The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Public Guardian Presentation: Washoe County Public Guardian Tracey Bowles presented her annual update to the Board of County Commissioners. The mission of the Washoe County Public Guardian’s Office is to serve as guardian, by court appointment, for vulnerable individuals age 18 and older who are unable to manage their personal and financial affairs, by coordinating provision of services, providing informed consent on clients’ behalf, and protecting, preserving, and managing their assets. The office achieves this on a $3 million budget with only 20 full-time-equivalent employees, 13 of which are case managers.
More than half of Public Guardian’s clients are over the age of 65, and the average length of guardianship is nearly nine years. The office carries a current caseload of 302 clients.
“We get protected persons who come in with a cyclone of information circulating above them, and it is our job to pull all of that out of the ether and organize their lives and put it back on track,” Bowles explained.
2. 2026 Streets and Highways Funding Advisory Question Resolution: Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County Executive Director Bill Thomas presented background on the funding of roads based on fuel tax. As electric vehicle use increases, fuel tax revenue used to fund transportation infrastructure is declining even as road usage continues to grow. The board voted 3-1, with one commissioner absent, to adopt a resolution that will advance a question on this issue to the voters of Washoe County in the General Election this November. The question is an advisory only; it does not impose a new tax.
“We are going to take another litmus test, if approved today, to see what the sentiments are of the people who voted us into these positions, and I think that in and of itself provides the greatest amount of transparency and accountability for elected officials because we’re really just taking the feedback of the people before we decide to make policy recommendations in moving forward with anything,” Commissioner Mariluz Garcia, who also sits on the RTC board, said. “I am fully in support of hearing from the voters in November about what they think on this fairness issue. It boils down to fairness. We know people are driving more, but if you’re not contributing to our roads, it’s not sustainable.”
3. Registrar of Voters warehouse remodel: The Board approved an agreement with Clark Sullivan Construction for a guaranteed maximum price of $3.18 million to remodel what will become the new Registrar of Voters warehouse and headquarters. The warehouse was leased in December 2025 with the intent of moving all operations and storage for the Registrar of Voters to the new location in 2027 following a remodel to accommodate the needs of the elections department. The move will allow Washoe County to consolidate other storage locations and the administrative office into one location, reducing the overall cost to the County. The remodel will include demolition, concrete and fencing, carpentry, roofing, insulation, metal framing, drywall, doors and hardware, finishes, lockers, signage, metal racking, fire protection, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems.
4. Hope Landing housing project: The Board approved a sole-source waiver and funding of $1.4 million for a 15-unit housing project on Carville Drive. The Reno Housing Authority is the only entity in the community that administers and has committed the project-based vouchers required to support all 15 units. These vouchers are an essential component of the project’s financing structure, operating model, and long-term affordability, making RHA uniquely qualified to develop and operate the proposed project.
The project is called Hope Landing and will create 15 one-bedroom permanent supportive housing units for individuals experiencing homelessness who require long-term housing stability and support services. Each unit will be paired with project-based rental assistance and on-site supportive services. The funding comes from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which was seeded with ARPA funds and managed by the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada.
5. Opioid settlement allocations: Washoe County has received $11.43 million from the statewide opioid settlements, creating the Washoe Opioid Abatement and Recovery Fund. The Board approved $3.3 million from the Fund for the following projects:
- $1.35 million to CrossRoads Families to provide a therapeutic living community to families impacted by opioid use disorder to engage in recovery together;
- Nearly $500,000 to the University of Nevada, Reno, for its StreetReach Mobile Health in Action;
- Nearly $500,000 to the Life Change Center Community Overdose Prevention and Engagement program;
- Nearly $1 million to Northern Nevada HOPES for the Hope Springs bridge housing and recovery services for unhoused opioid users.
6. Canepa Ranch trailhead: The Board approved a contract with Pokrajac Corporation for $845,000 with a $35,000 contingency to construct and improve the trailhead in the Canepa Ranch Open Space. The project, located along the Truckee River at 3550 Mario Road, Reno, includes construction of a new trailhead with an access road, parking area, fencing, access gates, interpretive and wayfinding signage and kiosks, vault-style restrooms, picnic areas, and landscaping with temporary irrigation. Pokrajac Corporation was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
7. Board of Adjustment appointment: The Board reappointed Kathie Julian to represent District 1 on the Board of Adjustment for a four-year term beginning July 1. The Board of Adjustment hears and decides appeals concerning zoning regulations and matters related to the soundness of structures, and also hears and decides cases involving administrative permits, special-use permits and variances.
8. Donations: The Board approved the following donations:
- $3,500 from the Reno Elks Lodge No. 597 to support ongoing operational expenses for District Court’s Veterans Treatment Court;
- A donation from the Wilbur May Foundation of $200,000 in general operating support of the Wilbur D. May Center and $100,000 to support temporary exhibits at the Wilbur D. May Museum.
- Dog and cat food and treats valued at $7,906 from the SPCA for Washoe County Regional Animal Services;
- Animal food and supplies valued at approximately $23,000 from numerous citizens and businesses to Washoe County Regional Animal Services;
- 675 pet vaccine doses valued around $2,700 from Petco Love to Washoe County Regional Animal Services;
- A pass-through cash donation of $3,000 from the Rocky Mountain Information Network to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office for the Western States Sheriff’s Association venue and audiovisual equipment costs in retroactive support of the 2026 Conference.
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