Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
What Happened
Reno City Council and its Redevelopment Agency held a single meeting lasting several hours with roughly 20 action items, including two major housing developments, COVID-19 relief fund reallocations, and ongoing water/sewer capacity debates.
Key Decisions
• APPROVED — Tentative map for 264-unit Legacy Village Townhomes (Paradiso project) — 6-1 vote — Allows development to proceed despite concerns about available sewer capacity at treatment facility.
• APPROVED — Tentative map for 160-unit Daybreak PUD single-family project — Unanimous — Permits phased development along Virginia Range with eight conditions for wild horse containment (fencing, gates, city camera installation on right-of-way, landscaping).
• APPROVED — Increased wastewater allocation by 50,000 gallons daily for North Valley/East Reno — 5-2 vote — Allows residential development to proceed using temporary sewage capacity; council agreed to revisit in spring pending subcommittee review.
• APPROVED — $2.7 million reallocation of CARES Act funds — Vote count not specified — Moved $1.5 million from remote work/facility improvements to homeless services (super shelter concept); moved $1.2 million from eviction relief to business assistance programs.
• APPROVED — Bowling Stadium agreement modification — Vote count not specified — Women's Bowling Congress can move event up one year; extends facility agreements supporting pandemic tourism recovery.
• CONTINUED — Advanced Water Treatment and Aquifer Injection Project basis-of-design report — No vote — Council member questioned scope of policy decisions on cost-sharing between City and Truckee Meadows Water Authority; needs clarification before approval.
Debated But Not Resolved
• Sewer capacity at Risworth treatment facility — Council members concerned about stacking multiple tentative maps (264 units approved today plus 37,000-38,000 gallons in other projects under review) against only 50,000 gallons newly allocated. First-come-first-serve policy means other projects could consume capacity before this one receives permission to build. Next step: Council requested detailed discussion on North Valley projects and priority list at future meeting.
• North Valley water allocation for growth — Disagreement over whether allocating 50,000 gallons daily from temporary emergency sewage capacity is responsible. One council member cited drought conditions and Nevada's historical water scarcity; others argued growth needs justify the allocation. Next step: North Valley/East water subcommittee will review; decision revisited in spring.
• Mental health crisis response funding — No operator identified for planned regional crisis intake facility. Regional meeting scheduled November 18 with county and Sparks may determine if funds get reallocated. Next step: Joint regional meeting; staff continues exploring proposals from MOST team and local nonprofits.
• Wild horse feeding and liability — Council member advocated providing food and water to wild horses beyond fencing; developer declined citing legal concerns about enticing horses. Next step: Vice Mayor requested staff develop standardized wild horse protection policies for code update, potentially next year.
What to Watch
• $1.5 million — Reallocation to homeless services (super shelter, social workers, mental health) — CARES Act funds
• $1.2 million — Business relief programs (expanded from original allocation) — CARES Act funds
• $250,000 — Food insecurity programs in North Valleys — CARES Act funds
• $250,000 — Student devices for digital divide during remote learning (Washoe County School District) — CARES Act funds
Sewer capacity crisis brewing — Two major housing projects (264 and 160 units) approved with only marginal sewer capacity headroom. Council promised "more detailed conversation" at next meeting on North Valley projects before more tentative maps get approved.
Regional homeless strategy unclear — November 18 joint meeting with county and Sparks will determine if $1.5 million super shelter concept proceeds or gets redirected. Mental health funding allocation still pending that outcome.
Water allocation under drought pressure — Swan Lake Committee must review North Valley sewage allocation before spring decision. Council member raised concerns about building permanent growth on temporary emergency capacity.
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