Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
What Happened
The Redevelopment Agency and City Council met in joint session, addressing a $3.5 million police building demolition, a $1 billion Grand Sierra Resort arena project proposal with potential tax-increment financing, a data center use permit appeal, and routine items spanning public art, transportation, and board appointments.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Demolition of old police station at 455 East 2nd Street — Unanimous — $3.5 million contract to Core West; clears downtown blighted site for Central Station fire station.
APPROVED — Downtown Reno Partnership FY 2026 operating plan and assessment rate — 7-0 — Authorizes business improvement district budget and property owner assessments for downtown services.
APPROVED — Opidan data center conditional use permit — Unanimous with conditions — 5-megawatt facility on North Valleys site approved despite Planning Commission denial; requires solar installation, native vegetation, water cooling system, and noise mitigation on adjacent mobile home community.
APPROVED — City Public Art Master Plan — Unanimous — Five-year strategic plan adopted with new coordinator position and task force; no budget increase requested.
CONTINUED — Sewer Credit Expiration Ordinance (first reading) — 4-2 — Would extend developer fee credit deadlines indefinitely; Council Member Duer requested staff briefing before second reading.
APPROVED — Fire regionalization bill support — 7-0 — Council directed support for Senator Dario's bill studying consolidation of fire services across Washoe County, Sparks, and Reno.
APPROVED — Multiple board appointments — Unanimous — Five members appointed to KNOB; ten to Ward Five Advisory Board; four to Ward Six Advisory Board; three reappointments confirmed.
APPROVED — $1.23 million HUD older adult home modification grant — Unanimous — Federal funding for three-year program serving seniors in Reno.
Debated But Not Resolved
Grand Sierra Resort arena TIF financing — Council questioned whether $89 million tax-increment subsidy is appropriate; whether project meets "blight" threshold for Redevelopment Agency funding; how much risk the city should absorb. Council directed staff to hire consultant firm Hunden Partners to complete financial feasibility analysis (the "but-for test") and return with gap analysis and deal terms within 6 weeks.
Data center regulatory framework — Council members split on whether to establish comprehensive code standards for all future data centers or approve projects case-by-case via conditional use permits. Mayor and Council requested joint meeting with Planning Commission to develop benchmarks before approving additional projects.
Sewer credit expiration policy — Council Member Duer opposed removing expiration dates on developer fee credits without full discussion, preferring one-off development agreements per project. Others noted the fee runs perpetually in other cities.
Police services downtown — Council questioned why supplemental police funding was cut; Downtown Partnership explained pivot to security guards instead, noting increased police presence despite no new funding.
Nevada Master Plan status — Public commenter and city staff disagreed on whether state law makes the Master Plan mandatory or advisory in land use decisions. Vice Mayor directed staff to follow up with commenter.
What to Watch
$3,534,997 — Police building demolition — Redevelopment Agency (blight funding)
$1,230,000 — Older adult home modification program — Federal HUD grant
$350 million — Projected new property tax from GSR arena (30-year estimate) — Private development generating new tax base
Grand Sierra Resort TIF decision (April-May): Consultant analysis due in 6 weeks. Council will decide whether to approve subsidy up to $89 million and what community benefits (fire station, parks, housing) to require.
Data center policy framework (coming weeks): Joint Planning Commission/Council meeting to establish whether future data centers need code standards on water use, energy efficiency, and employment impact before approving more projects.
Sewer credit ordinance second reading: Council Member Duer wants full briefing before final vote on whether to extend developer incentive indefinitely.
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