Supes’ schedule: Charter amendments, block grants, Riverview project

The Carson City Board of Supervisors meets 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the community center and will consider amendments to the city’s charter, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations and a grant-funded project to improve the Riverview Trailhead in east Carson, among other items.

After hearing a presentation from the Carson Water Subconservancy District on a 30-year regional plan for the Carson River watershed, supervisors will be briefed on the recent work of the city’s Charter Review Committee.

“The Charter Review Committee convened on March 19, 2024,” reads a staff report. “Public input for proposed amendments was solicited from February 1 through 15, 2024. Over the course of the next two meetings, held on May 13 and June 12, 2024, the Charter Review Committee reviewed seven proposals for amendments to the city charter, three of which are being recommended to the Board of Supervisors.”

The first of those three would amend section 2.180 of the charter regarding animal control.

“Section 2.180 of the Carson City Charter establishes the legal authority of the Board of Supervisors over animals within Carson City,” according to the agenda. “The Charter Review Committee recommends amendments to subsections 2.180 (1) and 2.180 (2) of the Carson City Charter to reflect current practices regarding animal control, which do not include the operation of pounds, the employment of a pound-keeper or the capture or disposal of unregistered dogs.”

The second amendment would amend section 5.100 (2) of the charter to “change the time that election returns are kept by the Carson City clerk from 6 months to at least 22 months.”
“NRS 293.391 (1) requires a county clerk to store certain election materials in the county clerk’s vault for at least 22 months,” according to the agenda. “‘Election returns’ are not expressly identified as material within the scope of NRS 293.391 (1)’s requirement. Section 5.100 (2) of the Carson City Charter requires the Carson City clerk to keep election returns for a period of 6 months. The recommendation from the Charter Review Committee is to amend section 5.100 (2) of the Carson City Charter to maintain consistency with NRS 293.391 (1).”

The third proposal is “to investigate the possibility of amending the Carson City Charter to require periodic studies of the city's organizational structure and its operations.”

“Currently, the Carson City Charter section 3.075 requires the Board of Supervisors to appoint an internal auditor to investigate each office and department of Carson City to determine compliance and improve efficiency of internal controls, as well as to conduct any special investigations at the direction of the board,” reads the agenda. “Carson City contracts with Eide Bailly LLP, a regional certified public accounting and business advisory firm, for these services.

“However, the Charter Review Committee felt the existing internal audit process did not capture a full review of government efficiency and effectiveness or opportunities that could reduce fragmentation, overlap or duplicate goals or actions.”

OTHER ACTIONS

• Supervisors will consider recommended appropriations of the $393,248 the city received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the city’s Community Development Block Grant program.

The city’s Application Review Workgroup (ARWG) is recommending funding for seven of 10 applicants, according to a staff report

A total of $294,936 is recommended for public improvement projects, including $124,146 for Public Works for Carmine St. ADA sidewalks; $50,000 for Community Development for blight abatement; and $120,790 for Vitality Unlimited for an ADA elevator and fire suppression system for a building the nonprofit is purchasing for a residential treatment center.

A total of $58,987 is recommended for public service projects, including $20,000 to Night Off the Streets for operations and supplies and $15,000 toward a paratransit van for Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Inc. Also being recommended in this CBDG category is $11,987 for the Ron Wood Family Resource Center for a mental health program for youth and families; and $12,000 for St. Vincent de Paul Society for rental assistance for those facing eviction.

“Additionally, staff recommends that the remaining amount not recommended for funding, $39,325 (10%) of the total of $393,248 awarded, be used to administer the grant,” reads a staff report.

• Supervisors will consider acceptance of a large Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) grant and a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. To be used for the Carson River Trail System Phase IV-Riverview Trailhead Project, total funding is about $2.37 million including a $57,157 local match.

“The award does not require a cash match, but the Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department will commit $57,157 in staff time (salary plus benefits) towards the project to demonstrate the city's commitment to finishing the project as outlined in the nomination, and as requested by SNPLMA administrators,” according to the agenda.

The project was approved last year by U.S. Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, and the city has recently received notice of the award and cooperative agreement, according to a staff report.

The project will enable the city “to renovate the existing trailhead facilities at Riverview Park, and design and construct a new one-acre trailhead that will include shade structures, picnic tables, benches, restrooms, pedestrian and dog watering stations, parking, preservation of historic ranch structures, kiosk and interpretive signage, enhance access and improve safety to trails and the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
“Upgraded facilities will improve the site for hosting events like ranger/naturalist educational programs and veterans’ events and enhance recreational opportunities.”