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Record of Proceedings

Carson City CTA Board Meeting – March 9, 2026

Board of Supervisors — Monday, March 9, 2026
BodyCarson City, Nevada
SessionBoard of Supervisors
DateMonday, March 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:27:36

Original source
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1:45

Twenty twenty-six, it is four PM.

1:47

We're at uh Carson City Community Center.

1:50

Robert Bob Kroll Boardroom.

1:53

Can I get a roll call?

1:57

Andrew Reno.

1:58

Here.

1:59

Garrett LePier.

2:01

Here.

2:01

Stacey Diomi.

2:03

Here.

2:04

We have a quorum.

2:06

Great.

2:07

Next, we will move on to item three.

2:10

If everyone could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:24

Under God.

2:31

Thank you.

2:33

Next, we will move on to item four and open it up to public comment.

2:41

Hearing none, we will move on to item five.

2:45

Approval of minutes from February ninth, twenty twenty six.

2:50

Does any board member have any changes that need to be made?

2:56

No, I make a motion to approve uh the board minutes from February ninth, twenty twenty-six.

3:04

All in favor, aye.

3:08

Any opposed.

3:12

Next, we will move on to the consent agenda consent agenda.

3:18

Item six and seven for possible action.

3:20

And let's see.

3:22

Yep, item six and seven.

3:24

Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda?

3:29

So moved.

3:30

Second.

3:32

All in favor.

3:34

Aye.

3:39

Any opposed.

3:42

Hearing none, we will move on to item number nine.

3:48

Possible action discussion and possible action regarding contract number CTA two six two seven-one for the design and engineering fabrication, illumination, transport, and install installation of a sixty-nine foot tall sculpture road spike in the amount of one hundred and ninety-seven thousand six hundred and eighty-seven dollars from March tenth, twenty twenty-six to December thirty-first, twenty twenty-six.

4:20

And with that, I will turn it over to David Peterson.

4:36

He is the artist that we're proposing to move forward with uh with the board's consideration for this centerpiece.

5:14

Um so this is this is the big one.

5:16

Uh we're hoping that we can have this positioned nicely on the grounds of the Nevada Railroad, uh State Railroad Museum.

5:25

Uh we have a meeting with them later this week, the leadership over there to talk about placement on the on the grounds, and our our plan B backup uh plan would be out at Mills Park.

5:36

Um so with that, if there are any questions, Seth, if you don't mind you know coming up if you want to talk a little bit about the design, your inspiration, I think that would be be great, and then uh open it up to the board uh for questions.

5:49

Sure and then um so Seth, you just have to press that and just state your name for the record.

5:53

Yep, perfect.

5:54

Uh Seth Johnson.

5:56

Landscape architect designer.

5:58

Um yeah, thank you for having me, and thank you for allowing me to present this in front of you.

6:02

Um the inspiration for the spike um for the architecture came from historic architecture from railroad structures.

6:09

Um it'll mirror that same concept um and bring that integration between the old look of trestles and heavy metal and steel into the railroad spike.

6:19

Um, and I think that the intended location is a great location for it.

6:24

Um, and as well as just the material selection will be very weatherproof for a long time into the future.

6:31

Um, and the engineering um both of the structure and the footing will be a great integration into whichever site we decide uh choose.

6:43

Thank you, Seth.

6:44

Um, I'll turn it back over to the chair.

6:48

Um question if there are any questions from the board yet.

6:52

Do we have any questions for Seth?

6:54

Questions or comments.

6:58

Uh yeah, I do.

7:00

I just uh David, could you cover the funding sources uh for this, please?

7:07

Of course, uh Stacy, thank you for the question.

7:10

So right now the plan is to utilize the EDA grant that we received through Travel Nevada, uh plus or minus 150,000 of this 197,000 and change, and then we will use TOT, so transient occupancy tax from the dedicated 1% arts and culture funding under Eric's program uh for the difference.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████29%
Art And Culture███████████████████████23%
Procedural███████████████15%
Marketing and Communications███████████████15%
Tourism█████5%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Real Estate Acquisition██2%
Public Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Carson City CTA Board Meeting – March 9, 2026

The meeting of the Carson City Cultural Tourism Authority (CTA) Board took place on March 9, 2026, at 4:00 PM in the Robert Bob Kroll Boardroom at the Carson City Community Center. Board members present: Andrew Reno (Chair), Garrett LePier, and Stacey Diomi. A quorum was established. The meeting covered approval of previous minutes, a consent agenda, a major discussion on a railroad spike sculpture contract, an update on the Dust and Wonder Trail, and various staff reports.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (February 9, 2026): Motion by Garrett LePier, seconded, unanimously approved.
  • Consent Agenda (Items 6 and 7): Motion by board member, seconded, unanimously approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the designated periods (opening and closing).

Discussion Items

  • Item 9: Contract for 69-Foot Railroad Spike Sculpture (Driven)

    • David Peterson (Executive Director) introduced the contract with Seth Johnson (landscape architect/designer) for design, engineering, fabrication, illumination, transport, and installation of a 69-foot tall railroad spike sculpture at a cost of $197,687, with a contract period from March 10, 2026, to December 31, 2026. Funding sources: approximately $150,000 from an EDA grant through Travel Nevada, with the remainder from the 1% transient occupancy tax (TOT) for arts and culture. The primary intended location is the Nevada State Railroad Museum, with a backup at Mills Park. A meeting with museum staff was scheduled for later that week.
    • Seth Johnson presented the design inspiration, noting it mirrors historic railroad trestle architecture and will be weatherproof.
    • Board Concerns: Chair Garrett LePier expressed strong support for the project but had “heartburn” about approving the expenditure without a confirmed final location. He noted the difficulty of storing a 70-foot sculpture if neither location worked. David Peterson and Eric Brooks (Arts & Culture Manager) explained that the railroad museum has been in discussions for over a year and is agreeable, but the EDA grant’s eligibility rules had shifted, requiring a temporary loan arrangement. They assured that options exist for laying the sculpture on its side initially if needed. Stacey Diomi proposed either approving the contract with a holdback of the final $37,687 payment until a location agreement is secured, or tabling the item until April to obtain a written commitment from the state.
    • Outcome: A motion to table the item until the April 13, 2026, meeting was made by Garrett LePier and seconded by Stacey Diomi. The motion passed unanimously (2-0, with Andrew Reno also voting aye). The board directed staff to secure a written agreement (formal or informal) from the Nevada State Railroad Museum or other entity confirming placement of the sculpture.

  • Item 10: Dust and Wonder Trail Presentation

    • Krista Danail, Executive Director of the Dust and Wonder Trail, presented an update on the regional collaboration (Carson City, Carson Valley, Virginia City) to connect arts, history, and culture. The nonprofit was established in 2025, and a 10-year destination plan guides the work. A new logo and branding are being developed by Estepona Group, with a digital platform (in-web app) launching around the end of May 2026. The platform will include AI-powered itineraries, a membership model (fees from $0 to $10,000), and a map of the “spike trail” (31 sculptures across the region). Fundraising is underway, with unveiling events planned for summer/fall 2026. The board expressed strong support, with Garrett LePier noting the potential to draw visitors from Virginia City to Carson Valley.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 9 (Sculpture Contract): Tabled to the April 13, 2026, meeting. Staff to obtain written confirmation of placement location from the Nevada State Railroad Museum or equivalent.
  • Item 10 (Dust and Wonder Trail): No action required; presentation received for information.
  • Reports:
    • Executive Director Update: Lodging board position recruitment closes March 12, 2026. V&T Railway 2026 season tickets go on sale March 10, 2026, with new weekend offerings (e.g., Father’s Day trains on Saturday and Sunday).
    • TOT Forecast: December 2025 set an all-time record (up 5.6% year-over-year). Fiscal year-to-date tracking at just under $29.7 million, down $957,000 from budget but up 0.5% from prior year. Staff will model impacts of new Home2 Suites property before adjusting forecasts.
    • Events & Sales: New events include TCG Con (trading card convention) at the Multi-Purpose Athletic Center, expected 500–1,000 spectators. Go West Summit pre-fam tour on March 29, 2026, with 9 participants (down from 18 due to geopolitical issues) visiting Governor’s Mansion, Stewart Indian School, and Nevada State Prison. April tournaments: Comstock Shootout (19 teams, 400 players), California Youth Trap Tournament (130–150 participants), and Tasmanian Boxing Club event.
    • Arts & Culture Update: New gallery shows: Brittany Sundheim at BAC satellite gallery, Great Basin Native Artist Collective (10th anniversary) at Nevada State Museum, and basketry exhibition at Stewart Indian School. Eric Brooks attended Travel Nevada Media Mission in Atlanta, promoting Dust and Wonder Trail. Sculpture progress: Jeff Schaumberg fabricating 9 interpretive spikes (late May/June installation), Seth Johnson creating 3 twelve-foot spikes and the 69-foot spike. Burning Man honorarium not received, but planning continues.
    • Marketing & PR Update: Digital growth metrics for February showed slight declines due to reduced paid media spend but strong year-over-year trends. Wins: feature on History Channel website (Nevada Day), Convention Southwest magazine (Nevada State Prison), and Reno Gazette Journal (Presidents Day destinations). Presentation on travel marketing trends highlighted AI integration (generative engine optimization), focus on authenticity, and use of influencer content for ads. Board discussed the importance of maintaining authentic representation.
  • Next Meeting: April 13, 2026, at 4:00 PM in the same location.
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at approximately 5:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Twenty twenty-six, it is four PM. We're at uh Carson City Community Center. Robert Bob Kroll Boardroom. Can I get a roll call? Andrew Reno. Here. Garrett LePier. Here. Stacey Diomi. Here. We have a quorum. Great. Next, we will move on to item three. If everyone could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Under God. Thank you. Next, we will move on to item four and open it up to public comment. Hearing none, we will move on to item five. Approval of minutes from February ninth, twenty twenty six. Does any board member have any changes that need to be made? No, I make a motion to approve uh the board minutes from February ninth, twenty twenty-six. All in favor, aye. Any opposed. Next, we will move on to the consent agenda consent agenda. Item six and seven for possible action. And let's see. Yep, item six and seven. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? So moved. Second. All in favor. Aye. Any opposed. Hearing none, we will move on to item number nine. Possible action discussion and possible action regarding contract number CTA two six two seven-one for the design and engineering fabrication, illumination, transport, and install installation of a sixty-nine foot tall sculpture road spike in the amount of one hundred and ninety-seven thousand six hundred and eighty-seven dollars from March tenth, twenty twenty-six to December thirty-first, twenty twenty-six. And with that, I will turn it over to David Peterson. He is the artist that we're proposing to move forward with uh with the board's consideration for this centerpiece. Um so this is this is the big one. Uh we're hoping that we can have this positioned nicely on the grounds of the Nevada Railroad, uh State Railroad Museum. Uh we have a meeting with them later this week, the leadership over there to talk about placement on the on the grounds, and our our plan B backup uh plan would be out at Mills Park. Um so with that, if there are any questions, Seth, if you don't mind you know coming up if you want to talk a little bit about the design, your inspiration, I think that would be be great, and then uh open it up to the board uh for questions. Sure and then um so Seth, you just have to press that and just state your name for the record. Yep, perfect. Uh Seth Johnson. Landscape architect designer. Um yeah, thank you for having me, and thank you for allowing me to present this in front of you. Um the inspiration for the spike um for the architecture came from historic architecture from railroad structures. Um it'll mirror that same concept um and bring that integration between the old look of trestles and heavy metal and steel into the railroad spike. Um, and I think that the intended location is a great location for it. Um, and as well as just the material selection will be very weatherproof for a long time into the future.

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