Reno City Council
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
What Happened
Reno City Council met for a full agenda with 24+ items, including public hearings on street abandonment and development approvals, spending decisions, and fire department restructuring discussions.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Our Lady of the Snow school/church street abandonment and park use with conditions (unanimous) — Must secure 17 additional parking spaces, hold minimum two community meetings, complete Walker Avenue restriping within 30 days, and finalize parking agreement with neighborhood input before abandonment is recorded.
APPROVED — Master Plan amendment allowing Special Planning Area designation for development (7-0) — Property owner can now submit detailed development plan with conditions to address flood mitigation concerns.
APPROVED — Bond letter of credit modification saving approximately $198,000 annually through rate reduction (unanimous) — City refinanced 2005a tax-exempt bonds at lower rates.
APPROVED — Blue lights for Reno Arch (May 1-June 1) honoring fallen police officers — $2,500 from asset forfeiture and council discretionary funds (unanimous).
APPROVED — Sierra Arts Foundation public art grant — $13,000 for Fourth Street corridor sculpture installations (unanimous).
APPROVED — Traditional American Music Project grant — $2,250 for Living History Fair (unanimous).
APPROVED — Fire department automatic aid agreement termination notice to Sierra Fire Protection District, effective June 30 (unanimous).
APPROVED — Fire department staff reduction authorization for FY 2011-12.
APPROVED — Sign permit moratorium for 90 days (unanimous).
APPROVED — Extension of second-hand dealer and precious metals moratorium until August 23, 2012 (unanimous).
Debated But Not Resolved
Lander Street abandonment impact — Neighbors opposed citing loss of 24-25 public parking spaces, increased traffic on Walker and Monroe streets, and safety concerns. School argued traffic studies showed minimal impact and proposed parking mitigation. Resolved by conditioning abandonment on parking replacement and community meetings, but full parking agreement deferred for community input.
Flood risk and development approval — Upper Southeast Communities Coalition opposed land use amendment for flood storage area given history of flooding (1950, 1955, 1963, 1965, 1986, 1997). Council approved amendment anyway, allowing detailed development plan review through planned unit development process where conditions can be imposed.
Park use intensity and neighborhood impact — Public commenter opposed Our Lady of Snow's continued park use citing excessive noise and disturbance. Council approved use with parking agreement but deferred license agreement and park improvement plan to April 25 meeting pending Parks and Recreation Commission and neighborhood input.
What to Watch
None exceeding $50,000.
Parking agreement finalization (expected mid-summer) — Deferred to Parks and Rec Commission and NAB meetings. Must address neighborhood concerns about 51 parking space loss and drop-off zone locations before returning to council.
Fire department JPA negotiations (decision April 25) — County voting separately on consolidation. Council waiting for county Tuesday meeting results before finalizing fire station location and layoff timing.
Item 311 PUD application — Developer must hold neighborhood meetings before returning with detailed planned unit development subject to flood mitigation conditions.
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