Robert Andrews

The joint meeting primarily focused on the County Regional Justice Facility Project, specifically concerning the collocation of courts, particularly the Reno Municipal Court. Discussions addressed alternative sites, including the Pioneer Inn site and constructing additional floors on the existing 1 South Sierra Street facility which houses the County Justice Court. Key issues debated included the required square footage for the Municipal Court (estimated at 46,000 sq. ft. for 10-20 years of needs), potential cost savings from collocation, the asbestos abatement schedule at the Pioneer Inn site, and significant concerns regarding parking allocation and the cost for the City of Reno to purchase the proposed parcel. Residents provided public comments regarding court collocation costs and advocated for the Citizens Committee to review needs before final action. Ultimately, both entities passed motions directing staff to review the economics of adding the Municipal Court to 1 South Sierra Street, to review outside proposals, to incorporate efficiency savings related to parking into the interlocal agreement for the Pioneer Inn site, and to schedule a follow-up joint meeting within 60 days to finalize the issues.

Key discussions during the session included public comments regarding the reinstatement of the Sun Valley Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) and concerns over development codes and property rights. Congressman Mark Amodei provided a federal legislative update, covering topics such as the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, land disposal processes, the Clean Water Act, and the federal gas tax indexation, as well as drought mitigation efforts. The Board received updates on the County's double-A general obligation bond ratings from S&P and Moody's and discussed a successful presentation from the Assessor's Office focusing on staffing attrition and succession planning, alongside the impact of the property tax cap. Action was taken on approving numerous consent items, including facility planning agreements, grant continuations, water rights deeds, and modifications to an agreement for a country music festival. The Board also adopted an ordinance establishing boundaries for a surcharge on hotel room rentals. A closed session was held to discuss labor negotiations. Further discussions included the funding status and value assessment of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency.

The primary subject of this staff report for the Board of County Commissioners is the request from the District Attorney to approve the creation of one 1.0 FTE, fully benefitted, Deputy District Attorney III position within the Child Welfare Division. This new position is intended to support indigent child welfare activities and will be funded 100% by the Department of Social Services, with an approximate annual cost of $170,000. The justification for this creation is the increased workload in the Child Welfare Division resulting from federal guidelines on protective custody timeframes and the increased involvement of defense attorneys, which risks federal funding loss. The report details the complex nature of juvenile dependency cases, including protective custody hearings and termination of parental rights filings, noting a significant increase in hearings between 2010 and 2014.

The primary discussion involved the recommendation and subsequent adoption of seven Resolutions Accepting Real Property for Use as a Public Street. These resolutions pertained to portions of seven Official Plats across various subdivisions, totaling 816,694 square feet. The purpose was to formally accept the rights-of-way for these roadways, which had previously been offered for dedication but rejected because the road improvements were not yet constructed to County standards. Upon satisfactory completion of construction and inspection to County standards, acceptance of approximately 3.5 miles of new roadway into the Washoe County street system for ownership and maintenance was recommended. The associated fiscal impact estimates maintenance costs at $70,000 per year.

The Board conducted business encompassing several areas. Agenda approval required an amendment to withdraw one item. Public comments addressed local development, poverty, and a request for compensation related to ongoing litigation. Commissioners provided updates regarding a Town Hall Meeting on Community Management Plans, the announcement of a Prescription Relief Program utilizing block grant funding, and discussions concerning Growth Task Force recommendations. Several actions involved contractual agreements, including the award of a bid for moving services for voting equipment to Sierra Moving Systems, Inc., and the approval of a Software Licensing Agreement with Sequoia Voting Systems Inc. The Board also approved the renewal of a Professional Maintenance and Development Services Agreement with Integra Design and Consulting Group, Inc. for the Reno Justice Court Case Management System. Security contract approval was granted for the Antique Roadshow Appraisal Event. Donations for animal rescue were accepted. A resolution was adopted supporting the design and construction of a traffic signal at Golden View Drive and Pyramid Highway, contingent on funding contributions. Change order number one was approved for the Washoe County Regional Animal Services Center Earthwork project. A lease agreement amendment for the Cooperative Extension Office in Incline Village was approved. Several agreements and amendments related to water resources were approved, including contracts concerning Clean Water Act planning, the McCarran Ranch River Wetlands Pilot Restoration Project, and the Dry Valley Groundwater Resource Evaluation. The Board approved corrections of factual and clerical errors on various tax bills. Discussions regarding outstanding inspection and utility service debts led to an order to write off bankruptcy debt items and attempt court action on others. The Spanish Springs Valley Water System Facility Plan was approved. A resolution was adopted to augment the Public Works Construction Fund for the Mills B. Lane Justice Center construction costs. Receipt of the Historical Review of the Deferred Compensation 457 Plan was acknowledged, and a significant grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice was accepted, requiring several budget adjustments. The bid for the Cold Springs Water Reclamation Facility Expansion Project was awarded to K.G. Walters Construction Company, Inc. A report on the Waterfall Fire incident was accepted, and resolutions were adopted commending staff and volunteers and urging property owners to employ defensible space practices. Discussions ensued regarding anticipated Truckee River flows and Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) water supply operations, including drought planning standards and dedicated water requirements for development. The Board debated the appropriation of ratepayer money into a foundation managed by TMWA, ultimately agreeing to continue the appointment of representatives to the fund advisors panel under protest and directing the District Attorney to review the legality of fund diversion. The request for a refund of taxes from Robert and Dorothy Colbert was denied based on the statute of limitations. An Interlocal Agreement concerning the Master's System for the Second Judicial District Family Court was approved for child support obligation enforcement reimbursement. Agreements for services with the Nevada Land Conservancy for property acquisitions for the Truckee River Flood Management Project were approved, along with a resolution appointing real estate appraisers for property valuation.