Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
What Happened
The Redevelopment Agency Board met for roughly 6 hours, approving 11 ordinances and resolutions, greenlighting $2.9 million in tax financing for a downtown rental project, and deferring decisions on three city-owned properties pending a new sales process.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — $2.9 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) at 90% reimbursement to fund public improvements (river path, road work, infrastructure) for 200-unit rental townhome development at 0 E. Commercial Row — 6-0 or 7-0 — Removes cleanup costs ($56,000/year) from city budget and adds housing units.
APPROVED — Ordinance eliminating planning permit fees for in-home childcare and reducing fees for childcare centers (from $4,900 to $4,363) — Unanimously — Removes barriers for providers to open facilities.
APPROVED — 2024 International Property Maintenance Code adoption with regional modifications — 7-0 — Updates city building standards to current codes.
APPROVED — Ordinance 6729 rezoning 69.2-acre site on Wedge Parkway to Parks, Greenways, and Open Space — Unanimously — Enables regional park development.
APPROVED — Ordinance 6730 designating Luella Garvey House (589 and 599 California Avenue) as historic landmark — Unanimously — Protects structure with zoning overlay.
APPROVED — Ordinance 6731 aligning city truck regulations with federal and state motor carrier safety standards — Unanimously — Standardizes enforcement.
APPROVED — Resolution supporting 216-unit affordable housing rehabilitation project (McCarron and 7th Street, Ward 5) — Unanimously — 30-year preservation with zero city funds required.
CONTINUED — Sale method for three city-owned properties (Reno Salvage, SRS Roofing, Truckee River LLC parcel) — Staff to develop Request for Proposal (RFP) process instead of proceeding with auction — Allows council to impose conditions on buyers rather than maximize sale price.
Debated But Not Resolved
Downtown code enforcement — Council wants 2-3 additional officers and tougher standards on repeat violators; staff cited staffing constraints. Next step: Staff to return with comprehensive property maintenance code updates, best practices from other cities, and recommendations on daily fines for violations.
Property maintenance standards — Council requested staff address blighted properties, boarded-up buildings, elevator maintenance, backup generator requirements, and fencing standards. Next step: Development Services to conduct additional research and return with professional recommendations.
Redevelopment Advisory Board role — Disagreement over whether board should have financial oversight authority on Tax Increment Financing deals and whether it should review projects before council presentation. Next step: Full council discussion needed on RAB structure, authority, and expectations.
River path coordination — Concern about lack of coordination between development project, Truckee River Flood Management Authority, and Regional Transportation Commission on design standards and connectivity. Next step: Council directed staff to pursue further discussion with flood board and finalize design standards.
RDA property sales timing — One council member questioned whether urgent sales timeline is driven by Redevelopment Agency's 2026 sunset deadline. Next step: Staff to clarify strategic direction and legislative priorities for RDA.
What to Watch
$2,900,000 — Tax Increment Financing for public improvements at 0 E. Commercial Row rental townhome development — TIF from Redevelopment Agency Area 2
$245,000 — FEMA grant for community wildfire protection plan
$2,500,000 — Virginia Street Placemaking study phase one implementation — State and local fiscal recovery funds
$5,700,000 — Restore Reno facade and tenant improvement matching grants — State and local fiscal recovery funds
RFP process for three city properties — Staff will draft Requests for Proposal for Reno Salvage, SRS Roofing, and Truckee River LLC parcel. Council will review and approve RFPs before they go public. This determines whether properties prioritize maximum revenue or development type alignment with city goals.
Property maintenance code overhaul — Staff returning with updated standards addressing code enforcement gaps on elevators, generators, fencing, and vacant lots. This directly impacts downtown blight complaints and small business enforcement fairness.
Redevelopment Advisory Board authority clarification — Council needs to decide whether RAB should have financial veto power on TIF projects or advisory-only role. Affects future project approval speed and transparency.
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