Manager's eUpdate for 02/04/09

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 Park Rangers are holding a book drive to collect new or gently used books for Sun Valley Elementary School students. From February 21 through March 15, books may be brought to the Park Offices of Lazy 5, North Valleys, Rancho San Rafael, Bartley Ranch, Galena Creek, and Bowers Mansion Regional Parks. The public is also encouraged to bring books to all upcoming park programs.

return to top

Food for Fines was a huge success at Washoe County libraries, with 18,841 pounds of food brought in by library patrons during November and December. The food was given to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada; in Incline Village, the donated items went to Project Mana. The Washoe County Library System was one of the top three donors to this year`s Food Bank holiday food drive.

return to top

Engineering staff of Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County met with Regional Transportation staff to begin the annual Pavement Condition Index (PCI) data transfer to RTC for the Regional Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Streets program. The data will be used by RTC to select streets for the 2010 preventive maintenance slurry seal program and the 2011 reconstruction program.

return to top

Washoe County Senior Services will be one of the key agencies for Nevada`s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program in Northern Nevada in 2009. Every spring they distribute coupons provided through Nevada Division for Aging Services to over 250 low-income seniors. Seniors can use the coupons to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at any of the many area Farmer`s Markets. The planning for the project began this month, and Senior Services has again agreed to lead the effort in partnership with the City of Reno Senior Programs and City of Sparks Parks and Recreation.

return to top

Washoe County departments brought forward their plans totalling $9.6 million in budget cuts for 2008-09, which were accepted by the County Commission on January 27th. With this latest round of budget cuts, Washoe County has reduced expenditures by a total of $64 million over the past three years. As a part of the overall plan for managing this fiscal crisis, employee associations were requested to approve concessions to lower the County`s overall labor cost. The Washoe County Employees Association, the County`s largest bargaining unit representing about 1800 employees, conducted a vote of its members on January 29 and 30, requesting consideration of a voluntary 2.5% reduction in hours and pay, as well as continuation of the current labor agreement through next fiscal year, which will continue no cost-of-living adjustment. Nearly 80% of their voting membership agreed to this proposed reduction and details are being worked out. The County Commission will consider the final proposal at their February 10th meeting.

return to top

Finance Director John Sherman has scheduled a February meeting of the Finance executives of the public agencies in the region to develop a consensus economic forecast to use in short and long-term budget planning, and to begin dialogue about possible coordination of budget cuts to reduce service impacts on the community. This discussion will be the first of its kind, and will include the County, Reno, Sparks, RTC, Washoe County School District, RSCVA, the Airport, and TMWA.

return to top

Between July and December, 2008, the Public Defender`s Office has conducted seven in-house training programs, five of which provided educational opportunities open to the private defense bar. Public Defender staff has earned 193 Continuing Legal Education credits through the programming, significantly reducing travel and training expenditures, and meeting the obligation under the Supreme Court`s ADKT 411.

return to top

IN THIS ISSUE:

Improve Public Safety, Security and Health

Improve Regional Collaboration

Improve Government Efficiency and Financial Stability

Develop our Workforce