Reno Reporter

The Reno City Council convened on June 12, 2024, to address several key agenda items. The outcomes of the meeting have been summarized below.

The Council appointed Jackie Bryant as interim City Manager, effective July 8, 2024. Bryant has served as an Assistant City Manager at the City of Reno since April 2021. "I am honored to serve as Interim City Manager for the City of Reno," said Bryant. "Our organization is well-positioned for continued success, and I am confident we will maintain our momentum. I look forward to helping our city thrive during this transition period while our Council searches for a replacement."

This appointment follows the resignation of current City Manager Doug Thornley, effective July 7, 2024. The city's Human Resources Department is working with Bob Murray & Associates to find a permanent replacement within six months.

In other business, the Council approved an ordinance change aimed at alleviating housing issues by expanding affordable housing density bonuses for developers targeting 0-60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Affordable housing projects will also be expedited through the building permit review process under this amendment. However, proposals regarding duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in single-family zoned neighborhoods were not included in this update. This ordinance amendment requires a second reading on July 24, 2024.

Additionally, the city received over $3 million from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for various initiatives including supporting renters and providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness. Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman made the initial announcement in May.

The funds are allocated as follows:

- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): $1,988,436

- HOME Investment Partnerships Program: $1,330,958

- Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG): $176,716

Specific projects benefiting from these funds include improvements at Wilkinson Park Playground and Dog Park and Canyon Creek Park Pathway among others.

Artist James Dinh was commissioned for a $120,000 public art project inside North Valleys Sky Vista Roundabout after scoring highest in a community survey and from the Public Art Committee. Washoe County contributed $15,000 to this project while the National Endowment for the Arts provided $35,000.

Local artist Erik Burke was selected to paint a new mural on Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center due to his high ranking on community engagement approach. Burke's work is featured across numerous buildings and businesses in northern Nevada.

Other notable actions include naming Geneva Jesse 'Mayor for the Day', presentations by Youth City Council on their mission and objectives; approval of $315K for emergency fences for South Reno horses; donations by Mayor Schieve to ‘Rennervation Foundation’, Councilmember Brekhus to Holland Project; and Councilmember Ebert to Coral Academy of Science.

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