Reno City Council
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
What Happened
The City Council held a 5+ hour meeting covering zoning changes, billboard moratorium debate, park facility expansion, affordable housing strategy, and waste management franchise review across roughly 30 items.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Digital billboard moratorium through January 31, 2018 — Vote count not fully recorded — Halts new digital billboard applications city-wide while staff develops comprehensive ordinance; closes receipt banking for digital billboards.
APPROVED — Ordinance 6426: Mount Bismarck Master Plan rezoning — Unanimous — Changes 8.1 acres from Industrial Business to Neighborhood Commercial between Mount Bismarck and Mount Anderson streets.
APPROVED — Special Use Permit for Center for Adaptive Riding horse facility expansion — 4-1 — Allows 8 horses (up from 6) at Horseman's Park with conditions: no trailer activity before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.; site design review required for drainage; facility improvements mandated.
APPROVED — Resolution 8295: Public Works Director authority for utility agreements — 4-2 — Delegates director power to sign utility extension agreements under $50,000 without full council approval.
APPROVED — Resolution 8294: Miguel Rivera State Park grant application — Unanimous — Authorizes filing for $250,000 federal grant through Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
CONTINUED — Kerry Avenue Access Abandonment (theater property) — Unanimous continuance — Council postponed decision to review special use permit conditions and ensure parking lot improvements (lighting, walkways) before eliminating public access.
REJECTED (No Action Taken) — Third-party auditor for waste management franchise — Council directed staff to facilitate direct negotiations between city and Waste Management instead of hiring outside consultant.
Debated But Not Resolved
Billboard moratorium scope — Whether to include all billboards or digital-only; whether 2000 voter initiative bans all new billboards or allows cap-and-trade system. Industry argues moratorium threatens business; residents argue it enforces voter mandate. Resolution passed but underlying policy conflict remains.
Affordable housing funding and coordination — Council member Breuss questioned why city has not dedicated city-owned land as subsidy for hard-to-house populations for second consecutive year; McKenzie noted council discussed requiring mixed-income apartments but never implemented; Dogado asked whether housing forum coordinates with other regional groups. No resolution on geographic scope, funding mechanisms, or city's specific role.
Mercury contamination on Southeast Connector — Council members questioned liability exposure from buried mercury stockpiles under road. Staff clarified that methyl mercury only forms in anaerobic conditions; design changed to leave Steamboat Creek alone. City will inherit maintenance responsibility with "as built" drawings noting mercury locations. Long-term liability remains unclear.
Waste management franchise review timeline — Small waste companies want either exclusive franchise or open competition. Council debated whether to hire consultant ($25,000-$100,000) or pursue direct negotiations. No formal decision on scope or deadlines established.
What to Watch
$250,000 — Miguel Rivera State Park grant application — Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Digital billboard ordinance (due ~August 2017) — Staff must draft comprehensive policy during moratorium period. Council disagreed on whether 2000 ballot language bans digital signs. This determines whether $3.1 million liability per sign applies and which neighborhoods are restricted.
Affordable housing roadmap (March 8 meeting) — Council directed staff to meet with Reno Sparks Association of Realtors to develop funding structure before consulting Enterprise Communities. Four separate proposals (land dedication, mixed-income requirements, housing czar position, motel standards) remain unresolved.
Waste management franchise negotiation (timeline unclear) — City attorney and council members to meet directly with Waste Management and excluded haulers to resolve contract compliance issues instead of hiring outside auditor. Specific issues and deadlines to be clarified.
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