Reno City Council Meeting
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
What Happened
Reno City Council met June 3, 2026, and approved 11 major items including budget changes, zoning amendments, infrastructure contracts, and a contentious lithium battery facility annexation in a 3-hour meeting.
Key Decisions
APPROVED — Lithium phosphate battery storage facility annexation with fire services (4-2 vote) — Reno will now provide fire protection to a battery storage facility near residential areas; two council members voted no
APPROVED — Sewer rate increase effective July 1, 2026 (4-1 vote) — Rates rising for all dwelling units, residential units, and industrial/commercial dischargers; one council member opposed
APPROVED — FY27 budget and fee schedule (6-0) — Appeal fee set at $250 (down from staff proposal of $1,200); sanitation franchise fee structure changed to remove automatic CPI increases
APPROVED — Clear Acre Commons zoning amendment (5-0) — 10.47 acres in Ward 4 rezoned from single-family residential to mixed-use suburban
APPROVED — Ridge Park zoning amendment (5-0) — 1.57 acres in Ward 4 rezoned from multi-family to general commercial
APPROVED — Regional Road Impact Fee adoption referral (6-0) — Advances to second reading; city finds no significant economic burden on businesses
APPROVED — Strategic plan priorities for FY27-29 (6-0) — Incorporates safe community and regional dispatch coordination goals
APPROVED — Sierra High Notes grant (6-0) — $1,000 for vocal music education
Debated But Not Resolved
Appeal fee affordability — Council Member Duerr wanted fee as low as $100-200 to protect due process access; Council Member Anderson supported $250; fee ultimately set at $250 with fee waiver option available — resolved
Lithium battery facility process — Council Members Anderson, Reese, and Duerr questioned why facility was approved without Council conditional use permit review and expressed concerns about fire risk near homes — staff will explore policy changes for Council review of certain development types
Police surveillance technology — Council Member Duerr wants policies addressing data misuse before police use Flock software — policies in development; separate agenda item coming for $500,000+ software contract
Regional dispatch timeline — Council Member Reese questioned whether FY2029 completion target is realistic — completion date unclear pending Octave leadership meeting
City Clerk budget oversight — Council Member Duerr wants Council to control City Clerk budget for accountability; Council Member Anderson opposed — City Manager to have legal counsel examine if Charter change required
What to Watch
$938,678.15 — Sewer interceptor system inspection and condition assessment — Sewer Fund
$676,000 — TMWRF manhole and piping rehabilitation (Reno's share: $463,938.80) — Sewer Fund
$900,000 — Firefighter personal protective equipment — General Fund
$404,447 — Paradise Park parking lot improvements — Community Development Block Grant
$339,168 — Hilltop Park parking lot replacement — Community Development Block Grant
$220,000 — Legal settlement in Afshar case — Risk Management Fund
$1,350,000 — Property sale to RTC for bus station expansion — General Fund
Appeal fee and parking fine changes — Staff returns May 20 with options for lowering appeal fee further and updating parking violation fines that haven't been adjusted in 20 years
Police surveillance policy — Council expects policy framework before approving $500,000+ Flock software contract
Lithium battery development process — City Manager exploring whether Council should directly review certain high-impact projects like battery storage facilities before approval
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