Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
What Happened
The Reno City Council met for a full agenda including development approvals, budget allocations, labor agreements, and public art selection. The meeting lasted multiple hours and covered roughly 40 agenda items with significant debate over wild horse fencing funding and housing development priorities.
Key Decisions
[APPROVED] — Emergency wild horse fencing (South Reno, Wards 2-3) — vote count not recorded — $315,000 from ARPA funds; city approved full funding after debate over whether horses or housing should be prioritized; project aims to prevent vehicle-horse collisions and deaths along roadways.
[APPROVED] — Jackie Bryant appointed interim city manager — vote count not recorded — effective July 8, 2024, at same salary rate as departing city manager; fills vacancy during required 6-month replacement timeline.
[APPROVED] — Reno Event Center outdoor video board replacement — Breuss voted against — $350,000 from Capital Project Search Charge fund; Breuss opposed citing lack of council-set downtown investment priorities.
[APPROVED] — 43-unit residential annexation (Canyons Edge development) — vote count not recorded — mixed zoning with 18 acres single-family homes and 63 acres parks/open space on 81.81 acres near Claim Jumper Way; fiscal analysis shows approximately $1 million burden to city.
[APPROVED] — Hazardous and e-waste cleanup funding — 6-1 vote — $50,000 allocated; one member opposed citing contingency funds should remain for emergencies, not social services.
[APPROVED] — Emergency Food and Shelter Program — vote count not recorded — $50,000 federal funding plus $50,000 match from United Healthcare; program provided deposits and rental assistance to 37 households last year.
[APPROVED] — Three-year police labor agreements for captains, lieutenants, and sergeants — vote count not recorded — includes 4% year-one raise, deferred compensation, shift differential, and POST certification pay.
[APPROVED] — Sewer connection fee deferral — vote count not recorded — $72,000 deferred for 180 days for ECI Riviera 2 LLC (62-unit residential building); supports housing development facing pandemic-era supply chain delays.
Debated But Not Resolved
Wild horse fencing vs. rapid rehousing — Council disagreed over whether emergency horse fencing ($315,000) or rapid housing assistance ($200,000) should be top priority; one member called horse fencing a "do or die" public safety issue while others argued city's housing crisis deserves equal urgency; council deferred full rapid rehousing funding to revisit in October.
Hazardous waste cleanup program sustainability — Members debated whether contingency funds should cover cleanup services or if funding should shift to individual council discretionary allocations; staff approved phased approach with $50,000 now and future decisions pending new staff hiring.
Redevelopment Agency reactivation process — Council directed staff to conduct transparent, public-inclusive process rather than pre-decided plans; specific timeline and public process framework not yet established.
Vacant building ordinance — Council member requested ordinance to address downtown blight; staff indicated Nevada law constraints may prevent Reno from matching other states' approaches; no timeline provided.
What to Watch
$315,000 — Emergency wild horse fencing (Phase 2 expansion) — ARPA funds
$350,000 — Reno Event Center video board replacement — Capital Project Search Charge fund
$72,000 — Sewer connection fee deferral (ECI Riviera 2 LLC) — Blended Sewer Utility Fund
$100,000 — Police cold case investigations — contingency allocation
$50,000 — Emergency Food and Shelter Program match — United Healthcare
Interim city manager salary finalization — Jackie Bryant salary not yet formally set; pay equity concerns raised during debate about whether her compensation should equal departing male manager's salary or reduced amount.
Rapid rehousing program full funding in October — Council committed to revisiting housing assistance allocation; currently underfunded at $100,000; watch for council to determine if ARPA money becomes available.
Downtown Redevelopment Agency reactivation framework — Staff to bring forward transparent public process outline; determines how city will fund infrastructure improvements once agency returns to positive budget position in 12-18 months.
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