Top headlines from the Board of County Commissioners meeting

Commissioners approve fireworks permit for Red, White and Tahoe Blue

Reno, Nev. June 26, 2018. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting:

1.  Red, White and Tahoe Blue 2018 Outdoor Festival Application. Commissioners gave Washoe County Manager John Slaughter the authority to sign-off on a business license for a fireworks show at Incline Village hosted by Red, White and Tahoe Blue. The approval is contingent upon all required permits and contracts to be submitted to Washoe County, including required permits from the U.S. Coast Guard and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.

The annual event will be held in Incline Village Wednesday, July 4, at Incline Beach in North Lake Tahoe. Organizers were unable to meet the 103 conditions required to be complete for issuance of a license by June 11 for the four day festival. The applicant appealed for a reduced component of the original application that limited the appeal to the fireworks show. The legacy annual event in Incline Village typically begins several days before the 4^th of July holiday, and includes multiple activities.

Chair Marsha Berkbigler said, “I just want to say that I appreciate all the staff time that has been put in to getting this amended approval through for the firework display.  You should know that we permit many, many events.  I don’t think that our staff has spent as much time on the Air Races or Balloon Races, as they have working on the amended permits for this event.  I can tell you that next year, this event will not take place unless you start working on planning for next summer’s event beginning July 5^th.” 

Beginning June 29, traffic control measures will be in place in Incline Village to support the large crowds expected for the holiday.

2.  Commissioners approve medical service contract for jail inmates. Commissioners approved NaphCare, Inc. as the Washoe Health Services provider for inmate medical services at the Washoe County Regional Detention Facility.  

Commissioners heard a presentation regarding the extensive proposal process, which includes additional mental health services and organizational changes. Other improvements include:

• Enhanced communication Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) staff will meet with NaphCare on a weekly basis.
• Enhanced training WCSO has enhanced the training and briefing of detention personnel as it relates to mental health issues, opioid abuse and other current trends, joint training and de-briefing with NaphCare personnel and deputies. 
• Modified discharge schedules WCSO works closely with NaphCare‘s discharge nurse to ensure inmates classified with mental health needs are discharged early in the day to ensure sufficient time to be able to get other services throughout the community. 
• Increased mental health care Currently the NaphCare psychiatrist meets with over half the inmates in custody. 
• Staffing changes NaphCare has changed the Health Services Administrator, and the Medical Director since the last contract as well as changes to other staff nurses.      
• Increased minimum staffing levels Contract now includes 10 additional full-time medical staff members, adding additional mental health professionals, and psychiatry nursing coverage. 

Washoe County Manager John Slaughter recognized Captain Jeff Clark from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and Pamela Mann, the County’s Purchasing and Contracts Manager.  “Many of the changes that we are seeing and continue to see are because of their hard work.  Thanks to all of the staff who put in so much effort to get us to where we are today.”

The annual estimated budget for the inmate medical services contract is 7.05-million dollars. There were four prospective bidders for the contract which begins July 1, 2018, and goes through July 2020.

3.  Funds approved for youth programming at Jan Evans. Through a partnership with the Washoe County School District (WCSD) and the national school lunch program, youth residing at Jan Evans Detention Center are provided healthy meals that meet national school lunch standards.

Jan Evans Director Frank Cervantes says, “Not only do our residents at Wittenberg Hall receive quality education through our partnership with WCSD, but this agreement allows us to get reimbursements through this program.”

The Board also accepted a $318,000 dollar grant to fund mental health assessment and treatment; community-based programming, and group home placement for juvenile justice involved youth.

4.  Grants accepted to feed seniors and expand educational program for youth in foster care.

Commissioners accepted a $220,000 grant on behalf of the Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA) from the Walter S. Johnson Foundation to streamline and expand a successful educational program for transitional aged youth in Nevada known as Achievements Unlocked. Developed by HSA, Achievements Unlocked is a multidisciplinary model, which provides advocacy, tutoring, mentoring and case management to foster care youth. This grant will be used to improve educational outcomes among foster youth in high school.

 Numbers to Know 

• Only 50 percent of foster youth in the U.S. graduate by the age of 18.
• Since the inception of the grant, 70 percent of students (19 of 27 seniors) in the Achievements Unlocked Program graduated.
• Of the remaining eight seniors, two graduated during their 5^th year, two obtained a GED and four were still working on their diplomas.

Commissioners also accepted a $155,201 grant from the State Aging and Disability Services Division for the HSA Senior Services Division. The grant money will be used to support food costs to prepare meals for seniors at 10 senior centers and the Meals on Wheels program. HSA Senior Services provides 376,254 meals to seniors every year. Funding is based on the number of meals served to Washoe County seniors annually.

5.  Commissioners approve appointment to Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission. The Board approved the reappointment of James Barnes to the Regional Planning Commission for a three year term, beginning July 1, 2018.

6.  Board adjusts meeting calendar for July and August.  Commissioners approved the following regularly schedule meetings to be canceled in July and August 2018:  July 17, Aug. 7 and Aug. 14.

###