# Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council (2026)

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Apyramid_lake%3Ae9d329d859a13826

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

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
April 3, 2026, Regular
Members Present:

Steven Wadsworth, Tribal Chairman Edward Ely III, 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 March 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. All Councilmembers were present at roll
call, and a quorum was established for this meeting. Councilmember Sampson attended via zoom.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Chairman Wadsworth presented the agenda with the addition of Wes Williams March 2026 Invoice #4485
and Group Donation Request 5th Annual Autism Awareness Walk/Run.

Councilmember Cortez motioned to approve the April 3, 2026 Agenda with additions. Vice Chairman Ely
seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION
PASSED.

PUBLIC COMMENT. No public comment
CONSENT AGENDA
Chairman Wadsworth presented the consent agenda.
1. Approval Ratification of Poll Vote Elder Emergency Request Rhonda Shaw

2. Approval Wes Williams March 2026 Invoice #4485
3. Approval Group Donation request for the 5th Annual Autism Awareness Walk/Run
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council
April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

Councilmember Cortez motioned to approve the consent agenda. Councilmember Davis seconded the motion.
Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED.

ENROLLMENT Joanne Shaw - Enrollment Officer
1. Enrollment Rejection Hearings:
a. Minor #1.

Ms. Shaw asked if there were any questions from the Council or if there was anyone in the audience present
for minor rejection #1. There were none.

Councilmember Dunn motioned to approve the recommendation of the Enrollment Committee for rejection for
minor #1. Councilmember Wadsworth seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed
with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION NO.: PL 022-26 ENROLLMENT - REJECTION
STAASI ANALISA JANE HINZE-BUFF

b. Minor #2.

Ms. Shaw asked if there were any questions from the Council or if there was anyone in the audience present
for minor rejection #2. There were none.

Vice Chairman Ely motioned to approve the recommendation of the Enrollment Committee for rejection for
minor #2. Councilmember Decker seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with
zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION NO.: PL 023-26 ENROLLMENT - REJECTION
STRYDR PHILLIP DARRELL HINZE-BUFF

c. Adult #1.

Ms. Shaw asked if there were any questions from the Council or if there was anyone in the audience present
for adult rejection #1. There were none.

Councilmember Dunn motioned to approve the recommendation of the Enrollment Committee for rejection for
adult #1. Councilmember Decker seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with
zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION NO.: PL 024-26 ENROLLMENT - REJECTION
MICHAEL DEAN MCKENZIE

d. Adult #2.

Ms. Shaw asked if there were any questions from the Council or if there was anyone in the audience present
for adult rejection #2. There were none.

Councilmember Dunn motioned to approve the recommendation of the Enrollment Committee for rejection for
adult #2. Councilmember Wadsworth seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed
with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION PASSED. RESOLUTION NO.: PL 025-26 ENROLLMENT - REJECTION
TIFFANY MARIE MCKENZIE

MINUTES

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council
April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

1. February 20, 2026, Special
There were no changes or further discussion.

Councilmember Cortez had motioned to approve the February 20, 2026, Special minutes. Councilmember
Davis seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions.
MOTION PASSED

PRESENTATION
1. Gubernatorial Candidate Introduction. Alexis Hill

Ms. Hill passed out an article where she was featured in Indian Voices regarding issues she supports on
Native American sovereign communities. She is running for Governor because Nevada needs change, a
Governor who invests in the people. Big Corporations are not paying their fair share and because of that the
roads are falling apart, and she noticed the big traffic issues by USA Parkway, it’s unacceptable. There are
plans to widen that road but there are no plans on how they are going to reroute the traffic. She is the
Chairperson of Washoe RTC, and they are looking at road options. For the people who work at TRIC,
employees can’t afford childcare, can’t even get childcare, and there is no affordable housing there. Tesla is
one of the number one Medicaid recipients in the State, but they do not pay their employees enough to even
afford health care, and the State is supplementing them. The State has some of the highest taxes in the country
and vehicle registration fees are astronomical and anytime they need money, the answer is to tax the people.
She worked with Councilmember Davis and former Vice Chairman to work on a resolution with the Flood
Authority for the $17 million mitigation fee. She wants to make sure the lines of communication are open
between the Governor’s Office and the Tribes and to promote tribal leadership in her administration.

Councilmember John mentioned loyalty to the people that elected them and not to corporations. For instance,
when BLM does a project, they also have public comment periods but then they find out deals or decisions
have already been made. It’s a disservice to the public.

Vice Chairman Ely mentioned they attended a UNR Tribal Education conference and one concern, as a whole,
was trying to get out in front of this Native American fee waiver that’s already in place. There are whispers
that it’s going to be pulled back because it’s costing them, the number mentioned was $2.1 million. What
would she do to ensure they held onto that or even increased it for Native American students. Ms. Hill said
they deserve a free education and it’s not a huge population. They need to make it easier for kids to go to
school to get the education for the workforce. She wants to add general funds to higher education, which is
priority for the administration. In addition, lifting up the K through 12 system which is falling apart, the
higher education system is becoming extremely expensive, they just saw tuition costs increase 9% for
community colleges and 12% for university systems in Nevada. It’s because the State continues to pull
general funds from the higher education system. It’s about finding the resources and making it a priority, it
seems like every session they seem to find the money for a stadium but can’t find funds for the kids and
seniors’ quality of life.

Councilmember Cortez wanted to hear her viewpoints on the entire growth of Washoe County as a whole.
Ms. Hill said they are addicted to growth in Nevada and it’s because they have a backwards tax system.
Property tax is depreciated; they are the only state in the country where the property tax depreciates with

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April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

age instead of ensuring the property tax matches the value of the home. Every local government in the state
is receiving less revenue from older developments even though they have a higher value. That is why you see
huge growth in the community. The State also has laws that do not allow local officials to deny permits or
add additional requirements to development permits, except if the developer approvews it because they
have a pro development which is on the State level. If a local government denies a permit they are taken to
court. They just saw a developer in Las Vegas sue the city because they denied their permit and were ordered
to pay $200 million and now the developer is going back to sue the city again for the property tax they took
from the property at the time of litigation. So local governments are scared to deny permits. They need to
change the system and laws that lean towards property rights and developers.

Leona Collins from the audience was about Tribal IDs being a form of identification because we have seniors
who don’t drive and don’t have a State ID but have a Tribal ID. Ms. Hill said she is about to come out with an
election protection policy suite and she wants to add that as something to be allowed through the Secretary
of State’s office, with State laws that will change with voter ID because it passed by nearly 70% on the last
ballot and she thinks it going to pass so they need to be prepared to make sure they are not disenfranchising.

Rutilio Lara from the audience asked about the aggressive development they are going through in the county.
Ms. Hill said it’s concerning, she grew up in Sparks, and it’s completely exploding and continues to sprawl
out. It’s more expensive to manage homes, infrastructure costs and roadway costs are astronomical and it’s
not helping the economy and creating more impact on the land. She supported Jackie Rosens Truckee
Meadows Lands Bill because she was putting some permanent protections for both Tribal land and some
conservation land to make sure they can’t grow in certain parts of Washoe County.

Councilmember John said the Tribe has been in a 100-year water war and finally received the TROA
Settlement to secure the Tribe’s water, but the groundwater and surface water is blurred. Along I-80 you will
notice about 16 water tanks now, not sure if they are pulling from the Truckee River but it goes over to Storey
County. With the settlement, the Tribe owns the bottom of the lake and the bottom of the river but normally,
in a regular year or dry year, the State would take it over, so the settlement guarantees the Tribe that but has
to be careful of jurisdiction because once you let somebody into your area and give them permission to do
certain things, they'll take it over, like the Feds, they took over Anaho Island and Marble Bluff. The Tribe also
has fee sites within the Reservation, so there are jurisdiction issues. The economy is non-existent except for
the small Tribal stores; Tribal members support Fernley and Sparks for groceries and other items. Ms. Hill
said there is an opportunity for the State to engage with tribes and provide better services. The Governor
needs to appreciate that tribes are sovereign, separate nations and understand they have their own
jurisdictions and respect that.

NEW BUSINESS
1. Selection Public Utilities District Board (PUD) Vacancy (1 vacancy).

There was one candidate, Jason Davis, with an option to repost. Mr. Davis received four (4) votes with repost
receiving five (5) votes.

The vacancy for the PUD Board will be reposted.

Councilmember John stepped down at 6:44 p.m. to present the next item.

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April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

2. Request for Approval to Hold a Tree Giveaway Nevada Plants Community Forestry. Della John,
Tribal member, and Bill Wolf, Nevada Plants

Ms. John explained she was approached by Nevada Plants, a nonprofit group. This group encourages tree
education, planting all types of trees and they have selected the Reservation community for this project. They
would like to do a free tree giveaway to the members and the Tribe for the community garden. They are
asking to hold this giveaway event in June. She asked the Indian Extension agent to assist with recruiting
volunteers for loading trees which will come from a local nursey out of Reno-Sparks which the group works
with. Mr. Wolf added the trees will be the typical stock you see at nurseries not the small trees that the
Nevada Division of Forestry gives out, they will make sure they are good healthy trees.

Councilmember Cortez motioned to approve the Tree Giveaway with Nevada Plants community Forestry.
Vice Chairman Ely seconded the motion. Votes were eight (8) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0)
abstentions. MOTION PASSED

Councilmember Davis asked if there would be a list of the type of trees. Ms. John will be making up flyer
asking what type of trees people would like and based on that information will go from there. One
requirement is for the members to have their own systems in, and they will educate them on how to plant a
the trees and give advice on irrigation. They want to see how many they can keep alive and then come back
a year later to check on them.

Rutilio Lara asked about the timeline, which is set for June, wondering if that is a bad time to plant trees,
suggest moving the time up or further in the year.

Mr. Wolf said it’s going to be difficult as it is to get bids done by May on the trees. There is a lot of work
leading up to coordinating and getting the type of trees preferred. As far as planting in June, it’s one of the
reasons they insisted that people have some way set to water the trees. They can also postpone until
September and do a fall planting.

Councilmember Davis wanted to know what type of trees just so they don’t get any Russian Olives or
Tamarisk back on the Reservation. Mr. Wolf said he is sympathetic to the concern about what kind of trees
they will be planting and so they work with the extension agent to come up with the best trees for this area.
They love having tree giveaways and if the Tribe wants, they could schedule one for the Wadsworth area.

3. Request for Approval Victim Services Program Proclamations for Child Abuse Prevention Month
and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Constance Athayde, VSP Director

There was no discussion.
Councilmember Cortez motioned to approve the Victim Services Proclamations. Councilmember Decker
seconded the motion. Votes were nine (9) for and zero (0) opposed with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION

PASSED

Chairman Wadsworth read the Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Proclamations.

4, Discussion Tribal Consulting Services. Sheri Hunter, Tribal Consulting Services

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April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

Ms. Hunter read a statement, “she is the owner of the Tribal Consulting Services (TCS). TCS was established
in 2019 and since 2022, their role for Pyramid Lake has been to reconcile balance sheet accounts, provide
reconciliation documents, schedules, reports, and explanation for the auditors for the single audit, this is
their main role. TCS has shown its ability to fulfill its contractual obligations, resulting in the successful
completion of financial audits for the years 2021-22, and 2023. Her intent for tonight was to work with the
Tribe to establish a path to complete the 2024 audit preparation work and to move the audit forward.
However, that is not a realistic outcome. She would like to address the March 20, 2026, Tribal Council
meeting and the statements made regarding TCS performance and their actions. Because those remarks
were made in a public forum, she wanted to state for the record she had acted in compliance with the
contract and the executed addendum and if the Council chooses to discuss it further, then she requests it be
done ina private manner as outlined in Section 13.3 of the contract. If the Tribe is aggrieved by anything or
has a dispute, the contract spells out what the process is for both parties.

Starting in February, her main contact has been with Vice Chairman Ely and at the first meeting there was
herself, Ceira Sampson, Vice Chairman Ely, Chairman Wadsworth, and Comptroller Shelley Harjo. At this
meeting, a contract was presented to her to review and ask questions. It was also provided to the attorney
to review and to provide a comment. That was the Tribe’s first offer (she kept the value off the record just
in case the Tribe has to RFP). She had responded to the form that described the audit prep work which was
presented by the Comptroller, and she also provided a form the auditor is required to have to be ready for
an audit which is called a PPC listing. She asked the group which form was she quoting, was it the PPC
listing that the auditors want to have ready or the quote of what the Comptroller had drafted? She didn’t
receive clarification on that question. Then late in March she received a different offer, a contract which
states effective March 23, 2026, along with another offer. She offered a counteroffer through an email
because they were negotiating, she wanted language in the contract that protects her company and the
Tribe, she offered another counteroffer. Her last correspondence was with Vice Chaiman Ely who let her
know they were working out things on their end, to be patient and they will get back with her soon. And on
the same night, she felt remarks were made that discredited her company. She doesn’t know for certain or
what the intent may have been behind it. When engaging in negotiations with her as though they are on
good terms, while presenting a conflicting narrative to the Council is concerning and under these
circumstances she doesn’t feel she can continue to work knowing there may be underlying intentions that
are not aligned with good faith collaboration. She has to have good working relationships, which is
necessary and she did discuss that with the Vice Chairman, it was a conversation just between them
because at that point she didn’t feel they would have a good working relationship. She doesn’t want to leave
the Tribe in poor standing based on recent events and incorrect statements. She would like the Council,
when thinking about her company, to please consider the history and their record with the Tribe. If the
circumstances change in the future, and they need help, the Tribe can call her. She doesn’t want to put
anyone on the spot or to feel defensive, that is how she would prefer to leave.

Councilmember John stated they had a contract in the beginning because they wanted to get the audit done,
what happened? Chairman Wadsworth said it was during the changeover in the Finance Department when
there was no Comptroller. They made the first amendment with TCS to also bring in extra staff to help out
in the department, including payroll and supervisory duties and grants and contracts. Ms. Hunter added
there were three people plus herself that maintained operations of the department throughout November
and December. Councilmember John asked why the Council wasn’t notified when there was a change.
Chairman Wadsworth said it was amended in October-November timeframe and the Council was informed.
At the time they didn’t have a Comptroller and Ben John, Business Officer, was appointed through motion to
take charge of the Finance Department at that time and it changed when they hired a Comptroller before
Thanksgiving. This change would have been in Mr. Johns report during the second meeting in November.

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April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

Councilmember Cortez said he thinks Councilmember John is asking if there was an expiration date of the
contract or if there was a reason the previous contract ended.

Ms. Hunter added that contract ended September 2025, she terminated the contract and the Council is
aware of the reasons because she came before the Council. The Finance Department was going through a
transition with a lot of vacancies and so the Council reached out to her to meet and have a discussion about
coming back and maintaining operations of the Finance Department which were without payroll, GL,
accounting supervisor and contracts and grants, practically to the point of shutdown. And what the Council
did was reinstate the original contract and they included an addendum to maintain operations through
November and December. On January 5, 2026, ina meeting she had with the Comptroller, she expressed
dissatisfaction for the language in the contract, the vagueness of the contract, concerned the scope of work
was not a scope of work, she didn’t like the contract, and they had words and she told her to rewrite it. Mr.
John can speak about this since he was in charge at the time; everything she did was through Mr. John at
the time. We would have to speak to Mr. John about any discussions between the Comptroller and him at
the time, but she thinks that was the reason a rewrite came up, because the original contract was
unacceptable to the existing Comptroller. That contract was prepared in a report to the Council back in
February, but the Council didn’t get all the information because she was directed to meet with
administration first. Ms. Hunter had a copy of that contract which was written by her attorney, and it was
comprehensive and protects both parties. Her contract included a dispute resolution which wasn’t included
in the one written by the Tribe and this contract was the one considered vague and poorly written by the
Comptroller, so she told her to rewrite it and so, that is how these new contracts came about and she is not
sure who wrote them.

Vice Chairman Ely said when he was asked to be the paid Vice Chairman, he reached out to Ms. Hunter and
was under the understanding on January 5, after she left, the Comptroller tried to reach out a couple
times, maybe three times, he reached out to Ms. Hunter and got a hold of her on March 3"¢ to try and
arrange a meeting which Ms. Hunter said was actually February 17" with the Comptroller, Vice Chairman,
Chairman and Ceira Sampson. Vice Chairman Ely said she is correct, at that time Ms. Hunter asked the
Comptroller to rewrite the contract. He said they have a contract that is reviewed by Wes Williams and is
also written by him and is used by the Tribe. That is how this contract came about. He has used this
contract with A&K Earth Movers and with consulting firms and others, this is the contract they were told to
use. The Comptroller didn’t write this contract; it was already in place. Ms. Hunter said she is not referring
to the contract template but more to the duties and the outlined portion. She would assume the attorney
reviewed her past contracts she entered with the Tribe. That would be a question for Mr. John about
whether her past contracts were reviewed by legal. Ms. Hunter said in the last three years her contract
format has been used, and she would hope that the Tribe’s attorney reviewed it. Chairman Wadsworth
confirmed it was on February 25'» when they all met and not on February 17‘. Everyone agreed the
meeting was on February 25¢. Vice Chairman Ely said the first contract sent to Ms. Hunter was the first
draft and was noted as being a draft, the dates were blank and Wes Willimas reviewed it and asked them to
fill in the dates which they explained they were still negotiating the terms and were not ready to sign yet.
Then they inserted dates after they met and Ms. Hunter then counter-offered and his last correspondence
to her was on March 16% (Ms. Hunter stated it was March 20*). Vice Chairman Ely read an email he sent
her regarding receiving her voice message and email on the counteroffer and letting her know they were
still trying to figure things out; to be patient and they will get back to her. What they were still figuring out
is they still needed accountants to reconcile bank statements and in Ms. Hunter’s statements she said the
contract responsibility does not extend the delay, and the Comptroller would do the bank reconciliations,
which she didn’t want her to do. Ms. Hunter said it’s not that she didn’t want to it, when she was in the a
phone conversation along with the Comptroller , she was talking about the complications with reconciling
cash and the use of the credit card and it being a messy function to clean up, it impacts numerous accounts
and while she was explaining that, the Comptroller made a statement saying it’s not that hard to do, that

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April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

she can reconcile the cash in 30 days. 30 days would have been the end of March, has the cash been
reconciled? She can pick up from there because the way they perform the work, part of their setup prep is
reconciling cash and that has to be completed first because it impacts everything else you have on the list.
She proposes their contract would be effective after the 30 days when she had cash reconciled, so they can
remove that out of the audit prep because the Comptroller is doing that. Then came the Council meeting
where they drew their own conclusions based on what was reported to them. She was in good faith trying
to go along with negotiations and it was conflicting with what came up in the meeting.

Councilmember Guerrero asked if they were still looking to negotiate the contract. Ms. Hunter said if they
need her help and circumstances change, then she will always help the Tribe but there appears to be nota
lot of cooperation which is important to her to have a working relationship with the Finance Director and
Comptroller. She addressed this with a private phone call with the Vice Chairman that it didn’t seem to be
going that way and after the comments from the last Council meeting, it definitely is not going that way,
what she is saying is that “it’s not going to work out.” She doesn’t want to leave the Tribe in bad standing
because there are others who can do what she does and if the Tribe ever wants her to come back, she will
come back. She doesn’t want to prolong the negotiations any longer when she knows it’s not going to work,
she doesn’t want to have the audit drag on any longer than it has to.

Councilmember Dunn asked where they go from here because it was just left up in the air.

Vice Chairman Ely said Ms. Hunter says she was uncomfortable hearing about it being discussed in open
session and that’s all he would want to talk about.

Councilmember Decker confirmed that for the 2024 audit, Ms. Hunter is bowing out but for future projects
she would be willing to come back, but not with the current personnel in the Finance Department.

EXECUTIVE SESSION Personnel and NUMU Inc. Update
Councilmember Sampson was moved into the waiting room on zoom.

Councilmember Guerrero motioned to move into Executive Session. Councilmember Decker seconded the
motion. Votes were six (6) for and two (2) opposed (Dunn, Wadsworth) with zero (0) abstentions. MOTION
PASSED. Tribal Council moved into Executive Session at 7:25 p.m.

Councilmember Cortez 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. Tibal
Council moved out of Executive Session at 9:06 p.m.

Councilmember Sampson was reconnected to zoom and did not vote on the next motion.

Councilmember Davis motioned to move the Tribal Court under the Chairman’s Supervision. Councilmember
Decker seconded the motion. Votes were seven (7) for and zero (0) opposed with one (1) abstention (Ely).
MOTION PASSED

CHAIRMANS UPDATE

1. Contract Approval. This item was for the discussion with TCS, but that item was all in open discussion.
No action needed on this item.

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April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

2. Discussion /Approval of Investments and Budget items.

Chairman Wadsworth provided a handout to the Council regarding the funds in the Bureau of Trust Fund
Administration (BTFA) which is upwards of $80 million and the returns on it, according to the last budget
statements was 2.91% returns on that $80 million. This means for the year, they would get $2.3 million in
that investment in BTFA and that includes the principal and the interest funds they have there. Separately
listed is the Truckee River Flood Mitigation Authority (TRFMA) investments that Breakwater is handling,
that particular fund for the last year had 11% return and for the year earned $1.98 million. The Tribe’s money
has not been working for them. He demonstrated how if they reinvested $19 million at 11% return after the
third year, they would already be earning more interest of $19 million than they would off the initial $80
million and they would double it after reinvesting after seven years. He had a conversation with Mr. Mixson,
who is not sure on the language they could use through the negotiated settlement when they withdrew the
original $40 million if they took out $20 million, reinvested it with another investment firm and start making
their money for the Tribe instead of it sitting at BTFA earning the lowest possible interest rates imaginable.
The reason he said $19 million is because after what NUMU Inc. presented in closed session for the budgets,
they could reinvest $19 million, take $1 million and put out an RFP for an investment firm with the initial
plan for $500,000 for the Police Department, $250,000 for NUMU Inc. and $250,000 for the Pyramid Lake
(PL) Fisheries.

Councilmember Guerrero disagreed with the idea. The PL Fisheries already received $27 million, why can’t
they do the same thing? He recommended the same thing to them.

Councilmember Dunn asked why the Tribe is taking all the permit funds, why doesn’t the funding go back to
operations, they provide everything and put the funding back to their own resources.

Chairman Wadsworth said he knows where Councilmember Guerrero is coming from, but their funding is
tied up by law, their funding has to stay there and be invested. Councilmember Guerrero said he knows they
can invest without BTFA and the government failed them in that law with the investments for the PL
Fisheries. If they want to pay the Police Department, invest and use the interest just like the Burial Fund.
Chairman Wadsworth said after previous discussions through Council meetings, and Water Team meetings,
the biggest concern for the PL Fisheries to do what he is proposing is that it opens up the law and that is
something they don’t want to do. Councilmember Guerrero said they need to modify the 101-618 law, there
is no other way around it, they have to amend it. Chairman Wadsworth explained the reason they don’t want
to open up that law is once they open it up, how many other people are going to want to open it up as well to
make modifications that best suit their needs and not Pyramid Lake. Councilmember Davis said everybody
upstream is waiting for that law to be opened. Chairman Wadsworth said by law, the PL Fisheries fund has
to be invested in certain areas and those areas are the worst performing at the moment, government backed
funding, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and their returns are around 2% now, which is their biggest problem
because with the law whatever they are earning in interest, 25% goes right back.

Vice Chairman Ely said the PL Fisheries met with BTFA six months ago and told they want to invest in higher
risk items and they denied it. If they asked for the 25%, BTFA would take it back. Councilmember Wadsworth
said they'd done that once before, not sure what year it was, but they took it right off the top of the interest
funds they were to get because it was calculated wrong.

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April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

Councilmember Guerrero said it’s been 20 years since the government has failed them, they need to make
that change.

Councilmember John said the alternative is to go through something like what the Cobell Indians went
through. Whoever is in charge of the investment failed the Tribe, so there were a lawsuit and settlement
because they were at fault, think the PL Fisheries has a good case here.

Councilmember Decker asked why they don’t have someone who understands all of this and can provide a
bulletproof chart. Chairman Wadsworth said that is what he is proposing with this plan, whether RFP
through an investment firm but it wouldn’t be them, they would entrust an investment firm.

Councilmember John said this is what the Economic Development Committee is working on with their
financial advisor on option two which the Council approved.

Chairman Wadsworth said he can continue moving forward if the Council wants him to continue pursuing
this avenue, he can get more numbers. For immediate need they're looking at the PL Fisheries and NUMU
Inc. because they are in immediate need now but wouldn't go into part of this plan but if the Council did
approve any amount of funds through the interest for NUMU Inc. which is one of the Economic Development
arms and they can just process that after hearing from NUMU Inc.

Councilmember John said if the Tribe approved of EDC’s recommendation, this would be one of the tasks the
FSA person will work on. To use part of the interest and reinvest and they provided returns for years 25, 20,
and 10, of what it could make, whereas if you leave it in there it’s not going to make anything. This is what
PL Fisheries can do with their own fund, they can take the interest and reinvest it. So, if they pay them out of
the Tribe’s fund, since they both received the funds at the same time, it’s the same pot but they'll be
borrowing from the Tribe now. Chairman Wadsworth reminded her the Tribe’s fund doesn’t have the
restrictions by law that theirs does. They use their interest as operating capital to keep the fisheries open.
For their operating budget they need $1.2 million and they are down to $700,000 operating with five
employees.

Councilmember Decker asked if they gave them $250,000, what would be their upgrades or what's the plan
for the funds. Chairman Wadsworth said it would be upgrades because they were recently broken into and
the one grant they have for replacing the pools is almost complete and they have another waiting in the
wings. Vice Chairman Ely said last year they turned out fish that were not of average size because they ran
out of fish food. Councilmember Decker said he would be on board. Councilmember Davis said she would
like to see more information about it because it’s the people’s money and she doesn’t feel comfortable
deciding with the one piece of paper they were provided with. Chairman Wadsworth understood, he is not
asking for a decision but would like to know if this were something the Council would want to move forward
with because it is the people’s money, but it is not working for them. Councilmember Davis would like to see
some type of plan.

Councilmember Cortez said he would like to see the exact amount of what interest funds is there and the use
the EDP to identify the percentage of what that would be allocated according to the plan to the PL Fisheries
and set up a separate investment specifically for that Fisheries money. Then wait a year and they can draw
down from next year. Simplify it so they are following what was approved because that money in the
principal amount has a dedicated percentage and they should be using that same percentage. This way there

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council
April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

are no questions about the amount they are giving them, they will be giving them the percentage of what is
currently in the interest and investing it in the future for this facility. They know for fact that 25% is already
supposed to be set away according to principal which they can set into a separate investment for them to
draw down in the future and that is using the EDP in the simplest terms.

Councilmember John said that is what their financial consultant for the committee has planned but they had
to put them on hold until they get funding to reengage. They’re just paying their attorney fees now. This is a
plan they can complete for the Tribe since it’s one of their tasks under option two.

Chairman Wadsworth said that is why he provided the colorful graphs to show that a smaller pool of money
makes as much as their larger pool of money.

Councilmember Guerrero said he remembers when “Boonie,” Denise and Robert used to talk about investing,
so they did move the funds around, investment wise. Councilmember Wadsworth said they moved the money
around in the allowable investments, if they could with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, that is what they were
doing. They would tell BTFA put a million here, $500,000, etc., and when it matured, they would have the
money moved again. That’s what they were doing. They aren’t doing that now because there are no funds to
move. Councilmember Guerrero said they have $35-37 million. Councilmember Wadsworth reminded him
they can only move the interest. Chairman Wadsworth said they still have the full amount in the principal, if
they have $35 million, at 2%, return is only $700,000 and then by law, 25% of that has to be returned to the
principal. Councilmember Guerrero reiterated they need to take another look at the agreement. Chairman
Wadsworth stated that would be Congressional action and again, and he agrees with Councilmember Davis.
Once they open it up, everybody else will want to open it up and that is their base, it’s the foundation they
built on, and it is a giant risk to open it up.

Councilmember John said they don’t want to open the whole settlement, they just want to look at this
investment because they mismanaged it for them and that is the part the Congressional people can help them
with.

Chairman Wadsworth said his proposal is not a well laid out plan, it was just so the Council can see the hard
numbers.

Councilmember John asked about the EDC’s request for funding. They can work on this plan, but they can’t
engage without funding. The committee has these tasks under the plan which they are supposed to
implement but they need access to the interest for funding.

Councilmember Dunn asked if they could work on the application, getting things prepared rather than just
trying to get funding. Councilmember Cortez said isn’t the EDCs funds approved separately than the Tribe’s
budget. Chairman Wadsworth said their funding comes out of the interest and they haven’t withdrawn from
it for years. Councilmember John said they received $140,000-$180,000, but they asked for $300,000 and
they were denied hiring a planner, except under a consultant but couldn't find anyone to do the job. They
hired a legal person and worked on the plan to re-word their bylaws. Then they hired a financial consultant
to look at the funding and to come up with options. They already submitted a budget with 1034 form.

Councilmember Wadsworth requested the EDC to prepare a budget along with the 1034 form to bring back
to the Council.

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Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council
April 3, 2026 Regular Council meeting

Councilmember Decker changed the topic to NUMU Inc, is this timeline going to meet NUMU Inc’s request?
Chairman Wadsworth said it won’t and his only recommendation would be to withdraw some interest. This
request would require a resolution for the next meeting or to schedule a special meeting. Councilmember
John mentioned the amount they first gave NUMU Inc. was $6 million. Chairman Wadsworth said it was an
allowable cost approved back in 2016-17.

Vice Chairman Ely asked if Ben John was going to get the $500,000 back that he mentioned. Chairman
Wadsworth said Mr. John did tell him there is the possibility they would be getting it all back. He will get a
status on that from Mr. John. If he doesn’t then he will get back to the Council with a resolution, just in case,
for the next meeting. They paid $250,000 for the application fee and after discussion with them they might
be getting that back. It’s not a guarantee but they did provide the letter which was given to the Council.

Councilmember Decker asked what kind of timeframe would that be? They would prefer to stay away from
the interest funds. There was no response.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business before the Tribal Council, Councilmember Cortez made a motion to adjourn the
meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Decker. Votes taken were all in favor, motion
carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:36 p.m.
Submitted by,

Phumtodtorg

Brenda A. Henry
Tribal Council Secretary

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 1s day of May 2026, having eight (8) members present,

constituting a quorum, by the vote of seven (7) FOR and zero (0) OPPOSED, with zero (0) ABSTENTIONS.

Minutes attested and concurred by: LELA

Steven Wadsworth, Tribal Chairman
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council

//

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Apyramid_lake%3Ae9d329d859a13826. Public record. Not legal advice.