Top headlines from today’s Board of County Commissioners meeting

Commissioners approve additional funding to help homeless in our community

Reno, Nev. Dec. 17, 2019. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting:

1. Commissioners approve additional funding for Our Place. Commissioners have approved a funding request increase to the construction budget from Community Services Department (CSD) and the Human Services Agency (HSA) for Our Place Homeless Housing Project, in the amount of $2,735,000. Our Place is where Washoe County will relocate the homeless women, maternity and families from the downtown shelter.

Due to increased construction costs and additional project needs, which requires an increase of $2,735,000 to complete, it will bring the project construction budget to $13,735,000 which includes design, permitting, and construction costs. Additional funding for the project will come from various resources, including existing HSA budget authority, HSA grants, and project deferrals from the Capital Improvement Fund.

“I’m so glad we’ve changed the name from NNAMHS to Our Place, it’s a great new name for this project,” said Commissioner Marsha Berkbigler. “This project is going to help a lot of people and I totally support this increase.”

The separation of the populations at Our Place will provide the ability for targeted case management and additional supportive services to help those populations work toward employment and housing sustainability.  There will also be an Early Learning Center on the campus, which will provide a daycare option to the families residing there.

“This truly is a national model,” remarked Vice-Chair Bob Lucey. “This is another $2.75 million that Washoe County has invested into the homeless and indigent people, as well as the rehabilitation of individuals throughout our region, bringing our investment to $20 million to help our homeless population. This project is going to make a difference in our community.”

2. Board approves settlement of Lakes at Lemmon Valley proposed development. In November 2018, the Board of Commissioners denied an application for the Lakes at Lemmon Valley, LLC (Lakes), a proposed 98-lot single family residential subdivision along the eastern edge of Lemmon Drive just south of its intersection with Military Rd.

The Board of County Commissioners decision was later reversed by a court decision which led to numerous court proceedings, resulting in the case being assigned to the Nevada Supreme Court’s Settlement Program. A settlement conference was held at the Nevada Supreme Court in Carson City on November 13, 2019. A successful  tentative settlement was reached and the Board approved the settlement agreement today.  In the settlement, the Lakes project will be allowed to proceed with additional conditions related to receiving approval for ingress and egress from the Regional Transportation Commission. The settlement will also have the Lakes waive all claims for damages arising out of or related to the litigation. Additionally the developer is prohibited from selling units in the subdivision prior to December 1, 2021.

3. Commissioners direct Special District Funds. The Board of County Commissioners has approved special district funds disbursement for Chair Vaughn Hartung in the amount of $2,500 to support the Friends of Washoe County Library to support the Spanish Springs Library in the creation of a community mapping station complete with an interactive, topographic map of the Spanish Springs area in the library Atrium.

4. The Board of County Commissioners proclaim January 2020 as National Radon Action Month. The proclamation encourages homeowners to test their property for radon, which is an odorless, colorless radioactive gas. Radon kills more people every year than secondhand smoke, drunk driving and home fires, combined. Testing your home is the only way to detect elevated levels of radon. 

5. Verdi Historic Preservation Society receives Resolution of Intent to Convey Verdi Historic Schoolhouse and Verdi Volunteer Fire property. Commissioners approved to adopt a Resolution of Intent to Convey, provide public notice, and establish a public hearing to convey Verdi Historic Schoolhouse and Verdi Volunteer Fire property to the Verdi Historic Preservation Society in the amount of $2.00, to utilize the property for civic and community functions.

6. Board of County Commissioners accepted the following donations:

• Donation to the Our Place Homeless Housing Project in the amount of $360,000 from the State of Nevada through the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) to be used for furniture, fixtures, and equipment costs for the completion of Our Place.
• Donations to Washoe County Regional Parks & Open Space of $35,366 in cash and in-kind donations totaling $91,946 to be used for Regional Parks and Open Space programs and facilities from various businesses, organizations and individuals.
• Donations to the Washoe County Law Library in the amount of $5,000 from the State Bar of Nevada.
• Donations to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $670 from Renovation Mental Health, Liberty Dental, Women and Children’s Center of the Sierra, Access to Healthcare Network, Career College of Northern Nevada, Truckee Meadows Community College, Silver Summit, Bristlecone, Crossroads, Kiwanis Reno Sunrisers, and Reno Axe/Dark Pursuit that were used in a raffle during the Community Resource Fair.
• Donations to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in the form of books valued at $1,873 from Echelon Front to be used as learning materials for inmates who will be housed in the Washoe County Sheriff Office Veterans’ Barracks.
• Donations to the Washoe County Human Services Agency in the form of various items donated, valued at $12,534, and accept cash donations in the amount of $5,046 to Washoe County Human Services Agency to support child welfare activities.
• Donations to the Washoe County Human Services Agency for cash donations in the amount of $863 to Senior Services to support operations of the Washoe County Senior Centers.

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