Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
What Happened
City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board met for 7+ hours to approve pandemic relief spending, debate major downtown projects, review a comprehensive zoning code rewrite, and defer the budget discussion. Roughly 40 items on agenda with multiple heated debates about street abandonment, water infrastructure, and surcharge fund allocation.
Key Decisions
• APPROVED — $23.3 million in Phase 2 CARES Act spending across 12 categories (unsheltered services, business relief, education technology, parks, mental health) — 7-0 — Funds pandemic response through end of year; deadline December 30th for completion.
• APPROVED — Stormwater/drainage study examining roadside ditches and culverts on residential streets — Unanimous — Will assess infrastructure needs in areas lacking curb and gutter systems.
• APPROVED — University partnership agreement for public right-of-way and monument placement — Unanimous — City retains authority; RTC must provide input on future monuments.
• APPROVED — 19 lights along University pedestrian pathway — Unanimous — Improves student safety on campus path.
• APPROVED — Specialist permit for indoor mini-storage facility with conditions — 7-0 — Zero light spillage to adjacent homes; HVAC systems between building and street; coordination with RTC on bus stop relocation.
• APPROVED — Water reclamation and effluent injection project — Unanimously — Authorizes pursuit of formal agreement with Truckee Meadows Water Authority for aquifer injection to support future water supply.
• APPROVED — Ordinance 6578 removing development agreement restrictions — Unanimous — Allows development agreements without regional significance or special use designation.
• APPROVED — Ordinance 7157 simplifying residential parking permit process — 7-0 — Streamlines review and issuance.
• CONTINUED — Riverside Commons street abandonment and development agreement — Unanimous continuation — Council directed staff to work with developer on terms addressing public access, parking replacement (currently losing 16 spaces generating $2,100 annually), affordable housing, and park design before final approval.
• CONTINUED — Bowling stadium exterior painting ($1.15 million from hotel surcharge funds) — Deferred to October 14 — Disagreement over whether city should fund facility versus prioritizing other downtown improvements; two-dollar surcharge committee to review before council votes.
• CONTINUED — Ballpark property disposition to Nevada Land operator — Deferred pending mayor participation — Council wants clarification on reversionary rights and first right of refusal.
• CONTINUED — Budget discussion with 7% spending reduction proposal — Deferred to next meeting — Mayor absent; waiting on updated sales tax data before deciding.
• CONTINUED — Comprehensive zoning code update (Title 18) — Deferred chapter-by-chapter review — Council approved 5-minute overview only; substantive review at future meetings after Planning Commission completes review in two weeks.
Debated But Not Resolved
• Bowling stadium funding vs. downtown priorities — Should city commit $1.15 million from hotel surcharge to paint bowling facility (contractual obligation) or redirect to riverwalk improvements and sidewalks? — Two-dollar surcharge subcommittee to meet; item returns October 14.
• Stevenson Street abandonment and parking loss — Does public benefit justify abandoning public street, losing 16 metered parking spaces, and converting to private greenway? How much parking must developer replace? — Development agreement negotiation ongoing; staff to provide maintenance cost data.
• Advanced water treatment and sewer rates — Concerns raised about effluent disposal, $144/quarter sewer fees with $34 recent increase, and lack of cost details and timeline clarity. — Staff directed to bring back formal TUMWA agreement with resource allocation and pricing details.
• Zoning code sustainability requirements — Builders object to solar and EV charging mandates as too costly; council concerned about impact on housing affordability. — Detailed chapter review deferred; discussion to occur at future workshop.
• Business grants application timeline — Should city extend 7-day application window to 14 days and provide weekend support to help small businesses apply? — Staff to refine application language and bring back refined proposal.
What to Watch
• $23,339,006 — CARES Act Phase 2 pandemic relief across 12 spending categories — CARES Act funding (state coronavirus relief, December 30 deadline)
• $5,500,000 — Support for unsheltered population (enhancement over Phase 1) — CARES Act
• $3,000,000 — Education technology (school district laptops, hotspots, remote learning spaces) — CARES Act
• $2,500,000 — Business relief enhancement — CARES Act
• $1,000,000 — Parks programming in socially distanced environment — CARES Act
• $1,150,000 — Bowling stadium exterior painting (pending October 14 vote) — Two-dollar hotel surcharge within downtown tourism district
Riverside Commons street abandonment decision (October) — Will council approve permanent loss of Stevenson Street and 16 parking spaces in exchange for downtown housing and greenway? Developer must commit to replacing lost parking and affordable housing for essential workers.
Bowling stadium funding and two-dollar surcharge priorities (October 14) — Does city prioritize contractual obligation to paint facility or invest in sidewalks and riverwalk? Surcharge committee meeting will determine recommendation.
Advanced water treatment agreement (date TBD) — What are actual costs, timeline, and city's liability if TUMWA manages injection project? Formal agreement needed before project proceeds.
Budget approval with capital project decisions (date TBD) — Will council adopt 7% spending reduction? Which capital projects get funding: pool reopening, City Hall renovation, police/fire facilities, earthquake safety improvements?
Zoning code adoption and map amendments (November-Q1 2021) — After Planning Commission review, council must address 40+ disputed zoning provisions and property-specific rezoning questions; three areas with unimplemented master plan changes need area-by-area review.
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