The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. CSD provides quarterly update on traffic issues: Mitchell Fink, P.E. and Mariam Ahmad, P.E. presented an update on traffic calming and engineering items. Washoe County’s traffic policy is that the safety of the traveling public and pedestrians is the focus.
The Community Services Department (CSD) received more than 100 requests for traffic calming and engineering in 2022. The top requests are related to speed reduction, pedestrian safety, signage and striping, traffic signal issues, and school zone safety improvements. Of those requests, 20-30 percent were mitigated through traffic-calming methods, 25-35 percent were prioritized and will be addressed, and 35-45 percent were determined to require no action.
The completed projects in 2022 cost around $175,000. In 2023, CSD estimates around $700,000 in projects including radar feedback signs, school zone flashers, LED flashing stop signs, pedestrian crossings, speed cushions, and signalized intersections.
“This board is laser-focused on pedestrian safety. The federal government is as well. The U.S. Department of Transportation presented at the National Association of Counties conference last week, and they’re giving out planning and implementation grants to improve pedestrian and bicycling safety,” Vice Chair Alexis Hill said. “I’m so excited to hear you’re planning to spend $700,000 this year.”
Residents can view the traffic-calming policy and report a traffic concern through Washoe311 on the CSD website here.
“It’s essential to use Washoe311,” Chair Vaughn Hartung said. “Many times when I get a request from a constituent, I’ll send it to Washoe311 so we can track it through the system and see just how much time it’s going to take.”
2. Board approves payout from opioid settlement between Walmart and State of Nevada: The State of Nevada is expected to receive approximately $32 million from Walmart in a settlement over opioid distribution. Washoe County’s portion of that amount will be determined according to the provisions of the One Nevada Agreement on Allocation of Opioid Recoveries approved by the Board in July 2021.
“This is the best way to get money to address the opioid problem in the county immediately,” Assistant District Attorney Michael Large said. “Litigation lasts years and years. This has been ongoing for three or four years at this point, then you have appeals, so this could potentially drag on for years. This gets the money to the county now to address the problem.”
Commissioner Mike Clark requested information on the net payment to Washoe County: “It’s nice that everybody else is getting a slice of the pie. How much of the pie are we getting and how much of the pie is our representation getting? That’s what I’m looking for: local, what’s going to happen in this county?”
Board proclaims February Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month: Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares students for fields such as aerospace, agriculture, construction, education, healthcare, information technology, logistics, manufacturing, mining, and more. Commissioner Mike Clark read a proclamation declaring February 2023 CTE Month.
“This is the wave of the future. The path to college is not for every young person, but there are so many great jobs out there that CTE programs are involved in,” Chair Vaughn Hartung said. “People don’t realize the technical requirements that go into many of these highly skilled jobs.”
4. Board approves $15,000 donation from Corwin GMC: The Board of County Commissioners approved a $15,000 donation from Corwin GMC to the Washoe County Human Services Agency’s (HSA) Children’s Services Division. The money will go toward foster and adoption recruitment efforts and retention, much-needed supplies, as well as help pay for recognition and appreciation events aimed to honor HSA’s foster families.
“Thank you to the kind folks at Corwin GMC for choosing us to be such a fortunate beneficiary of their generosity,” HSA Director Amber Howell said. “This is a significant donation that will go a long way in supporting our foster and adoptive families, as we all work together to help Washoe County’s most vulnerable children live happy and fulfilling lives.”
5. Board approves numerous donations to the Nevada Cares Campus: Many local organizations supported the unhoused population through donations to the Nevada Cares Campus, including:
- 475 pairs of socks from the Grace Community Church of Reno totaling an estimated market value of $5,343;
- 1,700 cases of Pure Life bottled water from HERO Environmental totaling an estimated market value of $7,293;
- 627 pairs of socks from Sparks High School $7,053;
- Various winter and additional items from the non-profit, We Serve with Helping Hands, totaling an estimated market value of $981.58;
- 20 dozen doughnuts from DoughBoys Donuts in the estimated amount of $339;
- Various winter clothing items from J.D. Klippenstein, totaling an estimated market value of $75;
- Various pet items from Washoe County Regional Animal Services in the estimated amount of $74.52;
- Various winter clothing items from Washoe County, Office of the County Manager, Holiday Donation drive, totaling an estimated market value of $450.
In another item on the agenda, the Board approved the donation of approximately $8,700 in goods and food from various donors to Washoe County Regional Animal Services.
“In light of the donations today, I want to bring back something from a recent Animal Services Advisory Board meeting. Pets can be of great assistance in helping seniors combat loneliness, depression and poor health,” Commissioner Mariluz Garcia said. “There’s a program for low-income seniors who may need help with providing pet food and preventative pet care, and Regional Animal Services accepts donations of dry or canned pet food.”
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