WASHOE COUNTY COMMISSION VOTES TO PUT CITIZEN INITIATIVE REGARDING WATER RESOURCES FOR PLANNING ON 2008 ELECTION BALLOT


Reno, Nevada. August 19, 2008. At their meeting today, the County Commission unanimously voted to place the issue of identified and sustainable water resources for planning purposes on the 2008 Election Ballot. In making their decision, all Commissioners cited that an issue of this magnitude should be put before a vote of the people.

Additionally, County Commissioners declined to introduce an ordinance initiated through a citizens petition providing that, “The Truckee Meadows Regional Plan shall be amended to reflect and to include a policy or policies requiring that local government land use plans be based upon and in balance with identified and sustainable water resources available within Washoe County,” based on the legal analysis and advice of the District Attorney’s Civil Division.

Legal counsel cited the case of Horne v. City of Mesquite where the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the citizen initiatives were invalid because they exceeded the limits of existing laws that applied to the city believing that the same case would exist in this instance, as well as concerns raised about meeting time requirements. By state law, if the County Commission fails to adopt the certified citizen initiative as an ordinance then it must appear as a proposed ordinance question to the registered voters.