Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting – September 1, 2026
Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting – September 1, 2026
The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Board of Fire Commissioners met on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at 1001 E. 9th Street, Reno, Nevada. Chair Clara Andriola presided, with Vice-Chair Mariluz Garcia, Commissioners Alexis Hill, Michael Clark, and Jeanne Herman present. Fire Chief Richard J. Edwards and Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gustafson also attended. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and covered consent items, a retirement resolution, new employee introductions, badge pinning, a union report, the Fire Chief’s operational briefing, a collective bargaining agreement extension, debt management acceptance, and a financial status update.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the meeting minutes from June 23, 2026 and July 7, 2026.
- Approved cancellation of the November 3, 2026 meeting and rescheduling it for November 10, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
- Accepted a $2,560.95 subgrant from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health for a sim stethoscope for air management training.
- Accepted a $14,640.00 subgrant from the Washoe County Local Emergency Planning Committee for 13 Cyanokits.
- Accepted a donation of one Lucas Mechanical Compression Device (valued at $19,204.20) from the Inter-Hospital Coordinating Council.
- Approved the reclassification of a vacant Logistics Coordinator position (salary range $61,901–$80,392) to a Logistics Support Specialist position (salary range $60,154–$78,250).
- All consent items were approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Herman.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were offered during any of the designated public comment periods.
Resolution Recognizing Adam Mayberry (Item #6)
- The Board read and passed Resolution TM07-2026 recognizing Communications Manager Adam Mayberry for more than 30 years of public service, including his work at Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District since 2018, his leadership of the regional joint information center during COVID-19, and his upcoming induction into the PRSA Sierra Nevada Chapter Hall of Fame in October 2026.
- Commissioners and staff expressed gratitude for Mr. Mayberry’s dedication, professionalism, and community service. He responded with thanks and noted his pride in the district’s recent wildfire response.
- The resolution was approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Herman.
Introductions and Badge Pinning (Items #7 & #8)
- Public Information Officer Kimberly Flores was introduced. She started on July 20, 2026, and has already coordinated messaging during recent wildfires.
- Fire Management Officer Scott Lucas was introduced. He began in June 2026, bringing decades of wildland fire experience from federal agencies and NV Energy.
- Fire Mechanic Chris McKenzie was badged and introduced. He became a certified Level 1 Fire Mechanic during his probationary period, with a goal of master technician status.
- EMS Coordinator Courtney Harrell was badged. She brings over a decade of EMS experience including ground paramedic, flight paramedic, and clinical quality improvement.
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2487 Report (Item #9)
- Mark Thyer, President of IAFF Local 2487, reported that suppression staff have faced an overwhelming month with multiple large, human-caused wildfires. He noted fatigue but pride in the dedication of firefighters and support staff.
- He thanked regional partners including Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Central Lyon, and Las Vegas for staffing engines.
- He highlighted that the district is down 10 suppression staff compared to the previous year.
- He announced a breast cancer awareness month t-shirt fundraiser in October, with proceeds benefiting breast cancer organizations.
Fire Chief’s Report (Item #10)
- Chief Edwards reported on apparatus: three new Type 1 engines were received and are being upfitted, with one expected for the next board meeting.
- Fire Station 35 remains unopened pending internet service; the state infrastructure bank approved transfer of surplus funds for furniture.
- Regional dispatch: architectural meetings are set for next week, and discussions on governance and finance are ongoing with partners. North Lake Tahoe is also being brought in.
- Wildfire Season Update:
- Bug Fire: 100% contained on August 27, burned 93,000 acres, 11 residential structures lost, 1 fatality.
- Stallion Fire: 100% contained on August 27, burned 40,000 acres, no structures lost, no fatalities.
- Hawk Fire: 98% contained, burned 15,000 acres, 48 residential structures lost, 1 commercial structure, 1 fatality. Transitioning to Type IV incident command.
- S1 Via Fire: 64% contained, burned 9,600 acres, 2 residential structures lost.
- At the peak, more than 43,000 people were under “go now” evacuation orders and 45,000 under “get set.”
- Chief Edwards noted that all major fires were human-caused and Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect.
- A FEMA Region 9 administrator visited to discuss potential disaster declaration for individual assistance.
- After-action reviews will be conducted; the public can provide input at emergencywashoe.com.
- Monthly Response Statistics:
- June 2026: 1,686 incidents. Reno assisted TMFPD 74 times; TMFPD assisted Reno 302 times. Sparks assisted TMFPD 35 times; TMFPD assisted Sparks 61 times.
- July 2026: 1,759 incidents. Reno assisted TMFPD 104 times; TMFPD assisted Reno 297 times. Sparks assisted TMFPD 23 times; TMFPD assisted Sparks 57 times.
- Prevention statistics were included in the packet but not read aloud.
MOU for Collective Bargaining Agreement Extension (Item #11)
- The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding extending the existing collective bargaining agreement (2024–2026) between the District and IAFF Local 2487 Non-Supervisory Unit through June 30, 2027.
- Approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Herman.
Debt Management Policy, Indebtedness Report, and Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (Item #12)
- CFO Crystal Subblett presented. Outstanding debt totals $2.3 million in general obligation bonds, $1.4 million for equipment, $6.2 million for Barron Way administration building, and $5.2 million for apparatus for Station 37.
- Next five-year principal and interest obligations: $1.3 million in 2027, $1.3 million in 2028, $1.3 million in 2029, $1.3 million in 2030, and $838,000 in 2031.
- The district’s debt limit for fiscal year 2026 is approximately $365 million.
- The five-year capital improvement plan for fiscal year 2027 includes $3 million for Type 1 engines and $175,000 for miscellaneous items.
- The report was accepted unanimously on a motion by Vice-Chair Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Hill.
Financial Status Presentation (Item #13)
- CFO Subblett reported that as of July 31, 2026, only 0.2% of fiscal year 2026-2027 revenue had been received (first property tax distribution arrived the previous week).
- Expenditures were primarily salaries, wages, and benefits totaling $5.5 million, representing 9% of the total annual budgeted expenditures.
- No capital project expenditures had occurred in July.
- The presentation was informational only; no action taken.
Key Outcomes
- All action items (Consent Calendar, Resolution, MOU Extension, Debt Management Policy) were approved unanimously.
- The meeting was adjourned at 11:01 a.m. without closed session because it was determined unnecessary.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. It is 10 oh one on September 1st, 2026, and I'd like to go ahead and call the meeting to order of the Trucking Meadows Fire Protection Board of Fire Commissioners. And if we could, I'd like to ask Adam Mayberry if he can do a salute to the flag in a minute. For which it stands. One under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Call to order and roll call, please. Chair Andreola. Present. Vice Chair Garcia? Here. Commissioner Hill. Here. Commissioner Clark. Commissioner Herman. Here. Fire Chief Edwards. Here. Deputy District Attorney Gustavson. Present. And I move on Strickland, Deputy Clerk. Madam Chair, you have a quorum. Thank you so much. We'll move now to item three, public comment. Chief Edwards. Yes, public comment. Comment heard under this item will be limited to three minutes per person and may pertain to matters both on and off the Board of Fire Commissioners agenda. However, action may not be taken on any matter raised during this public comment period until the matter is specifically listed on an agenda as an action item. The board will also hear public comment during individual action items with comment limited to three minutes per person. Comments are to be made to the fire to the board of fire commissioners as a whole. Thank you. We have nobody signed in. Thank you. Okay, we'll go ahead and close public comment and we'll move now to commissioners and fire chief announcements. Chief Edwards, do you have anything? I do not. Commissioner Clark, do you have anything? No, I do not. Commissioner Howe. No announcements, thank you. Vice Chair Garcia. Commissioner Herman. Thank you. Since everyone in this room has probably been in my district for a lot of time here lately, I want to give you all a very honest and sincere thank you for all your hard work. Essentially, maybe even an equivalent to maybe a FEMA course for elected officials when there is a disaster of any kind and look at a regional approach since we are a region and encouraging a plan for January or the first quarter of 2027 to even include much like the FEMA 402, I think it is where they have a full course that allows for tabletop and really um walking through the role of an elected official in in a disaster, in any type of disaster. But given the fact that fires have been prevalent and continue to be prevalent, I I think it's appropriate to make that request. Correct. And the tribes. And the tribes. For their consideration.
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