WASHOE COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 25, and took action on items including: declaring October, 2012 as National Community Planning Month, as well as Cyber Security Awareness Month, adopted a Resolution Accepting 20.27 acres within the Mt. Rose Estates Subdivision for use as a non-motorized Public Trail Corridor, adopting the Swan Lake Nature Study Area Master Plan update, accepting $55,771 in cash donations for Regional Parks and Open Space programs and facilities, accepting $19,409 with a 25 percent match of $4,852 for Victim of Crime Act funds to provide direct services to victims of child abuse and/or domestic violence, received an update on the Restoration Treatment Report regarding the Caughlin and Washoe fires, and approved a recommendation for the County’s membership in the Western Nevada Development District to promote economic development in the region.
Item 5. Commissioners accepted a proclamation declaring October, 2012 as National Community Planning Month. Bill Whitney, Acting Director of Washoe County Community Development, told the Board the proclamation recognizes the values in planning and those who participate in the planning process, to contribute to the creation and maintenance of livable and sustainable communities in the County. The American Planning Association, the national planning organization that promotes excellence in planning and has over 40,000 members, celebrates the seventh annual National Community Planning Month with the 2012 theme “Changing Face of America.” For more information, please visit: www.planning.org/ncpm/
Item 6. Commissioners accepted an additional proclamation declaring October, 2012 as Cyber Security Awareness Month. Washoe County joins the National Protection and Programs Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to improve public safety, security and health. The County will set in place a mechanism to remind citizens to learn about cyber security and encourage putting that knowledge into practice in homes, schools, workplaces and businesses by password protecting mobile devices, securing personal passwords and monitoring appropriate use.
Item 7 E.3-7 E.6. Commissioners adopted a resolution accepting a real property dedication for 20.27 acres within the Mt. Rose Estates subdivision for use as a non-motorized public trail corridor. Whites Creek Trail is a non-motorized, multi-use regional trail corridor with access to White’s Creek Park, Galena Creek Regional Park, Arrowcreek Open Space, and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Earlier this year the Board accepted a Recreation Trail Grant Program in the amount of $96,868 to conduct maintenance on numerous trails throughout Washoe County, including this particular section of Whites Creek Trail. A portion of this grant will be used to implement the necessary maintenance required to bring this section of trail to County standards, and Regional Parks and Open Space is seeking additional trail stewardship through the Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail Program to complement existing staff allocations with volunteer labor.
Commissioners also adopted the Swan Lake Nature Study Area Master Plan 2012 Update. The Swan Lake Nature Study Area is designated as Audubon Important Bird area, and is a playa/wetland system positioned near an urban area and situated in Lemmon Valley, 14 miles northwest of downtown Reno.
Commissioners accepted $55,771 in cash donations for Regional Parks and Open Space programs and facilities. The funding comes from various businesses, organizations and individuals, and acknowledges in-kind donations. The Board directed the Finance Department to make the appropriate budget adjustments for Regional Parks and Open Space and includes all Commission Districts.
Commissioners also accepted cash donations of $300,000 from the Wilbur May Foundation, of which $200,000 is for fiscal year 2012-2013 for general operating support of the Wilbur D. May Center and $100,000 for support of temporary exhibits at the Wilbur D. May Museum.
Item 7 I 1. Commissioners authorized the Director of Social Services to accept additional Victim of Crime Act Funds of $19,409 with a 25 percent match of $4,852, for fiscal year 2013 from the State Division of Child and Family Services. The funding will be used to provide direct services to victims of child abuse and/or domestic violence. The Board directed the Finance Department to make the appropriate budget adjustments which includes all Commission Districts.
Item 12. Commissioners received an update on the Restoration Treatment efforts following the Caughlin and Washoe winter fires that affected the community. The Caughlin Fire burned 1,946 acres in November, 2011 and just two months later in January, 2012, the Washoe Fire burned 3,177 acres. During and immediately following both fires, an interagency Burn Area Emergency Response Team (BAER) team initiated solutions to address immediate threats to life-safety, water quality and storm water run-off and developed long term recommendations for repairing and restoring the affected areas. The cooperative team effort by multiple agencies and non-governmental organizations was instrumental to the success of the restoration efforts.
Item 13. Commissioners approved a recommendation for the County’s membership in the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) to promote economic development and regional cooperation, and to appoint three representatives for the County. Those members will be Washoe County Commissioner David Humke, Assistant County Manager John Berkich and Dick Bostdorff who will be the private sector representative. The Board also approved the expenditure of $4,125 from the community support budget to fund the County’s membership in WNDD for fiscal year 2012/2013. The recommendation supports a strategic goal for the Board to support regional economic prosperity.
