The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board approves $30 million capital improvement project improving access to Black Rock Desert: Washoe County, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and Bureau of Land Management, received $29 million from the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) to improve access to federal lands. Washoe County will contribute $1.8 million to bring the total cost to just over $30 million to rehabilitate and improve approximately nine miles of Washoe County Road 34, a key route providing access to BLM’s Black Rock Desert recreation area and thousands of acres of federal public land and serving as the main corridor for the annual Burning Man event. The roadway’s surface has deteriorated, and safety improvements are needed to accommodate year-round use and significant seasonal traffic increases during the Burning Man event, which draws approximately 75,000 participants annually.
Improvements will include full-depth pavement reconstruction, shoulder safety edges, culvert replacements, apron and intersection upgrades, and construction of a deceleration/turn lane to the “8 Mile” entrance. Planning and design will take place over the next three years, with the construction contract being awarded in late 2028 and construction completion in early 2030.
“I want to give a lot of credit Vice Chair Herman and our team for getting that 8-mile entrance to the Black Rock Desert funded,” Chair Alexis Hill said.
2. Board approves continued funding for jail-based mental heath care: In two separate actions today, the Board of County Commissioners approved funding to better serve those in need of mental health care while serving time in the Washoe County Jail. A $15 million grant from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services will enable the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to continue its Jail Based Mental Health Program through June 2027. The original grant of $5.8 million was approved in April 2024, and today an additional $9.9 million was approved.
This program brings specialized mental health treatment to certain individuals while they are incarcerated in the Washoe County Detention Facility. Additionally, following on the passage of AB467 in the 2025 Legislative Session, the program will be expanded to include competency restoration services. Individuals who are not competent to stand trial are court ordered for assessment and treatment to meet their mental health needs as well as specialized services designed for restoration to legal competency. The Washoe County Jail Based Mental Health Program is likely to reduce the time individuals spend within the jail by directly providing mental health treatment and competency restoration services thus reducing the wait for services provided by Lake’s Crossing, the state-operated maximum-security psychiatric facility.
“During the Special Legislative session, I don’t think that people know that the County was awarded $7.5 million in General Funds to help with our Jail Based Mental Health program, and I know that a lot of work went into that,” Chair Hill said. “I want to say congratulations, and we’re so thrilled that we got that funding.”
Along with the transitioning of the current Jail Based Treatment Program to add competency restoration services, the Board approved a $6.2 million contract with Naphcare Inc. to provide inmate medical services. The funding will cover staffing, operating expenses, travel, training, certifications and management, as well as the actual costs for medications.
3. Board approves opioid relief needs assessment and funding plan: As part of statewide opioid lawsuit settlements, Washoe County will receive $41 million over 20 years for programs and services that combat the effects of the opioid epidemic. As of October this year, Washoe County has received $10 million and allocated $4 million.
Throughout 2025, Washoe Opioid Abatement and Recovery Fund (WOARF) conducted a comprehensive needs-assessment process in the community guided by a steering committee and Living Experience Advisory Board (LEAB). WOARF Program Analyst Lauren Beal presented an overview of the assessment and funding plan.
The Washoe County Opioid Use Needs Assessment identifies the strengths, needs, and gaps in addressing opioid use disorder (OUD), prevention, treatment, recovery, and risk reduction services in Washoe County. Nevada law requires the county to conduct a needs assessment every four years. The corresponding Funding Plan indicates the priority funding strategies based on community guidance and feedback. These strategies to be funded with the plan are:
- Targeted Outreach & Care Navigation
- Expanded Housing Services
- Mobile Health Clinics
- Program Evaluation
- Peer-Led Workforce Support
The next step is a notice of funding opportunity in 2026 to address the priorities identified in the plan, and the next Needs Assessment will be conducted in 2029 for 2030-2033.
“I’ve seen firsthand how much you’re in the community, you know the people doing the work, and you have boots on the ground. I really commend your passion and your leadership on this,” Commissioner Mariluz Garcia said. “You’ve delivered an incredible roadmap for us to follow, so we are fully indebted to you. We know we have a shortage of the behavioral work force and people who are doing this type of work, and it’s hard, hard work and it can’t be done unless these practitioners are healthy, the nonprofits they represent are healthy, and that all the system is working collaboratively.”
4. Emergency Management presents overview of Defensible Space Program: Washoe County Emergency Management Intern Alayna Barrie presented the results of a Defensible Space Program she implemented for River Park, a neighborhood in west Reno consisting of 229 homes along the Truckee River. Defensible space and home hardening are the practices of removing fire hazards from in and around a home and creating a buffer of low-danger vegetation to reduce the risk of wildfire.
After conducting outreach to the community, Barrie organized inspections of 39 homes to determine fire hazards. Six of those homes passed inspection with no identified hazards. Twenty-four homes participated in a two-day cleanup project to remove more than 80 cubic yards of vegetation. Moana Nursery participated with revegetation efforts by providing 117 donated fire-wise plants.
The Defensible Space Program included education for homeowners on how to maintain defensible space and be prepared for emergencies. The program was funded by a $20,000 Green Recovery Grant.
“I like that you took this programing to the community into the neighborhood itself,” Commissioner Garcia said. “You went into the neighborhood and knocked on those doors and I think that’s a really a grassroots touchpoint that you had with those neighbors, and I’m sure that they’re really grateful, as are we.”
5. Board appoints members to Senior Advisory Board: The Board approved the following recommendation for appointments to the Senior Advisory Board:
- Re-appoint Edward Lamb (District 4) for his second term;
- Re-appoint MaryAnn McCauley (District 5) for her second term;
- Re-appoint Pamela Roberts (District 1) for her second term;
- Re-appoint Mac Rossi (At-Large) for his second term;
- Appoint Ann Guinn and Alan Distefano for two vacant alternate seats;
- Appoint Monica Webb for the vacant District 5 seat.
All appointments are effective retroactive to December 1, 2025, with terms expiring November 30, 2029.
6. Board approves allocations of District Special Funds: The Board approved $42,500 from the District 2 Special Fund, represented by Commissioner Mike Clark and $60,000 from the District 5 Special Fund, represented by Commissioner Jeanne Herman, to the following organizations:
- $10,000 to Washoe County Human Services Agency to support Northern Nevada Literacy Council (NNLC) and the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce with the Cares Campus project of providing classes supporting literacy, adult basic education and workforce readiness in a quality learning environment;
- $2,500 to Bees 4 Vets to support the program of providing hands-on training in beekeeping to veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD and/or TBI;
- $2,500 to Truckee Meadows Blue Star Mothers of Nevada #3 for bringing comforts of home to soldiers fighting overseas;
- $2,500 to Boosted Diplomas to support the mission to provide every child in the Washoe County foster system with the opportunity to excel in school and graduate with their diploma;
- $2,500 to Katie Grace Foundation to support acts of kindness and charity in the community;
- $2,500 to The Life Change Center for a variety of services to help people make the changes necessary to beat their drug addiction;
- $2,500 to the Lizzy Hammond Foundation to support the development of programs to educate parents and bounce house owner/operators on the dangers and preventable measures associated with bounce houses;
- $2,500 grant to Nevada Veterans Coalition to support the mission to honor Veterans and to support their families by providing a full military honors service;
- $2,500 to Nevadans 4 Vets to raise community awareness and provide financial support for various programs that honor and respect the contributions and sacrifices of deserving Northern Nevada veterans and their families;
- $2,500 to Northern Nevada Legal Aid for providing legal advice, assistance, or representation in civil matters for those who could not otherwise afford an attorney;
- $2,500 to Palomino Valley Pet Rescue for rescuing dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters and helping animals with special needs;
- $2,500 to Senior ResQ to support financial education for seniors;
- $2,500 to Seniors in Service to support the mission of engaging vibrant experienced volunteers to enrich Northern Nevada communities one life at a time
- $2,500 to SPCA of Northern Nevada to support the adoptions of pets by senior citizens of Washoe County;
- $25,000 to Gerlach Volunteer Fire Department to enable it to serve the citizens of Gerlach and the surrounding area;
- $20,000 to Food Bank of Northern Nevada for feeding the hungry in Washoe County;
- $15,000 to Safe Embrace to support the mission of helping victims become survivors.
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