2012 2:00:00 PM

Monday, September 24, 2012 2:00 PM
Sparks Legislative Building, 745 4th Street, Sparks, NV 89431

General Business: 6.5

Title: Approve the City of Sparks’ membership in the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) and appoint one member of the City Council or the Mayor, and an alternate, as the designated representatives for the City.

Petitioner/Presenter: Shaun Carey/Shaun Carey

Recommendation: Approve the City of Sparks’ membership in the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) and appoint one member of the Council, and an alternate, as the designated representatives for the City.

Financial Impact: $4,512.00

Total Costs: $4,512.00

Fund: General Fund Account: 603160
Program: General Government (059080)
Amount: $4,512.00 Budget Status: Budget Exists

Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.

Agenda Item Brief: Sparks has been invited to join the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD). This Agenda item would authorize membership and payment of the future billings and appoint an elected member of the City Council to serve on the Board of Directors.

Background: As part of AB 449, the Economic Development bill passed during the 2011 Legislative session, northern Nevada governmental agencies created the ReCharge group. Since 1983, northern Nevada Counties (now currently eight) have been solidifying their Economic Development charge using WNDD. On July 1, 2012, the State Office on Economic Development put forth the system by which all agencies can access Catalyst funding for projects within their domain. To better position all of the northern Nevada Counties, it has been suggested that the ReCharge group and WNDD and EDAWN collaborate on furthering the Catalyst fund process. Accordingly, on August 14, 2012, the WNDD Board approved offering membership to the County and the Cities of Reno and Sparks. This new opportunity will allow Elected or Appointed officials to work on truly Regional Economic Development Issues over a 9 County Area and gain access to more Federal, State and Private Funds by joining an established Federally Certified Economic Development District.

Analysis: The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) has completed a Regional Strategic Plan for expanding, incubating and growing new jobs to northern Nevada. Part of the plan calls for EDAWN to work locally, regionally, and on a State-wide basis to implement the Governors’ Economic Development Plan. EDAWN and Washoe County identified a new Regional opportunity for the Cities and Counties in Washoe County to work with an existing Federally Certified Economic Development District, The Western Nevada Development District. WNDD has been serving the counties in northwest Nevada for many years and took action at its Board meeting on August 14, 2012 to extend a formal invitation to Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County to join the District. At the Joint Meeting of the Councils and Commission on September 10, 2012, the benefits and new opportunities of membership in the District were presented. Following the presentation, the Board directed staff to bring forward this item approving membership in the District. The County and Cities will each place one member on the existing WNDD Board. Accordingly, the Board will need to appoint one of its members to serve on the District Board and a staff member or private citizen to serve as an alternate. The next meeting of the Board is now scheduled for October 9, 2012. The great advantage of this action will be to have regional elected officials working together on Regional Economic Development issues and open the door for Sparks, Reno and Washoe County and EDAWN to gain access to Federal Funding Initiatives from the Department of Commerce. While the bi-Laws allow the City to appoint staff members, it is the City Managers’ recommendation that an elected official serve in this Director role. It is expected that the ReCharge Committee will be folded into the existing committee structure of the WNDD to also provided better coordination into a larger region. We also believed the new EDAWN Strategic Plan will be better positioned under this new structure. The City can also appoint not more than two members of the private sector involved in business, industry, professions, or education to serve on the Board. Appointing a member of EDAWN is likely to produce good outcomes, but Staff would look for guidance on these appointments after the City appointed Director gets a feel for how to best position these private sector appointments.

Alternatives:

Recommended Motion: Approve the City of Sparks’ membership and authorize payment of the prorated billing of $4,125 and incidental costs of membership in the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD), further I move to appoint ________________as the elected representative of the City and _____________as the alternate for the to the Board.

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