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Ward 2 Council Member· 2020-09-14 – December 2026 (start 2020-09-14: appointed Ward 2 Sept 14, 2020 per sparksnv.gov Ward 2 page; elected Nov 2022; month-level end: December 2026 per Sparks Charter §5.010(2) (seats elected Nov 2026) and §5.100(3) (successors qualify at the first regular council meeting after the canvass; Nov 13, 2026 canvass meeting noticed on agenda portal); seat day unpublished)

Dian VanderWell

Sparks

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
1

Term ending Dec 1, 2026.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
19
Total speaking time
39:16
Avg per meeting
2:04
Segments
967

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The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has VanderWell said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Filtered to Public Safety

Top issues during term (13)(Public Safety)

critical↑Jun 2026[14]

Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Expansion

The contract costs $1,046,000.05 over five years, funded through annual payments of $209,200.01 from the general fund.

critical↑Mar 2026[13]

Federal SAFER Grant for Firefighter Staffing

City match of $565,817.98 over three years; roughly $225,000 per firefighter per year in wages and benefits once the grant ends.

medium↑Aug 2026[7]

disaster emergency declaration

Federal assistance will cover a significant chunk of the cleanup and rebuilding costs, saving local taxpayers from footing the entire bill.

medium↑Jan 2026[6]

Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Adoption

Adoption maintains the city's eligibility for federal and state hazard mitigation grant funds.

medium↑Oct 2026[5]

fire station expansion

It's a $1.7 million price tag, and since it's Reno's project, Sparks taxpayers aren't footing the bill — or getting the new fire crew.

high↓Sep 2026[5]

Washoe County Forensic Services Agreement

Allocates up to $800,000 while saving $200,000 compared to prior baseline expectations.

high↓Jul 2026[2]

Fire Department Shared Leadership Model

Saves the City of Sparks approximately $245,000 in executive administrative costs.

high↓Feb 2026[1]

Regional CAD/RMS Dispatch Software Implementation

Contract adjustments and jurisdictional expense considerations are currently under review.

high↓Feb 2026[1]

ShotSpotter Contract Renewal

Costs approximately $387,750 annually, totaling $1,193,969 over three years from general funds.

medium↓Feb 2026[1]

Northern Nevada Public Health Updates and Budget Pressures

Agency is facing potential budget insolvency in FY 2027, with upcoming board retreats focused on solutions.

high↓Mar 2026[1]

Regulation of Massage Establishments and Illicit Parlors

None specified.

medium↓Apr 2026[1]

Firefighter Recruit Seniority Determination

None.

medium↓Aug 2024[0]

police shooting lawsuit

Saves the city from a potentially massive payout and protects local tax dollars from going toward legal settlements.

Decisions during term (2)

Recorded while VanderWell was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

Voting record (0)(Public Safety)

No votes found matching Public Safety.

In the news (1)