As it stands in the City of Winnemucca, discharging a firearm into an unoccupied or unpopulated space, like a car or open lot, is a misdemeanor but firing a weapon into an occupied or populated space, like a home or business, is a felony.
At its regular meeting on Sept. 21, the Winnemucca City Council approved a request to set the consideration for an ordinance to define the city limits of Winnemucca as a populated area to public hearing with all members present. If the ordinance is approved during the public hearing, it will help make the consequences for negligent discharge of guns into open spaces or vehicles more severe—elevating the charge for firing a weapon anywhere or at anything within City limits to a felony.
Winnemucca Police Department (WPD) Chief Mike Rangel said at the meeting that there have been more cases where cars are shot at or weapons are fired within the City and once apprehended, the assailants are charged with a misdemeanor, a far lesser charge than a felony, if they did not shoot at or in a structure like a house or business.
City Attorney Kent Maher said that Nevada state law says that if a county or city has designated an area as a populated area then it becomes a felony charge to fire a weapon in that area, so no penalties for discharging a firearm are being altered, the City is potentially just defining the boundaries of Winnemucca to take advantage of what is already state law.
The public will have the opportunity to weigh in on the potential ordinance adoption at a future meeting.
In other Council news:
• The Council approved a motion authorizing that a notice be sent to Q&D Construction and Western Surety Company that the City of Winnemucca is considering declaring Contractor in Default of the General Aviation Apron Hardstand Reconstruction Project which was completed by Q&D and Surety last Nov. at the Winnemucca Municipal Airport.
According to City and Airport Officials, the concrete work done on the Aviation Apron Hardstand is defective and remains coned off at the Airport and the notice allows Q&D and Surety to remedy the defective work and work with the City before the actual declaration of Contractor in Default.
According to City Manager and Airport Manager Alicia Heiser, Q&D and Surety have been contacted four times since the completion of the project to address the faulty work but no effort to fix the work has been made.
• A request to award a contract to Sonoma Construction for a new storage facility that was previously budgeted for the City Sewer Department was approved.
• The Council approved a request to close Melarkey Street from Fourth Street to Winnemucca Boulevard for a chili cook-off event on Nov. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• The Council approved a request to close portions of Bridge Street, Highland Drive, and Kluncy Canyon Road for the annual Lowry High School Homecoming Parade on Oct. 9 starting at 6 p.m.
• The Council approved a request to close Melarkey Street from Railroad Street to Winnemucca Boulevard for the Pridefest Parade on Oct. 14 from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Multiple requests to set zone changes to public hearing were approved including: the change of county Rural Ranchette zoning for a property located off Water Canyon Road to city Agricultural Residential zoning, the change of county Rural Ranchette zoning for a property located at 4811 Ada Vista Drive to city Rural Estates zoning, the change of Rural Ranchette zoning for a property located at 5835 Water Canyon Road to city Rural Estates zoning, the change of county Rural Ranchette for a property located at 5874 Water Canyon Road to city Rural Estates zoning, the change of county Rural Ranchette zoning for a property located at 2923 Paiute Street to city Estates zoning, the change of county Rural Ranchette zoning for a property located at 5865 Water Canyon Road to city Rural Estates zoning, the change of county Rural Ranchette zoning for a property located at 5877 Water Canyon Road to city Rural Estates zoning, and the change of county Rural Ranchette zoning for a property located at 5880 Water Canyon Road to city Rural Estates zoning.