Reno Reporter

City of Reno issued the following announcement on October 13.

In our ongoing commitment to keep citizens and media informed, we’ve summarized the outcomes of a few key agenda items from today’s Regular Meeting of the Reno City Council. Staff Reports with more information are linked to below:

B.13 - Park Ambassador Pilot Program

Council approved a one-year park ambassador pilot program to enhance downtown parks in the amount of $159,543.80. 

Background: The Downtown Reno Partnership (DRP), a 501(c) 6 nonprofit entity, was created in 2018 to manage and operate the City of Reno Business Improvement District (BID). Working to create a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant downtown, the DRP ambassadors monitor five zones within the BID, including six parks. The approved one-year park ambassador pilot program will provide monitoring and increased outreach services to all six BID parks, plus an added three parks outside the BID, totaling 9 parks. The objective of this pilot program is to ensure parks are clean, accessible, and safe for all members of the community in partnership with the City of Reno. 

C.2 - 900 East Fourth Street Alleyway Abandonment  

Council approved the abandonment of a City alleyway located between Morrill Avenue and Spokane Street, south of East Fourth Street. Affidavits were submitted with the application materials from all abutting property owners authorizing this request. The abandonment area is ±20 feet wide by ±308 feet long (±6,166 square feet). Council determined the public will not be materially injured by the approved vacation. 

Background: The existing alley approved to be abandoned is in a failed state of condition per the 2020 Public Works Pavement Condition Index. The alleyway currently has illegal encampments located within it for which the applicant has stated have become a significant challenge to the abutting property owners. All of the abutting properties to the alley have been recently purchased within the last three years and the applicant has stated that the abandonment will help facilitate general clean-up of the area, and provide security for the adjacent parcels to accommodate possible renovations of the existing buildings. 

C.5 - Neon Line Development Agreement

Council approved to provide the City Manager authority to finalize the terms of a Development Agreement (the “Agreement”) and for the Mayor to execute the Agreement to provide various financial incentives to Developer Jacobs Entertainment to create a mixed-use entertainment area in the western portion of downtown Reno. The Agreement was approved under the following conditions: 

The Developer must pull a building permit for 63 new residential units proposed within the District within one year of the effective date of the Agreement. If this condition is not met, the Developer could be found in default of the Agreement and be required to cure the default or risk termination of the Agreement.

Background: The Developer is calling this new Development Reno’s Neon Line District (the “District”). While the Agreement does not provide specific developments, the Agreement generally contemplates that any development occurring within the District on property owned by the Developer or transferred to other developers shall be in accordance with applicable zoning and municipal code requirements at the time of permit application. This would also apply to things like:

• Permitted Uses, Density and Intensity, and Maximum Size and Height
• Pedestrian Skyway/Walkway
• Area Identification Signs
• Street Closures for Special Events 

The financial incentives include:

• Pedestrian Amenity Credits: not to exceed $4,658,516. 
• Sewer Connection Fee Credit Extensions: not to exceed $1,568,261.
• Building Permit and Sewer Connection Fee Deferrals: five-year payment schedule to help promote residential construction and increase housing availability. 
• Residential Construction Tax: collected funds to be spent within the District during the first five years of the Agreement.

The overall term of the Agreement is 20-years with shorter durations for specific items, such as Sewer Connection Fees, Fee Deferrals, and Residential Construction Tax expenditures. 

D.2 - Plenium Builders, Inc. Contract 

Council approved to award the contract to Plenium Builders, Inc. for the Public Safety Center (PSC) in the amount of $19,976,335 and authorized the Mayor to sign the contract.

Background: The Reno Police Department (RPD) headquarters opened in 1947. It is located at 455 E. Second Street and is approximately 68,357 square feet. Due to the age and poor condition, a Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE) study in 2011 concluded the useful life of this building has expired, and the building is inefficient to operate. The CBRE study recommended an alternative facility to improve the quality of space for RPD operations and service delivery for citizens. The new Public Safety Center (PSC) will house RPD Headquarters with workspaces for critical social service agencies and evidence storage. The new PSC is part of the Council Strategic Plan and will be located at 911 Kuenzli Street. Staff conducted a public bid and received and opened two bids on August 4, 2021. Plenium Builders submitted the best bid pursuant to the requirements established in Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) Chapter 338.

D.1 - Rosewood Lakes Municipal Golf Course Renaming 

Council approved the renaming of Rosewood Lakes Municipal Golf Course to Rosewood Lakes Nature Study Area. 

Background: Council approved a long-term lease with the Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation (TMPF) to operate the former Rosewood Lakes Golf Course as a nature study area. As such, the name of the facility needed to be changed to clearly describe the function of the property. The Parks and Recreation naming policy recommended updating the name of a facility when the purpose for that location has been changed. 

F.2 - Unlawful Use of a Whip Ordinance Adoption 

Following the first read of the ordinance on September 22, today Council heard a second reading and adopted an ordinance for the Reno Municipal Code titled 8.18.035 Unlawful use of a whip. 

Background: On August 25, 2021, Council heard from both the public and the Reno Police Department over the growing concern of whips being used. The Reno Police Department reported that they have seen a 61 percent increase in calls for service involving whips. The service call comes in as shots fired due to the fact that when someone cracks a whip the sound it produces is similar to that of a firearm. Whips are also being used in public areas for fights, intimidation and practicing “cracking” the whip. 

Original source can be found here.