Top five headlines from the Board of County Commissioners meeting

Commissioners support education, the arts, and an agreement for the Lake Tahoe Bike Path Project

Reno, Nev. June 25, 2019. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting:

1. Washoe County continues commitment to support education & the arts in our community. Commissioners approved an $8,500 grant to the Education Alliance of Washoe County which will support the Inspiring Students with Educational Enrichment program (ISEE). Funding will be used to develop an ISEE website portal for educators about site-based and off-site experiential learning opportunities and provide transportation for ten schools, so students can participate in off-site learning. The ISEE program allows students to learn and explore opportunities throughout the community and to discover career pathways.

Commissioners also approved a $6,000 grant to Sierra Arts Foundation which will support the Art Belongs Here project. This project will lead the creation of a mural on the north side of the Washoe County parking garage at 220 N. Center Street, as well as host educational workshops to strengthen Washoe County’s arts and culture sector.

Washoe County has made Community Support funds available to local community-based providers to support services that address diverse health and human service needs in the community, or contribute to economic development and quality of life issues.

2. Commissioners extend agreement for Phase 4 of Lake Tahoe Bike Path Project. The Lake Tahoe Bike Path Project is currently under construction, implemented by the Tahoe Transportation District, and when complete, the Lake Tahoe Bike Path Project will consist of a paved shared path from Crystal Bay to Stateline, Nevada along the Nevada State Route 28 corridor and Highway 50.

The original agreement for the Lake Tahoe Bike Path Project between Washoe County and the Tahoe Transportation District was effective March 24, 2015 through June 30, 2019. While the majority of the project is complete, Commissioners approved a one-year extension to the agreement to allow for the construction of overflow parking, road improvements to Nevada State Route 28, and additional signage.

“This Friday's ribbon cutting to celebrate this shared use path is really exciting,” said Commissioner Berkbigler. “This path around Lake Tahoe is going to be beautiful and I can’t wait to walk it.”

3. Commissioners approve collective bargaining agreement for Washoe County Nurses’ Association. Commissioners approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement for the Washoe County Nurses’ Association, or WCNA. The agreement includes a base wage increase of 3% for the first year effective July 1, 2019, and a 2.5% increase the second and third years.

Washoe County complies with our statutory mandate to engage in collective bargaining for employees pursuant to NRS Chapter 288.

4. Commissioners appoint Acting Director of Community Services Department. Commissioners approved the appointment of Eric Crump, as acting Community Services Director, following the appointment of David Solaro as Interim Washoe County Manager.

While a national recruitment is currently underway for a new Washoe County Manager, Commissioners appointed Dave Solaro, who oversees the Community Services Department, as Interim County Manager.

5. County Commissioners approve appointments to Boards and Commissions. The Board of County Commissioners approved the following appointment and re-appointments:

• Appointment of Kathryn S. Nelson, to the Washoe County Planning Commission representing Commission District 2 for a term beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2023.
• Appointment of Amy Ghilieri, to the Washoe County Library Board of Trustees, with a term effective July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2023.
• Re-appointment of Zanny Marsh, to the Washoe County Library Board of Trustees, with a term effective July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2023.
• Re-appointment of Duane Meyer, Dondi Armstrong and Cynthia Vance as Trustees on the Washoe County Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund Board of Trustees for two-year terms ending July 24, 2021.
• Re-appointment of Stephanie Chen and Doug Doolittle, to the Open Space and Regional Parks Commission for a second term on the Commission for terms beginning on June 21, 2019 for Stephanie Chen and July 1, 2019 for Doug Doolittle, and ending on June 30, 2023, or until such time as a successor is appointed.

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