Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
What Happened
Reno City Council met on February 12, 2025, for a regular session with roughly 30 items including zoning changes, grant approvals, and board appointments.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Transfer $1.5 million in accumulated Special Assessment District funds to general fund to offset FY 26 budget deficit — Unanimous — City will use overpayments from closed districts that were never refunded to property owners.
APPROVED — Police grants: $211,000 interlocal law enforcement grant (shared with Washo County and Sparks) and $44,000 breaching equipment grant — Vote count not recorded — Funding comes from state grant and Nevada Department of Public Safety.
APPROVED — Zoning map amendment for Security Circle: rezone 2.2 acres from mixed-use suburban to mixed employment — 7-0 — Allows employment-focused development on northeast corner of North Virginia Street and Security Circle.
APPROVED — Zoning map amendment for Orrest Drive: rezone 1.18 acres from large lot residential to mixed employment — 7-0 — Enables employment development on north side of Orrest Drive.
APPROVED — Zoning map amendment for Reno Housing Authority at Carville: rezone 0.75 acres from 14 to 30 units per acre for multifamily residential — 7-0 — Increases housing density on northeast corner of Sutro Street and Carville Drive.
APPROVED — Fire department fuel mitigation grant for dumpster resources — Vote count not recorded — Residents in Reno, Sparks, and Tahoe-Reno area can access dumpsters for vegetation removal.
APPROVED — Multiple board and commission appointments including 9 members to Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board — Votes not recorded — Board will review capital improvement projects, tax increment financing applications, and restoration grants.
Debated But Not Resolved
Grand Sierra flood mitigation cost-share — Council member questioned whether city's $2.5 million contribution is still necessary given Grand Sierra's $1 billion development plans; staff said amount was negotiated as city's required share — Staff to continue working with developer.
Rock McCarron park and flood storage — Council members concerned that $64 million of $65 million budget would fund levees and meandering with only $1 million for actual recreational amenities like ball fields — Board to make final allocation decisions on recreation elements.
Mill McCarron (The Meadows) recreation scope — Unclear whether project will include full park amenities or only leveled fields; council skeptical of optimistic 5-year completion timeline given permitting delays on similar projects — Board must determine extent of recreation development.
Flood project voting structure — Council member noted voting rules changed from supermajority to majority (4 of 6 votes) but recent resolutions require supermajority (5 of 6); wants clarity on what applies to budget and project adoption — Staff to review voting structure requirements.
What to Watch
$1.5 million — Special Assessment District excess funds transferred to general fund — From closed SADs (overpayments never refunded to property owners).
$211,000 — Police interlocal law enforcement grant — Nevada grant shared with Washo County and Sparks.
$44,000 — Police breaching equipment — Nevada Department of Public Safety grant.
Pembrook Fields flooding and containment — Staff to determine whether park fields will become flood overflow containment area and report back to council.
Wells Street Bridge/underbridge project — Council member to work with Sparks, Washo County, and staff to advance prioritization; currently on mapbook but not active capital improvements list.
900 Western Road zoning amendment (SF3 to SF8) — Ordinance introduction sent to word for final reading; council will decide on allowing duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and conditional-use multifamily on this 0.83-acre site.
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