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NYE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM REQUEST FORM Department: Natural Resources Meeting Date: Category: Regular Agenda Item June 27, 2023 Prepared by: Lorinda Wichman Phone: (775) 7611626 Presented by: Megan Labadie Phone: Action requested: (Include what. with whom, when, where. why. and terms) Discussion and deliberation to: 1) Approve, amend and approve, or reject a request from The National Association of Counties (NAC0) and Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) to contribute $120,000.00 toward the National Center for Public Lands; and 2) Authorize the Comptroller to determine a funding source. Complete description of requested action: (Include, if applicable. background. impact. long-term commitment, existing county policy. future goals. obtained by competitive bid. accountabilLty measures) The National Association of Counties (NACo) and Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) are requesting financial support from public lands counties to support a National Public Lands Center (The Center). Nye County has more public land than any other county in the lower 48-States. Our challenge is to be heard by the federal management agencies (BLM, Fish and Wildlife, Forestry Service, etc.). Nye has over 51 MOO residents, with a fraction of that number being registered voters. That is a drop in the bucket in relation to the population of the entire nation. The Center will combine our voice with approximately 3600 other counties. The requested contribution of $120,000.00 represents 1% of Nye County’s $12,000,000.00 total LATCF allocation. With the help of the National Public Lands Center, we will be more effective in addressing our public lands goals. Recommendation: Staff recommends approving the request and authorizing the Comptroller to determine the funding source. i’inancial Impact Cost:$ 120,000.00 Fund Name:tbd Fund#: Budgeted: DYes No N/A FY: One-Time D Recurring Comments: Two payments of $60,000 each Review & Approval Legal Review Required: E Yes D No Legal Approval Received: D Date: Financial Review Required: E1 Yes LI No Submitted to Finance: Date: 6/5/23 Administrative Manager Review: LZ1 Place on Agenda:LZI Initials: ST Item 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- 304 S. Minnesota St. Carson City, NV 89703 Nye County ATTN: Tim Sutton PD Box 153 Tonopah, NV 89049 TOTAL DUE $ 120,000.00 Make all checks payable to Nevada Association of Counties If you have any questions concerning this invoice, contact: Amanda Berg, Office Manager aberg(nvnaco.org or [PHONE REDACTED] NEVADA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES IINVOK:E DATE: INVOICE # February 2, 2023 NPLC- 11 DESCRIPTION AMOUNT National Public Lands Center Assessment 120,000.00 Description: This one-time contribution will fund the National Public Lands Center (“the Center”), housed within the National Association of Counties (NACo) & Western Interstate Region The suggested contribution is based on 1% of your Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency fund (LATCF) award. Payment of this contribution can be made in two installments. **These are treated as pass-fhru funds from your State Association payable to The Center. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- National Center for Public Lands Counties National Center for Public Lands Counties Advancing the policy and practice study of America’s public lands counties Powered by the Western Interstate Region and the NACo Research Foundation 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- FURTHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’s UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTY ROLE IN RESPONSIBLE LAND, WATER AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • County governments are leaders in the intergovernmental partnership with federal lands management agencies • We work with officials from all levels of government, private stakeholders and other interested parties to reduce fuel loads on federal lands, prudently develop our natural resources to meet the nation’s economic needs, improve local economies, enhance recreational access to public lands, and conserve our lands and waters for future generations • With improved understanding of our unique role, Congress has invested record sums recently to support public lands counties, including Payments In-Lieu of Taxes (PILT), Secure Rural Schools (SRS), and other revenue sharing programs • Congress also granted new authorities to federal lands agencies to broaden the scope, pace and scale of their on-the- ground resource management work with local governments • HOWEVER, we must continue to tell the county story, research innovation practices, nurture and build new relationships and networks, and address the mounting challenges and opportunities facing public lands counties National Center for Public Lands Counties Powered by NAC0’s Western Interstate Region andthe NAC0 Research Foundation 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC LANDS COUNTIES • Counties must research, evaluate and share lessons learned aboutthe critical county contribution to sustainable resource management and evidenced-based practices for developing and enhancing collaborative partnerships, including public-private-community collaborations and intergovernmental coordination • Therefore, the NAC0 and WIR Boards of Directors both moved at the 2022 NACo Annual Conference in July 2022 to proceed with developing the National Center for Public Lands Counties • The Center will weave together the narrative around public lands counties and the national interest in our prosperity by showing how public lands are interconnected with the country’s needs. For example, a wildfire on federal land near a major water source could jeopardize water quality in a large urban region • The National Center for Public Lands Counties will be an essential resource for public lands counties by sharing these stories with county officials, intergovernmental partners, the media, think tanks and other key influencers to demonstrate how prosperous public lands counties create a prosperous America National Center for Public Lands Counties Powered by NAC0’s Western Interstate Region and the NAC0 Research Foundation 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- MISSION AND OBJECTIVES • MISSION: Advance the policy and practice study, research, and learning networks for America’s public lands counties • IMPERATIVE: Enhance the long-term policy and practice research, capacity and information exchange of elected and appointed leaders from America’s public lands counties, including with federal and state policymakers, key stakeholders and influencers, the media, and the general public • OBJECTIVES: o Enhance the understanding of national, state and county policymakers and influencers of the unique policy and practice issues facing America’s county officials in areas with federal public lands o Develop the policy and practice research, case studies, public forums, and learning networks necessary to advance and inform our nation’s policies and practices (including at the federal, state and local levels) impacting public lands counties o Foster intergovernmental relationships and dialogue on the intersection of federal, state and local policymaking and practices across the broad range of issues facing public lands counties, such as: landscape health, wildfire risk mitigation, watershed protection, economic competitiveness and job creation, enhanced public access to federal lands and waters, species management, and biodiversity health o FUNDRAISING GOAL: $15 million over two years to establish a new research fund, known as the National Center for Public Lands Counties, within the NACo Research Foundation and co-governed with NACo’s Western Interstate Region (WIR) and Public Lands Steering Committee leadership National Center for Public Lands Counties Powered by NACo’s Western Interstate Region andthe NAC0 Research Foundation 6 ---PAGE BREAK--- FUNDRAISING GOAL • For the National Center for Public Lands Counties to meet its mission and serve as a long-term tool for public lands counties, a voluntary investment from state associations representing public lands counties is needed • NAC0 staff, state associations of counties executives and county officials set a fundraising goal of $15 million over the next two years to build the staff capacity and partnerships to conduct this critical research and keep the Center on a sustainable financial course. These funds should come from county general funds. • State association executives are asked to meet with their members and determine by the 2023 NAC0 Annual Conference what their state association can pledge as a voluntary contribution to the Center • These funds will be managed under a 501(c)(3) within the NAC0 Research Foundation to support WIR’s collaboration with the National Center for Public Lands Counties. These funds will not be usedfor any partisan political purposes • Initially, the Center will need 1-2 hard-working, passionate and talented writers who can help us tell the county story and conduct and develop key research to meet the National Center’s goals. We will then build staffing capacity, unique programming and impactful resources as appropriate National Center for Public Lands Counties Powered by NACo’s Western Interstate Region andthe NACo Research Foundation 7 ---PAGE BREAK--- FUNDRAISING STATUS $2,661,979 pledge or collected so far • Arizona: $849,089 (11/15 counties) • Montana: $540,477 (2/3 counties) • Nevada: $44,367 (Esmeralda and Humboldt) • Utah: $815,331 (all counties pledged) • Washington: $204,821 (21 counties) • Wyoming: $207,894 (Park and Carbon) National Center for Public Lands Counties Powered by NACo’s Western Interstate Region andthe NAC0 Research Foundation 8 ---PAGE BREAK--- GOVERNANCE • National Center’s Governing Board will consist of: • WIR Executive Committee (President, 1st VP 2nd VP Immediate Past President) • NAC0 Public Lands Steering Committee Chair • NACo Public Lands Steering Committee Subcommittee Chairs • NACo West Region Representative • NACo Executive Director • Executive Director from WIR Immediate Past President’s home state • NACo Public Lands Legislative Director and WIR Liaison, serving as NACo staff liaison to the governing board • Governing Board will meet on a regular basis and develop an annual workplan based on the research priorities selected by the WIR Board of Directors and NACo Public Lands Steering Committee. At the WIR Annual Conference each May, the WIR Board of Directors and the NACo Public Lands Steering Committee will review the activities and performance of the Center and consider and adopt the proposed workplan for the next year. National Center for Public Lands Counties Powered by NACo’s Western Interstate Region andthe NAC0 Research Foundation 9 ---PAGE BREAK--- National Associaon of Counties 660 North Capitol Street. N.W. Suite 400 Washington. D.C. 20001 [PHONE REDACTED] www.NACo.org fb.com/NAC0DC @NACoTweets youtube.com/NACoVideo linkedin.com/company/NACoDC STRONGER COUNTIES. 10