WASHOE COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners held its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, Jan. 22, and took action on items including: directed staff on legislative issues deemed critically significant to Washoe County by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC); discussed the establishment of a Citizens’ Blue Ribbon Committee on Regional Fire and Emergency Response; received a presentation from the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN); approved an Interlocal Agreement between the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD); and approved an Exhibition Agreement for the 2013 spring exhibit at the Wilbur D. May Museum.
Approved the 2013 Washoe County Legislative Principles: Items 15 & 16. The legislative principles are used by staff, lobbyists and elected officials to guide their actions while representing Washoe County during the 2013 Nevada Legislative Session and include respect for government roles, recovering the area’s economic strengths and regional solutions for service provisions.The full list of principles can be found with the staff report at ww.washoecounty.us/large_files/agendas/012213/15.pdf. Staff also provided and discussed some possible impacts the 2013-2015 Biennium Proposed Executive Budget could have on counties. Washoe County Director of Social Service Kevin Schiller gave a general review on some of the programs that could be affected, including Child Protective Services, Developmental Services and the Affordable Care Act savings. These potential impacts are discussed in further detail at www.washoecounty.us/repository/files/1/Impact_of_Gov_Proposed_Budget.pdf.
Directed staff to continue efforts to form a Citizens’ Blue Ribbon Committee on Regional Fire and Emergency Response: Item 9. The BCC discussed recommendations on timelines, scope, and how to make appointments to a potential Citizens’ Blue Ribbon Task force to study possible regionalization of fire and emergency response services. The BCC expressed its concern that the issue must continue to be focused on with our regional partners, and gave staff direction to come back at a future board meeting with timelines, proposed scope of the committee’s work, and ideas on how committee members might be selected.
Received a presentation from EDAWN’s CEO: Item 7. Mike Kazmierski, President and CEO of EDAWN, presented the organization’s latest updates and goals, which included quality job attraction, significant website upgrades which are focused on external customers and the retention and expansion of current jobs. Kazmierski reported EDAWN’s web hits (www.edawn.org) are up 75 percent in the last 3 months and the organization has assisted with creating 1,600 jobs in the past year with a goal to assist in 2,000 more this year. He also said prospect visits to the area were up 85 percent in 2012. Kazmierski thanked the BCC, staff and Washoe County Manager Katy Simon, who is on the EDAWN Board, for their support and work to improve economic development in the area. EDAWN is a private/public partnership committed to recruiting and expanding quality companies that have a positive economic impact on the quality of life in the Greater Reno-Sparks-Tahoe region.
Approved an Interlocal Agreement with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO): Item 7 of the Joint Meeting of the TMFPD and the Sierra Fire Protection District at the BCC. The BCC approved an Interlocal Agreement between the WCSO, the TMFPD and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District for the provision of a helicopter or other aircraft and personnel when requested and approved reimbursement for services rendered throughout the year by the WCSO.
Approved an Exhibition Agreement for the 2013 spring exhibit at the Wilbur D. May Museum: Item 6.D. The BCC approved an agreement between Washoe County and WonderWorks Exhibits Company, Inc. for the 2013 spring exhibit at the Wilbur D. May Museum entitled “Creatures.” Since 1992, through the generous contributions of the May Foundation, the Museum has brought in traveling, interactive exhibits every spring. The exhibits are chosen for their general appeal to the community and to compliment the curriculum of the Washoe County School District’s primary grades. The spring exhibit has accounted for an average of 46.6 percent of the museum’s operating income for each of the last five years.
