Nuisance law vote to be next month

Susan Voyles

Saying the nuisance ordinance has exhausted the public and themselves, Washoe County commissioners gave initial review to the law Tuesday night and scheduled a public hearing and vote Oct. 27.

"We have been at this for 20 months," Commissioner Robert Larkin said. "Our citizens are exhausted. We are exhausted."

Then, he and Chairman Dave Humke agreed the commission could change any section.

"The only question I have -- is this ordinance enforceable?" Humke asked.

"We'll find out," Larkin said.

The only change to the draft, recommended by staff, was to eliminate a provision that would have made unpermitted signs a nuisance.

Lee Rowland, northern director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said citizens have a constitutional right to put political signs in their yards without buying a permit or getting permission from the government.

As drafted, the law would allow only two junk vehicles, screened on all sides, on a parcel.

A citizens committee had recommended one vehicle per acre for up to 50 vehicles.

Off-road vehicles must be at least 1,000 feet from homes in the unincorporated county. The requirement is 500 feet.

The ordinance is a companion to one approved two weeks ago that makes nuisances a civil rather than criminal offense. The intent is to get nuisances resolved quickly rather than put someone in jail.

The ordinance applies only in unincorporated areas outside Reno and Sparks. Animal-control regulations are enforced countywide.

Residents protested parts of the ordinance.

Garth Elliott of Sun Valley said the trend across the country is to monitor the sound of off-road vehicles. Similar to a radar gun to check car speeds, Elliott said the monitoring equipment would pay for itself after a deputy issued a couple of tickets.

But Bob Webb, county planning manager, said the sheriff's office opposes that and doesn't want to buy monitoring equipment, maintain it or continually test it for accuracy.

Nancy Ann Leeder of Reno said the one-size-fits-all category for limiting junk vehicles shouldn't apply. She questioned whether someone would have to put up a 6-foot fence around a 40-acre lot to hide inoperable vehicles.

Jane Countryman of Washoe Valley opposed provisions forbidding a future buyer of her property from having farm animals.

"I'm real concerned about that," she said. "My family wants to continue the tradition."

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Source: http://www.rgj.com/article/20090923/NEWS/909230434/1321

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