Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency’s Natural Resource Planning Effort

135 North Sierra Street,Reno NV 89501

19 July, 2022

Description

Topic and Event Details: TMRPA’s Natural Resource Plan initiative is an effort to improve natural resource planning for the Truckee Meadows region. The effort is consistent with a policy adopted as part of the 2019 Truckee Meadows Regional Plan that states that TMRPA should work collaboratively with regional partners to develop a plan that addresses natural resources, and that identifies various natural resource areas that should be protected. The effort is also aligned with TMRPA’s interest in complying with Nevada Revised Statutes 278.0274 subsection 2, which requires that the Regional Plan include goals, policies, maps and other documents relating to, “Conservation, including policies relating to the use and protection of air, land, water and other natural resources, ambient air quality, natural recharge areas, floodplains and wetlands, and a map showing the areas that are best suited for development based on those policies.” Given the abundance of natural resources, as well as the variety of agencies that are involved with the management and protection of these resources in the Truckee Meadows, the need for a centralized document to coordinate natural resource planning efforts is imperative. As part of this document, an inventory of known natural resources will be taken, including a map identifying areas that should be protected, along with a centralized regional database of pertinent information regarding natural resources. Additionally, contextual narratives will address specific natural resource topics, including challenges, opportunities and goals. All of this information will lead to policy implications for the 2024 Regional Plan update. Presenter Bio: Jeremy Smith, PhD, Director of Regional Planning Jeremy has been with TMRPA since 2011. He holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Colorado (CU) and received his Master and Bachelor of Science degrees in Geography from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). His research interests are wide ranging and include biogeography, GIScience, forest ecology, climate change and urban/regional planning. Prior to joining TMRPA, Jeremy worked in both academic and professional settings. During his stint in Colorado, he was awarded for teaching efforts that spanned the department’s geographic information systems (GIS) curriculum. He also contributed GIS analysis and support for several studies funded by sources such as the United States Geological Survey, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Before attending CU, Jeremy worked as project manager and as the operations manager for an office of over 25 GIS professionals creating geospatial data to support telecom engineering across California and Nevada. Presenter Bio: Nate Kusha, Policy Analyst Nate joined the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency in 2016. Since graduating from the University of Utah, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences and Planning, Nate has been building his knowledge of planning and development in the Northern Nevada area. As a Policy Analyst, he uses this knowledge to research, analyze and evaluate development projects and growth trends within the Region, notably in the policy development for the 2019 Regional Plan Update. Presenter Bio: Chris Tolley, Regional Planner Chris joined the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency as a Regional Planner in mid-2016. This is his second role as a professional planner (first with the County of Butte, California) and also marks his return to planning following the Great Recession. At the County of Butte, he successfully worked in a current planning role, focusing on the review of development applications and building permits, and providing customer assistance. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies (Planning) from Sonoma State University, which included internships with the City of San Rafael (long-range planning) and the City of Larkspur (current planning). Aside from planning, he has worked in food services, ecommerce fulfillment, retail and manufacturing. He has invested many hours volunteering as a big brother and providing manual labor at Rancho Santa Marta (San Vicente, Baja California, Mexico). Finally, he moved to Sparks in 2009 from Chico, CA.