Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
What Happened
Reno City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board met for a regular session covering 40+ items, including major downtown development approval, homeless shelter funding, sewer code changes, and multiple community donations totaling roughly $6,250.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — $40 million West Bradley University Housing Project (500 student apartments downtown near Circus Circus) — vote count not recorded — Creates new student housing and downtown revitalization; 18-month permit deadline or alley reverts to city (5-2 vote on street/alley abandonment). Final conditions on easement width, crosswalk, and traffic impact to be documented in writing before second approval.
APPROVED — $318,000 for temporary overflow homeless shelter improvements (running water, indoor restrooms, ADA upgrades) — 7-0 vote — Funded through Community Development Block Grant. One council member raised concern that city wasn't meeting same building code standards it requires of private developers, but item passed with commitment to improvements.
APPROVED — Residential parking permit expansion around University of Nevada, Reno — 7-0 vote — Expands permits for more residents near campus. Council directed staff to study broader solutions to prevent pushing parking problems to other neighborhoods.
APPROVED — Police dual recording system (digital and analog capability) — 7-0 vote — Maintains video backup if connectivity fails during interviews and investigations.
APPROVED — Ordinance 438 (sewer service code amendments) — unanimous — Updates billing procedures and industrial user classification. Includes Resolution 8432 moving sewer fee CPI adjustments from ordinance to annual resolution to avoid large rate spikes.
APPROVED — Bill 7008 (special events code change) — unanimous — Eliminates permit requirement for marches and protests; now requires written notification instead. Allows faster organizing while maintaining police coordination for safety and street closures.
APPROVED — City property at 1035 East 8th Street transferred to Reno Housing Authority — unanimous — For affordable housing development. Housing Authority committed to public workshop and open proposal process before finalizing project.
APPROVED — Council donations to 7 organizations — unanimous — $2,000 (Future Kind arts), $500 (ballet theater), $500 (animal welfare), $500 (veteran dogs program), $1,500 (college prep), $1,000 (children's cancer), $750 (rural health).
Debated But Not Resolved
Parking near Hillside Cemetery — Public commenter proposed extending Angel Road for fraternity house parking and cemetery fencing; council concerns about fraternity visitor parking in area — Continued to next meeting; staff to provide background.
University parking expansion regional impact — Council worried expansion only masks larger problem and pushes parking elsewhere; preference for on-campus solutions or shuttle service — Approved but staff directed to investigate broader solutions.
Overflow shelter building standards — Council member questioned why facility without running water/restrooms was acceptable when city requires these standards of private businesses — Concern raised but item approved; facility improvements now funded.
West Bradley Project conditions — Concerns about 50% increase in beds, increased traffic on Mountain View, 20-foot easement adequacy, and impact on dog park — Councilmember agreed to work with applicant over one week to document conditions in writing rather than rely on verbal commitments.
CPI automatic sewer rate increases — Council discomfort with perpetual automatic increases without sunset clause; preference for conscious decisions every few years — Approved with concerns noted.
Art festival artist access — Council Member White argues festivals should be open to all artists with lottery system; staff indicates different process underway — Mayor directed staff to contact White and work on better solutions.
What to Watch
$318,000 — Temporary overflow homeless shelter improvements — Community Development Block Grant
$40,000,000 — West Bradley University Housing Project (private investment)
$117,000 — Affordable Housing Forum fundraising to date (multiple sources including county, banks, state, federal grants)
West Bradley Project second approval — Council will finalize written conditions on easement width, lighted crossway, and traffic mitigation before granting final approval. Watch for what traffic commitments stick.
Broader parking strategy — Council directed staff to explore regional solutions beyond residential permits, including university on-campus parking or transit shuttle to Livestock Event Center. Report expected at future meeting.
Council meeting schedule — City manager to report on feasibility of spacing December meetings differently to avoid 30-day gaps delaying business license approvals.
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