Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council (2026)

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

Post Office Box 256

Nixon, Nevada 89424

Telephone: (775) 574-1000

Fax (775) 574-1054

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

Tribal Chambers ~ Nixon, NV

February 6, 2026, Regular

Members Present:

Steven Wadsworth, Tribal Chairman Edward Ely II], Vice Chairman

Nicholas Cortez, Councilmember John Guerrero, Councilmember

Judith Davis, Councilmember Della John, Councilmember

Loren Decker, Councilmember Ceira Sampson, Councilmember

Nathan Dunn, Councilmember Georgina Wadsworth, Councilmember

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Wadsworth called the February 6, 2026, Regular Tribal Council meeting of the Pyramid Lake

Paiute Tribal Council to order at 6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Roll call was taken by Brenda A. Henry, Tribal Council Secretary. Councilmember John arrived at 6:09 p.m.

All other Councilmembers were present at the roll call, and a quorum was established for this meeting.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Chairman Wadsworth presented the agenda with the addition of Wes Williams January 2026 Invoice #4466

to the consent agenda. Councilmember Cortez requested to have a Chairman’s update in Executive Session.

Councilmember Davis motioned to approve the February 6, 2026, Regular Agenda as amended.

Councilmember Dunn seconded the motion. Votes were eight (8) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0)

abstentions. MOTION PASSED.

PUBLIC COMMENT.

Dave Mauwee, Tribal member. Mr. Mauwee said he works for the State and the people he works with have

asked if the Tribe will be bringing back seasonal fishing permits. Something for the Council to consider.

CONSENT AGENDA

Chairman Wadsworth presented the consent agenda.

1. Approval Enrollment Four (4) Applications for Regular Membership with Resolutions

2. Approval Quarles December 2025 Invoice #6963860

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

3. Approval Ratification of Poll Votes:

a. Elder Emergency Request Norman Frazier (request cancelled per NF)

b. Victim Services Sierra Air Heating

c. Elder Emergency Request Edna Benner

d. Elder Emergency Request Cheryl Johnson

e. Elder Emergency Request Janice John

4, Approval Wes Williams, Legal January 2026 Invoice #4466

Councilmember Cortez motioned to approve the consent agenda. Vice Chairman Ely seconded the motion.

Votes were eight (8) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION

NO.: PL 009-26 ENROLLMENT REGULAR MEMBERSHIP (4)

Chairman Wadsworth welcomed the new Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Members: Christian Michael Burns, Isaiah

Legend Mosqueira Catha, Kainani Ann Runge, and Ember Rain Violett

ENROLLMENT Joanne Shaw - Enrollment Officer

1. Approval Enrollment Rejection Hearings - Three (3) Adult Hearings with Resolutions.

a. Applicant #1 - Talisa Alcaraz and Applicant #3 - Dominic Pingel.

Ms. Shaw asked if anyone was present for applicants #1 and #3. Since there was nobody present for these

two applicants, the Council moved forward with the following motion.

Councilmember Dunn motioned to approve the enrollment rejections for applicant #1 and applicant #3 with

separate resolutions. Councilmember Wadsworth seconded the motion. Votes were eight (8) for and zero (0)

opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION NO.: 010-26 ENROLLMENT -

REJECTION - TALISA ALCARAZ AND RESOLUTION NO.: 011-26 ENROLLMENT - REJECTION - DOMINIC

PINGEL

b. Applicant #2 - Klarissa O’Neil.

Ms. Shaw requested to move into Executive Session.

Vice Chairman Ely motioned to move into Executive Session. Councilmember Guerrero seconded the motion.

Votes were eight (8) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. Tribal Council

moved into Executive Session at 6:08 p.m.

Councilmember Davis stated she is stepping down from her Council seat as the Chairman of the Enrollment

Committee.

Councilmember John arrived in chambers at 6:09 p.m.

Councilmember Guerrero motioned to move out of Executive Session. Councilmember Dunn seconded the

motion. Votes were eight (8) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. Tribal

Council moved out of Executive Session at 6:42 p.m.

Councilmember Davis returned to her Council seat at 6:43 p.m.

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

After discussions in Executive Session the following motion was made.

Councilmember Guerrero motioned to approve per Ordinance III (1s edition), Article III, Section A, Part 2,

Membership Eligibility, the enrollment of Klarissa O’Neil with resolution. Councilmember John seconded the

motion. Votes were four (4) for and five (5) opposed (Davis, Sampson, Wadsworth, Ely, Cortez) with zero

(0) abstentions. MOTION FAILED.

Vice Chairman Ely motioned to approve the enrollment rejection for Klarissa O’Neil with resolution.

Councilmember Wadsworth seconded the motion.

Councilmember Guerrero was upset with the Council for not following the policies. If they can’t follow them,

they need to look at every policy that is in place. They are against themselves depending on who it is. The

committee should be reporting it in the ordinance including other options.

Councilmember Dunn said they should be growing, not only as a department but as a community and using

the ordinances to educate more about what they have in place for these individuals and let them know the

circumstances or the results of their decisions that they make when they disenroll. Not everyone is going to

respond or have the time to follow up. They don’t know what they are going through at the time but to be

helpful for one another.

Councilmember Cortez said he would be open to tabling this applicant and reviewing their enrollment policy

in general because he noticed inconsistencies, making definitions in it for the framework.

Votes were five (5) for and four (4) opposed (John, Decker, Cortez, Guerrero) with zero (0) abstentions.

MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION NO.: PL 012-26 ENROLLMENT - REJECTION KLARISSA O’NEIL

Councilmember Cortez asked the Enrollment Officer if she could provide the number of individuals who are

a quarter or less Pyramid Lake Paiute compared to the total amount of membership. This is about the onequarter adopted membership for review. To see if the numbers or those that fall underneath the quarter are

larger than half of the membership.

MINUTES

a. January 2, 2026, Regular Outgoing

Councilmember Davis said on page 1, under approval of the agenda, it states Councilmember Dunn motioned

to approve but he entered the meeting at 5:45 p.m.

Councilmember Davis motioned to table the January 2, 2026, Regular Outgoing minutes for correction on the

approval of the agenda to the January 2, 2026, Regular Outgoing minutes. Councilmember Decker seconded

the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED

b. January 2, 2026, Regular Incoming

Councilmember Davis said on page four, top second paragraph, Vice Chairman made a motion to appoint

Councilmember John to the NUMU Inc, Board of Directors as Ex Officio but thinks he just appointed her. And

it was confirmed that Councilmember Decker is the Ex Officio and to remove Ex Officio from that motion. On

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

page five, fifth paragraph, remove Higher Education, Personnel, Museum and Cultural and add in Law and

Order, Election and Enrollment because those are the standing committees.

Councilmember Cortez motioned to approve the January 2, 2026, Regular Incoming minutes with changes.

Councilmember Dunn seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0)

abstentions. MOTION PASSED

c. January 26, 2026, Special

There were no corrections.

Councilmember Cortez had motioned to approve the January 26, 2026, Special minutes. Councilmember Davis

seconded the motion. Votes were eight (8) for and zero (0) opposed with one (1) abstention (Dunn).

MOTION PASSED

NEW BUSINESS

1. Request for Approval to change Escrow and Trust Accounts to Providence First Trust and Charles

Schwab. Leilani Wilson Walkush, Investment Advisor, Breakwater Investment Group, LLC

Ms. Walkush stated they have been working with the Tribe since 2016 working on the Economic

Development Trust and the Economic Development Minors Trust and more recently the Escrow Fund from

the latest settlement. To clarify the resolution, it is to request changes for the two trust accounts, but the

service providers are also available to manage the escrow fund if that is the wish of the Council.

Ms. Walkush provided an overview of the markets for the trust accounts and the escrow account. The entry

year declines for the market and the S&P 500. Every year the markets are going up and down, every day,

every week, every month, and every quarter. The accounts do have exposure to the stock market, and they

work to diversify it. The Escrow Account was started on October 2024, which is the investment for the

Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) settlement in the amount of $16.5 million. As of

December 31, 2025, the value is $18.4 million, a $1.9 million increase in just over a year with an 11.72%

return. The Escrow Fund is diversified between the US and International managers, to lower the risk but still

get positive returns they use different types of managers: Vanguard, Schwab, JP Morgan, Cohen, etc. Their

portfolio manager looks at these independently within their peer group so they can provide positive returns

for the portfolio.

Councilmember John asked with the Escrow Fund, how is the firm paid to manage it. Ms. Walkush said they,

as the investment advisor, have an agreement with the Tribe and they are paid a fee based on a percentage

of the assets. The fee is calculated on an annual basis but paid on a quarterly basis which they send an invoice

each quarter to the Chairman, Tribal Secretary and Administrative Assistant for processing and it is paid out

of the funds. The $1.9 million, this is the amount after the fees, which come out of the account so it’s nota

separate operating expense or line item for the Tribe. Councilmember John asked on the resolution, what is

the reason for changing to Charles Schwab. Ms. Walkush said the master trust was setup in 2018 to receive

funds that were distributed from the settlement trust that is managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),

Office of Special Trustees/Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA). All funds with the federal

government are managed by the federal government and they have no involvement, the taxpayers pay the

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

expenses for it. When funds are withdrawn, like the $3 million last December 2024 from the trust which was

approved by the Tribal Council, it went into the Economic Development Fund Trust and then from that

distribution, withdrawal from the federal government, the Tribe approved and authorized, through a

resolution, an economic stimulus payment. The stimulus payment went to all members that were eligible at

that time which included adults and minors. There are funds from this distribution that are available for

adults to request, and those funds are management in the Economic Development Fund. In 2018, when the

first distribution came out and the first economic stimulus payment was distributed, there was also a fee

account that was setup to cover all the expenses for the trust so it wouldn’t have to come out from the minors

account or the Tribal budget, it is also a part of the management. On the Minor’s Trust, all of the minors who

were eligible for the economic stimulus payments back in 2018 and also in 2024, their funds by public law

and the agreement that the Tribe has, that was approved by the BIA for the Economic Development Plan

requires all minor’s payments to go into a trust which they help manage. They are not working with any of

the interest or principal that’s at the federal government level.

Ms. Walkush continued her overview of the Economic Development Trust and the Minor’s Trust. The trusts

were created in 2018; they were working with Means and Associates which morphed into Futureplan as the

record keeper and third-party administrator. There are over 800 minors which are put into four different

bands, this is so they aren’t managing 800 individual accounts. Futureplan is the record keeper that manages

those accounts. Futureplan has been an integral service provider, unfortunately, with all their changes, they

have been having issues and were given many chances to improve their service and correct those issues, but

it isn’t looking any better. The custodian of the funds is Nevada Trust; a trust company located in Las Vegas

and is an independent Trust Company. The trust continues to grow and get more complex and they cannot

keep up with the services, so they are also recommending replacing them as the custodian. There are

different investment policies for all the different accounts within the trust, there are sub-accounts in each

one of them. How risky, how conservative or moderate can they be with these accounts and depending on

the allocation ranges is how they invest the money according to how the Council approves those investment

allocations. July 1, 2022, was the last update to the investment allocations. In 2022, the five age bands went

down to four age bands. The age bands are now ages 0-9, ages 10 to 12, ages 13 to 15 and ages 16 to 24. The

younger bands have more aggressive portfolios because they have longer periods for their money to be

invested before they take a distribution. Age 16 to 24 band has the most moderate conservative portfolio

because they are taking distributions year-round and this is part of the issue because the service providers

are not providing those distributions in a timely fashion. For the investment policy statement allocations

from cash and fixed income, it’s the smallest amount for the youngest group and the biggest amount in the

older group. For the year, all of the age bands had double digit returns, the 0 to 9 band valued at $3.1 million

had an annual return of 12.81%, the 10-12 band valued at $3.9 million, had a return of 11.64%, the 13 to 15

band valued at $3.6 million had a return of 10.12% and the 16 to 24 band valued at $2.3 million had a return

of 10.52%. The minor’s trust as of December 31, 2025, totaled just over $13 million, the amount that was

initially deposited in 2018 was $12 million. Even though kids have been aging out, the portfolio still has

grown, then in 2024 new kids were added that weren't born or weren't enrolled back in 2018 which bumped

up the portfolio. It’s a $13 million portfolio now and along with the Escrow portfolio which has $19 million,

which is significant and why it’s important to make sure all the service providers are doing their job.

Councilmember Dunn asked if there was going to be quarterly information forwarded to the members

because that was an issue with the minors. Chairman Wadsworth said this is part of the reason the Council

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February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

is considering this change, it was supposed to be quarterly statements, then the company was bought out

sometime between conception and now and it moved to yearly statements. They hope with the change to

Providence First Trust there will also be an online portal so parents will be able to log-in and check their

statements daily if they choose. Ms. Walkush added that back in 2018 the original agreement was with Means

and Associates and the statements were annual which was the standard for minors trusts but since that time

it has moved to quarterly statements and like the Chairman shared the new service provider has an online

portal for the parents who can log into 24/7 to view the balance of their minor accounts. The new service

provider will bring the trusts into the digital age where the previous provider has not invested in that

technology. The reason they are recommending Providence Trust is because they focus on working with

tribe’s minor trusts. They have 40 different minor trusts they manage and provide services across the

country so they can manages the Tribe’s 850 minors. They are also willing to work with the Tribal Council

on updating a General Welfare Policy. When members turn of age and receive their distributions, they have

to pay taxes on the interest and earnings, but in December 2025 the federal government had a new policy

approved that allows the Tribal Council to approve a new General Welfare provision that would allow the

earnings to be tax free. They would like to work with the Tribal Council to get that implemented because as

soon as it is approved then all the funds that the Tribe’s members receive are tax free, which would be an

additional bonus for the membership. Another part of the resolution is moving the record keeping and

administration to Providence First Trust and moving the assets from the Trust Company, the Custodian, to

Charles Schwab. Charles Schwab is one of the larges custodians in the country and a lot of tribes and their

clients use them. They’re low cost and most of their clients don’t pay any fees for the custody or services with

them. The only time they've seen their clients pay fees to Schwab is if they have unique investments from a

prior provider. It’s a lower cost solution for better service.

Councilmember Guerrero motioned to approve the change in Escrow and Trust Accounts to Providence First

Trust and Charles Schwab with resolution. Councilmember Cortez seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9)

for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION NO.: PL 013-26 EDF

ENGAGEMENT PROVIDENCE FIRST TRUST COMPANY AND CHARLES SCHWAB

Councilmember Davis stated that Ms. Walkush provided them with a lot of information, for the membership,

the Council had a workshop with Breakwater on Wednesday evening, and a lot of their questions were

answered then.

Ms. Walkush said they will be working on drafting language to share in the Tribe’s newsletter, website, staff

and making sure the Enrollment and Finance Departments have the new points of contact.

2. Request for Approval of Washoe County Sheriff's Dispatch Center Contract for Services. Chief of

Police Chris Parsons, PLPD

Chief Parsons explained the updated Dispatch Contract with Washoe County provides 24-hour emergency,

911 and emergency dispatch operator, all their law enforcement radio communications, National Criminal

Information Center (NCIC) access for checking driver's license, vehicle registrations, warrants, and criminal

history checks. The contract has been in place since 2005 and was updated in 2016 when it was increased

to an annual fee which is paid quarterly. The annual fee is $161.661.52. This update is the same contract;

the only change is in the verbiage that was changed in 2016 where they added a dispatch coordinator

manager which they inserted instead of a Sheriff's Lieutenant. There was no increase in the cost. They have

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

been working on this since last fall, at first there was going to be an increase, but with dialog with the

Sheriff, and they agreed to keep it the same. He didn’t want to put undue burden on the Tribe. It’s also the

same contract they have with Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.

Councilmember Cortez motioned to approve the Washoe County Sheriff's Dispatch Center Contract for

Services. Councilmember Decker seconded the motion.

Councilmember John asked if Washoe County used their computer stations up on Marble Bluff. Chief

Parsons said they are not and the equipment is not the Tribes; the equipment belongs to Washoe County

and believes it’s on a lease through the Tribe. Dispatch is separate from the radio towers; it’s a separate

entity within the county and a separate cost. Chairman Wadsworth said that is a separate one they were

working on a couple of years ago that was already approved by the Council because Washoe County was

supposed to pay for the energy use on the Tribe’s tower up there. Chief Parsons added Washoe County has

been calling trying to figure out how to get on the bill so they can start paying for it.

Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED

3. Request for Approval of Transit Bus Barn (Phase II) Modifications. Johnnie Garcia, Transportation

Planning

a. King Construction.

Mr. Garcia explained they've held meetings and reviewed this modification to the bus barn, and they have

the grant funds to cover. Modifications would be for both King Construction and Schell Creek Construction.

Michele Smith, Transit Manager, explained they were funded $1.2 million and found they had left over

funds from the project after majority of the project was complete. The items they previously took out, they

can now bring back because they must spend the funding. They do not want to give back any funds to FTA

with the main reason the Tribe did not have to provide a match for the $1.2 million, it was all 100% grant

funded. The project is the bus shed located behind the Transit Facility.

Councilmember Wadsworth said on the modification number five, it states they are going to construct a

trash enclosure, type two, base pad, and there is modification number nine to add concrete trash slab with

chain link. Is that two different items? Ms. Smith said they are the same. Mr. Garcia said one is for the

excavation for the slab and the other is to pour the concrete. King Construction usually does all the

excavation.

Vice Chairman Ely motioned to approve the King Construction Mod 5. Councilmember Davis seconded the

motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED

b. Schell Creek Construction - Mods #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, and #12.

There was no discussion.

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

Councilmember Dunn had motioned to approve the Schell Creek Construction - Mods #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, and

#12. Councilmember Decker seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero

(0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED

Ms. Smith reminded the Council she sent them an invitation to a workshop for technical assistance with the

Community Transportation Association of America. They are one of three transit programs in the United

States to get selected for this technical assistance.

4. Selection of Tax Commission Vacancies (2 vacancies).

There were two applicants for the two vacancies on the Tax Commission: Kathleen Wright-Bryan and

DaNelle Smith with an option to repost.

Ms. Wright-Bryan received eight (8) votes and Ms. Smith received eight (8) votes with zero (0) votes to

repost and one (1) abstention.

Ms. Wright -Bryan and Ms. Smith were selected to fill the two vacancies on the Tax Commission.

5. Approval of the Selection of Pyramid Lake Fisheries Executive Director. Pyramid Lake Fisheries

Board of Trustees

Councilmember Davis asked if they needed to go into Executive Session first for discussion.

Councilmember Dunn and Vice Chairman Ely stepped down from their Council seats at 7:32 p.m.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Councilmember Cortez motioned to move into Executive Session. Councilmember Sampson seconded the

motion. Votes were six (6) for and zero (0) opposed with one (1) abstention (John). MOTION PASSED.

Tribal Council moved into Executive Session at 7:32 p.m.

Councilmember Guerrero motioned to move out of Executive Session. Councilmember Cortez seconded the

motion. Votes were seven (7) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. Tibal

Council moved out of Executive Session at 8:46 p.m

Vice Chairman Ely returned to his Council seat at 8:47 p.m.

After discussion in Executive Session the following motion was made.

Councilmember Sampson had motioned to appoint Rutilio Lara as Interim Fisheries Executive Director for 90

days. Councilmember Wadsworth seconded the motion. Votes were four (4) for and two (2) opposed (Davis,

John) with two (2) abstentions (Decker, Ely). MOTION PASSED

Councilmember Dunn returned to his Council seat at 8:48 p.m.

6. Discussion and Update NUMU Inc. Loren Decker, NUMU Inc Ex Officio

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

Councilmember Decker stepped down from his Council seat at 8:48 p.m.

Councilmember Dunn and Vice Chairman Ely stepped down at 8:49 p.m.

Councilmember Decker said they are before the Council to ask for financial support. They're down to $60,000

and they estimate that it should last them for another two months. After their payables, Dickinson-Wright

Attorneys, RayBear Attorney, Silver Cloud and their monthly subscriptions, their estimated audit fees of

$24,000 for 2024-25 left them with $60,000 balance which again would last them for about two months.

However, with their new legal discoveries, they can extend these litigations a little further, so they might be

back asking for more financial support. More information in Executive Session. They will be asking for

$60,000 which would get them through two litigations but due to the new discoveries, they might be asking

for a bit more to get them through the litigation in May.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Councilmember Davis motioned to move into Executive Session. Councilmember Sampson seconded the

motion. Votes were six (6) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. Tribal

Council moved into Executive Session at 8:51 p.m.

Vice Chairman Ely, Councilmember Decker and Councilmember Dunn returned to their Council seats at 9:38

p.m.

Councilmember Cortez motioned to move out of Executive Session. Councilmember Dunn seconded the

motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. Tribal

Council moved out of Executive Session at 9:40 p.m.

After discussion in Executive Session the following motion was made.

Councilmember Davis had motioned to appoint the Vice Chairman into position within Administration.

Councilmember Dunn seconded the motion. Votes were eight (8) for and zero (0) opposed with one (1)

abstention (Ely). MOTION PASSED

Councilmember Davis amended her motion to include a start date of February 17, 2026. All were in agreement.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business before the Tribal Council, Councilmember Sampson made a motion to adjourn the

meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Cortez. Votes taken were allin favor, motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:42 p.m.

Submitted by,

Pound ery,

Brenda A. Henry

Tribal Council Secretary

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

February 6, 2026, Regular meeting

CERTIFICATION

The foregoing minutes were adopted by the Pyramid Lake Tribal Council, governing body of the Pyramid

Lake Paiute Tribe, at a meeting duly held on the 6 day of March 2026, having ten (10) members present,

constituting a quorum, by the vote of nine (9) FOR and zero OPPOSED, with zero (0) ABSTENTIONS.

Minutes attested and concurred by: EAA

Steven Wadsworth, Tribal Chairman

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

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