Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board

[Structural deficit] — Finance Director reported structural deficit fell from $5-7 million to $2.7 million through revenue growth and budget discipline. Council members questioned how to fix the remaining deficit while adding 20 new positions. No resolution.

[New positions without organizational plan] — Council expressed concern about adding roughly 20 positions across multiple departments without seeing overall organizational structure. Positions include ombudsperson, management analyst, park/river rangers, and others. Council wants to see how they fit together before approving.

[Ombudsperson independence] — Council debated whether the ombudsperson should report directly to the city manager (like the auditor) or be placed in community development. Question: How do you ensure independence while keeping institutional knowledge?

[CARES Act rollover funds] — Council asked where $6 million in unspent federal CARES Act money will go in the budget. Staff agreed to send final spending reconciliation to council.

[Forensics services] — City faces $2 million annual bill from Washoe County for forensics. Council questioned whether outsourcing lab work for ~$1 million makes more sense. No decision made.

[Sustainability code timeline] — Council member pushed for immediate implementation of low-hanging fruit (tree ordinance, EV charging requirements) rather than waiting for comprehensive sustainability code in 2023. Tree ordinance has been in development for 6-7 years.

[Strategic plan format] — Council member criticized slide deck presentation as insufficient and requested detailed narrative document with metrics and milestones before voting on implementation.

[Community engagement funding] — Council noted the city has not prioritized funding for community engagement despite listing it as a strategic priority. Question: How do you reach residents not active on social media?

[Title 18 rezoning sequence] — Council raised concern that rezonings are happening before neighborhood-scale reconciliation review begins. Staff indicated affected neighborhoods won't be addressed for a year.

[Nevada Cares Campus opening] — Shelter project delayed from April 30 to mid-May due to bathroom fixture supply chain issues from Texas freeze.

$262 million — FY2022 General Fund revenues (property taxes up 5.5%, sales taxes up 4.5%).

$91 million — Overall capital improvement plan (FY2022).

$5 million — Public safety center project (first year, from Pennington Foundation grant).

$9 million — Moana pool project (from Pennington Foundation grant).

$2.4 million — Event center debt fund transfer (sales tax, FY2022).

April 28 council meeting — Council will provide direction on which Title 18 amendments to prioritize. Staff has 16 identified cleanup items; more than can reasonably be done in one year.

Strategic plan implementation framework — Staff must deliver detailed work programs with timelines and funding by December 2021. This will clarify how all those new positions actually fit into operations.

Forensics services resolution — Council needs to decide whether to continue paying Washoe County $2 million annually or establish in-house services for roughly half that cost.