The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Washoe County Leadership Academy presents community class projects: The inaugural class of the Washoe County Leadership Academy (WCLA) created two class projects to benefit the community. Representatives of the class presented the two projects to the Board of County Commissioners: Creative Connections, bringing art to the Jan Evans Juvenile Detention Center; and Community Garden beds at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park.
Carly Borchard and Alicia Lindsay-Dietrich presented the Creative Connections project, which connects the therapeutic properties of art with the rehabilitation purpose of juvenile detention by partnering with Sierra Arts and the Washoe County School District. WCLA provided seed money to pay for teachers and supplies for art classes in Jan Evans Juvenile Detention Center.
Erick Rodriguez and Amanda Harper presented the other class project: Community Garden Raised Beds in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park to promote volunteerism in the community. The group partnered with UNR Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and created an educational brochure and social media campaign, as well as a Community Garden Volunteer Day, April 8, 2023.
“I want to commend the entire group in becoming advocates of the county and becoming more aware of what is offered in the various county departments. To help the community understand the benefits the county brings is so important, and I’m sure you got more out of it than you even thought,” Commissioner Clara Andriola said. “And thank you for looking at the long-term benefits of the projects and considering the sustainability of them.”
The 2023-24 WCLA is accepting applications through July 14, and acceptance will be 30 participants.
2. Innovative Services strategic goal presented to the Board: Washoe County leadership presented the status of the fiscal year 2023 strategic objective: Innovative Services. This objective centers on three primary goals: leverage technology to streamline and automate; strengthen the Washoe County culture of service; and promote experimentation and innovation. In fiscal year 2024, a fourth goal has been added, ensure equitable access to services with initiatives focused on digital and facility accessibility and language access.
CIO Behzad Zamanian provided an update on the county’s Technology Plan to deliver an enhanced citizen experience, helping staff be more effective, modernize technology infrastructure, and provide safe and reliable services through security and business continuity. Examples of accomplishments in the plan include the expansion of broadband in Gerlach, updating technology in 32 conference and meeting rooms, upgrade and replacement of 80% of County’s firewalls and network switches, and the construction of P25 radio infrastructure in the County.
Communications Director Nancy Leuenhagen and HR Manager for Organizational Effectiveness Elizabeth Jourdin discussed the advances in commissioner support and community engagement, as well as the “Future of Work” at Washoe County. The tactics in these areas complement one another to provide a stronger culture of service to citizens throughout the five commission districts and to increase engagement of employees through training and recognition programs.
“’Innovative solutions’ is a task this Commission has asked you take on in addition to your jobs, and I know that there are so many other people on your teams helping make this possible.” Chair Alexis Hill said. “This shows the initiative of our employees and how much they really value Washoe County and want to make it a great place to work and live.”
3. Board appoints Evelyn Grosenick as public defender: Evelyn Grosenick has served as interim public defender since mid-April, and today the Board appointed her to the permanent position. The position of public defender is is mandated by Nevada Revised Statutes and by Washoe County Code to represent indigent persons who are under arrest and held for a public offense.
Grosenick has been with the Washoe County Public Defender’s office since 2013. Prior to that she was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Janet J. Berry from 2012-2013, and a federal judicial clerk for the Honorable Gargland Burrell, District Court for the Eastern District of California. Grosenick received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Economics from Vanderbilt University and her Law Degree from McGeorge School of Law where she was editor-in-chief of the McGeorge Law Review. She is a member of the Northern Nevada Women Lawyer’s Association and the Washoe County Bar Association.
4. Board approves appointments to volunteer commissions: The Board approved appointments to the Senior Services Advisory Board, Board of Adjustment; Planning Commission; Library Board of Trustees, and the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board of Trustees.
- Pat Phillips was appointed to represent Washoe County on the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission for a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2026. Phillips currently serves on the Washoe County Planning Commission and is a 36-year resident of Washoe County.
- Peter Ghishan was appointed to the District 2 seat on the Washoe County Board of Adjustment. District 2 generally includes the Southeast Truckee Meadows area, the Southwest Truckee Meadows area, and Washoe Valley. The four-year term will expire on June 30, 2027.
- Denise Myer was appointed to the Senior Services Advisory Board for the remainder of the District 3 term that ends Sept. 30, 2023. Advisory Board members must be, as required by County Code, residents of the County and have an interest in civic affairs, and an interest or experience in the fields of nutrition, geriatric social work, administration, finance, and law.
- Al Rogers was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees. There were 20 applicants for the position, the term of which will expire June 30, 2024. Rogers worked for Washoe County and City of Reno for 11 years each, and is currently a real estate agent.
- Cortney Young was appointed to the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board of Trustees for a four-year term through June 30, 2027. The RTAA Board consists of nine members appointed by the elected bodies of the City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Washoe County, and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and is responsible for the operation of both the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and the Reno-Stead Airport. Young is an 18-year resident of Washoe County and is a mediator for legal proceedings and also serves on the Washoe County Law Library Board of Trustees.
5. Board approves license for Fourth of July Drone Show: Last year, the Incline Village/Crystal Bay community launched its first-ever drone show in lieu of fireworks for the Fourth of July last year. Travel North Tahoe Nevada applied for an outdoor festival business license for the event to be held July 4, 2023. The event is expected to draw 5,000 spectators. The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the license.
6. Board honors the Juneteenth holiday with a proclamation: Commissioner Mariluz Garcia read a proclamation declaring June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth Recognition Day.
Jessica Vann, president of the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society, was present to receive the proclamation.
“Thank you very much for your consistent support of us. It’s one thing for us to come to you, and it’s another for you to come to us,” Vann said “We thank you all for a wonderful event on Sunday; about 2,000 people were there. With ongoing events and opportunities, I hope we can educate our community more on Juneteenth. It’s American history, not just a pivotal point in Black history.”
7. Commissioners allocate District Special Funds to local community groups: The Board approved District Special Funds for commission districts 3 and 5, represented by Commissioner Mariluz Garcia and Commissioner Jeanne Herman, respectively.
- $5,000 to Awaken, a nonprofit that works to eradicate sex trafficking;
- $5,000 to Washoe County 4-H Youth Development Program of the University of Nevada Extension to support the Washoe County 4-H Large Livestock and Horse Programs;
“I want to thank Commissioner Herman for the $10,000 from her District Funds,” Chair Hill said. “Thank you for using your funds to benefit the constituents of your districts.”
8. The Board of County Commissioners receive donations that benefit county programs and departments: The Board approved several donations from individuals and community groups:
- To Regional Parks and Open Space: approximately $2,000 in cash donations; approximately $600 from Come in from the Cold; $870 from the May Foundation; $33 from the May Museum drop box; and approximately $45,000 in in-kind donations from the May Arboretum Society.
- To the Washoe County Law Library: $1,000 from L. Edward Humphry, Esq.; and $500 from Eurik O’Bryant, Esq.
- To the Nevada Cares Campus: $10,000 from the Burkhart Foundation, Inc.; 17 locking cabinets valued at $170 from Reno Business Interiors; feminine hygiene products valued at $75 from We Serve with Helping Hands; 16 heavy-duty jackets valued at $1,360 from Mikehla Schulz; a recycled bench valued approximately $360 from the Washoe County Green Team; and 33 furniture items valued at just under $5,000 from Nathan James.
###
