Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting - December 16, 2025
Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting – December 16, 2025
The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Board of Fire Commissioners met on December 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Vice Chair Jeanne Herman presided in the absence of Chair Alexis Hill. The board approved consent items, accepted a major grant from the William N. Pennington Foundation, adopted audited financial statements, and received updates on operations, including a successful green waste program, new apparatus, and joint agency standard operating guidelines. The meeting also included a moment of silence in memory of Battalion Chief Rzuto and his wife Danielle.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: Approved the November 4, 2025 meeting minutes.
- Cancellation: Approved cancellation of the regularly scheduled January 6, 2026 meeting.
- Interlocal Contract Amendment: Approved Amendment #1 to the Medicaid interlocal contract, updating the state agency name to “Nevada Health Authority” and “Nevada Medicaid” to ensure continued reimbursement for ambulance services.
- Project Funding Policy: Approved Policy P406.1B, establishing requirements and procedures for funding purchases, services, or capital expenditures exceeding $50,000.
All consent items were approved unanimously.
Reports & Presentations
IAFF Local 2487 Report (Non-Action)
- Vice President Jamie Rivera thanked the administration and regional partners for support during a recent loss in the firefighter family and highlighted the Honor Guard’s work and ongoing toy drive.
Fire Chief’s Report (Non-Action)
- New Apparatus: Two new Type 5 brush engines received, being outfitted for the upcoming fire season.
- Green Waste Recycling: A total of 894 loads (approximately 4,200 cubic yards) were brought in, with 16 dumpsters donated by Waste Management. The program was deemed a huge success in reducing wildfire fuel.
- Joint Standard Operating Guidelines: Three guidelines adopted with Reno and Sparks Fire – incident command, personnel accountability, and common terminology – to improve operational integration.
- Response Statistics:
- October 2025: 1,689 incidents (861 EMS, 22 fires).
- November 2025: 1,657 incidents (837 EMS, 17 fires).
Pennington Foundation Grant (Action Item)
- The board unanimously approved acceptance of a $3,213,727 grant from the William N. Pennington Foundation, with a required match of $1,377,311, for the Priority Needs Capital Equipment and Apparatus project. The grant funds three new Type I fire engines, mobile data computers, VHF radios, and SCBA upgrades/replacements. The Fire Chief was authorized to execute all necessary documents.
Audited Financial Statements (Action Item)
- The board approved the audited financial statements for FY ending June 30, 2025, including reappropriation of $28,112 in the General Fund, $2,747,497 in the Capital Projects Fund, and $8,632 in the EMS Fund for committed purchase order encumbrances.
- CFO Cindy Vance presented an overview: General Fund revenues were 1.4% under budget, expenditures 4.2% under budget, resulting in an ending fund balance of $7 million (approximately 2.6 months of expenditures, or 13.7%). The Emergency Medical Services Fund showed a positive balance of about $1 million. No audit findings were reported.
Financial Status Presentation (Non-Action)
- As of November 30, 2025, General Fund revenues were at 42% of budget (on track), with property taxes running 2% above budget and consolidated taxes 1.7% above budget. Expenditures were slightly under budget, with salaries at 39.8%, benefits at 35.2%, and services/supplies at 25.6% of budget.
Key Outcomes
- Consent items – approved unanimously.
- Pennington Grant – approved 4-0 (Commissioner Clark arrived after vote call, but roll shows 4 ayes).
- Financial Statements – approved unanimously.
- Request for Future Agenda: Commissioner Clark requested a future report on the types of violent incidents firefighters respond to and the mental health resources available to staff. Fire Chief Edwards agreed to provide a presentation on peer support and wellness programs.
- Moment of Silence: The board observed a moment of silence for Battalion Chief Rzuto and his wife Danielle, who recently passed away. Donations for the surviving children can be made via the Truckee Meadows Firefighters Foundation.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:15 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
I pledge allegiance. And to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Madam Clerk, may I have a roll call, please? Vice Chair Herman. I am here. Chair Hill is absent. Commissioner Clark is absent. Commissioner Garcia. Here. Commissioner Andreola. Present. Fire Chief Richard Edwards. Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gustavson. Present. And I'm Yvonne Strickland, Deputy Clerk. You have a quorum. And now we are on to public comment. All right. Item three is public comment. Comment heard under this item will be limited to three minutes per person and may pertain to matters both on and off the Board of Fire Commissioners agenda. However, action may not be taken on any manner raised during this public comment period until the matter is specifically listed on an agenda as an action item. The board will also hear public comment during individual action items with comment limited to three minutes per person. Comments are to be made to the Board of Fire Commissioners as a whole. We have nobody signed in. Okay. Um thank you. Um and now we will have Commissioners and Fire Chiefs announcements. Request for information and topics for future agendas. This is a non-action item. No discussion among commissioners will take place on this item. Um there any announcements that you'd like to make. Madam Chair, I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of the uh team at TM for the incredible outreach they did for the communities with the parades that were conducted throughout the region. Um I got so many positive comments and feedback from members in the district that I represent, and um just having that um holiday spirit, the the presence and you know, I think more than anything, knowing that public safety is our number one priority, and um you can't always just talk business without adding sometimes some Christmas cheers. So I think it really just makes um our fire agency more uh relatable, uh more accessible, and more trusted. So thank you for that effort. I know it's a lot of uh extra work on on top of everything that you already juggle and manage, but I do think it was an important part of the community outreach that we try to achieve. Thank you. And Commissioner Andreola. Thank you. Merry Christmas, everyone. I too would like to uh just piggyback off of the comments that Commissioner Garcia just made. I had a great time writing for two plus hours and in the fire truck with Santa and seeing everyone in in the district, and um I also really want to recognize Chief Edwards for my understanding why I was in the two hours. I asked some questions and found out from Santa that you actually came up with the idea. So kudos to you for coming up with the idea, but I really also want to echo the big thanks to the team that decorated everything, like and to the community partners, the sheriff's office and others who participated, and the spirit was just echoed throughout the entire trip and coming back and having hot chocolate and and seeing the presence and it just makes you realize how um this could expand every year, and I also would just add I kept on thinking because that parade was long in terms of all of the folks participating, and um when I got home, I could actually um hum because I heard how a fire truck sounds so I was telling I kept in here for and I thought wow the neighbors must be going, what the heck is going on? You know, like to see and to have them come out and probably think it was one thing, but it was Santa. So I really think it was amazing. Thank you for a great idea. Thanks to the team for just going over the top with your idea, and I look forward to next year. And um, I'm sure you have too received a lot of feedback, and I think it does send a message that we are part of the community and we recognize everyone in terms of the holiday spirit that we're all bringing and the joy and kindness that we all deserve.
openpublica.com