The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board approves contract to implement and manage unified computer-aided dispatch: In September, the Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement with City of Reno, City of Sparks, and REMSA to proceed with efforts to unify the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records-management system (RMS) using HxGN OnCall Suite Governance. The Board took the next step today in approving a $275,000 contract with Federal Engineering, Inc., for project implementation and management. Federal Engineering will serve as the single point of contact for the regional project and provide services that include coordination of regional teams, schedule management, cost and contract management, change management, development and execution (with vendor) of a regional training plan, among other duties. Federal Engineering will allocate and assign staff as necessary to meet the project schedule and budget constraints.
2. Board awards contract for printing of sample ballot: After previously reopening a request for proposals for preparing, printing, and mailing of the sample ballot in the 2024 election cycle, the Board approved a contract with Taylor, and printing company headquartered in Minnesota and a location in Las Vegas. The contract is for just over $308,000 and will cover sample ballots for the presidential preference primary, primary, and general elections in 2024.
3. Washoe County School District superintendent provides overview of strategic plan: WCSD Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield presented the 2023-26 Strategic Plan to the Board of County Commissioners. The school district comprises 103 schools, more than 61,000 students, and 6,300 employees, the second largest district in Nevada. Enfield explained the five guiding goals for the strategic plan that were derived from input by the community: a strong start for every child; student voice and advocacy; safety and belonging; academic growth and achievement; and empowering all learners for their future. View her full presentation here.
“The emphasis on the overarching sense of belonging is so critical right now,” Commissioner Mariluz Garcia, also an educator and counselor, said. “We’ve seen a lot of coverage lately of teen suicide and obviously as a county we’re very much concerned and interested in knowing how we can best support the school district in these efforts. It’s not just a school district issues, it’s not just a parent issue, and it’s not just a county issue. We all have to be working together on youth behavioral health.”
4. Board approves grants to Human Services Agency divisions and programs: County Commissioners accepted a grant agreement between HSA and The William N. Pennington Foundation in the amount of $270,000 in support of children in foster care. These funds will be used to provide clothing, school supplies, activity support, diapers, hygiene items, educational toys, and Christmas gifts for approximately 520 children in foster care. Funds are also budgeted to purchase items for the Washoe County Human Services Agency’s (HSA) Family Engagement Center supply closet to be distributed to families as needed. Other grants include:
- $132,300 Community Based Child Abuse Prevention FY24 sub-grant award from the State of Nevada, Division of Child and Family Services. The funds will support child abuse prevention, which includes Strengthening Families Program at Women’s Crossroads. There will be trainings on evidence-based therapy treatments for Intensive In-Home Services, HSA clinical staff as well as contracting with a clinical provider, direct supportive services for the IIHS program and the Differential Response Unit, various community outreach public awareness, and parent leadership involvement.
- $196,000 FY24 Community Mental Health subaward from the State of Nevada, Division of Public and Behavioral Health to be used for services provided to pregnant women and their dependents through the Women’s Crossroads. Funds will be used to expand and enhance the Women’s Crossroads program with the goal of offering pregnant women and their dependents services including home visits to encourage healthy pregnancies, healthy postpartum care and healthy childcare practices.
- FY24 Title XX subgrant award from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in the amount of $663,807 to promote reunification, safety, educational support, and normalcy for more than 600 children in care at HSA.
5. Commissioners appointed applicants to two volunteer boards: Nicholas-Martin Kearney was reappointed to serve a four-year term on the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission. He is a 17-year resident of Washoe County and currently serves as vice-chair of the commission and is a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the Washoe County Leadership Academy.
Kevin Stroupe and John Briscoe were appointed to the Washoe County Audit Committee, effective immediately and ending on June 30, 2025. Stroupe is CEO/CFO for Clark/Sullivan Construction and has professional experience as an audit manager. Briscoe is a Certified Public Accountant and has served for more than four decades on volunteer boards, Chambers of Commerce, and youth sports programs.
“The applicants were amazingly qualified. It was wonderful having discussions and really having touch choices, so kudos to everyone willing to serve and volunteer and make our community better with the giving of their time and talents,” Commissioner Clara Andriola said.
