District Board of Health Meeting – December 18, 2025
District Board of Health Meeting – December 18, 2025
The District Board of Health of Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) held its regular meeting on December 18, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. (noted as 20:15:00+00:00 per instruction) at the Washoe County Administration Complex. The meeting began with a moment of silence for Dr. George Hess, a longtime friend of the board, followed by roll call, pledge of allegiance, and public comment with no speakers. The board approved the agenda and consent calendar, recognized new hires and service awards, and then addressed several significant agenda items including an in-depth evaluation of Environmental Health Services, updates on PFAS and reproductive health, mosquito abatement funding, and a business impact statement for septic regulations.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: Approved the November 20, 2025 draft minutes.
- Grant Awards: Approved three subawards: $105,558 from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Grant; $101,705.97 from UNR for the SNAP-Ed Program; and $116,216 for the Fetal Infant Mortality Review Program.
- Preparedness Program: Approved a $471,713 subaward with a $47,171.30 cash match for the ASPR Public Health Preparedness Program, including authorization for travel reimbursements for non-county IHCC coalition members.
- Violation: Upheld an uncontested dust control violation against North Pyramid Investors, Case No. 1592, with a $500 administrative penalty.
Public Comments & Testimony
No public comments were made during either public comment period.
Discussion Items
- Environmental Health Services (EHS) Evaluation Report (Item 7): Dr. Ralph Renger presented a comprehensive evaluation of NNPH’s EHS division. Key findings included: EHS provides 23 of 34 core services (more than peer health departments), needs approximately 5 additional FTEs, and permit holders perceive staff as highly professional but cite inconsistency as a top complaint. Dr. Renger identified underlying issues including siloed operations, lack of team cohesion, and a culture needing improvement. Recommendations included developing a mentoring program, improving standard operating procedures, shifting to announced inspections, and fostering cross-cutting priorities. Board members expressed strong support for addressing culture and implementing announced inspections. Vice Chair Andriola recommended that Dr. Renger assist with an implementation plan. Chair Reese made a motion to accept the report and direct Dr. Kingsley to implement, which passed unanimously.
- PFAS Health and Regulatory Impacts (Item 8): Senior EH Specialist Latricia Lord presented an overview of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water, health concerns, and upcoming EPA regulations. NNPH regulates 69 public water systems in Washoe County; 34 will be affected by new PFAS MCLs (4 ppt for two compounds, 10 ppt for four others). NNPH received a $228,000 grant for private well sampling (estimated 300 wells). Board members discussed the need for education, potential funding, and the role of NNPH versus other agencies. No formal action was taken.
- Reproductive and Sexual Health Services (Item 9): CCHS Division Director Christina Sheppard presented on the family planning/sexual health clinic, which serves a predominantly uninsured, low-income population (70% below 250% FPL). The clinic offers STI testing, HIV PrEP/PEP, Doxy-PEP, and partner services. It is the only walk-in clinic for sexual health in Washoe County. Staff vacancies (6 of 12 positions) have led to 2-3 week wait times. Board expressed appreciation and interest in revisiting the topic during the strategic planning workshop. No formal action.
- Mosquito Abatement Funding (Item 10): District Health Officer Dr. Chad Kingsley presented data on mosquito abatement, noting that the program costs about $830,000 annually. Due to budget constraints, large-area aerial larvicide was suspended in FY26, saving ~$300,000. Dr. Kingsley requested board approval to present the data and future funding options to the Board of County Commissioners. The board approved this request unanimously.
- Septic Regulations Business Impact Statement (Item 11): Environmental Health Supervisor David Kelly presented the business impact statement for proposed revisions to the Sewage, Wastewater, and Sanitation Regulations (septic systems). No negative economic impact was found; there are no fee increases. The changes aim to increase flexibility (e.g., allowing alternative technologies, broader professional qualifications). The board approved the impact statement and set a public hearing for January 22, 2026.
- Appointment to EMS Advisory Board (Item 12): The board appointed Cassandra Deen, Director of Clinical Excellence at Renown, as the Hospital Continuous Quality Improvement Representative to the Regional EMS Advisory Board for a three-year term, effective December 18, 2025. Approved unanimously.
- Staff Reports (Items 13A-D): The chair removed these items from the agenda; they were accepted as written without discussion.
Key Outcomes
- Accepted the EHS Evaluation Report and directed the District Health Officer to develop and implement a plan based on the findings and board direction (unanimous).
- Approved presentation of mosquito abatement data and funding options to the Board of County Commissioners (unanimous).
- Adopted the Business Impact Statement for septic regulation revisions and scheduled a public hearing for January 22, 2026 (unanimous).
- Appointed Cassandra Deen to the EMS Advisory Board (unanimous).
- Approved the consent calendar in its entirety (unanimous).
- Noted that items 13A through 13D were not formally presented but received as written.
Meeting Transcript
I don't know, keeping this board in line as a challenge most days, but good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome. I'm going to call to order the December 18th, 2025 uh Northern Nevada Public Health Meeting for the District Board of Health. Uh thank you all for being here and happy holidays. Before we get started with the actual agenda and determine the roll call and quorum, I'm gonna just remark about uh a longtime friend of this board, Dr. George Hess, who passed away uh just a couple weeks ago. So we're gonna observe a moment of silence. Dr. Hess uh was a family practitioner, I believe, and worked primarily in his latter years at the University of Nevada Reno, uh, but was a tremendous advocate for this body and the work it did and continues to do here. So we'll just observe a moment of silence for Dr. Hess. Okay, thank you. And now, Madam Clerk, we'll move on to the agenda as posted and start with item number one, which is a roll call and determination quorum. Chair Reese. Here. Uh Vice Chair Andreola present. Board member Anderson. Here. Board Member Brown. Here. Dr. Dinko is absent. Board Member Driscoll. Here. And Dr. Duarte. Here. We do have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And we'll start now with the Pledge of Allegiance. Um, Ms. Faraza, you wouldn't mind leading us so much. I would appreciate that. Pledge of allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under liberty and justice for all. Probably reminds you of your days as a council member. So I knew it wouldn't be a foreign to you, Ms. Ferraza. Thank you for being here. Madam Clerk, we'll move on to item three, which is public comment. Comments heard under this item will be limited to three minutes per person and may pertain to matters both on and off the board agenda. Unused time may not be allocated to other speakers. Comments are to be made to the board as a whole, and virtual public comment may be taken when facilities are available. A speaker's viewpoint will not be restricted. However, reasonable restrictions may be imposed upon the time, place, and manner of speech. Irrelevant statements, unduly repetitious statements, and personal attacks that would objectively antagonize or incite others are examples of speech that may be reasonably limited. This board carries out the business of Northern Nevada Public Health and its citizens during its meetings. The presiding officer may order a person removed if the person's conduct or statements disrupt the order or safety of the meeting. Warnings about disruptive conduct or comments may or may not be given prior to removal. Furthermore, certain disruptions of a public meeting or criminal acts as defined under NRS, which may result in prosecution inappropriate place cases. If anyone in the public wishes to make public comment, please indicate at this time. Seeing that, I'll call uh public comment to a close and move on to item four, which will be the approval of the agenda.
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