Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
What Happened
City Council met for 9+ hours to approve budget items, a new city manager, and a welcoming city resolution while deferring major decisions on business licensing, flood repairs, and property disposition.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Sabre Newbie as City Manager, salary/contract terms not disclosed in final vote — 6-1 (McKenzie opposed) — Starts May 8th. McKenzie voted no citing lack of transparency on contract provisions.
APPROVED — Resolution 8333: $48,367 in arts and culture grants to 16 organizations — 7-0 unanimous — Funds programs including ballet, theater, jazz orchestra, and community music groups from general and room tax funds.
APPROVED — Wells Avenue parking standards ordinance (Bill 6997) allowing up to 50% parking reductions for new mixed-use development — Unanimous — Removes parking barriers for restaurants and retail on Wells Corridor.
APPROVED — Welcoming City Resolution affirming Reno as inclusive community — Unanimous — Does not alter immigration law enforcement, federal cooperation, or protection of criminals. Bars racial/national origin-based targeting.
APPROVED — NV Energy utility undergrounding and substation relocation near Caramella Ranch development — Unanimous — Power lines placed underground at developer expense. No city cost.
APPROVED — Emergency flood damage repairs (Sierra Street, Fourth Street, Cemetery Drain) — Unanimous — City pursuing 75% FEMA reimbursement plus 12.5% state reimbursement through county. Total repair costs not specified in vote.
CONTINUED — Business License Tax Ordinance (Item I11) — Staff must provide: accurate financial impact analysis, competitor fee comparison, and verify square footage calculations before reintroduction.
CONTINUED — Warehouse/distribution sector fee restructuring — Staff to research actual square footage inventory and explore alternatives to dual gross-receipts/square-footage calculation before returning.
CONTINUED — RTC credit extension (590,000 VMT credits) — Staff to return with fiscal impact analysis. Credit values estimated $292 per credit in North section; South section higher.
Debated But Not Resolved
Business license fee increases — Warehouse sector argues $40,000 fee cap inaccurate, competitiveness threatened vs. Sparks/Story County/Carson City; Council concerned about data reliability and small business impact. Staff directed to clarify three specific areas.
Welcoming city scope — Opponents claimed resolution shields illegal immigrants and protects felons; Supporters confirmed resolution contains no protections for criminals and does not change police practices. Resolution passed after clarification.
Flood repair funding responsibility — Council questioned whether RTC and state engineer should share repair costs for regional roads but decided to proceed with repairs and pursue reimbursement later.
Fair market value and property disposition — Keystone and Chism parcels: Council split on boundary adjustment vs. RFP process. Staff directed to provide appraisals and return with options.
What to Watch
$48,367 — Arts and culture grants (16 organizations) — General and room tax funds
$7,500 — Organizational donations (Rodeo Foundation, Catholic Charities, UNR Foundation, Transforming Youth Recovery combined) — General fund
Business licensing overhaul — Staff must return with corrected square footage data and financial impact before ordinance reintroduction. Warehouse sector threatens relocation over proposed fee increases.
Senate Bill 302 (recreational marijuana) — Hearing pushed to Monday. Council concerned about losing business license fee authority and regulatory control. City attorney returning Friday with sponsor amendments.
Flood repair reimbursement — City pursuing external funding but has not confirmed responsibility of state engineer or RTC for regional road damage. Next steps unclear.
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