The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board approved county’s plan for local COVID mitigation measures: Washoe County staff presented two draft plans to the Board of County Commissioners for assuming local control of COVID mitigation measures. Per a previous directive from Gov. Steve Sisolak, the commission must approve a plan that has been endorsed by specified organizations including the cities of Reno and Sparks. During today’s commission meeting, a subsequent directive, Directive 044, was released by the governor’s office that outlined the steps toward local authority and what that authority will cover. One area it will not cover is the statewide mask mandate, which will remain in effect indefinitely. Directive 044 removes statewide social distancing minimums on May 1, and removes business capacity limits on June 1.
The plan approved by Commissioner today, with guidelines from Directive 044 to be added, recommends that businesses follow CDC guidelines for social distancing, allowing business owners to set their own limits. Other highlights include that groups of 10 will be allowed in public places.
Commissioners noted that approximately 46 percent of Washoe County residents aged 16 and older are already at least partially vaccinated, and the county will reach the goal of 50 percent in the near future. Fifty percent vaccination rate is a threshold for removing restrictions in the proposed plans.
“It’s hard for this board to be more restrictive than the governor, knowing that we have vaccines available,” Commissioner Alexis Hill said.
Commissioners approved the version of the plan that has already received the required endorsements, which will be then presented to the Nevada State COVID Task Force on Thursday, April 22. .
“We have to present something on Thursday. If we don’t, we will find ourselves in a more difficult situation,” Chair Bob Lucey said. “I feel that this is something we need to move forward with. I recommend that we vote on some sort of form of the endorsed plan. Then we can dissect this and put some definitions in our plan before we go before the state.”
“While we might not all agree what is going on, but when the rubber hits the road, I’m proud of this board and our chair to try to get to where we need to go with this,” Commissioner Jung said. “I think we deserve credit for the public vetting of this. We did this publicly with the light of day on top of this.”
2. Commissioners approved District Special Fund disbursements: Each county commissioner is allocated $20,000 per fiscal year for district-specific projects. The Board of County Commissioners today approved $10,000 for District 4, represented by Commissioner Vaughn Hartung, and $4,000 for District 5, represented by Commissioner Jeanne Herman.
A $10,000 grant will fund a new Vantage F3 robot and control system for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team.
“The SWAT team has been raising money for nearly two years on this item,” Commissioner Hartung said. “Once they obtain this robot and get it into service, I’d like to see it right here and talk about some of these nonlethal methods the sheriff is instituting to make our community safer.”
The Washoe County 4-H Development Program will receive $2,000 to support its Large Livestock and Horse Programs. Another $2,000 from the District 5 Special Fund will go to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada to support its Mobile Harvest distribution.
3. Board presented proclamations for dates of distinction:
- National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: April 18-24
- National Therapy Animal Day: April 30
- ALS Awareness Month: May 2021
- National Bike and Bicycle Safety Month and Washoe County Bike Month: May 2021
- Law Day: May 1
4. Board accepted donations supporting county services:
- Several donations for Regional Parks and Open Space totaling just over $2,500. The majority of the donations are dedicated to the May Museum and Arboretum, and to pay for virtual conference registration to attend the Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture for Arboretum staff.
- Grace Community Church of Reno donated $100,000 to the Washoe County Human Services Agency to provide housing and rental assistance.
- Several donations of items and funds for the Washoe County Human Services Agency Child Protective Services. Items include clothing and coats, Valentine’s Day cards, Neosure baby formula, file cabinets, toys and games, as well as monetary donations.
- Various items and funds donated to the Washoe County Human Services Agency Senior Services Fund. Items include bottles of Ensure nutrition drinks, blankets, ice melt, yarn, clothing, cleaning products, and monetary donations.
- Donation of 430 First Line CLP Oil Applicator Pens, valued at $4,300, to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. These applicators clean and lubricate firearms and can be held by a pocket clip.
