Mayor Neal McIntyre used his State of the City address to highlight a year of major public-service improvements, long-term planning and private-sector momentum, while outlining a slate of projects that will shape Fernley’s growth through 2026 and beyond.
But the biggest surprise of the night came when he announced that Renown Health is actively exploring plans to build a hospital in Fernley.
McIntyre said he and Acting City Manager Lydia Altick recently met with Renown’s CEO and president, who expressed strong interest in establishing a facility in the city. He said a follow-up meeting was scheduled this week to review potential sites along Interstate 80 and U.S. 50.
“Ever since I became mayor, I’ve been hit with ‘Fernley needs a hospital,’” McIntyre said. “So I’m very excited about that and I’ll keep everybody informed as far as where we are after our meeting next week.”
McIntyre opened his address by pointing to one of the city’s most visible accomplishments: the completion of the Community Response and Resource Building, now home to the Boys & Girls Club. The Boys & Girls Club has also secured private funding for its Early Learning Center at no cost to taxpayers and expects to open in fall 2026.
“What a great service this will provide for our families,” McIntyre said.
The mayor also emphasized the city’s progress on the Fernley Lands Conveyance. In June, the Bureau of Land Management transferred eight parcels totaling 2,167 acres to the city, opening opportunities for recreation, public facilities and economic development. Phase 2, expected by 2027, would add another 7,581 acres across the north, southwest and south area plans.
McIntyre encouraged residents to stay involved through local nonprofits, community cleanups, planting days and public meetings.
“Together, we can make our city a better place for everyone,” he said.
City Departments
The mayor began his departmental updates with the City Clerk’s Office, which processed 304 new business licenses in 2025, nearly 30 more than the previous year, and handled 790 passport applications. The office generated more than $3 million in General Fund revenue and navigated several legislative changes affecting elections and the Open Meeting Law.
The Building and Code Enforcement Departments saw a demanding year, logging 560 complaints and issuing 693 building permits, including 132 single-family homes. Staff completed 8,574 building inspections and collected more than $1 million in permit fees. Building Official Charity Birkel earned multiple ICC certifications, and the department digitized more than 3,000 files to make them more accessible to the public.
Animal Control expanded its services with monthly microchip clinics, and 73 animals were microchipped in four months. The pet food pantry has assisted more than 50 pets and distributed more than 650 pounds of dry food. The department responded to a record 561 calls for service and impounded 318 animals, including 54 cats despite having no place at the shelter to house them.
“This reinforces the clear need for an animal shelter in Fernley capable of housing both dogs and cats,” McIntyre said.
Utilities and Public Works
Fernley’s Utilities Department collected 423 drinking-water samples with no positive coliform results and produced an average of 3.9 million gallons of potable water per day. Treatment performance remained well within regulatory limits. Major public works projects included Treated Water Reservoir No. 2, new gate valves along Fremont Street and the Shadow Lane reconstruction project. The department reported no major mechanical failures and zero employee injuries.
McIntyre said Public Works continued providing essential services across parks, facilities, fleet, streets, storm drains and cemetery operations. Staff supported community events, maintained 10 public parks and roughly 500 acres of city property, and assembled the city’s 26-foot Christmas tree for the annual lighting ceremony. Vector Control treated 798 drainage inlets, fogged 132 square miles for mosquito abatement and deployed the city’s first aerial drone for pest control.
Streets and Storm Drains crews focused on flood-mitigation work in the Sage Ranch area, repaired drainage ditches and built a 600-foot rock wall to prevent recurring flooding. The department also reconstructed a city-maintained alley near First Street and collaborated on graffiti removal, utility inventory work and new speed feedback signs.
The Planning Department completed the North Area Plan and Southwest Area Plan, which McIntyre called key tools for managing anticipated growth and shaping future master-planned communities with employment centers, commercial services and diverse housing.
Court Services, Legal, Finance and HR
McIntyre highlighted the partial consolidation of the Fernley Municipal Court and Canal Township Justice Court, approved in 2025. The remodel of the Justice Court facility is expected to be completed by April 2026, after which the Municipal Court will also move into the new building. The new space will include public kiosks for filing, payments and records searches, and the courts are moving toward electronic filing.
“It’s about making sure our courts can respond fairly, efficiently and effectively, no matter how much our community expands,” McIntyre said.
The Legal Department prosecuted 508 criminal cases in 2025, a 6.5% increase from the previous year, including 95 DUI cases.
The City Treasurer’s Office earned the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 14th consecutive year. The fiscal year 2025 audit received a clean, unmodified opinion. The General Fund ended the year with a $17.6 million balance, up $2.7 million. The FY2026 budget includes one-time investments to address deferred maintenance, replace aging equipment and accelerate planning for growth, McIntyre said.
The city now employs 92 full-time staff members. From July 2025 to the present, Fernley hired 21 new employees and created seven new job classifications. Recruitment is underway for a city engineer, senior maintenance worker for facilities and parks, grant administrator and deputy city attorney. McIntyre emphasized internal promotion as a priority, noting several advancements across departments.
The mayor also addressed the vacant city manager position, saying the council and staff are evaluating a new organizational chart that may or may not include a city manager position.
2026 Goals
McIntyre outlined several major goals for 2026, beginning with a 23-acre pond and park project planned for late 2026. Phase 1 will include a fishing pond, parking and pathways, with future amenities such as ballfields, playgrounds, volleyball, pickleball, tennis and archery. The city is pursuing funding through the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Brownfield grants.
McIntyre said the city will continue pursuing grants and federal Community Project Funding. Fernley will receive $2 million for design work to integrate surface water from the TCID canal into the water treatment facility. The city is also seeking Economic Development Administration funding for improvements at the East Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The Cedar Street Reconstruction Project is preparing to go out to bid, which includes addressing missing sidewalks, drainage issues and aging utilities. The project includes new water and sewer mains and nine new manholes.
McIntyre acknowledged community concerns about park conditions and athletic field capacity.
“To the community and kids, we want you to know we hear you,” he said, noting that turf upgrades and field expansion planning are underway.
The city is also rewriting its enforcement code, with a new nuisance ordinance expected after public workshops on March 13 and 14.
The mayor also said Nevada Pacific Parkway is at 60 percent design, with a goal of reaching 90 percent before going to bid in fall 2026.
Additional projects and technology upgrades
McIntyre said construction of the new Fernley fire station on Duffy Road as part of a development agreement with Mark IV Capital is expected to begin this year, with completion in 12 to 18 months. The Fernley Industrial Park Reconstruction Project will also move forward, bringing pavement and storm drain improvements to four major industrial streets.
The city is undergoing a major technology upgrade through PacStates, which will provide co-managed IT services, cybersecurity, disaster recovery and cloud integration. The city has also deployed Madison AI to support staff with research, drafting and administrative tasks.
McIntyre also noted the many new businesses that have opened in the past 12 months.
“The private sector has taken notice of this momentum and understands that Fernley is open for business,” McIntyre said.
Closing message
McIntyre ended his address by emphasizing the city’s commitment to enhancing parks, improving roads, expanding services and maintaining quality of life as Fernley grows.
“As we continue to grow, it is essential that we focus on upgrading our infrastructure to ensure a vibrant community for all,” he said. “Together we can create a thriving city that meets the needs of its residents.”
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