Reno City Council
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
What Happened
Reno City Council held a regular meeting lasting several hours, voting on roughly 25 items including zoning changes, shelter funding, economic development contracts, and design standards for the Midtown district.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Volunteers of America overflow shelter services for up to 100 single adults at Timberway location with increased liability insurance — 7-0 — $35,000 from city; operator secures private grant for family shelter costs
APPROVED — Bill 6873: Rezoning Mayberry Hunter Lake parcels (2.42 acres total) from residential to public facility use — 7-0 — Enables public facility development
APPROVED — Bill 6874: Annexation of 9.39 acres north of Gold Ranch Road near California-Nevada border — 7-0 — Expands city boundaries
APPROVED — Contract with NRK for economic development services including accelerator program assistance and business loans — Unanimous (after debate) — Uses CDBG carryover funds with direction to staff to define success metrics before any contract amendments
APPROVED — Midtown District Design Standards ordinance (referred for first reading with amendments) — 7-0 — Establishes setback, landscaping, parking, and density rules for transit-oriented development; sets landscaping at 5% in commercial areas, 30 units per acre density allowed, 0.25 Floor Area Ratio (0.75 near bus stations)
APPROVED — Canyon Pines and Villages at Duman Ranch street acceptances for public maintenance (four resolutions) — Unanimous — City assumes maintenance of multiple residential streets
APPROVED — Jackson's Northtown Chevron sign package for rebranding — 4-1 — Permits new C60 pole sign at McCaron and Northtown Lane
CONTINUED — Street vending and artist licensing ordinance — Unanimous continuation — Staff to bring back Sparks ordinance comparison and address business licensing requirement for artists at November meeting
Debated But Not Resolved
CDBG economic development funding priorities — Concern raised that cuts to social service providers over past 3-4 years conflict with federal poverty-fighting mission; council questioned geographic distribution of funds and whether accelerator programs in urban core serve low-income neighborhoods like Wells region — Staff to evaluate and report back
Midtown density standards (MF30 vs MF21) — Developer argued 30 units per acre needed for $20-30 million construction and 200 retail-supporting residents; opponents cited existing infrastructure limitations and neighborhood character concerns — Council adopted MF30 but debate on implementation continues
Artist licensing for First Amendment activities — Public commenters and council members divided on whether selling artwork in parks requires $60 annual business license; First Amendment vagueness concerns raised regarding ordinance language about not "diluting" special events — Council ordered Sparks ordinance comparison before November decision
Regional licensing platform funding — Council identified determining funding source and lease option as "biggest challenge" for new online business licensing system shared with Washo County — Staff to return in 30-60 days with cost recovery model and funding recommendation
What to Watch
$200,000 — CDBG loan loss reserve to leverage $2 million private investment through Valley Economic Development Corporation — CDBG carryover funds
$35,000 — Overflow shelter operations — City general fund
Midtown ordinance redraft coming back — Council asked staff to rewrite ordinance clarifying all amendments made, especially around FAR standards and density calculations, before final adoption.
Artist licensing decision in November — Will Reno require business licenses for artists selling work in parks? Depends on Sparks ordinance comparison and First Amendment legal analysis staff is gathering.
Regional tech platform funding decision (30-60 days) — Council must choose funding source for $476,000 Reno implementation cost of joint Reno-Washo County business licensing software; identifies whether to use general fund, building enterprise fund, or new technology fee.
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