Washoe County Board of Commissioners Meeting - April 14, 2026
Washoe County Board of Commissioners Meeting - April 14, 2026
The Washoe County Board of Commissioners met on April 14, 2026, to consider a range of items including proclamations, presentations, donations, consent agenda, election logistics, zoning code amendments, and the Fiscal Year 2027 recommended budget. The meeting lasted from 10:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., with a recess from 12:47 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Vice-Chair Garcia was absent.
Proclamations
- Four proclamations were adopted unanimously:
- National Crime Victims' Rights Week (April 19-25, 2026)
- National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12-18, 2026)
- National Library Week (April 19-25, 2026)
- Nevada Dark Skies Week (April 13-20, 2026)
Presentations
- University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (6.A.1): Abbey Pike presented the FY25 Annual Impact Report. Highlights included 4-H STEM programs reaching over 6,000 youth, the Fire Adapted Nevada Summit with 200+ attendees, Master Gardeners answering 1,865 community questions, and the loss of federal SNAP-Ed funding after June 2026. Extension serves all 17 Nevada counties.
- America250 Nevada (6.A.2): Brenda Scolari, Director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, presented statewide efforts for the nation's semiquincentennial. Programs include the Nevada Stories Project, Civic SEAL Scholarship, Nevada Gives volunteer events, and public art grants. Tony Manfredi of the Nevada Arts Council noted 19 public art initiatives underway, including a mural at the Reno Livestock Events Center.
Consent Calendar
- Donations (Items 7.A.1, 7.B.1-3): The board accepted donations including 47 Narcan kits (estimated value $2,115) for Juvenile Services; various items and monetary donations for Child Protective Services ($15,127.36), homeless services ($500 from Second Baptist Church plus items), and Senior Services ($1,140 plus items).
- Consent Items (Items 8.A.1 through 8.G.6): Approved as a block. Key items included approval of minutes, reappointment of hearing examiners, water right applications, grants for trail bridge design ($68,000), Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon systems ($35,790), employee service award increases, tuition reimbursement policy revisions, and the Dogs in the Workplace policy.
- Block Vote (Items 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17): Approved as a block. Included Sierra View Library lease amendment (0% increase for FY27), Registrar of Voters tenant improvements ($193,682 amendment), $300K+ contract report, child support interlocal contract ($1,654,818), General Fund Contingency use ($1,117,605 for SB116 salary adjustments and AB333 livestock center transfer), and 911 system reimbursements ($1,965,143.73).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kevin Grant: Spoke in support of the Spectrum Boulevard apartment project, stating the prior developer had been terminated and the investors were committed to building secondary emergency access. He noted construction costs are rising faster than CPI.
- Tammy Holtstill: Expressed concern about Item 11 (residential in commercial code), arguing it lacks language for public hearings when zone changes occur, which could allow developers to bypass citizen input.
- Terry Brooks: Discussed discrimination against elderly renters, citing examples of owners refusing to rent due to age stereotypes.
- Pat Davison: Supported Items 11 and 18, praising the Planning Commission's work on the housing code amendments.
- Audrey Berry (Liberty Dogs): Spoke in support of the Dogs in the Workplace policy, noting it would help raise service dogs for veterans.
- Alana Fitzgerald: Asked for careful vetting of library board of trustees candidates to avoid personal agendas. Also requested timely updates to the county strategic plan.
- Maureen McElroy: Thanked the county for maintaining the library budget, urged strong trustee selections, and expressed support for equity in services.
- Penny Brock: Raised concerns about Dominion voting machines, questioned the purchase of ballot marking devices from Liberty Vote without competitive bids, and opposed drop box locations at non-polling places.
- Jill O'Leary: Requested suspension of reconstruction on Lincoln Highway and funding for Washoe County Competency Court. Also criticized Commissioner Hill's response on gas taxes.
- Bradley Carlson: Announced International Dark Sky Week and Astronomy Day events.
- Virginia Larmore: Commented on challenges faced by the public in land use decisions, referencing a recent development meeting and data centers consuming water and tax incentives.
- Alan Munson: Urged the board not to place ballot boxes outside legitimate polling places, citing election integrity concerns.
- Two speakers (Penny Brock and others during Item 9): Opposed drop box locations at CARES campus, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, and Somerset Senior Living, arguing they are not polling places and lack security.
Discussion Items
- Item 9: 2026 Primary Election Locations — Registrar Andrew McDonald presented 22 early voting sites (7 new) and 50 election day vote centers (6 new). Three new stand-alone mail ballot drop boxes were proposed at CARES campus, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, and Somerset Senior Living. Public comment raised concerns about legality and security. The board discussed security measures (bipartisan teams, cameras, indoor placement) and legal compliance. DA Large confirmed adherence to state law.
- Item 11: First Reading – Residential in Commercial Zones (Bill 1946) — Dr. Young presented the amendment to allow multifamily uses by right in commercial zones, as mandated by AB 241. Includes mixed-use standards, density limits (9-14 units/acre), 35-foot height cap, and water/wastewater requirements. The Planning Commission recommended the version presented. No public comment was heard. The board introduced the ordinance for first reading.
- Item 16: FY27 Recommended Budget — Budget Manager Lori Cook outlined the $1.133 billion recommended budget, highlighting a 5.2% property tax revenue increase (slower than prior years), 78% of general fund on personnel, and a $78 million property tax abatement. Recommended no net new positions, a 2% contingency increase, and a $4 million increase in the road fund transfer. The five-year forecast shows compounding deficits unless changes are made. The board acknowledged the status report and directed staff to return with a final budget for adoption on May 19, 2026.
- Item 18: Second Reading – Expedited Review for Attainable Housing (Ordinance 1754) — This ordinance establishes expedited review processes for attainable housing projects, as part of the Washoe 2040 master plan implementation. No public comment was heard.
Key Outcomes
- Votes (all unanimous unless noted):
- Proclamations, donations, consent items, block vote, and budget acknowledgment all passed unanimously.
- Item 9 (election locations) approved with an amended motion to include compliance with all applicable laws and a directive for staff to provide an update on security and legal compliance. Passed 5-0.
- Item 11 (first reading) introduced and set for public hearing on May 12, 2026. Passed 5-0.
- Item 16 (FY27 budget status) acknowledged. Passed 5-0.
- Item 18 (second reading) adopted as Ordinance 1754. Vote: 3-1 (Commissioner Hill dissenting? The transcript states "motion carries three to one").
- Directives:
- Staff to return on May 12, 2026 with an update on election drop box security and legal compliance.
- County Manager to present the certified tentative and final FY27 budget for adoption on May 19, 2026.
- Staff to consider amending Washoe County Code Chapter 25 to allow home-based barbershops and beauty parlors (requested by Chair Andriola).
- The America250 Nevada team may present at the Nevada Association of Counties conference.
Meeting Transcript
A lot of it is hallmarked by the dome, just like right above me. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and divisible with liberty and justice. Do we have a Marine in the House? Thank you so much. We'll move now to roll call, please. Chair Andreola. Present. Vice Chair Garcia is absent. Commissioner Hill. Here. Commissioner Clark. Present. Commissioner Herman. Here. Manager Thomas. DA Mike Large. And I'm Jan Gallisini here, County Clerk. Madam, you have a quorum. Thank you so much. We'll move now to item three, which is public comment. Thank you, Madam Chair. This is public comment and comment heard under this item will be limited to three minutes per person and may pertain to matters both on and off the commission agenda. Unused time may not be allocated to other speakers. The commission will also hear public comment during individual action items with comment limited to three minutes per person. Comments are to be made to the commission as a whole, and virtual public comment may be taken when facilities are available. First up, we have Kevin Grant, followed by Tammy Holt still. Good morning, Commissioners. Thanks for uh giving me a few minutes. Um my name is Kevin Grant. I'm here to talk about the apartment project on Spectrum Boulevard. I am a large partner in the Investor Investor Group, and we bought the land. I'm actually the one that gave the project the thumbs up and then brought in the large investor that has majority ownership and control. We've been working on the project for about six years now. I really just wanted to introduce myself and let you know that the former developer has been terminated. It's about ready to hand over to a general contractor anyway. Uh and I just helped to move the project along and eventually will hire a construction manager to oversee the general contractor. As you know, this area of the city and county is generally zoned suburban surrounding the uh county facility land. There are five other residential areas within a few mile radius. We've been asking to build a secondary emergency access road that is required for emergency access to the neighborhood, which has been added, uh which has the added benefit of providing additional emergency access uh for the county's land as well as other neighbors and futures future neighbors. The commission remind uh resolved back in August of 2023 to have staff negotiate an agreement to allow the residential project to progress. That agreement appears to be finalized. Um, new to this level of detail, but the county is getting a really good deal. We pay for the road, the infrastructure, we even pay for the gates to the facilities. You get relief from our easement over your property, which I think is obsolete anyway, and it gives the county great flexibility down the road should you decide to repurpose that land in the distant future. I'm here simply to put a new face on the project and you let you know that the priors prior developers' involvement has been terminated by the partners that own the land. Uh we've been building stacks of documents, um, construction documents, utility commitments, civil designs for the road, water, city permits. We even have landscaping designs. Lastly, we are committed to doing what we can do help uh with the plight of seniors. I should point out the construction costs have been rising faster than CPI for very many years, and that is not ending. In fact, it's worse today.
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