Top headlines from the Board of County Commissioners meeting

by | Apr 8, 2025

The new interactive County Checkbook gets unveiled, the board received an overview of illegal dumping on public land, and adopts housing code amendments to address lack of housing variety

1. County Comptroller demonstrates new Washoe County Checkbook website: Washoe County Comptroller Cathy Hill unveiled the new Washoe County Checkbook website with a hands-on demonstration of the interactive financial tool. The website allows users to view the county’s revenue and expenditures and deep-dive its ledgers across all departments. Washoe County joins the State of Nevada Controller and Carson City in offering this checkbook tool to residents.

State Controller Andy Matthews was in chambers for the presentation and said, “Thank you, Commissioner Andriola, for your leadership on this initiative and the commissioners for your support. I get asked all of the time why I’m so passionate about government transparency and my answer is always the same: This is your money; you deserve to know what your government is doing with it.”

In addition to details of County spending, the tool shows what has been budgeted versus what has been actually spent on everything from capital improvements to courts to Juvenile Services. Data can be toggled to show a current snapshot or trends over time, can be sorted by amounts or program names.

“You can never say thank you enough to the staff who made this possible, to be able to access the portal from the comfort of your home, even from your cell” said Commissioner Andriola. “We will take a look at this tool further during a ‘Budget 101’ coming in the spring, but you can always reach out through Washoe311 if you have any questions.”

2. Board recognizes National Library Week and Crime Victims’ Rights Week: April 6-12 was recognized as both National Library Week and Crime Victims’ Rights Week with proclamations read by Commissioner Garcia and Commissioner Andriola, respectively. The theme for National Library Week is “Drawn to the Library,” which highlights the role libraries have in empowering individuals, protecting intellectual freedom, and fostering curiosity, creativity, and opportunity for all. The proclamation for Crime Victims’ Rights Week notes that in 2024, Washoe County experienced 3,710 domestic and elderly crimes, 2,363 violent crimes — including murder, sexual assault, and robbery — and 10,530 property crimes, underscoring the ongoing need for victim support and justice.

3. Board hears presentation on the problem of illegal dumping on public land: Kim Dow and Officer Mike Yost, officials with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) presented an overview of illegal dumping on public land in the Reno area. One ranger oversees the greater Reno area, managing 1.7 million acres across five counties spanning northern Nevada and California. Day-to-day activities primarily focus on urban interface issues such as illegal dumping of household and commercial/industrial waste, target shooting incidents, homeless encampments, off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, along with associated camping and parties, and vehicle dumping.

BLM takes a proactive approach to patrolling problem areas, prioritizing high-volume and high-incident areas and following up with prompt investigations. BLM works closely with community groups such as Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Hill’s Angels 4×4, Reno Area Dirt Riders (RAD), Friends of Moonrocks, and The Desert Pigs to conduct cleanups and increase community awareness.

“I have a huge issue in District 3 with illegal dumping, the pictures you showed are what I see every day” said Commissioner Garcia. “It hurts my heart to hear there are abandoned vehicles right next to a school. It’s unacceptable to me. Like you said, the trash attracts more trash.”

4. County awards architecture contract for new Washoe County Behavioral Health Facility: In 2024, Washoe County utilized American Rescue Plan Act funds from the State of Nevada to purchase the former West Hills Hospital to fill a need in the community for an in-patient behavioral health facility. H&K Architects were awarded the contract for a programming and feasibility study, and Plenium Builders were awarded the pre-construction contract earlier this year.

Today the Board approved a contract to design the new facility to H&K Architects in the amount of $675,000. The scope of services includes architecture, civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering design, as well as consultation with a specialty behavioral health advisor. The facility is intended to provide essential behavioral health services, including stabilization and treatment programs, which are identified as high-priority needs for the region. This agreement represents a key milestone in the County’s efforts to expand access to behavioral health services and improve outcomes for residents facing mental health challenges.

H&K Architects was selected for this project based on their qualifications and prior experience with similar facilities, ensuring that the design will meet both functional and regulatory requirements. The architecture plan is to be completed this summer.

5. Board conducts public hearing on ordinance amendments to address lack of housing variety: On March 18, the Board of County Commissioners heard an overview of Housing Package 2.5a, a group of housing code amendments to address the lack of housing options in Washoe County by supporting “missing middle” housing. These amendments follow a previous set of amendments that streamlined permitting for ADUs, or “granny flats,” in rural and suburban areas.

Today’s second reading and public hearing provided a platform for further public comment and discussion among commissioners before they voted to approve the amendments, which broaden the range of residential types in suburban and urban areas to accommodate duplex, triplex, quadplex and cottage courts while not changing the allowed density.

6. Board reappoints Adam Kramer to Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board of Trustees: Adam Kramer currently represents Washoe County on the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) Board of Trustees. His term will expire on June 30, and the Board voted to reappoint him for a second and final four-year term.

7. Commissioners allocate District Special Funds: The Board approved the allocation from Commissioners’ District Special Funds for use at the following nonprofits:

  • $7,500 to Senior ResQ from District 2 to support the partnership with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) in removing brush, bushes, and shrubs from the homes of low-income seniors.
  • $20,000 to Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) from District 3 to purchase a vehicle to assist with transportation and the hauling of waste during neighborhood and open space cleanup events.

8. Board approves donations to county departments and programs:

 

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