Reno City Council
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
What Happened
City Council voted on 30+ items including infrastructure spending, housing grants, flood settlement approval, and zoning changes in a roughly 4-hour meeting.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — $4.5 million settlement for 27 federal and district court cases from 2017 flood damage — 7-0 — Resolves lawsuits but one resident stated the amount was insufficient given 75% increase in building costs since original 2019 offer.
APPROVED — $500,000 sewer study and standardized connection process within McCarran ring — 7-0 — Will streamline how developers connect to sewers and improve infrastructure planning for infill projects.
APPROVED — $953,797 Community Development Block Grant for shelter operations — Unanimous — Federal funds allocated to cover increased costs from social distancing requirements at shelter facilities.
APPROVED — $2.797 million Downtown Reno Business Improvement District assessment levy — 7-0 — Collects property assessments from downtown properties to fund BID services including street cleaning and ambassadors.
APPROVED — Ordinance 6594 changing monthly financial reports to quarterly — 6-1 — Council will now receive financial reports every three months instead of monthly.
APPROVED — Rezone 30.24 acres west of US Route and south of West Court from mixed-use to mixed employment — 7-0 — Allows different types of commercial and office development on this land.
CONTINUED TO MAY 26 — Zoning intensity proposal (MF30 residential) — Staff will reevaluate whether it matches the city master plan before bringing back to council.
Debated But Not Resolved
Motel-based homeless housing versus shelter funding — Council member wanted to use federal money to acquire motels as transitional housing; another council member argued existing CDBG funds should go to CARES Campus shelter as previously decided — Mayor requested joint meeting with Housing Authority to review what federal funding actually allows.
$500,000 in remaining American Rescue Plan funds — Council divided on whether to restore special events budget (~$360,000) or give $72,000 to each council member as discretionary spending — Special Events Committee meets May 20 at 2:30 p.m. before council decides.
American Flats farm irrigation project — Council member questioned whether using potable water contradicts original plan to de-water Swan Lake — Item carries over from previous meeting pending staff explanation.
What to Watch
$4,500,000 — 2017 flood lawsuit settlement — Settlement of federal and district court cases
$953,797 — Shelter operations — State Community Development Block Grant
$2,797,465 — Downtown Reno Business Improvement District services — Downtown property assessments
$500,000 — Sewer study and standardized connections — Unspecified city funds
May 20 Special Events Committee meeting — Will evaluate impact on Hot August Nights, Reno Air Races, and other events before council votes on spending $500,000 in federal recovery funds.
May 26 zoning hearing (Item C4) — Staff will present new analysis on whether proposed MF30 residential zoning matches the city's master plan.
Joint housing meeting — Mayor will convene council, Housing Authority, and city staff to discuss what federal rules allow for homeless housing programs and whether motel acquisition is feasible.
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