Carson City Board of Supervisors to host first remote meeting, public participation welcomed

On Thursday, April 2, 2020, the previously planned Carson City Board of Supervisor's meeting will continue as scheduled; however, during the mandated shut down, how the meeting will be held has been altered to suit the social distancing needed to keep all community members safe.

The Board issued this notice in regards to how the April 2 meeting will be conducted:

NOTICE TO PUBLIC: The State of Nevada and Carson City are currently in a declared State of Emergency in response to the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) infectious disease outbreak.

In accordance with the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency Directive 006, which has suspended the provisions of NRS 241.020 requiring the designation of a physical location for meetings of public bodies where members of the public are permitted to attend and participate, public meetings of Carson City will NOT have a physical location open to the public until such time this Directive is removed.

Members of the public who wish to participate during a public meeting may do so by providing public comment during the two designated public comment periods, indicated on the agenda, via videoconference or telephonic appearance. To videoconference, you must have access to an Internet connection and a computer equipped with a camera and microphone with which you can join a meeting at the following link: https://carsoncity.webex.com/meet/sierraroom.

To join by telephone, you must dial the following number: +1-408-418-9388 (Meeting ID: 967 882 207). You may also provide public comment in advance of a meeting by written submission to the following e-mail address: publiccomment@carson.org. For inclusion or reference in the minutes of a meeting, your public comment must include your full name and be submitted via e-mail by not later than 3:00 p.m. the day before the date of the meeting.

The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.

On the agenda during this not-so-typical meeting include items such as a Victim Services grant, a Violence Against Women Act grant, a Critical Incident Investigation Response Team presentation, the purchase of new ambulances, funding Student Resource Officers, and more.

— Board of Supervisors – Special Item For Possible Action from City Manager Nancy Paulson: Discussion and possible action regarding directives and recommendations concerning Carson City departmental and staff functions and functions in Carson City as a consolidated municipality in relation to the exercise of emergency powers pursuant to NRS Chapters 244 and 414 and CCMC Chapter 6.02 for the purpose of ensuring the health, safety and welfare in Carson City in response to the global coronavirus (COVID- 19) pandemic.

Staff Summary: As the status of the global coronavirus is constantly in a state of unpredictability and a rapidly changing landscape with regard to the rate of infection, exposure to infection and the issuance of international, federal and state guidelines and recommendations to mitigate exposure to and the transmission of infectious disease, various staff will present an update on Carson City’s role in protecting the health, safety and welfare of its residents. In addition, this item is for the Board of Supervisors to issue, if it elects to do so, certain directives to City staff and departments concerning City-related functions, as well as any recommendations to the public or directives pursuant to the City’s emergency powers under a state of emergency in accordance with legal authority expressly granted by state and local law.

— Discussion and possible action will take place regarding a request from the Carson City Sheriff's Office to submit an application to the Department of Justice for a Victim Specialist Program grant to fund one full-time Sheriff's Office Victim Witness Coordinator position. The amount would not exceed $90,000.

If obtained, the grant would provide funds in an effort to increase the ability of the Sheriff's Office to provide victim services and crisis intervention to victims and witnesses, according to the agenda. The grant would also assist victims and witnesses navigate through the criminal justice process.

— The Sheriff's Office is also seeking to apply for a Department of Justice State of Nevada Office of the Attorney General Violence Against Women Act "STOP" grant, for an amount not to exceed $75,600 to fund an additional full-time Victim Witness Coordinator position.

— Discussion and possible action regarding a cooperative agreement between the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) the Carson City Sheriff's Office and he Douglas County Sheriff's Office regarding establishing procedures for a Regional Critical Incident Investigation Response Team to investigate officer involved shootings and other major incidents.

Through this agreement, the agencies have provided for a response team to investigate officer involved shootings and where directed, other major incidents, including an in-custody death of an inmate, an in-custody death involving a peace officer or corrections officer, and any use of deadly force.

The purpose of the response team is to have an outside investigation determine whether any criminal acts occurred. The use of a response team in these circumstances is designed to maintain the public's confidence in their local law enforcement, enhance credibility and transparency, and to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.

— A discussion and possible action will be held regarding the purchase of two new ambulances for the Fire Department for a total not to exceed $499,354.

The Fire Department is proposing to purchase two new ambulances to replace two ambulances from the current fleet which have "surpassed their usefulness" due to the age of the ambulance boxes and the equipment required to outfit current ambulances calls for a more heavy-duty chassis according to the agenda.

— An agreement between the Carson City School District and Carson City is up for discussion and possible action regarding the funding of the School Resource Officers program at the school district, which would fund three SROs for approximately $430,438.81 for fiscal year 2021.

If you would like to read the agenda in its entirety, click here.