The Washoe County Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, and took action on items including the recognition of March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day, recognition of the Reno Air Races Foundation, the Pathways to Aviation program, and the Perlan Project, the receipt of grants, approval of an interlocal agreement with the Washoe County School District, and the creation of a stadium authority.
Resolutions. County Commissioners recognized March 31, 2012 as Cesar Chavez Day. Chavez founded United Farm Workers and conducted multiple non-violent protests to improve the working conditions for farm workers in California.
In 2009, Nevada passed Assembly Bill 301 which calls on the governor to declare March 31 of each year as Cesar Chavez Day.
Additionally, the Commission approved two proclamations related to aviation in Washoe County. The first was acknowledgement of the Reno Air Races Foundation and the Pathways to Aviation for their contributions to the community through education and financial support of aviation related programs.
The second proclamation recognized the efforts of the Perlan Project, which will advance the science of aviation by building a flying research glider to be sent into near space, which is expected to set a new manned altitude record for wing-borne aircraft and create new economic opportunities in aviation in Northern Nevada.
Grants and Donations. The County Commission acknowledged receipt of several grants and donations during its Tuesday meeting.
Commissioners acknowledged $19,000 in grant money from the Lee F. Del Grande Foundation to the Second Judicial Court: $5,000 to be used for its After-Hours Temporary Protection Order program, $5,000 to be allocated towards Family Division drug testing, and $9,000 for the Family Peace Center track expansion. None of the three grants require a County match.
Commissioners accepted a $50,000 grant, with no County match, from Fannie Mae. The grant is retroactive to December of 2011 and provides foreclosure prevention counseling and mediation assistance to Washoe County residents.
Washoe County, additionally, received a $10,000 grant from the Foundation of Western Nevada to provide assistance for women 62 years or older to remain in their homes. There was no County match required.
In addition, the State of Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division awarded the County with a $91,817 grant for the Nutrition Services Incentive Program, which helps provide meals to seniors in Washoe County.
The Washoe County Commission accepted two federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, totaling $150,743.79, for trail rehabilitation projects and the construction of a play area in Mogul. The County has an equivalent match for this grant.
Commissioners also accepted $575 in donations towards the County’s employee scholarship fund. $500 was donated on behalf of County Manager Katy Simon from Humboldt County, California in lieu of her professional speaking fee. An additional $75 was donated on behalf of retired Finance Director John Sherman in lieu of retirement gifts.
Interlocal Agreement. The County Commission approved an interlocal agreement with the Washoe County School District to provide maintenance services to Verdi and Pleasant Valley schools in exchange for reimbursement of half of those service costs.
The Verdi and Pleasant Valley facilities are used jointly by the County and the School District, and the agreement allows for more efficient use of public funds to maintain those facilities.
Stadium Authority. County Commissioners approved an amendment to the Washoe County Code to establish the details of creating a Stadium Authority.
Pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS), Washoe County imposed a two percent fee on the lease of passenger cars in the County to pay for costs surrounding the building and maintenance of a minor league baseball stadium. The County is required, per NRS, to create a stadium authority to assist in the operation of the stadium.
The authority is to be made up of two County Commissioners, three Reno representatives, and two representatives from SK Baseball.
