Washoe County Board of Commissioners request the withdrawal of regional planning bill

Commissioners committed to collaborative process for regional plan update.

Reno, Nevada. April 11, 2017.  The Board of Commissioners requested the withdrawal of Washoe County’s regional planning bill, Assembly Bill 39, which addressed the structure of the Governing Board for the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency.  

In August of 2016, Washoe County submitted the bill draft request asking for legislative changes in AB 39 as a way to update regional planning, noting that the Truckee Meadows and its planning needs have changed enormously in the past 30 years; specifically Washoe County was seeking fair and equitable representation in regional planning.

Commissioner Vaughn Hartung said, “I am encouraged with the recent discussions and looking forward to a resolution that is approved by all our regional partners, establishing the roles and responsibilities of the County Manager and City Managers in support of the Director of Truckee Meadows Regional Planning and the operations of the regional planning agency. I know Washoe County is committed to a collaborative process on the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan update, and we are looking forward to a consensus process that fairly and equitably considers the priorities, concerns, and needs of the entire region.” 

Hartung added that there are other priorities the County, and its regional partners need to focus on that are beyond the purview of the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan including:  the homeless shelter, consolidated dispatch, forensic laboratory services, the health of our downtowns, the Truckee River Corridor, and the Washoe County Lands Bill. 

Commissioner Chair Bob Lucey agreed and said, “For these reasons, Washoe County is committed to moving beyond the attempted changes with AB 39 and addressing greater issues facing the region at this time.” 

Recognition on the passing of former Washoe County Commissioner Ted Short

The Board of County Commissioners recognized the passing of former Washoe County Commissioner Ted F. Short, who died April 10, 2017, with a moment of silence. Short was sworn into his elected position as Commissioner on January 4, 1999, serving from 1999-2003.

During his time as a Washoe County Commissioner, Short served as both Chair and Vice Chair and on numerous committees and boards including the Regional Transportation Commission, Regional Planning Governing Board and the Organizational Effectiveness Committee proudly representing District 2. He was also a Trustee for the Railroad Commission of Northern Nevada and very active with the V&T Railroad.

A Reno native and passionate about preserving Washoe County’s open space for future generations, Short was also active in Protect Our Washoe, a group dedicated to the preservation of natural open space. 

Commission Chair Bob Lucey reflected on the former Commissioner, saying Short was instrumental in the planning of District 2 and played a pivotal role in the planning of Damonte Ranch High School. “Commissioner Short could see the big picture and sometimes you have to take a hard stance on the big issues. Now 17 years later, we are standing in the wonderful Damonte Ranch master-planned community, largely due to Commissioner Short’s foresight” remarked Lucey.  “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Commissioner Short served as a strong advocate for District 2 and Washoe County as a whole. He stood for what it meant to be a Nevadan and member of our community.”