The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board approves donation to fund virtual medical care station at Senior Center: Anthem, Inc. donated $400,000 to the Washoe County Human Services Agency to fund the installation, maintenance and operation of an OnMed CareStation at the Senior Center on East 9th Street. A CareStation is an indoor structure that allows users to have real-time consultations with a licensed clinician and access to a comprehensive suite of medical devices.
The interior of the OnMed CareStation resembles a small doctor’s office, in which seniors access care by pressing “start” on a screen. They are instantly connected with a certified nursing assistant, who walks through a quick intake process and then connects the patient with an OnMed clinician for a live, virtual visit. The CareStation is equipped with medical-grade diagnostic tools, providing the clinician with an accurate, real-time view of all vital signs. It also features high-definition thermal imaging cameras to better examine the patient’s skin, eyes, ears and throat as needed to diagnose infection and other conditions.
Through the CareStation, a provider can offer a diagnosis and treatment plan, including recommended medications, referrals, and e-prescriptions sent directly to the preferred pharmacy. Electronic medical records are stored securely in the patient’s OnMed medical record, which can be shared with other necessary care providers. After each patient leaves, the CareStation locks and automatically runs a sanitization cycle to prepare for the next patient.
2. Board approves Opioid Settlement funding for transitional-age youth treatment program: The Board of County Commissioners approved the receipt of a $130,563 grant from the State of Nevada Department of Health and Human Services to provide coordinated services to individuals with Severe Mental Illness (SMI), Substance Abuse Disorders (SUD), and/or Co-Occurring Disorders (COD) through an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program.
This program will provide housing assistance to 20 people over 18 years of age and/or transitioning age youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders in need of support and supervision in a home-like setting.
This program was originally incorporated as a pilot program to establish an emergency agreement with New Hope Placement d.b.a. Well Care Services Reno because clients need to be moved immediately from an inappropriate shelter to a location capable of managing their medical, psychiatric, and pharmaceutical needs as well as their case management and support services. The Human Services Agency continues to collaborate with the State to establish more permanent supportive housing alternatives across the community.
3. Board introduces ordinance to address lack of housing variety: The Board 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. If ultimately approved, these amendments will change residential types in suburban and urban areas to allow duplex, triplex, quadplex and cottage courts while not changing the allowed density.
A first reading requires a single member of the Board to introduce the ordinance and conduct a first reading, but the Board takes no further action. The second reading and possible adoption of the ordinance will be conducted on April 8.
4. Board initiates amendments to county code related to Citizen Advisory Boards: The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to formally initiate code amendments to update provisions to Citizen Advisory Boards (CABs). The code section has not been updated since 2013, requiring a review and update to align with the current purpose of the CABs.
Washoe County Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gustafson provided an outline of possible code amendments including recommended procedure and practice changes.
“The code governs the big picture. It’s the document which authorized this board to create the CABs in the first place. Code generally describes a lot of the procedures involved with the CABs,” Gustafson said while describing the documents to be considered for amendments. “All of our CABs operate under uniform set of bylaws – they prescribe the operating procedures for the actual meetings themselves. And the CAB handbook is the training manual for our CAB members.”
This vote to initiate amendments is the first in a multi-step process to make changes to the CAB program, which may also include an update to the standard bylaws, which have not been updated since 2015, as well as possible future updates to the CAB training handbook. With the vote to approve the opening of the Code Chapter, the District Attorney’s Office will now draft the proposed ordinance amending the code. When the proposed ordinance is complete, the Board will conduct public hearings to introduce the proposed changes.
5. Board holds public hearing on property transfer to TMWA: On February 11, 2025, the Board declared a resolution, notifying the public of the intent to transfer two parcels in the American Flats area to Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) for the location of the OneWater Nevada Advanced Purified Water (APW) Facility, an innovative solution to diversify the region’s water supply and limit discharges into Swan Lake. Today’s Board meeting included a public hearing to receive public feedback on the transfer.
Nevada law allows the Board of County Commissioner to convey or lease property to public entities for public benefit if the property is not needed for public purposes and is used for charitable or civic purposes.
Washoe County is currently in an interlocal agreement with City of Reno to transfer effluent from the Reno Sparks Water Reclamation Facility that currently discharges into Swan Lake to American Flat. The agreement will assign that duty to TMWA and will reduce effluent discharged into Swan Lake by up to 2 million gallons per day. Further, the APW project will expand access to clean water and proper sewage disposal, and reduce the region’s reliance on the Truckee River. Underground aquifer storage has added benefits over reservoir storage in that it does not suffer from evaporation and continues treating water through natural processes. This storage can supplement the available water supply during years of low precipitation or drought.
Today’s public hearing was the opportunity for residents to voice their support or opposition and was one of the last steps to move this project forward.
###
