Manager's eUpdate for 03/05/09

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`s Roads Division staff visited six of our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) locations and planned traffic patterns for sandbag distribution in preparation for possible flooding. To date, weather officials are telling us there is no immediate danger of flooding in the valley due to recent storms.

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Truckee River Flood Management Project staff presented their project and proposed a number of flood-proofing opportunities that might be eligible for FEMA mitigation grants to the Nevada Hazard Mitigation Planning committee last month. The purpose of the committee is to advise the Nevada Division of Emergency Management concerning hazard mitigation planning activities and policies and promote activities that contribute toward building disaster-resistant communities throughout Nevada.

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The Manager of the Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District housed in the Department of Water Resources gave the TMWA board an update on the program`s efforts to mitigate groundwater contaminated by tetrachloroethene, or PCE, a solvent or degreasing agent that has been in use since the 1940s. Thirteen wells in the central Truckee Meadows have exhibited impacts by PCE; five of them have sustained impacts that have required costly treatment equipment. More information about this program can be found at www.washoecounty.us/water and clicking on the CTMRD link.

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On February 20th twenty children were adopted into new forever families in recognition of Washoe County`s quarterly Adoption Day. These are children who have been victims of abuse and neglect and were unable to be reunified with their biological parents.

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Last month, our Social Services staff worked with our local faith community to sponsor the "One Church one Child" event. More than 200 people attended this weekend event which also included resources from the Children`s Cabinet and Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. Many of the attendees expressed interest in pursuing both foster and adoption care to aid in our goal of finding forever families for children under our care. On any given day, there are 100 children available for adoption within Washoe County. If you are interested in either foster care or adoption opportunities, please call 337-4470 or go to our website at www.washoecounty.us/socsrv and click on the Children`s Services link.

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The County`s Department of Alternative Sentencing recently participated in an operation involving several law enforcement agencies conducting home visits on probationers. The operation took place in Carson City where several Washoe County probationers live. The operation resulted in over 68 probationers visited in their residence, 12 arrested for violations or new charges (one of which was a gang member wanted in connection with a shooting), seizure of 23 grams of marijunana and seizure of one ounce of methamphetamine.

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Last month, the Washoe County Planning Commission approved the Virginia Peak Wind Project, located in the Pah Rah Range. Subsequently, a member of the public submitted an appeal of that decision. The appeal will go before the County Commission on March 24.

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A newly formed committee comprised of County Commissioners, elected officials, appointed department heads and citizens have begun meeting to develop budget principles and guidelines for anticipated future budget reductions in response to the current economic climate. The committee plans to present its recommendations to the County Commission on March 17.

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The Medicaid billing process at Senior Services has been automated from a completely manual process to one that has approximately 3 steps involved to complete. Previous to the automation, the process was tedious and was not done on a regular basis. During the past three months with the new system, Medicaid has been billed $71,000, about three times the annual maintenance cost for the new system.

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Washoe County received last week that Standard and Poor`s, one of the country`s premier bond rating firms, has raised the County`s outstanding general obligation rating from AA- to AA. In making their announcement, Standard and Poor`s said, "the raised rating reflects what we consider to be good cost containment and a focus on maintaining strong reserves levels—efforts that offset the moderate declines in revenues associated with a weakening economy. The county has consistently had strong fund balances in previous years, which is a result of what we consider to be effective spending controls."

They also cited the County`s track record of maintaining solid finances and having a manageable debt level as well as the fact the county employees reduced their wages to address declining sales tax and property tax revenues.

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The Alternative Public Defender`s Office has three volunteers currently helping out in their office. Becky Crawford was a temporary worker who has come back to the department to volunteer her clerical skills while seeking employment elsewhere. Kaci Hartwick is a junior at Galena High School and is volunteer with the department as part of the WCSD`s Gifted and Talented Program. Travis Sherman is a junior at UNR and is considering attending law school after graduation. These three hard-working and dedicated folks are truly appreciated for their help in providing excellent public services.

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About 60 citizens learned about the transition to digital television broadcasting at Sierra View Library last month. A representative from the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, DC explained the program to those in attendance.

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The AARP`s Tax Aid program is once again operating free of charge at the Washoe County Senior Center located in Reno at 9th & Sutro. Assistance is available every Monday and Thursday, 9 am to 12 noon through April. Last year, more than 920 people were assisted. Come early because there is always a line!

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A Quick Map feature on our county website was created in 2008 which provides citizens with information such as which commission district, precinct, school district or GID they belong to. Users can enter address, parcel number or street intersection and the program will search the map layers related to that address and present results in a table format. Tax information has recently been successfully integrated into the Quick Map table providing citizens with even more information at their fingertips. Quick Maps can be accessed by going to http://wcgisweb.washoecounty.us/website/QuickMap/viewer.htm .

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Community Development Planner Eric Young was invited to attend an all-expenses paid conference sponsored by the Orton Foundation which is deeply committed to bettering civic engagement and the public processes around community development issues. The meeting was intended to draw in experts from around the nation to discuss ways to build the Foundation`s upcoming conference around "Preserving a Community`s Heart and Soul."

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Improve Public Safety, Security and Health

Preserve and Enhance Our Quality of Life

Improve Regional Collaboration

Support a Healthy Economy

Improve Government Efficiency and Financial Stability

Provide Excellent Public Services

Develop our Workforce