Top 5 things you need to know about the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Board approves agreement for free pet assistance programs to help seniors care for their pets.

Reno, Nevada. Sept. 22, 2015. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Videos of County Commission meetings are replayed regularly on WCTV (Charter Ch. 193). You may also watch videos-on-demand online.

1. Debris removal by Nevada Dept. of Transportation (NDOT). Trash removal along state roads by NDOT crews is a daily task said Thor Dyson, NDOT District Engineer, during a presentation to the Board requested by Commissioner Kitty Jung (District -3).

“Trash isn’t all NDOT picks up, specialty crews are constantly working on vegetation and debris removal to beautify our state highways,” Dyson continued, “Countless hours are also spent on debris removal from homeless camps throughout the community.”

Dyson said from March 2014 to March 2015, NDOT spent 9,361 hours of labor picking up 3,227 cubic yards of debris. Once the trash is removed, NDOT takes it to a debris area where it is then transferred to the dump.

Aside from making sure Nevada’s highways are clean, NDOT performs maintenance by doing the following:

• Crack sealing roads
• Shoulder maintenance
• Slope and erosion maintenance
• Pavement preservation
• Culvert and drain facility maintenance

2. Approve low cost vaccination program and free pet assistance for senior’s program by Washoe County Regional Animal Services. The Board approved Washoe County Regional Animal Services' (WCRAS) low cost pet vaccination and free pet assistance for senior’s program. The low cost pet vaccination program was created to assist residents with the cost of pet care ensuring the pet population receives preventive vaccinations. The revenues from this program will be directed to the free pet vaccination services for our senior population.

WCRAS has collaborated with Senior Services to identify the homebound and fixed income senior population that are in need of supportive assistance with their pets. Through the free pet assistance for seniors program and the partnership with Senior Services, WCRAS aims to identify the senior population’s needs for pet food, vaccinations, microchips and medical assistance for their pets and develop resources to meet those needs.

WCRAS is also in the process of creating a pet assistance program for homebound seniors.  The homebound senior pet assistance program will target approximately 1,050 homebound and socially isolated seniors, currently served by Senior Services and who have limited access to pet care services. The program will provide a veterinarian from the community and a WCRAS staff member to conduct home visits and provide resources such as basic pet medical care for the homebound senior’s pets.

3. Board awards a bid for an agreement for the North Valleys Regional Park Playground Rehabilitation Project. The Board awarded a bid for $209,995 to Garden Shop Nursery, Landscape Division to revamp North Valleys Regional Park.

The North Valleys Regional Park Playground Rehabilitation Project will include new rubberized surfacing at the playground and relocation of the playground equipment to meet safety standards.

The regional park was built in 1983 and boasts 160 acres of open space. North Valley Park features a large community center, six soccer fields, two volleyball courts, a children’s playground, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a skateboard park.

4. Board approves agreement for the Sun Valley West Second Avenue Sidewalk Project. The Board awarded a $396,444 bid to Spanish Spring Construction for the Sun Valley West Second Avenue Sidewalk Project. A storm drain system, sidewalk, and pedestrian ramp will be built. The sidewalk and drainage facilities will be placed on the north side of West Second Ave. The plan also includes a sidewalk from Lois Allen Elementary School to Sun Valley Blvd.

This is the latest in several pedestrian safety projects in Sun Valley.

Money for the project is paid for through the Community Development Block Grant through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Transportation Alternative Program.

5. First reading and public hearing regarding billboard and sign code regulations. The Board is scheduled to hold an introduction and first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 110, regarding billboard and sign regulations at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015.

The second reading is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 13, 2015.

Photos from today’s Board of County Commissioners meeting are available online.

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