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This may be the biggest agenda for a Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting in a very long time. The three big items will be a proposed 14 percent property tax rate increase, the $4.5 million first phase of the Multi-Purpose Athletic Complex (MAC), then followed up by the Carson City Center/Nugget Project after lunch. (The full agenda is here)

If you don't have the free time to spend the entire day in the Sierra Room at the Community Center (and limited seating may be an issue), you can keep track of the fun with our live video feed right here. We'll also be liveblogging the meeting via Twitter, as there is sure to be a lot to comment on, so we invite people to join in.

As a warm-up for the Nugget Project discussion, here is a story from the Appeal about that issue, that lists a lot of commentary from locals about the project.

Update: The meeting is in recess until 2, when they take up the Nugget Project.

Gee, and you thought the big issue at Thursday's meeting of the Carson City Board of Supervisors was going to the redevelopment project that has been the object of heated discussions for the past year.

But the revelation that a 14 percent hike in the property tax rate was also on the agenda seems to be causing people to put the Nugget Project on the back burner.

I received a call from the Builders Association of Western Nevada this afternoon about a big property tax increase the Carson City Board of Supervisors is going to vote on tomorrow.

The funny thing is, I read through the agenda last week and didn't see it. But it was easy to miss. It is number 15 on the agenda, and the language used gives very little clue as to what it is (the document is attached below).

CARSON CITY – It took less than a day before Sen. Elizabeth Halseth had the attention she was looking for.
Tim Crowley, a lobbyist for the mining industry, said he called her this morning to schedule a meeting after she asked in a Tuesday night blog post, “did mining just hit a brick wall?”

CARSON CITY – State Sen. Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, told a Senate panel today the Legislature should move forward with repealing the state’s minimum wage law.

With falling and blowing snow throughout Northern Nevada earlier today, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were kept busy by responding to several calls for service this morning, Trooper Chuck Allen reports.

In a six-hour timeframe between 4 am to 10 am, 19 motor vehicle accidents were investigated, 17 slides-offs or spin-outs were reported and the Department of Public Safety-Communications Center fielded 298 phone calls.

With the snow clearing up, the Carson City Chamber of Commerce says it is even more of a reason to join them at their weekly mixer, today at Lodge Assisted Living & Memory Care, 2200 E. Long Street.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A bill from Sens. James Settelmeyer and John Lee would ease regulations for carrying a concealed semi-automatic weapon.

Monica Ricketts, 19, has written a book of poetry and recently land a job with Disney Cruise Lines playing Cinderella & Snow White:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MtesJLNYwY

Winter roared back in Carson City and the Sierra this morning, with heavy snow and accumulations of a few inches on the valley floor already.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for the Carson City and Carson Valley regions, with a winter storm warning underway for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra, according Carsonweather.com.

A Reno man who had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest on an assault charge was found at a Carson City casino with methamphetamine in his possession, authorities said.

Seven fun-loving people from this area spent last Saturday and Sunday, February 12-13, traveling on the Amtrak passenger train between Reno and Sacramento, Calif.

--See Don Q's Outdoor report

Those seven were: Mary Bottoms, Bob “Slick” and Lynda McCulloch, Elaine and I, all of Carson City; and Sal and Catali Quilici of Dayton.

Here is the Fishing Report for the week of Feb. 16-23:

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 www.shastacascade.com reported:
Current water surface temperatures are at 35.5 degrees with water clarity at 7.5 feet. It has been sunny all week as forecasted. With the afternoon highs moving into mid to low 50s, and more sunshine is on the way, with the next possibility of some rain near mid week.

By the California Department of Fish and Game
The public is invited to testify at an upcoming public meeting about salmon populations and the 2011 ocean and river salmon fisheries.

The 2011 Salmon Information Meeting, sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), will be held March 1 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sonoma County Water Agency Building located at 404 Aviation Boulevard in Santa Rosa.

By GrandViewOutdoors.com
The battle to rid Alexander Creek of salmon-munching northern pike may escalate into a war next summer. More pike will be targeted by state biologists after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was awarded $635,000 from the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund for a four-year program to kill pike.

That supplements $127,000 in state money devoted to the project.

By GrandViewOutdoors.com
A federal agency has announced $23 million to protect grasslands in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana for sage grouse, a chicken-sized bird whose males are known for flashy mating displays.

It would be offered as matching funds, with state, local and tribal governments or non-government agencies providing the other $23 million.

By GrandViewOutdoors.com

Some Idaho hunters who prefer to mount all-terrain vehicles to pursue their big-game quarry are chafing at Department of Fish and Game restrictions on where they can ride.

Under current hunting regulations, the state requires armed hunters who head out onto public land in about a third of Idaho's 99 hunting units to stick to established roads, while keeping away from off-road vehicle or jeep trails and areas that are otherwise open to unarmed recreational ATV riders.

By The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is bringing the world elk calling championships, along with the annual convention and expo called “Elk Camp,” back to the Reno/Sparks Convention Center, March 3-6, 2011.


This year marks the 27th annual RMEF Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo—the organization’s largest annual fundraiser for its conservation programs.


By The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Amateur and professional elk callers from across the United States will converge on Reno for the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, March 4-5, 2011.


Preliminary rounds begin March 4 at 9:00 a.m., and championship rounds begin March 5 at 9:00 a.m., at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center.
The championships are a centerpiece of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo.

Here is the Northern Nevada and Sierra area sports and outdoor calendar for the remainder of February:

Feb. 16 – Regular monthly meeting of the High Sierra Fly Casters Club in Douglas County at 7:00 p.m. at the Carson Valley Methodist Church, 1375 Centerville Lane in Gardnerville.
Call Bob Taormina at (775) 265-9159.

Feb. 28 – Closing day of the 2010-2011 Nevada Falconry hunting season.
Call the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) in Reno at 688-1500 or go to www.ndow.org.

By Nevada News Bureau staff
Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley declined again today to commit to a race for the U.S. Senate in 2012 after poll results show Rep. Dean Heller with a commanding lead over incumbent John Ensign in a GOP primary.

Carson Lanes Presents.. "Little Sister". This talented band plays Blues, Country, and Rockabilly. No Cover and Smoke-FREE. Must be 21. See our entire events calendar on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/hjUVPo

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A coffee shop across the street from the Legislature announces “let the games begin.”
With the Legislature in session for less than two weeks, Democratic legislators seem to be playing the game well.

Here's a follow-up to the Silver City mining story, this time by political reporter Anjeanette Damon of the Las Vegas Sun as to what happened Monday among lawmakers taking up the eminent domain mining issue. According to one mining lobbyist, if you support private property rights over mining in Nevada, you're an eco-terrorist. Here's the story.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A bill that would impose fines of $1,000 to $10,000 on businesses that failed to obtain a state business license after being notified by the secretary of state’s office has been pulled from a scheduled committee hearing.

The Young Business Professionals along with Steele & Associates will be providing an educational mixer where attendees will get professional tax, financial planning advice and much more.

Membership in the Chamber's YBP is free.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Business leaders from several large technology companies said today that Nevada lacks the skilled workforce necessary for them to locate in Nevada over the long-term.

CARSON CITY – About 50 state employees gathered in front of the Legislative Building today to call on Gov. Brian Sandoval to participate in a discussion about potential tax increases to help fund the state budget.
With the wind blowing at a steady clip, Vishnu Subramaniam, AFSCME Local 4041, chief of staff, said: “This is a great analogy of what’s going on in the state. They’re trying to blow us away while we’re providing services.
“We need a broad-based corporate tax,” he said. “We need to be having a talk about revenues. The talk of cuts is a red herring.”

The Carson City and Sierra regions remain under a high wind warning and a winter storm watch tonight as a strong Pacific storm is expected to move into the area. The storm may bring up to 4 inches of snow in the valleys, 1 to 2 feet at the shores of Lake Tahoe and up to 5 feet above 7,000 feet.

Thirteen applications for the position of Carson City Justice of the Peace were submitted to the city by the Feb. 11 deadline.

Applications for the position of Carson City Justice of the Peace / Municipal Court Judge were sought by the Board of Supervisors. The position is to fill the vacancy created by retiring judge Robey Willis whose last day is March 12.

The applicants and their current or last employer are:

A woman who had a contempt of court warrant for her arrest faces a felony charge of providing false identification to Carson City authorities.

Nelletta Darlene Harris, 47, was arrested Friday in the 2500 block of Lorraine Street. She is being held on $25,000 bail. The arrest came after officers responded to a home where a fight had happened between two men.

Monday is Family Day at Carson Lanes. Bowling is just $1.50 per game, and Shoe Rental is $1.00. Alley's Diner also has $1.00 menu items. Arcade and Billiards also available. It's 80's night in the lounge with 80's music and videos. Also, new this week were trying out Beer Pong in the lounge (must be 21). Carson Lanes Retail Center is 100% Smoke FREE. Bring the whole family!! See us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/f1mejp

A number of Silver City residents will go before lawmakers today to show their support of a proposed amendment to Nevada's eminent domain law that would remove the ability of a private person or business to exercise the law for the purposes of mining.

The current law on eminent domain (Chapter 37 of the Nevada Revised Statues) allows private individuals to take private land from property owners without their consent, for the purposes of mining. Testimony on this bill will be heard by the Judiciary Committee of the Nevada State Legislature today at 9 a.m. in room 2149.

Nevada State Senate and Nevada Assembly will open with ancient Hindu prayers in Sanskrit on Monday and Tuesday in Carson City.

Hindu leader Rajan Zed will recite from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures, in Sanskrit and then provide translation in English.

I’ve been reading the BurnCards site for a while. It’s one of a thriving community of blogs that have sprung up around Reno. I don’t write about Reno much on this site, because there’s plenty of people doing that, but this article by Ken Manz really caught my eye.

There are two exercise terms; weight bearing and impact that can be confusing to the new exercise student.

Camels in Nevada will be the subject of the lecture presented by Nevada State Museum Curator of History, Robert A. Nylen. In 1855 Congress authorized $30,000 for camels as frontier military beasts of burden because of their adaptablility to desert heat, drought and food. Join us to find out all about the Dromedaries in Nevada. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. at Sierra Place, 1111 West College Pkwy, Carson City. (775) 841-4111

Lake Tahoe and Reno are recognized as breeding grounds for elite athletes and year-round adventurers, and Reno is the stage for the fourth annual Tahoe Adventure Film Festival on Feb. 26 at Grand Sierra Resort and Casino.

Designed to capture the intensity and passion of adventure, the film festival is a perfect summary of outdoor culture. The Dramatic action photography from Aurora Photos flashes on the big screen while go-go dancers and a deejay pump up the crowd, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Economic development will be the topic of the Nevada Business Connections’ monthly networking breakfast on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at Gold Dust West Casino, 2171 Highway 50 in Carson City.

Unseasonably warm days and clear night skies will come to an end this week as a low pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska moves into the Carson City and Sierra region beginning Monday bringing wind, rain and snow through the week.

The trough will bring an end to the mild weather with much colder temperatures and strong gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com.

Here is the Carson City area road construction report for Monday through Feb. 20.

Utility work will occur on Russell Way between Northridge Drive and Long Street Monday and Tuesday. Two-way traffic will be maintained with flaggers.

Musser Street will be closed between Carson Street and Curry Street from 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17 to 6 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 18 because of utility work.

Shoulder work will occur at Stanton Drive and Monte Rosa Drive as part of a sidewalk improvement project.

"The Eagle," an action period film of roughly 180 A.D., currently playing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is that rarity of a Roman legions movies that has no love interest, and barely any women in the cast. There's also a lot of flashy scenes that have nothing to add to the story as well as a lot of ankle-height shots showing troops or horses or somebody moving along. Honest.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Turn on the TV these days and it seems as if every politician is talking about jobs and the economy.

The High Sierra Brewing Company celebrated its grand opening in style Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce. Formerly Doppelgangers, High Sierra Brewing Company, located at 302 N. Carson Street, offers current-day brews and daily food specials.

Click here for their website, here for some history and background, here for their list of current brews being made and here for the Facebook page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOTDn2A7hcY

For more than a year, the lack of firm details about the Nugget Project has been a major source of frustration to those trying to get their heads around this undertaking.

Without real numbers or plans, those arguing for or against struggled with hitting the moving target that is this project.

But that target just got a whole lot more stationary, as Carson City Manager Larry Werner released a 100+ page feasibility report (attached below) for the Board of Supervisors to use this week when a decision is made on whether to move forward with the project.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Legislators have done this week what the cynical among us would never have expected: they got right to work.
The chatter in the hallways at 401 S Carson Street has revolved around the fast pace legislators seem to be setting during their first week in session. Legislators are already listening to testimony about bills. Legislative leaders are already rolling out big jobs bills.

CARSON CITY – Freshman GOP Assemblyman Mark Sherwood is taking Secretary of State Ross Miller to task for proposing legislation that he says will hurt Nevada’s business climate.
Sherwood, R-Henderson, said Assembly Bill 78, set for a hearing Thursday in the Judiciary Committee, “would kill jobs and destroy businesses.”

There will be some tough love in Carson City today among state employees who will take a firm stand against Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's proposed budget that takes aim at public services.

Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 4041 employees and its retiree chapter will address their concerns to the public and press at noon on this Valentine's Day in front of the Legislative Building, 401 South Carson Street in Carson City.

A Nevada program designed to help parents with early childhood development is under threat of having much of its funding yanked, the Las Vegas Sun reports.
Scores of young mothers in Las Vegas and Carson City accompanied by noisy children pleaded today for the state to save the Family To Family program that has helped them deal with problems of early childhood. Click here to read the story.

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