Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
What Happened
The Reno City Council met for approximately seven hours and voted on zoning changes, labor agreements, development permits, and ordinances while debating charter school expansion and business licensing standards.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Labor agreements for four city employee groups (Administrative Professional and Local 39 unions) with 3% annual salary increases over two to three years — Unanimous — Year 1 cost: $9.2 million from general fund
APPROVED — Ordinance 679: Annex 8,181 acres near Claim J Way and Mine Drive — Unanimous — Expands city jurisdiction over unincorporated land
APPROVED — Ordinance 680: Rezone annexed 8,181 acres to Plan Unit Development (Val Estates) — Unanimous — Enables planned development on annexed property
APPROVED — Lift station upgrades at Huffaker and Lakeridge from sewer/water fund — Eliminates worker confined-space entry requirement 20 feet underground
APPROVED — Interlocal agreement with Truckee River Flood Management Authority for park ranger program — $200,000 covers 20% of salary and benefits for fiscal year 25
APPROVED — Language access plan establishing city services for non-English speakers — Improves equitable access to city programs
APPROVED — Ordinance creating safety buffer zones along railroad property to prevent trespassing and vandalism — Addresses $25,000 in recent vandalism damage
APPROVED — Nevada Community Aquatics donation for Moana pool scoreboard and timing clocks — $25,000 from community fund
CONTINUED — Matter Academy K-12 charter school conditional use permit appeal — 3-3 tie vote — Returns to July 31 meeting for full council vote after additional hearing rounds
CONTINUED — 17 business liquor license renewals with SafeScape compliance review (Items B11-B27) to July 31 meeting — Staff to clarify how calls-for-service data integrates with safety standards before council votes
Debated But Not Resolved
NV Energy rate increase — Public opposed proposed jump in base service charge from $16 to $45 monthly, citing harm to low-income residents and solar industry. Council member Duran wants resolution on council agenda before PUC hearing August 12 — Mayor will place item on next agenda.
Special events fees — Hot August Nights parade cancelled due to $220,000 city fee increase. Council acknowledged fee structure is problematic but wants to study issue properly — Special meeting scheduled for September/October to review and adjust fees.
Charter school expansion traffic impacts — School District and residents raised concerns about 1,500-student campus on 10 acres creating gridlock on North Hills Road. Traffic engineer says impacts are minimal; opponents want broader road network analysis — Council vote pending on zoning compliance.
Comprehensive code enforcement approach — Council members want all city code departments consulted before approving business licenses, not just SafeScape checklist. City Attorney says this requires coordination — Staff to consider comprehensive review process.
What to Watch
$9.2 million — Year 1 cost of four labor agreements — General fund
$200,000 — Park ranger program contribution — Truckee River Flood Management Authority
$269,000 — Administrative Professional Group year 1 salary increases — General fund
$156,000,000 — Solar installation award (informational; not city funded) — Nevada Clean Energy Fund
Matter Academy Charter School vote (July 31) — Council tied 3-3 on administrator's approval of K-12 campus in North Valley. Full council vote pending on whether zoning split and traffic impacts meet code requirements. Affects school choice versus public school enrollment.
Business licensing standards (July 31) — Council will decide how to measure problem businesses. Currently split between SafeScape safety checklist (passed) and calls-for-service data (debated). Decision affects which downtown liquor stores keep licenses.
NV Energy rate resolution (August) — Council will vote on opposing or accepting utility's proposal to triple base service charge before Public Utilities Commission final hearing August 12.
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