Carson City Board of Supervisors Meeting – April 16, 2026

The Carson City Board of Supervisors convened on April 16, 2026, at 4:15 PM (per official schedule) for a regular meeting to discuss the FY2027 tentative budget, capital improvement plan, contract renewals, appointments, and proclamations. The meeting began with an invocation and pledge of allegiance, followed by public comment. After approving the consent agenda (with one item pulled), the board held detailed discussions on the Flock camera renewal, budget supplementals, and the capital plan, culminating in several unanimous votes and one 4-1 split on the redevelopment budget.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the March 19, 2026 meeting unanimously.
• Approved the consent agenda (items 8A, 9A, 9B, 10A, 11B, 11C, 12A, 12B) as presented, with the exception of item 11A, which was pulled for discussion. Unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Homas Sayyar (Deputy Director, Nevada Department of Indigent Defense Services) urged funding for electronic case management and e-filing, stating that the lack of e-filing in the First Judicial District deters attorneys and delays representation for indigent defendants.
• William Higson (Carson City resident) opposed renewing the Flock camera contract, citing no independent studies on crime reduction, documented mission creep, loss of local control, and that over 30 cities (including Austin, Denver, and Boston) have ended such contracts.
• Denny French (resident) expressed concerns about tree loss from neglect, urged an arborist position, and raised privacy and cost concerns about Flock cameras. He also suggested that cold-weather shelter be based on temperature, not fixed dates.
• Kelsey Penrose (WNC professor) announced the launch of the nonprofit Hollow Mountain Workshops, offering summer academic enrichment for children ages 2–18, including scholarships and free behind-the-scenes tours at City Hall and the sheriff’s office.
• Jeremy Russell (resident) alleged that the U.S. Postal Service is stealing delivery fees from apartment renters by requiring them to pick up packages at the post office instead of delivering to their doors.
• Lucia Maloney (resident) criticized Flock cameras as “Gestapo-style surveillance,” stating that she cannot leave her house without being recorded and that the sheriff’s office has 265 photos of her vehicle from the last 30 days.
• Additional public comment on Arbor Day, budget priorities, and open space management.

Discussion Items

• Flock Camera Contract Renewal (Item 11A): Sheriff Furlong and Sergeant Bentley presented safeguards: searches require a case number, law enforcement purpose, and an underlying crime; annual audits; no facial recognition. The sheriff noted that camera data has been critical in solving homicides and that the city controls data dissemination. The board discussed privacy concerns, the dual audit process (internal and federal), and potential state legislation. Public comment raised transparency and mission creep issues. A motion to approve the two-year renewal ($122,500/year, $245,000 total) passed unanimously.
• Open Space Advisory Committee Appointment (Item 14A): Three candidates (Blake Anderson, Brenda Hunt, Bryce Collins) were interviewed. Anderson was appointed unanimously for a partial term expiring January 2028, cited for his business background, commitment to family access, and enthusiasm.
• FY 2027 Tentative Budget & Supplemental Requests (Item 16A): CFO Sherry Russell-Benaboo presented a 3.4% revenue increase and 2.8% expenditure increase. Key points: general fund salary and benefits at 78.2%; capital funding projected to drop to $7 million; five-year outlook shows reserves declining to 8.3% by 2030. The board discussed capital priorities (roads, landfill, fleet, buildings) and supplemental requests. Notably:
  • CCSO Records Clerk (part-time): Tied to fee revenue – board agreed to fund if revenue is sufficient, requiring a revenue analysis before final budget.
  • Alternative Sentencing Temporary Staffing ($10,000): Approved to cover shortfall for part-time hourly employees.
  • Animal Services Increase: Approved as a placeholder, pending contract amendments and an in-house cost analysis; the board indicated it would not fund without a revised contract.
  • Library Building Maintenance Worker: Adjusted from full-time to part-time. The motion to approve the tentative budget with those conditions passed unanimously.
• Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 2027-2031 (Item 16B): Approved with amendments: street funding increased to $3.1 million (from $2.5 million) using project savings; $200,000 for Title 18 code updates moved to the Board of Supervisors under special counsel; $125,000 added in future years for ongoing code revision. Unanimous.
• Ad Valorem Tax Resolution (Item 16C): Resolution 2026-R-9 approved unanimously.
• Redevelopment Authority Tentative Budget (Item 24): Approved 4-1, with Member White voting no, citing opposition to continued public subsidies for city hall development. The budget focuses capital on the courthouse and new city hall.

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • Consent agenda (minus 11A): Unanimous.
  • Flock camera renewal (11A): Unanimous.
  • Blake Anderson appointed to Open Space Advisory Committee: Unanimous.
  • FY2027 tentative budget with supplemental conditions: Unanimous.
  • CIP with amendments: Unanimous.
  • Ad valorem tax resolution: Unanimous.
  • Redevelopment budget: 4-1 (White dissenting).
• Directives: Staff to return with revenue analysis for CCSO records clerk; bring revised animal services contract and in-house cost analysis; incorporate approved CIP and budget changes into final adoption set for May 21, 2026.
• Proclamations: Arbor Day (April 24), Nevada Dark Sky Week (April 13-20), National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (April 12-18), National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) honoring CERT (4,700 volunteer hours in 2025), and Employee of the Quarter (Danielle Garrett).
• Service Awards: Five-year awards to Jessica Melner and Alexander Alcantar; ten-year award to Deputy City Manager Stephanie Hicks.