Washoe County Board of Commissioners Meeting - October 21, 2025

The Washoe County Board of Commissioners met on October 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including a fire season update from Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue, a presentation from the Verdi TV District addressing transparency concerns, an RTC report on transportation funding and Intelligent Transportation Systems, a status update on the Raftelis organizational assessment, discussion of master plan implementation priorities, and the first reading of ordinances to extend a development agreement for Silver Hills and to dissolve the Department of Alternative Sentencing. The meeting also included public comment on several items and, notably, the announcement of two candidates running for the District 5 seat in the 2026 election.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes for the September 9, 2025 meeting.
• Acknowledged communications and reports received by the Clerk.
• Approved roll change requests for tax roll errors (cumulative decrease of $60,063.74).
• Accepted a Grant of Trail Easement from TMWA for a portage trail and wayfinding signage.
• Approved an ArrowCreek HOA Open Space Access Agreement for non-motorized access points.
• Acknowledged a $1,228 grant for the Washoe County Law Library (no County match required).
• Approved District 3 and District 5 Commission District Special Fund disbursements (with the Reno Elks Lodge $5,000 donation deferred pending IRS clearance).
• Accepted a $5,000 Our Rescue grant for a VIP Lite software subscription for the Sheriff’s Office.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Terry Brooks spoke about the positive impact of gender diversity in education.
• Vicky Railton expressed frustration with the Verdi TV District's lack of transparency and requested a financial investigation.
• Nicole Harris (Senior Rescue Magazine) thanked Commissioner Herman for a $5,000 donation to a senior cooking class, noting 80 seniors attended the first event.
• Tammy Holt Still announced her candidacy for the District 5 seat in the 2026 election, emphasizing government transparency.
• Russ Earl (Silver Knolls resident) opposed the Silver Hills development extension (Item 17), calling it a "ghost project" and citing infrastructure and traffic concerns.
• Blake Vanderwell (President & CEO of Senior ResQ) thanked Commissioner Herman and Commissioner Clark for donations and urged more support for senior rental assistance.
• Catherine Yarte (District 5 resident) announced her candidacy for the District 5 seat and advocated for collaboration, common-sense leadership, and support for rural communities.
• Oscar Williams criticized the proposed organizational chart, arguing it lacks direct lines of communication between the Registrar of Voters and the Board, and the Clerk and the Registrar.
• Susan Walls thanked Washoe County staff and library volunteers but expressed concerns about dysfunction on the Library Board of Trustees, recommending additional training.
• Anna Pageau (North Red Rock area resident) spoke on Item 12, detailing challenges with business licensing for her small farm due to code limitations on agritourism in rural zones, and urged revising language to support all agricultural locations.
• Jill O'Leary raised concerns about fraudulent liens being filed without verification, requesting a legally compliant intake policy at the Washoe County Recorder's Office.
• Maureen McElroy criticized federal government actions and urged local officials to support lawful, fair governance.
• Trista Gomez commented on the county manager recruitment process, noting that residents often feel disregarded and that their concerns are not heard.
• Catherine Yarte (again) urged prioritization of equine business code modernization, sharing her 26-month experience navigating the process.
• Tammy Holt Still (again) opposed the Silver Hills development, citing inconsistency with the master plan and lack of infrastructure.
• Kendra Bertschy (Reno Justice Court Judge) expressed concerns about the proposed dissolution of DAS, stating it does not align with national pretrial service standards and may disrupt successful programs.
• Mark Wickman (DAS) noted that DAS provides post-sentencing supervision for misdemeanors for justice courts and expressed concerns about the transition.

Discussion Items

• Fire Season Update (Item 3.A.1): Chief Edwards reported that no fires larger than five acres have occurred in over 45 days, and national preparedness is at Level 1. He emphasized continued vigilance due to potential wind events. Commissioner Garcia asked about the impact of the federal government shutdown on federal partner support, and Chief Edwards stated no impacts have been observed. The Chief also noted 354 loads of green waste collected in East Lake and 366 in Silver Lake, with two more collection events scheduled for October 25.
• Verdi TV District Presentation (Item 6.A.1): Chairman Hud Horton provided an overview of the district’s history, governance, and operations, emphasizing that all expenditures are processed through the Washoe County Comptroller. Multiple commissioners pressed for greater transparency, noting the website was not yet fully operational (required by AB 301 by October 1). The board expressed concerns about the district’s decision to exempt itself from audit reporting for 2024-2026, though the board clarified that audits are still filed with the Department of Taxation. Commissioner Andriola recommended an independent audit. Interim Manager Thomas clarified that the district is a separate governmental entity and that staff will work to improve the website and provide a single point of contact.
• RTC Update (Item 6.B.1): Bill Thomas presented an update on RTC activities, including a $1.4 billion shortfall in maintenance funding over the next 10 years. He discussed the Guinn Center study’s recommendations for addressing the decline in fuel tax revenue due to EVs and hybrids, including a flat registration fee for EVs (estimated at $200-250/year). The board supported pursuing legislative action to charge EVs and hybrids. Thomas also highlighted the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and the planned Traffic Management Center.
• Raftelis Organizational Assessment Update (Item 6.C.1): Interim Manager Kate Thomas reported that 10 of 12 recommendations from the Raftelis assessment have been started or completed, including weekly board briefs, one-on-one meetings with commissioners, and quarterly meetings with elected officials. Six priority items remain in process, including agenda-setting reforms and enhanced onboarding for new officials.
• Master Plan Priorities (Item 12): The board discussed and voted on a revised priority order for implementing the Envision Washoe 2040 Master Plan. After a motion by Commissioner Andriola, seconded by Commissioner Garcia, the board approved the following order: 1) Countywide affordable housing, 2) Equine businesses, 3) Agritourism, 4) Heat mitigation, 5) Dark skies, 6) Public noticing. The motion passed unanimously.
• Silver Hills Development Agreement (Item 17): The board voted to introduce Bill No. 1939, the first reading of an ordinance to extend the deadline for recording the final map for Silver Hills (a 358-lot subdivision) to August 24, 2029. The motion was made by Commissioner Andriola and seconded by Commissioner Garcia; it passed unanimously. A public hearing and second reading are scheduled for November 18, 2025.
• Dissolution of Department of Alternative Sentencing (DAS) (Item 18): The board voted to introduce Bill No. 1940, the first reading of an ordinance to repeal Chapter 11 of the Washoe County Code, thereby dissolving DAS. The motion was made by Chair Hill and seconded by Commissioner Clark; it passed unanimously. A public hearing and second reading are scheduled for November 18, 2025. Implementation is targeted for January 1, 2026. Several commissioners emphasized the need for continued stakeholder engagement, particularly with Reno Justice Court.

Key Outcomes

• Master Plan Priorities: The board revised the priority order for master plan implementation, placing countywide affordable housing first, followed by equine businesses, agritourism, heat mitigation, dark skies, and public noticing. This was approved unanimously.
• First Reading of Silver Hills Extension (Bill 1939): Introduced; public hearing and second reading set for November 18, 2025.
• First Reading of DAS Dissolution (Bill 1940): Introduced; public hearing and second reading set for November 18, 2025, with a target implementation date of January 1, 2026.
• Deferred Donation: The $5,000 donation to Reno Elks Lodge was deferred pending IRS clearance of their 501(c)(3) status.
• H.E.R.O.E.S. Among Us Day Proclamation: Approved unanimously.
• National Friends of Libraries Week Proclamation: Approved unanimously.
• Donation Acknowledgment: The board retroactively acknowledged donations totaling $8,529.45 to the Second Judicial District Court's Reading Room Project.
• Consent Items and Block Vote: All consent items and items 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16 were approved unanimously.

Board of County Commissioners Meeting - October 21, 2025

Additional procedural notes: The board recognized that two candidates have announced for the District 5 seat in the 2026 election: Tammy Holt Still and Catherine Yarte. The recruitment process for a permanent County Manager will include a meet-and-greet on October 26 and a special meeting for interviews on October 27.