Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
What Happened
The council approved the fiscal year 2023-24 budget, issued $165 million in bonds for UNR's new business building, and updated street racing spectator laws. The meeting lasted several hours and included 20+ votes.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Fiscal Year 2023-24 city budget ($862 million total) — 6-1 vote — Establishes spending authority for all city operations; general fund is $320 million, funded primarily by property and consolidated taxes. One council member voted no, citing need for more disciplined budgeting ahead of potential economic downturn.
APPROVED — Lease revenue bonds for UNR College of Business ($165 million) — vote count not recorded — Allows university to design, develop, and construct new business building with no liability to the city.
APPROVED — General Obligation Refunding Bonds Series 2023 ($28 million) — unanimous — City refinances existing bonds maturing in 2032 through Wells Fargo; approval valid through November 2023.
APPROVED — Temporary license agreement with Latino Art in Cultura — 7-0 vote — Allows organization to use Paradise Park facilities for cultural programming and theater productions; staff to work out details on office space and storage.
APPROVED — Ordinance 6654: Shepherd of the Mountains rezoning (2.06 acres) — unanimous — Land rezoned from Single Family Residential to Public Facilities on northeast corner of Lakeside Drive and West Peckham Lane.
APPROVED — Spectator ordinance at illegal sideshows (Ordinance F4) — unanimous — Makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly attend unpermitted vehicle race or exhibition as a spectator.
APPROVED — Police impact fee updates — vote count not recorded — Maintains fee mechanism to fund police infrastructure; 18% of costs apply only to new construction.
Debated But Not Resolved
OPEB funding strategy — Council disagreed whether to maintain $4 million annual Other Post-Employment Benefits funding or reduce to $2 million to fund 14 new public safety and parks positions. Option 1 funds OPEB fully by 2033; Option 2 extends timeline to 2038 — Next step: Council will decide which scenario to adopt.
Sideshow spectator ordinance definition — Concern raised that "spectator" language is too broad and could criminalize innocent bystanders, particularly young people of color. Proposal to add "criminal intent" language rejected. — Next step: Police chief to provide enforcement clarification before adoption vote.
Solar permit fees — Public commenter argued Reno's fees ($300-$900) discriminate against solar compared to standard electrical permits ($40-$80). Staff committed to evaluating flat-rate structure. — Next step: Staff to bring revised fee schedule to first budget amendment or next year's budget.
Paradise Park office space — Council member concerned about displacing 7-year staff member; requested balance between Latino Arte's needs and senior programming expansion. — Next step: Staff to negotiate details.
What to Watch
$862,000,000 — Total FY 23-24 city budget — General Fund, Sewer Fund, Street Fund, Internal Service Funds
$165,000,000 — UNR College of Business building — Lease revenue bonds
$320,000,000 — General Fund operating budget — Property and consolidated taxes (60% of revenue)
$156,000,000 — Capital improvements FY 24 — Multiple funds
$180,000,000 — Public Safety (police, fire, dispatch) — General Fund and other sources
$271,000,000 — Public Works, maintenance, operations, utilities — General Fund and other sources
$28,000,000 — Refunding bonds Series 2023 — Bond refinancing
OPEB decision — Council must choose between two funding scenarios by next meeting. This determines whether $1.5 million goes to new police and parks positions or to retiree health care obligations.
Sideshow ordinance enforcement — Police chief must clarify how officers will distinguish intentional spectators from bystanders to address racial bias concerns before final vote.
Paradise Park Master Plan — City Manager to provide timeline update. Council wants full park plan completed before locking in programming agreements.
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