MINUTES OF THE
JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE on PUBLIC SAFETY/NATURAL RESOURCES/TRANSPORTATION
OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
AND THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
Seventy-First Session
March 23, 2001
The Joint Subcommittee on Public Safety/Natural Resources/Transportation of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Assembly Committee on Ways and Meanswas called to order by Chairman Lawrence E. Jacobsen at 8:00 a.m., on Friday, March 23, 2001, in Room 2134 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.
SENATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Chairman
Senator William R. O’Donnell
Senator Joseph M. Neal Jr.
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. David R. Parks, Chairman
Mr. Bob Beers
Mrs. Vonne S. Chowning
Mrs. Marcia de Braga
Mr. John W. Marvel
Mr. Richard D. Perkins
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Gary L. Ghiggeri, Senate Fiscal Analyst
Bob Guernsey, Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst
Mark Krmpotic, Program Analyst
Carla Watson, Program Analyst
ElizaBeth Root, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Wayne R. Perock, Administrator, Division of State Parks, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Allen Newberry, Chief of Operations and Maintenance, Division of State Parks, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Michael Nolan, Budget Analyst, Budget Division, Department of Administration
Steve Weaver, Chief of Planning and Development, Division of State Parks, State Department of Conversation and Natural Resources
Steve Robinson, State Forester Firewarden, Division of Forestry, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Jennifer Kizer, Administrative Service Officer, Division of Forestry, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Peter Anderson, Deputy State Forester, Division of Forestry, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Jackie Crawford, Director, Department of Prisons
Glen Whorton, Chief, Classification and Planning, Department of Prisons
Fritz Schlottman, Management Analyst III, Department of Prisons
Darrel J. Rexwinkel, CPA Administrative Services Officer IV, Fiscal Services, Department of Prisons
Albert Peralta, Chief of Inmate Services, Department of Prisons
Stephanie Licht, Lobbyist, Elko County, Board of Commissioners
Patricia A. Hines, Lobbyist, Nevada Cure
State Parks – Budget Page CNR-132 (Volume 3)
Budget Account 101-4162
Wayne R. Perock, Administrator, Division of State Parks, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:
We are excited to be able to show you a presentation on the state parks and give you a pictorial image of the money we spend and the results. Before I start, I would like to recap. We were here February 22, 2001, and had brought you 10 minutes of our presentation when time ran out. Then we were back March 6, 2001, and, again, time ran out.
In our first presentation, we concentrated on our maintenance decision units, talking about our request for five new positions and how we would pay for those with better fee compliance. I would like to begin where we left off with our enhancements dealing with replacement equipment. With that, I am going to turn the presentation over to Allen Newberry. We will follow his presentation with discussion on the park improvement program with Steve Weaver and the slide show.
Chairman Jacobsen:
I would like to indicate to the committee that you will find no better tour guide that Wayne Perock. He knows Nevada better than most people.
Allen Newberry, Chief of Operations and Maintenance, Division of State Parks, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:
I would like to talk to you about the equipment in the one-shot appropriation for state parks, itemized in my handout (Exhibit C.). There is $330,410 for replacement equipment, which is for 6 replacement trucks, one used motor grader, one dump truck, six personal computers, ten printers, one laptop printer, one laptop computer, and some miscellaneous hand and power tools.
The one-shot includes a new equipment request of $5,000 for a new Cisco router for a T-1 line (transmission wiring) so we can do an integrated financial system (IFS) in our Region II office in Carson City. This new equipment will allow us to come online.
E-730 Maintenance Of Buildings & Grounds – Page CNR-138
Mr. Newberry:
This request will provide our field staff with materials they need to complete our backlog of maintenance projects. We have a priority list reflected in Exhibit C. Of this money, $122,675 comes from the Commission on Tourism through that funded base. Our division will be testifying next week on these other items. The one-shot funding also replaces radio equipment for ranger staff statewide in the amount of $193,323, from the General Fund.
This will allow us to be a part of Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) dispatch. Currently we do not have a dispatch service, and this will be operating in October 2001. This request includes 36 mobile radios, 42 portable radios, 1 programming module so that our radio can complete the technical work to program and service these radios, 1 test component kit, and a set of manuals. This request is important for protection and security within the parks.
E-860 Lake Tahoe Initiatives (EIP) – Page CNR-139
Mr. Newberry:
This decision unit continues our Park Ranger III for the Environmental Improvement Program at Lake Tahoe. It is currently funded through the air pollution funding. Decision unit E-860 proposes General Fund appropriation of $71,102 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 and $74,998 for FY 2003. $33,000 each fiscal year is recommended from the Lake Tahoe License Plate account. So, this is important that this position be granted.
If you have any questions about the equipment throughout the state parks, I would be happy to answer that at this time.
Mrs. Chowning:
You have touched on one of my favorite issues regarding license plates. I have been a big supporter of the special license plates and the Lake Tahoe plate is the shining star because the funds from this plate are realized, in great part, through southern Nevada contributions. The beauty of this license plate, the love of the state, and wanting to support and preserve Lake Tahoe makes this funding special. However, can you count on this funding as a permanent source of funds? My second question is do you not need changes in the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) to use these funds.
Also, there appears to be a 61 percent increase, which is dependent on the fees to support these positions. Can you comment on this, please?
Michael Nolan, Budget Analyst, Budget division, Department of Administration:
I would like to comment on the license plate issue. The Division of State Lands is awarded about $750,000 to $850,000 in grants that come from funds from the license plate sales. That balance was built up over a number of years because this is the first year they have issued those grants.
We looked at about a four-year average of license plate sales, which increased every year. However, each year the increase was less than the year before. We estimated it would generate around $200,000 a year. We funded $30,000 a year for the Park Ranger III position and $30,000 a year for the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP). We did not fund more because we did not want to strip that fund, and we wanted the flexibility to award some grants. Also, with the preponderance of plates that are now being proposed and approved, that will probably not increase or may even remain steady or decrease slightly. We will have to wait and see when all the plates hit the streets. I know there was some concern the new standard plate, which has the mountains, might cut into revenues generated from the Lake Tahoe special plates.
Mrs. Chowning:
When this was originally passed, the use of the funds was specifically for grants. Do you need a change in NRS?
Mr. Nolan:
I will check on this, but it was not necessarily specified for grants, but for projects relating to the improvement of the Lake Tahoe Basin, i.e. the EIP program. The rationale the budget office used was those positions are working in the Lake Tahoe State Park and a majority of the EIP projects in the Basin are in the park. So, indirectly, they are working on EIP projects, since they are facilitating and coordinating the improvement of this resource.
Mrs. Chowning:
Do you believe the 61 percent increase from these fees will sustain the support of the positions?
Mr. Perock:
These positions enable better compliance. The way we do business now is there is no one at the entrance station because of our lack of staff for compliance checks. We are on an honor system, and a lot of tourists are not as honorable as we would like them to be. So, in this case, we have greater ability to ensure compliance and keep fee booths staffed so people will pay those fees. Also, in some cases, we staffed those stations with management positions to keep the rangers out in the field.
Senator Neal:
Would you explain your law enforcement activities as seen in your performance indicators? It shows the number of park users per arrest, the number of park users per citation and the number of parks users per crime and incident report. What is the significance of these measures?
Mr. Perock:
There may be one arrest, but we cater to over 3 million people. So, that one arrest indicates a percentage or ratio. We report what we find out or whether staff is actually there to respond to an incident. Crime does happen in our state parks, especially in the busy seasons. Lake Lahontan, for example, can become a busy city on the weekends. When they visit a park, tourists tend to bring alcohol with them and are busy drinking and carousing.
Senator Neal:
Is the indicator that addresses crime and incident reports written an actual arrest number?
Mr. Newberry:
These are percentages based on an actual number. It was my understanding the performance indicators should reflect a ratio. It is a ratio over the 12-month period.
Steve Weaver, Chief, Planning and Development, Division of State Parks, State Department of Conversation and Natural Resources: (Written presentation is Exhibit D.)
We do have a presentation that provides a brief tour of each of Nevada’s state parks and highlights most, but not all, of the 14 park capital improvement or one‑shot projects that are included in The Executive Budget.
The budget for these projects totals $3.2 million, which includes $1.5 million in new General Fund appropriations. We have also requested carryover of $110,867 of existing funds into the next biennium, primarily for use as matching dollars for various federal grants that are included in our capital improvement program.
The Nevada state park system is comprised of 24 sites ranging between 2 and 35,300 acres. The system’s total acreage is approximately 132,850, of which over 77,000 is state owned, with the remaining acreage leased from the federal government. The Division maintains some 280 structures, including many historical. During FY 2000, 3,451,016 people visited Nevada’s state parks.
Big Bend State Park is located 4 miles down river from Laughlin on the Colorado River. The recreation area’s 2,343 acres includes 2-1/2 miles of river frontage. It received almost 60,000 visitors in FY 2000, with a large portion coming from California. Big Bend is becoming increasingly popular with boaters, particularly jet skiers. Others come to picnic, fish, swim, and sunbathe.
The 600-acre Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is located just 15 miles west of Las Vegas in the heart of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Nearly 200,000 people visit annually. The park includes not only the ranch but also property at the mouth of Pine Creek. This picturesque park includes numerous historic buildings, some dating to the 1860’s. Several historic structures at Spring Mountain Ranch need major restoration work. The proposed park improvements project, priority number 3, includes restoration of the power control building and the poultry house outbuilding.
The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park is located in downtown Las Vegas, adjacent to the Cashman Field complex and the city’s Heritage Park and Natural History Museum. Since the completion of most of the major construction activities, visitation has picked up with nearly 10,000 visitors this past year. The sesquicentennial of the arrival of Mormon pioneers in the Las Vegas Valley was celebrated at the fort in 1998. In the spring of 2000, the division dedicated the park and the re-created fort, officially opening the new facilities.
The first phase capital development work included extensive archeological work, site grading, parking, a perimeter security wall and fence, as well as underground utilities. Additional development, included re-creation of the Las Vegas creek, a portion of the original fort wall and bastion, corral, and public restrooms. That was completed in early 2000. The fort has become an attraction to history buffs. Future development includes a visitor center and simulation of the Stewart ranch house.
The 2,358-acre Floyd Lamb State Park is located in the northwest part of the Las Vegas valley and it had nearly 150,000 visitors. Floyd Lamb State Park includes the historic Tule Springs Ranch, where visitors explore the historic dude ranch buildings and picnic. The Division of Wildlife regularly stocks the ponds as part of its urban fishery program in the Las Vegas valley with bass, trout, bluegills, and catfish. The historic ranch foreman’s residence at Floyd Lamb State Park is slated for renovation into a park visitor’s center. Project priority number 7 will provide completion of the interior remodeling, interpretive exhibits, and period furnishings.
Officially established in 1935 and now with 35,300 acres, the Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. This park has become a primary destination with over 400,000 tourists visiting last year. The Valley of Fire is famous for unusual rock formations like the “Spaceship Enterprise” and “Elephant Rock.” During the depression of the 1930’s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built roads, picnic areas and “the Cabins.”
Valley of Fire offers spectacular scenery and other amenities, including a modern visitor’s center. Early man is represented throughout the park by the presence of 3,000-year-old petroglyphs.
Nevada’s most remote park is Beaver Dam located 30 miles southeast of Panaca on the Utah border. Over 8,000 people visited this 2,393-acre park last year.
Cathedral Gorge State Park is located along U.S. Highway 93, a designated state scenic highway, outside of Panaca in Lincoln County. This 1,633-acre park receives nearly 60,000 visitors each year, of which nearly 13,000 visit the Regional Visitor’s Center at the park’s entrance. Cathedral Gorge is one of Nevada’s earliest state parks, which features unusual geological formation, as well as a number of now historic facilities constructed in the 1930’s by the CCC, such as the stone water tower.
The Regional Visitor’s Center on Highway 93 includes an attractive “interpretive garden” with permanent displays that provide natural history interpretation and information about various recreation opportunities throughout a two-county region. Park Improvements Project number 9 will provide a complete renovation of the thirty-plus-year-old campground, such as placement of new gravel base material on the access loop road and replacement of all of the old campfire rings.
Echo Canyon State Park is also located in Lincoln County near Pioche. Its 1,080 acres contain a 35-acre reservoir and cater to nearly 50,000 visitors yearly. As with most water-based parks, boating and fishing are main attractions. The park also offers picnic and campground areas.
Kershaw-Rayn is located just 3 miles from Panaca. This 264-acre park received about 20,000 visitors in 2000. After being closed in 1984 because of severe flood damage, this compact scenic canyon park was not reopened until July 1997. Redevelopment work included restrooms and two new group picnic shelters, roads, and flood control devices.
This year the division will be initiating construction of a new campground. Recently the division was successful in obtaining a Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) grant to install underground utilities and a restroom building with showers. That will be completed this summer. Park improvement project number 14 will enable the division to construct the rest of the campground next year, including back in and pull through vehicle parking sites, camp pads, shade armadas, and tables with grills, and water spigots.
Also in Lincoln County is Spring Valley down the road from Echo Canyon. This 1,563-acre park receives about 120,000 visitors annually. Located within this park is Eagle Valley Reservoir, which receives thousands of shore fishermen and small fishing boats every year. The park’s two campgrounds are frequently overwhelmed with more campers than space allows. A new water system, recreational vehicle (RV) dump station, campground restroom with shower and other campground renovations were recently completed. In addition, a number of improvements to accommodate persons with disabilities, such as a handicapped-accessible campsite, have been completed throughout this state park system.
Cave Lake is located in White Pine County near Ely and has over 92,000 visitors every year. This park is increasingly popular as a winter sports area with ice fishing, ice-skating and cross-country skiing. In the warmer months, tourists visit for camping, picnicking and fishing. In addition, its 7,300-foot elevation, 32-acre reservoir has twice produced state record German Brown trout. With two small campgrounds, Cave Lake often serves tourists as an overflow campground area for nearby Great Basin National Park.
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is located just a few miles from Cave Lake in White Pine County. Nearly 12,000 people visit here annually, and in recent years the division opened the partially completed campground to augment the often-overcrowded Cave Lake campgrounds. This state historic park features six relatively pristine 1870s charcoal kilns in a scenic mountain setting with flowing streams. The kilns were built and used in the mid-late 19th century to generate charcoal for the nearby mine smelters. But time has taken its toll, mortar and stone have weathered, and the ovens are in need of restoration.
The 3,924-acre South Fork State Recreational Area is situated about 15 miles south of Elko. It caters to over 105,000 visitors annually. Its 3-mile long reservoir has become a favorite for boaters and fisherman. Facilities here include an improved campground with restrooms and showers and two boat launch areas.
Wild Horse is located 67 miles north of Elko, not far from the Idaho border. This 120-acre lakefront park caters to over 28,000 visitors each year. With two campground loops, it has ample scenic camping opportunities. Restrooms, one with showers, add to the quality of the camping experience. As fishing is a major activity, a fish-cleaning station is also provided. Although the Division of Wildlife funded a badly needed replacement boat ramp several years ago, mother nature has not cooperated, hindering the project with above-average precipitation four years running. It was not until late in 2000 that conditions allowed for work to be done, and then only half of the ramp could be replaced.
Belmont Courthouse is located in the town of Belmont, 45 miles from Tonopah, and is the division’s smallest park area with just under 2 acres. It received a little over 2,700 visitors last year, mainly curiosity seekers who have journeyed off the beaten path. The town is dominated by the historic 1870s courthouse. Facilities are minimal, but visitors may explore the building’s exterior. During the summer months, the Belmont Town Board conducts tours of the interior once a month. Belmont Courthouse needs major stabilization work throughout. The division’s project number 8 will stabilize the rear wall, which is subject to collapse at any time. In addition, basic facilities, such as parking, a vault toilet, and picnic tables, will be installed.
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park is located in northern Nye County, about 23 miles east of Gabbs. This 1,153-acre park receives about 11,000 visitors each year, mainly campers, history buffs, and people wanting to see fossils. With the help of volunteers, the division was able to pen Berlin’s historic Diana Mine to public tours. This hard rock mine still has its original support timbers and is full of mining artifacts, most in relatively pristine condition. The 220 million year old ichthyosaur fossils are one of the most popular attractions. Several years ago, the same 100‑mile per hour winds that destroyed several houses in Gabbs, heavily damaged the historic Berlin Mill, ripping off much of the roof and doing considerable structural damage. The division recently completed restoration, thus assuring the building will stand for another 100 years.
Fort Churchill is situated along the Carson River in Lyon County. The park’s 4,461 acres includes the 1860s adobe fort and three contiguous ranches. It receives about 90,000 visitors a year who come for the day or camp overnight. This park includes the historic 1870s Buckland Station. The 1860 adobe fort offers visitors an insight into Nevada’s early military history. Restoration on the adobe walls is an ongoing effort.
The Visitor Center offers historical displays, and, during the summer months, reenactments of the fort’s history occur. A recent addition, Celebrate the Carson River, brings youth to learn about the river environment. Fort Churchill needs major restoration work, which the division’s priority project number 4 will provide in a partial restoration of deteriorated walls on ten historic fort buildings.
The focus of the 30,522-acre Lahontan State Recreation Area in Lyon and Churchill counties is its 12,000-acre reservoir and its 70 miles of sandy beaches. With close to half a million visitors each year, Lahontan is the State’s third most visited facility. It caters to throngs of summer beachgoers who come to boat, fish, water ski, camp, and enjoy a variety of water related activities. In recent years, the division has replaced most of the old wooden outhouses with new masonry vault toilets. Much needed redevelopment of the Silver Springs Boat Launch facility was also recently completed; this replaced the deteriorated boat ramps and docks, while increasing its capacity.
Also, the division is modernizing the water system at Churchill Beach to meet safe drinking water standards. Phase I has been completed, but key components, such as a filtration plant, chlorine contact chamber, and a washed out water main, still need to be completed as part of the Phase II park improvements project priority number 1. Project priority number 12 will address Phase III of the Churchill Beach water system upgrade. It involves replacement of the thirty-plus-year-old, 100,000-gallon water tank with a new 500,000-gallon tank to get the system through peak weekends without going dry. Additionally, six of the old outhouses that exist at Lahontan, are project priority number 11, which will allow replacement with modern pre-fabricated concrete restrooms.
Rye Patch is located on the Humboldt River, off Interstate Highway 80 (I-80), between Lovelock and Winnemucca. Nearly 95,000 visitors came last year to enjoy a variety of water-based activities. This recreation area caters mainly to boaters, fisherman, and campers, many of whom are tourists exiting off I-80. The division has completed a major overhaul of the area’s water system and provided adequate water storage capacity for the first time in this park’s history. The vault toilets have been replaced with new flush toilets and showers, and a fish-cleaning station was added.
Walker Lake State Recreation Area is located along U.S. Highway 95, near the town of Hawthorne. It serves mainly local beach users and shore fishers, but is often frequented by highway travelers for short visits and receives over 33,000 visitors annually. Walker Lake is famous for Lahontan Cutthroat trout, so fishing is a popular year-round activity. In the future, the division hopes to replace the existing high and dry boat ramp in a new location, as well as build modern sanitary and picnic facilities.
Dayton State Park is located immediately adjacent to the town of Dayton and receives nearly 75,000 visitors each year, mainly campers and day users. This compact 152-acre park features historic Comstock era mining remnants, as well as large riparian cottonwood groves along the Carson River. Camping, family and group picnicking, along with hiking along the Carson River are the main activities. Interpretive programs are offered, usually during the summer months.
Mormon Station State Historic Park is located in the town of Genoa, which claims to be the state’s oldest. It received over 100,000 visitors last year, with a majority of these coming during the Candy Dance weekend. A reconstructed log way station serves as the Visitor Center, providing exhibits of early-day life. The station served pioneers and riders traveling the California Emigrant and Pony Express Trails during the mid-late 1800s. Usually a sleepy park, its use swells during both the annual Fourth of July Reno Philharmonic Pops in the Park concert and the town’s September Candy Dance.
The lower tiers of Mormon Station’s log structure show signs of severe dry rot. The division’s park improvements priority project number 2 will allow replacement or repair of the rotted logs.
Washoe Lake State Park is located in Washoe Valley, between Carson City and Reno. With over 8,000 acres of land and water, it receives over 187,000 visitors annually. This park provides access to the 5,000-acre Washoe Lake for a variety of boaters including motor and sailboats, windsurfers, and jet skies. A new floating breakwater has improved access to the main boat launch facility. It also provides two popular campgrounds and facilities for group use, equestrians, hang gliders, and hikers. The wetlands provide not only valuable waterfowl habitat, but also opportunities to observe and learn about the area’s environment.
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park’s 14,242 acres stretch along 10 miles of the Carson Range on Tahoe’s east shore. It is made up of four major units: Sand Harbor, Spooner Lake, Cave Rock, and the backcountry. Each provides a variety of recreational opportunities. With over 1 million visitors, Lake Tahoe is the State’s most popular state park.
With nearly 500,000 visitors per year, Sand Harbor is the busiest unit of the busiest state park. The lake and its beaches are the prime attractions, providing opportunities for swimming, sun bathing, boating, fishing, picnicking, or just plain relaxing in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable. The Sand Point loop trail provides access to the rocky shoreline, complete with informational displays. It is fully handicapped accessible. The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, a non-profit group, recently completed a new stage for its yearly festival. This popular event attracts an audience of over 25,000 annually.
Both Cave Rock and Sand Harbor provide excellent boat launch facilities. Fishers frequent the many spots along the park’s 3 miles of lakeshore. Mackinaw and rainbow trout are the elusive catch. New award winning facilities at Memorial Point were recently completed. This facility, designed for year around use, provides flush toilets and interpretive displays. The facility serves the nearly 250,000 million tourists annually who stop at this scenic overlook on Tahoe’s east shore.
Spooner Lake, near the intersection of highways 50 and 28, offers interpretive trails, catch and release fishing, a picnic area, and trailhead access to the park’s 13,000-acre backcountry. With so much relatively pristine high country, mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking are popular activities. Winter snows attract cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts via Spooner Lake. A concessionaire operates a cross-country ski area each winter and rents and services mountain bikes in the spring to fall months. The backcountry offers a historic and scenic setting. Historic Hanna’s cabin and Red House are valuable cultural resources dated back over 50 and 100 years, respectively. Marlette and Hobart Lakes are prime destinations for bicyclists, equestrians, and hikers. Fishing is permitted only at Hobart Lake.
Lake Tahoe’s Sand Harbor Maintenance Building needs more space, and the division’s project number 5 will provide not only an expansion of the existing 30 year old facility, but also major renovations. Sand Harbor’s main 550-acre parking lot is the rest of the State Park’s facilities and that pavement is now over 30 years old.
Chairman Jacobsen:
It is always better to see a picture than to talk words.
Senator Neal:
Where are the old fort and the near building you were talking about located?
Mr. Newberry:
That was Fort Churchill and the Buckland Station. If you are traveling to Las Vegas, between Silver Springs and Yerington you will see a white building off to your left. That is the Buckland Station. The adobe ruins are approximately a mile west of there. The bond initiative of 1990, Question 5, allowed us to acquire quite a bit of ranch land along the river, and the Buckland Station was one of those acquisitions.
Senator Neal:
I have been to Fort Churchill but I had not seen the Buckland Station.
Chairman Jacobsen:
What is the status of the Dangberg Ranch? Also, could you comment on the Silver Springs Camp and the brick making?
Mr. Perock:
The Dangberg Ranch remains in litigation. For those on the committee not familiar with this property, the Dangberg’s are an old pioneer family who came to Nevada in the late 1850s. They helped settle Carson Valley and were involved in the economy of this part of Nevada. The last heirs of the ranch of Carson Valley pioneer H. L. Dangberg, Sr., was a granddaughter, who was the last heir in Dangberg Holdings Nevada and the estate of Katrina Glide. The legal wrangling began following Ms. Glide’s death in 1995 and the subsequent sale of 9,900 acres of what was once a 48,000-acre ranch first established in 1856 in Carson Valley and California. No formal appraisal of the property has been completed, but the state believes the disputed acreage is worth $1 million.
The current owners want to keep the property as a cattle ranch operation, and the state and Dangberg heirs want to carry out Katrina Glide’s wish to bequeath the home ranch, which consists of about 10 acres, to Douglas County or the state for a historic park. The state is still waiting for a determination on this matter. I am concerned about the condition of the buildings because historic buildings require maintenance. It would be a fine addition to the park system if we were so fortunate to bring it into the system.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Is there any possibility a letter could be drafted to the court indicating that time is of the essence?
Mr. Perock:
I will check with our deputy attorney general about doing that.
Chairman Jacobsen:
I think it is a necessity. I live very close to the Dangberg property and that property is in need of repair. The windows are broken and the property, generally, is in disrepair.
Mr. Perock:
I had the opportunity to visit the ranch some years ago, and one of the sisters took me through it and showed me objects from her childhood, which would have been circa 1910. The toys of her and her sisters are so much of Nevada history, as well as the long dining room table and all the furnishings. Decisions made at that table reflect what we are as a people today.
The conservation camp at Silver Springs is a ladies’ camp. For years, we continually maintained the adobe bricks, which make up that structure. Adobe structures continually require maintenance. We were in need of bricks. We used to bring the inmates over to the fort, where the supplies and materials were located, to make the bricks. Currently, we have moved our mud mixture and forms to Silver Springs where the bricks are made at the camp and then transported on pallets to the fort to maintain the adobe structure.
Mr. Parks:
I have a recollection of property that was being transferred to the state. I believe it was located on the Nevada-California line near South Lake Tahoe.
Mr. Perock:
Yes, Mr. Parks. We have a piece of property, the Van Sickle unit. The Van Sickle family is another pioneering family in the Carson Valley, and Mr. Jack Van Sickle is one of the long-time heirs. About ten years, he donated some property directly on the state line behind Harrah’s Hotel & Casino. As part of the environmental improvement program, one of the threshold projects is to develop that into a state park. We have been in the master planning process for eight months now. In fact, we have done some public workshops. Our biggest problem is access to this property. Permission must be granted by the state of California. We have met with the director of California State Parks and have discussed the possibility of a bi-state owned park.
M-201 Demographics/Caseload Changes — Page CNR-134
M-202 Demographics/Caseload Changes— Page CNR-135
Mr. Perock:
As noted in our presentation, Sand Harbor is the busiest of the state parks. It is a high profile park. I am the designee for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board. We have in our budget a request for two positions to help deal with the number of people and the resulting issues that come with high use in any park facility. You will notice some deterioration in parking, utilities, and restrooms.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Is there any anticipation of an increase in user fees?
Mr. Perock:
The Governor is not a big fan of taxes or increasing user fees. I take that seriously. I do not see any new fees coming online. Generally, our policy is to reevaluate fees every other year, and adjust them through the Nevada Administrative Code.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Do you anticipate any additional use of inmate crews throughout the park system?
Mr. Perock:
We usually have our designated projects and keep to that outline. Some projects were not completed last year because so many inmates were busy on fire crews for last year’s fire season.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Are the collection boxes successful or not?
Mr. Perock:
I believe you are referring to our attempted automated fee collections, which produce fees on the “honor system,” unless there is an attendant to monitor those machines. We originally purchased three machines, which were implemented in the Valley of Fire. One was vandalized the day it was installed. We are maintaining one at the Valley of Fire and the other two have been transferred north to the Tahoe area for use beginning this summer. We had problems with the credit card use, and that was one area we were hoping staff might assist us on. The accounting of the credit card system became a nightmare for our accounting department. The ability for users to place cash in the machines and get change back and print out a ticket, was great technology. The vendor, however, was a small company that did not provide for repair and maintenance of these machines. I am not going to request any funding for purchase of more automated fee collection boxes.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Thank you. I want to thank you for your efforts. Parks are like ice cream cones. You can lick it all you want to and it still remains new.
Senator Neal:
The request you had before the legislature in terms of depositing park money. How did that turn out?
Mr. Perock:
That request was in the last session and it died, mainly because it placed harder restrictions on state parks than on any other agency in the state government. Through agency policy we have refined that so there are assurances regarding the timing of when we collect public money and when it is deposited in the bank and State Treasury. This allows for better accounting of those funds. So, we did it under that format as opposed to a legislative request.
Chairman Jacobsen:
It has been a dream of mine to fix our legislative building as they do in California, which is to have each county have a display it can refurbish on occasion. That is one matter regarding this building about which I have been disappointed. A visitor sees a few county photographs, but not many. There should be more of that, in my book.
Forestry Intergovernmental Account (Not Included in The Executive Budget)
Budget Account 101-4227
Steve Robinson, State Forester Firewarden, Division of Forestry, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:
I am somewhat apprehensive today following our sister agency because I have no PowerPoint presentation, almost no pictorials, but merely words. I would ask you to look at my handout entitled “Construction Phases, Great Basin College, Ely Branch Campus” (Exhibit E). This was a camp project that saved the people of Nevada more than $400,000 in the construction of that facility.
This is typical of the construction as seen with the Department of Prisons, in which inmates are commended for the quality of workmanship on the project and the savings realized by the state. These kinds of projects occur because of great cooperation from the Department of Prisons. That cooperation with the new leadership is better than ever.
Before I get into the budget accounts, I would like to comment on the upcoming fire season. It is difficult to predict what is going to happen this July and August. Basically, in the western region of the United States, we have a lower than normal year for precipitation. In Elko, the northeastern part of the state, we are at about average precipitation for this time of year. It is too early to tell, although the next 30 days the precipitation and temperature amounts are going to have a great impact on what kind of fire season we will have.
Our neighbors to the north, Idaho and Montana, are under stringent drought conditions. While that may not seem to directly affect Nevada, it does, because the national resources we use to fight our fires are used to fight those fires. As you recall, in 2000 the fire season in the West was the largest season in 50 years. There are only so many resources on a national level that are controlled out of the Boise Interagency Fire Center. Nevada has to compete for those resources. What I can say with some certainty is the West will have a big fire year and those resources are going to be strained, as they were last year.
Budget account 101-4227 includes budgets for Washoe, Douglas, Storey, and Carson City Counties in the western area; Elko, Eureka and White Pine Counties in the northern region; and Clark County in the southern region. Each year the division submits budgets to the counties. Tentative budgets are due from the counties to the Department of Taxation by April 15. Tentative budget hearings before the various county commissioners are conducted during the months of March and April. Currently, we are in that cycle. The final budget hearings take place by May 21. Each county then submits the final approved budgets to the Department of Taxation by June 1 of each year.
Once our division receives the final approved budgets and they are signed off by all the county commissioners and filed with the Department of Taxation, the division submits a work program to the IFC through the state budget office. The budget office reconciles the legislatively-approved budgets to the county-approved budgets. For FY 2001, the work program approved by both the counties and the IFC includes 73 full-time, permanent positions and 9 six-month seasonal positions. Elko, Eureka, White Pine, Storey, and Douglas Counties maintain their operating budgets, except for the operating expenses associated with the 15 positions allocated to the four counties included in the western region. The proposed FY 2002 and FY 2003 budget remains the same, except for inflation in M-100 and fringe rate increases and decreases in M-300, and the 4 percent cost of living adjustment and added step in M-301.
Also included is decision unit M-801 for the proposed cost allocation increase in budget account 101-4195 in The Executive Budget. Elko, Eureka and White Pine counties are funded 100 percent with county general fund appropriations. Washoe, Douglas, Storey, Clark and Carson City Counties are funded with a combination of revenue sources. These sources may include county general funds, ad valorem revenue, Assembly Bill 104 from the 1989 season, fair share bill revenues, supplemental city and county relief taxes or the 5-cent county equipment override revenue tax, which is in Storey County only. The TRW Environmental Safety contributions and donations in Storey County assists, as do consolidated tax revenues. With that, Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to answer any questions.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Why would the counties fund expenses at a greater level than is necessary to support the expenses in this budget account?
Jennifer Kizer, Administrative Service Officer, Division of Forestry, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:
The FY 2002 and FY 2003 proposed budget is the same amount that was approved for FY 2001. So, I am not sure of the answer insofar as an increase, except for the increase in the reserve.
Particularly in the western region (Douglas County, Carson City, Storey and Washoe counties), counties budget their positions at the top step. Many times those positions are not filled for two or three months after the fiscal year starts. So, there are revenues left over at the end of the fiscal year. We balance them forward to the next year.
Usually when they prepare the following year’s proposed county budget, they will use those extra revenues to fund a one-time expenditure, such as equipment. When we do our work program to reconcile the budget to the county-approved budget, we will move that out of reserve and place it in the appropriate category for that county for that type of expenditure approved in the budget.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Do we have any funds outstanding from the last fire season, or any aftermath that we should be aware of?
Ms. Kizer:
I did not bring my fire billing revenue information with me. We do have a few bills outstanding from the 1999 fire season, but they are small amounts and many are bills that were lost in the federal system. We are fairly complete with the 1999 season, except we are in the process of getting a reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Lockwood fire. That happened two years ago in July 1999.
I believe all the regions have finished with the fire billing from the 2000 season. So, we are in good shape in getting our billings forwarded.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Are plans for the future season in order? I do not know how you get in order for a fire because you do not know what to expect, but you can be somewhat prepared.
Mr. Robinson:
Yes, Mr. Chairman. With this infusion of federal money received as a result of last season’s fires, various fuels management projects around the state will begin this spring in the urban interface area. Hopefully, that will help. We are getting our crews prepared, as much as possible, in the way of training and initial attack strategies. We are also training professionals and volunteers.
Mr. Marvel:
Are you working with any federal agencies on a fire retardant program, like grazing systems so we can mitigate these fires in the future? For example, we had no fires in the Sea Hill area last spring because of sheep grazing.
Mr. Robinson:
The Governor issued his fire summit report, which took into account the ideas of many people around the state. One of the factors the report recognized was the role grazing has in fire retardant measures. That is one of the reasons we are involved with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service to come up with some pilot projects and programs that can show specifically how that might work.
Peter Anderson, Deputy State Forester, Division of Forestry, State Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources:
Mr. Marvel, there are several pilot projects planned currently, both on private and federal lands. With the infusion of the national fire plan revenue, those will be put into effect, hopefully this next fall. We are expecting funding in July 2000. We are very anxious to see these programs be implemented.
Mr. Marvel:
Are you doing some green stripping?
Mr. Anderson:
Yes, we are. In fact we have done green stripping projects over the last couple of years in Tuscarora, which will continue. Many of the rural communities are the focus of green stripping. It will depend on the amount of moisture, but we do have a lot of seed in the ground from this last fall.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Mr. Anderson, is the level of cooperation between BLM and the U.S. Forest Service and the rest of the fire service entities in order?
Mr. Anderson:
I can confidently say that the cooperation has never been better, at least in my term working in the state of Nevada. I think we have more opportunity at this point than we have ever seen.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Do you see any problems with inmates and firefighting?
Mr. Anderson:
Our inmate fire crews have started all their training, completed their physicals, physical therapy, and so forth. We are gearing up, equipment wise, and things are shaping up well. As long as we can keep a solid pool of inmates in the system, things should go well.
Chairman Jacobsen:
My observation the last fire season was that cooperation could not be any better.
Mr. Marvel:
Since the last meeting when we talked about cost allocations, have you had an opportunity to sit down with the counties and work out a cost program they can afford?
Mr. Robinson:
I have talked to the counties and the county representatives. We will make it as best as we possibly can. If the worst were to come about and employees had to be laid off, we would try to find someplace for them within the state system and give them preference. Hopefully, it will not come to that; but if we need to do that, we will do it.
Mr. Marvel:
Do you think we can come to some conclusion before the end of this session?
Mr. Robinson:
Sir, I think the budget office representative said last time, “We propose and you dispose.”
Mr. Parks:
We do have a letter from George R.E. Boucher, the Elko County Manager relative to the intergovernmental account (Exhibit F). Has there been any further communications and development between you and Elko County?
Mr. Robinson:
To repeat, Mr. Parks, we have not spoken specifically about any kind of reductions. I have talked to the county at length, including meeting with the county manager a month ago. One of the things we did was to make sure the word got out, and there was not a surprise on this issue, although I understand we were late in doing that. We did, however, inform people of what was going on.
Mr. Marvel:
The counties were caught totally unprepared for this. I believe before we close the budget, we would have to look at this issue of the State Cost Allocation.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Thank you for being here today. I will have to say you have not heard the last of us, so be prepared to return as we may be asking you back. Let us move forward to the next budget.
DEPARTMENT OF PRISONS
High Desert State Prison – Budget Page PRISONS-73 (Volume 3)
Budget Account 101-3762
Jackie Crawford, Director, Department of Prisons:
Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. The High Desert budget account will be the first budget account we hear. Prior to that, I would like to present to you, per the Governor’s request, our department’s Preventative Maintenance Master Plan (Exhibit G. Original is on file in the Research Library). Our staff has worked diligently to meet these requests and to comply with the legislative requests. I would like to go on record as saying we have submitted this plan. I think you will find it to be a quality plan, and hopefully, it is a start for us to begin to monitor and manage our maintenance projects more effectively.
Chairman Jacobsen:
I will not say it is overdue, but I will say it is something we have needed.
Ms. Crawford:
We are working toward these goals. Let me also note that David Meligan, Warden of the Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) and Thomas A. Glab, P.E., Chief, Plan Operations, Department of Prisons, worked night and day to present this Master Plan. I would like to give them credit for doing an outstanding job.
The mission of the High Desert State Prison (High Desert) is a medium security institution, our largest prison in Nevada. It opened in September 2000. Today we have 1,500 inmates occupying that facility. It has, or will have, education, vocational, and industry programs when the facility is completely constructed. We are pleased to tell you the new institution is operating well and we are filling it up.
M-200 Demographics/Caseload Changes — Page PRISONS-74
M-300 Fringe Benefit Changes — Page PRISONS-74
M-301 Adds Step 9 and 4% COLA — Page PRISONS-75
M-302 Eng. 2 GRD, COR, 1 GRD, P&P 1 GRD — Page PRISONS-75
E-283 Working Environment & Wage — Page PRISONS-76
E-284 Working Environment & Wage — Page PRISONS-76
Ms. Crawford:
E-720 New Equipment — Page PRISONS-76
Ms. Crawford:
E-905 Transfer Senior CO To 3710 — Page PRISONS-77
Ms. Crawford:
Senator O’Donnell:
How did you do with that chaplain for northern Nevada?
Ms. Crawford:
That has been taken care of. We have completed the interview component that you asked me to do.
Senator O’Donnell:
What is the cost on that item, so we can get that item in the budget?
Ms. Crawford:
We submitted that cost.
Janet Johnson, Assistant Director, Support Services, Department of Prisons:
We spoke to one of the priests that was going to contact the gentleman in Lovelock.
Ms. Crawford:
I believe we submitted a figure of $17,000; however, that was not in The Executive Budget.
Senator O’Donnell:
I understand it is not in the Governor’s budget, but I need to know what the cost is because we appropriate the money. The Governor gives us advice, but we appropriate the money.
Mr. Parks:
What are the population figures that George Washington University is in the process of developing, or has developed, for the department? How do those numbers impact the system and might we have a copy of that study?
Glen Whorton, Chief, Classification and Planning, Department of Prisons:
On March 15, 2001, George Washington University did provide us with a new population projection. Those were raw numbers. They have not provided us with the specifics of that to include the trace vectors or the narrative. However, if you would like to discuss what the raw figures are, Fritz Schlottman, Management Analyst III, would be pleased to discuss those.
Fritz Schlottman, Management Analyst III, Department of Prisons:
We received a projection this week from George Washington University. We received a raw projection which is preliminary figures indicating total population. We distribute that population among various custody classes and look at our facilities in terms of whether we are able to accommodate that future population projection in our institutions.
For both the male and female populations, the new projections show increases over the previous projections, which were completed in November 2000. For the period beginning April 1, 2001, until June 9, 2001, the increase in the projection for the males was .04 percent; the increase in females of that projection over that period was 2.5 percent. We have looked at this and it follows the curve in the previous projections fairly closely. That is, you do not see major changes in the distribution over that period of time of that population. It is a stable curve, particularly for the male inmates.
Beginning in January 2002, the old, in-house projection for the men was 9,447; the new in-house projection is 9,574, which is an increase of 127 by the end of the year. On the female side, the January 2002 previous number was 859; the new projection is 851, or a decrease of 8 inmates or .09 percent. This steadily increases on both sides so that in January 2003, the new projection for men is 10,134 and the old projection is 10,060 or a difference of 74 inmates. A fairly nominal increase. For females, we get into a new projection of 914 and our old projection was 925, or a drop of 11 females over that period.
In the out years, January 2006, the projected number of men goes up to 11,571, and the old projection was 11,552 or a difference of 19 inmates, which is fairly nominal. On the female side, the old projection was 1,070 and the new projection is 1,144 or a difference of 74. Females begin to take off in the projection. When you get to the end of the projection, the men have increased from 13,264, to 13,273 or a difference of 9 inmates. For women in that month, the old projection had it as 1,230 and the new projection is 1,286, or a difference of 56. At various times this fluctuates, depending on the schedule of releases, mandatory releases, and paroles during the period. The females can be a difference of over 100 during that projection. July of every year appears to be a high peak for the differential in female projections.
Mr. Parks:
My concern is whether this would require adjustments to our budgets for the upcoming biennium. When might a final report be available for the committee?
Mr. Whorton:
Our understanding is we will be receiving a narrative, which includes the assumptions today. We have completed a biennium spreadsheet, which is our plan to distribute the population across our facilities. That has been provided to our fiscal staff and they are working on that as we speak.
Mr. Marvel:
When do you anticipate the department may have to add more beds or a new prison?
Mr. Whorton:
We are revising our capital improvement plan (CIP) as we speak in light of these figures. It has not changed dramatically from what we provided previously in terms of High Desert Phase III and the women’s expansion. It is a matter of detail in what months the inmates come in and how we manage our beds in excess capacity. It is a plan of such detail I am reluctant to give you a date without letting you see the entire presentation. That is completed and ready for the director’s approval and will then be submitted to the Governor’s office.
Mr. Marvel:
How far into the future are you projecting?
Mr. Whorton:
The projection is a 120-month array, or ten years. Normally, we run out about eight years. We try to give the department’s administration and the Governor an opportunity to look at the bonding capacity and how that is going to be down the road. So, our master plan is eight years out.
Mr. Marvel:
Do you project a new prison would come online during that time?
Mr. Whorton:
Ultimately, yes. This direction is not substantially different from the previous one. It is a little higher, but on an average it shows a population increase of 4.4 percent for each of the ten years of the projection. That is relatively consistent with the growth of the state. So, it looks to be relatively defensible from George Washington University’s standpoint.
Mr. Marvel:
Will these be new prisons or expansions of existing prisons?
Mr. Whorton:
Our previous master plan that we provided to you for CIPs did include an expansion of the High Desert for Phase III, which was 1,008 beds. That will be a true medium security expansion, and will not be the hardened medium construction that we saw at the High Desert State Prison in Phases I and II. We hope to make that an economic hold, but a durable facility. Down the road, we will see some construction in the out years. There will be a new prison in our master plan. It was there previously.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Like you, we are concerned when we see populations exceeding capacity. I think it is a normal reaction.
Mr. Parks:
Could our staff get a copy of that biennial plan?
Mr. Whorton:
Certainly, Mr. Parks. That will be provided immediately.
Mr. Parks:
Do you see, at this point, revising your individual budgets?
Mr. Whorton:
I am not the authority on that, but I assume there will be some adjustments based on the new projections.
Ms. Johnson:
What we will be doing is submitting a request to the Governor’s office for a revision. Pending his decision that will be forthcoming, but it appears those request figures will be increasing.
Darrel J. Rexwinkel, CPA, Administrative Services Officer IV, Department of Prisons:
The population at High Desert, as of a few days ago, was 1,545 inmates. The budget for FY 2001 projected an average for the year of 1,583, so we are approaching the average although we are below that currently. For FY 2002 we are projecting a population of 1,867, and then with the opening of units A and B in July 1, 2001, the proposal is 2,002 and that brings up the projected average population for FY 2003 to 2,016.
The opening of units A and B necessitated additional staff that we did not have in the budget. We recommended a revision to the Governor’s office, which amendment has been accepted and approved by the Governor. That was the transfer of 11 positions from the Southern Desert Correctional Center and three additional positions that were not previously funded for High Desert.
The staff at High Desert is 337 in FY 2001 going up to 338 proposed for FY 2002 and FY 2003. That is before the transfers of the 11 positions from Southern Desert Correctional Center and the three new positions.
M-100 Inflation & Per Unit Adjustment — Page PRISONS-74
Mr. Rexwinkel:
In decision unit M-100 we have a projected increase in electric and natural gas utilities. High Desert does use fuel oil for heating purposes. Fuel oil has taken a tremendous increase, as has propane for some of our other institutions. High Desert does not use propane.
M-200 Demographic/Caseload Changes — Page PRISONS-74
M-300 Fringe Benefit Changes — Page PRISONS-74
Mr. Rexwinkel:
There is decision M-200 for population growth and M-300 decision unit includes the one-grade increase for correctional offices, custody staff and then the 4 percent overall salary increases for all staff for each year of the biennium.
M-303 Occupational Studies — Page PRISONS-75
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit M-303 should have been a zero change, with no financial effect. There was a key entry error that caused a different class code to show up. It should have been the same grade, which committee staff are aware of.
E-283 Working Environment & Wage — Page PRISONS-76
E-720 New Equipment — Page PRISONS-76
E-284 Working Environment & Wage — Page PRISONS-76
Mr. Rexwinkel:
E-283 requests an Equipment Mechanic III and E-720 provides additional equipment for the auto shop. The auto mechanic position would supervise inmates who service our fleet vehicles. Decision unit E-284 requests a Maintenance Repair Specialist II to supervise inmates making repairs to the culinary, laundry, inmate store, canteen, and other areas. E-720 requests new equipment and some of that in the amount of $2,361 is the auto shop related items. We do need some pallets in the amount of $4,766 for oil, grease and lube items. We also need two carts totaling $5,500 for food transport during lockdowns.
E-905 Transfer Senior CO to 3710 — Page PRISONS-77
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-905 is the transfer of one position to budget account 3710 to function as a program intake officer. The position stays at High Desert. Those are all the decision units we have.
Chairman Jacobsen:
We cannot help but notice a lot of movement, but you are the one that is qualified to do that.
Mr. Rexwinkel:
We do have additional issues we have been working on with your staff as far as the mechanics in the budget, like the bakery issue. The High Desert will be serving the bakery for themselves, where Southern Desert Correction Center has been doing that all along. Beginning July 1, 2001, High Desert will be doing its own bakery service. So, we need to get those bakery ingredients and the revenue into High Desert. There is a slight difference in funding estimates, but I believe it is down to $4,000.
Chairman Jacobsen:
One of our concerns is the boot camp. What will transpire there due to the fact that is the younger generation.
E-283 Working Environment & Wage — Page PRISONS-76
E-284 Working Environment & Wage — Page PRISONS-76
Mr. Parks:
I have a question on decision units E-283 and E-284. Could you tell me what staff is currently performing the duties of the Equipment Mechanic III?
Mr. Rexwinkel:
With respect to E-283, which is the auto mechanic, we currently are not doing that. The work is currently being done either outside the system or at Southern Desert Correctional Center. We do have a large institution. We want to bring that full functionality over to High Desert and we think that will be a cost savings.
Mr. Parks:
The narrative indicates it is to supervise inmates assigned to the service of fleet vehicles. Is there someone already doing that at this time?
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Fortunately this is a new facility, so a lot of what we have is new. At the outset some of the maintenance is lower than what it will be in the future. As we continue to age, we will need more mechanic-type assistance.
We do have staff at High Desert, but we just opened the facility and everything is under maintenance for this fiscal year. A lot of the equipment had one year’s warranty. By the time we finish this fiscal year, we will be out of warranty and we will have to conduct repair and maintenance work ourselves.
We do try to use our inmate staff whenever possible because it is good training for them and it is a reasonable price for us.
Pioche Conservation Camp – Budget Page PRISONS-105 (Volume 3)
Budget Account 101-3723
Ms. Crawford:
The mission of Pioche Conservation Camp interfaces with the Nevada Department of Forestry. The camp has a population capacity of 194, with a staff of 16. The accomplishments of this camp have been very noteworthy. This camp, through inmate labor, assisted with the Lincoln County School District in constructing an 18,000 square-foot elementary school. This project was brought in under budget and the opening for that school will be in August 2001. I hope the committee will have an opportunity to go to the open house because it is certainly noteworthy to see the quality of work and what we are doing.
Senator Neal:
Could you equate the cost of the labor or give a dollar figure that was expended by the inmates to help construct that school?
Ms. Crawford:
I do not have that information in front of me, but I will be happy to research that and put that together.
Mr. Rexwinkel:
The emergency capacity for Pioche Conservation Camp (PCC) is 194. Our current population is at 194, and we are projecting for the next biennium to be at 194. There are also 16 staff. Everything is status quo at PCC for the next biennium.
M-100 Inflation & Per Unit Adjustment — Page PRISONS-106
M-200 Demographic/Caseload Changes — Page PRISONS-106
M-300 Fringe Benefit Changes — Page PRISONS-106
Mr. Rexwinkel:
We do have the standard maintenance units. M-100 with the inflationary increase that I mentioned during the High Desert presentation. Some facilities do use propane and PCC is one that does use propane for heating, cooking and hot water. We have been working with the budget office about the utilities. This is not only for FY 2002 and FY 2003, but also for FY 2001. We hope to have some information to you by next week because that is an area of major concern. Decision units in series M-200 and M-300 are all the standard units that we have previously been over.
E-710 Replacement Equipment — Page PRISONS-107
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-710 is to replace two filling cabinets that were purchased in 1980 and are broken, an office desk that was purchased many years ago and is broken, and two hand held radios are recommended for FY 2001 and one for FY 2003. We have been working with committee staff on the radios and have provided an inventory and have reconciled our accounts. Currently at PCC we have two radios that are not repairable. This is really a replacement of those radios because they do wear out after a period of time. Also, we are requesting a hot well serving table to replace the one that was purchased in 1995.
E-720 New Equipment — Page PRISONS-108
Mr. Rexwinkel:
In some of the camps we have requested a fully-stocked toolbox. We are trying to standardize the equipment at all the camps. Also, we have base radios for the rural camps so they can be used in times of need. Once again, we are working with your staff on that issue.
Silver Springs Conservation Camp – Budget Page PRISONS-139 (Volume 3)
Budget Account 101-3749
Ms. Crawford:
The next budget component is the Silver Springs Conservation Camp (SSCC), which houses the female offender. It is in partnership with the Nevada Division of Forestry. We currently have a capacity for 112, and today our population is 85, with a staff of 13. This camp is making a noteworthy contribution to the community and the state. One of the areas I would like to highlight, which is no cost to the state, is that we are in the process of designing a “baby barn” for the Wild Horse Commission for foals when they are born. A number of states are doing that, where the women will manage them in the prison setting. It is a 24‑hour, seven-day job, because some of the horses have been abandoned and are hungry. We believe this will be a therapeutic program for the women. Construction of the baby barn will all be done through contributions and volunteers.
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Silver Springs Conservation Camp is status quo. We are projecting a population of 98 for FY 2002 and 106 for FY 2003. There are no changes in staff. We have the standard decision units that we have been discussing. We do use electricity for operating and heating and natural gas for some heating and cooking.
E-710 Replacement Equipment — Page PRISONS-141
Mr. Rexwinkel:
We do have some replacement equipment in E-710 to replace the floor buffer, which has been there since 1994. The floor buffer gets used continuously and it is at the end of its useful life. We are also requesting four portable radios for the camp. Currently, we do have five radios that are not repairable at the camp, and so we are requesting to replace four of those.
E-730 Maintenance of Bldgs & Grounds — Page PRISONS-142
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-730 is the maintenance of buildings and grounds. We would like to paint. This camp was built in 1991 and they tell me the camp still has the original paint. So, it does need painting. The amount we are requesting will do half the building in FY 2002 and the balance will be done thereafter. We are also requesting a water disinfection system to provide clean water.
Mr. Parks:
Regarding the disinfection system, is that something that has been recommended by a health district or division review of the needs of the facility?
Mr. Rexwinkel:
I do not know if that disinfection system was recommended by a public health authority. I do know we have had tests by the Health Division, and, I believe, this was at their recommendation. I would have to check with maintenance to find out if it is something that was mandated. I do know we have had some failed test due to an increase in bacterial contents.
Mr. Parks:
Do you currently have any kind of disinfection system?
Mr. Rexwinkel:
I do not believe so. I would have to check with our maintenance department.
Chairman Jacobsen:
We have had some minor problems with that from the beginning. I believe our staff is on top of that situation. The party that donated the property, of course, owns the well. So, we have two pumps and one well. I believe it is not anything that is critical at the moment.
Offenders’ Store Fund – Budget Page PRISONS-193 (Volume 3)
Budget Account 240-3708
Mr. Rexwinkel:
The offenders store fund covers all of the store sales at the various facilities. We have vending machine income, telephone commission income and that is where the revenue comes from. The profits from all those functions transfer to the Inmate Welfare Account. We have a staff of 60. Currently we are requesting four new positions and we are transferring one position out.
One matter we did notice is the markup on the stores went from 28 percent to 32 percent for this fiscal year. It appears to us that we missed, including that in the budget and we need to add that in. We will be providing that information to your staff. It appears to be about $408,000 of additional income annually, plus a little bit from the effect of increased population.
M-201 Demographics Caseload Changes — Page PRISONS-195
Mr. Rexwinkel:
In M-201 we are requesting funding for 1 Information Specialist II. With the year 2000, the department was funded to design and implement a new inmate services payroll, banking, warehouse, and stores application system. We did that instead of purchasing software packages. The process took approximately two years of full‑time work by an outside programmer. That person’s contract ended July 1, 2000. There was a substantial amount of code, which now must be maintained in‑house. It is because of that, the increase in the work and the number of systems that we are requesting an Information Specialist II.
M-202 Demographic Caseload Changes — Page PRISONS-196
Mr. Rexwinkel:
In decision unit M-202, we are requesting a Management Analyst II. We have significant increases in paperwork, accounting, and disbursements, especially because of Senate Bill 500 and Senate Bill 392.
SENATE BILL 500 OF THE SEVENTIETH SESSION: Provides procedures for collection of certain debts owed to state agencies. (BDR 31-293)
SENATE BILL 392 OF THE SIXTY-EIGHTH SESSION: Makes various changes to provisions governing deduction from wages earned or money received by offenders, accounting of money of offenders and transportation of offenders to court. (BDR 16-638)
Senate Bill 500 of the Seventieth Session greatly impacted inmate services because released inmates leave the Department of Prisons owing department charges and disciplinary sanctions. Another position will improve our ability to follow up on these collections. Senate Bill 392 of the Sixty-Eighth Session came from the 1995 legislative session that resulted in inmate services tracking, processing, collecting and distributing money collected from the offenders on behalf of a variety of state, local and county agencies.
We did have an Account Clerk III position that was approved with S.B. 392 of the Sixty-Eighth, but now since the passing of S.B. 500 of the Seventieth Session, we process all judgment of convictions and that has increased our tracking workload.
M-203 Demographic/Caseload Changes — Page PRISONS-196
Mr. Rexwinkel:
In decision unit M-203, we are requesting an Accounting Specialist to relieve the current accounting specialist who does a lot of supervisory work. But with the growth, we are running out of staff to do all the work we need accomplished. So, this new position would primarily be responsible for supervision of an Accounting Clerk III and five Account Clerks II. Most of this need is due to growth in the number of inmates.
M-205 Demographics/Caseload Changes — Page PRISONS-196
Mr. Rexwinkel:
In decision unit M-205, we are requesting a Storekeeper II, who will work at High Desert. With High Desert we will be over 2,000 inmates by July 1, 2002. Our experience indicates that for every 500 inmates we should have one storekeeper position. Therefore, we need one more.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Is that adequate?
Albert Peralta, Chief of Inmate Services, Department of Prisons:
We have been able to deal with the population using the 1:500 ratio. I cannot tell you for certain whether that is a stable figure. However, we honestly feel that we can deal with the population with one additional storekeeper.
E-298 Working Environment — Page PRISONS-198
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-298 is for increased office space at the Carson City location. That parallels what we requested in budget account 101-3710 for additional space. They need to expand also, so that is the reason for this request.
E-300 Maximize Internet & Technology — Page PRISONS-198
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-300 is enhanced training for technical staff. This is for data processing staff in the amount of $4,500 to improve their ability to perform their jobs.
E-710 Replacement Equipment — Page PRISONS-198
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-710 is $35,413 for equipment that replaces old equipment that has exceeded its useful life.
E-720 New Equipment — Page PRISONS-199
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-720 is for new equipment in the form of computer stands for the storage supervisor. Some of this equipment is to redo staff work configuration, which now is not conducive to performing work functions. We want to ensure staff has the appropriate equipment for their jobs. We are also requesting five file cabinets for the central office to store files, two hutch organizers, a printer stand, some storage containers for inmates at Pioche and Jean to provide locking and insulated storage, and a window air conditioner for the Pioche store.
Currently, the Pioche store is using an air conditioner insufficient in capacity. We are also requesting two pallet jacks, one for the women’s facility in southern Nevada and one for the Jean Conservation Camp, as well as a utility trailer and cart.
E-906 Transfer Mgmt Analyst IV to 3710 — Page PRISONS-199
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-906 is a transfer of a Management Analyst IV from the Offender’s Store Fund to the Director’s office to work on, advise, update, and continue our administrative regulations, help us with bill draft requests during the legislative session, review specificity of charges, train and supervise staff on policy issues, manage inmate grievance system, and administer the law libraries. It is because of the duties associated with the law library that we are requesting a portion of the funds remain in the Inmate Store Fund, with the balance being transferred to the Director’s office.
Mr. Parks:
So a portion of this Management Analyst IV will be funded out of the Inmate Store Fund, and the balance of the salary will be from another funding source?
Mr. Rexwinkel:
The position and all the costs associated with the position would be transferred to budget account 101-3710. In order to fund a portion of it, $8,200 is proposed to be transferred each year from the Store Fund to budget account 101-3710. The difference between the $8,200 and the total cost of the position would be new funds.
Inmate Welfare Account – Budget Page PRISONS-201 (Volume 3)
Budget Account 660-3763
The Inmate Welfare Account has a current staff of 23, and the staff will remain at 23. We are not asking for any new positions. A lot of the money in this budget account comes over from the Inmate Store Fund. We do have $278,000 of inmate reimbursements for items that we pay on the inmates’ behalf, for which we get reimbursed.
E-225 Reward More Efficient Operation — Page PRISONS-204
E-278 Working Environment & Wage — Page PRISONS-204
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-225 is the consolidation of the inmate law libraries. The proposal in the budget is to consolidate all the libraries of the institutions into Category 21. For information purposes and to track expenditures by each library, we would use the division in section coding in the integrated financial system that would allow us to track our expenditures by each location.
In decision E-278 is the cash match for the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant. That is the increase in the proposed grant, which is in a different budget account. That is for the Warm Springs Correctional Center Residential substance abuse treatment grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
E-710 Replacement Equipment — Page PRISONS-205
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-710 is funding for replacement of four videoconference recorders (VCR) for each year of the biennium. Those are at the Carlin, Wells, and Ely Conservation Camps and the Humboldt Conservation Camp.
E-730 Maintenance of Bldgs. & Grounds — Page PRISONS-205
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Decision unit E-730 requests funding to resurface the basketball court at Northern Nevada Correction Center and the Ely State Prison in this upcoming fiscal year, as well as continuing money in FY 2003 to keep it maintained.
Mr. Parks:
Module E-278 is a 25 percent General Fund match of $92,000. It is my understanding that has not been paid in the past from the General Fund. Am I correct?
Mr. Rexwinkel:
The match money for the Warm Springs Correctional Center therapeutic treatment program has come from the Inmate Welfare account. That has provided the match in the past for intensive medical treatment. This past year we have served 95 inmates. It is a reimbursement-type grant. We plan to be up to the full capacity of 105 by the end of this fiscal year. Of course, to do that, the contractor needs to come up with the additional counselor to provide the services. We hope and plan that it continues at 105 inmates over the next biennium. The increase in match is to fund some additional salary costs and to include a new position. This is non‑General Fund appropriation. Taking the match out of this budget account continues using non-General Fund money for the match for that Warm Springs Correctional Center RSAP program.
Mr. Parks:
Staff has informed me that we are planning on closing the camp budgets and some of the other accounts in the next week to ten days. So, any changes you might want inserted would need to be to staff soon so the committee may consider them.
Mr. Rexwinkel:
Thank you. We have been working with Carla Watson, Program Analyst, and trying to satisfy her daily requests. I do not mean to criticize, but it is a lot to keep up with.
Senator O’Donnell:
Ms. Watson is fast and very good. She is probably one of the best we have. I can understand the tenuous position you are in, but you have a budget that has been put forth by the Governor. We all know that the funds we are looking at, or are projected to be there, are not going to be there. That is a given. The question here is, and very delicately, I am charging you with giving the information to Ms. Watson as to the needs that your institutions have.
I know that you have been told not to do that because of the Governor. As the people who spend the money and raise or lower taxes, we need to know what the needs are for the institution. Now, we may agree with the Governor. That is our prerogative. We may disagree in little tiny areas here and there. I think that is understood by the administration. That is why we have these hearings, or we would just do “Governor recommends.” So, what I am telling you is, I would like to have you give Ms. Watson the information so that we can make an informed decision as to what your needs really are, and whether we want to fund them.
Mr. Rexwinkel:
I think we have tried to do that. The only two outstanding issues we have not provided information on are the new population updates and the utility issue. Those are the two areas. We have given Ms. Watson the funding information for High Desert State Prison. Some of that results in a little bit of General Fund need, and some of it decreases the General Fund need. Hopefully we have done that and I am trying to do that.
Senator O’Donnell:
Please do not forget the information about the “chaplain.”
Ms. Crawford:
Thank you very much for hearing us today. Please be assured that we continue to work with committee staff, as well as Governor Guinn’s directive.
Stephanie Licht, Lobbyist, Elko County, Board of Commissioners:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In response to the questions and comments from Assemblyman Marvel and Assemblyman Parks regarding the state cost allocation in the Division of Forestry budget, Cash A. Minor, our chief financial officer, called me this morning and asked that I make the committee aware Elko County is also experiencing budget shortfalls the $62,000 that our county has been assessed will come out of the amount that we have already budgeted for them. It is in the neighborhood of $500,000. If we are assessed the state cost allocation, that $500,000 will be reduced by that much.
Chairman Jacobsen:
While our next public figure is coming forward, I want to take this opportunity to state that I toured Warm Springs prior to the session. It is about the cleanest place I have ever found.
Patricia A. Hines, Lobbyist, Nevada Cure:
I am here with some issues representing Nevada Cure. I am sorry, but I cannot do this in one minute, Senator Jacobsen. I requested on February 20, 2001 when I came to speak that I needed a little more time than the one minute. Do you want me to do this today, or wait another session?
Chairman Jacobsen:
How long do you wish to speak?
Ms. Hines:
I need five to eight minutes. This is the fourth time this has been scheduled and the third time I have been here to testify.
Chairman Jacobsen:
Fire away!
Ms. Hines:
I was glad when Assemblyman Marvel asked about prisons because I know what Director Crawford has in mind. I wish this committee could work with the State Probation and Parole (P&P) and come up with some alternatives for revocations. I have some statistics about P&P. Out of 16,076 new cases that they sent back to prison, 56 percent of them in the last biennium were due to minor, technical revocations, but because they do not have any alternatives. So, if you have any input on that, we would appreciate it.
One of the concerns that I would be remiss not to mention is there is nothing in these presentations on plans for a gymnasium for High Desert State Prison, which has been funded twice, if I am correct. I represent a lot of people who have their loved ones in that institution. Then I hear you are allocating money to redo a basketball court for NNCC. Where is the justice?
I am concerned that the percentage in a performance indicator says that only 45 percent of the inmates are using the recreational programs. We wonder if this figure is low and includes those who are not physically able to use those facilities and are in the medical center.
I thank you, Assemblyman Parks for bringing up RSAT. There are two areas that are financed out of the Offenders Store Fund and Inmate Welfare Fund and I am putting them together in the interest of time. Every time we ask something like this we hear that these funds are to benefit all inmates. I do not really see a literacy program and the RSAT program benefiting all inmates when people are not allowed to go to one of those two programs. Some people have asked and cannot go.
After hearing the presentation today on the Offender’s Store Fund, we were just going to applaud you for not increasing the profit again, since it had been increased from 24 percent to 28 percent, and 28 percent to 32 percent the last legislative session. Now, I am confused. Will there be a raise in the Offender’s Storefront prices or not? I just did not get that clearly from Mr. Rexwinkle.
I wanted to say that Director Crawford has some good plans on looking into the number of indigents that are in our prison system. I finally got a figure yesterday that there are 1,378 indigents in the prison system out of less than 10,000 population. That is a big percentage. I will tell you why it is a concern to families. There are several things the indigent inmate population gets out of our Offender Welfare Fund and Inmate Welfare Fund.
They get gate money, free postage, medical co-payment, and their portion of any property damage. We families put this money into the fund in what we send our inmates who are not indigents. We do not begrudge the indigents anything, but you are asking other families to pay for it. It is just another hardship you are placing on families.
I am going to pass out statistics on rate schedules (Exhibit H). This exhibit includes a copy of page 93 out of the Offender’s Store Fund, which relates to the phone commission that this state gets from inmate-initiated telephone calls. The recommendation on the end of the page is that you do a very serious work program on this and eliminate this commission that is a hardship on families. We really do not think you want to be a part of a process that actually punishes an inmate’s family. We are not in prison.
There are alternative revenue sources to do this, and the one we are proposing to you is to establish debit calling. You have had a contract with media control interface (MCI) telephone company since early 2000. MCI capabilities can put this debit-calling system in at no cost and no additional staff needed by the Department of Prisons. Debit calling is in place in all the federal prisons, Colorado, and Tennessee. There is information there regarding ETC, which is the Equitable Telephone Campaign that our national cure organization started last year. It gives you some of the ideas of litigation in other states, and what other states have done to combat this commission and not put it on the backs of families.
We do not have to pay to walk in the visiting rooms of prisons. By the same token, that should be true for telephone calls since research shows that it is one of the best ways to maintain community and family stability and help recidivism rates stay low. The problem with the system we have now is that the rates for instate calls are quite high.
The rates are not much higher for pay telephone calls on the outside, but there is a big difference. People on the outside have a choice of when they want to call collect. They can buy a phone card and use it. They can use 1‑800 numbers. None of these things are available to families and we pay the bill right now. With debit calling the inmate would have the money in his account and pay for his own calls. It helps him establish responsibility.
One of the things we recommended to the Governor at the February 2000 Board of State Prison Commissioners meeting last year when this was approved was that there should be a percentage of the maintenance and repair costs for the phones that come out of inmate labor. It is disappointing in the Nevada Department of Prisons the number of prisoners who do not have pay numbers. If you can find out that figure and help us get that figure, we would appreciate it. The best thing that we can come up with is an assignment given to all the inmates on 1998 statistics. It is unfortunate and understandable there was not a statistical book done this year because the position was just filled by Mr. Rexwinkle.
I would like to ask you to put some money into the budget to help Director Crawford have the ability to pay some of these inmates. I think you would save money by having fewer indigents, and it is something I would like to see you consider.
Again, my two main issues were reducing indigents and eliminating the telephone commission. I appreciate any help you can give us on it. Thank you.
Chairman Jacobsen adjourned the meeting at 10:40 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Liz Root
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Chairman
DATE:
Assemblyman David R. Parks, Chairman
DATE: