The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board rejects proposed Election Integrity Resolution: Commissioner Jeanne Herman, District 5, put forth a resolution related to election integrity for review and possible adoption by the Board of County Commissioners. The resolution had been removed from a previous agenda due to a procedural error, and was presented today with several ancillary documents, including a legal analysis from the District Attorney’s Office and review by the Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB).
“When I became a commissioner in 2014, it was very important to me and I felt it was my duty and responsibility as a representative of the people to provide fair and honest, transparent constitutional elections,” Commissioner Jeanne Herman said as she introduced the resolution.
The resolution comprised 20 reforms to elections in Washoe County, ranging from Sheriff’s Deputies stationed at polling locations to sending ballots via certified mail. Many of the items were deemed either outside the County’s purview or fiscally problematic.
“Legislative changes are being sought at the commission level, and there’s much in here we can’t do anything about,” Chair Vaughn Hartung said.
More than 500 residents submitted public comment either via email or in person, packing the Commission Chambers and spilling into the lobby of the administrative building.
Commissioner Bob Lucey commended the passion of the public who attended and spoke on the issue but agreed with the Chair that the resolution was largely out of the Board’s purview.
“We’re limited in the ways we can respond at the county. There are certain things that are outside the power of this Commission,” Lucey said, “Over the last eight hours we’ve been here, we’ve seen democracy its purest form. As I look at this resolution as drafted, it has many flaws and we cannot take action on this as it is written today.”
Commissioner Alexis Hill made a motion to deny the resolution as written, which was seconded by Commissioner Kitty Jung. The board voted 4-1 to deny the resolution.
“Our job as this board is to assist the Registrar’s Office with the resources they need to conduct a fair, safe election. So I am ready to make that motion,” Hill said. “This resolution would limit access to voting and create chaos and throw our vote tallies into question. I see no evidence for this resolution.”
2. Board denies appeals of special-use permit for Resort at Tahoe with modifications to permit: The Board held a public hearing to consider three appeals of the Washoe County Board of Adjustment’s approval of a special use permit for major grading at the project known as the Resort at Tahoe. Denial of the appeals means that the applicant, EKN Development Group, may proceed with applying for specific grading permits for the project site and connector roadways in preparation of future redevelopment of the old Tahoe Biltmore property.
The Board acted on two motions, the first to determine which of the three appellants have standing to appeal the special-use permit. Commissioner Lucey made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Hill, that only Granite Place Owners Association has standing to appeal the permit. Granite Place is an 18-unit condominium community adjacent to the Resort at Tahoe property.
Hill proposed changes to conditions of the permit, including limiting construction to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with no weekend work allowed. She then moved to modify the decision of the Board of Adjustment and the special-use permit with her proposed conditions, and noted that if the other two appellants had been determined to have standing, the motion would have applied to them as well. EKN Development Group agreed to add some traffic-calming measures as well.
3. Board accepts donation of two mobile surveillance trailers to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office: The Washoe County Honorary Deputies Association, through a donation from the E.L. Wiegand Foundation, donated two Commander 3400 Mobile Surveillance Trailers valued at more than $163,000 to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division. These trailers enable the Sheriff’s Office to put technology and virtual eyes in problem areas for crimes such as residential and vehicular burglaries, illegal dumping, and graffiti. The trailers provide closed circuit TV cameras to monitor these areas, record evidence, and provide a visible deterrent to crime.
4. Artown receives Community Support grant for month-long arts festival: The Board today approved a $25,000 Community Support grant to Artown, which brings the arts to life during the month of July celebrating artists from around the world, across the country and those that live in our community. Washoe County Community Support grants support services that address health and human service needs in the community or contribute to economic development and quality of life issues. Artown is a nonprofit organization that supports local artists and puts on the annual festival of nearly 500 events at more than 130 locations countywide, most of which are free or low cost.
