Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
What Happened
City council met for a full agenda including $28 million in pandemic relief spending, two development appeals, and ongoing disputes over bonding capacity and neighborhood compatibility. Meeting lasted multiple hours across evening and later sessions.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — $26.672 million in remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated across parks ($10M), affordable housing ($1.3M), healthcare ($5M for Neil Road facility), downtown improvements ($2M), Lear Theater assessment ($1M), and community programs — funding source: federal ARPA SLFRF funds.
APPROVED — $1.47 million reallocation of ARPA funds to balance previously approved projects, including redirecting $6 million originally reserved for Reno Housing Authority Bonanza project (which failed) to other uses — one councilmember voted no.
APPROVED — $1 million for park restroom upgrades at four city parks to replace seasonal CMU units with year-round ADA-accessible facilities — funding source: HUD Economic Development Initiative grant.
APPROVED — $823,300 in consulting contracts ($419,000 to DAO for demolition design; $404,300 to TSK for fire station design) for preliminary work on new Fire Department Central Station — funding source: existing $2M general obligation bond.
REJECTED — 4-3 vote to deny conditional use permit for five-unit condominium project on MF-14 zoned lot; council found non-compliance with Title 18 height, story count, and solar shading requirements despite Planning Commission approval.
APPROVED — Street acceptance for two phases of Silver Dollar State residential subdivision in North Valley; city assumes maintenance responsibility.
APPROVED — Revocation of authority to issue $36.86 million in local improvement bonds for failed Stonegate 2021 special assessment district — unanimous vote.
CONTINUED — Reno Tennis Center $2.3 million funding allocation (vote pending); debate unresolved between tennis and pickleball community demands.
CONTINUED — Item G3: Reno Housing Authority commissioner appointment deferred to April 12 meeting.
Debated But Not Resolved
Bonding capacity and downtown disinvestment — Councilmember concerned city cannot absorb additional general obligation debt for Fire Department Central Station (~$60M preliminary estimate); others defended AA- credit rating and balanced budget. Finance director has not completed bonding analysis. Approved anyway pending design completion.
Time allocation for major spending — Councilmember argued seven minutes per member insufficient for $28 million ARPA decision; council moved item for more discussion but did not change voting structure.
Neil Road facility expansion transparency — Councilmember requested documentation of $5 million Community Health Alliance facility expansion; staff described as infrastructure investment rather than direct nonprofit funding. No written proposal submitted during public process. Motion passed despite opposition.
LDC23-00018 North Valley apartment (192 units) — Mike Burke appealed Planning Commission approval; raised concerns about traffic impacts, inadequate buffering from single-family homes, 7,375 cubic yards of grading, and Swan Lake stormwater runoff. Staff and applicant defended regional traffic analysis and zoning compliance. Council acknowledged parks and stormwater infrastructure deficiencies but deferred to staff for future policy. Vote recorded as approved despite documented concerns.
Central Station demolition timing — Should city demolish police headquarters before replacement funding secured? Councilmember wanted phasing tied to building permit. Police will not vacate until summer 2024; demolition deferred until after.
What to Watch
$26,672,000 — ARPA fund allocation across multiple priorities — ARPA SLFRF
$1,470,000 — Reallocation to balance previously approved projects — ARPA SLFRF
$1,000,000 — Park restroom year-round ADA upgrades at four parks — HUD EDA grant
$823,300 — Fire station demolition and architectural design consulting — General obligation bond
$500,000 — Virginia Range horse fencing infrastructure — ARPA SLFRF
$500,000 — City Hall ADA accessibility improvements — ARPA SLFRF
Reno Tennis Center funding vote — $2.3 million decision between tennis court repair and pickleball expansion pending; council has not yet heard full presentation or voted. Affects court access for both sports.
Fire Department Central Station financing — Council approved $823K for design work but deferred $60M total project financing decision. Finance director must complete bonding capacity analysis; councilmember stated she will not support additional bonds without 10-year cost projections.
Settlement funds allocation framework — City Manager to convene discussion with Washoe County within three months on how to spend Walmart opioid litigation settlement funds; decision on standalone city programs versus joint approach pending.
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