MINUTES OF THE meeting
of the
ASSEMBLY Committee on Government Affairs
Seventy-First Session
March 9, 2001
The Committee on Government Affairswas called to order at 8:13 a.m., on Friday, March 9, 2001. Chairman Douglas Bache presided in Room 3143 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Guest List. All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. Douglas Bache, Chairman
Mr. John J. Lee, Vice Chairman
Ms. Merle Berman
Mr. David Brown
Mrs. Vivian Freeman
Ms. Dawn Gibbons
Mr. David Humke
Mr. Harry Mortenson
Mr. Roy Neighbors
Ms. Bonnie Parnell
Ms. Debbie Smith
Ms. Kathy Von Tobel
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Eileen O’Grady, Committee Counsel
Dave Ziegler, Committee Policy Analyst
Glenda Jacques, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Emily Braswell, Director of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency
Chairman Bache called the meeting to order then introduced a Bill Draft Request (BDR).
VICE-CHAIRMAN LEE MOVED FOR INTRODUCTION OF BDR 31-642.
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLYWOMAN GIBBONS.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.
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Chairman Bache excused himself and turned the meeting to Vice Chairman Lee to chair. Vice-Chairman Lee opened the hearing on A.B. 163.
Assembly Bill 163: Makes various changes relating to regional planning in certain counties. (BDR 22-105)
Assemblywoman Vivian Freeman, Assembly District No. 24, introduced A.B. 163. The bill addressed regional planning issues of Washoe County. In 1989, Washoe County implemented regional planning because of the increased growth in the area and lack of cooperation between local governments. A.B. 88 of the Seventieth Session was passed, addressing the training provided to members on those regional planning committees. Prior to passage, amendments were made to A.B. 88 of the Seventieth Session removing the University of Nevada, Reno and also the school districts, although as a compromise a member of the school district would serve on the regional planning commission.
Annexation of islands, fiscal equity, and consolidation were important issues that needed to be addressed by regional planning commissions. A.B. 163 would allow cooperative local agreements, and would authorize agreements with surrounding areas. Although Washoe County tended to be the economic driver of northern Nevada, the intent of the bill was not to take over and control the smaller, outlying counties.
Emily Braswell, Director of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency, supported the bill with the additional amendments (Exhibit C) to create a flexible and more collaborative, coordinating atmosphere within the county and across county lines. Section 2, paragraph 2, lines 2-20 to 2-22, should be deleted to allow the committee makeup to address specific problems. Lines 2-36 through 2-37 needed to be removed to allow flexibility in meeting schedules.
Chairman Lee questioned what the language “…outside of the state…” referred to on page 2, line 29, of the original bill. Ms. Braswell replied there were some advisory committees that crossed over the Nevada/California boundary. The Truckee Meadows had an economic regional area that included parts of northeastern California.
Ms. Freeman stated she was pleased with the reaction and support of the community towards A.B. 163. There had been a noticeable change in public attitudes toward what benefited the community as a whole. Hopefully, Washoe County had taken a leadership roll in that type of legislation.
Ms. Freeman introduced Toni Harsh, City of Reno Councilwoman, from the audience.
Chairman Lee seeing no further business adjourned the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Glenda Jacques
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Assemblyman Douglas Bache, Chairman
DATE: