Reno City Council
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
What Happened
Reno City Council met on January 8, 2020, for a regular session that lasted several hours and covered 27 major items including zoning changes, development amendments, service agreements, and infrastructure decisions.
Key Decisions
[REJECTED] — Bella Vista Ranch Phase 2 PUD Amendment (612 new dwelling units) — 6-1 vote — Denial blocked expansion of 16.4 acres from commercial to residential use due to unresolved mercury contamination testing, flood plain concerns, horse water access, and wetlands protection issues.
[APPROVED] — Fire Department EMS Coordinator Position and Benefits — Unanimous vote — New position costs $4,500 (FY2020), $7,800 (FY2021), $7,800 (FY2022) from city budget; modifies post-retirement medical coverage.
[APPROVED] — General Office Zoning Rezone (1.5 acres near Sierra Medical Center) — 6-1 vote — Allows medical facilities and office uses but permits drive-through facilities without special review, raising traffic concerns.
[APPROVED] — 80-Acre Voluntary Annexation on Desert Way — 5-2 vote — Expands city boundaries despite concerns about premature annexation without comprehensive planning and wildfire safety analysis.
[APPROVED] — Downtown Streetscape Design Standards Manual — 7-0 vote — Establishes design standards for downtown development.
[APPROVED] — Somerset Parkway Special Assessment Authority Delegation — 7-0 vote — Delegates portion assessment authority to Chief Financial Officer.
[APPROVED] — Transit Center Renovation — 7-0 vote — Adds ADA-compliant restrooms and improved amenities.
[APPROVED] — Sewer Line Capacity Assessment Project — 7-0 vote — Flow metering and investigation of interceptor lines to identify capacity constraints.
[APPROVED] — Peppermint Signage Support at Virginia Lake — Unanimous vote — Pepper Mill employees and resources support park improvements.
[CONTINUED] — Regional Radio System Interlocal Agreement with Wasatch County — No vote taken — Council delayed decision pending county clarification on uniform service levels, fiscal responsibility definitions, and payment terms before January 17 deadline.
[NOT YET VOTED] — PR Ranch PUD Application — Staff-granted continuance challenged — Council member questioned whether staff improperly used administrative authority to continue application without council vote; applicant working on regional drainage solution.
[DEFERRED] — Full Belly Deli Alcohol License (B1) — Moved to January 22 agenda.
[PULLED] — Reality TV Show Filming with Emergency Responders (B2) — City Manager recommended not bringing back to council; public opposed due to victim privacy concerns and inadequate compensation ($26,000 annually).
Debated But Not Resolved
Radio System Route (Wasatch County vs. State) — Police and Fire chiefs favored state option; council members concerned about losing regional cooperation but wanted clarification on county's commitment to uniform service before deciding — Staff directed to negotiate outstanding issues with county; decision deferred pending council direction before January 17 JOC meeting.
South Reno Transportation Planning — Council members argued comprehensive area plan needed before accepting roads in high-elevation developments; staff said zoning is the plan and roads built subdivision-by-subdivision — Council directed city to bring back broader area planning discussion at future meeting.
Mercury Contamination at Bella Vista Ranch — Applicant's surface testing showed safe levels; public demanded deeper testing citing RTC's findings of mercury 2-5 feet below surface — Council member requested third-party analysis as condition; vote not taken.
Sewer Infrastructure Timing — Council member noted capacity constraints discovered reactively during development review rather than proactively; staff confirmed this assessment project is first phase to systematically map capacity — Ongoing monitoring and reporting to council deferred.
Non-Union Employee Compensation Classification — Council member raised concerns about undefined terms like "pay for performance" conflicting with charter definitions — HR and Civil Service Commission directed to clarify compensation framework systematically.
What to Watch
$4,500 — Fire Department EMS Coordinator position (FY2020) — City budget
$7,800 — Fire Department EMS Coordinator position (FY2021-2022 annually) — City budget
$3,000,000 — Potential prepayment for Wasatch County P25 radio system (decision pending) — General fund
Bella Vista Ranch Phase 2 Appeal — Developer indicated willingness to reapply with stakeholder authorization after addressing mercury, horse water, and wetlands concerns; potential March 25 first reading if resubmitted.
Radio System Decision — Council must choose between Wasatch County regional partnership (requiring $3 million prepayment) or Nevada State Radio System by January 17 JOC meeting; outstanding questions about service definitions and payment terms still unresolved.
South Reno Area Planning — Council requested comprehensive transportation and land-use planning framework for growth areas before accepting individual subdivision approvals; scope and timeline not yet defined.
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