Joint WRWC and NWPC Meeting - October 22, 2026

The Western Regional Water Commission (WRWC) and the Northern Nevada Water Planning Commission (NWPC) held a joint meeting on October 22, 2026. Key actions included the unanimous approval of the FY28 priority setting budget, acceptance of the FY26 audited financial statement, and the reappointment of Dr. Mylin Newen to the NWPC. The commissions received a detailed update on the regional wastewater and stormwater feasibility study by Raftelis and an update on the draft Regional Water Management Plan. Outgoing commissioners Naomi Doer and Susan Sievert were honored with resolutions of appreciation.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agendas: The agendas for both the WRWC and NWPC were approved unanimously.
• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the August 19, 2026 WRWC meeting and the October 7, 2026 NWPC meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the designated public comment period.

Discussion Items

• Reappointment of Dr. Mylin Newen: Staff recommended the reappointment of Dr. Mylin Newen as an NWPC voting public-at-large member. Legal counsel confirmed the act is silent on late reappointments, and reappointing a willing member is standard practice. The reappointment was approved unanimously by both bodies.
• FY26 Audited Financial Statement: Seth Macy from Macy & Associates presented the WRWC fiscal year 2026 audit, reporting a clean opinion with no findings. The audit showed the commission's net position increased by $140.2 million, the general fund balance increased by $144,200, and general revenues increased by approximately 43 percent compared to the prior year. The report was accepted unanimously.
• Regional Wastewater and Stormwater Feasibility Study (Raftelis Update): Zach Green provided a status update on Phases 1B and 1C. Mr. Green reported that a firm consensus had emerged from stakeholder engagement to study a reorganization under the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) for wastewater rather than the status quo. The path for stormwater remains less certain, requiring further study on phasing, governance, and rate structure impact. Commissioners asked about grant funding eligibility and the need for enabling legislation; legal counsel indicated no major new state legislative act would be required to proceed.
• FY28 Priority Setting & Draft Budget: Kim Rigdon presented the results of the October 7 NWPC annual priority setting session. Wastewater and effluent management ranked the highest priority. The draft professional services budget for FY28 totals $2.7 million, a decrease from the FY27 budget of $3.1 million. The results and draft budget were accepted unanimously by both commissions.
• Regional Water Management Plan Update: An update was given on the public review of the draft plan chapters and a new web-based infographic designed to improve public accessibility. The infographic is coded to be responsive and directly integrated into the WRWC website platform. A commissioner raised a question about language accessibility for the site, which staff agreed to explore further. The plan is scheduled to return to the NWPC in January 2027 for recommendation, followed by a 30-day public comment period and final adoption by the WRWC in March 2027.
• Resolutions of Appreciation: Resolutions were adopted unanimously recognizing Commissioner Naomi Doer for 12 years of service representing the City of Reno and Commissioner Susan Sievert for 14 years of service representing the Sun Valley General Improvement District.
• Future Meeting Schedule: Staff proposed a new meeting schedule to avoid conflicts. NWPC meetings will be held on the first Monday of each month. WRWC meetings will be held on the second Wednesday, aligned with TMWA. No meetings will be held in June, July, or December.

Key Outcomes

• Votes and Approvals:
  • Reappointment of Dr. Mylin Newen (Unanimous)
  • Acceptance of WRWC FY26 audited financial statement (Unanimous)
  • Adoption of FY28 priority setting results and draft professional services budget of $2.7 million (Unanimous)
  • Adoption of Resolution 262 for Naomi Doer and a resolution for Susan Sievert (Unanimous)
• Next Steps and Directives:
  • Raftelis will continue work on Phase 1C of the feasibility study, with an interim report on Phase 1B findings to be issued soon.
  • The Regional Water Management Plan update is to be presented to the NWPC in January 2027 for recommendation, followed by a 30-day public comment period and final adoption by WRWC in March 2027.
  • Staff will investigate the feasibility of adding language translation tools to the new water management plan infographic and website.
  • The new meeting schedule will be adopted, canceling the November and December 2026 meetings for both boards.