D OUGLAS C OUNTY , N EVADA
N EWS Y OU C AN U SE V OLUME 2, I SSUE 12
D ECEMBER , 2012
B UDGET , W ATER , C OMMUNITY C ENTER M ARK 2012
2012: Y EAR
The past year has been marked by challenge and opportunity for Douglas County and its residents. The year began with unemployment remaining stubbornly high, despite a decrease from 2011. A new 5-year financial forecast of the County’s General Fund highlighted a $3 million structural imbalance. While personnel costs were slowed in 2011 with a 5%
January—5-year financial forecast projects annual $3 million imbalance
reduction in employee salaries, uncertainty loomed on how to stabilize long-term labor costs. Water and sewer rates for the County’s utility systems were projected to increase significantly. A site and operating revenue to support the new Community and Senior Center had been identified, but a financing plan to construct the facility still needed to be mapped out.
T AHOE R EGIONAL P LAN It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board’s nearly unanimous decision to approve the 2012 Lake Tahoe Regional Plan and Transportation Plan Updates on December 12, 2012. For eight years, those concerned with the environment and economy at the Lake, including residents, businesses, local governments and others have engaged in a thorough and thoughtful process to improve the natural and built environments. The participation in the Regional Plan Update (RPU) process has been extensive, led by the outstanding efforts of
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All of these challenges, and many more, were met with resolve and fortitude. Three year contracts with all employees were approved and will serve to slow the growth in expenses for several years. Property tax shifts from the Swim District and other sources helped to stabilize revenues. Ultimately, the County adopted a balanced budget for Fiscal (Continued on page 3)
M ONUMENTAL S TEP
IN
R EVIEW
February—Swim District transfers property tax rate to County March—Douglas County ranked healthiest in the state April—County, employees reach 3-year deal to stabilize costs May—County closes budget gap, adopts balanced FY12-13 budget, and stabilizes water and sewer rates June—County earns A+ bond rating from Standard and Poor’s July—Scientific Resolution Panel favors County on flood maps August—Airport secures $1.3 million in federal grants September—$24.7 million Redevelopment obligation terminated October—ground broken on new Community Center November—residents participate in first online “Budget Challenge” December—1987 Tahoe Regional Plan updated
I NSIDE
THIS ISSUE :
The future of Lake Tahoe from the South Shore Vision Plan
F INANCE R EORG
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TRPA’s Executive Director Joanne Marchetta and her staff. There have been many differences of opinion on the best way to improve the natural and built environment through changes to the regulatory structure.
N EW HR M ANAGER
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There is, however, general agreement on the critical issue Tahoe faces: the current state of the environment and economy at the Lake is unacceptable and must be improved. Douglas County (Continued on page 3)
2012 I N R EVIEW 3 ( CONT )
T AHOE P LAN
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( CONT )
FAQ S
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N EWS Y OU C AN U SE
P AGE 2
F INANCE D IVISION R EORGANIZATION R EDUCES “T HE PLAN WILL REDUCE EXPENSES BY OVER $100,000 PER YEAR AND ELIMINATE ONE MANAGEMENT POSITION , WHILE IMPROVING FINANCIAL ANALYSIS , PLANNING AND REPORTING .”
On December 20th, the Board of County Commissioners approved a reorganization of the County’s Finance Division that will reduce expenses by approximately $106,000 per year, as well as eliminate one management position. The Finance Division reorganization creates greater accountability and efficiency. The reorganization will also create a more cost-effective structure with a focus on financial analysis, projections, planning, ac-
counting and reporting, while also providing career development and succession planning for the organization. The reconfiguration of staff resources and responsibilities in the division will support programs that have been identified in the priority based budgeting model as highly relevant to meeting the County’s desired community results. The Finance Division reorganization is the latest in a series of improvements over the past year to the County’s financial manage-
N EW H UMAN R ESOURCES M ANAGER
“S HE IS A D OUGLAS H IGH S CHOOL GRADUATE AND RESIDENT OF THE C ARSON V ALLEY WITH OVER 19 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PERSONNEL AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT N EVADA .”
After a national search brought in over 30 applicants, including many highly qualified candidates, Douglas County found its new Human Resources Manager in its own back yard. Norma Santoyo is a Douglas High School graduate and resident of the Carson Valley with over 19 years of experience in personnel and human resource management throughout Nevada. Ms. Santoyo served the State of Nevada for 13 years, including her current position as the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Nevada Department of Public Safety. She previously served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. She has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and has demonstrated outstanding leadership capa-
COSTS
ment structure, including new long-range budget projections, implementation of priority based budgeting, 3year labor contracts that stabilize expenses, and consolidation and elimination of numerous positions. Standard and Poor’s gave Douglas County it’s A+ bond rating in 2012, noting that the County’s management practices are “strong, wellembedded and likely sustainable.”
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bilities in her previous roles. Ms. Santoyo comes highly recommended from numerous State and Carson City officials who have worked with her. She will begin her new role as Human Norma Santoyo is currently the Chief Human Resources Resources Officer for the Nevada Department Manager for of Public Safety Douglas County on January 7, 2013. tion. “We are pleased to welMs. Santoyo will be responsicome Ms. Santoyo to our ble for overseeing employee team of employees who are recruitment and selection, job dedicated to providing the classification and compensahighest quality and costtion, risk management, traineffective services possible to ing, employee relations, colthe citizens of our commulective bargaining, staff devel- nity,” said County Manager opment and benefit administra- Steve Mokrohisky.
V OLUME 2, I SSUE 12
P AGE 3
B UDGET , W ATER , C OMMUNITY C ENTER IN 2012 ( CONT ) (Continued from page 1)
Year 2012-13, closing the $3 million gap, while also improving services and shifting more money into maintaining roads. Two-year water and sewer rates were adopted through a consolidation of the Valley systems, minimizing the impact on rate-payers. Finally, a responsible financing plan was adopted to construct the new Community and Senior Center, and ground was broken on the new facility after more than
R EGIONAL P LAN
40 years of planning. The County also made progress in eliminating the $24.7 million Redevelopment obligation for the Riverwood project, secured $1.3 million in federal funds for Airport maintenance, and implemented a new priority based budgeting system. The famous writer Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, summed up dealing with adversity succinctly: “I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
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“D ESPITE
But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me.” Here’s to another year of facing adversity head on, and turning our challenges into opportunities for success.
A SLOW ECONOMIC RECOVERY , WE ARE ON A PATH TO LONG - TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY , STABILIZATION OF WATER AND SEWER RATES , AND RESPONSIBLY BUILDING A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER .”
M ONUMENTAL S TEP ( CONT )
(Continued from page 1)
has been actively involved and supportive of efforts to improve the environment and economy at Lake Tahoe. Commissioner Nancy McDermid serves on the TRPA Governing Board and supported adoption of the new plan. County Manager Steve Mokrohisky served on the Nevada and California Bi-State RPU Consultation Group, a broad coalition of environmental and local government agencies, businesses, and state leaders that worked through dissenting opinions and reached agreement on important issues. The adopted RPU is not perfect, but it is a monumental step towards environmental and economic revitalization. The plan seeks to protect the natural environment, encourage the environmental redevelopment of the built environment, and
A rendering of Lake Tahoe’s future from the South Shore Vision
promote complete street communities. The new RPU is also predictable and understandable. The RPU also allows local agencies to assist in permitting small projects, while allowing TRPA to focus on its intended and critical role as a regional planning agency. Douglas County has long been committed to protecting the environment, not in words, but in action. Over 15,000 acres of land is held in conser-
vation in Douglas County. In 2013, the County will introduce a Lands Bill in Congress that seeks to protect another 15,000 acres. A growing number of leaders in Tahoe understand that, in order to protect what we cherish, we have to take action, not stand by and create obstruction. The Regional Plan Update is the action that is needed to protect the Lake.
“T HE PLAN SEEKS TO PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT , ENCOURAGE THE ENVIRONMENTAL REDEVELOPMENT OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT , AND PROMOTE COMPLETE STREET COMMUNITIES . I T IS ALSO PREDICTABLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE ”
Douglas County Strategic Plan Vision A community to match the scenery!
D OUGLAS C OUNTY , N EVADA Thank you for taking the time to review the information in our newsletter. We value your opinion - if you have any questions or suggestions to improve the services and information we provide to you, please contact us. Steve Mokrohisky Douglas County Manager
Mission Working together with integrity and accountability, the Douglas County team is dedicated to providing essential and cost-effective public services fostering a safe, healthy, scenic, and vibrant community for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors. Values Integrity - Accountability - Customer Service - Leadership - Communication - Teamwork
County Manager’s Office 1594 Esmeralda Ave. PO Box 218 Minden, NV 89423
Priorities Financial Stability
Phone: 775-782-9821 Fax: 775-782-6255 E-mail: countymanager@co.douglas.nv.us
Public Safety Economic Vitality Infrastructure
WWW.DOUGLASCOUNTYNV.GOV
Natural Environment, Resources and Cultural Heritage Manage Growth and Change
F REQUENTLY A SKED Q UESTIONS Q: How is the County keeping up with sanding on icy roads? A: The County has a snow removal policy that identifies and prioritizes County maintained roads for plowing and sanding. Priority is generally given to arterial and collector roads, due to higher traffic volumes on those roads. Local roads are typically plowed and sanded as time and conditions warrant. Q: What is the status of the Community Center? Has the design-build team been selected?
A: The final submittals for the project are due from the three designbuild teams on December 21st. The submittals will be evaluated with a recommendation that will go to the Board of County Commissioners tentatively scheduled for February 7th. The preliminary reviews of the proposed submittals are encouraging. Additionally, the fill pad project and site work will be completed this month, ahead of schedule and under budget. Plans to bid the Waterloo Lane widening are at 90 percent and will be advertised in January for bid. We are currently on
target to meet our goal to open the senior portion of the facility in Spring 2015. Q: Have the recent rain storms reveal any previously unknown problem areas for flooding? A: The recent storms did not reveal any previously unknown issues, but it did highlight known issues with historic flow patterns and localized nuisance flooding in areas such as Johnson Lane, Ruhenstroth and Fish Springs.