Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
What Happened
Reno City Council met for roughly 4 hours and made decisions on 20+ items including affordable housing development, railroad safety rules, police labor contracts, and redevelopment agency spending framework.
Key Decisions
[REJECTED] — Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Ulysses Development Group for 315-335 Record Street affordable housing project — 4-3 vote — City will not pursue exclusive talks with Ulysses; staff may pursue Baxter agreement instead. Ulysses proposed $3.4 million seller's note financing (subordinate to developer fees) for 136 units at 60% area median income. Council rejected due to financing risk concerns.
[APPROVED] — Reno Redevelopment Agency participation program and application process — vote count not recorded — Creates formal framework for private developers to apply for RDA funding instead of ad-hoc letters of interest. Establishes Advisory Board to evaluate projects. Projected $413 million in RDA tax increment funding available over life of both districts.
[APPROVED] — Police union labor contract (RPPA) — vote count not recorded except Breus opposed — Three-year contract costs city $3.7 million year one, $7.3 million year two, $12.2 million year three. Includes 5% annual raises, step increases, and deferred compensation match boost from $20 to 2% per pay period.
[APPROVED] — Union Pacific Railroad trespassing ordinance — vote count not recorded — Allows police to enforce trespassing on railroad tracks without posted signs; uses tracks themselves as landmarks. Gives enforcement tools for encampment removal near active rail.
[APPROVED] — Fire station exhaust removal systems grant — vote count not recorded — $790,000 grant for equipment replacement across fire stations to improve worker safety. May not cover all 14 stations; remainder subject to bid process.
[APPROVED] — Regional Road Impact Fee Offset Agreement with Lemon Drive Villa Properties — unanimous vote — City reimburses $346,365 for traffic signal and street improvements at Lemon Drive and Vista Parkway intersection.
[APPROVED] — Reno Way Street Acceptance — vote count not recorded — City accepts street constructed by Village South Apartment project (2015-2018).
[APPROVED] — Mobile home park zoning amendment — unanimous vote — Rezones 3.48 acres near West Second Street from commercial/industrial to mixed employment and multifamily residential (21 units per acre).
Debated But Not Resolved
Affordable housing financing options — Council split on whether city should carry $3.4 million seller's note subordinate to developer fees versus supporting alternative proposals with different financial structures. Baxter Construction proposal ($600,000 offer) also under consideration. Next step: Staff directed to negotiate with Baxter on terms and return proposal; developers may reconsider proposals under new RDA framework.
RDA spending authority and plan amendments — Council member Braus argued opening administrative application process for up to $500 million in funding constitutes material deviation requiring formal plan amendment under Nevada law. Other members said any actual spending requires council approval. Next step: Staff to bring back status report on past RDA projects with financial details before full RDA commitment.
Business License Code scope — Multiple business owners and council members said proposed revision far exceeds "cleanup" intent, adding hundreds of new pages of regulations rather than modernizing outdated language. Staff defended modernization necessity. Next step: Council rejected proposal; staff directed to redraft with narrower scope aligned with original five objectives.
Sewer infrastructure equity — Council member raised concern about committing resources to Sky Tavern sewer connection while 2,500+ residents in residential areas lack sewer and have failing septic tanks for 12+ years. Next step: Sewer fund reanalysis scheduled January 2025; legislative funding options to follow.
What to Watch
$790,000 — Fire station exhaust removal systems replacement — Grant (source not specified)
$346,365 — Traffic signal and street improvements (Lemon Drive/Vista Parkway) — RTC and City offset agreement
Baxter Construction negotiation timeline (return by September) — Council directed staff to negotiate purchase price, affordability period length, and other terms on Baxter's $600,000 proposal, then return final deal before ratification. This becomes the primary path if Ulysses deal doesn't proceed.
Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board composition and bylaws — Council wants detailed expertise requirements (commercial real estate, finance, legal, equity focus) and may limit to quarterly application reviews rather than rolling basis. Board structure still under development.
RDA status report on past projects — Staff must compile financial commitments, outcomes, and outstanding debt from previous redevelopment initiatives before council fully commits to new spending framework.
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