Reno City Council
Thursday, March 5, 2020
What Happened
Reno City Council held a budget hearing on March 5, 2020, with approximately 30 agenda items spanning fire and police staffing, homeless services, building permits, and city operations.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Community Development building Enterprise fund expenditures (agenda item) — unanimous — allows city to proceed with requested spending from building permit revenue fund
APPROVED — Salary increases for covered employees ($3.1 million) and non-covered staff adjustments ($2.4 million) — vote count not specified — provides raises funded through general budget
APPROVED — Ballistic gear for entire Fire Department (Rescue task force gear already approved via Attorney General's grant) — vote count not specified — secures protective equipment from existing department funding
APPROVED — Clean and Safe operations permanent budget inclusion at $600,000 annually — vote count not specified — expands cleanup program from prior pilot (was $250,000) using general fund dollars
Debated But Not Resolved
Homeless services location and regional responsibility — Council said location decisions should follow resource capacity, not appearance. Police Chief said new shelter location requires 50 additional officer positions city cannot fund. Council questioned why County and City of Sparks aren't equally engaged — City Manager tasked with placing homeless discussion on April 1 C-Hab meeting agenda
Fire staffing and Station 19 opening — Council wants Station 19 fully staffed in 2020. Fire Chief said opening with overtime causes burnout; needs 8 additional permanent firefighters. Council questioned why Station 19 remains unstaffed despite prior staffing additions (7 of 8 grant-funded positions went to upgrade Engine 7 instead) — unresolved; dependent on completion of other station staffing
Severance pay budget planning — Council noted Fire and Police departments spend $550,000 annually on severances with $1.1 million payout obligation looming (24+ eligible Fire employees). Councilmember proposed permanent budget line instead of annual augmentation and referenced Las Vegas's 15% payroll reserve strategy — staff to address in future meeting
Fire Department overtime costs — Fire Department spent $1.138 million on overtime in current year. Councilmember questioned why city cannot add firefighters (estimated $1 million cost) to eliminate overtime line item — Fire Chief explained new staff fills existing vacancies for other purposes, not overtime reduction
Building Enterprise Fund surplus and fee increases — Fund has $7 million surplus and fee increases proposed 5.3% average. Councilmember noted Nevada law requires fees decrease if fund balance exceeds half annual operating costs; questioned raising fees on seniors while sitting on surplus — unresolved
What to Watch
$150,000 — Fire Department PPE (turnouts replacement program, three-year catch-up) — room tax
$245,000 — Fire Department additional severance pay funding (adding to existing $300,000 budget) — fire department budget (unresolved)
March 25 Waste Management contract vote — Council will review potential service additions (composting, parks waste, e-waste recycling) with associated cost increases passed to residents
April 1 C-Hab regional meeting — County, City of Sparks, and Reno will meet on homeless services responsibility and funding; council wants concrete funding asks before meeting
Public safety ballot measure research — Staff researching viability of ballot initiative or advisory question to fund police (28 positions), equipment, and homeless solutions; decision pending staff report
Get Reno government news every week
Every vote. Every debate. Zero jargon.