Provides Overview on the Next Steps for the Truckee River Flood Management Project
Reno – The Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) announced its committee members for the Truckee River Flood Control Project Needs Committee (FCPNC), the first step in establishing “a flood control project needs committee to recommend the imposition of certain taxes, fees, rates, charges, levies or assessments to fund the approved flood management project of the flood management authority.”
Assembly Bill No. 375 (AB 375) was signed into law on June 12, 2017 by Governor Brian Sandoval, enabling the Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) to continue its mission to plan, engineer and construct flood project improvements that will protect the Truckee Meadows region from a 100-year major flood event. The 100-year plan will help avoid the life-threatening and economic impacts that a major flood event could cause in the future, and is intended to benefit the community as a top regional priority.
The 16-person FCPNC is as follows:
Jay Aldean, TRFMA, TRFMA Executive Director (non-voting member)
Julia Ratti, State Senate Nevada State Senator, Nevada State Senator
Mike Sprinkle, State Assembly, Nevada State Assemblyman
Marge Frandsen, Nevada Association of Realtors, Realtor at Trans-Action Realty 500
Lea Tauchen, Retail Association of Nevada, Vice President of Administration and Government Affairs for the Retail Association of Nevada
Scott Smith, Washoe County, Retired Engineer
Dave Aiazzi, City of Reno, Former Reno City Council Member and Former TRFMA Board Member
Dick Mills, City of Sparks, Commercial Property Owner
Rod Young, NV AFL-CIO, Retired from the Operating Engineers Local No. 3
Governor’s Office appointee – To be determined
Mike Kazmierski, EDAWN, EDAWN President and CEO
Andrew Diss, Nevada Resort Association, Director of Government Affairs, Grand Sierra Resort
Tray Abney, Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Director of Government Relations and Vice-Chair of the FCPNC
Bob LaRiviere, Builders Association of Northern Nevada, Member of the 2017 BANN Associate Directors, President of CFA, Inc. and Chair of the FCPNC
Dean Schultz, Airport Authority, Executive Vice President/COO (non-voting member)
Matthew Duplantis, NAIOP, Assistant Vice President at Global Logistic Properties
“It will be a community effort to provide the best solution to prevent major flooding for our region that will benefit our citizens,” said Jay Aldean, executive director, TRFMA. “Our goal is to utilize the approved federal funding from the Army Corps of Engineers along with the additional local matching funds needed to construct the flood project.”
The FCPNC will be tasked with determining how to best address the funding needs to meet the local obligation in order to take advantage of federal funding available through the Army Corps of Engineers. Once the total project funding is secure, the TRFMA will partner with the Army Corps of Engineers and build the project; otherwise, the federal commitment will be lost.
The FCPNC has two objectives. It will focus understanding on the background, history and needs of the project and the project components, and work toward developing a recommendation for best mix of rates, fees and taxes to fund the flood project. Before April 2, 2018 the FCPNC will formulate their recommendation into a ballot question to be considered by the voters of Washoe County. The FCPNC must also provide a report that addresses regional drainage issues for each local government entity, and a recommended manner in which to address them. This report will be specific to outlying areas in the county, and describe those areas most affected by recent flooding and those areas not covered by the existing plan – all within 18 months.
While the Board of Directors of the TRFMA has the authority to propose a fee, which may partially fund the project, the FCPNC may also add a proposal for voter consideration for the implementation of taxes for the remaining amount. The FCPNC:
Must include a proposal for the imposition of a fee, rate or charge that the governing body of the flood authority must approve
May include a proposal for imposition of one or more taxes
The flood management authority shall impose the fee as recommended. If a tax is recommended, the Board of County Commissioners shall submit a question to the voters at the general election of 2018 asking if the proposed taxes should be imposed.
Under AB 375, the taxes that may be considered include: room tax, supplemental government services tax (vehicle privilege tax); real property transfer tax; property tax; or any other tax that the county is authorized to impose under State law. Sales tax may not be considered.
For more information on the Truckee River Flood Management Authority, please visit trfma.org.
About the Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA):
The Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the Truckee River Flood Management Project. The agency is a joint powers authority created in 2011 by an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement executed among Washoe County, the City of Reno and the City of Sparks. The agency’s primary mission is to plan, design, build, operate and maintain infrastructure to reduce flood damages, safeguard public health and create a more resilient community.