Joint Meeting of Clark County Board of Commissioners, CCWRD, and UMC Boards – February 17, 2026

The Clark County Board of Commissioners met jointly with the Clark County Water Reclamation District Board of Trustees and the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada Board of Hospital Trustees on February 17, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting began with opening ceremonies, recognitions for Black History Month and employee value champions, and proceeded through a consent agenda, public hearings, and business items. Key actions included approval of a $20 million affordable housing fund allocation, ratification of two collective bargaining agreements with the Clark County Defenders Union, and a directive to amend the UMC board appointment process.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda (Items 6–44) in a single motion, with Item 11 (Amendment to Contract with University of Utah School of Medicine for pediatric consultations) deleted from the agenda at staff request.
• The consent agenda included routine approvals for purchasing and contracts, town services minutes, business licenses (wireless and broadband franchise agreements), public works project supplements, comprehensive planning land sale nominations, real property lease amendments, budget and finance resolutions (including a $135 million bond reimbursement resolution for the MLB stadium project), CCWRD project awards and general manager performance review, UMC elevator modernization bid, claims settlements, outside agency grants, interlocal agreements for CDC reporting systems, a donation acceptance, and CDBG fund reprogramming.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ted Papa George (Secretary/Treasurer, Culinary Workers Union) spoke in support of Item 44 (housing), highlighting the need for affordable homeownership and criticizing wage disparities for DBE workers at the airport. He also paid tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, who had supported the union during a 1990 strike.
• Adrian Cosby, Adam Miller, Karen Randolph (airport workers) spoke on Item 44, stating that wages at DBE companies had not increased in 4–5 years, making it difficult to afford housing.
• Michael T. (owner of Hospitality Culinaire Inc., a DBE at the airport) expressed support for union wages and benefits but noted the unique economic pressures on small airport operators. He clarified that DBE operators had formally requested across-the-table negotiations with the union in December 2025 and were awaiting a meeting date.
• Sebastian Crawford spoke on Item 30 (stadium bond reimbursement) and Item 44, criticizing the use of $340 million in taxpayer funds for a new stadium without wage guarantees for DBE workers. He stated that housing prices had risen 56% in four years while median income increased only 2.68%, and argued that workers who generate profits for billionaires cannot afford homes.
• Shoshana spoke against the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, citing historical context and arguing for separation of church and state. She requested the board reconsider incorporating religious expressions in government proceedings.
• Kaylah Maese (Policy Manager, ACLU of Nevada) briefly urged continued attention to free and accessible assembly areas for the community.
• David Westbrook (President, Clark County Defenders Union) spoke in support of Items 49 and 50 (collective bargaining agreements) and commended Deputy HR Director Christina Ramos for negotiating the contracts in good faith.
• During the final public comment period, Shoshana again addressed the Pledge of Allegiance, noting its original 1892 version lacked “under God” and that the phrase was added in 1954 during a Christian nationalist movement. Sebastian Crawford returned to criticize the community housing fund allocation as insufficient, given the wealth disparity and homelessness in the region.

Discussion Items

• Item 55 – Community Housing Fund Awards (20 million dollars): Commissioner Zagney Stapleton (Community Housing Administrator) presented an overview of the housing need. She noted that for every 100 households at 30% of Area Median Income (AMI)—about $25,500 annually—only 13 affordable units exist in Clark County. Approximately 70% of renters at 50% AMI and below pay more than half their income on housing. Since the fund’s creation in 2022, Clark County has supported construction or rehabilitation of over 5,800 units, increasing the attainable housing stock by 20%. The proposed 2025 round targeted 530 units at 50% AMI and below, “buying down” rents from 60% AMI. The board approved the motion unanimously.
• Item 56 – Changes to UMC Board of Trustees Appointment Process: Commissioner Sagerbloom proposed amending the current process so that UMC would interview applicants and make recommendations but send all names to the County Commission for final selection, aligning with how other board appointments are made. He stated this would increase commission involvement in UMC oversight. Commissioner McCurdy supported the change. Commissioner Naft requested that the board also consider establishing a separate governing board for UMC to address redundant studies (e.g., a GME study). The chair directed staff to bring back an amendment to the policy.

Key Outcomes

• Votes and Approvals:
  • Minutes of January 20, 2026, approved.
  • Agenda approved with deletion of Item 11.
  • Consent agenda (Items 6–44) approved.
  • Item 51 (emerging issues) – no discussion.
  • Commissioner William McCurdy II appointed to the Southern Nevada Enterprise Community Board for a three-year term ending March 2, 2029.
  • Ryan White Part A Planning Council: 9 individuals reappointed and 4 new individuals appointed for two-year terms.
  • Ordinance adopted authorizing Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority refunding bonds (Series 2026A) in a maximum principal amount of $93,660,000, as if an emergency exists.
  • $20 million in Community Housing Funds awarded to 10 projects for affordable housing (Item 55) – motion carried.
  • Public hearings (Items 45–50):
    • Item 45: Ordinance amending hearing officer compensation – approved.
    • Item 46: Rescind 2024 HOME award to Accessible Space, Inc. ($1,830,790) – approved.
    • Item 47: Rescind 2022 HOME award to Community Development Program Center of Nevada ($500,000) – approved.
    • Item 48: Telecommunications franchise granted to Stimulus Technologies of Nevada, LLC for a five-year term with two five-year renewals – approved.
    • Items 49 and 50: Collective bargaining agreements with Clark County Defenders Union for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, with salary and benefit changes extended to non-union employees – approved. Commissioner Sagerbloom abstained on both items due to his son being a public defender. The 2024-2025 agreement cost $616,639 and covered 152 positions; the 2025-2026 agreement cost $2,528,328 and covered 152 positions.
  • Item 56: Staff directed to bring back an amendment to the UMC board appointment process, with consideration of a separate governing board.
• Next Steps:
  • The board recessed until 9:00 AM on February 18, 2026, for zoning and subdivision items, and entered closed session for legal and labor negotiations.