Special Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting - Budget Workshop
Monday, May 5, 2025
What Happened
The Redevelopment Agency Board and City Council held a joint budget workshop for fiscal year 2026, spanning multiple hours with votes on the general fund budget, RDA budgets, and fee schedules, plus extensive debate over parking enforcement, senior services funding, and capital project priorities.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — FY26 General Fund Budget ($321 million) with $9.5 million in one-time funds to balance shortfall — Unanimous — City will use property sales ($1M), fund balance ($2.6M), and other reserves to close budget gap.
APPROVED — Development Services appeal fee increase to $200 (not $500 as initially proposed) with fee waiver process for financial hardship — Unanimous — Reduces revenue impact to $4,000-$6,000 annually but addresses council concerns about access to government.
APPROVED — FY26 Redevelopment Agency budgets (RDA1 and RDA2) — Unanimous — RDA1 receives $4.6 million in new increment; RDA2 receives $10 million. Funds Fourth Street revitalization planning ($4.5M), historic rail depot improvements ($350K), and downtown parking operations.
APPROVED — Sewer connection fees increase of 2.5% (CPI adjustment) — Unanimous — Standard annual adjustment to utility fees.
APPROVED — Various parking, permit, and enforcement fees including special event fire permits ($1,250), flock surveillance trailer fee ($200 per event) — Unanimous — Multiple minor fee adjustments across departments.
Debated But Not Resolved
Parking enforcement staffing — Council Member Martinez advocated hiring 2 additional parking enforcement officers as revenue-positive; City Manager Bryant declined to commit without more analysis. Next: Staff to develop robust parking program proposal for council review.
Senior Advisory Board funding — Council Member Eert opposed $40,000 cut; Mayor offered to redirect Conference of Mayors funding ($15,000) as partial solution. Next: Staff to explore Washoe County partnership for county-funded senior services.
Boards and Commissions 90-day pause — Council split on whether traditional appointed boards or alternative engagement methods better serve 2025 community. Next: Review period through June 4 meeting with community outreach scheduled.
Nevada League of Cities/National League of Cities memberships — Debate over $15,000 cost versus grant opportunities and federal partnership access. Next: Decision pending further council discussion.
Virginia Lake restoration — District 5 has only $900K available but project needs $1.6-2 million. Next: Pursuing grant funding through congressional delegation; possible multi-year CDBG allocation.
Capital maintenance backlog — $800 million to $1 billion in deferred infrastructure needs across 10 years. Next: Fall workshop on street fund strategic plan and alternative reconstruction methods.
What to Watch
$2 million — CDBG funding for ADA improvements, pedestrian work, parking lots, fire station repairs — Community Development Block Grant
$192 million — Total Capital Improvement Plan including sewer ($16.5M), streets ($11.7M), water projects ($167.9M APWF), storm control ($1M) — SRF loans, grants, general revenue bonds
$1 million — Storm water projects and flood control — General fund
$1.8 million — RDA staffing and personnel — RDA budget
Advanced Purified Water Facility federal grants — $39 million in Department of Government Efficiency review with unknown timeline. Project scope and completion depend on grant approval.
Island 8 septic-to-sewer transition — Awaiting federal grant decision by end of September. Capital project timing contingent on funding.
RDA1 debt payoff strategy — Staff to clarify bond callability and reserve requirements before deciding whether $4.6M in RDA1 revenue can pay off $2.88M debt.
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