Manager's eUpdate for 11/27/07

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

The County Commission has approved the use of the building at 85 Edison Way as a temporary overflow emergency cold weather shelter for up to 60 men, beginning November 15th.

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Washoe County Emergency Management/Homeland Security staff attended the Yucca Mountain Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) meeting on November 19 to address concerns about potential impacts on our region. The federal Department of Energy continues to push for Yucca Mountain as the national nuclear waste repository.

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Washoe County’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Festival will be held at the Wilbur May Arboretum at Rancho San Rafael from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 8. Festivities will 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. The event will be held near the Lear Garden, just south of the intersection of Sierra and Virginia Streets. Admission is free.

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The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners had the first reading of an ordinance adopting the 2006 International Building Codes and Amendments on November 13. The ordinance, once approved, will become effective March 10, 2008, and is the product of collaborative work by the building departments of Washoe County, Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Fernley, and Lyon County, as well as more than 100 contractors, architects, engineers and code officials. The resulting ordinance will unify the different codes among the jurisdictions as much as possible and develop one regional amendment package to the 2006 International and Uniform Codes.

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In cooperation with the cities of Reno and Sparks, the Washoe County Business License division will roll out a new business license application form next year (target is January 1,2008). The new application unifies the current, separate applications from the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, and Washoe County into a single application that a business license applicant can use at one or several of the jurisdictions. Since business owners currently must obtain licenses to operate from all three locations, this single regional application should streamline the paperwork burden for business owners and improve service.

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In early November, the Washoe County Department of Public Works participated with Caltrans (the California Department of Transportation), the California Highway Patrol, and NDOT in a Snow Operations Meeting in Kingvale, California. One purpose of the meeting was to develop strategies for dealing with the effects of truck traffic when I-80 is closed due to snowstorms, now that the Boomtown truck stop has been closed. The strategies developed are currently being evaluated for implementation as required.

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The Washoe County Telecommunications staff representing the inter-agency Washoe County Regional Communications System partnered with NDOT, Clark County and the Southern Nevada Communications Council to submit a grant Investment Justification to the Nevada Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Grants Committee for $5,114,182 for internet-protocol radio network switches to interconnect the Four Core Radio Systems in Nevada to achieve statewide emergency communications interoperability. The submission was approved by the committee as the number one priority, and when approved by DHS will connect the Four Core Radio Systems as well as rural counties.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Improve Public Safety, Security and Health

Preserve and Enhance Our Quality of Life

Improve Regional Collaboration