Washoe County opens code review of citizen advisory boards after heated debate over renaming and boundaries

The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously March 18 to open Chapter 5 of the county code for amendment, launching a process to update rules for the county’s citizen advisory boards (CABs).

The move begins a three-meeting code-amendment process; staff will ask the district attorney’s office to draft ordinance language for the board’s first reading in May, followed by a second reading and possible adoption in late May or June.

Why it matters: CABs are the county’s neighborhood-level advisory panels. The proposed changes include renaming, updated appointment rules, boundary adjustments and bylaw and open‑meeting-law clarifications that would affect how citizens advise commissioners on local matters.

Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gustafson told commissioners the review will update three documents: county code, the standard CAB bylaws and the CAB handbook. Proposed changes listed in the staff report include renaming CABs to “constituent advisory boards,” clarifying that CABs advise only on matters within Washoe County’s governmental jurisdiction, requiring CAB boundaries to fall within a single commissioner district, and removing a code provision that bars CAB members from serving on the county planning commission or board of adjustment.

Gustafson said the board’s action on March 18 is only to authorize staff to start drafting ordinance language. “The only decision on this topic that you actually have to make today is just whether to open up chapter 5 of the code,” she said.

Vice Chair Jean Herman objected to the proposed name change from “citizen” to “constituent,” arguing the term constituent is more narrowly political while citizen is broader. “Constituent on the other hand is a voter in a representative district with power to elect or appoint representative in legislative body,” she said. Multiple CAB members who testified at the meeting urged the board to keep the name “citizen advisory board,” say advertising should be improved to boost attendance, and asked that development project review remain part of CAB discussions.

Public comment included Sun Valley CAB Vice Chair Heidi Soper, who said renaming could confuse older residents and urged the board to let CABs consider countywide jurisdiction items where appropriate; Veronica Cortez, a Sun Valley CAB member, said she joined because she is a “citizen” and not a “constituent” and urged keeping the current name; and Roger Edwards, a North Valley CAB member, said residents depend on CAB review of development projects and described low outreach to affected neighborhoods.

Commissioners agreed to open the chapter for revision. Commissioner Mike Clark, who moved the request, said he opposes a name change but supported opening the code for discussion. Commissioner Marlius Garcia seconded the motion; it passed unanimously.

Next steps: staff will draft proposed ordinance and revised bylaws, return to the board for first reading in May and schedule the public hearing and second reading in late May or early June. Commissioners and staff said they would solicit CAB input as the drafts are prepared.

Ending: The board instructed staff to gather additional input from existing CAB members and to include clarifications on meeting frequency, boundary maps, and how CABs will be advertised to the public.