The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board approves purchase of property expanding Cares Campus: Dana Searcy, Washoe County special projects manager, presented an update on the Cares Campus to the Board today, highlighting the next phases of construction at the regional homeless shelter and campus. Highlights include the long-term Safe Camp site into what was formerly known as Governor’s Bowl, as well as Phase 2 of the shelter site and improvements to the restroom and shower facilities.
Phase 3, which is expected to begin early 2023, involves a dedicated intake area, case management and therapy center, staff offices, and a dining hall. The fourth and final phase is the development of a resource center and supportive housing on land currently owned by the Reno Housing Authority. Today the Board unanimously voted to move forward with the purchase of this land at a price of $5 million.
“We’ve been very innovative in our community for many years in approaching homelessness. Whatever we deem is a challenge, we’re at the front lines of that,” Commissioner Bob Lucey said. “Our programs have been nationally recognized, and I think this will be the next step of that national recognition.”
When Washoe County assumed responsibility for all homeless services in the region in 2021, the campus’ footprint was smaller, and the immediate need for infrastructure meant that it would eventually need to be replaced with longer-term infrastructure. The original cost of the campus was funded through joint agreements with the City of Reno and City of Sparks, and approved CARES Act funding. In today’s presentation, Searcy provided an in-depth look at the budget for the remainder of the campus’ needs. The projected $70.9 million will replace failing, temporary infrastructure; add cafeteria and warming center space; pay for road paving, green space, fencing, and other site improvements; add permanent shower and laundry facilities; add supportive housing and a resource center, and other needed improvements throughout the campus.
“We’re the first in the state, and probably first in the country, to do this, so you had no model,” Commissioner Kitty Jung said in commending Searcy and the Homeless Services team. “It’s great to see you progressing through this and learning the best practices and getting your hands around something that is still murky. I consider you and your staff first responders for the most vulnerable. I believe this reflects our values as Washoe County.”
2. Chief Financial Officer presents first Financial Outlook for FY23 budget: The Board received a preview of what will be recommended for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget upon completion later this month. Chief Financial Officer Christine Vuletich touched on some top themes and considerations for building the FY23 budget. Washoe County ended last fiscal year with better-than-expected financial results, due to conservative budgeting and fiscal management, and an improved local economy since the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. Additionally, non-recurring financial resources are available to pay for one-time needs, such as property tax refunds per a legal settlement, and needed asset maintenance and capital improvements.
However, the budget planning also took into consideration the increasing costs for energy, materials, food and labor and supply chain issues, along with rising interest rates, all of which indicate slower economic growth going forward. As economic growth slows, the County’s revenue growth will also slow, while expenses are expected to increase faster than revenue.
Resources will not support all needs and requests for funding in FY23, and priorities will be funded first, including existing contractual obligations, supplies, utilities, personnel costs, unfunded mandates from the 2021 Legislative session, property tax refunds, ramping up of Homeless Services capital improvements and operations, maintaining the County’s assets and infrastructure needs, and additional operating budget requests.
“This is the third year I’ve had the opportunity to see this presentation, the third year the county has exceeded fund balance budgeted in the General Fund, and the third year of General Fund expenses being below budget. This is all despite the fact that over that three-year span, we took on the construction and opening of Our Place, retiring the Incline Village property tax payment, we went through the pandemic, and we’ve begun opening and constructing the Cares Campus and staffing the homeless services group to deliver the services to ensure that the Cares Campus isn’t just a shelter, but that there are programs designed to get people back on their feet,” County Manager Eric Brown said. “Through that three-year period, the County as an organization and the elected officials of the county have done a great job of continuing to make sure that the County operates in a fiscally responsible manner. It’s my commitment as county manager to continue to do so, leveraging the culture of the County organization – where there’s an amazing amount of fiscal discipline and restraint. You don’t see that everywhere, but we have that here and we’re going to need it going forward because there are always uncertainties.”
The County Manager’s Fiscal Year 2023 Recommended Budget will be presented at the next Board of County Commissioners meeting on April 19.
3. Board conducts first reading of ordinance for short-term rentals with proposed amendments: In February 2022, the Board heard a status update on a proposed short-term rental ordinance, and provided feedback to staff for certain amendments, which were presented today.
- Minimum insurance requirements: The applicant must certify, via the notarized affidavit, that they carry the appropriate insurance as currently required.
- Parking spaces: In cases where a condominium does not offer parking passes, staff recommends allowing proof of parking assigned to a unit by written document (CC&Rs or HOA letter), in addition to passes in the amount of one parking space for each four occupants, and to ensure that overflow parking is not used in calculating the required number of parking spaces per STR unit.
- Maximum occupancy: Two occupants for every legally permitted bedroom. The remainder of the home shall be calculated as one occupant for every 200 square feet of habitable space.
- Bear box: Require a bear box after two trash violations within the Incline Village General Improvement District’s service territory.
- Special Use Permit: Staff recommends changing Tier 3 STRs to be approved through a special use permit, which involves a public hearing at the Planning Commission and the ability to add conditions tailored to address specific impacts of the STR location/circumstances.
“I think that there’s real potential to see that this is a model program. Many of our policies have been replicated by jurisdictions around Lake Tahoe. Douglas County has replicated many of our fine and fee policies, occupancy policies, and the inspection policies that we have enacted,” Commissioner Alexis Hill said. Most short-term rentals in Washoe County are in her district, District 1. “Kudos to staff, and thank you for board support. I’m looking forward to see how we can continue to make it work for tourists and residents.”
The Board conducted a first reading of the ordinance today and will conduct the second reading and possible adoption at the May 10, 2022, Board of County Commissioners meeting.
4. Board accepts land donation adjacent to Huffaker Reservoir: The Board of County Commissioners accepted a land donation from Don Roger Norman, Trustee for the Don Roger Norman Trust. The 22.59 acres of land located on Alexander Lake Road, adjacent and to the east of Huffaker Reservoir, is valued at $35,000 and will provide the County ownership of undeveloped and unimproved land surrounding Huffaker Reservoir.
This property is undeveloped due to access issues and unfavorable topography including steep hilltops and craggy cliff faces. The access road is only constructed to haul road standards, inadequate for residential or commercial traffic. Most of the length of Alexander Lake Road would need to be redesigned and reconstructed to meet County standards if developed for other purposes. Currently all maintenance of the Alexander Lake roadway is performed by Washoe County and there will be no additional roadway maintenance requirements by accepting this donation.
5. Commissioners allocate District Special Funds in Districts 1 and 4: Chair Vaughn Hartung (District 4) and Commissioner Alexis Hill (District 1) proposed allocations of their District Special Funds, which were unanimously approved by the Board.
Our Story Inc. will receive $5,000 from District 4 for ongoing preservation, leadership, docent training, and marketing around the creation of the Northern Nevada African American Firefighter Museum recently opened in the Black Springs neighborhood in the North Valleys.
The Tahoe Prosperity Center will receive $5,000 from District 1 to support the Washoe Tahoe Housing Needs Assessment that will identify strategies to add more local housing options for areas of Incline Village and Crystal Bay.
6. Board approves several State of Nevada grants to the Human Services Agency: The Washoe County Human Services Agency receives support from the State of Nevada, Division of Child and Family Services, to provide needed services in the county. The Board today approved the following grants:
- $75,000 for Family Reunification services
- $75,000 for Family Preservation services
- $150,000 for Adoption Promotion and Support services
- $38,859 with a county match of $13,653 to support caseworker visits
- Amendment to increase award amount to $2.9 million and extend the award period for a grant from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Emergency Assistance Program.
