Reno City Council
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
What Happened
Reno City Council held a regular meeting on November 6, 2013, addressing roughly 30 items including zoning changes, business licensing, municipal spending, and a controversial oil recycling facility permit.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Oil and antifreeze recycling facility special use permit (Petrol Solutions) — Unanimous — Allows new business to operate with conditions requiring permit revocation if operations involve hazardous materials not disclosed or if violations occur.
APPROVED — Medical marijuana licensing stay — 6-1 vote — City paused accepting new medical marijuana establishment applications until state completes regulatory process; staff to report back no later than April 2014 second meeting.
APPROVED — Midtown zoning ordinance (Ordinance 6309) — Established new zoning districts with specific permitted uses and development standards for regional center and transit corridor areas.
APPROVED — Indoor tennis court text amendment — Allows code changes aligning with county property designation for recreational use, enabling special use permit process to proceed.
APPROVED — Parcel rezoning (Bill 6876) — Rezoned 6,000 square feet from MF-30MA to public facility; removed mobile home overlay restrictions.
APPROVED — City manager performance evaluation process — Establishes formal annual evaluations with anonymous feedback from department heads.
APPROVED — Reno Business Direct initiative — Creates streamlined advisory process for small business questions.
Debated But Not Resolved
Kiosk system performance bond settlement — Council member questioned why city accepted $7,500 instead of $460,000 owed; City Manager explained bond covered only installation costs, not lost revenue — No action taken.
Oil recycling facility environmental safeguards — Council debated whether city has adequate authority to protect nearby TMWA water wells, whether inspection frequency should be more frequent than yearly, and if special use permit should include specific conditions tying validity to fire/environmental permit compliance — Conditions were clarified but some concerns remained unresolved.
CMAQ grant funding for Tricky River bike path — Council suggested ADA and safety improvements to bike path would be eligible for federal grant; staff indicated current $3.1 million regional grant expires December 31 with no additional funds — Referred for future funding consideration.
Energy bond prepayment penalties — Discussion about inability to prepay bonds without penalty and potential federal sequestration impacts on tax-exempt interest rates — Referred to bond counsel for further analysis.
What to Watch
$926,000 — Q and D construction contract change order (time extension, no amount increase) — City general fund.
$376,000 — Deputy Chief Ron Glenzer buyout including vacation time — City general fund.
$142,000 — Deputy Chief Glenzer 28-week severance — City general fund.
$64,000 — Annual building operations at 450 Sinclair Street (largely vacant city annex) — City general fund.
Portion of $3,100,000 — CMAQ grant for street sweepers and brine spray system for snow/ice control — Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program.
Medical marijuana licensing decision — Council paused applications pending state regulation. Staff returns no later than April 2014. Actual licensing approval or denial will follow state guidelines.
Oil recycling facility operations — City staff will monitor whether Petrol Solutions obtains EPA ID number and brings in materials different from permit representation. Council may revoke permit if hazardous materials are discovered.
Bayer Properties and Summit Mall agreement — New financial partnership and LLC changes scheduled for November 20 council meeting.
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