The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Commission approved adjusted office hours for Washoe County Clerk’s Office: The Nevada State Legislature passed AB 397 in the most recent legislative session. The bill removed the requirement for the clerk’s office to establish a program for commercial chapels to issue marriage licenses when county clerk’s offices are closed. Additionally, state law allows county clerks to adjust their hours as needed if the fiscal impact is neutral or presents a cost savings, and if approved the local Board of County Commissioners.
Washoe County Clerk Janis Galassini proposed changing the clerk’s office regular hours to close at 8 p.m. rather than midnight. The proposal includes operating hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on holidays. These new hours of operation are effective July 1, 2021.
Currently 13 percent of marriage licenses are issued after 8 p.m. and only 2.2 percent of couples actually get married the same night they receive their license. The demand for late-night, same-day marriage licenses has decreased and the change in office hours will result in a cost savings and provide greater schedule flexibility.
2. Commission approved augmented budget for UNR Cooperative Extension: Per state law, the Board of County Commissioners must approve the annual budget for the University of Nevada, Cooperative Extension. Northern Area Director Holly Gatzke presented the FY22 base budget of $1,764,305, which covers personnel, operating costs, travel and overhead, and a contingency budget of just over $807,000 for new unsheltered-persons programming, online education, new computers and an outdoor education area.
Thank you for a wonderful program and it’s the best thing that we’re doing right now,” Commissioner Jeanne Herman said. “I enjoy the kids and what goes on with their animals and projects and it’s such a wonderful program. Thanks for being here.”
3. Board accepted second donation to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Commissioners approved a donation of just over $60,000 from closed Community Development Block Grants to the Community Foundation of Western Nevada for the Washoe County Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This fund was established to incentivize and subsidize development of affordable housing.
4. The following appointments to boards and commissions were approved:
- Kathryn (Kate) S. Nelson, current member of the Washoe County Planning Commission, to the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission for a term beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2024.
- Re-appointment of Chris Nenzel and Jennifer Oliver as Open Space and Regional Parks commissioners for a second term on the commission for terms beginning on July 1, 2021, and ending on June 30, 2025.
- Frank Perez to the Washoe County Library Board of Trustees to fill one seat for the term of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2025.
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