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Highlights from Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting July 8, 2014

Date:

The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, July 8, 2014.

Merger of STMGID and TMWA: Items 15 and 20. The Board heard the first reading of an ordinance initiating a merger of the South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID) into the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA).The ordinance requires written notice of the proposed merger to property owners within the STMGID boundary. “This step represents a significant milestone and a resolution to what a lot of good, hard-working folks did to make this merger possible,” said Dwayne Smith, Division Director, Engineering and Capital Projects for the Washoe County Community Services Department. “This initiates closure to what has been a very long process.” This is part of the overall efforts required for the merger of water utilities between the County and TMWA, which is scheduled for completion in December 2014. At the direction of the Commissioners, Washoe County staff has been working on the merger since 2008 and entered into an interlocal agreement with TMWA in 2009. The Board also took action under Item 20 to separate debt owed for sewer and water facilities; with the action the debt owed on water facilities will transfer to TMWA and outstanding debt for sewer facilities will remain with Washoe County.

Economic Development Strategy: Options for payment of development fees: Items 17-19. Washoe County Commissioners heard the second reading of ordinances changing requirements and the schedule of rates and charges for reclaimed water service within Washoe County. The amendment to the ordinances gives applicants an additional choice of when to pay sanitary sewer, reclaimed water and stormwater connection privilege fees. This implements an economic development strategy that allows development fees to be paid at the end of the development process, rather than upfront.

Update on medical marijuana establishments and state applications: Item 16. Assistant County Manager Kevin Schiller gave an update on medical marijuana establishments in the State of Nevada and Washoe County. Commissioners discussed marijuana dispensary allocations, looked at zoning maps of areas eligible for dispensaries and the process applicants must go through to qualify for a license. The Board must take action on marijuana dispensary allocation by August 12. “I’m proud of our staff and this Board that we got ahead of the medical marijuana issue and will soon be offering it as a remedy for those who need it,” said Commissioner Kitty Jung. “Staff has worked hard and it will pay off by helping many people who call me saying this is vital to solving their various health issues.”

Slurry seal project bid award: Item 11. The Board awarded a $1,529,450 bid to Sierra Nevada Construction to complete the 2014/15 slurry sealing of selected streets in Washoe County. This award allows Washoe County to continue necessary repair and maintenance of County streets under the Pavement Infrastructure Preservation program and is expected to include almost 28 miles of roadway work.

Eastlake Boulevard Improvement Project bid award: Item 13. Commissioners awarded a bid to Granite Construction for the repair and maintenance of sections of Eastlake Boulevard in unincorporated Washoe County. The $1.6 million contract includes new asphalt and micro sealing of the pavement.

Design of new Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office: Item 10. Commissioners approved an agreement with VanWoert Bigotti Architects for professional architectural design services ($766,990) for the new Medical Examiner Facility Project. The new facility was included in Washoe County’s approved FY14/19 Capital Improvement Plan. The entire project is expected to cost approximately $11.5 million, which will be paid for primarily through a future bond sale.

Appointment to Washoe County Library Board of Trustees: Item 9. The Board of Commissioners appointed John Kupersmith to the Washoe County Library Board of Trustees for one term from August 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. Vice-Chair Bonnie Weber said everyone considered for the vacant seat was well suited for the job, but Kupersmith was the right choice. “Kupersmith is a great candidate and he stood out as a member of the Library Board of Trustees representing District 5.”

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