The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Flood Risk and Debris Flow Assessment Program: County staff must receive approval from the Board to pursue projects that will take more than four hours of staff time. In response to repeated flash floods that have particularly impacted the Hidden Valley area, Chair Clara Andriola requested an analysis of flash floods and debris flows in high-risk areas around Washoe County.
“The request to look at this and spend the time is for the community as a whole because it’s not just Spanish Springs; Sun Valley is also prone, as well as other places,” Chair Andriola said. “The program identifies the risk, it evaluates the infrastructure, it develops mitigation options, it understands the cost, and it engages the community as a whole.”
Staff proposed an analysis initially beginning in the Hidden Valley and Sun Valley areas, with the goal of developing a programmatic approach to potential mitigation strategies for Board consideration and community support. The work is estimated to take 20-30 hours. The Board approved the excess of staff time to be committed to this project.
“This is not a stormwater program, this is really to fill that gap where our community unfortunately continues to see these damaging flash floods, and come back with an approach that we believe will be very helpful moving forward,” Division Director of Engineering Dwayne Smith said.
2. Gerlach ArTrail Trailhead: The Board approved an interlocal agreement with the Gerlach General Improvement District (GGID) to develop the Washoe ArTrail Gerlach Trailhead park. The Washoe ArtTrail is a 200-mile interactive journey with 22 stops that represent historic, local art and fun facts. It includes public art installed in 2019 at Crystal Peak Park in Verdi. The newly commissioned Gerlach project will be marked with a large-scale sculpture called “SkyPoint” designed by local artist and Gerlach resident Jonny Rigby. View his project summary here.
3. Albertsons opioid settlement: The Board approved a settlement between the State of Nevada and Albertsons Companies Inc. – part of the One Nevada Agreement. Washoe County’s portion of the settlement is approximately $730,000 payable over a 10-year period.
4. Veterans Service Officer Program: Nevada Department of Veterans Services Director Col. (Ret.) Mary Devine presented an update on the Washoe County Veterans Service Officer Program, which was renewed this month for a five-year term. Veterans receive no-cost assistance with VA disability claims, appeals, pensions, survivor benefits, records and referrals. In the last year, it has served 830 veterans.
“The fact that Washoe County was the first county to be able to provide VSO services in the entire state, and hopefully it will be replicated through the other 16 counties,” Chair Andriola said.
5. Donations: The Board approved the following donations to county departments and programs:
- $5,575 from multiple donors to Housing and Homeless Service programs including the Cares Campus, Our Place and CrossRoads.
- $6,744 to Senior Services. The donors include the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, Ann Kent, Meals on Wheels, the Sat Foundation, Luz Gabatino, Sue Meiske, and multiple unknown cash donations.
- $16,460 in donated items and goods and $18,320 in monetary donations to Child Protective Services.
6. Appointment to Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission: The Board appointed Kim Toulouse to the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission for a term to begin immediately and expire on Jan. 19, 2030. The Open Space and Regional Parks Commission is composed of nine members and serves to advise the Board of County Commissioners in promoting, aiding, and encouraging public recreation including the development of recreation and park facilities, among other advisory functions.
7. Board Meeting code change: The Board held a second reading to adopt a code amendment reducing the number of regular meetings from three to two per month. A 2025 organizational audit of the Office of the County Manager (OCM) found that three monthly meetings is an outlier compared to other large government organizations in Nevada, and specifically noted that Clark County, the City of Reno, and the City of Las Vegas each hold regular meetings only twice per month. Reducing the meeting frequency to two regular meetings per month – on the second and fourth Tuesdays – would allow more time for Commissioners and staff to prepare, create capacity for quarterly work sessions, and better align Washoe County with its peer jurisdictions.
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