Reno City Council
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
What Happened
Reno City Council met on March 12, 2014, for a 7+ hour session covering 20+ major items including regional emergency services, economic development incentives, golf course operations, police assessment district expansion, and wastewater treatment improvements.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Regional EMS oversight structure with interlocal agreement — 5-2 — Creates shared governance across Reno, Sparks, Washoe County, and health district. Full agreement returns for final vote before fiscal year end.
APPROVED — $600,000 Catalyst fund reimbursement to Garlock printing company — vote count unknown — Allows relocation to Reno with up to 200 jobs phased over time. City reimburses only after jobs are certified.
APPROVED — First Tee of Northern Nevada lease to operate Rosewood Lakes Golf Course — 6-1 — Addresses $73,000 annual operating loss. Final lease terms due April 16 for second approval.
APPROVED — Expanded downtown police special assessment district — 7-0 — Increases police funding in expanded zone. Staff must present boundary details and service levels before implementation.
APPROVED — $1.1 million annual energy savings wastewater treatment contracts — unanimous — Three-contract package with Ameresco Inc. guarantees savings through biogas, nutrient recovery, and equipment upgrades.
APPROVED — Downtown police assessment district extension — unanimous — Allows police protection assessment work to proceed with staff direction.
APPROVED — Civil Service Commission rule changes — unanimous — Removes medical privacy requirements flagged as potentially illegal, clarifies part-time employee exemptions, establishes outside counsel procedures for conflicts.
Debated But Not Resolved
EMS franchise agreement terms — Council member David Ward wanted safeguards against long-term REMSA contracts limiting future efficiency gains. Fire department pushed back on exclusivity clause preventing city ambulance service. Next step: Fire department to report within quarter on service response policy options.
Police assessment district boundaries — Residents disputed whether all expanded areas benefit equally, with concerns about University of Nevada tax-exempt properties creating unequal burden on private owners. Next step: Staff provides area-by-area boundary justification before final vote.
Rosewood Golf Course sale vs. partnership — Some council members asked whether $7.5 million in RTC easement funds should pay off $1.5 million bond to allow property sale instead of ongoing subsidy. Next step: Final lease agreement returns April 16.
Fire department medical transport — Fire department argued $1-2 million ambulance investment pays for itself; REMSA franchise agreement exclusivity prevents city from offering transport. Next step: Policy guidance due in quarter.
What to Watch
$600,000 — Garlock printing relocation incentive — Catalyst fund
$1,100,000 — Annual wastewater treatment energy savings (operational budget relief) — Performance contract
$25,000,000 — Wastewater treatment plant improvements — CIP funds and reserves
EMS agreement final terms — Council split on long-term REMSA contract. Full interlocal agreement returns before fiscal year end with potential policy changes on fire department medical transport.
Police assessment district boundaries — Staff must detail which neighborhoods get service, how resources deploy, and why 90% of expansion zone property owners didn't sign petition.
Rosewood Golf Course lease — First Tee partnership terms finalized April 16. Council still debating whether property should be sold instead.
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