Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee Meeting - October 19, 2026

The Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC) met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, in the Robert 'Bob' Crowell Board Room at the Carson City Community Center. Roll call was taken and a quorum was established. The committee approved its August 17, 2026, minutes, recognized award recipients, reviewed the Moffat Open Space flood storage and water main extension proposals, and heard the Prison Hill OHV Area monitoring report. No action was taken on the Moffat project, and the meeting adjourned after a later public comment period.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The first public comment period had no speakers.
• In the later public comment period, a speaker praised Greg Berggren and OHV-area staff for quick response to vandalism and impacts, and asked staff to consider the hill's ephemeral stream features, including a pour-off with basins that hold water for months, as a resource for wildlife in the monitoring report. The speaker offered site visits.
• Denny French of Carson City thanked volunteers and Parks, Recreation and Open Space staff, and expressed hope that Prison Hill, OHV, and water-related topics would become future agenda items.

Awards Program

• Lyndsey Boyer, Open Space Manager, said the annual awards program received nine nominations and honors substantial volunteer time, financial contributions, or dedicated service. She described the class as two organizations and two individuals; the transcribed award presentations covered the Carson Water Subconservancy District, the Seahill Foundation, and Juan Guzman.
• The Carson Water Subconservancy District was recognized for staff time, technical assistance, and many document reviews supporting the Carson River Master Plan amendment. Reed Cousins and Brenda Hunt accepted and thanked Carson City for the partnership.
• The Seahill Foundation was recognized for restoring the iconic flag on Seahill. Lucia Maloney accepted, thanking more than 250 volunteers and reporting over 2,500 volunteer hours.
• Juan Guzman, Carson City's original Open Space Manager, was honored as 'the father of open space.' Guzman described starting in 2001, the citizen-approved open space tax, acquiring thousands of acres, and said 'we never have enough' open space.

Discussion Items

• Moffat Open Space flood storage and water main extension: Darren Anderson, City Engineer, explained that a developer building in the floodplain must offset floodplain fill. The proposal would create flood storage and restoration areas at Moffat Open Space, with decomposed granite paths, benches, and signage. The agenda listed this as a possible action item, but no motion was made. Flood mitigation work was expected to start mid-November to early December 2026 and last about two to three weeks; it is designed for 10- or 25-year storm events, while a 100-year event would inundate most of the Moffat property. The developer must complete the mitigation before placing fill on the apartment site.
• The related water transmission main would extend service to east Carson City, tying a 24-inch line from Hells Bells Road to Empire Ranch Road through the Moffat property and generally following an existing easement near a 1980s reclaim line. Anderson said it is part of a development agreement, would also benefit public facilities including the landfill, and would likely be constructed in early 2027. The contractor agreed to expand irrigation and revegetation for disturbed areas.
• In response to questions, Anderson said the existing steel reclaim pipe has concrete coating and cathodic protection, is monitored, and is not at a point where replacement is needed. A questioner noted the lake is about 22 feet down; Anderson said Carson City is not currently drawing from Marlette Lake while dam-related work is completed and the lake is being allowed to rise. The proposed Moffat paths will be compacted decomposed granite rather than paved. Weather timing was discussed, with the short excavation window allowing the contractor to adjust for storms.
• Prison Hill OHV Area monitoring report: Marina Lovejoy presented the 2025-2026 monitoring report. Highlights included two new interpretive signs, one at the entrance and one at Golden Eagle Rock, plus a wayfinding sign; no new construction; routine staff maintenance; and volunteer projects by Friends of Prison Hill with 23 volunteers and Battleborn Off Roaders with two events of 11 and 26 volunteers. Restoration of closed unsanctioned trails is improving over time.
• Greg Berggren reported the OHV area vehicle counter totaled 28,180 for the year, up year over year. Committee members praised the staff's responsiveness, monitoring, and community partnerships. One member asked about a photo on page 55 of the packet; Lovejoy said she would recheck that location. Staff said Carson City is the only municipality known to manage an OHV area and has one open space maintenance foreman and two full-time maintenance staff supporting the area.

Staff Updates, Foundation Report, and Future Agenda Items

• Jennifer Budge, Parks and Recreation Director, reported the first-ever golf tournament raised over $15,000 for youth recreation, with 100 players and more than $650 in mulligan sales. She noted seasonal vacancies and upcoming postings for a sports field coordinator and an aquatics recreation supervisor.
• Budge said the federal lands bill remains active with Senator Rosen's and Congressman Amodei's offices and may go to markup the week of November 9, 2026.
• Open Space Division updates from Lindsay Boyer and Marina Lovejoy included: Ash Canyon parcel appraisal in progress; Buzzies Ranch water rights due diligence completed; Oldwoods Ranch appraisal underway; Carson River Master Plan amendment draft out for review with committee discussion expected in early 2027, possibly at a special joint meeting; the 30th anniversary Quality of Life celebration at Silver Saddle Ranch on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.; and Travis Navarro hired as a part-time Natural Resource Technician.
• Lovejoy described a Carson Water Subconservancy District-funded restoration experiment along Empire Ranch Trail: about 1,000 plants were planted without supplemental irrigation, many survived, and bunch grasses are doing well. Two interpretive signs about noxious weed control and ecological restoration were installed.
• Lovejoy also reported the sheep program is in its 20th year, with about 1,200 ewes grazing for about two to three weeks into late October or early November. Fall restoration work includes the first use of a drill seeder at River View and additional seeding at Prison Hill East trail buffer and Kuntzling Trailhead.
• Foundation for Carson City Parks and Recreation: no current OSAC liaison; the written report highlighted volunteers, the golf tournament, national recognition for Carson Ridge Disc Golf Complex, and the mayor's annual cleanup day.
• New member Beth Haas introduced herself, noting her work as a psychiatrist and her interest in the mental-health benefits of time in nature.
• Future agenda items: staff said a Title 13 update discussion is expected at the December joint meeting; no other future items were submitted.

Key Outcomes

• The committee unanimously approved the August 17, 2026, meeting minutes.
• Awards were presented to the Carson Water Subconservancy District, the Seahill Foundation, and Juan Guzman.
• No action was taken on the Moffat Open Space flood storage and water main extension item; it was discussed only.
• Lovejoy said she would recheck the Prison Hill OHV monitoring photo flagged by a committee member.
• Public comments were received with no action taken.
• The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.