The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Fire chief presents update on collaboration efforts: Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Interim Chief Dale Way presented an update on fire collaboration. The regional fire districts – Sparks, Reno, and Truckee Meadows – are working to collaborate on dispatch services and automatic aid to provide faster service to all areas of Reno-Sparks, sending the closest responder to an incident regardless of jurisdiction. A working group has been formed to formally define the scope of “regionalization” among separate fire districts and establish operational priorities.
Way mentioned that the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system is slated to go live in September, a key component to regionalization efforts.
“Consolidation” is a separate objective from “regionalization” and consolidating the separate fire districts into one regional district was proposed to the Nevada Legislature by Sen. Skip Daly in SB319. An amendment focuses the bill on a study of the consolidation concept, and the amended SB319 has been passed out of committee; the next step is to be voted on by the State Senate.
“I’m relieved that there was an amendment. I strongly advocated for a third-party review, and I’m pleased that this was the end result,” Commissioner Mariluz Garcia said. “I really appreciate everyone coming to the table to find a real solution for us regardless of how difficult those decisions may be.”
Way said that the jurisdictions will continue to monitor the bill as it moves through the legislative process, and if it is signed into law, an RFP would be issued to conduct the study.
“It’s been a pleasant surprise to see how the chiefs have worked together, along with the managers,” County Manager Eric Brown said. “We’ve had candid discussions that needed to be held and that goes a long way towards getting to the mutual benefit that everyone sees that’s ahead of us.”
2. Board hears status report on Washoe County Regional Detention Facility: Washoe County Captain Andy Venn presented the required quarterly status update on the Detention Facility, leading with the fact that bookings are down almost 3 percent over last year. The Inmate Assistance Program (IAP) partners with courts and substance abuse programs, as well as other community service agencies, to place inmates into programs to treat the reason for their crimes rather than just punish them. It also helps alleviate homelessness among inmates upon their release from detention. The IAP helped 394 inmates avoid 27,505 days in jail, saving the county nearly $3.5 million.
“Our mental health population went from 15 percent to 10 percent, due to reduction in recidivism, and part of that is the sheriff’s drive to bring the Jail-Based Mental Health Unit, which is manpower-intensive but the results are undeniable,” Captain Venn said. “It’s changing lives, it’s reconnecting these inmates with their families, and it’s keeping them out of custody. At the end of the day, it saves taxpayers money, and it makes productive members of society instead of re-entering our facility as criminals.”
“Sometimes we don’t understand how hard your job is because you have to deal with the worst of the worst, and I respect that,” Commissioner Jeanne Herman said. “Thank you very much for doing so and for the report.”
3. Board issues proclamations commemorating special issues: The Board declared this week as International Dark Sky Week, and this month as Teacher Appreciation Month.
Commissioner Clara Andriola read a proclamation for International Dark Sky Week, noting that the rural town of Gerlach, which has some of the darkest skies in the nation, will seek certification as a Nevada Starry Skies Community, as recognized by the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation, to raise awareness of light pollution and promote responsible outdoor lighting. Another northern corner of Washoe County – Massacre Rim – was certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2019.
Commissioner Mariluz Garcia read and presented a proclamation for Teacher Appreciation Month to Washoe County School District Board President Beth Smith and Trustee Dr. Diane Nicolet. The proclamation honored the more than 3,500 teachers in the Washoe County School District who “have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and adaptability, particularly in the face of challenges such as technological advancements, shifting educational standards, and unprecedented circumstances affecting the learning environment.” The proclamation further recognized that “teachers dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to fostering a love of learning, critical thinking, and personal growth among students of all backgrounds and abilities.”
Additionally, the Board discussed the FY26 budget and provided feedback to staff as they prepare the final budget. Commissioners determined that a tentative May 8 special meeting is unnecessary, and the next step is weekly updates leading up to a public hearing at the May 20 Board meeting.
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