City council approves 15-year extension of downtown redevelopment funding through 2050 to support blight reduction and declining tax revenue areas.

THIS WEEK IN RENO CITY COUNCIL

Reno's Redevelopment Agency approved a commercial plaza lease proposal and parking garage improvements, while the Charter Committee unanimously adopted six amendments to modernize city governance.

THE BIG DECISIONS

• APPROVED — Buckster, LLC proposal for Believe Plaza commercial lease — 4-3 vote — Plaza could bring new business to downtown, but city must evaluate public impact and fair-market terms before final approval.
• APPROVED — Accept parking garage operational assessment and search for new operator — 8-0 vote — City will seek bids to improve parking services and evaluate raising rates to increase revenue.
• APPROVED — Request 15-year extension of Redevelopment Area 2 funding — Unanimous vote — Secures continued funding for downtown blight reduction and supports declining tax revenue areas through 2050.
• APPROVED — City manager must live within 60 miles of Reno City Hall (Charter Amendment 2026-02) — 10-0 vote — Balances community ties with recruitment flexibility for top city leadership position.

MONEY MOVES

• $5,638,056.07 — SAP Cloud ERP and HCM systems to replace county financial and human resources software — Washoe County budget
• $3,782,319.50 — South Valleys Regional Park Expansion Phase 2 construction — Washoe County facilities budget
• $1,561,915 — Annual insurance renewal for property, auto, liability, and cyber coverage — Washoe County Risk Management Fund

STILL IN PROGRESS

• Idlewild Park arboretum designation — Deferred to June 17, 2026 — Allows time for budget planning and alignment with city strategic plan.
• Council vacancy process — No changes made — Committee kept existing process unchanged after discussing special election timing.
• Indian Colony voting rights — Referred to annexation process instead of charter amendment — Committee determined this is the proper legal path forward.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Meetings held: 13
• Items voted on: 17
• Total spending approved: $12,276,535.82
• Unanimous votes: 6
• Contested votes: 1

PULSE QUESTION

QUESTION: Should Reno move forward with leasing Believe Plaza to Buckster, LLC for commercial use?

OPTIONS: ["Yes, bring new business downtown", "No, protect public interests first", "Unsure, need more details"]

TAGS

Governance, Budget, Infrastructure, Parks, Environment, Zoning, Social Services

Meetings This Week