About this meeting
- Government Body
- City Council
- Meeting Type
- City Council
- Location
- Reno, NV
- Meeting Date
- January 14, 2026
Transcript
162 sections (from 671 segments)
means obviously it's on. All right, good morning everyone. Thank you so much for being here. All right, we are going to dive right in. Um, before we do that, I have a very special guest. I have mayor for the day. This is Jasmine Garcia. She goes to the university and your undergrad in political science and I think international relations. Wow, brave, right? [laughter] Um, but congratulations. Thank you so much for being here this morning. So, I am going to have you kick off our meeting uh with leading us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Good job. Okay, Madame Mayor or uh Madame Clerk, sorry. You can be Madame Mayor if you want. It's not stressful. [laughter] Um let's see. Madame Clerk, why don't you um do roll call and then I'm going to have Jasmine tell us a little bit about herself. So, go ahead. Awesome. We're going to call roll for Wednesday, January 14th, 2026, Reno City Council meeting. Council member Taylor here. Der here. Vice Mayor Martinez here. Council member Eert here.
Reese absent at this time. Anderson Mayor Shivy here. You do have a quorum of the Reno City Council. Okay. Thank you so much. We will head into public comment. Jasmine, is there anything you want to tell us about yourself besides school and all that? What do you do for fun?
Oh, I feel like a couple of my favorite hobbies are um reading. Um I love yoga and pilates. Um, but I'm also really into current events and what's going on in the world. So, I usually um like to inform myself. Um, I love reading the Wall Street Journal. Um, I have a couple journals like reading to kind of keep myself informed. Um, sounds a little weird, but that's kind of just what I do to entertain myself or to kind of keep myself just knowledgeable. Um, but yeah, those are some of my favorite things. Okay. Well, you sound pretty brilliant. [laughter] I don't know a lot of people that that's the first thing they want to dive into for fun,
but um well, thank you so much for being here. And you are a resident of Miss Anderson's board. So, um she says she has openings on the nap. Oh, okay. I love that. [laughter] We've already signed you up. Okay. Okay. I love it. All right. Um Madame Clerk, take us into public comment. Thank you, Madame uh Mayor. We do have a proclamation this morning. if you'd like to start there.
We sure do. I am really excited about this. Where is our honore? Come on up. This is Susan Roth. Everyone, most of you have known Susan for a long time. But she has hit a massive, massive milestone. And correct me, it's 40 years, am I right? In the bar association. That is phenomenal. We are so lucky to have her here at the city of Reno. She is an amazing woman. Jasmine, would you like to get up and read her the proclamation? I really wanted to celebrate my friend. I've known Susan. I knew Susan before I was even in politics. And um that's the kind of community leader that Susan is. She's out in our community. She knows a lot of people inside city hall, outside city hall. Um why don't you walk up there? Okay.
We'll have Jasmine come and do the honors for you. Are you nervous, Jasmine? A little bit. No, you're gonna be great. Uh follow Brian. You're going to be great. So, Susan, tell me, are you feeling good about this or what? [laughter]
Yes, but also um overwhelmed. It's very special. Thank you. Well, we also had a a council member that was there when you were honored and it brought tears to his eyes and how proud he was of you and I just think it's such a incredible accomplishment and all the knowledge and expertise you bring to this city. We are incredibly grateful. So, we wanted to celebrate you. Do you have a proclamation with all your years of service here at the city of Reno? Do you have your own? Uh, it's gone fast. I'm blessed to have this job and work with wonderful people, friends, I call work family. Yeah, I love that. But you have you don't have your own proclamation, correct? Oh gosh, no.
Oh, good. Thank you. Thank [cheering] you.
Okay. Well, that warms my heart. Okay, Jasmine, take it away for Susan. Whereas Susan Roth is a highly respected and indispensable team member at the city of Reno and a fixture of the Wo County legal community. And whereas for almost 30 years, Susan has worked as a deputy city attorney in the Reno city attorney's office. And during her distinguished career, she has educated and mentored a wide array of city attorneys, engineers, public works directors, city managers, and elected city officials. And whereas her legendary knowledge of public works, a storm water management, and sewer systems is just as impressive as her work, tireless work ethic, and positive attitude. And whereas today we honor Susan for her recent and well-deserved recognition for 40 years of dedicated and distinguished service to the Wo County Bar Association. Now therefore, I, Jasmine Garcia, on behalf of Hillary Elshibi, mayor of the city of Reno, Nevada, do hereby declare January 14th, 2026 as Susan Roth Day.
A there you go. [applause] [applause] [applause] And I can honestly say best dressed attorney. Thank [laughter] you. And I had Susan love loves her fashion. There's one thing we we do share in common. Thank you, mayor, because I know this is from you and to do this very special. Thank you.
Well, I love to see women in our community thriving and you are such an inspiration to so many of us. And Carl, would you like to say a few words because [clears throat] I know your team is incredibly proud, too. We're proud to have Susan part of our team. She is contracts all day long. She is a professional. She's a great team member. Um, she gives us awesome support and we have her back whenever she needs us. And we love you and we're so happy to have you on our team. [applause] So,
other thing about Susan is she is probably one of the kindest people I know inside city hall. So, thank you so much. And um I know that Carl's team, his whole entire team. Really appreciate you. That's one thing I love about Carl is that he loves his team and he takes care of them and he's proud of each and every one of you guys. Huh, John? Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, congratulations, my friend. Thanks. Okay, Madame Clerk, we're going to send it back to you.
Thank you, Madam Mayor. First item today is opening public comment. It should be noted for those in attendance that comments are to be addressed to the mayor and council as a whole. Comments heard under this item will be limited to three minutes per person and may pertain to matters both on and off the council's agenda. Council may not take action upon any matter not agendaized on today's agenda. When you're called on for public comment, please state your name for the record and begin speaking. The timer will begin when you say your name and you will be afforded three minutes. For those participating in chambers in accordance with council rules 6.3.11 while in this room, please be respectful. Disruptive behavior from audience members like clapping, yelling, whistling, etc. which impede the meeting may result in a warning issued by the presiding officer. If this behavior continues, you may be removed from chambers. If you're an attendee in the Zoom meeting and would like to make public comment, please raise your hand at this time. Our first public commenter is Ron Trevor, followed by Terry Brooks, followed by Steven White.
All right, my friend. It's so nice to see you.
Good morning. It's good to see you as well. Good morning. My name's Ron Trevor and I'd like to thank council for allowing me to speak this morning. I'm a representative of SAVE, which stands for senior auxiliary volunteer effort that works with Reno Police Department. And today I've got the recaps for the hours volunteered for fourth quarter of 2025. SAFE currently has 81 active members, another one in training, and during the fourth quarter, there were a total of 5,374 hours volunteered by members of SAFE. This reme this represents a savings of $165,841 to the city of Reno. Some of the key areas that were covered during the time frame, we had 15,59 citizen contacts, mainly due to the trunk or treats for Halloween. Um, we had uh 2,224 72 hours notices, abandoned vehicles. We had 813 school patrols, uh, 580 violations, uh, handicap violations, and stolen vehicles and fictitious plates. We found 15. Uh, the year-end records for 2025, there was a grand total of 20,868 hours volunteered, which represents a savings of $643,986. and we did hit, which was reported the last time, we hit over $10 million since 2001. Um, we'd like to extend, save would like to extend our thank you to Mayor Shivy and uh Deon Reese for attending our annual U appreciation dinner last month. And that's all I have. Any questions?
No, but I I will tell you your work is miraculous. How many save officers do we have right now? Uh, we have 81. 81. 81. 81. Are you recruiting? Uh we we are. Yes, we are. We have uh we've got several others that haven't passed background checks yet, but will be in our training pretty soon. What's the requirement? Is there an age requirement? Yeah, 50 and older. You have to be able to uh do 16 hours of volunteer work, whether it be here at city hall front desk or walking patrols within RPD or uh vehicle patrols. All right. I love it because I just I told Ron that I'm going to become a SAVE officer. Yes, I know you [laughter] said that, right? We might hold you to it.
Well, thank you so much. And we have a special honor for you, my friend, coming up. So, I know. Thank you so much, Ron. Look, he's getting red. Thank you. Yeah. [laughter] See you in two weeks. All right. Bye. Terry Brooks, followed by Steven White, followed by Gary Melanch. Terry, good morning.
Good morning. It's me, Terry Brooks again. And today I'd like to share with you my thoughts on aging and sleep and what seniors go through. When someone retires, they may wind up napping during the day. Then they don't get enough sleep at night because they don't burn up enough energy that day. They often wind up with hyperomnia, which is excessive daytime sleeping, which then leads to insomnia, which is trouble with nighttime sleeping. When they have no practical schedule to use for times of sleep, they wind up with disorganized sleep disorder with trouble going to sleep. This can lead to sleep apnea when breathing stops during sleep, which then can lead to excessive daytime drowsiness disrupting nighttime sleep. Periodic leg movements can lead to twitching over sleep or changes in environment, diet, or exercise can lead to lack of sleep. Every day I eat a diet that is healthy and right. It keeps me active during the day and makes me sleepy every night. Every day I get enough exercise that keeps me moving upright and it makes me really tired so I sleep well at night. I try to eat my meals and exercise on a daily schedule which helps me to go to bed and sleep on such a schedule. But whenever we change our clocks to or from daylight savings time, I have trouble sleeping on schedule after changing from the previous time. It's hard for me to go to sleep when thinking about when I ate or thinking about why I went to bed an hour earlier or an hour late. So before we change our clocks ahead, I go to bed 10 minutes earlier for each of six days. or before we change our clocks back, I go to bed 10 minutes later for
each of six days. You might think that such adjustments sound really strange, but I come up with such methods to try to adapt to any kind of change. I would like to thank you all for listening to me today, and I look forward to coming back [laughter] if I wake up on time that day. Well, Terry, we certainly enjoy all of your poems. That was fantastic. I love that. Steven White, followed by Gary Melanchon, followed by Judy Galley. [clears throat]
Good morning, mayor. Good morning. Good morning, everybody. Happy New Year. Coming along. I like it.
Got to keep reminding you about this. You know, you know, um, give you a little history. You know, there's been method to my madness over the last 30 years. You know, I I understood that artists were fully protected by the First Amendment, but city governments all across the country, they didn't know that. So, we had to go into federal court and we had to bring lawsuits against Reno and against parks to get that defined. And now we know that the fine arts are a form of protected speech under the First Amendment. And the right of an artist to sell their artwork is also protected by the First Amendment. But that wasn't enough. City governments didn't know how to deal with it. The mayor knows this. She's talked to other mayors to get a blank look on their face. So then we had to write the Reno Municipal Codes. And we also had to go into the state legislature and get a state assembly bill 351 passed called the Art in the Park bill that requires the administrators of all the public parks to establish areas in the parks for artists to be able to display and sell their artwork in the parks. And now we've created the display panels. the mushroom of the butterfly effect that we're going to place in the parks around the city. They're again creating an example to every other city in the state. You know, people don't know this. City governments don't even know that the fine arts are a form of protected speech. They have no clue and they don't know how to write a code. your own city attorneys, not this group, but the previous city attorneys, what 11 years, they didn't know how to write a code to deal with this because they didn't understand the difference between a commercial vendor and a first amendment protected artist. So, what we're doing here in the park is is huge. What we're doing here in Reno, if we establish this, it literally can carry all over the state. We can literally give the gift of art back to generations of our young people and seniors all across America. You realize that for all these years, young people have been denied the
ability to just share their artwork with the community
in violation of their constitutional rights. Generations of young people have lost that ability, you know, along with our seniors. Got a great group of seniors out here in the lobby. I had a chance to talk to some of them last Wednesday. They were clueless about the fact that they can take their art guild and go out in this in the parks and do art shows in the summertime and gain membership for their art guild. They had no clue. They had no clue. So, I was happy to talk to them before I finish. They're the artists in the in the lobby are going to have their u reception on the 20th between 5 and 7. Please come. I'm going to be there. And uh Nathan I I went there or the other I want Nathan to be there. You know the word has to come from the city. I come and tell these people this and they don't really kind of believe it. It's got to come from you and it's got to come from the park and wreck. It's got to come from all of you.
What? But what we're doing is huge. Um Mr. White, what it's the 20th. What day is that? The 20th of uh this month is the reception. And I imagine what's being held right here in the lobby, okay, between 5 [clears throat] and 7, okay, for all of these ladies. But you know, you need to start this with the seniors. You start this with the seniors and get the seniors out there. And that creates the family values and they end up becoming the mentors to the young people. And every place I've done this in Colorado and Nevada and and uh Arizona and Utah, we start with the seniors. They set the groundwork for all of it. And that creates the family values and that gets the whole thing going. Well, thank you. God bless you all.
Thank you so much. I'm excited about this. How's it going with Nathan? Good. Nathan, you've been working with Nathan. You know me. That's I'll hear what you said when I get home, though. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you. Bye. Gary Melanch followed by Judy Galley followed by Donna Gill.
My name is Gary Milansen. I live at the vintage at the crossings. As most of you know, or you should know that 60 to 70% of our issues are civil matters. The city can't help. We're tired of the code enforcement, housing, everybody telling us they can't help. I went to the Better Business Will and filed a complaint with my civil issues. I have a heater issue and it's too noisy. And when it's cold outside in the low 20s and the teens, my panel unit will freeze up and build up pressure. Then it explodes. After it explodes, it will run and run and gets up to 100° or more. And after the explodes, it wakes me up and I can't get back to sleep. I'm 72 years old. I have a bad heart with a pacemaker, a heart monitor in my apartment. I also have epilepsy, multiple myoma, a terminal cancer. I need my sleep. I have been fighting Cody Booze, the district maintenance director, Michelle Partardis for three years now. In fact, Michelle Partardis has taken has tried to evict me and taken me to court for communicating with the staff in an aggressive manner about my repair concerns. The judge threw it out. So now I'm starting over with new issues. I live at the vintage. Like I said, some of the tenants are going to the city hall today and they're here. This is the third time we've been here about our issues and most of them are the same issues. It would be nice for someone to come and support us fighting FBI management. As you know, they don't repair much. We also have doors that don't open and close right. Michelle parties and Cody Boo keeps telling us they work as designed. The problem is us. I called the door manufacturer and was told there are three or four parts that are needed to repair the doors was as advised. These doors are not high
quality doors. They are not hightraic doors. That's why they don't work right anymore. At our meeting, Michelle was talking about our issues. And Angie, a new director, stepped in and butts butts Michelle and says, "How can the t how can the tenants expect to get reports in a timely manner when they have over 100 open not yet report invoices?" Angie states, "Repair orders are out of control here." She was gone in a couple weeks after that. This the first time the manager have has ever told us the truth is when man Angie told us we got all these repair orders open and we haven't had maintenance people. We're going through maintenance people. We got trash issues. The health department's involved. We got major issues. We need help. I hope you're all looking at the seven-part documentary and this is Reno that's telling you what the truth is. Our apartment's in it. Some other apartments are in it. I don't know what else to say, but we need help.
Gary, first of all, thank you so much. And I also want to commend this is Reno for highlighting this. I think it's really critical. First of all, there are tenant rights and um I believe there are a lot of violations. So, what I want to do and actually ask Miss Der because this is something that she's been kneede in for a long time and uh we've been working on this and so I want a community meeting for one, but I also would like to send a letter to the um the attorney general for tenant rights and also when we have that meeting, I would like to get our city attorney and our code because some of that you mentioned do fall under code, but you absolutely need backing, you need support, and I'm going to make sure that you get it because we had had conversations with this and had hoped that they had um changed their ways. Clearly, it's gotten worse. They're retaliating and it's not going to be acceptable.
And the city gave them a 600 to 800 pay raise with the [clears throat] rent. And since the city gave them those payraises, we get less done. It's like they've clammed up so tight they don't even squeak when they walk. I I don't know. That's um it's Reno Housing Authority increased the reimbursement to uh because they're in 89511. They wanted to elevate the income to the business. But I think what Gary's saying is that they've seen less. They've seen less. Well, and that is about 30,000. It's absolutely a violation of NRS 100%. So, go ahead, Miss Der.
I'll just take a minute. Um, Madame Mayor, I just want to remind the council that we uh we were requested uh to provide I think it was 1.7 million to um Green Street, who is the builder, uh for another lowinccome property. And we held up giving that money because of all of the violations in particular at this property. And a lot of the violations were fixed. They were systemic structural issues. But the problem is is that when people live a place, things break. And what they failed to do at FBI, so three different companies, V Green Street Builds, Vintage Owns, FBI manages. We also requested that FBI not be the management group at the new place. We are so frustrated and I have to say it continues to this day. Some of you may remember that I dealt with another vintage FBI property on South Meadows and uh Brandy stepped in as well and the trash was uh loaded for weeks and
I got pictures since 2019 on trash in our place. So just this week on Monday, today's only Wednesday, there was another report of trash problems here at Vintage. again. It's almost every week and apparently district health came out. Um, and I don't know if they actually cited them, but no, he gave them until today to make sure it's cleaned up. Last night they had it clean. They called them. Um, so
but this is routine and they're not cleaning unless there's a report filed. And when uh Gary said something about a 100 pending complaints, there are over 100 pending complaints. And one of the questions I'd like to ask um our city manager too is also if we can revoke a business license um under these kinds of conditions, something to that capacity. I don't know [clears throat] what that looks like, but I think we're at that level whenever we're continuing to hear ourselves talk talk. Um it's it's wrong. Yeah. The city will work with the city attorney's office and take a look at what the ability we have there.
Right. And we just can't. I mean, how many chances can we give? I think I must have been involved in 10 garbage complaints at the same property for the same exact thing. So, at some point, you know, the the fines have to ramp up. And the This is Reno article, they mention $100 fine. I'm sure that's nothing to a business, a $100 fine. And each time's like a new event and it's another $100 fine. That doesn't affect them at all. Some of them they haven't cleared up and so it went to a $250 fine. But I mean we we talked about this a while back a couple a month or so ago about code enforcement and it's the same $100 fine and we're not getting anywhere.
So we have to do something different. We either have to have ramping up fees for each violation so it means something. We we could potentially go all the way to uh terminating a business license that you suggest. At the end of the day we just want things taken care of. That's all the bottom line is. And um during the RDA discussion, I am going to bring up some of the code nuances. Um I don't know if Lance is here, but we're going to talk about that to see exactly what we can because I get conflicted. Anytime you need me, call me and I will show up. Well, we're going to need you because we want to do the community outreach meeting. Not a problem. So, for attending, you know, trying to evict a person for reporting problems, that is problematic. I'm sorry.
It is. And I laughed and the judge chewed him out. the judge couldn't believe that they were actually doing what they were doing to me. And you're brave. Thank you so much. Because a lot of tenants they This is very real. We've seen this before. Retaliation. Very real. Well, and my and when the judge came out, he chewed their high knees out and it took less than three minutes to close my case. And their lawyer tried penal code this, penal code that. And the judge said, "Nope." It was kind of hilarious after it was all done. Gary as well and I think a lot of tenants are afraid. I mean, your your point is well taken. Gary is brave. Yes.
He he has a spotlight on him. They they view him now as a troublemaker because he doesn't stop reporting the problems. And the only way they're going to get addressed is by reporting the problems and filing all the right forms, which you have done, the 14-day notice, etc. But I mean, I've been dealing with this for I don't know, eight years. I've had to hand it over to Brandy and um FBI's throughout the city. It's not just W 2 or this property and we're sending all our 14 notices to Vintage and Newport Beach corporate office. We Well, they're not going to be welcome to do business here much longer. So, that would be if this continues to go on for sure. Well, watch the seven part and you'll learn a lot. [clears throat] So will we. Thank you, Gary. Um
thank you for listening to me. Sorry for just one more thing to add to this before we go to our next public commenter. Waste management needs to be a part of this conversation. There is a massive disconnect with what they're required to pick up and what's actually sitting around these cans. So either the FBI needs to provide much larger bins on the regular or waste management needs to be required to pick up the trash that is around these bins every time they go. That issue right there could blow up 75% of these cases the day before. So they waste management needs to be a part of this community.
And and this way just to be clear some of them are outside to your point. This particular one, the waste is inside and it's a four-story building and it stacks up in the chute, which is a fire hazard, which I've had to get the fire department involved, which um you know, it just moulders and then there's no cleaning it and then it falls all over the floor in the trash room and there's no getting in. There's nowhere to put the trash. Yeah, we just got rid of the rat and rodent situation. But this is the perfect example of where does code trigger at $1,000 a day because that's the only way that people understand that you mean business is whenever you're hitting the pocketbook. We've been trying and I hope you guys can help us.
We absolutely greatly appreciate it and thank you for listening. Thank you, Gary. Thank you.
Judy Galley followed by Donna Gil followed by Priscilla Danley. Thank you, Judy Galley. I'm 81 years old. I've lived at Village of the Crossing for two and a half years. Uh, recently I was up for my reertification and there on the paper it dawned on me that my life insurance was listed as a part of my assets and took a while to why did I do that? Uh, I went into Naen. I told her I want that changed. I want that taken off. Uh, you have no business with my life insurance. Your name's not on the policy. Uh, it was my mistake, your mistake. I mean, I've been here two and a half years. Anyway, she's going to retype the whole thing and, uh, correct it. But, uh, other people have mentioned that that item is on their application, and it shouldn't be. Maybe I was too anxious to get into the apartment building. It's perfect for me because both my sons live close by. But, uh, it's changed and in my opinion, I think you should have a lawyer look at anything you're going to sign for an apartment building that you're going to be living in as a senior.
And could you repeat, I think you're saying that you there was a line item on the application of assets and of assets and either you listed your insurance, your life insurance, or they required it. Could you be clear? Well, that was it was implied. uh they they when you sit down for these interviews, they want everything about you. They want to go everything about you. So I had it on my paper and it got on that. So um I and then it would potentially go against qualifying is what you're saying. It appears that it increases your income.
It appears that I have a whole bunch more of income which would raise. So um not good. Not good. That's why I'm saying in my opinion, maybe seniors ought to take a lawyer with them to read this uh application because you're anxious to get into a place. It's convenient for you. You're next to your family and um obviously I I I like the people there and I
the office changes regularly so you don't know who you're dealing with, but um so far um it's been good and I like I like the people living there. There's also a program you should know about and Carl has done a lot of work with them. It's the senior law project and so um there just let other seniors know that that there is a project that helps seniors. This is part of my conversation. Good. Thank you. Where where do they get that though, Hillary? Where do they apply for that or Well, I'm going to I'm going to Google. Yeah, Carl knows. It's Nevada Legal Services. So, yeah, they're online called We the People. But Carl has done a lot of work there for free. So, thank you, Carl.
Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. Donna Gil, followed by Priscilla Danley, followed by Rosa Kirk David off. So, is nuts over there? If I would just Hello, I'm a resident at Vintage at the Crossings. I'm also a former property manager for Eugene Burker Management. Well, then you need to be running that place. [laughter] I'd like to. Um,
she says, "I'd like to. They need to hire you." Um, I've seen how little they care about uh in regards to maintenance. Um, whether it's in the apartment or in the outside common areas. Um, they only care about getting the check in the door, period. Mhm. And you know, with 13 years with Eugene Burger, like I said, I've never seen anything like that. So, you you have the expertise. You've seen it.
Yeah. And I'm on subsidy now. So, this property accepts subsidies and it should be held more accountable for what they do or don't do. That's another one. When they Okay. All right. Well, we are drafting a letter as we speak to the attorney general and we will keep all of you informed and I would just ask uh thank you for supporting Gary, but please come um when we have the community meeting because all of you guys are going to need support. Strength and numbers. Yes, absolutely. All right.
Thank you. Thank you. Priscilla Danley followed by Rosa Kirk David off followed by Craig Hoffman.
Hi, good morning. Uh, this is my first time here. I um just a second. I'm renting at Vintage at the Crossing and I'm here to present some issues since I transferred. I was first at Vintage October of 22 and I transferred to a different department April of 2025 and that's what I'm addressing uh those complaints. Um, I've had voucher issues, ledger issues, outstanding work order issues, and conflict of interest issues. I know it's I get three minutes, so I don't know how far [laughter] I'm going to get.
You're fine.
Since I've lived there three years, right? Um, I'll start with the voucher real quick. Um when I transferred they requested housing requested a new voucher and that's a housing voucher right for section 8 and so I submitted it to the office. They were supposed to fill it out and they held on to it six weeks almost to the time of e expiration and they didn't seem to know what to do with it. And that's something that happens with a lot of people all the time. So I go down and demand it and they fill it out, hand it to me, and I take off. I'm going to deliver it to housing so it doesn't expire, and I lose my housing voucher. Um, but I thought, you better read it first. So I read it and there were errors on it. So I go back to the office and help the community director. I said [snorts] and she changed it and initialed it and I took it and I just barely made it under the wire at housing on the expiration date like you know [clears throat]
and I took it down. They didn't allow time to mail it, right? Okay. So, next was my ledger. I finally um got a transfer to a new apartment April the 15th, 2025. And I thought everything was fine. Suddenly, I noticed a huge amount was missing from my checking account. And it said it went to vintage. And I go, $740 and the rent. And I went down and requested, everybody says request a rental ledger. And I didn't know that existed, which is Damuso. And so I look and they were trying to charge me full price for the month of April.
Well, no, the voucher passed. This was um Michelle Paredus was acting director because the community director had been fired and she's also the area manager director. Okay. Okay. She was in charge of all these things, right? Did that get taken care of?
Um, no. That's why I'm here. Um, so it went March, April, May, June, and I kept asking for appointments. I tried to study online and figure out how to correct all that myself to help them. and an the new apartment number 448 had not been set up as an account. So, the money's in my checking account, but it's not being taken out for the rent, and it's stacking up in fines and fees. Well, then I notice that I'm being charged $50 as a late fee. And I go, that's quite a bit. And I went online, started reading again, and it was supposed to be 5% of what my part of the rent is.
And so I told her, then they put it up to $6645. And I said, first of all, those are not my late fees. I'm not in I have the rent money. Michelle changed the code to cash equivalent and took out the money from my account without notifying me of a rent change and it wasn't that high. [laughter] Um Okay. or anything. Okay. All right. Naomi.
So, I just want to say this is very emblematic of what I have run into. I've had to go in and help individual renters get their accounts fixed. They the money they they have an automatic deduct. the money's sitting there, but then they don't deduct enough. If you're $5 short, then they're adding on a $50. They're saying you're late. Then they're adding on a a fee and and it then repeats because you can't ever get caught up because you go to pay that thing and now you're already short on the next thing. Not my it's not my bill.
And so what what I really believe has to happen is that there there has to be an audit and accounting. These books are out of whack. This this accounting is wrong. And and I've seen it with my own eyes. I I will remind the council something that happened over a year and a half ago, which was that um these folks rent was doubled in 30 days, doubled from $1,000, let's say $900 to over $2,000 due to another accounting error again. So they had $2,000 being taken out, their rents less than 900. So there's so many accounting issues that I I feel like this is something to put into the attorney general letter if that's the way you want to address it. Yeah,
my bank said that uh taking money out of your checking account that's not in your lease, not in your voucher with housing is fraud without telling you. Okay. And so I don't didn't know what to do. And so I kept going down showing them how to worked with them like here's why you made the mistake. You you did this code and on and on and and [snorts] she wouldn't speak to me. She wouldn't meet with me. Um, and so it goes on. So I write Bonuso and I said, "Do not touch my checking account." Okay. And lo and behold, they went in and took $160 out from 2024 in August. So they're not listening.
They're not listening. They're double counting. They're they're accounting for your new apartment, your old apartment. They're withdrawing late fees and then saying you don't have enough money in your account to pay the rent. I mean, it's everything. Well, they they were charging me I would pay for two apartments. I said, 'Why? You didn't give me the key till April 15th. Right. The right hand doesn't know what the left Well, that's Yeah, right. That's a whole other story. Priscilla, thank you so much. Well, I've got the I want to real fast tell you two. This will be really fast. Okay, we got to let someone else speak, too. Outstanding work orders since April the 15th. Who actually inspects? I moved into a place that had a lot of issues. Yeah.
That still aren't going to address those. And then the last thing is conflict of interest. Okay. Um our area manager director Michelle Paridis, her significant other Cody Booze, that's who is over all of our buildings.
Okay. So I was talking to my community director knew now we have a nice guy Morgan and I was sitting there talking to him and the maintenance director comes out and says to me, "It's okay, Morgan. You can talk to Priscilla." And I look up and I go, "What in the world is maintenance telling me?" Yeah. Well, Priscilla, we're okay. That's a conflict of interest with HUD housing. I don't know why they haven't caught that. Well, we appreciate that. I need all your notes, everything, and we're on it. We're writing a letter right now as we speak. Okay. Thank you so much.
You're welcome. Good job, Madam Mayor. If I could, um, John, City Attorney's Office, I just for the for the public, we're we're in a public comment period right now. I just want to make sure that people understand that the the council is very limited in their ability to interact and take action on the information being presented today. So, I just [laughter] if we could um not that it's not saying Hillary, shut up. No, I'm I'm just saying I'm saying that [laughter] yeah, you've got limitations on what you can do and if people could just present the information, um we'll try to follow up with you. That's true. We're just supposed to take comments and not do any action because that's how we get in trouble. So, um,
thanks for your help. Well, thank you, Priscilla. No, you did great. You did great. You made it. Good job. All right. Rosa Kirk David off followed by Craig Hoffman, followed by Alicia Dynamic.
Okay. Good morning. Uh, my name is Rosa Kirk Davidoff. I'm a member of the Reno Sparks Tenants Union. We're a volunteer group that's been working with tenants in Reno for the last two years um to advocate for our rights and make sure that tenants are talking to each other within their buildings about their issues. Um we've been working with the residents at Vintage at the crossings for over a year now or almost a year now. Um during which as you're clearly aware many of their concerns uh still have not been requested. Um, and I appreciated the comments you already made that make it sound like um that sound like you're aware of a lot of the issues already and are planning a um community meeting, which uh we would definitely want to be involved with. Um, and thank you to Council Member Dur for pointing out that tenants are afraid of retaliation and um the issues that that can cause when they're trying to address maintenance requests. Um, so you're hearing from them about their specific issues, but I wanted to just provide some more context about Vintage in Reno. Um, Vintage Housing owns 12 properties in Reno, at least one in every city council ward except for W five about for now. Um, and they are continuously building uh and purchasing more of these buildings and as you know uh managed by FBI, but they are not staffed to the level to respond to all of the maintenance requests that they've been getting. Um, a few things we've heard um from tenants at other vintage properties. So, not at Vintage at the Crossings, but at other ones. Uh, some examples included a tenant who was charged monthly for a broken dryer that wasn't fixed. um someone who had mold on her bed due to a broken gutter. Uh but then when she requested to be moved to a different unit, she was asked to pay another deposit. Um and also a tenant who waited uh over two years to have a unit with a bathtub which was a
necessary accommodation um because of her chronic pain. Um, and so these tenants just want their units to be maintained and to feel safe and secure in their apartments, and they don't want to have to be afraid of a retalitary retaliatory eviction um, if they speak up about these maintenance uh, requests. Um, and so these are issues that we've seen at multiple um, vintage properties, but of course from other tenants around the city, too, and other tenants in FBI uh, managed properties. And so I just want to emphasize and I'm think you already know the importance of this, but that um how addressing our housing crisis in Reno um has to start with housing and it has to start with tenants who feel safe and secure in their units. So thank you.
Well, good for you. And you've been working with them. Yeah. We need more people like you. [laughter] Thank you. Um impressive. and we can be we have contacted at renotenantsungmail.com.
And the other thing is I would say anytime you're you're sending letters or those types of things, you should be sending them to all council members so we know what's going on. Doesn't matter whether it's this property or other properties, especially it helps the ward representatives know who um some of the bad actors are if we typically, you know, see over and over. This one is rare. We haven't seen to my knowledge. um there could be but then people get retaliated against so you're not quite sure you know who's experiencing issues. So yeah, it's a very common thing we hear from tenants is that they don't want to speak up because they don't want to get evicted. It's their housing. It's their it's their livelihood, right? They need that to survive. So thank you so much. Good job.
Thank you. Craig Hoffman, followed by Alicia Dynamic, followed by Jerry Snyder. Hi Craig. Yeah. Thank you, council members. Uh, Mayor Shibi, um, the mayor mayor for the day.
That's exciting. Sorry. My name [clears throat] is Craig Hoffman. Um, I'm also a student at UNR. Um, and also I empathize with the FBI management people because I am just getting away from FBI management. They retaliated against me last fall. So, I have a lawyer I sent a letter I sent to their lawyer if the tenants wants to see it. Um, but I'm here about the 777 Motel in Midtown Reno. Um, I checked into there last Monday to get away from a situation that I was in so that I could have a safe place before school starts next week. Um, this place has cockroaches. It was not clean before I moved in. There's glass, uh, light bulbs broken under the bed. I assume you know what those were used for. Um, I have no heat. I had heat for 24 hours straight when he rigged the heater to run permanently. I talked to Reno Direct the next morning. They would not send anybody out to come do a health inspection because I was only going to be there for 12 more days and the owner was allowed 14 days to fix the problem. So, no one came out. No one has come out. I will be checking out Monday and he is currently free to rent this place to someone else after I leave. Um, additionally, this morning, uh, two rooms over, there is a room that has a sticker on it that the medical examiner put on there, illegal to enter. Um, I took my dog for a walk this morning. that door was open all day uh for at least four hours by the time I finally was able to let someone know it was open. So, um he does not care about this property. Uh he quoted me um $970 something a month. Um after talking to some other people, people on disability receiving payments, he quotes them $1,400 a month. And I spoke to an unhoused individual, he was being charged $1,800 a month.
All right. He is not providing a safe place for people who have no other option. He is taking advantage of people who have nowhere else to go. And I'm fortunate that I will be out of this place in a few days, but that is not the same for everybody else. So, I wanted to bring this to people's attention while I am still at this horrible place. Thank you. I really appreciate that. When you say he, who are you referring to? I'm not sure what the owner's name is. I We got into it. He tried to kick me out. He told the police that I vandalized the thermostat and uh he tried to kick me out for standing up for myself, too. So, Okay. Well, now they're on our radar. So, I I have actually not been allowed to speak to the owner since last Thursday. Um the maintenance man is actually letting me borrow his space heater at the moment.
Yeah. Um so, yeah, I had I had the heat on for 24 hours straight and there's also no carbon monoxide detector in this room. So, okay, I'm going to have um Brian Culpin meet with you. I want I want all this documented. We will be following up with them. We'll make sure Jackie Bryant with code enforcement just like we will with FBI. But thank you so much for letting us know. Not good. No, it's not. It's it's it's been pretty miserable. I'm excited to move somewhere else. So I get away from FBI management and then I end up at the 777.
Yeah. And then they Yeah. Then they follow you. But I would also think um and I you know I don't know but with the being a student some other lovers you know I commend you because clearly you're having a tough time and you're still going to school. Yeah I got this. It's fine you I I like your attitude. Good job. Thank you. Thank you so much sir. Thank you Alicia Dynamic followed by Jerry Snyder followed by Robert Avery via Zoom.
Hi good morning. Um, my name is Alicia Dynamic. Um, I'm the executive director of the generator. Uh, I'm here today because we were invited to speak to you guys about the potential of um, there being an allocation of discretionary funds to our organization. So, I just wanted to come and talk about who we are and what we do. Um, there are definitely some familiar faces here. So, I know that some of you guys are already somewhat familiar with our organization if you haven't actually visited yourselves already. Uh, I will also say that if you haven't, please feel free to come by sometime for a tour. We'd love to show you what we're doing there. Um, the generator is located off Audi uh on in Reno, right?
Well, it's in Sparks. Although, um, I always say it's in Reno. Interestingly, we're trying to adopt you. The line I I mean that we, you know,
that would be, you know, that'd be fine. We actually, you could like throw a baseball and and it would be really circle you in. and we of course serve, you know, an enormous amount of Reno residents, um, people from all over the region. So, we've existed in this area since 2013. Uh, we're a 51c3 nonprofit. We have been the entire time. Um, we have over 300 members who utilize our space in different capacities. We have over 50 studio artists. We have over 50 studios that actually house many of them more than one artist um that people use on an ongoing basis to uh both create art as individuals and amateurs or create you know run small businesses where we we act as a small business incubator. Um we have all kinds of folks using the space for um everything from creating large scale sculptures from Burning Man to things like high school robotics teams or um you know smaller like like I said the businesses that people are running or um you know just there's a there's a huge variety of things and all different mediums and and and uh all different types of pursuits that people are doing in our space. Uh we also act as an event venue, not just for events that we are throwing often as fundraisers to support this work, but also for other organizations. We've um hosted a lot of different nonprofit and community organizations to uh have fundraisers or other types of events for their work. Um I'm going to run out of time trying to explain all the things we do, but we uh do a lot of things of youth programming. We do camps, we do free classes on a regular basis. We've gone out into the community and um done programming in schools, um in shelters. Uh we do outreach events. We just um there's an enormous breadth of ways that we support the creative community here in Reno Sparks. And we um we do all of it as with as little cost as possible to the people that we are serving. Um we
try to subsidize all of our memberships, um all of our uh studio spaces, things like that. So the support of individual donors um as well as any support that you know maybe could be offered by we should do adopt a artist program. Yeah. Absolutely. You know okay I love it. Anyway, we're all big fans and for those that don't know this is like a large indoor art park.
Yeah. We're actually working on building an outdoor art park right now. We actually just did a big end of the year campaign for that that was very successful. We're still fundraising for that. But there's actually we have a 20,000 square foot pad on the east side of our building that we are going to be making it into an outdoor art park which is again going to be another like you know draw uh that draws visitors and um creates more opportunities for community gathering, community events. We're going to have a community garden there. Um there's just a lot of ways that we're trying to expand constantly how we can serve the community. So we really uh appreciate you guys having us here today. Well, you're perfect. You you are the perfect representative for them. You're passionate. You're knowledgeable and clearly you love both cities. [laughter] All right. Thank you so much.
Jerry Snyder followed by Robert Avery via Zoom. Robbie, I went to school with with Mr. Avery in first grade. That's how small Reno is. Okay. Go ahead, my friend. And you remember your first grade classmates. That's that's some memory. That's that's some quality here. Right. So, my name is Jerry Snyder. I am the president of the board of directors of the generator and I just wanted to touch on some big picture things um about why I'm passionate about this project and why I think it serves not just sparks where we're located and by the way like if the United States can just like get Greenland, you know, I'm pretty sure we could be able Yeah. [laughter]
So, but what I really want to talk about is the movie Ratatouille. Um in that movie, if you I don't know if you haven't seen it, you must. It's It's excellent. But the What was the name? I'm sorry. Ratatouille. Ratatouille.
The The protagonist is a rat who hears his calling to chef in the words of a celebrity chef who sells books with the tagline, "Anyone can cook." And the antagonist of the movie is a food critic who's like, "That's that's that's nonsense. It it takes talent and training and passion and ability to cook." And then at the end, the rat kind of turns him around by serving him a a a ratatouille sort of dish that, you know, just just calls him back to his youth and and happier times. And he realizes that, okay, so maybe not anyone can cook, but a great cook can come from anywhere. And and that's sort of what the generator is about. how much talent, how much ability, how much genius is lost when people don't have access to tools or to equipment, to facilities, to um to mentorship. And so that's what we try to provide is this this sort of lowering the barriers of entry to people who want to make art or start a small business, um who want to do a community project. often we'll have um most years we'll have Boy Scouts do their uh their Pinewood Der derby cars there. Um there's high school robotics clubs. You know, these sort of fundamental building blocks of community and maker culture and you know, sort of entrepreneurship that there's no other real space for, especially with the, you know, the decline in high school vocational programs and things like that. the generator really fills a need that uh that is important. Um, one other point I wanted to touch on. When we when we're able to get this art park fenced and up and running, it will feature a lot of large scale sculptures. You know, it's 20,000 ft almost half an acre. Um, both available to the community um and to,
you know, Burning Man sculptures coming through, etc. With the addition of that art park, we will actually be by square footage the largest maker space in the United States at least and I think the world. Um, so it's and and that's right here in Reno, which is is pretty exciting. And okay, so technically it's in Sparks, but we certainly serve the the larger community in Reno and and surrounding areas. So I I really um respectfully ask for your support and I appreciate it. Thank you. Good. We look we look forward to supporting you and maybe a piece of that art park can come just on our a little on our side of the street.
It's on [laughter] the east side of the of the building. That's the old garden center from the Lowe's that was that was there. Oh yeah. Fantastic. Okay. Is Doug still involved in that? Oh yeah, he is. Okay. Yeah. The the Foothill team is I I mean there and they're part of part of our lease was they're like we have this space. We want to just include it in your lease so you can build an art park here. So, it was is really sort of Doug and and Netty's um vision to have that and and it's it's pretty exciting. That's so cool. Well, thank you so much. Congratulations. Good job. Robert Avery via Zoom. There's Robert. I call Yes. Hello. Uh I call you right here.
Hello, madame mayor. Council members, thank you for having me today. How are you doing today? Good. How are you
doing? Great, thanks. Hey, um I just want to opine uh briefly on the Rivermount sewer project. Uh uh I'm uh I'm one of the neighbors in that uh in that city uh area and uh I've been working with uh uh Naom Councilwoman um Der on the sewer project and I just want to express my support for the project. Um there's a lot of great things about it. I've been talking to the neighbors. In fact, I've I've talked to several neighbors just just recently as I've been uh trying to fill people in and clarifying some of the details after having spoken with uh um with Nami Der and uh we don't have the sewers in right now and so it's a new sewer line for our neighborhood. The city's planning on excavating the streets in 2026 and 2027 for the entire area. I'm in the 2027 uh project and during the excavation, it seems like it would be a lost opportunity to me to not put in a sewer line at that point in time. And my understanding is the city does not have a budget for new sewer lines, only for uh maintenance and repairs of existing sewer lines, which is a another point in the letter that I wrote y'all at the very end. probably be a good idea to maybe throw a couple of cents, you know, towards that for when the city does annex a neighborhood such as they did us did did with ours. Um they can put in those basic infrastructure requirements. Um what is nice about this project and and and to to that same point is that when it comes right down to it, it's a hardship for many people to have to come up with 20, 30, $40,000, whatever it is. Well, what Councilwoman Derer was able to do, uh, she came the city staff and council woman, uh, came with a plan in October, I want to say, and the plan was to create a sewer, uh, a special assessment district, and that would have potentially created a hardship on many
of our neighbors. Um, but we voiced that concern and it was really nice that staff came back and said, "Hey, uh, we took what you said seriously and we're going to have the city of Reno upfront the cost of this project and not charge anyone until they tie in." That to me is a completely logical option because that could be decades before someone has to tie in. And so this is on your agenda today. I don't want to take all the time. You've got a a packed agenda. Um, I just want to thank uh Councilman Dure and the city staff for making the efforts they did. They listened to us, which I think is really important. They came back with something that uh I think really works out well and is a a strong benefit for the neighborhood and helps us to, you know, get up to par with the rest of the city from an infrastructure need. So, I'm here to express my support and thank you for your time.
All right. Thank you so much, Naomi. We have an item coming up, so I'll save uh most of my comments for that. But I do want to specifically just clarify. Um Mr. Avery is completely right. Right now, they're on septic system. The city's doing a road project. There's an opportunity to put in lines, sewer lines, while they're doing it, and they did initially come with a SAD, which the residents found would have had to start paying right away whether they used uh tied in or not. And what I really want to get out of this comment is that the staff did an amazing job of listening to the public and completely revise their approach uh to go from an upfront payment to the city upfronting the installation and getting paid back by the residents. And that's in some in substance what you'll hear today in in the first agenda item next or after consent. And I just I can't say enough about what the process that I observed. The the residents speaking up
being very um forceful in some of their comments, the staff listening and the staff also reaching out to get grants to help offset the cost and they have been successful and they're still getting more. So, you know, that's all I want to say right now. We'll we'll have a whole agenda item in a short bit.
Okay. Well, thank you so much. That's why you're our water expert. So, good job. Thanks, All right, Madame Mayor. With that, we have no additional public comment. For the record, we did receive 77 comments which were general in nature and not directly associated with an agenda item prior to 4 p.m. yesterday, Tuesday, January 13th. These comments were written correspondents received via our reno.gov online public comment form or by email to our office. Copies of these have been distributed to the Reno City Council and are available to the public on reno.gov/meings. one letter in opposition and 76 letters of neutral or concern nature. Okay. Thank you so much. We're now moving on to item A4, approval of the agenda.
Okay. Be um before I do that, I'm going to send it to our city manager if there's anything that we need to um remove or any housekeeping notes, anything? Yes. The only housekeeping is that we have attorney client today at lunch and then we will run through both uh the city council meeting, then the RDA meeting. We will do item C3 from city council after lunch, please. Okay. Thank you so much. All right. And I want wanted to make sure I want to make sure that we do C C1 before we do C3 so that we can get it done. It's in order. Yes.
Yeah. Thank you. Uh hold on. Okay. Um that being said, we are going to do item A4, approval of the agenda. May I get a motion? Motion to approve. I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor say I. All those opposed? I. Motion carries. Oh, thank you, Miss Eert. I I forgot. If you need to weigh in, just scream at me or uh Madam Clerk. [laughter] Okay. Uh we're going to head on to item A five, approval of the minutes. May I get a motion? Motion to approve. I have a motion. Second. I have a second. All those in favor say I. I.
All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. All right, we're going to head into items B, consent agenda. Um, any council members want to pull any items off consent? I'm going to start with um anyone that has their green light on B8, please. B8. Yeah. Martinez B8. Councilwoman Der, I have nothing. Okay. May I get a motion? Madame Mayor, before we take a motion, I do have a public commenter. Oh, sure. Go ahead. Sorry. That's okay. Jumping. Our public commenter for um our consent agenda items is Barbara Shakar. All right, Barbara. Uh I did also just to chime in, I did want to pull um B12.
All right. Thank you. It's all you.
I'm sorry. Where is it? Oh, there it is. This map was started back in 2007 when I was part of the um [snorts] Sorry, you're fine. Take your time.
Got it. Yeah. I was part of [snorts] the senior moment. Um, I didn't think I'd be nervous, but it was the Oh gosh, what was it, Katie? Um, um, Wells Avenue neighborhood plan started in 2007 and [snorts] I was a part of it and so was Jessica Sparza who, you know, may know her. I I did a actually some quite a bit of work with uh Jessica um when I was doing code. I was I was um working with the code to clean up I'm on Grand Canyon Boulevard. I was [clears throat] Okay. Okay. I'm just going to start reading. Okay.
Go ahead. Go ahead.
Good morning, Mayor Shivy. I've never met you, but thank you. And members of the Reno City Council and Miguel Good to see you. My name is Barbara Checker. I have owned a home on Grand Canyon Boulevard for 37 years. I'm now I'm here to support agenda item B8 and talk about an exciting development involved with the plan. Exciting development related to the Wells Avenue. There it is. Neighborhood plan. I was involved with the plan when it was first started in 2007 and care deeply about the Wells Avenue neighborhood in our community. Chapter three of the action plan CA11 including I'm sure you guys don't have this the plan from 20 years ago. Um but this is was in the plan including enhancing. Okay. The action plan was including exam and including pedestrian bicycle safety and mobility in the neighborhoods with continuing sidewalks throughout the neighborhood. My street Grand Canyon Boulevard and a few other street close by never have had a sidewalk. Parents and children have to walk in the street to and from Vet Veterans Elementary School due to lack of sidewalks. We've even had people u handicaps wheeling themselves down the street. I mapped the Grand Canyon. I'm sorry. I mapped sidewalks on Capitol Hill, Grand Canyon Boulevard, Colorado River, Broadway
Boulevard, Lon Avenue, Cassava Drive, Casaza Drive, and found 97 homes without sidewalks. Public work. Can I just go? Yes. Yeah, please finish.
Okay. Public works engineer manager Katie Harrison has been very helpful. I met Katie in May 2024. Katie and Jonathan walked because I have a problem walking um a neighborhood [snorts] uh arthritis, but uh Katie and Jonathan walked Grand Canyon Boulevard to see where we needed sidewalks. [snorts] Uh Katie has kept in touch with me and has been working for grants for sidewalks. Thank you, Katie. We're right there. Did you write that? Right.
Okay. As a long time term Marina resident, I ask you that you approve the addition of sidewalks in my neighborhood. This will greatly improve safety. Thank you for your consideration. All right. Fantastic job. How do you feel? I feel good. Good. I I worked on this but then life happened. Yeah. Life happens. Huh. At the very beginning. You start working on something and lots of life happens. Yeah. And um [snorts] I have other information like from the the plan, the neighborhood plan. Okay. That show that you know I talked about that. Thank you. shows. Um,
well, Barbara, it sounds like you work with Miguel, too, and you're really involved in your neighborhood. And this one over here is vouching for you. And and you got a champion right there. And great job, boy. Miguel was was at my house right after I called him, right, Miguel? Oh, see, we talked about it. Yeah. See, so I know many council members show that show up on doors. Yeah. Well, [laughter] um, yeah, I I used to be a little a lot more active, so that's it. And I don't Well, Barbara, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Thank you so much. We'll keep we'll keep following up on this. Okay. Okay. Well, it's it's been on the news.
It's been on the news. Canyon Boulevard. Yeah, I know exactly where you're at. And if anybody has um any questions or wants to read some more stuff um I can great you at the end or should I take this off? Yeah, sure. Take it with you and we'll make copies so you can keep them. Okay. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome, Barbara. Nice to meet you. It's really a pleasure. No. No. Likewise. [laughter] All right, Madame Clerk. Back to you,
Katie. I'm not sure if there's additional papers that are up there that belong. They were there. Okay. I just wanted to make sure. Um All right, Madame Mayor. So, we have no additional public comment on these items. So, we're just looking to a motion for a motion to approve all items except B8 and B12. A motion to approve. I'm getting a motion. Second. I have a second. All those in favor say I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Okay. Um if uh Mr. Mark Tina's if you um think that this will be brief, I'm happy to hear it now. Thank you so much. Yeah, go ahead.
I appreciate uh that. I just wanted to pull the item because we did have Miss Shaker here to provide public testimony uh in support of this project. And I just really wanted to thank uh not just the members of the CDBG board, Council Member Ree and Council Member Eert for supporting this project being approved, but also the team members of public works team, uh, Director Ksky, Katie Harrison, uh, Kelly Wilson who I see here also for providing the support to be able to look at. Think for me what was most impressive was when I first met uh Miss Shaker and going into her home. I had uh left some literature when trying to get gather support. Um and she was very in she was very informed of what was going on and I was impressed by the binder that she had with all the information about the Wells Avenue neighborhood plan along with the fact that she had already walked the neighborhood herself and she knew which parcels in particular needed sidewalk or not. And so having walked those neighborhoods myself, it was apparent that the continuation of sidewalk was needed and it was very difficult to get by because some of the yards had been taken over by shrubs or uh DG or rocks. And so even if you wanted to traverse those areas without going through the street, it was very challenging. So, I just want to pull this item again to make sure I highlighted the support that was received for a project that was identified almost 20 years ago and that is coming to fruition uh in the summer of 2026. So, appreciative of ENDOT, appreciative of council member, former council members and all her work with the Wells Avenue neighborhood plan to bring this to place and all the Wells Avenue residents that helped support this and in particular uh Mr. sheer who has worked tremendously to make sure that this came to fruition. So, I just wanted to highlight all of that. Thank you so much, Madame Mayor.
Great job. Great job. Okay. Uh love to have a motion. I have a few questions if possible, please. I have a few questions if possible. Okay. Um we we'll get to you. Is it on this item? Yes. Yeah, it's on this item. Okay. Um because we just took public comment, so I'll take her public comment after Miguel gives me a motion. Okay, perfect. Go ahead. Happy to uh motion to approve item B8. Okay, I have a motion. Second. I have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed.
Motion carries. Okay. Now we'll go into public comment for um we can take it on that item. But let's um as we move forward to item B12, but we'll hear public comment on item B8. Did you fill out a card? No, I didn't. Okay. No. Well, you do after. So, hurry. Come on up. [bell]
So, I just have a few questions on the um the Wells Avenue neighborhood plan. I wasn't really familiar with that. So, um where does that start and where does that end? The neighborhood plan. So, here's what I'll do. write your questions down or just ask them and then we will have Carrie answer them so that um you don't run out of time. Okay. So if you want just a few questions. Yeah, just write those questions down or you can ask them and then write them down and then they will get with you and they will give you all the background. Okay. So you don't run out of time because you only get so much time. Okay. So I'll just wait to ask my questions then. Well, they can help you right now. Khalil's right there and he can he can help address them.
Perfect. So, I just have a few because I just want to know where it starts and where it ends. Um, there's a few parcels along the um the riverwalk there. I want to know how those are going to be affected. Okay. So, those are just my few questions that I have. Okay. Um, that's mainly it because some of those parcels are owned and just want to know how that's going to affect those parcels. So, Okay. Thank you. Khalil's right there. He's gonna he's going to meet with you. Okay. All right. Madame Mayor, we're moving on to item B12. Pulled by Council Member Eert. Okay. Councilwoman Eber, take it away. Did you get a vote? Did you? Yeah. I just like a little on. We did on eight. Okay. Can you hear me?
Yes. Go ahead. Great. Yeah. Just like a little information on this. Um I know I had asked during our briefings on this just um one if this was everything was above board with this. I know that we have um given official notice to waste management that um we might potentially uh terminate our contract. So, just want to make sure that the public is informed about uh this contribution. Um and uh we just make sure that we let the public know that um this is uh in no way a conflict of interest given our uh contract and future potential contract with waste management.
Uh good morning, Council Member Eert. Caitlyn Caner, Clean and Safe manager. Um, so this item we are receiving a donation from Waste Management to Clean and Safe for maintenance efforts citywide related to encampments. And for the city attorney's office, John Shipman just confirming there's no conflict of interest.
Okay. And do we have a representative from uh Waste Management? Do not. Okay. So, do we have like was this just a donation that Waste Management decided to do? Is this something they've done annually? Um, is this something we've reached out to them to help with? I know that they're right on the Tricky River. Maybe they've um seen some activity they'd like to help clean up with or what what's kind of the motivation here and is this uh an ongoing donation that they've made in the past? Um so this is the first time donation for clean and safe efforts. Uh we are in constant partnerships with the four street corridor business owners and waste management is within this corridor as well. Okay. So this is not something the city of Reno or um Clean and Safe kind of asked Waste Management to contribute to. This was something they've decided to do on their own. Yes, just with ongoing partnerships, um this is this donation came to be.
Okay. Um thank you for that information. Um I'll go ahead and make a motion to approve. Second or accept, sorry. Okay, you're good. Okay, thank you so much. All right, Madame Mayor, we have a motion and a second. All right, thank you so I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Okay. Thank you everyone. We are now going to jump on over because I have um people here that need to get back to work. So hold on. We are going to jump to Madame Clerk. What did I do?
Our redevelop You would like to open redevelopment agency board? I would I would like to hear the presentation uh from Mr. Paul Klene. He is the chair of that board and I've asked him to come today to since I don't know if everyone I don't think we've had um a meeting with you guys yet but we're going to start to and this is going to be the first introduction and he is joined by Mr. Mike Vanhton neither one of you need um any introduction but we are grateful you're here. So before that, we're going to [snorts] um hold on. We're going to have to call roll and open up uh the RDA. Okay. Go ahead, Madame Clerk.
All right. So, we're going to go ahead and open the redevelopment agency board for Wednesday, January 14th, 2026. Our first item is roll call. So, we will do that. Council member Taylor here. Der here. Martinez here. Eert here. Reese absent at this time. Anderson here. Shivy here. Madame Mayor, you do have a quorum of the redevelopment agency board. We're opening item A3, public comment for the RDA. I have none registered at this time. We did receive one comment that was general in nature for this agenda item um from Mr. Art Rangel. It was neutral and it has been provided to the city council and is a part of the record. We're moving on to item A4, approval of the agenda. Okay. Thank you so much. May I get a motion?
Motion to approve. I have a motion. Have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Okay, we're on to item A5, acceptance of the minutes. All right, may I get a motion? Move to approve. I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor say I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Okay. Now, uh I believe we are in B1. That's correct.
Correct. Okay. Just want to make sure that we are staying on track here. All right. Mr. Klene, the floor is yours. And again, you're accompanied by Mr. Mike Vanhton. Many of you probably know him for his great work on uh downtown makeover. So, we're excited that you're here. I'm asked them to continue to give me um updates. So, I kind of want you to give us a broad overview of what your um I guess what your role is. And then also um we're going to dive probably a little bit more into regular meetings and uh just more initiatives because I really appreciate your feedback and um the council is glad that you're here. So take it away.
All right. Well, thank you again, Madame Mayor. Jasmine was actually is my student at the university. Is that how you guys connected to the Yeah, I thought so. Yeah, that is how we connected. Is that how we connected? Awesome. Small world, so you must be proud papa over here.
Yeah. [laughter] Um, so again, Paul Klene, um, I chair the RAB and Mike Van is here with me, a member. Um, since our formation by you all last March, we have heard seven tiffs applications, five of which are specifically for RDA2, two for RDA1. Of those seven, two have moved up to you guys for approval. And there's shovels in the dirt as it will. Uh five are the other five are still in kind of gap and scope analysis. So along with that we have reviewed capital improvement projects. We provided feedback to staff on revitalization, economic development, and downtown action plans. We've offered input on the budget, uh the restore grant eligibility, and then um the rebrand of the RDA that's going to come through pretty pretty soon. What we have next is there's a few more TIFF applications in the queue that we're going to see. Um we're reviewing capital improvement project projects for the next fiscal year in our next February meeting. And other than that, I have to say that um we're here to provide as much value as we can to you all. Um our board members are incredibly experienced, knowledgeable. Uh we've got just fantastic board members. So um we welcome any feedback um from you all to to help provide the most value we can. So, we're happy to be here.
Okay. Well, thank you so much. One of the things because I've been listening to your meetings. Um, one of the things we'd love to hear what your recommendations are um for certain things. Um, I'm trying to think the last one. Um, Mike brought up uh some really important um initiatives and so I would love to have you know sort of those in line what your top ones are. Uh, one of them was extension of the RDA possibility. Um when we get to the legislature, those are some of the things that you've been discussing. Um also there there's board structure that other cities that I've looked at that um keep it really independent instead of political and you have people on the board that all serve with precise expertise in each area which the council doesn't have. There's all these different models. So, um I would love to see from you sort of your priority list and we can move forward, but I want to have um I guess more of a comprehensive discussion with the council on what you guys would like to see and how you move forward. Um it also keeps it much more transparent just so you know when these guy when you guys are coming and you're um continuing with the agenda that you set out uh because that's what we put you in place to do and so therefore things don't get overlooked quite honestly I'm just going to be very really honest um there was some I I think miscommunication when the last tiff project came up they did not see that um it is supposed to be much more comprehensive in front of them and it came to us um in instead of coming to you guys. So those are the things that I want to make sure that you guys are getting the opportunity and uh because we put you there for a reason. So um and maybe did did you by any chance bring a list with you some of those things? So,
because I'm trying to think of the time, there were many, but I was just trying to think
since [snorts] since you all RDA met the last time, we've had conversations with city manager, with staff. Um, a lot of idea sharing has been taken place because ultimately we're open to providing as much value as we can. We want to work with the charter committee. We want to do everything we can to recommend to you all how to make revitalization, redevelopment the best it can be. Uh so yeah, we've explored all kinds of things. In our next meeting, we're going to hear about um best practices in other RDAs across the country um such as the city of Boise that does some really independent work for their independent board. And I know you guys have considered that before you created the at the RAB the last time. So we're looking into kind of seeing if that might be something to recommend that you all consider again perhaps.
Yeah. Thank you so much. Um, well, and I think there's many reasons to look at it for transparency, but also council members have a lot on their plates, and then it also is really nice when you have community that's also helping you get it through because downtown is going to be really, really important. And also, you keep the representation. You put um, you know, the council ward representative, which would be Councilwoman Taylor. you know, I'm sure she would be honored to serve on that, too. So, jump she can jump right in. So, thank you so much, Mr. Van Hton. Is there anything that you would like to include? No, I think you covered it.
You [laughter] covered good wingman over here. I appreciate it. And so, we look forward to having everyone come and having more joint meetings and really diving in because this is an opportunity we haven't seen um in a long time. this could be historical for downtown and truly change the face of um what's happening downtown and and the things that are going to make such an impact for residents. So, lots of good stuff. I appreciate you. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thanks you guys. All right. Um I don't think we have to accept a report, but I'm going to ask you. No, you do not have to take a motion of discussion only. Okay. So then, do we close this?
Nope. If you'd like to move on to item C1 on the redevelopment agency, you're welcome to. Okay, let's do it.
All right, we have a presentation, I believe. No. No, we don't. Is that Ashley? [snorts] Is it Ashley? No. Okay, we'll move on. I guess it's all you.
Hi. Um, I was going to call you Madame Mayor. Different function. Um, RDA board. Thank you. Ashley, Attorney, assistant city manager for the record. Uh, madame mayor, this is an item that you have requested to be on the agenda for discussion from the body to request uh, utilization of RDA funds for RPD. Oh, okay. Actually, I thought we Excuse me. I thought we were going to be asking for a public opinion on the utilization of RDA funds, and that was the motion today. Okay. So, the motion is doesn't say that.
Okay. Um, okay. Wait. So, we're going to make a motion to to direct staff and outside counsel to get you a public opinion on the utilization of RDA funds for police officers. Okay. Got it. What does a public opinion? What do you mean public opinion? A public opinion would be for outside legal counsel to be able to weigh in and give information that can then be disseminated to the public. That would not be attorney client privilege information. Okay. Okay. So that's the motion and item in front of you today. Okay. Thank you so much. So we will motion to get that opinion. Okay. Okay. Do I have a second? Yeah, I'll make a second, please. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries.
Perfect. Councilwoman Anderson. No, you're okay. It's green. So I thought maybe you wanted to speak. Okay. Oh, it's just an I. Okay. Um Oh, I don't know. Um I just want to make sure everyone is aware. I'm sorry. What was your vote? I was a yes, too. I didn't know if it mattered. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Okay. Thank you so much. Um, okay. At this time, all right, Madame Mayor, we're on item C2 of the Redevelopment Agency board for comments.
Any comments? Nope. Okay, we're moving on. Any public comment, Madame Clerk? For item D1 on the redevelopment agency board, we do not have any public comment registered and have not received any additional correspondence. So I'm now on motion or um item E, a motion for adjournment. Okay. Motion to adjurnn. I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed.
Motion carries unanimously. All right. We will see you. We'll have it on every council meeting and then we'll look at maybe a different schedule so it's mo more conducive to working because you guys are all busy with jobs. So, we're going to make it happen. Thanks so much for being here. Good to see you, Mike. Okay, now we're going to jump back. All right, Madame Mayor, moving back to our regular um scheduled meeting, city council agenda. We're on item C1, Rivermount sewer discussion from public works. Okay, thank you so much. Any public uh comment on this item?
We do not have any public comment registered on this item. We did receive correspondence as four letters of support and one letter of opposition and five letter that were five letters of neutral or concern. This has been distributed to the Reno City Council and is a part of the record. Okay. Thank you so much. The floor is yours. Let me get all my notes.
Right. Good morning, Madame Mayor and council members. I'm Katie Harrison, engineering manager with the public works department. I'm here today to give an update on the Rivermount neighborhood street rehabilitation project. Staff is requesting approval to include sewer main installation with the street project as well as authorization to draft an ordinance creating an area specific sewer connection fee for properties in the project area. And this project aligns with the strategic plan goal of infrastructure. The Rivermount neighborhood is off West Plum Lane between Hunter Lake and West McCarron as shown in ward as shown on the in ward two as shown on the screen. Council confirmed the streets in the Rivermount neighborhood for reconstruction back in March of 2022. However, due to increases in construction costs, street project construction schedules have been had to been extended several years over what was initially anticipated. I also wanted to note that all highlighted streets in the slide comprise one project. The phasing shown is purely for street fund budget and construction sequencing purposes. So, as a reminder of why this project is needed, first the streets in this neighborhood are between 35 and 40 years old and are in poor condition, which is why staff recommended them to council for reconstruction back in 2022. Also, this neighborhood is on is a septic island with 105 parcels in the neighborhood remaining on septic systems. Installation of sewer infrastructure during a street reconstruction project is the most cost-effective method for installation. This method also preserves the integrity of the newly constructed street because people will not be cutting into the street in the near term to resolve their septic issues. There are several properties in this
area that have experienced septic failures and this will continue to increase as septic systems near the end of their useful life. To address funding of the sewer installation with this project, staff evaluated um several funding options and incorporated community feedback in our final recommendation. This slide summarizes the community engagement for the project. staff presented the project to the community back in September of last year and at that time presented an option of a special assessment district to fund the sewer main installation. After that meeting, a survey was made available to property owners for them to provide input on the project and utilizing an SAD. We heard loud and clear from the residents that there was not majority support for an SAD. residents expressed a desire for flexibility in connecting to the sewer system as well as um concern for being able to make payments with little time to plan and budget. Staff took this feedback and revised the funding strategy. In the revised approach, the city would front the cost of the sewer installation and would be repaid through an area specific connection fee. This fee would be due at the time of connection rather than payment required at the completion of the construction project. We had a follow-up meeting in December with approximately 60 residents in attendance. City staff and council member Der presented this revised approach along with additional clarification and context which helped address many of the residents initial concerns. By the conclusion of the meeting, there was broad support for this revised approach. Residents also requested that staff continue to pursue additional grants and loan programs to help further reduce the homeowner burden. Excuse me. So, this slide breaks down the cost to
install the sewer main along with the calculation of that area specific fee. The estimated cost to install the sewer main in the Rivermount project area is $4.4 million. staff worked very hard to reduce the cost impact to homeowners and pursued all funding opportunities. And I'm excited to report that we were able to secure a nearly $3.1 million ND grant to help help offset the cost of installing the sewer main. However, this does leave a roughly $1.3 million funding gap to be covered by the 105 properties, which is equivalent to $12,427 per property. Staff is recommending the city provides this funding upfront and is repaid over time with an area specific connection fee. That fee is calculated using the base Tammorph connection fee along with the area specific construction costs to calculate a total area specific connection fee of that $25,172 in bold at the bottom of the screen. This connection fee will be finalized with a rate study and an ordinance creating the area specific fee will be brought back to council by the regional infrastructure department in the next few months. The city has successfully used area specific rates in Verdi and the north valley alleys and they provide a benefit of equitable cost sharing among the benefiting properties. This proposed solution would allow homeowners to connect when it is best for them or at such time when their septic system fails. This allows homes that have failing septic systems who desperately need to connect that ability while also allowing homes that have recently repaired or replace their septic systems additional time to connect and prepare for that cost. This slide shows the breakdown of between the sewer work within the ride ofway and that on private property. This sewer installation project will include the sewer main in the street along with a sewer lateral and cleanout at the
property line. The homeowners still will need to pay to construct the private lateral from the property line to their house and abandon their septic system. Depending on the home, these property costs could range from 15 to $30,000, bringing the total property owner costs from 41 to $56,000. Because of this, staff continues to pursue additional grants to help lower the cost for homeowners. staff has also shared information with homeowners about a county loan program for this purpose and also private financing options. So, here's a timeline of the project. We had that initial community meeting last September and then we received the notice of that NDP grant award in November. We then took that together and presented that funding approach back to the community in early December. We're here today requesting approval to install the sewer main with the street rehab project and authorization to draft an ordinance for an area specific connection fee. Phase one of the project will go out to bid at the end of this month and would be back to city council for award at the end of March with construction occurring this spring and summer. Regional Infrastructure anticipates bringing the new sewer connection fee ordinance back to council in the next few months. And then phase two would go out to bid early 2027 with construction occurring spring and summer of next year. And here's my recommended motion. And with that, I'm available for any questions.
Okay. Thank you so much. Is there anything you want to weigh in?
You know, I just I said it earlier, but it bears repeating that the staff just they they work the process exactly how you would hope. Um, they went out and met [clears throat] with the public. They anticipated the need for additional funding. They applied for a grant. They were they got a $3 million grant from MD um to help offset costs. They knew it wasn't enough. They plan to apply for another D grant that will be somewhere between$1 and $3 million. And they also mentioned the possibility of being able to hook up to a county loan program. And I just wanted to explain back when I was with the Truckucky River Flood Project, I worked with Rosemary Manard, who was head of water resources at the county. That department has sort of been zeroed out. They got combined with Tamwa. But during that time, we went to the legislature and we asked them to allow us to set up uh a grant and a loan program for water things. So, if you um are on a well and your well suddenly goes dry or you're having challenges, you could hook up to a public water system and this loan program could help you in paying for that. Uh the septic system in this case, if you're on a septic failing septic system, you find yourself having to hook up, this loan could help you really stretch out payments. And then for flooding, if you're in a flood zone and uh we're looking at elevating your home, um this grant could help offset the cost for that, too. Um one thing I was a little So, we did get that through. That was back in I'm going to say uh 2009. It's had very little usage since then. And one of the things I'm concerned about is that the county is either charging too high of an interest, so it's not it's not really deemed affordable. Um secondly, they don't advertise it. So, nobody even knows it exists. And three, um, they've set up what I call a means test where you have to be kind of poor to qualify. Well, I think you just heard potentially you could be hit with a 30
or $50,000 bill to hook up. Uh, and and nobody I don't care how much money you make. I mean, sure, billionaire, but most people that live in Reno, Nevada, that is a big cost. whether you're on a fixed income, have paid for your house already, or a working family, and nobody's prepared for a $50,000 bill. I'm sorry. And so, I just talked to Susan Balroth a little earlier, who we celebrated earlier today, and she's willing to to go with me to meet with the county to talk about revising this program so it is more um accessible, that the rates and and the terms are more um approachable, and that it's a more usable program. because there will come a time that people will, I'm sure, be interested in getting some offsets as well. So anyway, I just want to thank the staff. I was uh they invited me to be part of this project and I was really thrilled to be there and I just I can't say enough and I mean there's been a lot of community education and I will tell you at meeting one if I had to say 80% of the people were opposed to this program. By meeting two at the end I asked three different ways and over 80% were supportive of the program. So that what a turnaround. So kudos.
Thanks mine. All right. Good. Okay. Anyone else? No. Can I get a motion? Yeah. I'll make a motion to approve item C1 and move forward with the next steps. Okay. I have a motion. Second. Have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. And Miss Eert, if you want to chime in, just let me know. Okay. Yes. Thank you for checking. Okay. All right, madame clerk. All right, madame mayor, moving on to item C2.
All right. You know, while we're moving on, I just want to add uh it goes on everybody needs sewer, septic, but what we also don't discuss much is the fact of getting that groundwater contamination gone. So instead of contaminating the groundwater and the land, we get people onto a central sewer system, this is all good for the Chucky River and good for our um environment generally. So there are a lot of benefits besides just someone needing to to be able to um use facilities at their home. So thank you.
Okay. All right. Item C2. I'm going to have um Ashley take us into a little background there in case anyone forgot. And madame mayor, just for the record, we did not receive any public comment and have not received any correspondence on this item. Okay. Thank you so much for keeping me on track. Go ahead.
Thank you, Madame Mayor and Council. Ashley Attorney, assistant city manager for the record. Uh the item in front of you today is potential approval of the third amendment to the downtown event center operating agreement between the city of Reno and the RSCVA. As a reminder, this is in alignment with your fiscal sustainability and economic and community development strategic priorities. why we're here today. Uh the USBC Bowling Congress and RSCBA has requested an amendment to their agreement. This came before this body in November. Uh you approved that agreement contingent upon a change in this agreement and that is the removal of the general services allocation. That is a current cost to the Reno City general fund of $375,000 per year. Uh this body requested it go to RSCVA. They approved that change at their December 11th board meeting. Um the current agreement, as a reminder, the RSCVA manages and operates the downtown facilities which are the Reno Event Center as well as the National Bowling Stadium. Uh there is a revenue split if there is positive revenue. However, historically there has been no net positive income operations out of either of these facilities. As I mentioned, the GSA we are estimating $370,000 per year and it increases annually. Uh this is paid from the general services or excuse me general fund. Uh the proposed agreement changes this uh large part to the leadership of this body and madame mayor your role in both bodies here and the RSCBA affords this return of $375,000 to the general fund. Uh this is effective with this current fiscal year of July 1, 2025 pending the agreement. And the motion today is approval of the third amendment.
Okay. Thank you so much. I just want to say thank you to Councilwoman Anderson. She um did a great job assisting me here. So really proud of her. So I wanted to call you out. Um all right. You want to give me a motion? Sure. Okay. I move to approve the third amendment to the downtown event center operating agreement between RSCBA and the city of Reno. Okay. Thank you so much. We have a motion. We have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Motion carries. Thanks. Okay. All right. All right. Madame Mayor, moving on to item D1, David one, our public hearing. All right, Madame Clerk, we will now open the public hearing. Has uh proper notice been given and any correspondence received?
Madame Mayor, proper notice has been given and no correspondence was received. Additionally, we have no public comment on this item.
Okay. Thank you so much. Okay. So that is on the record just uh confirming for you. Um okay, what are we doing? Let's see. Um so so what? Oh, so I assume we need to I don't know who's going to present this. Um, but Hi, Leah. I assume it's you. Yes, [laughter] it's me. Sorry about that. I
I didn't know if I I needed to have Jackie take us into it. It's all good, but um I'm going to let you have the floor and then you can uh take us down the road. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Members of the council, I apologize for being a couple seconds. No, don't worry. No, you're totally fine. You guys You guys skipped an item and I I Well, I thought, did I miss something here? Like, where's my background? But go ahead.
No, it's okay. Um, Leah Pagati, for the record, today I am presenting an application for a presentation, a discussion and potential sponsorship of a regional plan amendment for the relocation of a regional utility corridor. This particular request is associated with LDC 2607 which was a tenative map and a conditional use permit for an 82 unit um residential subdivision out in Verdi. Approval of this would send this to regional and should it be approved at regional the applicant would then be allowed to build that 82 unit subdivision.
Okay. So, this particular parcel is located again out in Verdi. It's just south of Old US Highway 40, north of Boomtown and north of the Truckucky River. The site is comprised of four parcels uh just under 15 acres. And again, this would be a sponsorship of an amendment to allow for this tenative map and 82 unit subdivision to be developed. So the site is comprised of uh single family residential and general commercial zoning. You can see the residential portion there on the um western side of your screen. That is where the tenative map the 82 units are proposed. That's approximately 9 acres. The general commercial area was just included in this application for the realignment of that utility corridor. What you're looking at here on the screen is the regional utility corridor map. So, what we are asking is that Truckucky Meadows Regional Planning Agency amend this map and move that little area you can see there with my yellow arrow. If this does look familiar, it's because council approved this relocation in 2021. Um, the relocation was not completed. In 2025, the applicant amended the relocation just slightly. And then in December of 2025, the planning commission unanimously approved the tenative map and CUP. We waited on that to see if it was going to be appealed. We did not receive an appeal on that. So, we moved forward with this request for the sponsorship. Here you can see the site there in dark gray. The black line that runs across it is where the regional utility currently is re regional utility corridor is currently located. The solid red line is
what was approved in 2021 and the dotted red line is the revision per this cup. So we're just asking to move it a little bit there. During council briefings, there was some questions about the proximity of this in relation to the existing residential homes. Um, this particular segment is not going to be any closer to homes than it than it was before. It's actually going to be a little bit further away and um it's actually taking it away from those homes in the River Oak subdivision. There was a condition of approval from 2021 that has moved over into this application. We just kept it exactly the same. and that was that a three-pole product is going to be prohibited with the exception that one three-pole design may be permitted on the interior of the eastern most parcel. So on the left hand side of your screen you can see what's existing. I kind of circled where that utility corridor is located now and that pole design. What is proposed is on the right hand side you can see that is um a visual representation of what it's going to look like. So you can see it will be a single pole design and it will run adjacent to or right there with the existing utility lines that run through there. Now with that that uh concludes my presentation. The recommended motion is on the board. I'm available for questions and I believe the applicant is here and available as well.
Okay. Thank you so much. Okay. Um any questions? Councilwoman Der, your lights on. I'm sorry. Nope. Okay. I'm going to hand it uh Councilman or uh Vice Mayor Martinez. Give me a motion, please. Yeah. I move to sponsor a regional plan amendment to amend regional plan utility mapping consistent with the planning commission approval of LDC26-00007. All right. I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Okay. Moving on. Madame clerk, go ahead.
Thank you, Madam Mayor. Moving on to item F1 in ordinance adoption to be read by the city attorney. Okay, Carl, it's all you.
Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance adoption ordinance number 6732 case number TXT26-0000001 childc care ordinance amending the reimus code title 18 annexation land development specifically in chapter 1803 use regulations section 1803206 entitled table of allowed uses section 1803303 entitled public institutional and civic uses section 1803 405 entitled standards for specific accessory uses to add use standards as they relate to child care centers, child care inhome and childare workplace together with matters which pertain to or are necessarily connected there with boards 1 2 3 4 5 and six.
Okay, thank you so much Carl. Uh may I get a motion? Move to adopt. I have a motion. Second. I have a second. All those in favor say I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Okay, madame clerk, I believe are we going into item G1? That's correct. G1. I'm going to hand it over to Vice Mayor, I believe. Martinez, this is uh your appointment. Yes. Thank you so much. I'd like to recommend appointing or reappointing Addison Gynan, appointing Autumn Carr and Colon Piltchure to the Youth City Council. Okay, good. Uh I have a motion. Second.
I have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Okay. And then it is going to be Councilwoman Anderson's appointment. Yes. Thank you. For the financial advisory board, I want to make the appointment of Mr. John Zenoni. Okay. I have a motion from Councilwoman Anderson. I have a second from Vice Mayor Martinez. All those in favor say I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. All right. Um item H1, this is city council comments. Does anyone have any comments or updates on organizations or boards? Anything? I do. Go ahead, Councilwoman.
Yeah, thank you. Um, well, I had the privilege of participating this past weekend in a special event for the Lear. Um, holding off calling it the Lear Theater because we don't know what it will be yet. But, um, it was incredible. And we had about 180 people participate, about 125 in the room. We had to move the room over to McKinley. We were originally going to meet at Reno Sparks uh Chamber of Commerce. Um the meeting went about three hours. Most people stayed the whole entire time. So we had about 125 in the room and then about another 50 people online. Um the results of the meeting are going to the um historic resources commission this Thursday at 4:00. They meet to discuss making a recommendation to city council. So that's the process we're following. One of the things you may hear is that there was a tremendous amount of interest on ongoing participation in making decisions about the LER. And so one of the ideas being considered, we'll see if um HRC recommends that is to set up some kind of working group. Um it would need to follow um open meeting law, but we've used these successfully in other organizations where there's a lot of public interest and uh they work really well. I'll give you an example. over at the flood project. Um we originally had about 600 people interested in helping design the project and that morphed into uh typically 50 members of the public coming to a meeting monthly to discuss uh development issues. So it can really work. Um it could also then be a springboard for uh public fundraising and those kind of things. So we're really excited. there was tremendous support um for for a variety of directions, but a lot of enthusiasm and you may also see some proposals to increase funding. Um but that'll all come from the HRC. So, I just wanted to
let you know it happened. It was amazing. Gotten a lot of follow-up letters, comments, texts, voicemails saying that they thought it was one of the best meetings they've ever been to in the last two decades. So, there you go. Okay. that Megan Burner, Melissa Hayy, um Alicia Barber, myself all worked together to make this come together and it was really remarkable. Okay, good. Love it. All right. Anything else? No.
Oh, there is one more thing. I wanted to thank Council Member Ree because he spotted us uh I believe it was $5,000 from his council funds. We use those to make posters, uh, to make printed materials to hand out and to provide some refreshments, some coffee, tea, that kind of thing at the meeting and and there's a plenty to where we can continue on supporting future meetings. So, okay. I really wanted to give him a shout out. Okay. Thank you so much. You bet. All right. Good. That's great. Okay. We don't have to take any action on that, but we are going to jump back to item C3. Madam clerk, uh, madam, is there Am I missing something? Yeah. Madame Mayor, you need to go into an attorney. Oh, okay.
Okay. Um, I don't think we have to go into attorney client unless uh council has any questions. Do you have any questions? No. Okay. So, we're going to open item C3. Yes. Okay. Um Okay. Any public comment? We do not have any public comment registered. All right. Thank you so much. Uh, Vice Mayor, give me a motion. One second. Okay. I move to approve staff recommendation. All right. Okay, I have a motion. Second. I have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Hold on. I can we just say what it is for the YouTube meeting? Like, can This is really fast.
What? I I guess I'm not following you. What? What did you say, Megan? The name of the agenda item. You're on the YouTube. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Can you just slow down just a tiny bit? Sure. Okay. So this was item C three. Mhm. Okay. Okay. And what was this for? It's the approval of the legal settlement. Okay. What is set up for? If the attorney's office would like to take this.
Just for the record, John Shipman City Attorney's Office. Yeah. Item C3. It's an approval of a legal settlement with in the case of Mroy Troop versus the city of Reno. case number 3-3 col23 CV0000451 art CSD in the amount of $300,000. Thank you. I mean, I just think it's it's important that we at least comment on what that is or mention what it is. This is, you know, a sizable settlement and we do have budget um concerns going on. So, I think it's valid to at least address what it is and not just call it a number and make a motion to approve. So those are my comments. Thank you.
Okay. And I just hope everyone gets their agenda items and reads through them so you know what's on the agenda as well. And I hope those are posted online so that you can follow the meeting along. So I assume that those are posted on YouTube. I hope as well it is. But I think that we do the public a disservice if we don't even acknowledge what these agenda items are. I know. But it's important that people know where they can find them. All right. I have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Okay, Madame Clerk.
All right, Madame Mayor. Um, with that, we only have our closing public comment remaining for this. And we do not have we have not received any public comment as of yesterday. So, I'm just looking for a motion to adjurnn. Okay, motion. Your favorite motion? Second. Miguel's favorite motion. No, I'm just kidding. I have three motions over here simultaneously. All those in favor say I. All those opposed. Motion carries. What if I don't accept the motion? This might be the shortest meeting I've ever attended. Carl, can I keep them here if they don't accept the motion? Have you ever seen that done before? I have not seen that done, but you can do it. You can do it. If anybody [laughter and gasps] can, it'd be you.
The good news is we all are busy and I can't afford to keep you guys all here, so I'm not doing it. All right. Take care everyone. Thanks. Done. Good job. Get out. Said I'm going to need to get out of here.
This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.