On Thursday, Mayor Lori Bagwell presented the annual State of the City address, which can be viewed in the video below:
Bagwell opened the 2025 State of the City address with a metaphor comparing the challenges of running a city to assembling a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, and said it’s the collaborative efforts of city employees that help shape Carson City’s future.
Key Achievements and Initiatives:
- Federal Grants: Carson City secured over $17 million in federal funding for projects such as the Mills Park Master Plan, the Recreation Trails Program, and the Carson River Trail System.
- Parks & Recreation: Introduced a Youth Scholarship Program benefiting 19 young residents, translated the Activity Guide into Spanish for broader accessibility, and completed infrastructure improvements like new trails and park upgrades. Projects on the horizon include expanding pickleball courts, installing synthetic fields, and acquiring 1,895 acre-feet of water rights for the historic Buzzy’s Ranch.
- Senior Services: Provided over 43,000 meals at the Senior Center and over 103,000 meals through the Meals on Wheels program for homebound seniors, and expanded educational and cultural programs.
- Public Works: The theme for 2025 is “Complete!” Bagwell said, with projects underway such as the Prison Hill Booster Pump Station, East Williams Complete Streets Project, and a new Landfill Tipping Facility.
- Community Development: Approved Title 18 revisions and shifted focus to the Master Plan Update guiding Carson City’s future growth, including major housing developments such as the 270-lot Plateau Development and the 210-unit Altair Apartments.
- IT and Cybersecurity: Implemented Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Windows 11 upgrades, hybrid backup solutions, and PCI compliance while planning security enhancements in 2025.
- Alternative Sentencing & Law Enforcement: Expanded crisis intervention training and will implement a new case management system for efficiency in 2025.
- Fire Department: Celebrated Chief Sean Slamon’s retirement and is now looking ahead to opening the new Fire Station 55 and expanding fire safety education.
- HR & Finance: Processed nearly 7,000 job applications, developed new training programs, and continued conservative budgeting using a focus on long-term financial stability.
- Public Health & Human Services: Hosted 51 vaccination events, served 1,000+ residents through human services programs, and partnered with universities for public health research.
Bagwell discussed the city’s ongoing commitment to strategic planning, infrastructure improvements, and community engagement.
She said she’d also initiated the Mayor’s Attendance Hall of Fame to encourage school attendance and student success with chronic absenteeism on the rise across the country.
She thanked the dedication of city employees, nonprofit partners, and residents, and said Carson City continues to be a thriving and resilient community.
“With every puzzle piece accounted for, we can complete our mission to serve our city to the best of our abilities,” Bagwell said.
You can read the text of the presentation in its entirety here:
