Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
What Happened
City Council held a regular meeting lasting several hours where members approved $3.4 million in annual insurance renewals, rejected one gaming license application, and heard extensive public testimony about the vacant Community Assistance Center building.
Key Decisions
[APPROVED] — Annual insurance policy renewal for October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 — 7-0 — $3.4 million total cost. Includes new cyber liability coverage. Adds $200,000 in unbudgeted costs due to Community Assistance Center vacancy.
[APPROVED] — Slot machine gaming license for indoor soccer facility — Unanimous — Allows up to 4 gaming machines with operating hours 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
[APPROVED] — Police Department ammunition purchase from Salt Lake Wholesale Sports — Unanimous — Cost not specified. Council member raised concern that three invoice items could not be verified against pricing documentation.
[APPROVED] — Zoning change for 0.65-acre property on north side of Western Road — Changes zoning from single-family (8 units per acre) to mixed-use development.
[APPROVED] — Submission of federal Community Development Block Grant report (CAPER) to Housing and Urban Development — Requires city council discussion of Community Assistance Center future use in Q4 2023.
[APPROVED] — Investment policy for City and Redevelopment Agency — 7-0 — Council emphasized need for monthly investment reports sent to council members.
Debated But Not Resolved
Community Assistance Center future — Building currently vacant with $2.75 million in estimated repairs needed. Public commenters demanded immediate reopening for homeless services. Council members split on whether to repair/reopen or sell to outside operator. Decision deferred to Q4 2023 council meeting.
Insurance claims on Community Assistance Center — Public commenter raised concern that city has not filed property damage claims for mold and water damage before October 1 deadline, when deductible increases from $50,000 to $150,000. City management stated property insurance covers catastrophic events, not maintenance failure.
Federal homeless services performance — CAPER report shows city severely missed federal goals: rental assistance at 4.5% of target, homelessness prevention at 3.55% of target, overnight shelters at 50% of target. Council questioned discrepancy between reporting building as operational to federal government versus unsafe to public.
Pedestrian crosswalk law — Council member raised concern that Nevada law requires pedestrians to enter roadway to trigger driver stop obligations, creating unsafe standoff at school crossings where children wait on sidewalk.
What to Watch
$3,400,000 — Annual insurance renewal (property, liability, auto, cyber) — General fund
$3,300,000 — Prior-year insurance premiums — Risk fund
$4,800,000 — Parks improvements (playgrounds, courts, accessible facilities) — CDBG grant
$1,600,000 — Affordable housing projects (approximately 650 units) — HOME grant
$929,000 — Rental and deposit assistance program — Emergency Solutions Grant
Community Assistance Center decision (Q4 2023) — Council will decide whether to repair and reopen the vacant homeless services building, sell it, or pursue developer partnership. Issue involves $2.75 million in repairs, $500,000 annual maintenance costs, and $200,000 in extra insurance premiums.
Insurance claim deadline (October 1, 2023) — Property damage deductible triples from $50,000 to $150,000 in three days. Unclear if city will file claims for mold and water damage.
CAPER report revision — City must submit federal grant performance report by Friday, but council requested language clarifying Community Assistance Center was vacant during reporting period.
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