The following are highlights from today’s Washoe, County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board approves Washoe County’s first-ever Climate Action Plan: Washoe County Sustainability Manager Brian Beffort presented the Washoe County Climate Action Plan (CAP), the culmination of over a year of research, data collection, public outreach, and planning in the area of sustainability. The CAP recommends 126 actions to reduce emissions across four sectors: land use, transportation, buildings, and waste.
“This foundational document is so strategic, it’s based on metrics and data,” Commissioner Mariluz Garcia said. “It’s something that I will look back and say I was really, really proud to vote ‘yes’ on this, and I’m really excited to see the fruits of your labor.”
Reno is the fastest-warming city in the United States. Snow, rain, fires, smoke and droughts are becoming more intense and unpredictable, straining the County’s resources to respond, and costing our region billions of dollars in emergency response, health care, and higher energy costs. Many of these impacts fall on those who can least afford to adapt. For decades, the Board of County Commissioners has directed staff to reduce greenhouse gas reductions and other sustainability best practices. The CAP provides the County, regional stakeholders and consumers strategies and actions to minimize and prepare for projected widespread and intensifying challenges.
The CAP includes a framework for County departments and regional stakeholders to implement the proposed actions and monitor progress through regular GHG inventories, performance dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs).
“Our work will be guided by data, return on investment analyses and the collective wisdom among county staff and fellow jurisdictions, agencies, businesses, and citizens,” Beffort said. “Let’s start with easy wins and iterate our way to a better future. Adopting this plan requires no commitment of general funds. This board will have final say on big-ticket items and decisions. It’s simply a mandate for county staff to be fiscally responsible and efficient with energy and resources. Government efficiency is a popular topic these days; that’s what this is.”
2. Board approves opioid response grant to fund new positions at the Medical Examiner’s Office: The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office received a $819,000 grant from the State of Nevada Department of Health and Human Services as part of the State Opioid Response. This grant will fund two new full-time positions, a Medicolegal Death Investigator/Technologist and a Forensic Epidemiologist, as well as expenses for intermittent hourly employees, overtime, equipment, training, toxicology testing, travel, and other operating expenses to investigate drug-related deaths and to provide data regarding these investigations to the state and other regional partners.
This is the first year the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has received this grant. The grant is expected to be renewed for at least three years.
3. Board approves receipt of donations: The Board voted unanimously to approve the receipt of several donations to the Second Judicial District Court:
- 90 Wal-Mart gift cards at an individual value of $10 each from Tru Vista in support of Minor Guardianship Program.
- 20 Target, 20 Wal-Mart and 10 Amazon gift cards at an individual value of $75 each from the Washoe Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Foundation to support the CASA Program.
- Cash donation of $100 from Ms. Susan Krump to support the CASA Program.
4. Board approves affordable housing grant: Washoe County Housing and Homeless Services received approximately $107,000 from the Nevada Housing Division and the State of Nevada Department of Business and Industry. The 2025 Agreement to Use Account for Affordable Housing and Welfare Set-Aside Program is to be used for emergency housing assistance to families and seniors who are in danger of becoming homeless or who are homeless and need assistance with utilities, security deposits, rent or mortgage payments.
5. Commissioners allocate District Special Funds: The Board approved the allocation from Commissioners’ District Special Funds for use at the following nonprofits:
- $10,000 to Jewish Nevada to support its mission to engage the community to invest, enrich, and ensure the vibrancy and continuity of Jewish life in Nevada.
- $10,000 to Lifestyle Homes Foundation to support food and clothing for seniors at the Cold Springs Family Center.
- $5,000 to Katie Grace Foundation to support the Cold Springs Senior Citizen outreach initiative to provide essential everyday items to seniors.
- $10,000 to Reno Toy Run to support its mission of providing toys for children in need.
6. Board appoints member to Open Space and Regional Parks Commission: The Board voted to appoint Tracy Kuczenski to the Open Space and Regional Parks Commission to fill the remainder of a two-year term. The Board voted to appoint Kuczenski from a pool of 10 applicants. Kuczenski is new to Washoe County and a current participant in the Washoe County Leadership Academy. She holds a master’s degree in Land Resources and a law degree and has served on numerous boards in her former home state of Wisconsin.
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