Nevada V&T Railway Commission Meeting - May 27, 2026

The Nevada Commission for the Construct Reconstruction of the V&T Railway met on May 27, 2026, at 9:03 AM. The meeting was called to order by Chair Mitchell with a quorum present (Mitchell, Peterson, Cruz, Hicks). All votes were unanimous. The commission approved routine financial items, adopted the final budget for FY2027, authorized multiple art installations at the Eastgate Depot, launched two RFPs for Polar Express services, and received operational and marketing updates.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the April 15, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.
• Payable Checks (March 2026): A list of checks paid March 1–31, 2026 was approved. A commissioner inquired about a check to Wood Rogers for ongoing slope work; staff confirmed the project is not yet complete.
• Budget Reports (FY2025-26): The adjusted budget reports for the period ending March 26, 2026 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were offered during either the opening or closing public comment periods.

Discussion Items

Final Budget for FY2027

Sherry Bailey presented the final budget, noting three adjustments from the tentative version: a $5,500 increase for security (to align with actual spending), a $10,000 increase for building maintenance at the Eastgate Depot, and a carryover of capital outlay for a van (not purchased by June 30). These brought the budget to a negative $75,800, which is covered by capital funds. The budget was approved unanimously.

Art at Eastgate Depot (Three Components)

Eric Brooks (Visit Carson City Arts & Culture Program Manager and President of the Dust and Wonder Trail) presented three proposals:

1. 12-Foot Interpretive Railroad Spike: Part of a larger Dust and Wonder Trail project, with similar spikes planned for Virginia City and Minden. The spike would be placed at Eastgate Depot, with installation costs of $300–$500 for the foundation. The spike is already fabricated and would be installed around August 2026. Commissioners expressed strong support, noting the tourism and educational value.

2. Murals for the Fourth Annual Carson City Murals & Music Festival (Sept. 14–19, 2026): A three-wall mural by artist Joe C. Rock, designed to surround the spike. The commission would spend up to $1,000, with a cash match from Visit Carson City. The mural would wrap around multiple walls of the depot shed.

3. Additional Mural (South-Facing Wall of Depot): A second mural opportunity arose from unspent America 250 grant funds ($7,000). This mural would be grant-funded with no cost to the commission and must be completed by June 30, 2026. The commission agreed to proceed with all three elements.

The commission voted unanimously to: (a) approve placement of the 12-foot spike, (b) authorize expenditure up to $1,000 for the festival mural (multiple walls), (c) authorize a second mural on the south-facing wall at no cost to the commission, and (d) designate Chair Mitchell and Vice Chair Peterson as liaisons to finalize details with the artist and grant.

RFP for Polar Express Decorating Services

Sherry Bailey proposed issuing an RFP for decorating the Eastgate Depot for Polar Express (inside and outside) for a four-year term (through the 2029 season). Annual budget: $10,000–$12,000. The contract would run from August 1, 2026 to January 2030. The RFP was approved, and Commissioners Stephanie Hicks and David Peterson were designated to review responses and provide a recommendation at the July commission meeting.

RFP for Photos with Santa Services

A second RFP was approved for a vendor to provide Santa and photography services for Polar Express. The vendor would receive a 35% revenue share of gross sales and be restricted to serving only Polar Express ticket holders (no walk-in public). The contract matches the decorating RFP term. Commissioners Leah Cruz and Stephanie Hicks were designated to review proposals and report back in July.

Non-Action Reports

• Track Maintenance (Chris Fredder, Battleborne Rail): Retaining walls completed, signage replaced, ditches to begin. Winter was lighter, easing maintenance.
• Operations & Train Report (Tom Gray, V&T Railroad; Candy Duncan, Virginia & Truckee Railroad):
  • Tom Gray reported the 18 locomotive running well with new crews, but noted flange wear and plans to grease tracks. Rail bike testing was successful; a new orange, two-person prototype from Monterey was tested and well-received. Future infrastructure needs include walking surfaces, barricades, hydraulic turntables, and shipping container storage—possibly requiring a separate agreement from train operations. Capital improvements may need prioritization.
  • Candy Duncan reported that the Polar Express program won the “Best Onboard Experience” award for 2025. She mentioned evaluating a new ticketing system (Horizon/eTix) for seat assignment. Ridership for Mother’s Day and steam weekends was strong, but later weekends were lagging; she urged increased marketing.
• Marketing Report (Melissa): Spring outdoor billboards delivered 2.6 million impressions (two flights). TV and radio campaigns are ongoing; digital search had a 16.71% click-through rate with 618 clicks; retargeting delivered over 12,000 impressions. A joint marketing coordination meeting is planned.
• Executive Assistant Update (Sherry Bailey): Media invite day for Mother’s Day resulted in 10 media attendees and a positive article. Rack cards are now available. Father’s Day (June 20–21) and “Toast of the Canyon” in July are upcoming. A last-minute SOS to Lumont Media before Mother’s Day significantly boosted ticket sales, filling the train to within 12 seats.
• Commissioner Comments: None.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approvals: Minutes (April 15), payable checks (March 2026), budget reports (FY2025-26), final budget FY2027.
• Authorized art at Eastgate Depot: 12-foot railroad spike (placement, foundation cost $300–$500), festival mural (up to $1,000), and a grant-funded south wall mural (no cost). Liaisons: Chair Mitchell and Vice Chair Peterson.
• Approved RFPs: For Polar Express decorating (4-year term, $10k–$12k/year) and Photos with Santa (revenue share 35%, ticket-holders only). Review committees: Stephanies Hicks & David Peterson (decorating); Stephanie Hicks & Leah Cruz (Santa photos).
• Direction to staff: Publish both RFPs and bring recommendations to July meeting.
• Next meeting: June 24, 2026 at 9:00 AM (tentative).
• Meeting adjourned: 10:42 AM.