The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Recreational shooting in congested areas: County code dictates how far from residences and roads that target shooters may discharge firearms and defines “congested areas.” However, the definition uses “metes and bounds,” which is legal language using field measurements such as angles, feet, and directional bearing that is difficult to understand. Additionally, advances in geographic information systems (GIS) technology now enable the County to more accurately and responsively reflect current land use conditions through map-based boundary delineation. The Board voted today to change the language in county code to use maps to define congested and restricted areas rather than metes and bounds. The areas will be defined by physical and tangible identifiers such as roads, trails, and mountain peaks or ridges. The transition to a map-based system also facilitates greater public awareness and understanding of where firearm discharge restrictions apply, as residents and visitors can more easily access and interpret visual representations of congested areas compared to complex legal descriptions.
“We need this cleanup from time to time because the language is very confusing. And that’s why I really like this, that you’re using physical landmarks that really clarify where you can and can’t recreationally shoot,” Commissioner Mariluz Garcia said. “In no way, shape or form are we anti-shooting, and if I had a magic wand, I would make sure that we had more sites within our county that allowed for this hobby and interest for people to really access.”
The vote allowed the county to use maps rather than “metes and bounds” to define congested areas related to the unlawful discharge of firearms. In a second vote, the Board approved the maps with the expansion of the congested area around Golden Eagle Regional Park and north of Sun Valley. These are two areas where residential development has expanded into previously rural or open space. This has led to confusion regarding where shooting is permitted, especially as new subdivisions, parks, and community assets have emerged near existing boundaries, and as recreational use of public lands has intensified.
“The last time we went through this process, the Board of County Commissioners actually allowed us to work with the Department of Wildlife to allow – with a valid hunting license – hunting within the congested areas,” Solaro said. “So that’s one of the exceptions that’s within our ordinance, and that does not change… I think it is important to put on the record that we are in no terms trying to limit some of these things, this is truly a safety move.”
2. Equine business code amendment: The Board voted to amend the county code related to equine businesses. Planning Manager Kat Oakley presented the amendments, which include eliminating the current “commercial stables” definition that applies to all equine businesses regardless of size, and adapting the code based on the size of the business.
- Small equine facility – 1 through 8 horses
- Medium equine facility – 9 through 20 horses
- Large equine facility – 21 or more horses
Additional updates include changing the classification of uses such as horse racing, reclassifying equine uses from commercial to agricultural, and modifying parking and landscaping requirements for equine businesses. The amendment process began in 2024 with public outreach, surveys, and workshops.
“I am going to thank the entire team. This particular process has been thorough and even opened up additional opportunities in terms of looking at agritourism,” Chair Clara Andriola said. “This has done as much as it can from a county perspective, and for full transparency, I’m working with a couple of legislators to look at finishing the job at the state level.”
3. Strategic Plan: Assistant County Manager Dave Solaro provided an update on the FY2027-29 Strategic Plan. He noted that Washoe County’s mission, values and vision have not changed. The Board of County Commissioners has held strategic workshops over the last six months to analyze the areas of focus in the Strategic Plan, providing direction to staff that resulted in the following strategic objectives:
- Fiscal Resilience & Stewardship: setting the county’s long-term vision for fiscal health and future, beyond the annual budget process.
- Sustainable Infrastructure & Growth: The community expects investment in resilient, fiscally sound infrastructure that maximizes existing capacity, protects natural resources, and ensures services that keep pace with growth.
- Community Health & Wellbeing: Identify and triage the most vulnerable population as identified by community need and work together cross-departmentally and regionally to provide adequate resources and support.
- Culture of Innovation: Building a culture of employee engagement and innovation encourages communication, employee participation, proactive organizational improvement, teamwork, retention and innovative public service Initiatives.
Each of these objectives is supported by strategic goals for the next two years and a road map on how to get there.
“I really appreciate the guidance you provided to all of us to help us get through the process to get us to where we are today,” Solaro said. “I feel this is a very strong strategic plan. It gets us moving in the direction that has given us a clear vision for how to make decisions in Washoe County. And as we continue to work through these, I think we’ll do some really great things for our community at your direction.”
4. Master Plan priorities: The Board adopted the Envision Washoe 2040 Master Plan in 2023 as a vision for how Washoe County will develop over the next 20 years. Planning Manager Kat Oakley presented an update on the status of the objectives, highlighting the completion of affordable housing initiatives and the Heat Mitigation Plan. With those objectives completed, other objectives were reprioritized and new objectives were introduced. The Board voted on the following order of objectives:
- Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment Rules
- Dark Skies
- Public Noticing
- High Energy and Water Uses
- Landscaping and Irrigation Code Update
- Emissions and Resiliency Standards
- Sensitive Area Environmental Review Standards
- Prioritized Development Areas
5. Board appointments: The Board appointed members to three volunteer boards and committees.
- Farrah Downey was appointed to serve a three-year term on the Washoe County HOME Consortium Technical Review Committee. The consortium is a federally funded program to distribute affordable housing funds to local jurisdictions for the purpose of constructing affordable housing. The Technical Review Committee is responsible for developing the application procedures for securing HOME funds, for reviewing those applications, and for making recommendations for funding to the HOME Consortium Directors based on the housing priorities established in each jurisdiction. Its primary goal is to assist lower income families and individuals, including homeless and special needs groups, to obtain affordable housing.
- Linda Kennedy, who currently serves on the Washoe County Planning Commission, was appointed to the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission to fill a vacancy effective immediately, and ending June 30, 2028
- Robert Lissner, Marilyn Dash, and Karen Hayes were appointed to the Washoe County Board of Equalization, which is charged with hearing appeals filed by property owners who do not agree with the value placed on their property for tax purposes by the County Assessor. The Board conducts its hearings annually during the month of February. Lissner and Dash will fill the regular seats for three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and Hayes will serve as an alternate for the same three-year term.
6. Proclamations: The Board read three proclamations:
- National Forensic Science Week, Sept. 20-26: The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Division is composed of 50 dedicated scientists, support staff, and volunteers, who specialize in a wide range of disciplines including DNA analysis, breath alcohol testing, controlled substances, crime scene response, firearms examination, latent print processing and comparison, and toxicology.
- National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 15: Washoe County has more than 322,451 registered voters which continues to increase as our community grows. Voter registration process in Nevada, and in Washoe County, is now easier and more convenient than ever with in-person registration available at the Office of the Registrar of Voters, voter registration applications available at local libraries, post offices, at state voter registration agencies, and through online voter registration available at www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov.
- National Preparedness Month: September is National Preparedness Month and creates an important opportunity for every resident of Washoe County to prepare their homes, businesses and communities for any type of emergency from natural to man-made disasters. Washoe County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and other state, local, private and volunteer agencies are working together to increase public awareness in preparing for emergencies and to educate individuals on how to take action.
7. Gift card donations: The Board approved donations of gift cards for the victims of recent wildfires. The gift cards totaled $13,750 and were donated by Helix Electronics, Raleys, Champion Chevrolet, Henderson Chevy, Metcalf Builders and Loros Development Company.
