Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
What Happened
The Reno City Council held a regular meeting lasting several hours, voting on 20+ items including zoning code amendments, appointments, business licenses, and major construction projects.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — $9 million grant from William N. Pennington Foundation for Moana Springs Aquatic and Fitness Center construction — 5-0 — New community pool and fitness facility on West Moana Lane with naming honoring the Pennington Foundation.
APPROVED — $45 million General Obligation Sewer Bonds for sewerage infrastructure projects — 4-1 (Brekhus opposed) — Funds capital improvements to city sewer systems.
APPROVED — $5 million Fleet Buy Program for city vehicles and equipment — 5-0 — Covers vehicle purchases and outfitting from Fleet Management Fund.
APPROVED — Cannabis ordinance amendments including 500-foot setback from rehabilitation facilities, 2,500-foot dispensary spacing requirement, and 1,500-foot distance from gaming establishments — 5-0 — Prevents cannabis cluster locations and aligns with state law.
APPROVED — Packaged alcohol regulations allowing restaurants, bars, and microbreweries to get licenses through minor conditional use permits instead of full permits — 5-0 — Streamlines approval for accessory alcohol sales.
APPROVED — Live entertainment standards requiring full conditional use permit for operations after 11 p.m. in residential areas — 4-1 (Taylor opposed) — Establishes stricter oversight for late-night entertainment venues.
APPROVED — Adult business zoning locational criteria requiring 750-foot distance from schools and playgrounds in mixed employment zones — 4-0 (Schieve absent) — Closes gap in existing code.
APPROVED — Four finalists for Ward 3 City Council vacancy: Kyle Edgerton, Miguel Martinez, Courtney McKinney, Sean Savoy — 5-0 — Advances to public interviews from 19 applicants.
APPROVED — Devon Reese appointed to Washoe County District Board of Health — 5-0.
APPROVED — Christopher Svendsen appointed to Civil Service Commission — 5-0.
APPROVED — Belleville Wine Bar on-premises wine and beer license — 5-0.
APPROVED — $356,400 Dick Taylor Park Tennis and Pickleball Courts project contract — 5-0 — CDBG-funded demolition, reconstruction, new fencing; completion by spring 2023.
APPROVED — $201,762 U.S. Department of Justice grant for Reno Police Department (no local match required) — 5-0 — Funds law enforcement training, equipment, and supplies.
APPROVED — Title 18 zoning code amendments (cannabis, alcohol, entertainment, adult business) referred for second reading — 5-0 — Moves comprehensive code revisions to final adoption stage.
Debated But Not Resolved
Live entertainment after 11 p.m. enforcement — Councilmember Taylor argued for minor conditional use permits; Code Enforcement stated late-night entertainment requires stricter conditional use permit oversight — Issue resolved 4-1 with Taylor dissenting; City will implement conditional use permit requirement.
Cabaret license fee necessity — Council questioned whether $130-per-license fee is justified and discussed elimination — Directed city manager to research total revenue generated and report back.
Assessment district reapportionment process — Question whether routine reapportionments should require council approval or be delegated to finance director — Staff directed to develop ordinance delegation option.
What to Watch
$9,000,000 — Moana Springs Aquatic and Fitness Center construction grant — William N. Pennington Foundation
$5,000,000 — Fleet Buy Program vehicles and equipment — Fleet Management Fund
$4,713,463 — Dry Creek Restoration Project contract — Sewer Fund
$45,000,000 — General Obligation Sewer Bonds — Sewer Fund
$400,000 — Employee physical exams through ARC Health and Wellness — Workers' Compensation Fund
$356,400 — Dick Taylor Park Tennis/Pickleball Courts — CDBG Funds
$281,684 — Dry Creek Restoration engineering services — Sewer Fund
$201,762 — Police Department justice grant — U.S. Department of Justice
Second reading of Title 18 zoning amendments (cannabis, alcohol, entertainment, adult business) — Set for future meeting; final adoption vote pending after completion of first reading.
Ward 3 Council appointment — Four finalists will participate in public meet-and-greets and interviews before council votes to fill vacant seat.
Cabaret license fee review — City manager to report back on revenue generated and fee elimination options.
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