Next meeting is being recorded.

Good afternoon.

The time is 1:30.

The Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission meeting is now in session.

We will do uh call to order and the roll call.

Uh Jenny Uvera, she will not be here.

She has an excused absence.

Tracy Kosetsky reside.

And everybody else should be here.

So we'll start with Timothy Dake.

Nicole Flankis.

Sean Hill.

Present.

Neil Jones.

Present.

Chris Baker.

Kevin Joel.

Present.

Miles Kinsler.

President.

And Board of County Commissioners Liazad Barlewis Garcia.

We have a quorum.

Thank you.

Moving on to public comment.

Do we have any public comment?

I'm sorry.

Pledge of allegiance, Commissioner Dake.

Would you please lead us?

Please stand.

I pledge allegiance to the flight.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God.

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Commissioner Dake.

Now we go to public comment.

Did you want to go ahead and make a go ahead, sir?

Come on up and fill out a floor, please.

While we're waiting for this gentleman, I do have one person online, Chris Myers.

You can go ahead and unmute Chris.

State your first last name for the record.

You'll have three minutes.

Hi, yes.

My name is Christopher Myers.

I'm a resident of South Reno.

And I want to start by just thanking all the commissioners for everything that you do, all the hard work, all the time and effort that you put in to providing such great recreation spaces for our community.

They love all the different parks.

And so thank you so much.

And I just wanted to say, you know, as a as a father of two children, a person that my wife was viciously attacked by a dog.

I was visually viciously attacked by a dog.

We have dogs run up to us off leash all the time at Virginia Foothills.

Brown Elementary, where my kid goes.

And that's the you know, a great one.

It has shade and understand people want areas to walk their dogs.

Um, but preferably, you know, it'll it would be on leash.

Um, and you know, so sorry, this is not an agenda item.

I just when I saw that, it just kind of took me back a little bit because you know, dogs are are dangerous.

I've learned that firsthand.

Uh, unfortunately, the hard way.

Um, my wife and I have the scars to prove it.

Um, and you know, so we would just support that the park stay as it is now, which is you know, dogs required to be on a leash.

Um, and thank you again, everybody, for all the hard work you do, and that's it.

Thank you, Chris.

Thank you.

Any more public comments?

Sir, how do I say your last name, sir?

We have Richard.

My name is Richard.

I certainly appreciate the gentleman's comments.

I have to uh push the board about um respectfully commissioning the board.

Uh in the park that he's talking about.

It's um there are there are certainly dogs that have no responsibility of being there.

Um responsible dog owners form a significant growing part of the park using public off leash access is clearly marked.

If it was clearly marked, appropriate size zones provided essential physical exercise.

It's it creates a lot of mental stimulation for the dogs.

There's lots of people there with dogs, and and it's it's kind of frustrating to not be able to use the park.

Uh I support a measured practical approach.

The experience shows that the social pressure alone does not deter every irresponsible owner or aggressive, poorly trained dog.

I'm I've found in this process that I've been kind of lucky to uh didn't even realize it had a had a pretty well trained uh uh 18-month-old puppy that loved people and and uh was um easily managed and and uh loves to run.

He's got long legs.

So I would recommend that this commission support an off leash zone with clear boundaries and signage in the park at the Virginia Foothills.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have no further public comment in chambers.

No further public comment on Zoom.

Very good.

Thank you.

Uh moving on to uh item four approval of the draft minutes for the joint parks commission meeting uh held on April 30th, 2026.

This is for possible action.

Commissioners take a moment.

Uh Commissioner Hill, I move to uh approve the minutes from the special joint parks meeting.

Thank you.

Motion has been made to accept the minutes as written.

I'll second.

Motion has been made and seconded uh to approve the minutes uh as written.

Do we have any public comment?

I have no public comment in chambers.

No public comment on Zoom.

Very well.

Any further discussion?

Hearing none, all those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Aye.

Motion carries.

Moving on to item five, approval of the draft minutes for the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Committee meeting on May 27th, 2026.

This is for possible action.

Commissioners take a moment.

This commissioner Dake, I move to approve these uh minutes of the May 27 meeting of the parks commission.

Very well, thank you.

Motion has been made.

Commissioner Hill.

Commissioner Hill, I second.

Very well.

Motion has been made and accepted.

Um seconded to uh accept the draft minutes as written.

Do we have any public comment?

I have no public comment in chambers.

I have no public comment on Zoom.

Very well.

Motion has been made and seconded.

Any further discussion?

Hearing none.

All those in favor, say goodbye by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carries.

Moving on to item six.

Uh this is for possible action.

This is the Davis Creek Weather Station License Agreement.

Presentation, discussion, and possible recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners to approve a license agreement between Washoe County, Grant Poor, and the Truckee River Flood Management Authority grantee for the construction, operation, maintenance, and replacement of a weather monitoring station within a portion of Davis Creek Regional Park, assessor's parcel number zero four six zero four one zero, contingent upon a determination by the Nevada Division of State Parks that the proposed license agreement is consistent with the land and water conservation fund requirements and does not require a con a conversion of the land and water conservation fund protected park land.

Thank you, Commissioner Jones.

I know that's a mouthful for the action item.

For the record, this is Fay Mary Picard Park Planner with Washoe County.

Uh as stated, this is a license agreement before you today for request from Chucky River Flood Management Authority, also known as TERFMA for a weather station at Davis Creek Regional Park.

If I could have my presentation.

Thank you.

Is the slide working to change?

I don't believe so.

If we turn it on, that should help.

Perfect.

So the location of the quest is in New Washoe City, Nevada.

The proposal is for a replacement of the 25-year weather station that existed previously that was destroyed in the 2024 Davis Creek fire.

The location also is proposed for a new site.

If I could go back to my other slide, um the location for the station is also being asked to be in a new area within the park that would be more suitable for accurate data collection.

The loss of the station has created a data gap in the area that is important for monitoring stormwater events, flood forecasting, and hydrologic modeling.

The new weather station will store long-term data records and maintain effectiveness of the flood warning system.

So for example of the on the map that you're seeing before you the orange triangle that is at the top of the page shows the former location next to the park office for the weather station.

The bottom south proposed location of the orange triangle is the new location for the weather station.

The station itself supports weather resource management and forecasting emergency response and public safety decision making.

It collects precipitation and temperature data, and that data is related to TERFMA every 15 minutes, and is also publicly available on Symnoptic Data Viewer.

Some differences between the right the original weather station location and the new weather location is that the old station would uh required proximity to power, which is why it was located next to the ranger office.

It was in a fenced area and it had clear line of sight for station data communication.

Although this was the old site, it wasn't ideal for accurate data collection.

It was in an open area that was sparsely treed, had significant wind exposure, and contributed to precipitation undercatch within the actual weather station itself.

The new location should be an improvement for data measurements and data collection.

It'll have reduced wind exposure and more treed.

And it will use cellular cellular communications in order to relay that data.

Lastly, it'll be an updated precipitation sensor and it'll have more accurate readings.

So at the image that you're seeing right now, the center photo is the previously existing data station, uh, weather station at Davis Creek.

So the intent would be to have this be in the similar style as that middle photo for the station itself.

The equipment would be mounted on top of a seven-foot tower and secured in concrete footing.

The image to the far right shows the example of a precipitation gauge for the weather station as well as the wind screening that could be proposed on the weather station.

A little bit more detail of what this new location looks like.

I know it's a little difficult to see it in this photo, but you'll see better in the next.

There is a pink um marker that indicates the approximate weather station location.

If you're looking north and south or north and east, it's located approximately in the center of this photo.

The next slide shows from the view from the south and the west.

And I don't know if my pointer's working, but essentially in the center of this area is the uh location of the approximate weather station for the future.

So just this is just shown the example of the trees that are around it as well as the screening.

So for the station itself, it was originally owned by Washoe County's regional flood warning system.

Uh in 2011, there was an interlocal agreement between TERFMA and the county in order for them to take over the operation and ownership of these weather stations.

Um, although this agreement does give uh TERFMA the authority for the flood management warning system, it does require still uh any new equipment to be proposed on parkland to go before park commission for approval.

Another wrinkle in this process, and it's a heavy lift, and this is why it's being also being brought to park commission today, is the landwater conservation fund compliance, which is also known as LWCF.

So part of this work in 1967, the county accepted funds to build the ranger station, the campsites, hiking and nature trails within the park, uh, with that acceptance of those funds from the state, it also created a deed restriction uh on the property.

So the deed restriction essentially states that anything that's going to be new on the property would have to be a direct benefit to the park, and it would also have to be for public outdoor recreation use only.

Um so this compliance for the weather station would go before Nevada State Parks to review that uh against the LWC of deed restriction and making sure that it complies.

Um a little caveat to add to this is if the state decides that this requires a conversion of use on our property, meaning that we'd have to offer offer up um equal value of land in order to have this weather station be located at Davis Creek, the county would not want to proceed with this uh due to the staff time and impact for us to have that clearance with the state.

If, however, the state does determine that the weather station is compliant with the existing LWC of D restriction, we can move forward this request to BCC.

Um typically, however, the state does flag weather stations as a conversion, so keeping that in mind that that might happen.

And historically, it's flagged underneath the LWCF as unpermitted use.

Uh regarding alternative alignments, TERFMA did not look at additional alignments based off of what's proposed for the existing site, it's best with the topographic conditions, the existing vegetation, uh it reduces wind exposure and the ability to produce um accurate data.

Um again, another caveat with this is that there are certain parcels within Davis Creek that are W LWCF deed restricted.

So the ask would be is that if the state denies this request and requires a conversion, that we would ask this weather station to be relocated on other parcels within Davis Creek that are not impacted.

Um the problem with that is that some of these sites are not ideal for the weather station location.

It's more exposed, it's in the open and it's adjacent to the highway, which can affect data collection and accuracy.

Fiscally, there's no uh direct impact to Washa County uh outside of staff time that would help coordinate the LWCF determination with the state.

Uh the sole cost of the weather station, construction, maintenance, and um overview of it would be the responsibility of TERFMA.

Direct impacts to the park itself would be the installation of the weather station.

It would be a seven-foot tower secured in concrete, um, and would require hand excavation of about a three by three foot area for that actual base of the tower.

TERFMA will use um the existing access roads and trails in order to do routine um visits to the station and anticipate two times a year having to um visit the station to make sure it's working accurately.

If park commission agrees with staff recommendation, I do have a proposal uh made before you and with that, are there any questions?

Thank you, Faye Marie.

That's uh excellent uh presentation there.

Um the looking at these images.

Uh I don't see any chain link fence or uh um something to protect the facility so this doesn't happen again.

Is there anything proposed or uh possible uh structure or something that we don't have to go through this again in the near future?

Uh as far as for vandalism and security, they are proposing, if needed to have fencing around the station itself.

But with fires and what can happen with that as far as the destruction of the original station from the Davis Creek fire, it's something that it's active God, so we don't have that ability to anticipate for it.

We could do some vegetation removal around it, but um again, it's more of a uh vandalism by visitation versus being uh natural issue.

Okay, thank you.

Um any questions from the commissioners.

This is uh commissioner Joel.

Oh, just from a process standpoint, it sounds like we need you need state's approval also.

Is it typical to go forward this far without?

I mean, is there a way to do some sort of cursory review or something with them in the future?

So we're not spending staff time and effort and then maybe getting a no and we can and we did in this instance.

So from the information that we have, we've had preliminary conversations with them.

Um without having that full depiction of what it could do to benefit the park, that's something that they're needing to have for evidence to prove that this is a direct benefit.

So, in instance for this, we feel that that precipitation and uh temperature readings that we can get could help rangers essentially understand when they need to do snow removal or the help with irrigation management.

So there could be a win for how it benefits the park directly.

Um, but again, that that direct benefit would have to be evaluated by the state.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, this is Commissioner Joel.

Uh so I guess I'm just kind of missing, and I totally get that there is uh a web of bureaucracy involved in many of those state of Nevada grants.

But if the station existed at the park before, and this is just a re uh replacement from the fire and and relocation.

I I guess I'm just missing on why the state would deny it when it existed at the park prior.

Good question.

So from our records, the original station uh was installed without the proper approvals, so we're making sure with this new location and this new proposal that it is going through the correct channels.

I have a question.

Um, may I ask the way that this recommendation reads?

It's contingent upon the land and water conservation fund requirements.

Um, so if they were to reject it, perceive that weather is not related to like the recreation park purposes.

It sounds to me like if you wanted to move forward, you'd have to come back to this commission with a new proposal outside of that land designated.

Um is there a way that we can make a recommendation that grandfathers in implementing this, whether or not it goes in the like specific designated land or goes outside of it, like that would still give you the approval moving forward from this board regarding just the weather like station in general, or are we tied only to this and we'd have to see it come before the commission again?

Yeah, I understand what you're saying.

You're saying that if the state decides to deny this, yeah, Turkmo wants to move forward, then at a different APN that's not impacted by the LWC of deed restriction that that again would come back to us.

Um I look to legal to see what we can do for that as far as amending the recommendation.

I think my concern would be would be an unknown, and we want to give the public proper notice of where this potentially could be.

And so that would be my concern about just making it contingent and on a potential future location, but just from an open meeting law perspective.

The location looks very undisturbed right now with uh where the where the flag, the survey flag is located.

Uh, and I understand there's very little access to it required once it's in operation, but uh getting in and out of there with a tower and concrete and construction and whatnot, and while it's minimal, is there any uh has it been addressed how they're gonna go back and repair that after they've ribbon in and out of there a few times?

Or is it all gonna be walked in?

My understanding is all could be walked in, it wouldn't be driven in further than what's already existing for roads and access in the trails.

Okay, thank you.

Uh Commissioner Baker, just to follow-up question.

Um, so the information collected in the data, is that accessible to the public?

Yes.

Okay.

So I mean I feel like you have a pretty good argument with the state if if that's that there's actually a public benefit to that data collection.

Yes, so that in the collection of the data itself is for precipitation and temperature, and that's relayed every 15 minutes to TERFMA, but it's also publicly available on the Synoptic Data Viewer.

Um, I don't have that link with me, but I can send you that information later.

Yeah, that would be great.

Thank you.

Uh, as Commissioner Hill, uh, move to approve a license agreement between Washoe County and the Truck River Flood Management Authority for the construction operation, maintenance, and replacement of a weather monitoring station within a portion of Davis Creek Regional Park APN 046-041-10 contingent upon a determination of the Nevada Division of State Parks that the proposed license agreement is consistent with the land and water conservation fund requirements and does not require a conversion of LWCF protected parkland.

This is Commissioner McKinsey.

I'll second very well.

The motion has been made and seconded to accept um this recommendation.

Uh, do we have any public comment?

I have no public comment in chambers.

I have no public comment on Zoom.

Very well.

Uh, do we have any further discussion on the commission board?

Hearing none, very well.

All those in favor, say goodbye by saying aye.

Uh aye.

Aye.

Oppose.

Motion carries.

Moving on to item seven, acknowledgement and recognition of park maintenance worker Jose de Jesus Horta Mata for his five years of continuous service to Washoe County.

And I apologize if I didn't say that name correctly.

Please Mike Furlong, uh, work out of the North District.

I work with Jose's supervisor.

Jose's been here five years.

He's one of my better employees.

He works, comes in every day, has a great attitude, does the job.

He has taken over for another person who has moved out of uh one district.

He takes care of the North Valley Sports Complex, and Jose's just been killing it.

He's out doing new maps, re redoing all the sprinkler heads and making a map of all that so we get in the computer system, and uh he's accepting his five years.

So thank you very much.

And thank you.

Very well, thank you, Jose.

We need uh maintenance on a lot of projects out there, so thank you for your hard work.

Uh moving on to item eight, uh, presentation and reading of a proclamation recognizing July as parks and recreation month, celebrating the vital role parks, trails, open spaces, and recreational programs play in enhancing the quality of life for our community.

This is for information, and I will be reading.

Proclamation of July as park and recreation month, whereas parks, recreation and open space is an integral part of communities throughout this country, including Washoe County, and whereas parks and recreation promote health and wellness, improving the physical and mental health of people who live near parks and open space, and whereas parks and recreation promote time spent in nature, which positively impacts mental health by increasing cognitive performance and well-being and alleviating illnesses.

And whereas parks and recreation encourage physical activities by providing space for popular sports, hiking trails, swimming pools, and many other activities designed to promote active lifestyles, and whereas parks and recreation increase a community's economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of local tax base, increased tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses, and crime reduction, and whereas parks, recreation and open space are fundamental to the environmental well-being of our community, and whereas parks, trails, and open space are essential and adaptable infrastructure that makes our communities resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change.

And whereas our parks and natural recreation areas ensure the ecological beauty of our community and provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature and recreate outdoors.

And whereas the U.S.

House of Representatives has designated July as Parks and Recreation Month, and whereas Washoe County recognizes the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Open Space and Regional Parks Commission that the month of July 2026 is recognized as park and recreation month in Washoe in the County of Washoe.

Proclaimed this day, July 29, 2026.

Thank you.

You're here.

Thank you.

Moving on to item nine.

Presentation by Nervera Beia and his Eagle Scout project at Davis Creek Regional Park.

And once again, if I pronounced your name incorrectly, my apologies.

Good afternoon, Commissioners.

Ranger Nick Steuer for the record down at Davis Creek Regional Park.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Eagle Scant Eagle Scout candidate Nirov Baya, whose completed project has been instrumental in bringing us one step closer to our restoration goals post-Davis fire.

So without further ado, Nirov.

Thanks.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Nirav Baya, and I'm from Troop 15 from South Reno.

I wanted to start off by talking about what my project is.

In September of 2024, our troop was supposed to be uh doing a family camp out at Davis Creek Regional Park.

But that same weekend, a drastic fire hit.

Um and that fire took out many pieces of infrastructure, including one of the main ways that Davis Creek Regional Park gains its funds to continue operating through the selling of firewood.

My project is a firewood shed with a side table attached where um volunteers can cut wood, bundle it, and store it into the shed for to protect it from rain.

So during the construction uh process, we decided to build it in the same location as the old shed.

As you can see here, here's my uh troop digging out the old posts.

Uh we dug out a lot of old concrete.

Um, and we ended up cementing the posts in, and we did a stronger post so it would be more wind resistant.

We then moved on to the sidewalls, as you can see.

Um, we decided to use um another Eagle Scout decided to make a firewood shed for the community to be able to buy firewood from mine's more on the back end side.

Um, so we decided to mimic the design of that firewood shed so it looked unanimous, and we decided to use um this rigid uh I don't know how to call it planked um wood siding on the side.

Um, this is more building.

You can see on the left image that we started constructing the table.

Um, this is when we started building the roof.

Um, it's a triangle truss roof on top, uh, allows rain and snow to not stay on top.

And this is more construction of the roof.

And as you can see, the table's really strong that we're able to hold an adult on it.

And then we ended up painting it um nice shade of brown and tan to make it look the same as the other Eagle Scout.

Uh and this is the final product.

Uh yeah, thank you very much.

Any questions?

Well, uh, my goodness, thank you, Narab.

That's absolutely fantastic.

That I think this is gonna do a lot of good at Davis Creek and um people's firewood is gonna be safe and dry.

And uh thank you.

Excellent job.

Thank you very much.

I would also like to thank Chucky Tahoe Lumber and the Home Depot uh Neil Road uh for their generous donation of materials for this project.

Well, thank you.

Very good.

Thank you very much.

Okay, presentation by Megan Valaquez and on her Eagle Scout project at the Swan Lake Nature and Study Area.

And once again, I apologize if I didn't pronounce your name correctly.

Hi there, Celia Walker.

I'm Park Ranger in Pivine District and the North Parks.

Uh, it was a pleasure working with my leg Megan Velasquez.

Um very proud of her and her commanding presence was awesome with her troop.

Swan Lake really benefited from this.

Um, so I'll turn it over to Megan.

Okay, thank you so much.

Um, and it's really great to meet every single one of you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Megan Velasquez.

I'm a graduate from Coral Academy of Science and an Eagle Scout from Troop 55G.

So I'm here today to talk about my fun Eagle Project, the Swan Lake Beautification Project.

And uh this has taken me almost 18 years to achieve because it takes your entire scouting career turn this award is the highest award in Scouting America.

And my career started when I was only eight months old.

Isn't that crazy?

Because my brother is also an Eagle Scout himself.

So my project took place.

There we go.

At Swan Lake.

So this was before we met uh in early November of 2025, and we took some pictures around the area.

There was so much vegetation, a lot of invasive plants, it wasn't looking so hot.

So this is where I come in, where I wanted to get together 30 volunteers to just beautify the area to and install eight of these wonderful Leopold benches.

They are bird watching benches.

And on the back of three of them, you will find this logo that I oh don't look at that.

You will find this logo that I designed having the scouting emblem.

It does not have my name on them.

But Eagle Scout Project 2025, True55, you'll find them out there.

It's super cool to find.

So, but first, before we could install the benches, obviously, we stained every single one of these planks in my backyard.

It was very fun.

Also, with the project, we also cleared trails and we removed trash.

Here's the day of service.

People holding up the things, building the benches.

We moved all the planks on site and we assembled it.

And all of that wood that you see here, including the wood on this bench, was entirely donated.

Thanks to MasterCraft and Lowe's.

That was almost about $2,000 of lumber.

So shout out to them.

They're super cool people.

And now here's the beautiful after.

After long dedicated hours, which came to about 167 hours in total from each of my volunteers.

We were there for about eight hours.

It looks so beautiful now.

Wow.

And now people can walk through and they can appreciate the park and they can go on what is now called the bench trail.

And it's it's amazing.

Don't know what's fine about.

Okay.

Oh, and then the benches, just so that way Swan Lake is known to flood.

We drilled a hole in the leg of one of one of the legs, and then we attached it with some chain to a cement bucket with an eye hook in it, and we dug it into the ground, and we put the bucket in the ground, and we attach the chain with a lock to that eye hook.

Uh about let's see, what month are we in?

Nine months in, none of them have moved at all, as far as I know.

And they're super easy to put just back in the ground, super awesome.

So that was my presentation.

Thank you so much.

This was also endorsed by the Nevada National Guard, and every single thing was donated, including lunch and snacks and materials and supplies.

Everything, not a penny was spent.

Thank you.

Any questions?

No.

Thank you, Megan.

Uh that's fantastic.

You did a great job.

And very, very pleased that uh they haven't walked away either.

So that's a very good thing.

Thank you very, very much.

Great job.

Thanks, Mr.

Yay.

Thank you.

All righty, moving on.

Uh, item 11 update on the pro's consulting work to develop a service plan for the possible creation of a park district.

Director Crump.

Uh thank you for the record, Eric Crump Washer County's community services department.

So uh, not a lot of update on this.

So uh staff uh from the city of Reno, City Sparks, and obviously our park staff have been working with a consultant over the past several months.

Uh, they're wrapping up what will be the draft feasibility plan and uh service plan along with recommendations for next steps.

Uh we're still on track to have that in our hands in September.

Uh we talked um between City of Reno and City of Sparks and ourselves about another joint park commission meeting, uh, probably looking at October uh for the sole purpose of reviewing that feasibility study uh service plan and recommendations.

So uh more to come, but uh we're on track uh to have something here in September and October.

Any questions?

Uh very good.

Thank you, uh Director Crumb.

Uh any questions from the board.

Hearing none.

Uh moving on to item 12 uh information presentation for recent fuel reduction projects on Washoe County Park properties.

This was uh an item the from a public comment just to give everybody a little up to speed um some months back and uh looking forward to this, Joanne.

Okay, uh my name is Joanne Louden, Natural Resource Planner Coordinator for the record.

I'm gonna be talking a little bit about some of our recent fuel reduction projects um that have happened on parkland.

Uh so I want to start off by kind of talking about the fact that we have no dedicated parks funding um to support fuels reduction or any kind of post-fire restoration and recovery.

So we're relying completely on our partners um to fund and actually complete this work for us.

And so right now we're working pretty heavily with Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, also with the Nevada Division of Forestry, and of course the Forest Service.

So before I talk about the fuels projects that we've actually completed, I want to give you guys a little background about how these projects come about, kind of how sites are selected, and really what some of these fuels treatments entail.

So first off, we do have a state plan.

It's called the Nevada Forest Range and Watershed Action Plan.

This was last updated in 2020.

So this plan, of course, addresses landscape management priorities for the whole state of Nevada.

It provides a framework and analysis to establish priority landscapes.

And of course, it focuses on investment and natural resource and wildland fire management projects.

So this is kind of a baseline plan for the entire state.

And then building on this, we also have what are called community wildfire protection plans.

These plans are a little more site specific.

So these are going to identify and prioritize areas where hazardous fuel reduction is needed.

They're going to recommend appropriate treatment methods.

So they're going to decide, you know, does this site need thinning?

Does it need prescribed fire, mastication, or some other type of vegetation management?

These plans also focus on protecting lives, homes, critical infrastructure, and other community assets.

These plans also include recommendations for reducing the ignitability of homes and communities through defensible space and other mitigation measures.

And of course, having these plans in place is really critical.

It helps communities compete for state and federal wildfire mitigation funding.

So it's really tough to get grant funding to support these projects if you don't have a plan.

So some of the factors that are considered as we're prioritizing selecting treatment sites, and of course, this applies to our park and open space sites.

We're looking at what's the existing wildfire hazard and fuel loading present on the site.

What's the proximity of the site to communities in the wildland urban interface?

So the WUI.

What type of critical infrastructure is present?

Evacuation routes, firefighter and public safety.

And then, of course, we always look at ecological conditions and forest or rangeland health.

So could that site benefit from thinning or some other vegetation treatment to actually improve the quality of the habitat that's present.

Of course, we're also always looking for opportunities to coordinate treatments across ownership boundaries.

So for example, if Forest Service is planting something adjacent to a park site, it's often very beneficial for us to partner and treat everything as a whole.

Of course, we're always looking at available funding and partnerships for these projects.

So if you're not familiar with fuels treatments, there's a lot of different things that can be done.

Probably one of the most common is either mechanical thinning or hand thinning.

Obviously, mechanical thinning is done with machinery on site where hand thinning tends to be cruised with chainsaws that are actually going in and hand filling trees.

And of course, once you do the thinning, you have to do something with the vegetation, you know, that's created as you're removing it.

So that's usually either done through mastication with equipment or chipping.

And then we often do pile burning, so they will take all that material, they'll create piles on site, and then they'll come back at a later time when conditions are appropriate, usually in the winter time, and they'll burn those piles.

Another goal when we're developing these treatments, we're looking at creating defensible space and buffers, especially around critical infrastructure.

And we're also looking at creating community fuel breaks where they make sense.

So there's two primary funding sources that both Truckee Meadows Fire and Nevada Division of Forestry typically go after to help support these projects.

The first one is the hazard mitigation grant program.

This is a federal grant.

This is administered through FEMA.

And then the other one, there is the Nevada Shared Stewardship Group.

We are part of the Sierra Front Priority Landscape.

So there is a whole group that gets together and evaluates these types of projects to decide which ones get funded.

And the funding for these is provided through the Forest Service Wildfire Crisis Strategy funding.

Okay, so I have this slide up here because I want to just touch on NEPA briefly.

For those of you who don't know what this is, this is basically a requirement for any type of federal funding or any projects that would occur on federal land.

There's a requirement that they consider impacts to natural and cultural resources.

So there's a lot of background planning that goes into these projects.

Typically, Truckee Meadows Fire goes after those hazard mitigation grants that I was mentioning earlier.

So they have a requirement to actually go out and survey for cultural resources for sensitive species.

They have a requirement to reach out to SHIPO, a requirement to reach out to Nevada Nature Heritage Program, Endow to get input on what potential resources are concerned at that site, and also to get recommendations on any type of mitigation or design feature to reduce those impacts.

So here's some examples of the types of project design features or mitigation that you might see come out of a NEPA process.

And again, these are very site specific.

So they're really gonna look at it site by site and determine you know what are the resources of concern here, what can we do to lessen those impacts?

And there are certainly times when you know a resource might not be present, so they don't need to have any type of mitigation for that.

So here's some examples wildlife protection, it could be a seasonal operating restriction, they could require nest or habitat surveys prior to the project starting.

They could require protective buffers around, for example, a known nest site for a sensitive species.

And there's a whole list here.

So you might be wondering well, what happens if it's not on federal land or it's not federally funded?

So basically, our partners each have their own sort of separate process for dealing with uh local projects that aren't federally funded.

So with Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, their standard is they do pre-inspection of their work site and they look for any natural or cultural resource concerns.

If anything's found, they will flag and avoid.

Um then, of course, they always coordinate with park staff ahead of time on all the project work to see if we have any additional concerns or any additional restrictions or things that we want them to implement for that site.

And then Nevada Division of Forestry, they handled theirs a little bit differently.

They actually consult with Endow, they consult with Nevada Division of Natural Heritage, they consult with SHIPO, and they let those agencies identify any potential site concerns, and then they would follow any recommendated or recommended uh mitigation measures from those agencies.

And again, NDF is really good about coordinating with park staff, making sure that there aren't any additional resource concerns or things that we would like them to implement as part of the project.

So now that I gave you some background, I just want to highlight some of the more recent projects that we've completed.

Um, so Truckee Meadows Fire, they completed the Silver Knolls Park treatment.

This began in 2024 and it ended in 2025.

This was funded through the Long Valley Hazard Mitigation Grant.

This project, they did mosaic fuels reduction work.

Uh, they created some fuel breaks along the park boundaries with the residential areas.

They removed quite a bit of dead material and they reduced our brush component and again mosaic treatment.

So the intensity of treatment varies depending on the part of the site you're in, so it's not just a blanket treatment across the entire site.

So they're kind of varying how much vegetation they're taking out of each area.

Um, and again, these treatments were conducted using hand tools.

They also had some mechanical methods, including chipping and mastication of the material.

So this is another Trucking Meadows Fire project.

This was funded through the Jasper Hazard Mitigation Grant.

This one included Sun Valley Regional Park.

They began these treatments in 2024, and they just completed early 2026 with the loss of their pile burning.

Again, this was pretty much the same treatments I just described.

They did mosaic fuels reduction work, fuel breaks along park boundaries with residential areas.

They removed dead material, and then here they did some selective tree removal in areas of heavy juniper, and of course, they finished up all their pile burning this winter.

So moving on to some projects we did with Nevada Division of Forestry.

First one I'm gonna highlight is Galena Creek Regional Park.

This was a really big one.

This was funded through the Nevada Shared Stewardship Program.

Um, this one began in 2024, and they're mostly done with all of their thinning work, but they still have some pile burning to do over the next couple of years.

This one cost them $520,000, and they treated 185 acres.

As part of this project, they actually were removing some of the timber to the Tahoe Forest Product Sawmill to support their production, and then that also helps support the cost of the project to do this fuels reduction.

They did quite a bit of hand thinning, they also had quite a lot of mechanical thinning and mastication, and again, like I mentioned, they created a lot of piles, and they'll be burning those over the next few years.

And so here's some good pictures just showing you the work in progress.

On the left, you can see some piles burning.

Um, on the right, you see some mechanical equipment.

And here's uh some photos showing the log decks and a truck getting loaded up to take the logs to the mill site.

And here's a good before and after, just showing you kind of what it looked like before they thinned it and then what it looks like after thinning.

And then here's some after photos uh showing what the site looked like after they were done with the thinning.

So Nevada Division of Forestry also has helped us substantially with the Davis Creek Regional Park post-fire recovery.

Um they have done quite a bit of work in there for us.

Uh they've invested about 131,000 and treated 75 acres for us.

Um this was mostly focused on dead down and hazard tree removal on site.

Um and again, as part of that, they transported 22,490 board feet to the Tahoe Forest Product Sawmill.

Um, they also they applied some pre-emergent herbicide for us last year, and there's a photo there showing the uh aerial drone that was used to apply that pre-emergent herbicide, and that was done to help us control annual grasses so that we could get vegetation recovery on the site post-fire.

Um, and they are planning a drill seeding uh for this fall.

And another recent project with the Nevada Vision of Forestry, uh, Bowers Mansion Regional Park.

Uh this one actually started early this spring, 2026, and they're planning to wrap up with pile burning, probably by 2029.

Uh, they invested about 54,000 in this project and treated 18 acres.

Um, this was a partnership project with the Forest Service, so they also treated 22 acres of forest service property that was adjacent to Bowers Mansion.

Um, so one of the big things they focused on was creating a 500 foot fuel break behind the fire station.

Um, this was identified as a priority area for fuel break.

Um, they also did quite a bit of thinning, both through hand crews and mechanical.

Uh, they did piles, and of course, the biggest goals for this site were forest health, riparian functionality, and defensible space around structures.

Uh Bowers Mansion has quite a few historic structures that are pretty much irreplaceable.

So, really doing fuels reduction in this area was a high priority.

So, here's some photos of the Bowers Mansion treatment.

And we got a couple more.

You should see some piles there on the left.

And then finally, my personal favorite, um, we've been partnering with the Forest Service um since 2013.

Uh, it's part of their Aerohawk sheepgrazing project.

Um, this project covers about 1,500 acres totally or annually, and it uh runs from Thomas Creek uh up through the Whites Creek watersheds.

And basically they have the Borderlanded Sheep Company bring in about 900 sheep and they graze them through that entire area over about three months worth of time.

So, what this does is this reduces hazardous fuels, uh, creates fuel breaks and helps slow fire spread in that area.

And again, these treatments have been ongoing since 2013, and they do them every year.

And of course, this includes the Washoe County Arrow Creek open space parcels, so that's part of the area that the sheep come through every year.

And that's it.

Any questions?

Well, thank you, Joanne.

There's a ton of information here.

And speaking as a former US Forest Service smoke chaser, it looks like fuels mitigation has become a lot more uh sophisticated.

But uh thank you.

Um I have no questions.

Board members.

Yeah, Commissioner Daig.

Uh, question about the sheep grazing.

Does that require the same level of a permitting as some of the more uh effort-driven the cutting and and masticating and so forth, or is it pretty easy to just get out and get it done?

Yeah, so that's a great question.

Um, since most of that is occurring on forest service land, and that is a forest service project, um, that was subject to the same NEPA requirements that I was mentioning.

And there is actually an existing environmental assessment out there.

It's called the arrow, I can't remember exactly air hoc fuel reduction, and it encompasses a whole range of projects, not just the sheep grazing, but it is included within that.

And a follow-up to that, Joanne, uh, the is there a typical timeline for the permitting process once an area is identified and a plan made, then you start all this process.

Is it a multi-year sort of thing, or is it is there a typical?

Yeah, I would say no, because it really is going to depend on the level of NEPA analysis that's required or if one even is required.

And a lot of times these things are very based on funding availability too.

And then it's also going to depend.

So without getting two in the weeds on NEPA process, it depends on who the lead agency is and kind of what their timelines look like.

So, you know, your your timing going through a process with FEMA might be different if the Forest Service went on their own and did their own NEPA process.

So that the timing on those is going to be slightly different.

Okay, thank you.

Commissioner Flay.

Oh, am I on?

Yeah, okay.

Uh Commissioner Flyingus.

Um, I have a question.

I was unfamiliar, and maybe you can clarify to this shared stewardship agreement.

Do you sub does that submit a plan to the state that creates a budget for fuel mitigation every year?

Is that what I'm understanding?

Um, you know, I would have to look into how they function a little bit more.

Um specific agreements and MOUs and things in place, and then they get a pot of money through that wildfire mitigation fund that I mentioned.

Um, and then as a group, they get to basically evaluate projects that are submitted by the members, and then they decide where that funding pot for that year is gonna go.

Okay, because I know their uh renewal is coming up in October.

Um, so it's you know very timely.

Um, but I was just super curious about how their funding comes down to the state and then is allocated out to like local jurisdictions.

Um, also in this, I kind of have a question.

Nevada Dig of Division of Forestry seems to be doing a lot of fuel reduction.

Is there any of it sounded like there was funds for wildfire recovery?

Is that true?

Did I understand that correctly or no in this kind of combination?

Yeah, no, I I mean those the funds for Davis Creek came specifically from NDF.

Okay.

Yeah.

Also, just point of personal privilege.

I took a little field trip out to Davis Creek and I got to go with park ranger Nick.

Um, and I saw where they had done the herbicide treatments, and the difference in vegetation was huge.

Um, it has like a huge impact.

So, anyway, shout out to like the whole parks team, but it was very cool to see in person.

Commissioner Garcia, for the record, um, thank you for the thorough presentation.

It was very informative.

It's you're having to rely on outside agencies because we don't have the dedicated funding is a real challenge.

And it's obviously something that we get phone calls a lot at the county.

So I have uh a positive comment from a constituent and then two questions from constituents that I was hoping that if you can um answer.

So the positive comment I recently received was in regard to the Jasper grant.

It was a senior citizen who lives just right outside of my district, and he was just so appreciative.

And I'll pass this on to Trekkie Meadows Fire Protection District, but so appreciative that his area, he and his neighbors had been selected for this grant.

He says, I'm 90 years old.

I I've lived in this home for you know 50 plus years, and it's just really scary for him to know that things are getting bigger and the chances of wildfire are just growing by the day, and there's a lot of already fire activity.

So he was just very um grateful.

So thank you for helping coordinate all that.

Um the second con what question I got was I had posted a uh video on social media about the goats the city of Sparks had hired and were working some different um areas, and this was by the Wild Creek um open space area.

Um many constituents reached out to me to say or ask if there are companies in the region that allow or um allow the goats to be rented out for private residences.

Do you know the answer to that or where we could refer people to learn more about the goat grazing?

Yeah, so we actually have used a company here locally in the past.

Um we've done some goat grazing out at Swan Lake and also at our Carcione property, although it is a bit cost prohibited for us right now.

Um, so I I could look up the contact information and send that over to you.

That'd be great.

And then the last question from a constituent outside of my district, but they were affected by the gold ranch fire.

Um, what was that two years ago?

I can't.

I'm starting to lose track with all of our fires.

The state came in and reseded the area, but it did not take.

Um, is there somebody that they could reach out to?

Uh that I mean, I think they were just kind of like, sorry, it didn't work, but is there anything that you know that could help this constituent?

Um, honestly, I would probably have them reach out to Nevada Division of Forestry and see if they could assist.

And I can also send you that contact.

Okay, that would be great.

Thank you.

Uh Commissioner Hill, um, great overview of projects.

Just curious, I didn't see any controlled burning, understory burning.

I saw a lot of pile burning.

Um wondering why what's the state of control burning with these agencies?

Are we doing it?

Who who is taking lead on those projects, that sort of thing?

Right.

So um, as far as I know, Washoe County does not allow the understory burning, um, and it is a risk management issue.

Um, but we do allow pile burning.

So I mean, I would love for us to be able to do some of that understory burning because certainly the forest service does it adjacent to our properties, but to date, I'm not aware that we've gotten any permission to do that.

Again, it's a risk issue.

Thank you.

Very well.

Any further questions?

Yeah, Commissioner, excuse me, Commissioner Baker.

Um, just a follow-up question also on uh on the grazing.

Um, most of the items have costs associated.

I think you kind of alluded to the fact that the grazing, I think, is a little bit cost prohibitive.

Goat, sheep, or otherwise.

Um, can you kind of ballpark that?

And and I mean, I think that's probably why we don't do that more often.

And then obviously the vegetation has to be probably pretty specific.

Um, and the topography probably has to be pretty specific, but um, can you expand on how sites are selected and and why and where?

For goat grazing specifically, just grazing in general.

Yeah.

Um, so I mean, I can speak to cost a little bit.

And again, the sheep are a little bit different than the goats.

So, as far as I know, the Borda land company actually donates the value of that sheep grazing.

They don't actually charge for service for that.

But for the goat grazing, I wanna say a couple of years ago, we were paying around $30,000 for about 10 acres worth of grazing.

So I'm sure it's still probably right around on that ballpark.

And then as far as site selection for parks specifically, we're looking at sites where we aren't gonna have conflicts with recreation.

So it's pretty tough to do this type of uh fields reduction in developed park sites or where you're gonna have a lot of conflicts with the public during park hours.

So sites like Swan Lake are really good for this.

Uh some of our open space properties where we don't have a lot of infrastructure are good for this type of grazing.

Um, but there's a lot of places like we wouldn't want to have them in Rancho, for example, because there'd be way too many conflicts.

You know, we've got off leash dogs there, you know, we've got tons of use, we've got mountain bikes, so it just wouldn't work at that site.

So that really helps us kind of narrow down where we're gonna use that type of grazing.

Any further questions?

Hearing none.

Joanne, thank you very much.

That was an excellent presentation.

Thank you.

Moving on.

Uh 13 presentation and discussion on community services department budget related to parks and open space, including but not limited to operating budgets, staffing, organizational, and financial structure.

Thank you.

That also was a mouthful.

Uh Stephanie DRC, uh, operation superintendent for parks.

Um, so we're gonna go through uh just a really high level uh budget discussion today.

Um we could talk all afternoon about budget, um, but I really want, especially new commissioners who haven't been through this presentation yet, to have an idea of how we're structured and how we're funded.

Okay, so first um oops, I wanna go back because I got a little click happy.

Um first I wanna talk about the Washoe County budget as a whole.

Um the county adopts an annual budget on our fiscal year is July 1st through June 30th.

So um it can be a little confusing.

We are currently just entered FY27, so fiscal year 27.

It's not 27 yet, but that's the fiscal year that we are in.

Um the numbers that I present to you today will represent fiscal year 25, which is the most complete budget information that we have.

We're still closing out 26.

Um, I would love to give you as the most up-to-date uh information as possible, but I want to make sure that I'm giving you accurate information.

So the county uh develops its uh budget.

It's it's a very long process and then goes into effect on July 1st.

So um budgets are created with strategic planning um in mind.

Uh the board of county commissioners has a clear vision and is actively updating the strategic plan with their long-term goals and their shorter term initiatives that help determine how uh budgeting is is created.

Um there was a public public budget workshop in January of 26, and then there were three additional strategic planning workshops that fed into this information as well.

Um goal, there were three strategic focus areas, mental health, senior services, and infrastructure.

Um, and then we as a county are continuing the goals of maintaining the service levels that we currently offer, uh, making a commitment and continuing the commitment to our employees to keep our employees working, and then making sure we're using our reserves wisely.

So here are some highlights from the FY27 budget at a county level.

Um, I really do just want to draw some attention to the first couple budget points or bullet points.

I apologize.

Um, that there were no new net new positions in any fund that were created.

Um, also there is a 3% salary savings that was budgeted, um, approximate 3% budget for across the funds.

Um basically where we're at budget-wise is we're in a we're in a structural deficit where revenue is coming in at a slower rate than expenditures are going up.

And that is very common right now in um not just Washoe County, but across the jurisdictions.

Um, so we are having to make some decisions uh based on on that data.

Um so the budget this year will be flat.

Um we are not we're not cutting, we're maintaining services, but we're not increasing either.

Um so I'd like to go through our structure so you have an idea of how we're set up in our parks uh department.

So the regional parks and open space, that's us.

Um we are part of CSD operations.

So within the department of community services in operations, parks exist next to roads, equipment services, and facilities.

Um within our parks division, we have parks administration, parks operations, where the majority of kind of our budget is focused, um, golf course enterprise, the May Center, and Capital.

Um and I apologize, this is a little tiny, um, but I will do my best.

If you if you don't have it in front of you, I will um I'll yell the numbers out.

Um but this is our budget revenue side uh for fiscal 25.

So uh two sides to every budget there's revenue and there's expenditures.

Um as we like to say the budget is just a plan, right?

It's an educated guess for what we expect to happen.

Um so if you take a look at this chart for FY25, um, our revenue was um is is budgeted in the blue.

So what we expected to happen is in blue, and the orange is our actual, so what actually happened.

So um we are happy to report that our revenue did come in a bit higher than we were expecting.

Um so our total revenue is a bit higher as well.

Um the biggest kind of delta is actually in reimbursements, which I'll go through what that is later, but um that's where the biggest delta is and what we can point to.

Um, other than that, our charges for services revenue coming in is pretty spot on.

I'm pretty proud of the fact that we're pretty darn close to what we expected.

Um so I'll go ahead and kind of break down what our parks revenue sources are, what that looks like.

Um it's about 12% of our overall parks budget.

Um, charges for services include things like recreation charges, um, what it costs to get into the swimming pool or the water parks, uh, reservations.

So when you rent out a building for a wedding or a uh corporate retreat or a celebration of life, that also goes into charges for services.

Um field groups, um, our athletic groups who rent those or who utilize those fields.

Um rentals, any other building, pavilion rentals all go into that charges for services bucket.

Um revenue also includes reimbursements.

So for the East Shore Trail, um, we maintain those parking lots, um, which has an office or has an expenditure, and then we are reimbursed for that.

So that's kind of where that delta is in the last chart, um, is the reimbursements were slightly harder, larger than we expected them to be.

Uh, we are also reimbursed by Reno Food Systems for their water and utility reimbursements from the leagues, so their light fees go into that bucket as well.

We've got some other miscellaneous revenue.

Um, we have some pasture leases that we manage.

Um we have rafting permits, so companies who who lead rafting tours have permits that allow them to enter and exit uh the river from our parks.

We have a billboard out south out at South Valleys, and then there's an HOA agreement out at Galena Country Estates to manage that park out there as well.

So that um falls into the miscellaneous revenue bucket.

Um we also are very lucky uh to have the support from our friends and neighbors in our community in terms of donations.

So there's monetary donations and also in-kind services that we consider revenue as well.

Um, and then if we're looking at revenue, we can um we would be remiss to not talk about Davis Creek revenue.

Um, if we look at FY24, um we were up near 200,000 in revenue for um for that park.

And then obviously you see FY26, that's zero.

So that it's a very important part of the conversation when we talk about um getting that back up and running.

Would the I'm sorry, this Commissioner Hill, just quick question.

With the Davis Creek revenue that would fall within charges for services.

Correct.

So you beat budget with missing a 200,000 line item that year, it looks like fiscal 25.

Yeah.

Nice.

Yeah, thank you.

Okay, um, our recreation team is very small.

We've got three um employees who work on our recreation team, but they have a heavy lift as far as the um revenue coming in.

Um, recreation, we've got aquatics, um, which we've talked a little bit about in past meetings, but we have Bowers Pool, uh, the Melee Ogispari splash park, and also the North Valley splash park, all of those are seasonal activities, uh seasonal um facilities.

Um, and we try uh to the very best of our ability to be open Memorial Day through Labor Day in some fashion.

Um we also have athletic fields and um youth sports are um are bigger than ever.

Um, and so we try and utilize those uh to the best of our ability uh with the leagues as well.

Um and then we also have the Robert Z.

Hawkins amphitheater as well.

Okay, so this chart basically shows you how many reservations we're managing per quarter.

It follows a general kind of pattern.

Quarter, two, and three each year generally are much higher.

Those are our warmer spring summer seasons.

And you know, you see a significant intake or incase in park reservations in those amphitheater or the pavilions and then in our buildings and gardens as well.

This chart goes all the way back to 2019, so you can kind of see the pattern.

Davis Creek is still our largest reservation, even though we haven't been able to do that for the last couple of years.

So that just kind of shows how significant those reservation numbers were in the past.

Okay, and then talking a little bit about donations as well.

Here's a five-year history of our donation revenue.

If you look back to 2021, uh fiscal 2021, we had about 7600 in donations.

Um and fast forward to FY25, we had about 80,000 in donations.

In addition, uh park staff has tried very hard to make it as easy as possible to accept the donations when people come to us wanting to do so.

And we have, I'll show you a screen of it later, but we have an online donation mechanism that at our at our programs where people were attending and then wanted to then donate.

In the past, we could only take cash or check.

Um our onloading online donation mechanism has made it significantly easier to do that.

Um the donations at the programs themselves had gone up significantly.

Um last year we had about 11 and a half thousand dollars just in that digital donation that we may not have gotten otherwise if we could only take cash.

And this is very tiny as well.

I apologize, but this is a snapshot of the grant awards and utilization we've had over the past several years.

Um, if you look at the total in grants awarded, it's over five million dollars.

Um, Joanne, who just did that wonderful uh presentation, manages for the most part um all of these grants and stays very busy doing so and does an amazing job identifying those grant opportunities and then managing once they get here.

Once the money arrives, uh the work doesn't end, it actually is just getting started.

So it's a significant lift to manage these grants, but they that's what allows us to do above and beyond what our budget would support.

Okay, so the opposite side of the ledger from revenue is expenditures.

Um here uh again, blue is budget, so the plan, and then uh orange is the actual.

So what actually happened?

Um, this is again FY25.

So the most complete information we have, uh 26 expenditures are still posting.

Um, but this gives you a good idea of kind of where we're at.

Um salaries and wages are our largest um budget expenditure, which makes sense.

We are a service um organization, and um we we uh have a large contingent of employees who are here just specifically to serve the public outside of revenue benefits are also a large part of that, and our services and supplies budget is about three and a half million dollars for the year.

Um, if you look at the budget versus actual, we're very, very, very close on expenditures, um, which again we uh take a lot of pride in in being as close to that budget number as we possibly can.

And that takes a lot of planning because parks are very underpredictable.

Um, you know, we could have a day where we go out on there's 50 sprinkler heads that are broken, and you can't just ignore that.

You can't let the turf suffer because of it.

So we have to uh be really nimble and adjust as those uh as the months go on, especially into the growing season.

Again, uh salaries and benefits represent the majority of the budget at about 61%.

We have about 45 full-time or FTEs, and right now we currently have two vacant.

Um there is a national standard of 8.1 FTEs for every 10,000 residents.

So if you think about the population of Washoe County at being over 500,000, we are not anywhere close to the national uh standard.

It would be around 400 plus employees.

And so I think that we're doing a pretty good job with the employees that we have and the resources that we have.

In the summer, we add significant seasonal help and through lifeguards and in park maintenance and in our park ranger aids across the department.

But our permanent staff really hold down the majority of the work over the fiscal year.

Services and supplies account for about 36% of our park operations budget with park infrastructure preservation.

So those are any big projects or infrastructure projects under 100,000.

That's about 16% of that services and supplies budget.

So anytime a tennis court needs to be resurfaced, or we have a fence that comes down, or you know, there's a dam that needs to be rebuilt that comes out of our infrastructure preservation budget.

And then we also have about 3% of our budget allocated for parks capital outlay, which can be confused with our capital improvement project budget.

That is a separate thing.

Our capital outlay budget is for medium equipment and vehicle purchases and then small construction contracts.

Okay, we also have a couple special funds.

And I realize I'm throwing a lot of information at you, so I'll do my best to answer them at the end.

But we have the golf course enterprise funds.

So there's three golf courses, Sierra Sage Golf Course, Washoe Golf Course, and Wild Creek Golf Course.

Sierra Sage and Washoe Golf Course are managed outside of the parks department now.

We're outside of the golf business, but revenue comes in via those agreements.

And Wild Creek Golf Course was deeded to the first tea of Northern Nevada.

So we um we no longer maintain or manage that golf course either.

We have other restricted funds, so through the May Center, which is the Arboretum and the May Museum, and those are restricted outside of the general fund, those um those funds.

So again, those special parks funds.

Um the revenue that comes in from Sierra Sage and Washoe Golf Course, Sierra Sage revenue is about 10% of the green fees that they collect.

And Washoe Golf Revenue is a fixed amount per contract.

I believe it's 50,000 per year.

Um and then no revenue is comes in from Wild Creek as we deeded that property over to First T.

The May Foundation is a restricted revenue source.

So the the Wilbur May Foundation and Washoe County entered into an agreement back in 1983, which provides a set of monetary value for those two facilities that the museum and the Arboretum.

Museum gets support of about 195,000 a year, and Arboretum support about 105,000 from that May Foundation.

There are additional supporters outside of that May Foundation, but that is restricted revenue for those those properties.

Okay, also we'll talk about capital improvement funds.

Um, so there are two different kinds of capital funds.

There's 402 projects, which come from the general fund and grant funds like ARPA or the Pennington Foundation, and then there are four 404 projects, which can come from RCT funds, which is residential construction tax.

Um, I think we've talked about it in this meeting before, but residential construction tax comes in the form of development.

It's a thousand dollars per dwelling that is built, um goes into a fund that then can help support parks in that district.

Um there's also additional grant funds that can be used for 404 projects as well.

Uh capital projects are anything over 100,000 and they have a different um set of rules that govern them.

Uh, we propose those capital projects um yearly and it goes into a five-year plan.

And then there is a committee that decides which projects will be funded and move forward uh to approval through the BCC.

So another very small slide.

Um, but these are some current capital projects in different levels of of completeness.

Um we are uh looking forward to um finishing a couple of playgrounds that are wrapping up that we're excited about.

The Rancho Accessible Playground was uh was finished up this year.

Um we're uh also looking forward to the uh new restroom building at Lemon Valley to open at those ball fields as well, and then move into the new the new projects, which we're excited about.

These are completed projects over the last five years.

There is a lot to do, and these funds were competing countywide across departments for a lot of this funding.

A lot of these projects are also made possible by Joanne's diligent work on finding grants to support them as well.

Okay, and how do we decide?

We try and use as much data as as possible so that we can be there's as much equity in the process as humanly possible.

We put out a park infrastructure scorecard.

And this is actually done across CSD, but this is ours for this year.

Our business intelligence team puts it together.

And it gives us kind of a general idea of where we're at and where we should focus going into the future.

If we are looking at the fiscal 27 budget, so the budget that we're currently in, we did uh submit a few above-base requests.

Um we submitted a request to uh increase the support at the East and West Parks in Incline Village that was approved, but we also had a couple of above-based requests that were not approved.

Um we were looking to add an additional staff support for the South Valleys Regional Park to accommodate the expansion of the park and the two additional softball fields that are current or that are about to be built.

Um and then we were looking to add additional funding for the fuel reduction uh work that Joanne spoke about earlier.

And those were not approved this year, but we will try again.

Um, and talking about data again, um, here are some key performance indicators and metrics in looking at parks.

Our regional park attendance has grown nearly five times faster than the population has since 2016.

Um we've increased about 66% compared to about 14% population growth, which is significant.

Um, you know, it says a lot of things.

People who are moving here are people who enjoy parks, which is wonderful.

Um, but we uh have to keep up with that usage.

Um some of our places are our parks are being left to death.

So we have to um identify where that's happening and shift resources in order to address that.

Um, as a reminder, service level funding equates to about 21 dollars per Washoe County resident per year.

Um so I took my family of four to the movies the other day and spent about a hundred dollars.

Um so for 21 dollars a year, you get to enjoy our beautiful parks all year long.

Um our operational budget still remains about 65% of pre-recession levels.

Um, and uh, you know, we have the citation authority, um, which was launched in July of 25.

Um, and its goal is to help protect and maintain that park infrastructure.

Um, with limited resources, we need to make sure that we're protecting um what we do have as much as as possible.

And that's been a helpful tool in that tool belt.

Um, more data.

So, how are we measuring our success?

Um, that's hard to do sometimes in parks when we're so service-oriented.

Um, we're looking at those workload indicators.

Um, you know, these are the things that we're taking into consideration when we're deciding where to place our resources, um, and then looking at key performance indicators, um, not necessarily as a level of success, but as a snapshot of where we are.

So, you know, we're looking at documented um vandalism and um safety issues.

We're looking at playground inspections and making sure that we're doing our due diligence to make sure that what we're providing to people is safe and open.

Um, we will be developing a customer satisfaction score for our reservations um group and figuring out how we can do a better job serving uh the community.

Um, volunteer hours are incredibly important to uh what we provide and indicating how how many projects we can get done with additional volunteer hours helps us kind of figure out where to shift our resources otherwise.

Um we're looking at rehab and and how we're um handling the noxious weed treatment.

Um we're looking at our park plans and making sure that we're bringing everything up to date because some of them are pretty old and our community has certainly changed.

Um and we're looking at attendance total at our programs.

Are we offering programs that our community wants and needs?

Um, and we can do that by by checking to make sure that people are attending them.

So those are all works in progress.

Um, in addition, we've got some of some focused goals for 27.

Um, we're looking at an irrigation asset condition assessment.

Irrigation is very expensive, and we have some very um significantly aging infrastructure that we want to make sure that we know where are the critical failure points and where do we need to shift resources if possible.

We're currently in the middle of an amenity asset condition.

So every park bench, every picnic table, every drinking fountain in every park that we have is being assessed and given a condition grade.

So we can focus that infrastructure preservation money and any capital projects focus on what needs to happen as opposed to what we think would be pretty or um you know has that has less of a critical failure issue.

We're looking to update our fee schedule.

We haven't done so um in a few years, and we want to make sure that we want to maintain accessibility to the community, but also make sure that we're being responsible in our use of taxpayer dollars and charging um fair uh amounts for what we offer.

Um we want to develop clear service levels so that we're all working from the same playbook.

Um we're working on on bringing on our seasonals with a standard operating procedure that everyone has the same experience when they come into doesn't matter which park you're in or which employee you are interacting with, it's it should be the same experience.

Um so we'll be working on that.

Um working on our trail maintenance plan and our regional trail plan, maintenance condition assessments, and then also cleaning up just you know our administrative um shared drive and need some love.

So it's not as exciting, but it's really really important.

So those are the things that we're going to be focusing on for 27 or fiscal year 27.

Um and then earlier I talked a little bit about what our digital donation page looks like.

Um we have QR codes at all of our programs where people can uh come to this landing page.

It's also on our website, um, where if people want to make donations uh to the parks, uh they can do so.

Um they can also um select from a drop-down where they can restrict their money to specific parks that they love or specific projects or just a general trust us to make the best decision we can with the donations that come in.

So that's what that page looks like.

Um and then that's the end of my presentation.

I would like to thank you for being on this board and acting as our ambassadors, um, not only in your advisory role to the Board of County Commissioners, but in the community.

Um it's it's really important for people to know what we're actually working with and that we can't be all things to all people, but we certainly try.

So that with that, I'm happy to try and answer any questions that you have.

Uh Superintendent DRC, that was excellent.

Um diving into uh some complex and difficult areas and budgeting, and you did a great job.

Um I will uh open it up.

It just seems like uh we're basically in a holding pattern, and we'll have to just deal with that for the time being.

But I will open it up to any questions.

Commissioner Flingus, I do have a question.

Um, this is a wonderful presentation.

Thank you so much.

Um, I do have a question.

I'm just super curious.

I know you talked about the revenue sources from parks.

Does it streamline directly into the park's budget?

So if for whatever reason you had a really great year, is that like funding pumping up your budget or is it going into the general fund?

It goes into the general fund.

Okay.

Um, aside from those, uh, like the museum, that money goes back into the museum, but those special funds, but uh general revenue goes into the general fund.

Thank you.

Of course.

Commissioner Garcia, for the record, I had a question in terms of the different amenities that we have.

Um, I imagine things like pools and splash pads and certain types of facilities are more expensive and we lose a lot more money on those.

Can you kind of paint the picture for me on what we love to have, but it's difficult to maintain or really uh expensive to get running operationally?

Absolutely.

So aquatics are absolutely the most expensive amenity that we offer.

Um, when you look at chemical prices alone, they have skyrocketed in the last five years significantly.

Um operations of aquatics on the like logistics side as well, like staffing, um, because there are such strict standards for what we offer to the public in that capacity.

Um, it's a very expensive operation.

So we would love to have more aquatics facilities in more areas of town.

Um we hear that regularly from the community about it being a want and a need.

Um, but they are they are incredibly expensive, especially if you have um at like an indoor facility that runs year-round.

So we are committed and excited to have them and do the very best job that we can with the resources that we have for those.

The time is now 3:10.

And the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission board is now back in session.

Moving on to item 14 park reports.

But I just want to cut a couple of uh upcoming highlights.

Um, and then I'm happy to answer any questions that you have.

Um the lazy5 master plan public input phase is still underway.

Uh, we've collected data at events um at the lazy5 music series and at a public workshop in addition to a few stakeholder interviews.

Uh the survey was intended to close this week, uh, but has been extended by a few days and is still available on our website.

So I would encourage anyone who's interested in what the future of Lazy Five Regional Park could look like to participate.

Uh, there are a few different options.

Um, there's a survey, there's some interactive activities, um, and uh it's a great way to kind of let us know what you'd like to see in that park.

Uh Art Town has been successfully bringing very popular shows to both Hawkins Amphitheater and at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park all of July.

Uh July 31st is the closing night at Rancho, and there are a couple additional events at Bartley Ranch before the end of the month.

Um, so I would encourage you to get out there and enjoy Art Town uh this year before it's over.

We're almost in August.

Um, and then just summer programming is still going strong throughout all of our parks.

Um, I'd encourage everyone to check out our website, which is uh washocounty.gov backslash parks for all our programming options.

Um there is something for everyone out there right now, so I'd encourage you to get out there and enjoy.

And I'm happy to answer any questions that you have.

Thank you, Superintendent DRC.

Do we have any questions from the board?

Hearing none.

That's it.

Thank you.

And moving on to item 15, the director's report.

Uh thank you for the record, Eric Crump with Wash County's community services department.

So just a few highlights from the Board of County Commission meeting, uh, some actions they took in June.

Um we were uh or we awarded uh the bid for the Canopa Ranch Open Space Trailhead side improvement projects.

Uh this is pretty exciting.

This will uh basically create a formalized trailhead for our Canopa Ranch uh out in the Bellye Ranch area that's on the river.

Um, and it will be access road, park and area fencing, trail improvements, signage, kiosk, uh, all those kind of standard things with troad.

Um another thing, uh the board approved a license agreement with uh MAS Golf.

That's our operator of Sierra Sage.

Uh, this is unique in the sense that they actually um approved a license agreement.

It's uh in essence a 25-year license agreement, the initial terms 15 years, and then uh a 10-year agreement.

And so uh that operator has agreed to make some what we're calling capital replenishment payments in the form of nearly sixteen thousand dollars a month over the life of the contract, uh, and we'll be able to make about three million dollars worth of improvements.

So I think it's a great example of a public-private partnership uh that is working for that golf course.

Um, he's been the operator out Sur Sage for about 10 years uh and offers a great product, so we were excited to approve that.

Uh and then we accepted uh our donation from the Wilbury May, Wilbur May Foundation of 300,000.

That's an annual donation uh for the support of the Wilbur May Museum and Arboretum.

Uh and then I uh I apologize in your package.

You do have an item in there about the award of bid for the uh next phase of the South Valleys expansion that was actually pulled during that item, so it was not approved.

It will be coming back to the Board of County Commissioners in August.

Uh we just have to work through some bid analysis.

Uh so we had to pull that item, but it will be coming forward in August.

Uh, and that's exciting.

Uh, that'll be the second phase of um South Valleys.

Uh so that was primarily funded through the Pennington grant that we received 3.5 million dollars, and we'll include two new softball fields, uh, a concession building, a restroom building, and all the kind of associated infrastructure along with that.

Uh and then in July, uh, we were um we accepted a recreation trails program grant for 100,000 for improvements to our nature trail at Rancho San Rafael.

So with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Director Crump.

Um well done.

Do we have any questions from the board?

Yeah, Director Crump, uh, this is Commissioner D on uh on the South Valleys regional park.

Um does this next phase uh use up all the remaining properties, or is it or is it just taking another chunk out of that?

I don't remember what the I remember seeing some some diagrams, but I don't remember how it uh Yeah, so the the master plan has we have roughly oh 17 plus acres of undeveloped parkland at South Valleys.

Uh it's mostly kind of north of the developed park up to uh out to wedge uh back behind the ice rink and up to uh the mobile home park.

Um so it's that section there.

Um this next phase is uh this would probably put us at maybe 30% completion of that entire area.

Uh there'll be additional flat builds, a dog park, um, you know, picnic areas, that type of thing.

So uh this basically when phase two is done, uh most of the parking will be done.

We are required now, we'll have an entrance and exit out to South Virginia.

Um that uh this new use triggered that requirement.

So uh we'll be doing that, which is great because it sets the stage for future developments.

Yeah, thank you.

I just I couldn't remember what that what that uh uh plan looked like earlier.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Very good.

Thank you.

Moving on to item 16.

Commissioner requests for future agenda items.

Uh Commissioner Hill, this is for staff.

I think we got some comments about uh leashing rules at a park.

And I was wondering um, I just want the constituents to know that that was not agendized, so we couldn't actually discuss it today.

And was curious if that will go to staff or if that does come to this board.

Uh, if you had any uh clarity on that, that'd be great.

This is Chad's for the record.

Um they can they can like take it, take a note, and if we want to agendize it to have further discussion, we can do that.

But they'll take your take your uh your your comments and we can go from there.

Very well.

Thank you.

Um item 17 public comments.

Just a moment.

Uh Commissioner Gertler had us or Kinsler had his hand up.

Go ahead, Biles.

Hey, thanks.

This is uh Commissioner Kinsler.

Uh I do want to agendize that for next time.

And I I would really like to hear staff's recommendation on what they think would be best um for that issue, whether it be leaving for park how it is, or um, you know, put in some kind of um, you know, a fence area for off leash dogs, yeah.

Whatever staff would recommend, I'd I'd be interested to hear very well.

Thank you.

Uh any further uh comments from uh our agenda items, future agenda items from the board.

Hearing none.

Very well.

Moving on to public comment.

Do we have any public comment?

We have Jim Stewart in chambers.

Jim, we have three minutes.

Please state your first and last day for the record.

Thank you.

Hello, my name's Jim Stewart.

Um thank you all for being here.

I just had uh a couple quick comments.

Um I live a five-minute walk away from Manchester Center Phil.

I'm there every single day.

I my dog goes to the dog park every day.

It's non-negotiable.

I ride my mountain bike through there to get the pevine trails and take grandkids there.

Anyway, just a lot of events there.

And I just wanted to ask this board to really give uh a formal thank you and recognition to all the rangers and the staff and everybody that works there.

They just do an incredible job keeping that park up.

And as I learned today, they're they're terribly understaffed.

And then I know people complain about everything, but I just wanted to say have something more formal saying that people do notice what a good job they do, and and we appreciate what they do.

And my second comment was there was a time back, I think it was the late 90s when they had the equivalent of a neighborhood advisory board for Rancho San Rafael.

And I was on that board, and then for some reason it just stopped.

We didn't get any notice or anything.

And I I've I've seen the master plan for the park, and it's very exciting and very ambitious, but I'm just thinking that maybe some type of neighborhood input from uh something similar would might help um with the planning and and the public perception of of what's going to go on there.

There's a lot of rumors that go around that I hear people talking about about exits off McCarran and all kinds of things that I don't think are really necessarily part of the plan, but I think that might ease those concerns.

And that's all I have.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Do we have any more public comment?

No further public comment in chambers.

No public comment on Zoom.

Very well.

The time is 3.20.

The chair calls for adjournment.

We are adjourned.