Reno City Council
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
What Happened
The Reno City Council met for a regular session, approving zoning changes, sewer infrastructure projects, and three new city ordinances while debating 24-hour bar operations and raising transparency concerns about how major construction projects are budgeted.
Key Decisions
[APPROVED] — Nevada Bell/ATT building redevelopment (Plum Lane Business Park) — 7-0 — The vacant Nevada Bell property will be rehabilitated as office and laboratory research space with parking improvements. No dollar amount from the city.
[APPROVED] — Booth Street Sewer Siphon design contract — unanimous — $350,000 design agreement approved. Construction estimated at $5–6 million in future budgets, serving older neighborhoods.
[APPROVED] — Warren Way rezoning from single-family to multifamily — unanimous — 0.65-acre site rezoned to allow 21 units per acre (up from 3) to align with the city's Reimagine Reno master plan.
[APPROVED] — Catalytic converter possession ordinance — unanimous — New ordinance RMC 8.10.110 prohibits possessing catalytic converters unless otherwise permitted.
[APPROVED] — Park ranger jurisdiction expansion — unanimous — Park ranger authority now includes all city trails, open spaces, and public property within 350 feet of Truckee River shoreline (previously parks only).
[APPROVED] — Ward boundaries redistricting — unanimous — City ward boundaries redrawn on official city map as required by city charter.
[CONTINUED] — 24-hour bar license on Virginia Street in Midtown — Staff to research whether the city can restrict hours through zoning or licensing conditions. Current code allows 24-hour operation.
[CONTINUED] — Reno Arts and Culture Commission appointments — Commission did not have time to consider applicants.
Debated But Not Resolved
24-hour bar operations — Council Member Breeckis worried about 24-hour bars in mixed residential areas. City Attorney said Title 18 zoning currently allows 24-hour operation as a property right. Council lacks authority to restrict hours at licensing stage. Staff will research if changes to Title 5 could provide that power.
Capital project budget transparency — Council Member asked staff to list major projects separately in the Capital Improvement Plan rather than bundling them under broad categories like "sewer collection systems." Makes it hard to track what money goes where.
Mobile home park protections near rezoning — Council Member Breakfast questioned whether rezoning adjacent land to industrial-commercial removes protections for the neighboring mobile home park. Staff said non-conforming uses have no special notification or setback requirements when nearby land is rezoned.
Area planning vs. piecemeal rezoning — Councilwoman objected to rezoning individual sites rather than planning entire neighborhoods at once. Staff indicated a city-initiated rezoning effort is underway for the broader area.
What to Watch
$350,000 — Booth Street Sewer Siphon design contract — FY22 sewer collection systems budget
$6,000 — Council member donations to Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation — Council member discretionary funds (matching grants up to $500,000 available through February)
24-hour bar licensing decision — Coming back to council (possibly December 8) after staff legal review. Question: Can the city restrict operating hours for bars in residential neighborhoods?
Sewer project consolidation — Staff agreed to coordinate multiple Lakeside-area sewer, neighborhood improvement, and drainage projects to minimize construction disruption. Timeline and funding plan forthcoming.
Capital budget transparency reform — Staff will review how major projects are presented in budget documents to make spending clearer to the public.
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