Reno City Council
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
What Happened
City Council held a regular meeting lasting several hours, approving 25+ items including zoning changes, cannabis licenses, school connectivity funding, and a waste management franchise agreement, while deferring the municipal court judge appointment to January 2021.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — $2.5 million to Washoe County School District for 3,000 hotspots, 25 Wi-Fi buses, and computers for 11,000 students — Unanimous — Addresses digital divide created by pandemic; funds must be spent by December 30, 2020.
APPROVED — Zoning change from MF-14 to MF-30 near Wells Avenue (allows 30 housing units per acre instead of 14) — Unanimous — Enables denser residential development; on-street parking concerns deferred to site plan review stage.
APPROVED — Cannabis licenses for Deep Roots Harvest and Thrive Marketplace — Conditional one-year term — Licenses renewed with requirement that staff verify litigation outcomes and state regulatory changes before next renewal; ongoing Phase Three litigation raised concerns about timing.
APPROVED — Pioneer Theater and Whitesville County Library designated as historic landmarks with overlay protection — Unanimous — Buildings gain legal preservation status.
APPROVED — Zero Mayberry commercial parcel (appraised at $120,000) to be auctioned; proceeds support Community Housing Land Trust with 10 new shared-equity homes — Unanimous — Homes priced at $225,000 with $50/month ground lease; creates homeownership pathway for families at 80% median income.
APPROVED — Waste Management franchise agreement renewal with rate adjustments — Vote count not specified — Extends waste collection contract with CPI increases from 8% to 10%; multiple service concerns raised but ombudsman dispute resolution available for complaints.
CONTINUED — Municipal Court Judge appointment — Deferred to January 2021 — Council rejected filling vacant judge position before year-end despite 30-day charter deadline; allows court three months to clear backlog using temporary judges; hiring freeze and election timing cited as reasons.
APPROVED — Park development ordinance allowing RCT funds for new and existing parks — Unanimous — Resolves state law conflict between parkland dedication and RCT requirements.
Debated But Not Resolved
Pedestrian Safety Zones — Council split on whether speed reductions and increased fines should apply equally across all neighborhoods; concern raised that concentrated enforcement in poor and minority areas could constitute targeting. Staff directed to return with broader local authority options and equity analysis.
Waste Management Private Street Service — Residents on Tannenbaum Way and Raven Way (45+ years of service) object to pickup changes; council unable to resolve without property owner consent. Multiple unresolved service complaints remain (Colin Ranch Monday pickup timing, non-flat lid surcharge, apartment recycling expansion).
Historic Overlay Zoning Amendments — Council member raised concern that proposed Title 18 code changes remove historic landmark overlay requirements from properties; adequate notice to surrounding property owners questioned. Deferred to zoning code update workshops.
Municipal Court Judge Appointment Process — Disagreement over whether 30-day charter deadline applies to initiation or completion of appointment; no resolution on how to proceed within legal constraints during hiring freeze.
What to Watch
$2,500,000 — School district connectivity and devices — State CARES Act allocation (Timberly Bill).
Municipal Court Judge Appointment (January 2021) — City Manager must present selection process options at next meeting; council will vote on appointment pathway. Charter compliance dispute unresolved; decision affects court operations and caseload management.
Waste Management Agreement Follow-Up — Multiple outstanding service issues (hazardous waste event frequency, private street access, Colin Ranch timing, apartment recycling). Ombudsman dispute process now available for complaint resolution.
Pedestrian Safety Zone Ordinance — Staff returns with speed reduction framework addressing equity concerns and exploring city authority beyond state statute limitations. Will determine where speed limits reduce from 30 mph to 20 mph.
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