Manager's eUpdate for 05/25/10

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

Construction of the E. 5th Avenue Pedestrian Path was recently completed. The project includes 3,000 linear feet of 5-foot wide concrete sidewalks with curb and gutter from Sun Valley Blvd. to Lupin Drive, installation of a 24-inch diameter ribbed PVC pipes to improve existing roadside drainage and reconstruction of E. 5th Avenue roadway. The project was completed on time and on budget.

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County Commissioners accepted a $2.5 million FEMA grant to build a new fire station to serve the Arrowcreek area. In the short-term, the existing Bowers fire station 4-person crew will be split into a 2-person crew for both the Bowers and Arrrowcreek stations with seasonal fire crew stationed at Bowers during wildland fire season. Commissioners directed the Fire Chief to work with staff to develop a long-term staffing and funding proposal for the new station. Construction could begin within a year with a possible completion date of June 2011.

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In a coordinated effort to reduce hazardous fuel levels throughout the HIGH and EXTREME rated communities in Washoe County, the Nevada Fire Safe Council (NVFSC) has established four Biomass collections sites. Washoe County encourages our citizens to take advantage of this free dumping of eligible landscape waste such as trees, branches, weeds, and brush available through June 20th at four sites:
1. Red Rock: Located on private land adjacent to the Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Station
2. Spanish Springs: 470 Rockwell Blvd
3. Virginia Foothills: East end of Kenneth Drive
4. East Lake Blvd.: 1240 East Lake Blvd. Adjacent to TM Fire Station

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Washoe County needs you to help us make 3,000 guests welcome this summer! The County will host the 75th annual National Association of Counties conference July 16-20th and we`re looking for some enthusiastic volunteers to help make the event a success. Interested? Visit www.washoecounty.us/citizens/volunteers.html

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County Commissioners approved a general fund budget of nearly $308 million which reflects almost a 10% reduction from the 2009-10 budget. With this new budget, Washoe County has reduced spending by $123 million and eliminated about 600 positions in the last four years in response to declining sales tax and property tax revenues which comprise about 75% of the total general fund. The general fund is about 45% of the County`s total budget of nearly $700 million.

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County Commissioners, Elected Officials, County Manager, senior management and division heads have all taken voluntary labor cost concessions equivalent to a 3.7% salary reduction plus contributing $25 per pay period toward their health care costs to help meet the $25 million budget deficit projected in the 2010-11 budget. Negotiations are current underway with the County`s employee associations regarding concessions for represented employees. Employees have taken wage reductions and eliminated scheduled cost of living raises in the past couple years.

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The popular `Discover Your Parklands` hikes with park rangers begins this week on May 27th at 7 p.m. Meet Ranger Marie Fong at the Western Heritage Interpretive Center in Bartley Ranch Regional Park to learn more about the park`s relation to Nevada`s rich ranching history. For a complete schedule of hikes offered this summer, look under `announcements` at www.washoecountyparks.com

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The first weekend of early voting for the primary election exceeded the 2008 turnout for the same period by 153%! More than 3,100 people turned out last Saturday and Sunday to cast their early vote for the June 8th primary election. Early voting continues through June 4th, and a listing of early voting locations and times is in your sample ballot. If you didn`t receive a sample ballot, contact the Washoe County Registrar of Voters office at 328-3670 or visit them at www.washoecounty.us/voters

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Become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/washoecounty or join us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/washoecounty today. You can also visit our website at www.washoecounty.us and sign up for topic specific information to be emailed directly to you.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Improve Public Safety, Security and Health

Improve Regional Collaboration

Support a Healthy Economy

Improve Government Efficiency and Financial Stability

Provide Excellent Public Services