Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
What Happened
Reno City Council and Redevelopment Agency met on March 24, 2021, holding public hearings on a major Verdi development project and making decisions on street repairs, homeless services, banking contracts, and state legislative positions across roughly 20 action items.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Santara Quality Properties master plan amendment and zoning map changes allowing 1,164 acres in Verdi to be rezoned for mixed residential and commercial development — 5-2 vote — permits approximately 1,225 homes, $150,000 roadway improvements, $1,000 per-unit affordable housing contributions, and mandatory fire sprinklers
APPROVED — $3.66 million sewer line rehabilitation contract with Spanish Springs Construction for Reno Consolidated work — unanimous vote
APPROVED — $3 million surface treatment program for street maintenance citywide — unanimous vote
APPROVED — $1.4 million top deck recoding and repair contract at Tomaroph facility (split roughly two-thirds Reno, one-third Sparks) — unanimous vote
CONTINUED — JPMorgan Chase banking services and purchasing card contract — staff directed to analyze linkage policies and local bank competitiveness before final vote in two weeks; debate centered on whether Chase's gun violence policies should disqualify it despite better service terms
APPROVED — Phase 2 homeless services planning and Memorandum of Understanding framework with Washoe County and Sparks — direction to staff to develop MOU and explore subject matter expert consultant
APPROVED — Rosewood Lake Parks Foundation agreement for recreational development including trail loop and sports fields
APPROVED — $260,000 traffic signal maintenance contract extension for one year
Debated But Not Resolved
Garson Road overpass pedestrian safety — NDOT confirmed structure can handle traffic but lacks pedestrian width; no timeline given for reconstruction or retrofit — pending separate discussion with NDOT
Secondary access road timing — changed from trigger at 256th unit to first Certificate of Occupancy to improve fire response
Fire station construction funding — estimated $6 million cost; development contributions would provide $1,600 per residential unit but insufficient to build — city council will decide timing when funds accumulate
CAC property disposition — debate over selling Community Assistance Center to fund Nevada Cares Campus Phase 2; council directed staff to bring forward multiple options including partnership models before decision — impacts homeless services consolidation
Regional road responsibility — disagreement over whether Regional Transportation Commission should fund maintenance on collector roads with regional characteristics versus local roads deteriorating — unresolved policy question
What to Watch
$3,662,444 — sewer line rehabilitation — general fund
$3,000,000 — street surface treatment program — street fund
$1,400,000 — Tomaroph facility repairs (approximately $600,000 from Sparks) — facility operating budgets
$260,000 — traffic signal maintenance — general fund
JPMorgan Chase banking decision (April 7) — Council must resolve whether to reject bids and restart RFP with gun violence criteria as selection factor, or approve Chase despite concerns about their policies. Affects $19 million in city operating funds and establishes whether city uses financial leverage on social issues.
CAC sale and Phase 2 homeless services (April 9 deadline) — Staff returning with property disposition options and funding sources for $11 million Phase 2 comprehensive resource center. Determines whether Nevada Cares Campus expands and whether Community Assistance Center relocates or closes.
Verdi development conditions finalization — Council must formally approve tentative map, special use permits, and text amendment; Councilwomen Dewer and Brekhus raised concerns about fire protection adequacy, tree preservation, and infrastructure readiness that need documentation.
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