Western Regional Water Commission approves clean audit, names FY2026 auditor and approves riverbank design funding
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Summary
The Western Regional Water Commission unanimously accepted a clean fiscal‑year 2025 audit, designated its external auditor for FY2026 (with a directive to issue an RFP next year), approved $60,000 in pass‑through Clean Water Act funds for a Truckee River bank design and amended the City of Reno stormwater committee budget at its Oct. 15 meeting.
The Western Regional Water Commission on Oct. 15 unanimously approved the commission's fiscal year 2025 financial statements and independent auditor's report, designated an external auditor for fiscal year 2026 and authorized pass‑through funding for a Truckee River bank repair design, among several other administrative items.
The commission accepted an independent auditor's report that staff described as a "clean opinion." Seth Nusy of the audit firm engaged for the fiscal‑year review reported no material weaknesses in internal control and no instances of noncompliance disclosed by testing. The management discussion and analysis included highlights staff summarized for the commission: an increase in the commission's unrestricted net position to approximately $3,060,000 as of June 30, 2025, and a general fund increase in fund balance of about $464,000 to $3,070,000. "This essentially is what's known as a clean opinion for the commission," a staff presenter said during the meeting.
Commissioners then moved to designate the same audit firm to perform the fiscal year 2026 audit and authorized the chair to execute the engagement letter, while directing staff to issue a request for proposals for a future audit cycle to ensure competitive pricing and to meet statutory filing deadlines with the state of Nevada.
On environmental grants and projects, the commission approved passthrough Clean Water Act funding of up to $60,000 from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to the Truckee River Foundation (doing business as 1 Truckee River) for the Ottawa Riverbank repair project. The funds will be used to develop a 30% engineering design for restoration work in the middle urban reach of the Truckee River, including the Idlewild/Ottawa Park area. "There are many areas identified in need of improvement," said Iris Jaleh Peppard, executive director of 1 Truckee River, describing the partnership's five years of planning, mapping and a conditions assessment that produced a project prioritization tool and an online map of recommended work.
The commission also approved an amendment to the interlocal agreement with the City of Reno's stormwater permit coordinating committee to add $49,805.57 to fiscal year 2026, covering an invoice inadvertently omitted at the end of FY2025. Staff said the additional amount will be recovered from WRWC contingency funds and that the invoice and supporting professional services documents were included in the agenda packet.
Other routine business included approval of the Oct. 15 meeting agenda and the minutes from the Aug. 20, 2025 WRWC meeting. The commission's program manager provided updates on the Cold Springs Valley water‑balance analysis, the wastewater regionalization feasibility study (phase 1 findings slated for Nov. 5 concurrent meeting), and a planned water reuse symposium in Los Angeles in March 2026.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of Oct. 15, 2025 agenda — Passed unanimously (9 yes, 0 no). - Approval of minutes (Aug. 20, 2025) — Passed unanimously (9 yes, 0 no). - Approval of FY2025 WRWC financial statements and auditor's report — Passed unanimously (9 yes, 0 no). Noted: independent auditor reported no material weaknesses. - Designation of external auditor for FY2026 and authorization for chair to sign engagement letter (with direction to issue RFP for next cycle) — Passed unanimously (9 yes, 0 no). - Pass‑through of up to $60,000 (Clean Water Act Section 604(b) funds via Nevada Division of Environmental Protection) to Truckee River Foundation for Ottawa Riverbank repair 30% design — Passed unanimously (9 yes, 0 no). - Amendment to City of Reno stormwater permit coordinating committee interlocal agreement to add $49,805.57 for FY2025 invoice (budget not to exceed $312,305.57 for FY2026) — Passed unanimously (9 yes, 0 no).
What the actions mean
The clean audit affirms the commission's financial statements and internal controls for FY2025 and clears statutory compliance testing noted in the auditor's report. The auditor designation keeps continuity for the FY2026 review while the RFP direction signals the commission's intent to assess competitive pricing in a future procurement.
The $60,000 passthrough for a 30% engineering design advances a targeted restoration project on the Truckee River's urban reach; the design phase is intended to produce engineering documents and cost estimates needed to pursue construction funding and permits. The stormwater budget amendment restores funds for City of Reno administrative work in the permit coordinating committee and is funded from WRWC contingency.
The commission voted on all items by voice; staff confirmed the statutory filing deadline for audited statements to the state of Nevada. The commission also scheduled a Nov. 5 concurrent meeting to receive phase 1 findings from the wastewater regionalization feasibility consultant.
