Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
What Happened
Reno City Council and Redevelopment Agency met for 10+ hours, addressing pandemic relief spending, police reform, street repairs, historic designations, and a pet store animal sales ban.
Key Decisions
[APPROVED] — Coronavirus Relief Fund Phase One plan ($23.3 million) — Unanimous — City can now request first half of $46.6 million federal CARES Act allocation from governor's office for mental health services, food distribution, rental assistance, and unsheltered population services.
[APPROVED] — $5 million Public Works Assistance Grant for water recapture plant expansion — Unanimous — Largest Economic Development Administration grant ever awarded in Nevada; funds roof and plant expansion for golf course and industrial water reuse.
[APPROVED] — $9 million Pennington Foundation grant extension for Sierra Nevada Aquatics pool project — Unanimous — Timeline extended 12 months; city must raise $4.5 million in matching funds.
[APPROVED] — Street rehabilitation for Southwest area (2022) and Northwest area (2023) covering 40+ streets — 7-0 — Residents get early notice to coordinate property improvements; agencies can coordinate utility work.
[APPROVED] — Pioneer Center for Performing Arts and Washoe County Library added to historic register — 7-0 — Requires Historic Preservation Commission approval for exterior modifications.
[APPROVED] — 2020-2021 State Legislative Platform — 7-0 — City advocacy strategy set for state legislature.
[APPROVED] — Pet store ordinance first reading with amendments — Unanimous — Bans retail sale of dogs and cats; second reading August 12; penalty proposed at $500 per animal per violation; rabbits status deferred for public comment.
[CONTINUED] — Federal Legislative Platform — Unanimous motion for neutrality on public lands bill, more information needed on Green New Deal before council commitment.
Debated But Not Resolved
Police use of force increase — Reno Police reported 28.2% increase in use-of-force incidents while Sparks and Washoe County declined; council wants data-driven reform outcomes and measurable success metrics, not just policy statements.
Police staffing adequacy — Council discussed whether 315 officers for 250,000 residents (1 per 1,000) is sufficient; disagreement on whether to recruit more officers or reallocate non-enforcement functions to other agencies.
CARES Act funding for aquatics project matching — Council questioned whether $46.6 million in federal pandemic relief could fund $4.5 million aquatics match instead of relying on private fundraising during COVID economy.
Street rehabilitation funding gap — 78% of street network requires city funds but only 75% is eligible for tax increment financing; unresolved how to fund remaining maintenance backlog.
Bar reopening during governor closure — About 20 bars without adjacent restaurants cannot operate under state restrictions; council wants creative solutions but staff says federal guidelines limit options.
Police reform implementation — Council requested detailed report with specific metrics, success definitions, and timeframes for Glenn Center report recommendations by next meeting.
What to Watch
$5,000,000 — Public Works plant expansion with water recapture — U.S. Economic Development Administration
$9,000,000 — Sierra Nevada Aquatics pool project (requires $4.5 million local match) — Pennington Foundation grant
$182,250 — Children's Cabinet before/after school programs — Children's Cabinet reimbursement
Police reform action plan — Chief must return with detailed implementation timeline, measurable outcomes, and specific metrics for Glenn Center report recommendations. Council wants data showing whether reforms are working.
Pet store ordinance second reading (August 12) — Council will decide whether to include rabbits and ferrets in sales ban; will finalize penalty amount and transition timeline for existing pet store inventory.
CARES Act Phase Two spending — Second allocation plan will be developed separately; city plans to more than double unsheltered population funding in phase two pending detailed proposals from nonprofits and partner agencies.
Get Reno government news every week
Every vote. Every debate. Zero jargon.