Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
What Happened
Reno City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board met for approximately six hours on March 13, 2019, addressing 50+ agenda items ranging from bar operating permits to infrastructure funding and downtown development.
Key Decisions
[REJECTED] — City Hall first-floor restroom construction ($300,000) — 4-3 vote — Council rejected the project and directed staff to explore allocating room tax funds to Virginia Street improvements instead.
[APPROVED] — Bar/entertainment venue hours and capacity expansion — 4-2 vote — Extended Friday-Saturday closing time to 2:00 AM (from midnight), increased capacity to 500 people, with mandatory six-month review before further changes.
[APPROVED] — Reno Orthopedic Clinic utility relocation subsidy — vote count not stated — Approved $46,000 in RDA funding to support $54 million downtown medical facility expansion.
[APPROVED] — Southside School lease with UNR — CONTINUED — Vote deferred pending presentation to Historic Resources Commission before execution.
[APPROVED] — Virginia Street Midtown benches and bike racks — unanimous — Approved $120,000 interlocal agreement with RTC for streetscape improvements.
[REJECTED] — Lime Bikes franchise extension — 3-0 — Council rejected expanding bike-share agreement to include e-scooters, citing need for state legislative clarity on scooter regulations.
[APPROVED] — Multiple zoning amendments — unanimous — Approved mixed-use to industrial zoning on North Virginia Street and established drive-through signage standards.
Debated But Not Resolved
Southside School rental rate — Paul White argued the proposed $726 annual rent is inadequate; fair market value should be $7,000-$120,000 annually — Lease vote deferred to next meeting.
Virginia Street project design specifics — Council raised concerns about medians limiting business left-turn access, parking impacts, lighting, and lack of communication with merchants — Staff committed to post-construction evaluation and ongoing stakeholder meetings.
Storm water utility fee — Council divided on rate structure, whether to allow green infrastructure credits, and annual costs ranging $3-9 per month for residents — Staff directed to return with full modeling and rate scenarios.
Pioneer Center funding reduction — Request to cut $25,450 from $50,900 annual allocation drew debate over arts funding priorities — Discussion deferred to next meeting.
Fire services funding — Councilwoman Breuss requested study examining fire agency revenue sources and UNR's growing emergency service demands — Item remains unresolved.
What to Watch
$46,000 — Reno Orthopedic Clinic utility relocation — RDA operating fund
$120,000 — Virginia Street benches and bike racks — City budget/RTC reimbursement
Southside School lease — Council will vote on UNR rental agreement after Historic Resources Commission presentation. Dispute centers on whether $726 annual rent reflects fair market value.
Virginia Street design modifications — Council requested parking study, evaluation of median design, and left-turn access solutions. Post-construction review process will determine if changes are needed.
Storm water utility implementation — Major infrastructure decision pending. Staff will present rate structures ($3-9 monthly for residents) and determine if property owners can reduce fees through green infrastructure investments.
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