Message From Chair Lucey:
Happy New Year and welcome to 2020. As we look back on the progress made in this past decade, I look forward to and embrace all of the exciting changes ahead. I am so grateful to once again, serve as the Chair of the Washoe County Commission to usher in this new decade, for all of us in Washoe County and specifically in our beautiful District 2. I also want to officially welcome Mr. Eric Brown, our new County Manager who is ready to take Washoe County to the next level.
This year, one of my top priorities is to address the homeless issue in Washoe County. Our Place is a project that will relocate homeless women, children and families currently staying at the Community Assistance Center in downtown Reno to a refurbished facility in Sparks. Opening in 2020, Our Place is a secure campus where residents will receive shelter, critical services and specialized programming to end the cycle of homelessness. The Board of County Commissioners has committed more than $20 million to make Our Place a reality. Additionally, we are actively working to identify federal funding to support this project and the on-going programming needs to tackle emerging issues in our region that contribute to homelessness. These pressing needs we cannot ignore include human trafficking, workforce development, and affordable housing. By investing in these programs, we will make transformative change happen, and will benefit all residents of Washoe County.
As a father of young children, I also want to remind us all of the importance of safe route to schools. I am saddened to learn that more than 20 students have been struck by vehicles this school year alone. I have been working with the Washoe County School District to ensure the schools here in District 2 are equipped with the necessary safety measures. I would also encourage drivers to please avoid any distractions while driving and remind your children to do the same when walking to and from school. Our children are simply too precious, and this issue too important to ignore.
I also want to share with you there has been wonderful regional collaboration and progress with the federal lands bill, known as the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act. Since 2016, Washoe County, the City of Reno and City of Sparks have worked to support the creation of a lands bill to address population growth occurring in Washoe County. Since that time, much work has been done to create a proposal for federal legislation to help our region with growth and establishing permanent conservation lands in Washoe County.
Over 80% of Washoe County is owned by the federal government, meaning that our growth is limited by these federal land boundaries. This bill will help ensure our community will have a voice in where federally-owned land is sold and growth occurs. This bill will support better infill projects, avoid sprawl and help alleviate the current housing crisis. As always, the goal is to ensure smart growth now, and for the next 20 years.
I encourage you to check out the Winter 2020 edition of the Washoe County Connection, below. This edition includes our new real-time snowplow locator tool, our new public art piece, and how my fellow Commissioners and I plan strategically for the future in Washoe County. Wishing you and yours a prosperous and healthy 2020.
In Service,