Manager's eUpdate for 11/26/08

I am pleased to provide you with highlights of some of our recent activities that reflect the County Commission's strategic priorities for our region. As always, I welcome your comments either by email (ksimon@washoecounty.us) or phone (775-328-2000). If you do not wish to receive this update by email, please let Community Relations Director Kathy Carter know at kcarter@washoecounty.us. Thank you.

Katy Simon
Washoe County Manager

Washoe County finished the purchase of the Persigehl portion of the Ballardini Ranch. The 121+ acre purchase will provide access to the eastern slope of the Sierra, and is an important natural habitat, featuring a branch of Evans Creek, and one of the last few remaining critical winter habitats for local mule deer. Protection of this property provides an important buffer between the wild lands above Reno and urban growth.

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The annual phone book recycling project gets underway on Monday, November 24. This year, Washoe County has six participation locations: Barley Ranch Regional Park, Lazy 5 Regional Park, North Valley`s Sports Complex, Sun Valley Community Park, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, and South Valleys Regional Park. AT&T will donate 17 trees to the Regional Parks and Open Space Department for every ton of phone books dropped off at these locations between Monday, November 24 and Wednesday, December 31.

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Washoe County`s annual Holiday Tree Lighting Festival will take place from 3:30p - 6p on Saturday, December 13 at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Festivities include holiday music performed by local youth choirs, hot cocoa and cookies, children`s activities, and lighting of a holiday tree donated by Rail City Nursery of Sparks. Tree decorations were donated by the Rancho San Rafael Botanical Society.

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During the Primary Election, over 5,000 citizens cast early ballots at a library, with South Valleys, Sierra View, and Sparks having the highest number of voters.

For the General Election, nearly 37,000 voters cast their early ballots at libraries between October 18 and October 31. Many patrons took advantage of the opportunity to tour the library and obtain library cards. A total of 1,585 new library cards were issued during early voting.

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The Washoe County Library System has just expanded its popular downloadable audio book service by adding MP3 titles. The MP3 format can be placed on various portable audio devices, including the Zune and iPod series of players.

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Community Devleopment hosted a wind energy workshop geared towards residential scale wind power development. The workshop, on November 19, was held in the County Commission Chambers, which packed to overflowing. NV Energy thanked the County for its proactive stance in promoting alternative energy, noting that this was one of only two workshops of its kind held in the state since the development of the new energy rebate program.

A recording of this workshop is available through Washoe County`s new Video-On-Demand service at www.washoecounty.us/mgrsoff/wctv_online.html .

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Preserve and Enhance Our Quality of Life

Provide Excellent Public Services