Top Things to know from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners Meeting

North Valleys Sports Complex receiving more than $2M in capital improvements.

Reno, Nev. May 9, 2017. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting.

1. New baseball fields and community garden at two regional parks. Commissioners approved the lowest bid to Sierra Nevada Construction to begin construction to the North Valleys Phase V Sports Complex Addition project in the amount of $2.3M. This project will bring a new Babe Ruth Baseball Field, Multi-Purpose Flat Field, parking, landscaping, utilities and improvements to the North Valleys Regional Park.  “As the first new community facility in the area since the Splash Parks, this is a very exciting expansion for not only our entire Regional Parks and Open Space system, but for our community,” says Dave Solaro, Washoe County Director of Community Services.

In addition, Commissioners approved the lease agreement between Washoe County and the Polygrarian Institute for the use of a five-acre parcel of land to create a Community Garden at the Betsy Caughlin Donnelly Park. This Community Garden will serve as the first step to educate the community on things they can do to improve personal health through gardening. The next future step will include eventually distributing the food the garden produces to the community.

2.  Commissioners direct their special District Funds. The Board of County Commissioners have approved special district funds disbursement for Vice-Chair Berkbigler in the amount of $17,700 for funds requested to benefit the following grants: University of Nevada, Reno for the Griffin/Santini Endowment Fund, Duncan Traner Library, Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Kids’ Fire Camp Program and Friends of the Washoe County Library Summer Reading Program 2017.

Special District Funds from Commissioner Hartung were also approved for disbursement in the amount of $8,500 to benefit the following grants: Yes! Youth Programs/Adylenn Trimble Projects, the Children’s Cabinet, Kids Kottage, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, American Cancer Society, Renown Health Foundation, Friends of the Washoe County Library, Washoe County School District – Spanish Springs Elementary and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Kids’ Fire Camp Program.

Special District funds from Chair Lucey were also approved in the amount of $20,000 to benefit the following grants: South Valleys Library, Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space at the South Valleys Park, The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation for the Senior Walking Program and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District to sponsor the Kids Fire Camp. Commissioner Jung commented on how these funds will impact the community, “The disbursement of these funds clearly illustrates where the heart and passions of our Commissioners lie and what they are committed to supporting.”

3. Committee and Commission Appointments. Commissioners approved the following appointments: Mr. Brian Bonnenfant to the Truckee River Fund Advisory Committee, approval of Mr. Michael W. Lawson to the Washoe County Planning Commission representing District 2 and Mr. Ken Krater to the Washoe County Planning Commission when convened as the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee.