicated that, according to federal law, Commissioners could respond to his question. He believed that when the Board did not answer his questions, it was considered a form of fraud.
Mr. Oscar Williams displayed a document, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. He offered a brief tribute to former political activist Charlie Kirk and indicated that October 14, 2025, was National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk. He believed that Mr. Kirk was a man dedicated to truth and open debate, which were principles Mr. Williams aspired to have. He expressed approval towards Agenda Item 8F3 and was impressed with the people who took the time to share their stories with the Board. He said
that the Swift Exit Modeling Software grant award would require the County to adhere to policies and procedures to protect data, which could affect elections. He referred to the Washoe County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program document, which he stated required the County to have a publicly available privacy policy that outlined standards for the usage and maintenance of the personal information collected. He explained that if the County currently had an available policy, he would like to have it. He hoped that the Board would approve Agenda Item 8F4 and that the protection of information would also extend to voter registration. He expressed disappointment towards the Center for Internet Security (CIS) because he stated that there was no such thing as internet security and that multiple government agencies had indicated that the internet was not safe or suitable for elections.
Mr. Matthew Wilkie believed that the individuals who spoke from CrossRoads were tremendous and appreciated the BCC’s support for them. He reported that some of the Board had expressed the desire for reelection or were running for a higher office. He recalled that in March 2024, the BCC criminalized homelessness and promised to revisit the matter in one year; however, he had not seen any discussion occur. He noted that there had not been a Community Homelessness Advisory Board (CHAB) meeting since March of 2024. He asserted that Commissioners could not stop CHAB meetings or ignore their own ordinance reviews while campaigning for compassion. He speculated that Commissioners could not claim to be fighting the status quo while taking campaign donations, casting the same votes, and upholding the same failed system that created the homelessness crisis. He urged the Board to reinstate the CHAB meetings and to conduct a review of the criminalization of homelessness while leading with compassion. He reported that he and Commissioner Clark disagreed with 95 percent of things; however, he asked Commissioner Clark, as a member of CHAB, to request a CHAB meeting.
Horsemanship for Heroes Founder Scott Hooper displayed a document, copies of which were distributed to the Board and placed on file with the Clerk. He indicated that Horsemanship for Heroes began helping heroes heal through the power of the human-horse bond. He thanked Commissioner Garcia for reaching out and proposing discretionary funds. He reported that the Horsemanship for Heroes program had two eight- week terms for people struggling. He noted that the program was focused on mental health and that Horsemanship for Heroes was in its third year of operation. He explained that at the end of its second year, Purdue University released a study that indicated significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when utilizing a horsemanship program. He opined that horses were sentient beings and capable of experiencing human emotions. He encouraged and invited the Board to witness his program in Southwest Reno. He relayed that he and his wife were United States (US) retired Army veterans, and that he had graduated from the US Military Academy, while his wife graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder (UCB). He explained that he and his wife had experienced seven combat tours and a couple of operational tours in places such as the City of Mogadishu in Somalia, Iraq, the Balkans, and Afghanistan. He recalled that after retirement, his mind settled, which became problematic, and required him to seek help. He said that horses helped him, and his wife conducted research and developed a curriculum for heroes to heal.
Ms. Abbey Pike thanked Vice Chair Herman for her $10,000 donation to the Washoe Horse and Large Livestock Club. She said that 4-H Youth Development was America’s largest youth development organization, providing a learning-by-doing life skills program in a variety of topics. She explained that the discretionary funds would support 4-H youth in completing projects related to horses and large livestock. She indicated that the youth enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the principles of agriculture, science, and animal husbandry while building valuable leadership skills and forming strong relationships with their adult mentors and peers. She mentioned that the youth would have the opportunity to compete with their animals at the Washoe 4-H Livestock Show and the Nevada State Fair. She appreciated the support and thanked Vice Chair Herman on behalf of the whole 4-H program.
County Clerk Jan Galassini advised the Board that she received emailed public comments, which were placed on file.
Interim County Manager (ICM) Kate Thomas noted that Agenda Item 8D1 regarding Senior Advisory Board (SAB) member appointments was going to be pulled from the agenda. She explained that there were some other upcoming board appointments, and they would all be packaged together on a future meeting. Additionally, she informed that Agenda Item 17 was being pulled by staff. She announced that Washoe County was named by the Nevada Women’s Fund as one of the best places for women to work in Northern Nevada. She added that the County won the category of Top Performing Company for businesses with 501 or more employees, which she felt highlighted the County’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for women across departments and services. She announced that there were two open positions for the Washoe County Law Library Board of Trustees, which she advised was a policy-making board that oversaw the provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 380 regarding law libraries. She stated that one attorney and one non-attorney member were needed to serve two-year terms beginning in February 2026 and extending until January 31, 2028. She asked for applications to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2025. She said applications could be found online, or people could contact Washoe 311 for help if needed.
Commissioner Garcia spoke about the visit from the Coral Academy of Science students at the meeting. She said that she enjoyed it when young people came into Chambers, and she thought it was important for them to see what local government was about. She shared that she invited the students to walk up to the area where Commissioners sat during the meeting to get a feel for what that was like. She thanked the students for walking over from their school to come to the meeting. She remarked on the impact the commenters from CrossRoads had on her. She said she was inspired every time she heard stories from the CrossRoads community, and she thanked them for having the courage to share. She summarized that the message she heard that day was about giving back and stepping up to help somebody else get through difficult times. She stated her admiration for everyone pursuing certifications and educational opportunities that would enable them
to give back to the community. She asked for a round of applause to recognize their efforts.
Commissioner Garcia disclosed that Commissioners received many emails and public comments regarding a grant from the United States (US) Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She related that she organized a detention facility tour for a number of key stakeholders from different groups, which would take place after the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting. She recalled that Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam communicated many times that the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) belonged to County constituents and they were welcome to see it. She conveyed that the objective of the tour was for people to be able to observe where funds from the DHS grant would be spent if it was approved later in 2025. She reported that she and Chair Hill would join the detention facility tour group later that afternoon. She asked people to reach out if they had any questions or concerns. She said that Commissioners were happy to help serve as conduits to the WCSO and would provide all the information that they received. She emphasized her desire to be open and transparent with all efforts regarding the DHS grant.
Commissioner Garcia requested a future agenda item be scheduled to ask Code Enforcement and the District Attorney (DA) to consider public nuisances pursuant to Washoe County Code (WCC) Chapter 125, particularly for property owned by individuals who were deceased or Limited Liability Company (LLCs) that ceased to exist. She described that there were private property parcels in her district where the owner was deceased. She advised that the parcels deteriorated significantly over time and there was illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, and blight. She reasoned that there were serious public health concerns and not much that Code Enforcement or the WCSO could do because there was nobody to hold accountable for the Code Enforcement issues. She added that the problem was not new, but it was getting worse. She shared that she was contacted by Sergeant Sonia Butler from the WCSO Homeless Outreach Proactive Engagement (HOPE) Team on September 29. She revealed that they identified 37 small roadway parcels in Sun Valley where the owners were deceased or the LLCs no longer existed. She identified that blight was accumulating in the middle of neighborhoods. She stated that she would love to identify systemic changes that could help address the problem. She believed that would make a big difference, not only for District 3 constituents, but for all districts. She said the challenge was not unique to Sun Valley, but a report from the HOPE Team indicated that the number of incidents was highest in District 3. She hoped to make people aware of the problem and work on solutions.
Commissioner Andriola echoed Commissioner Garcia’s comments about how nice it was to see students in Chambers. She thanked the coordinator of that effort. She congratulated the CrossRoads participants who had the courage, fortitude, and strength to change their lives. She theorized that they gave people a message of hope and the possibility of change. She reasoned that people sometimes felt alone, but she was amazed by the stories CrossRoads participants shared. She established that she attended the annual Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) conference in Clark County, which she thought was very well attended. She informed that there were expert panel discussions, including Nevada’s Health and Human Services (HHS), infrastructure, and updated information about artificial intelligence (AI) implementation and usage in Nevada counties. She
recognized Assistant County Manager (ACM) David Solaro’s participation in that panel and said that although she was unable to attend, she heard he did a great job. She spoke about a financial leadership session that provided guidance she found interesting. She related that there was an excellent panel from the National Association of Counties (NaCO) regarding House Resolution (HR) 1 and its impact on Nevada. She reviewed that there were informative panel discussions about challenges and opportunities in Nevada’s agriculture industry. She looked forward to exploring agritourism provisions that the BCC could consider and hoped that they would be able to do that soon. She opined that the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Cooperative Extension Services offered programming Statewide and could strengthen communities. She noted a unanimous vote at the NACO board meeting to agendize a discussion to consider support from all 17 Nevada counties for the continued efforts of UNR’s Cooperative Extension. She hoped that once that was agendized, NACO would issue recommendations to the counties to support those efforts. She commented that NACO prided itself on being a bipartisan organization and was extremely well-respected both in Nevada and across the Nation. She mentioned that Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo were speakers at the NACO conference. She said that they both supported and represented NACO’s bipartisan position, and she pointed out that it was the first time in 101 years of NACO that a sitting governor attended the NACO conference.
Commissioner Clark apologized for being late to the meeting. He explained that there was an accident between a dump truck and a car that delayed his commute. He thanked everyone who provided public comments about their experience with CrossRoads. He found BCC meetings at which people shared their CrossRoads stories heartwarming and inspirational. He knew it was sometimes difficult to talk publicly, but he said it was important for people to hear those stories, and he encouraged the commenters to keep up the good work. He stated that he had always supported CrossRoads and continued to do so. Regarding the earlier public comment from Mr. Matthew Wilkie, Commissioner Clark supposed that they agreed on more than 10 percent of things, and he reminded everyone that he was one of the only Commissioners who voted against Ordinance 1715. He remarked that he did not support people being arrested for being poor or sleeping in their cars, and that was on the record. He added that he had requested monthly Community Homelessness Advisory Board (CHAB) meetings and asked ICM Thomas to help with restrooms and other services unhoused people needed. He mentioned his support for community non-profits that helped people wash their clothes. He objected to the Cities of Reno and Sparks moving unhoused people back and forth from one jurisdiction to the other. He said that practice needed to be addressed. He clarified that he did not strongly oppose people sleeping along the river or sleeping in their car. He was opposed to the accumulation of trash, and he shared that he had talked to the County and to Waste Management about the possibility of making some dumpsters accessible so people could pick up after themselves. He disclosed a number of upcoming days on which he would be volunteering at the Cares Campus to gain a better understanding of what was taking place there. He spoke about some new training opportunities at the Cares Campus occuring through the efforts of Ms. Ann Silver that he looked forward to. He wanted better outcomes for Cares Campus residents and the community.
Commissioner Clark echoed Commissioner Andriola’s remarks about the NACO convention. He informed that he attended an excellent financial leadership session and he suggested that, if it was recorded, it would be a valuable resource to share with County staff, Commissioners, and the community. He elaborated that the session contained good information about how all counties could better manage their finances.
Commissioner Clark thought it was important for individuals serving on commissions and boards to understand the residential requirements of the bodies on which they served. He noted that some did not have residential requirements, but others stipulated that people needed to live in a particular district to serve as a representative on the board for that area. He added that some positions were for at-large members who could reside in any district. He said it was incumbent on the individuals who served on the boards to understand that if they moved from one area to another, they needed to communicate that information. He preferred to bring in new people and get new ideas rather than reappointing the same individuals, which he likened to reading the same book 10 times in a row. He suggested that maybe in the future a handbook should be given to people when they were appointed to a board or organization so they could better understand all relevant residence restrictions.
Chair Hill said that she had the opportunity to attend a Truckee Meadows Data Center Policy Consortium meeting at the UNR Innevation Center coordinated by the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency (TMRPA). She described the consortium as a great group of scientists, planners, and regional leaders from across Northern Nevada. She was eager to see how the BCC could consider adopting some of the local data center restrictions that were recommended as part of that discussion. She announced that there was a Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) meeting workshop scheduled for October 15, 2025, to discuss priorities, and she expected that data centers would be discussed. She offered that people were welcome to participate in those discussions. She mentioned that there would be another great conference on October 16, 2025, hosted by the Desert Research Institute (DRI). She shared that it was the second annual Air Wind and Earth (AWE+) 2025 Collaborative Wildfire Conference. She encouraged people to attend if they were interested in learning more about fire in Nevada, the science behind it, and how they could prevent it and get involved.
Commissioner Andriola mentioned that the TMRPA Regional Planning Governing Board (RPGB) recently voted to consider best practices and regional standards for data centers. She acknowledged that the item was not agendized for the BCC that day and so she was cautious about overstepping, but she shared that there were plans to review data center best practices at a national level to inform regional standards. She wanted to ensure that the County could implement best practices that served the area appropriately, and she advised that she would share information on those efforts as it became available.
PROCLAMATIONS
Commissioner Andriola thanked Commissioner Garcia for setting the precedent of a shared reading of proclamations with the person or team being recognized. She invited members of the County cybersecurity team to read the proclamation with her. Commissioner Andriola, Information Technology (IT) Manager Kobe Harkins, Technology Coordinator Susannah Lee, Senior Technology Network Engineer Jacob Holmes, Senior Technology Network Engineer Braedyn Kelly, Technology Network Engineer II Tal Zemach, and Technology Network Engineer II CJ Bower read the proclamation.
Mr. Harkins thanked the Commissioners for supporting Cybersecurity Awareness Month. He stated that it was a very important month for his team, and he mentioned the cybersecurity incident that recently happened at the State level. He remarked that cybersecurity was critical, and he was glad that Commissioners were able to see the County cybersecurity team, who he described as vigilant employees who constantly monitored incoming threats using the tools and technologies approved by the Board. He viewed cybersecurity as involving more than the employees, and conveyed that it included Commissioners, the public, and other County employees learning to identify what constituted a cyber threat and how to deal with it. He noted that the cybersecurity team sent information to people to improve their understanding and learning.
Chair Hill thanked the County cybersecurity team for their incredible work.
She remarked that the County needed them to be successful.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 5A1 be adopted.
PRESENTATIONS/AWARDS
REMSA Health President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Barry Duplantis conducted a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed slides with the following titles: REMSA Health Community Update; REMSA Health: Origin and Reputation; Serving the Community’s EMS Needs; REMSA Health Board of Directors; Commitment to the Community; Commitment to the Region; Collaboration with County Services; Sustainability and Community Impact; Conclusion; REMSA HEALTH.
Mr. Duplantis thanked the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for allowing him to provide an update on the role of Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority Health (REMSA Health) in the community. He reviewed his REMSA Health: Origin and Reputation slide and remarked that it was forward-thinking of the community to establish an organization that was exclusively responsible for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the area. He discerned that model allowed the community to hold
REMSA Health to the highest standard because they were expected to be the experts in providing EMS care. He shared his view that because there were no shareholders, community members were the owners of REMSA Health. He welcomed people to go to the REMSA Health campus at any time to have coffee, discussion, or a tour. He acknowledged the REMSA Health Board of Directors Chair Shirley Roberts, who he noted was in attendance at BCC meeting. He said that the REMSA Health Board of Directors was amazing, and he felt that he could not say enough about the incredible people who served on it, three of whom were appointed by the District Board of Health (DBOH).
Mr. Duplantis showed his Serving the Community’s EMS Needs slide. He explained that when people called the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 911 (911) line for help, care began at the time the call came in, not when the ambulance arrived on-scene. He described that staff guided callers through giving chest compressions, helping with a choke, and even delivering babies with instructions over the telephone. He communicated that the calls were sometimes very stressful, but the outcome of a successfully delivered baby was rewarding. He summarized that the work of their organization started each time they received a call. He read from the REMSA Health Board of Directors slide. Mr. Duplantis displayed his Commitment to the Community slide and said that the commitment REMSA Health had to the community was the major reason why he wanted to give the Commissioners an update. He believed that the work they did in the community was well-integrated and he noted that work was provided by and for people who lived in the community. He explained that REMSA Health did not strive to transport everybody to the hospital if they did not need to go. He disclosed that 911 calls were sometimes of lower acuity, such as a fall or confusion about a medication. He conveyed that REMSA Health personnel provided a significant amount of care on-scene that did not require transportation to a hospital. He specified that patients were only charged if they were transported to a hospital. He informed that, because nobody was denied care, REMSA Health absorbed the cost in circumstances where transport to a hospital was provided for individuals who could not pay. He commented that because REMSA Health did not have any stakeholders outside of the community, they reinvested all of their money within the community on equipment and people. He advised that they were not a debt-laden business, they generally conducted business with cash rather than credit, and the community owned all of their assets. He said that not everyone in the public understood exactly how REMSA Health operated and why they could be seen at shopping centers and parking lots. He explained that they used predictive analytics to gauge where the next calls were likely to come from. He offered that when people saw ambulances posted in shopping centers, it was because predictive analytics indicated the next call could be expected to occur in that region. He said that was how they planned where to place their equipment around the community, and they geared everything to the movement of population.
Mr. Duplantis reviewed his Commitment to the Region slide. He remarked that he was proud that all REMSA employees lived in the community, and he mentioned that he personally sought guidance about proper car seat installation service when he installed a car seat for his granddaughter. He showed his Collaboration with County Services slide and shared that REMSA Health was proud of the relationships they had with others in the community. He noted that REMSA Health provided dispatch services to the
Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD). He described that TMFPD was frequently in the REMSA Health dispatch center to pursue mutual goals of collaboration and excellent customer service. He spoke about the high level of services REMSA Health provided, which included being the only Fire Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) organization within the community. He stated that REMSA Health collaborated with the TMFPD to provide ambulance services in some hard-to-reach areas of the region that experienced low call volume, which he said served both agencies well. He revealed that in the past year, REMSA Health restarted their Integrated Health division to better address the need to care for everyone in the community, which he disclosed was sometimes more difficult than people might assume. He related that over many years, REMSA Health honed their focus on meeting people where they were. He explained that the Integrated Heath program addressed community health concerns like vaccinations and helping people understand their medications with the belief that if those matters were not attended to when they were minor, affected persons might eventually require an ambulance to get to the hospital if their health worsened.
Mr. Duplantis showed his Sustainability and Community Impact slide and described that REMSA Health was excited to be an embedded component of the new regional Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, Hexagon. He recalled that there was supposed to be an update later that week about progress on the system and when it would be operational. He voiced that the current target go-live date was at the end of February 2026. He restated that REMSA Health was owned by the community and did not have to please any outside shareholders or stakeholders. Mr. Duplantis displayed his Conclusion slide and said he was available to answer any questions Board members had.
Chair Hill thanked Mr. Duplantis for his update and for making himself accessible. She commented that she had taken many tours of the REMSA Health facility and attended meetings there to better understand how their operation worked.
Commissioner Garcia thanked Mr. Duplantis for his patience in the meeting while he waited to present. She expressed appreciation for the foresight that enabled the predictive analysis and resultant strategic ambulance placement REMSA Health utilized. She appreciated the relationship REMSA Health had with the TMFPD, and she observed that those ambulances helped serve hard-to-reach places. She recalled that EMS and dispatch workforce suffered above-average rates of mental health issues including post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burnout, and suicide. She asked Mr. Duplantis to speak about how the workforce was being taken care of and what REMSA Health was doing internally to ensure overall well-being and strong retention in those difficult careers. She acknowledged that EMS staff witnessed tragic, horrific, and traumatic events.
Mr. Duplantis responded that mental health was a constant challenge in the EMS field, fire and police services, and more broadly in the community. He described that REMSA Health had an on-board clinician who was available to their employees at all times. He added that there was an integrated peer-support group that could help people decompress, for example after a bad call. He felt that every EMS patient deserved the full attention of the REMSA Health staff members who responded to them. He shared that
REMSA Health worked hard to coach, mentor, and be close to their employees. He explained that the embedded clinician and other staff members knew each other’s names, families, and issues that might arise. He observed that the nature of EMS work was that people typically called when they needed help, not because they were having a great day, which created a mental health challenge for the staff who received and responded to those calls. He said that caring for mental health was a key priority of the organization.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Mr. Duplantis for his presentation, Ms. Roberts and the entire REMSA Health Board for their service, and the more than 600 dedicated REMSA Health staff members for their efforts to ensure that people received the best care possible in the most expeditious way. She appreciated that Mr. Duplantis was involved with the Hexagon CAD system. She expressed her eagerness for it to be implemented. She echoed Commissioner Garcia’s point about the value of Commissioners seeing EMS collaborations and work first-hand by spending time with staff at a station, on an ambulance call, or both. She was proud to hear that mental health services were being prioritized for REMSA Health staff. She commended REMSA Health leadership for creating a collaborative approach and supporting a workforce that lived in the community. She stated her desire to go on a REMSA Health ridealong and thought it would be a good opportunity to learn about the operations of the organization, particularly because of other regionalization conversations that were underway in the County. She disclosed that she had the pleasure of being on tours but wanted to see the work firsthand as it happened. She thought that would provide her with a better understanding of the policies and provisions that needed to be in place to support everyone. She asked Mr. Duplantis what he saw as the biggest immediate challenges and what long-term challenges he predicted the community would face that would impact REMSA Health.
Mr. Duplantis stated his appreciation for the question and responded that projections about budgets and service needs in the community over the next three to five years weighed heavily on his mind. He spoke about the importance of navigating patients to the right paths of care through dispatch. He noted that not everyone who called 911 needed an ambulance because of a life and death situation, and it was important for dispatchers to recognize when someone could be cared for with a community care person rather than an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or an EMT instead of a paramedic. He wanted to improve the triage abilities of staff during dispatch to determine the right level of care based on the acuity of the call. He expected that there would be a greater impact on the community from a budgetary perspective in 2027 or 2028. He predicted that as men, women, and children stopped having access to government programs, they would increasingly call 911 to access healthcare. He commented that people already did that, and he expected the trend to amplify. He stated that REMSA Health was reviewing their business modeling to plan how to address the changes. He disclosed that they had already consulted a prior business analysis from a time before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to inform their projections. He predicted more demand in the coming years than was seen in the analysis he referenced, and he expected more low-acuity calls from people trying to understand whether they needed to go to the hospital or asking how to access care if they did not have a doctor. He reported that people sometimes called 911 because it was their access to healthcare. He described that when he was a child many people did not know how
to utilize the 911 system, but the public was successfully trained to use it in the years since. He said that children were now taught how to call 911 from the moment that they were able to in case there was an event in the home where emergency services were necessary. He commented that he was recently asked about the impact of the government shutdown. He shared that it had almost no impact on REMSA Health because REMSA Health used a fee-for-service model and did not receive any government funding. He conveyed that the only EMS organization he was aware of that was impacted by the current government payments disruption was related to veteran services. He remarked that impact was unfortunate, but added that Medicare and Medicaid were unaffected.
Commissioner Clark thanked Mr. Duplantis for his presentation. He emphasized a point made on the REMSA Health: Origin and Reputation slide about REMSA Health having been established as the exclusive provider of EMS service in the County. Commissioner Clark mentioned the fire service regionalization efforts under consideration and discerned that Mr. Duplantis and his team were subject-matter experts on regionalization. He suggested that they should be consulted about fire regionalization efforts so they could answer questions about how they were able to fulfill their role as the exclusive provider of EMS service in the County. He said that he did not intend to put Mr. Duplantis on the spot, but he wanted to talk to him and get his perspective on best practices for guaranteed mutual aid and other regionalization considerations.
Mr. Duplantis responded that, while he was not part of the regionalization study group, he worked collaboratively with all of the fire chiefs. He said he and TMFPD Fire Chief Richard Edwards recently had a conversation on that topic and helped keep each other informed about meetings and organizations in which they were not present. He expressed appreciation for Commissioner Clark wanting to reach out.
Commissioner Clark discerned that Mr. Duplantis had a number of years of experience with regionalization and was the subject matter expert. He theorized that a lot could be learned from that direct experience, and he said he would appreciate being able to talk to Mr. Duplantis as questions came up. He noted that he was not on the Regional Fire Services Study Board, but he wanted to talk to Mr. Duplantis to get an overview. He stated his appreciation for Mr. Duplantis and what he was doing. Commissioner Clark remarked that the number of incidents REMSA Health responded to was dramatic. He summarized that they answered a quarter of a million calls each year and transported 65,000 people with a staff of 600. He thought that pointed to good management. He spoke about seeing REMSA Health vehicles parked at different places around the County and could now recognize that analytics predetermined where REMSA Health might be needed. He surmised that they could almost set up a branch office wherever they parked a mobile unit and the team would be ready to respond to calls that came in. He thought that the public needed to be aware that REMSA Health staff were working, not just in a parking lot taking coffee breaks. He opined that when a person needed help, they did not care about imaginary lines drawn on a map and whose jurisdiction their emergency was in. They were only concerned about who was going to come out and help them. He was confident that when a person called REMSA Health, somebody would respond with help. Commissioner Clark listed things in the region that could cause a medical emergency, and he thought it
would be interesting to see what kinds of calls REMSA Health received. He surmised that they had to be ready for anything. He said he was amazed by what the organization did and noted that it was dangerous work. He congratulated Mr. Duplantis on the good work he did, and concluded that the County was very lucky to have the help of REMSA Health in emergency situations.
Chair Hill appreciated that Commissioner Andriola asked Mr. Duplantis what future challenges he predicted. She spoke about a community workshop organized by the Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN) to address impacts of House Resolution (HR) 1, and she knew that the community organizations who supported the most vulnerable community members would need to figure out how to serve people for more emergencies. She expected there would be difficult conversations, and she was sure that the community would be able to help. She advocated for planning and community conversations moving forward to consider how people could be helped. She thanked Mr. Duplantis and the REMSA Health Board for their time and work. She said she was looking forward to continuing the conversation and the collaboration.
Mr. Jonathan Lamson said that he wanted to celebrate the monumental occasion of Washoe County becoming one of the first county governments in the Nation to be publicly recognized as a recovery friendly workplace. He noted that representatives from the Nevada Division of Social Services had formed a partnership to achieve the goal of identifying, training, and partnering with recovery friendly workplaces. He explained why the designation was so important, not only to the community but also to himself. He shared that he had a fraught upbringing and that mental illness and various traumatic situations were common in his family. He said that his stepfather went to prison in 1996 and remained incarcerated. He felt that, despite his own difficulties, he had always viewed his favorite uncle, Steve, as a positive influence. He shared that his uncle was a veteran of both the United States (US) Air Force and the National Guard and later worked with various state government agencies in California as a communications and ham radio expert. He added that he looked up to his uncle, who could fix anything, had a great sense of humor, was always quick with a joke, and had many friends. He stated that his uncle had taught him how to rebuild his 1969 Ford pickup truck. He said that he helped his uncle with remodeling projects, which allowed him to earn money as a teenager. He recalled witnessing his uncle rebuild his tractor after damaging the hydraulics while trying to display it.
Mr. Lamson shared that most people, even family members, were unaware that his uncle had battled depression for many years, a struggle that tragically led to his death by suicide in October 2010, at the age of 55. He hoped that suicide would be a rare occurrence, but acknowledged that it was not. He said that he recently read an article that reported that a sergeant from the Reno Police Department (RPD) had died by suicide. He
felt that much of the community could relate to such a tragedy, and many people had experienced or knew someone who had struggled with substances, alcohol, or mental health. He thought that while suffering was a human constant, suffering silently and alone should not happen. He defined recovery as the process of change through which a person could achieve health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. He stated that recovery was a process that Washoe County, one of the largest employers in the area, decided to endorse and encourage within its workforce of over 3,000 employees. He shared that if any Washoe County employee was suffering, struggling, or needed help, the County was a safe employer to seek assistance from. He emphasized that a recovery friendly workplace designation served as a permission structure and a starting point to ensure that employees did not suffer in silence but instead utilized the resources that would prevent overdoses and save lives. He noted that the program provided support and a space where individuals could be honest without fear of judgment. He said that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) helped facilitate a recovery friendly workplace. He believed that Washoe County, as an employer, had made it clear that it did not want to lose valuable employees. He added that a recent employee declaration letter issued by Washoe County reinforced that no one employed by the County needed to fear recovery or the honesty required to begin it. He stated that, in a letter, interim County Manager (ICM) Thomas wrote that Washoe County was committed to creating a workplace environment that supported its employees, both professionally and personally, and becoming a recovery friendly workplace. He thanked Washoe County for its continued commitment to supporting employees and their families. He noted that Washoe County was only the fifth county in the Nation to receive the designation and the first in the State of Nevada. He believed the County’s efforts had created a permission structure for employees to find health and wellness, something he felt should be commended and celebrated, as it would help save lives and strengthen families. On behalf of the Governor's Office, the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, the Nevada Division of Social Services, and the Foundation for Recovery, he announced that Washoe County was being recognized as a recovery friendly workplace. Mr. Lampson displayed a document that was not placed on record with the Clerk.
Chair Hill thanked Mr. Lampson for his efforts, which encouraged her to share information about the designation with the County. She acknowledged ICM Thomas for her involvement in the process. She recognized that there were workshops that demonstrated Washoe County's commitment to educating staff on how to support fellow employees. She felt that the attendance of members from CrossRoads demonstrated the County’s dedication to being an employer that offered second chances and supported individuals on their path to recovery, helping them become the best versions of themselves. She thanked attendees from the State of Nevada for their leadership.
DONATIONS
(1) unknown cash donations for Stuff A Bus ($134), (2) unknown cash donations ($306), (3) Armfield Family Trust ($25), and (4) anonymous donation ($500). Human Services Agency. (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 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Items 7A1 through 7C1 be accepted.
Chair Hill noted that Commissioner Garcia had a disclosure to provide prior to action being taken on the Consent Agenda Items.
Commissioner Garcia asked to pull Agenda Item 8F7 out of the Consent Agenda to allow for discussion. Regarding Agenda Item 8E1, she said that although the item did not have any fiscal impact, she wanted to disclose that she was an employee of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She advised that she would vote on the item.
Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety, to support the lease of two (2) Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) kiosks, for the retroactive grant term of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026; and if approved, direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments and authorize Connie Lucido, County Grants Administrator to execute grant award documents on behalf of DAS grant award documents. Alternative Sentencing. (All Commission Districts.)
residents at Wittenberg Hall; from 10/22/25 through 6/30/28; if approved, authorize the Chair to execute the Agreement. Juvenile Services. (All Commission Districts.)
Council of the State of Nevada to the Reno Justice Court “Court Assistance Program (CAP)” in the amount of [$122, 355.00 for FY26, no match required]. The program focuses on reducing recidivism in offenders who have co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues by aiding participants with sober living, trauma related treatment, residential treatment, intensive drug and alcohol testing, and transitional living services. The allocation is paid in quarterly installments of $30,588.75 retroactively July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. Funds are transferable among court programs; and direct Finance to make the appropriate budget amendments. Reno Justice Court. (All Commission Districts.)
$30,020.00 required match) for Federal Fiscal Year 2026; and authorize the creation of a new, grant funded, full-time DUI Case Manager Position, pay grade J140, effective October 1, 2025. The program funds the development of separate misdemeanor DUI Court tracks to provide structured intervention, reduce recidivism, and promote long-term recovery and public safety. Grant period is October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026; and if acknowledged, authorize Human Resources to make the necessary changes and direct Finance to make the appropriate budget amendments. Reno
Justice Court. (All Commission Districts.)
$78,600.00] as administered from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, federal project number 21-LE-11041700-005 Modification 007, for patrol of U.S. Forest Service designated roads, campgrounds, developed sites, or dispersed areas for the retroactive grant period of January 8, 2021 through May 31, 2027; authorize the Sheriff to retroactively execute the award document; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Sheriff. (All Commission Districts.)
costs, penalties and interest legally chargeable against the property with the exception of those parcels listed on Exhibit “A” and to approve and execute Resolution R25-104 authorizing the Washoe County Treasurer to transfer to other governmental entities, real property held in trust due to property tax delinquencies and other matters properly related thereto listed in Exhibit “A”. The Delinquent Lands Book, located in the Manager’s Office, identifies 66 total tax delinquent parcels which are held in trust by the Treasurer. After proper notification, the 66 parcels will be sold on April 22, 2026, if not redeemed. Treasurer. (All Commission Districts.)
On the call for public comment, Ms. Pam Roberts provided documents, copies of which were placed on file with the Clerk. She shared that she was one of three people listed for re-appointment to the Washoe County Senior Advisory Board (SAB) in Agenda Item 8D1. She said that because that item was originally agendized and posted, she would comment on it. She described that she was the immediate past chair of the SAB until recently. She divulged that she lived in District 5, then sold her home there and stayed with a friend in District 5 while looking for a new home to purchase. She explained that she purchased her new home in District 1 but did not move into that district until August 2025. She stated that she received mixed advice from the Deputy District Attorney (DDA) assigned to the SAB regarding when she needed to resign from her SAB position. She added that as soon as she realized she needed to resign, she did. She described that, leading up to the time when she left District 5, she and other SAB members received conflicting advice regarding holdover positions. She explained that the terms of some SAB members were expiring, and the SAB made recommendations about those appointments, but it took more time than the SAB anticipated to get the item on the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) agenda. She recounted that after she resigned, the acting chair, Denise Myer, took over the last meeting. Ms. Roberts said that she was very upset when Commissioner Clark expressed during public comment at that meeting that he was opposed to Ms. Roberts being reappointed. She understood that Commissioner Clark advocated for new people to be appointed to the SAB, but she argued that there were already new people in place, none of whom had served on the SAB for more than five years. She added that there were term limits, and members could only serve two consecutive terms. She conveyed that the SAB accomplished many things during her tenure, including regular involvement in planning for activities during Older Americans Month.
Ms. Denise Myer advised that she was acting as the interim Chair for the SAB and she hoped to reinstate Ms. Roberts as Chair. She encouraged the BCC to support the SAB’s recommendations of members Edward Lamb, MaryAnn McCauley, and Pamela Roberts, who she noted was changing from District 5 to District 1. She shared that all the members of the SAB worked well together despite holding different points of view and background experiences. She revealed that they had challenged each other to grow on the SAB and Ms. Roberts was an excellent leader. Ms. Myer elaborated that Ms. Roberts was very respectful of everybody on the SAB and the people in the audience, encouraged people to speak their mind, and was very respectful of people’s point of view. Ms. Myer summarized that she wanted to see everybody reappointed to their positions.
Mr. Justin Cercone said he was proud to be in attendance at the meeting and speak to the Board as someone who had been given a second chance through the Men’s CrossRoads program. He added that he had the opportunity to be one of the first two fathers in the CrossRoads Families program. He admitted that when he first went to CrossRoads he did not take it seriously. He thought he could just coast through the program and everything would somehow work itself out. He described that it was not until he faced the consequences of his choices, which included sitting behind locked doors, eating the same bad food, and staring at cold walls in a tiny cell, that he realized how much he had taken for granted. He reported that when he got another chance to go to CrossRoads, he made a choice to do things differently by putting in the work to really look at himself and commit to change. He shared that once he did that, things started to shift. He conveyed that what made CrossRoads special was not just the program; it was the people, the community, and being surrounded by others who understood what it meant to struggle, to fall, and to get back up again. He stated that CrossRoads participants held each other accountable and encouraged each other. He disclosed that he had learned responsibility, honesty, patience, and, most importantly, love for himself, for others, and for the life he was building. Mr. Cercone described moving into the CrossRoads Families building as one of his biggest blessings and felt that having his child with him on weekends positively impacted his recovery. He said that before the move, he was trying to get better for his child, but now he got to do it with his child. He commented that every Friday when he knew his child was coming, it reminded him of his commitment and purpose. He shared that waking up on those weekends, making breakfast with his child, and laughing together were moments that made recovery real and kept him grounded and focused. He summarized that CrossRoads gave him hope, which he never thought he would have again. The program showed him that he could be a present father, a reliable friend, and a man who took pride in doing the right thing. He recalled that when he was first at CrossRoads, he was angry at the world and thought everyone was against him. He said that he had come to see things differently and could now recognize how much people, including staff, his peers, and program supporters, actually cared. He felt that supporters were not just helping people get sober, they were helping rebuild lives and families like his. He did not view himself as the same person he was when he started his recovery journey. He now saw himself as a man learning to lead with integrity, a father who showed up, and someone who was truly thankful for the second chance that CrossRoads and the community gave him. He thanked the BCC, the staff, and everyone who continued to support CrossRoads. He reminded them that they were changing lives.
Ms. Katie Dillon expressed her gratitude and appreciation for the CrossRoads program, which she felt had not only changed her life, but truly saved it. She described that before going to CrossRoads she was lost in the deepest, darkest parts of her addiction and lived a life with no meaning or purpose for 20 years. She reported being in and out of jail and numerous recovery programs during that time, and she said that nothing ever reached her the way that CrossRoads did. She established that when she initially walked through doors at CrossRoads, she was broken and had lost her family, her sense of purpose, and, most importantly, herself. She related that CrossRoads provided a community that loved her until she could learn to love herself back, which no other place ever had. She explained that she began to rebuild through the program. She articulated that it gave her children their mother back, made her employable, gave her family back, and provided her with stability, structure, and a foundation on which she could build the rest of her life. She communicated that CrossRoads gave her a safe place to grow and the opportunity to find herself again and learn who she was. She felt that, through CrossRoads, she had become a woman of integrity who was filled with compassion and led with love. She expressed her gratitude for all the resources, time, and energy that were poured into CrossRoads. She said that support ensured that the program could reach as many people as possible who were facing the same struggles she had. She predicted that the dedication and support that went into building and maintaining CrossRoads would continue to save lives for years to come. She believed that the therapeutic community model at CrossRoads worked because it allowed people to be vulnerable and share their truth without judgement, surrounded by the support of people who truly understood. She described it as people helping people, learning responsibility and emotional growth through daily living. She shared that the program focused on healing the entire person and did not just stop at substance use. She conveyed that because of CrossRoads, she did not just have a second chance, she had a new life. She noted that gift came with responsibility to give back what was so freely given to her. She revealed that sense of responsibility was why she was committed to investing her time and energy into helping others who were walking the same path that she once did. She wanted to reach out to people and remind them that recovery was possible, they were not alone, and they could build a life beyond their wildest dreams like she did. She thanked everyone who helped support the program. She stated that the generosity of supporters was saving the lives of countless addicts who might otherwise die. She concluded that because of supporters, people like her found hope, healing, and a future they never thought they would have.
Mr. Mason McKenna disclosed that he was 21 years old and a proud resident at CrossRoads. He recalled that when he first arrived at CrossRoads, he was struggling with alcohol addiction. He remarked that it was not just the alcohol that was destroying him; it was the shame, guilt, and the belief that he could not be more than his mistakes. He said he was vulnerable, ashamed, and unsure if he deserved a second chance, but CrossRoads gave him one. He described that what he found at CrossRoads was not just a place to get sober, it was a place to rebuild who he was. He explained that the staff, the people, and the structure helped him look at himself in ways that he never had before. He commented that they taught him that recovery was not just about forgetting who you were, it was about learning, forgiving yourself, and building a new foundation for who you wanted to become. He revealed that for the first time in his life, he started to let go of the
person that he used to be. He stopped running from his past and he started facing it. He asserted that the shame he used to carry turned into motivation and the guilt became gratitude. Mr. McKenna shared that one of the most unexpected gifts that he received at CrossRoads was the brotherhood. He elaborated that he had never had a similar community before in which people understood him, supported him, and held him accountable. He viewed the other CrossRoads residents more as family than friends. He determined that they had all seen different battles but pursued the same mission to become better every day. He said that now when he saw someone struggling as he once did, he did not see that person as a lost cause or a stereotype. He saw someone who needed help, and he wanted to reach out his hand. He summarized that CrossRoads changed the way he thought, acted, and saw the world. He added that it gave him purpose and reminded him that addicts were not defined by their lowest moments. Instead, they were defined by the strength needed to rise from those low moments. He thanked the people who make programs like CrossRoads possible and continued to believe in second chances. He said people like that did not just save lives, they helped people like him find a reason to live again.
Mr. Steven Markley thanked the Board and said it was a pleasure to be there with them. He knew that the Commissioners had heard a lot of his story over the past year, but he provided some updates. He announced that, thanks to the CrossRoads workforce development program, he had a full-time job as an academic assistant at the UNR School of Public Health, which would enable him to get a degree tuition-free. He spoke about the CrossRoads program and the accomplishments of program participants over the years. He noted that dozens of participants went through peer recovery support specialist (PRSS) training and were making a difference in the community. He added that more participants were currently learning how to become a PRSS. He applauded those individuals for their willingness to undertake work of that nature and meet people where they were, which could bring up past traumas for people in recovery. He identified the one-on-one approach CrossRoads took as a factor that contributed to success. He said CrossRoads was committed to engaging people with lived experience and continually finding ways to help the many people who still needed support. He recalled that the CrossRoads program identified his desire to help people and worked with him to show him what needed to be done rather than just reciting platitudes. He established that he was able to use what he learned to prepare other CrossRoads participants for work in the community. He reported that he was starting to do some community organizing and was excited about the direction CrossRoads was taking. He stated that CrossRoads would make a difference thanks to support from the BCC and the community.
County Clerk Jan Galassini asked if Chair Hill preferred to hear public comments about Agenda Item 8F7 next or wait until after the vote was taken on the Consent Agenda items. Chair Hill stated her preference to wait until the item was opened so commenters could hear staff conversation and then provide their remarks.
Ms. Galassini advised the Board that she received emailed public comments, which were placed on file.
On motion by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Consent Agenda Items 8A1 through 8L1, with the exclusion of Items 8D1 and 8F7, be approved. Any and all Resolutions or Interlocal Agreements pertinent to Consent Agenda Items 8A1 through 8L1, with the exclusion of Items 8D1 and 8F7, are attached hereto and made a part of the minutes thereof.
Interim County Manager (ICM) Kate Thomas clarified that Item 8F7 was a recommendation to initiate action, not a first or second reading. She mentioned that Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Abbe Yacoben would provide additional details regarding efficiency and the timeframe for resolving the issues. She stated that there were ongoing staffing-related issues being addressed and emphasized that dissolving the department would not eliminate its functions.
Ms. Yacoben stated that Agenda Item 8F7 was intended to allow amendments to the Washoe County Code (WCC). She added that, after the vote, the Board would have two discussions on whether to repeal Chapter 11 of the WCC, which established the Department of Alternative Sentencing (DAS). She reiterated a prior comment made by ICM Thomas, that the intent was not to halt any of the four primary services provided by DAS, but rather to increase efficiency. She reminded the Board that budget messaging, which had already begun for the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY), would serve as an opportunity to increase efficiency and, when possible, enhance service levels. She explained that a detailed presentation was forthcoming, as many experts from various departments had been collaborating. She stated that the current vote would determine whether to allow additional detailed conversations regarding the DAS.
Chair Hill thanked Ms. Yacoben for providing the parameters for
discussion.
On the call for public comment, Alternative Sentencing Officer Mark Wickman addressed several ongoing concerns that affected the DAS operations, morale, and public perception. He expressed concern about how the DAS audit had been portrayed in the media. He noted that staff had responded to 67 audit findings but felt their efforts had gone unacknowledged. He mentioned that morale continued to decline, and the public narrative had shifted blame onto the officers instead of recognizing the leadership failures that contributed to the issues identified in the audit. He stated that former Chief Justin Roper was at the center of the mismanagement, and although the audit confirmed that, the
consequences disproportionately affected those not responsible for the decisions. He believed that the County and management were aware of the fiscal issues under Mr. Roper, and that timely oversight could have mitigated the situation. He alleged that, instead, public perception was shaped by misleading reports that suggested that the DAS operated outside legal and ethical boundaries, claims he considered inaccurate. He stated that the DAS rejected allegations that officers had conducted unauthorized activities, such as using vehicles illegally or engaging in traffic enforcement beyond their authority. He explained that the policies had been in place for years and were reviewed and approved by the Washoe County District Attorney's (DA) Office. He detailed that stops under those policies were rare, with only 59 over ten years, averaging one per officer per year, and were made solely for public safety reasons. He noted that he could not imagine that the County would expect Category One Peace Officers to ignore serious violations while operating police vehicles. He stated that recent comments by a Commissioner who claimed the DAS impeded addiction recovery, overcharged individuals, and imposed unnecessary fees were inaccurate and unsupported. He explained that fees were set by court orders, remained the lowest in the region, and that revenues went into the County's General Fund. He noted that former probationers had recently expressed concern over media reports and shared how the DAS had impacted their recovery. He shared a story of a seven-year clean addict who ran treatment facilities in Portland and held a drug and alcohol counseling license. He believed that due to misconceptions, the Washoe County District Court planned to contract private labs, which he thought would increase the cost of mandated tests. He added that the decision would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the current operation, which he found both fiscally and ethically troubling. He believed that, instead of addressing poor management under Mr. Roper and a lack of oversight by the County, DAS was being unfairly blamed for actions that never occurred. He stated that since Mr. Roper's departure, DAS had significantly improved fiscal oversight and returned unspent funds, which had not been addressed in a media interview with ICM Thomas. He added that the DAS team remained demoralized, and despite the many roadblocks from the County, they continued to work daily with individuals who battled addiction, enforced court orders, and operated a professional and compassionate lab. He said that none of the DAS’s professionalism had been publicly recognized by County leadership. He felt that the DAS had been a scapegoat that enabled certain individuals to advance within the County hierarchy. He noted that staff were being transferred and that contracts were being unilaterally changed without negotiation. He stated that it must have been fate, as members of the CrossRoads program, one of DAS’s largest community partners, spoke on recovery and mental health that day. He noted that it reflected the work DAS had done since 2006, which was the reason that the department was formed. He said that previously the department had been recognized with awards, engaged with probationers, and participated in podcasts, and now was being dissolved. He felt that discussions about breaking down and rebuilding the department for efficiency were wrong. He believed that the DAS had established a department that was an asset to the community. He thought that no one had asked the DAS for information, despite their attempts to notify ICM Thomas and Human Resources (HR) to schedule meetings, which went unanswered. He mentioned that a lieutenant who was assigned to oversee them had gone on ride-alongs to understand operations, but Mr. Wickman felt that approach was not productive. He said that eliminating the department would have a negative impact. He indicated that judges had
suggested that individuals would remain in custody if there were no alternative supervision programs. He expressed sadness at seeing members of the CrossRoads program, many of whom had been helped by DAS and were former probationers. He explained that he had been with DAS since 2006 and hoped the Board would consider the department’s community contributions rather than focusing solely on fiscal concerns. He asked the Board to give the DAS a second chance to hire a chief and the opportunity to address any issues. He suggested that the DAS operated on the County’s lowest budget of $5 million and contributed $3 million to the General Fund. He thought the alternative solution would cost taxpayers more.
Public Defender Evelyn Grosenick said she had the pleasure of working with many County employees through the DAS and Mr. Wickman. She described them as hardworking and noted that dedication was evident in Mr. Wickman's voice when he spoke about their services. She hoped that her comments would not diminish the work that those individuals had done and continued to do. She said that she supported the measure because it presented an opportunity to consolidate all pretrial supervision into one agency for the County courts, a process she acknowledged would take time. She believed that having a pretrial supervision agency was the best practice, as outlined in Standard 2.7 of the 2024 Pretrial Standards. She stated that a single agency could provide higher-quality, more consistent data, which would enable everyone to make better-informed decisions. She felt that organizational efficiencies and advantages could be achieved by having the same agency conduct risk assessments and supervise clients. More importantly, she asked the Board to consider the obstacles that pretrial supervision posed for many clients, and noted that the justice court relied on the DAS for most of the people they released. She added that many individuals whose cases were transferred to the District Court had to switch to a different supervision agency. She explained many obstacles that clients faced, and she felt that having multiple locations was confusing. She suggested that clients were often held to an unrealistic standard of perfection in their pretrial performance, and changing locations could create issues. She thought that consolidating pretrial supervision into a single agency could remove hurdles faced by vulnerable clients who were navigating the system. She noted that the County had been working to implement the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) and explained that public defenders had observed the jail becoming a catchall for individuals who lacked community support. She believed that a positive motion aligned with the SIM and gave Washoe County an opportunity to rebuild for the future.
Joe Ingraham, founder and retired Chief of the DAS, said he was humbled to see members of the CrossRoads program sharing their stories, which was one of the reasons that the DAS was created. He remarked on a previous comment by Commissioner Clark about Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the outstanding work of its 600 employees and questioned if the Board would eliminate EMS if its management had made mistakes. He believed the failures within the DAS stemmed from the former chief, County management, and finance, and suggested that those individuals had allowed the mismanagement of funds to persist for many years. He noted that the department was established in 2005 and mentioned that whoever created the staff report for Agenda Item 8F7 should have ensured the accuracy and completeness of the information presented. He commended Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) Undersheriff Corey Solferino and
acknowledged the ongoing efforts within the WCSO. He stated that excellent work was being done and would work phenomenally hand in hand with the DAS. He said that he supported consolidation. He noted that when he retired in 2020, the department had grown from three employees to 67 and operated seven days a week. He believed that numerous revenue-generating drug tests had been conducted for the County at minimal cost to individuals. He believed that consolidation was necessary and that pretrial services fell under the auspices of the DAS. He stated that conducting pretrial services solely with phone calls to remind individuals to appear in court or to complete a drug test was not effective. He said that the department was established to enforce court orders and noted that judges often imposed programmatic or specific conditions as part of an individual’s release from custody. He indicated that the DAS ensured compliance with court-ordered conditions and responded swiftly to regressive behavior. He thought that most would agree that was a vital step to intervening early and preventing individuals from continued struggle. He said that he was passionate about the topic.
Chair Hill thanked Mr. Ingraham for his service and for attending the
meeting.
Attorney Ronald Dreher expressed concern regarding the steps that the County had taken. He explained that he represented law enforcement officers across the State of Nevada in various labor issues and noted that, until March 2025, he had no prior interactions with the DAS. He suggested that his current interaction was due to the actions of the former chief, not law enforcement staff. He expressed concern from both a legal and a labor perspective regarding the rights of police officers. He explained that, in Nevada, police officers were protected under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 289, which encompassed many rights and included due process. He stated that since March 2025, the County had unilaterally engaged in a systemic dismantling of the association, which he viewed as a violation of both NRS Chapters 288 and 289. He added that a complaint had been filed with the Employee Management Relations Board, and a grievance was scheduled for arbitration. He stated that those actions would lead to filing an injunction in court to enforce the collective bargaining agreement, which he believed had been unilaterally altered and was therefore unlawful. He asserted that Agenda Item 8F7 represented another step in the County's illegal actions against the law enforcement association. He noted that the peace officers’ rights under their collective bargaining agreement were being unilaterally changed. He believed that the issue began with a call from the United States (US) Secret Service, who requested representation for the officers after they had been called as witnesses regarding alleged illegal actions by the former chief. He said that none of the officers had done anything wrong. He mentioned that in the spring, the association had requested that any changes be made collaboratively. He indicated that his team had offered suggestions to the County and ICM Thomas, all of which were rejected. He said that sadly those actions were being driven by a small group within the County and respectfully urged the Commissioners to consider that such actions could result in years of unnecessary litigation. He requested that the Board reject the recommendation and vote against it.
Chief Deputy District Attorney (CDDA) Michael Large stated that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) had the authority to legislate ordinances and make structural decisions about County departments. He acknowledged that what the Board was doing through the ordinance was a legislative process. He explained that efforts to override that process, through any administrative channels, risked undermining constitutional balances, and attempting to block a legislative process through a grievance and arbitration, or other proceedings, was a violation of the separation of powers. He stated that the item was clearly within the Board's purview, as outlined in the collective bargaining agreements, in terms of maintaining efficient government operations. He added that the Board had the power to create or dismantle the department. He explained that, contrary to what the Board had been told, no changes had been made to any collective bargaining agreements throughout the process. He noted that the agreements were between the labor union and Washoe County, and that no structural changes had occurred.
ICM Thomas clarified that at no point had it been suggested that anyone in the department had done anything wrong. She explained that discussions were driven not only by fiscal concerns, but also to improve efficiency. She mentioned that with changes in leadership, there was an opportunity for the County to examine specific challenging financial times and assess its ability to make policy and structure adjustments to enhance effectiveness. She emphasized that the County’s goal was to maintain and expand its current functions, but through a different approach of providing those services under existing resource departments that had the capacity.
Commissioner Garcia referenced a prior public comment regarding a violation of NRS Chapters 288 and 289 and asked CDDA Large to clarify how Article 4 related to the violations cited by the public commenter.
CDDA Large explained that NRS Chapter 289 addressed the Peace Officers Bill of Rights, and Chapter 288 covered labor relations. He stated that Article 4 of Washoe County’s collective bargaining agreements included non-negotiable management rights, which allowed making changes to maintain efficient government operations. He stated that authority was the basis for Agenda Item 8F7, which included the planned departmental restructuring aimed at maintaining government operations.
Commissioner Andriola stated that Ms. Yacoben had indicated Agenda Item 8F7 would allow WCC to be opened for further discussion. She noted that a high- level conversation about costs had taken place and asked whether an analysis was completed. She acknowledged that services would continue to be provided, although the structure might change. She requested information about the analysis and process, which included efficiency and the potential cost impact on the County.
Ms. Yacoben explained that cost savings would come from the building lease and the chief’s salary, with total estimated savings of approximately $250,000. She stated that additional information would be presented at a future BCC meeting. She stated that the decision was not based on financial reasons but rather intended to enhance the efficiency of services, with the monetary aspect being a minor consideration in the overall
assessment. She explained that the drug testing services for many of the entities that utilized Sober 24 were being transitioned to a private sector company. She added that Sober 24’s budget had previously subsidized those operations, so a portion of that budgetary authority would be reallocated to the entities using the private sector company for testing. She mentioned that discussions were taking place with various departments that were collaborating to absorb DAS’s duties, allowing for the continuation of services. She explained that, if the item passed through an initiation, first reading, and second reading, several budget adjustments and movements would be made on December 16, 2025, following a decision on which financial model the County would provide. She added that the programmatic model was known; however, specific changes were being made while working with the various departments to ensure the process was inclusive.
Commissioner Andriola thanked Ms. Yacoben for indicating that additional information would be provided that would compare financial impacts and efficiencies. She noted that during public comments, potential barriers in the program had been identified and addressed. Ms. Yacoben confirmed that removing the barriers would be one of the enhancements discussed in the coming weeks, as well as avoided costs. Commissioner Andriola said that she looked forward to receiving that information.
Commissioner Clark stated that, as a sitting Commissioner, he had some insight into the issue but lacked sufficient information to fully understand the situation. He said that he could not recall any instance where a Washoe County department had been investigated and closed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). He expressed that the situation could not be ignored and recalled being chastised after requesting information about potential issues related to Mr. Roper’s work in Las Vegas. He added that he appreciated Chair Hill’s apology since that time. He stated that, since the DAS was an organization of law enforcement officers, any observed issues should have been addressed. He directed his concern to Mr. Wickman and asked whether anyone had noticed the problems within the department and why they had not been mentioned previously. He said that he was not accusing the staff of defending past behaviors, but questioned their actions. He suggested that former County Manager Eric Brown should be held accountable. He explained that he and Mr. Brown had clashed for nearly four years, prior to his appointment as a Commissioner, over what he perceived as a lack of management in various aspects of County operations. He believed that Mr. Brown should have investigated the department. He noted that four other Commissioners had provided Mr. Brown with several evaluations that indicated there was no need for improvement, which led to pay increases and bonuses. He felt that those actions had caused chaos among the DAS employees, who, fearing the loss of their jobs, had engaged attorneys. He thought that the DA’s Office, the Public Defender's Office, and the judges were concerned. He questioned why the issues were only being addressed now. He said that he did not want County management or members of the BCC to feel embarrassed.
Commissioner Clark stated that Mr. Brown had refused to provide better food for seniors and mentioned that he had many examples of mismanagement within the County. He acknowledged that some might not approve of him addressing such issues, but he felt that it was important for the public to be aware of them. He commended Mr.
Ingraham for his success and the awards he won while managing the DAS. He shared that Mr. Ingraham had done a great job, and he wished that he had not retired, which may have prevented the issues with the DAS. He said that while he supported the employees, the events that had occurred were damaging to the County’s reputation, and such mismanagement was unacceptable. He acknowledged that he did not have all the details of the situation but believed that the truth would eventually be revealed. He added that he suspected the events were serious, as the DOJ would not close a small County office without cause. He said that there were 4,000 or 5,000 counties in the US and believed that few, if any, had the dubious distinction of having a department closed due to employee mismanagement. He emphasized that the County needed to avoid such a reputation. He mentioned that he had been fortunate enough to attend a recent meeting with representatives from the DA's Office, public defenders, and judges who provided valuable insights. He acknowledged that ICM Thomas had done an excellent job putting together proposed revisions to DAS operations, but he felt that additional input from judges, public defenders, the DA, and the sheriff was needed to ensure the revised program was better prepared for the future. He indicated that he supported efficiency and if it benefited the public defenders, the DA, and the WCSO, he supported efforts to improve the process. He believed that the program’s management should be held accountable and that questions should be directed to individuals who might have witnessed incidents that should have been reported. He suggested that employees may have had some awareness of what was occurring, and if they had come forward, the Board would not need to spend time restructuring a department that had previously functioned successfully. He said that the Board could not overlook the issues.
Chair Hill said that she struggled with her decision and found it heartbreaking that the matter had become so public. She acknowledged that staff might feel they were not at fault, having performed well for the County, but they were nonetheless being affected by poor management. She stated that the BCC respected the work that the DAS performed and did not want to eliminate those services. She said she was hesitant to move forward with dissolving the DAS because she recognized the department provided a valuable service to the community. She felt that it was essential to give staff the opportunity to propose a plan that could create efficiencies and contribute to the SIM, reflecting the Board’s commitment to supporting those in need. She acknowledged that there might be a way to streamline services while providing adequate support. She shared that the BCC wanted to ensure that judges, public defenders, alternative public defenders, court staff, and the DAS staff were aligned. She hoped that the Board had clearly communicated their expectations to enable staff to develop a solution. She emphasized the importance of conducting audits and maintaining a robust audit team to identify potential inconsistencies, corruption, fraud, or mismanagement of government funds. She indicated that action must be taken when issues were discovered. She said that she looked forward to reviewing the proposal that would ensure the public continued to receive necessary services. She mentioned that judges relied on information from those services when determining whether someone needed to be incarcerated. She said that while she was committed to being open- minded, she acknowledged that change could be challenging and wanted to assess whether a restructuring would be sensible. She said that she looked forward to the presentation and
stated that she supported voting to open the WCC to allow for future discussions on potential proposals.
CDDA Large stated that the County's proposal to dissolve the DAS was a non-punitive, efficiency-driven reorganization of County resources. He emphasized that the DAS employees were not suspected of misconduct, were not under investigation, and faced no disciplinary action or adverse consequences. He added that the change applied equally to all staff and was designed to improve operations while avoiding layoffs. He mentioned that if the County's intent were punitive, it would not have ensured that every employee was reassigned. He highlighted the County's transparency and good faith approach as evidence that the item was not a disciplinary matter.
Chair Hill said the Board wanted to ensure that the public would continue to be served. She stated that she looked forward to the presentation on the reorganization and thanked the staff.
On motion by Chair Hill, seconded by Commissioner Clark, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 8F7 be approved.
BLOCK VOTE – 10 THROUGH 17
$100,000.00, for a total contract amount not to exceed $698,900.00] and extend project timeline to March 31, 2026. This request conforms to Nevada Revised Statutes and Washoe County policy requirements for project cost increases exceeding $25,000.00 or 5%, whichever is greater, of the original approved contract amount. Change Order No. 03 is required due to unforeseen manhole and soil conditions requiring additional cementitious grout materials in excess of the original quantities included in the original contract award. Community Services. (Commission District 2.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 10 be approved and extended.
cost not to exceed $697,397.01]. This purchase includes architectural wall systems, freestanding structural systems and systems furniture to support the remodel at 230 Edison Way, Reno. The total cost includes freight and installation services in addition to materials. Community Services. (Commission District 2.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 11 be authorized.
$351,000.00]. The project consists of the replacement of all windows and storefront-style doors in the Kids Kottage 1 facility, providing a secure environment serving vulnerable children in Washoe County. Community Services. (Commission District 2.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 12 be awarded and approved.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 13 be acknowledged.
and treatment as elements part of the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) evidence-based program, retroactive for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027; authorize the Director of Human Services Agency to execute the sub-grant documents; and direct Finance to make the necessary budget amendments. Human Services Agency. (All Commission Districts.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 14 be accepted, authorized, and directed.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 15 be accepted, authorized, and directed.
$500,000.00 Incline Village Justice Court Renovations $7,628.00. Approve increased allocations to following approved projects in the amount of [645,527.47]: Washoe Behavioral Health Center (formerly West Hills) Facility Upgrades in the amount of $637,899.47 Tahoe Lending Locals Program in the amount of $7,628.00. And, if approved, direct Finance to make necessary net-zero cross-fund and/or cross-functional budget appropriation transfers and budget amendment. Manager. (All Commission Districts.)
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Vice Chair Herman, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Agenda Item 16 be deobligated, approved, and directed.
term beginning on January 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2026. Clerk. (All Commission Districts.)
Community Outreach Coordinator Alexandra Wilson explained that there were four vacancies to appoint and three rounds of voting would be conducted. For the first round, Board members were instructed to select their top two candidates for the single, regular member at a two-year term. The next round would be the top three candidates for the two regular members at a one-year term. The last round would be the top two candidates for the alternate member for a one-year term.
Chair Hill asked for confirmation that the Board of Equalization (BOE) did not recommend any applicants to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), which Ms. Wilson affirmed.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
County Clerk Jan Galassini read the Commissioners’ votes aloud. Chair Hill summarized the top candidate for the single, regular member at a two-year term was Erin Albright.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Erin Albright be appointed to fill one two-year regular member vacancy on the Washoe County Board of Equalization beginning on January 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2028.
Ms. Galassini read the Commissioners’ votes aloud. Chair Hill summarized the top two candidates for the two regular members at a one-year term were Savita Shukla and Robert Lissner.
On motion by Chair Hill, seconded by Commissioner Andriola, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Savita Shukla and Robert Lissner be appointed to fill one-year regular member vacancies on the Washoe County Board of Equalization beginning on January 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2026.
Ms. Galassini read the Commissioners’ votes aloud. Ms. Wilson summarized the top candidates were Richard Berman, Tracey Thomas, Brandi Tripp Russell, Duong Betty Tsuji, and Corinthia Yancey. Chair Hill observed that it made sense that BCC members were divided because the pool of applicants was excellent. Ms. Wilson advised that for the next round of voting, Board members should select their top two candidates from the remaining names. She added that if a consensus was not reached, a final round of voting would be conducted in which Board members would only select their top candidate.
Ms. Galassini read the results of the second round of voting for the alternate member. Chair Hill summarized the top candidate for the alternate member was Corinthia Yancey. Chair Hill indicated she would need a formal motion to appoint Ms. Yancey.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, which motion duly carried on a 5-0 vote, it was ordered that Corinthia Yancey be appointed to fill one alternate member vacancy on the Washoe County Board of Equalization beginning on January 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2026.
Chair Hill congratulated the candidates who were selected and thanked all of the applicants. She said she looked forward to seeing them on other boards and commissions and hoped they would stay engaged.
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County Clerk Jan Galassini reminded the Board that Agenda Item 17 was pulled.
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This item was pulled.
liability company, and Passive Creek, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company for Montreux 2000, a residential subdivision (Tentative Subdivision Map Case No. TM0007-002). The purpose of the development agreement is to extend the deadline for recording the next final map from July 24, 2025, to July 24, 2026, and to adopt amended conditions of approval (WAC25-0016). The project is located south of Mount Rose Highway at Bordeaux Drive. The project encompasses a total of approximately 411.11 acres and a 37.01-acre portion of the project is subject to the development agreement, and the total number of residential lots allowed by the approved tentative map is 357 with 335 lots recorded and 22 lots remaining to be recorded. The parcels are located within the Forest Planning Area and Washoe County Commission District No. 2. (APNs: 148-010-60, 148-351-08). And, if introduced, schedule a public hearing, second reading and possible adoption of the ordinance for November 18, 2025, and authorization for the Chair to execute the development agreement. Community Services. (Commission District 2.)
County Clerk Jan Galassini read the title for Bill No. 1938.
Chair Hill asked if the Board desired a staff presentation on the agenda item and it was determined that no presentation was needed.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
Bill No. 1938 was introduced by Commissioner Garcia, and legal notice for final action of adoption was directed.
PUBLIC HEARING
Chair Hill opened the public hearing.
not progressed to allow the next final map to be recorded. The project is located along the central portion (on both sides) of Joy Lake Road, west of the I-580 freeway. The project encompasses a total of approximately 1,161 acres, and the total number of residential lots allowed by the approved tentative map is 450. The parcels are located within the Forest Planning Area and Washoe County Commission District No. 2. (APNs: 046-131-24; 046-132-06; 046-133-15 & 17; 046-180-12, 14 & 15; 154-011-07; 156-040-
09, 10, 14 &15; 156-111-23; 156-141-04). If approved, authorize the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners to sign the amended development agreement. Community Services. (Commission District 2.)
County Clerk Jan Galassini read the title for Ordinance No. 1744, Bill No.
1935.
Chair Hill asked if the Board desired a staff presentation on the agenda item and it was determined that no presentation was needed.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Vice Chair Herman, which motion duly carried on a 4-0 vote with Commissioner Clark being absent, it was ordered that Ordinance No. 1744, Bill No. 1935, be adopted, approved, and published in accordance with NRS 244.100.
County Clerk Jan Galassini, read the title for Ordinance No. 1745, Bill No.
1936.
Chair Hill asked if the Board desired a staff presentation on the agenda item and it was determined that no presentation was needed.
There was no response to the call for public comment.
On motion by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Chair Hill, which motion duly carried on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Clark voting no, it was ordered that Ordinance No. 1745, Bill No. 1936, be adopted, approved, and published in accordance with NRS 244.100.
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Chair Hill announced that the Board would move into a Closed Session. She asked for clarification about whether public comment would be held prior to the closed session. Interim County Manager Kate Thomas recommended that the Board proceed with Agenda Items 22 and 23, then go into the closed session and adjourn the meeting upstairs following the closed session.
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Ms. Susan Walls acknowledged the criticism often expressed towards the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). She thanked the Commissioners, County employees, and everybody in public service that actually served the people. She remarked that she was increasingly concerned about the future of libraries and the Washoe County Library System (WCLS). She recounted that the Library Board of Trustees (LBT) was currently trying to establish the budget for the upcoming year, which included accounting for the failure of a 2024 ballot measure to extend an expiring property tax allocation. She speculated that many voters either did not read the text of the measure or did not understand it and voted against it because they interpreted it as an extra tax. She said that the LBT still had the option to prepare a budget using previous numbers, which would have included the allocation had the measure passed, but she was not certain that the LBT attempted to prepare a budget on that basis. She commented that libraries provided essential services throughout the County for people of all ages. She stated that those services could not be found elsewhere in the County and their loss, reduction, or both would negatively impact residents who relied on libraries. She observed that hours had already been reduced, some locations were closed for entire days, and additional closures were under consideration. She noted that the reason given for closures was staffing shortages, but she questioned if that was accurate. She wondered if positions were not being filled because of a real or perceived funding shortfall. She said that, regardless of the reason, she did not find the closures acceptable. She appreciated the guidance provided to the LBT by County staff, but she theorized that the training was lacking or was not being absorbed, as evidenced by the tremendous contention and confusion among the LBT members. She suggested that the LBT climate created additional, unnecessary contention with and between community members in attendance at the meetings. She encouraged additional attention and guidance from County staff and the BCC to ensure continued funding of the WCLS at previous levels and the continuation of existing services and hours. She advocated for reinstatement of original hours at all library locations and restoration of any services that were cut.
Chair Hill asked when the new budget recommendations for the Washoe County Library System (WCLS) were scheduled to be presented to the Board.
Interim County Manager (ICM) Kate Thomas said she knew the Library Board of Trustees (LBT) meeting was the following evening.
Chair Hill surmised that recommendations from the LBT would come before the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) after that, and she clarified that the BCC had final say on the budget.
ICM Thomas believed that the WCLS budget presentation was tentatively scheduled for November 18, 2025.
Commissioner Clark mentioned, regarding the WCLS budget, that the Senior ResQ Magazine was willing to put full-page ads in their publication and were looking for volunteers. He disclosed his prior donations to Senior ResQ. He suggested that people who wanted to help the WCLS, had some spare time, and were passionate about the libraries might want to volunteer and be a part of the solution to any WCLS budgetary issues. He restated his encouragement to all County employees to bring anything that did not look right to the attention of senior management. He theorized that addressing potential problems would help prevent things from escalating into serious issues. He clarified that he did not want employees to spy on each other, but he did want them to voice any concerns.
Washoe County Commission
ATTEST:
Minutes Prepared by:
Heather Gage, Deputy County Clerk Lizzie Tietjen, Deputy County Clerk Jessica Melka, Deputy County Clerk