Manager's eUpdate for 07/10/07

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

As reported in the news media, Washoe County is preparing its employees to prevent, report, and provide immediate assistance in case of fires this summer. By Executive Order from the County Manager, a course on Fire Safety in the Wildland Urban Interface has been made mandatory for those of the County’s 3,200 who work in the field. Additionally, all field vehicles in the County service are being equipped with shovels, water, a pump spraying device, and a fire extinguisher.

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Staff members from the Washoe County District Health Department recently attended an invitation-only workshop on NIMS Implementation for Public Health held in Anniston, Alabama. The workshop helped to identify barriers to successful implementation of multi-agency disaster response, and develop plans to improve multi-jurisdictional responses.

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Through a cooperative effort between the subdivision developer, the consulting engineers, and the Washoe County Department of Public Works, work has been completed to significantly increase the capacity of the County’s storm drain system, as well as eliminating hazardous, existing deep drainage ditches along Callahan Road.

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The Washoe County District Health Department marked the six-month anniversary of the passage of the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act with an event in Sparks’ Cantina Los Tres Hombres. During the first six months, 91.5 percent of the permitted facilities in Washoe County that had received an inspection were in compliance with the Act. In addition, new data on smoking rates for 2006, the most recent year for which information is available, show that Washoe County’s smoking rate is at its lowest ever. At 18.7%, it is currently lower than the rate for either the state or the nation for the second year in a row.

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During a two week period, from June 27 through July 4, the Washoe County Department of Parks and Open Space staff collected donations such as bottled water, canned goods, blankets, towels and clothing for victim’s of Lake Tahoe’s Angora Fire at major County-sponsored community events. The first night, June 27, with only 24 hours of press coverage, the attending audience of about 700 people at the Lazy 5 Regional Park Summer Music Series provided a truckload of water, clothing, etc., and similar levels of donations have continued. Our thanks to the generous people of Washoe County. In addition, Washoe County Public Works Director Dan St. John has been active in assessing equipment needs for the fire recovery, and Washoe County heavy equipment is standing by if/when needed.

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As a result of work by Senator Reid, Washoe County is slated to receive $100,000 for an initiative to improve the management of mentally ill offenders in the criminal justice system, who represent one of the most costly segments of the jail population, and are among the most difficult to successfully treat. The entire Senate must still vote on the bill.

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An interlocal agreement to fund a design project and feasibility study for six of the downtown Reno bridges—Arlington, Booth, Center, Sierra, Virginia and Lake Streets—will be heard by the Reno City Council on July 11th and by the Washoe County Commission on July 24. The County Commission approves all expenditures from the 1/8 cent sales tax dedicated to the Truckee River Flood Project.

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A renovation project began June 29 to improve the Commission Chambers in the Washoe County Administration building at Ninth and Wells. Improvements to the viewing screens for audio-visual presentations, the sound system, the speakers’ podium, and lighting will be completed in September of this year. During the renovation, the Board of County Commissioners will meet in the Washoe County District Health Department at Ninth and Wells, beginning July 10.

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After serving eight years on the Washoe County and Regional Planning Commissions, Marge Frandsen was recognized by the County Commission for her outstanding service to the community. Keith Lockard has been appointed as the new Planning Commissioner from District 2 to replace Ms. Frandsen.

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An article written by County GIS staff describing the real-time voting result mapping of the Washoe County 2006 Election has been published in ArcNews, a news magazine issued quarterly for the GIS user community which has a worldwide readership of more than 600,000 people. There are no other known counties that have developed this citizen-friendly application for geographic information.

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The recruitment calendar for the quarter beginning July 1, 2007 is on-line on the Washoe County Department of Human Resources website. The calendar includes scheduled recruitments for all new positions approved in the 2007/2008 annual budget process. Even with the new positions, Washoe County’s number of employees per population served is lower than it was five years ago.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Improve Public Safety, Security and Health

Preserve and Enhance Our Quality of Life

Improve Regional Collaboration

Improve Government Efficiency and Financial Stability

Provide Excellent Public Services

Develop our Workforce