Reno City Council
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
What Happened
Reno City Council held a regular meeting on February 9, 2022, voting on zoning changes, property abandonments, transportation funding, and public restroom locations across roughly 20 items.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Regional Transportation Commission spending plan totaling $201 million from fuel tax revenues — Vote 5-2 — Funds road maintenance, traffic signals, bridge replacements (Keystone $47M, Sierra $29M), and other major projects, though two councilmembers opposed due to concerns about the decision-making process.
APPROVED — Rezone 256.3 acres from mixed-use suburban to industrial commercial (North Valley Commerce Center) — Unanimous — Aligns with 2017 master plan but reduces residential development land; Councilwoman Brekhus raised concerns about depleting housing-suitable land while 55,000 residential units remain unbuilt.
APPROVED — Abandon 100-foot section of Reno Vulcanizing alley — Vote 7-0 — Allows property consolidation and removal of overhead electric lines in downtown core; Councilwoman Brekhus expressed concern about loss of historic buildings but motion passed without conditions.
APPROVED — Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program amendment — Unanimous — Expands eligible projects to include indoor air quality and stormwater improvements; staff acknowledged no commercial entities have used the program yet.
APPROVED — Opioid settlement allocation guidelines — Unanimous — Restricts funds between $1 million and $2 million to treatment and addiction services only, with state reporting requirements.
CONTINUED — Downtown public restroom location — Unanimous direction to staff — Council directed staff to research downtown locations further and gather more public input within 60 days; John Champion Park location decision deferred to February 23 meeting.
Debated But Not Resolved
Residential land supply vs. zoning availability — Councilwoman Brekhus warned that rezoning mixed-use land to warehouse/distribution depletes residential land. Councilman Ruiz countered that 55,000 permitted units remain unbuilt, suggesting construction speed, not zoning, is the problem — No resolution.
Regional transportation priorities — Councilwoman raised concerns about disappeared projects (Verdi overpass, Forest Street cycle track) and questioned why 40 miles of industrial roads qualify for regional funding while residential roads don't — Staff offered to provide complete information but disagreement persists.
Decision-making transparency — Councilwoman advocated for greater City Council inclusion in transportation priorities before Regional Transportation Commission decisions, calling the current process "too insulated" — Two councilmembers voted no on the transportation plan; issue unresolved.
What to Watch
$201,000,000 — Regional Transportation Program of Projects — RTC fuel tax revenues
$47,000,000 — Keystone Avenue Bridge Replacement — Federal and RTC revenues
$29,000,000 — Sierra Street Bridge Replacement — Federal and RTC revenues
$25,600,000 — South Virginia Street Widening — Federal and RTC revenues
$21,800,000 — Pembroke Drive Capacity Improvements — Federal and RTC revenues
$14,000,000 — Roadway Rehabilitation — RTC fuel tax revenues
$6,500,000 — Preventative Maintenance — RTC fuel tax revenues
$6,500,000 — Traffic Signal Improvements — RTC fuel tax revenues
Downtown restroom location (returning Feb 23) — Council will vote on John Champion Park via interlocal agreement after staff completes research on downtown alternatives. Public input will shape the final choice.
Industrial road funding eligibility — Councilman Breckis questioned why industrial roads receive regional transportation funds while residential roads don't. Staff promised comprehensive information but disagreement continues.
Specific transportation project status — Councilwoman waiting on answers about disappeared projects (Verdi overpass, Forest Street cycle track) and bridge phasing that weren't directly addressed.
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