Supervisors approve Prison Hill plan, deputies settlement

The Carson City Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Prison Hill Master Plan on Thursday, trying to find balance for a variety of recreational uses in the area while also noting some challenges.

“The keyword here is balance,” Carson City Trails Coordinator Gregg Berggren said of the plan’s stated purpose. “That’s always challenging, but we believe that this plan seeks to provide that balance.”

Named after the historic Nevada State Prison nearby, Prison Hill encompasses 3,200 acres. The Prison Hill Recreation Area makes up the majority of that. Under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the recreation area was conveyed to the city in 2015. Roughly 900 acres on the south end were reserved for off-highway vehicle use. Trails spanning the non-motorized area to the north have become popular for a variety of activities, such as hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

To connect all types of recreationists — including those with disabilities — the master plan calls for an “accessible shared-use trail around the base of Prison Hill, connecting all the trailheads in a single loop.” The trail would be approximately 10.7 miles when completed, according to the plan. As of 2021, about 4.5 miles of the base trail had been constructed. Recent grant funding from the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act will be used for a 2.5-mile segment on the west side between the Koontz Lane Trailhead and Clearview Drive Trailhead.

One concern raised Thursday was the continued OHV use in the southern portion of Prison Hill. In a May 3 email, Golden Eagle Lane resident Dave Bentel blamed erosion and sediment flows on OHV recreation.

“In my opinion, the constant use of Prison Hill as an OHV area is clearly an ongoing earth disturbance and causes heavy erosion and sediment transport to occur after rain,” Bentel wrote.

Bentel asked for infrastructure improvements on the western portion of the area to handle runoff before it hits Golden Eagle Lane.

Mayor Lori Bagwell said the city wants to address the issue but pointed out the road travels through multiple jurisdictions, including state land, and the city must gain “right-of-entry” before making improvements.

“For the public to understand, I do not have the right to trespass on someone else’s property. I simply do not,” she said. “But the property owners can give the city the right to go on the property and help do maintenance if they choose to.”

Berggren said OHV use is the historic use of the 900 acres. It’s also a popular use. Before the city took over in 2015, the area had unrestricted motorized use.

Mathew Giltner, executive director of the Nevada Offroad Association, wrote a letter in support of the Prison Hill Master Plan.

“Allowing for a safe, clean, well-managed space for visitors to Carson City allows for a unique and inclusive experience,” Giltner wrote.

Since acquiring the area, the city has limited “open ride” use to 47 acres within the 900. In recent years, the city has also decommissioned some OHV trails, improved others and implemented erosion-control measures.

“We want to be responsive and try to minimize those impacts and address them the best we can,” Berggren told the board.

Bagwell hoped OHV users would contribute to the area’s wellbeing.

“I hope that the users of the OHV area become our absolute stewards,” she said. “That they’re the ones helping to police it. They’re the ones when they see somebody going on a trail that they’re not supposed to, that they’re educating them.”

The city’s park rangers can also issue citations.

In other action:

• Supervisors approved a settlement arising from a dispute between the city and the Carson City Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

The association had filed a grievance which “ostensibly stemmed from the decision of CCSO not to promote a deputy sheriff (the grievant) to the position of sergeant,” according to the city. The dispute went to arbitration in October. On Feb. 7, the arbitrator issued a finding in favor of the deputies association. The sheriff’s office was required to provide retroactive promotion along with backpay, seniority and benefits.

In March, the Board of Supervisors authorized the district attorney’s office to challenge the arbitration award. The question of a 12-month probationary period for new sergeants became a sticking point. The settlement approved Thursday won’t require the grievant to undergo the probationary period, but the city maintains no such exemption will be made for other deputies or employees.

The vote for the settlement was 3-2, with Supervisors Maurice White and Stacey Giomi voting no. Even those that voted for approval were concerned about the lack of a probationary period.

“I understand this process, I understand the argument, but I have to say I’m disappointed that the association really isn’t trying or supporting a probationary period,” said Supervisor Lisa Schuette. “In that, I just think it’s incredibly important for people in a new field or in a new position to really have the opportunity to learn and reflect and have the chance to really be adept at what they’re doing or realize that… it might not be a good fit for them.”

Bagwell said her yes vote was to “close the matter.”

“It’s not because I agree with the arbitrator because I don’t think a single one of us here does, but an arbitrator carries a lot of weight in case law and rules,” she said. “So, we gave it our best shot because I think each and every one of us here believes probationary periods are necessary, but we also have to recognize when we’re not going to win the battle, and I’m expending taxpayer dollars to fight that battle. And so, everything we do here is a balancing act.”

• Supervisors voted unanimously to appoint resident David Lambin to the Carson City Audit Committee for a partial term ending in December 2024.

The appointment is for a citizen-at-large position. The five-member committee makes recommendations on the city’s financial reporting and internal controls.

Resident Joseph Scalia also submitted an application and will be heard at a future meeting.