Security, signage, staffing, and budgets take center stage at Reno City Council on December 4

Allocating ARPA funds to the Downtown Reno Partnership; hiring private security forces for the City Plaza; a sobering report on the Reno Police Department & more

Welcome to December. Time to snap out of that leftover turkey/Cyber Monday-induced stupor with a bracing dose of civic engagement, something that’s always sure to get your blood pumping and doesn’t cost a thing. Ready? Let’s go.

You can view agendas and supplementary materials for all four of this week’s City meetings on the Current and Upcoming Meetings page:

• Tuesday, Dec. 3 - Ward 3 Neighborhood Advisory Board, 5:30pm

• Wednesday, Dec. 4 - Reno City Council, 10am (HTML agenda)

• Thursday, Dec. 5 - Financial Advisory Board, 3:30pm

• Thursday, Dec. 5 - Reno Planning Commission, 6pm (HTML agenda)

If you missed it, I highlighted the troubling City budget news to be discussed at Thursday’s Financial Advisory Board meeting at the top of last week’s Brief. Apparently salaries and benefits for City staff increased much more significantly than anticipated, putting City finances in a bind. Keep budget and staffing issues in mind as you continue to read today’s Brief, as you’ll note something of a running theme.

Another one is how the City is choosing to approach the challenge of making the area in and around the old downtown casino core safe and active again. A lot of you had thoughts on that after reading my last Brief, which I thank you for sharing. Some of you rightfully asked why we are still talking about revitalizing that small central area, and honestly, I don’t blame you. Reno has been trying to redevelop its formerly bustling casino core for more than forty years. You’d think we would have succeeded by now. So I fully understand why some are sick of hearing about it.

Those who think it needs to remain a chief topic of discussion and a budgeting priority have varied reasons for feeling that way. To some it’s because it’s the most iconic part of the City and serves as a regular destination for many visitors whether or not they’re staying there. To others (like the Mayor) it simply is Reno’s downtown (as opposed to, say, the thriving cultural, commercial, residential, and governmental blocks just south of the river), and needs our focused attention because “Great cities have great downtowns.” To still others, it is a blighted area whose inactivity and desolation make it desperately in need of continuous programming and financial interventions purely to keep our citizens safe. And to yet others, it requires prioritization as Reno’s original townsite and commercial center, boasting some of our most historic and yet long-neglected structures, from the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot and Freight House to the Reno National Bank. It may be one, several, or none of those things to you.

And even if you don’t find the old casino core relevant to your life at all, I think all residents should definitely care about the amount of time, energy, and financial resources being directed toward it, and ponder whether the City’s current approaches are likely to permanently move the needle in a positive direction or constitute an endless drain on public resources with no apparent end. During this week’s meetings, we’re hearing about the City’s budgetary woes and staffing shortages, and potentially dedicating several additional hundreds of thousands of the final remaining ARPA dollars to this same small, central area.

But what’s the plan for the future, and how will all those plans funded by ARPA money now be implemented, once that funding is gone? And will even they make a difference? When will event-based “activation” and “beautification” of the old casino core be accompanied by permanent occupation and dense urban infill? Do the first two necessarily least to the second? And are these the boldest actions we could be taking to address the ongoing crisis in this much beleaguered part of town? Is the City being realistic about precisely how this area is, can, and will continue to change?

These are the conversations we need to be having, and perhaps we can use some of the items being discussed this week to kick them off.

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Preview: The December 4, 2024 Reno City Council meeting

City Council will be considering a wide range of decisions in Wednesday’s meeting, and I find myself wishing that our local press could pick up on more of these, so residents can be more aware of them in advance. I’m doing my best, but I’m just highlighting items with direct or indirect relevance to urban development. Be sure to skim through the entire agenda for other items that might interest you.

B.6 - Beefing up security at City Plaza

As the Staff Report for this item indicates, Council will consider augmenting its existing contract with Allied Universal Security Services to allocate ARPA funds toward hiring more private security officers for a pilot program at the City Plaza, in front of City Hall (I’m not aware that the plaza’s name has been formally changed to “Believe Plaza,” although that’s the phrasing used here).

The contract would extend through September 30, 2025. Reference is made to “addressing recent incidents and enhancing safety in critical areas,” which obliquely refers to the tragic fatal stabbing of an individual on the plaza on November 14.

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D.1 - Potential revisions to the Sign Code

I’ve written multiple times about the ongoing plan to revise the City’s sign code, so feel free to review my prior posts about it. I watched the most recent staff presentations, and would just like to add one point about how this topic is being presented by City staff and how it might be unduly shaping the narrative.

In the face of claims by Scenic Nevada that staff’s proposed revisions would grant non-gaming properties in the entire Entertainment District a right to unlimited signage that they did not have before, City staff has asserted that the entire Entertainment District has enjoyed unlimited signage since 2005. I’m not going to delve into that disagreement—it’s highly technical, it may be unresolvable, and in my mind, it really doesn’t matter as much as what we would like to see from this point forward.

However, I am concerned that as a central part of their argument, City staff has repeatedly asserted that the proposed new revisions to this sign code would actually REDUCE the areas entitled to unlimited signage, not increase them.

That may technically be true, but it’s a bit disingenuous. Yes, the areas entitled to unlimited signage would be decreased via these revisions—and not insignificantly—from almost 2,000 acres to approximately 136 acres. But that’s only because, as staff acknowledges, the expansion of unlimited signage to almost 2,000 acres throughout the city via the 2021 Development Code update was unintentional.

As the Staff Report explains, in 2021 “the larger Gaming Overlay sign standards were applied to all parcels within the overlay, unintentionally [emphasis mine] allowing much more area than before.” So yes, the areas where unlimited signage would be allowed would decrease via these revisions, but only because staff is fixing its own error.

What Scenic Nevada and others are arguing is that what makes sense from this point forward is to make the regulations governing the so-called “Entertainment District” match the rest of the City, with only casinos being allowed unlimited signage by right (I would imagine anyone can apply for a special permit if they want a larger sign than code allows). So let’s focus on that question and not whether these proposed changes would result in a net gain or loss of parcels allowed unlimited signage. There’s no quota here; it’s the areas themselves we need to focus on, not a tally of overall acreage.

As I reported last week, no owners of non-casino parcels within the Entertainment District boundaries commented publicly during the City’s recent stakeholder meetings. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t given input behind the scenes. If you’d like to contribute your own thoughts, refer to Item D.1.

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D.3 - Update on the Reno City Manager search

This item is listed as an update on the search for a new Reno City Manager from the recruiting firm, who will also be seeking direction from Council on next steps. Problem is, the Staff Report doesn’t say anything about what this update actually comprises, only that the firm “has conducted an extensive search” after being directed in August to select up to five qualified candidates to be presented for consideration, and will seek Council direction “regarding future actions, including scheduling interviews or refining the selection process.”

A little more information here would be welcome. What is the substance of this update? Has the firm succeeded in finding multiple candidates? Does the suggestion that the selection process might need refinement indicate some difficulty in doing so? Council agendas and Staff Reports are not just supposed to hint at the contents of important presentations but also enable residents to understand what will be presented, so that we can provide our own advance input on the decisions our representatives will make. Perhaps more information will be revealed in the next 36 hours, but that’s too late to allow residents to provide informed commentary.

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D.4 - Presentation and Discussion regarding the current state of the Reno Police Department

Council will receive a scathing report about the state of the Reno Police Department under former Police Chief Jason Soto, who retired at the end of 2022. The Staff Report identifies a range of problems inherited and reported by current Chief Kathryn Nance:

It’s obviously welcome news that the current Chief has both identified these systemic problems and either addressed or formulated a plan to address many of them, but I can’t help but recall the effusive praise, promotions, and exceptions lavished upon the previous Police Chief by our Mayor and many of our former and current City Councilmembers, who will hopefully respond to the sight of words like “favoritism,” “lack of accountability,” “dysfunctional,” and “low morale” with a little self-reflection regarding their own potential complicity in the perpetuation of such a culture.

The report also identifies a need for 24 additional officers, lists the significant additional resources being dedicated to downtown Reno as of November 20, 2024, and seeks Council direction “on potential opportunities to strengthen policing efforts, with an additional focus on improving downtown safety and quality of life” including not just funding and staffing but “reviewing and updating ordinances to address loitering, noise disturbances, and camping, sitting, and lying in public spaces.

Got thoughts on any of that? Be sure to provide your comments on Item D.4.

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D.5 - Presentation, discussion and potential direction to staff regarding solutions to address excessive vehicular noise complaints.

This is a presentation from Police Chief Kathryn Nance on the rising number of complaints about excessive vehicular noise throughout town and how to address it, potentially through an ordinance specific to this type of source: loud exhaust systems and amplified music from vehicles. Read the Staff Report for more.

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D.6, D.7, D.8 - Allocating ARPA funds to the Downtown Reno Partnership and enhancing City technologies

As explained under Item B.6, the City is rapidly approaching the December 31, 2024 deadline to allocate and contract all remaining ARPA funds from its initial $50 million+ allocation from the federal government. Items D.6, D.7, and D.8 would allocate nearly more than $800,000 to a number of City projects and recipients, including $370,000 alone to the nonprofit Downtown Reno Partnership “to support activation and beautification efforts in downtown Reno.” The Staff Report for Item D.6 explains the need to reallocate the funds formerly designated for landscaping and security at the First Church of Christ, Scientist/Lear Theater since no one responded to that bid and there wasn’t enough time to re-notice it.

The money proposed to be transferred to the Downtown Reno Partnership, an entity with its own funding mechanism in the form of property assessments, would go toward “facilitating adding colorful murals to blighted facades, infrastructure maintenance/improvements with opportunities for outdoor dining, as well as events to bring added foot traffic to downtown.” Under Item D.7, Major Schieve is dedicating $70,000 of her Council allocation to the DRP, too. Other than the $300,000 going to the DRP, the remainder of the $827,373 allocation formerly designated for the Lear would be redirected toward a payroll system consultant, smart technology applications, and business licensing software.

Item D.8 is the Subrecipient Agreement giving that $370,000 to the DRP, and at the bottom of that Staff Report, you can read the “Project Description and Benefits”:

It goes on to describe the planned introduction of parklets “or similar,” roller skating on “Believe Plaza,” adding “colorful murals to blighted facades and inactive frontages” which “can become Instagramable [sic] spots to share and spread on social media,” “unique, eye-catching crosswalk art,” “planter boxes, flowers and greenery,” and more.

$370,000.

As many know, the City Plaza is the former site of the Mapes Hotel, which stood there from 1947 until it was imploded, 25 years ago next month. But what some may not know is that it was not demolished by the City of Reno to create a civic plaza. It was acquired by the Reno Redevelopment Agency in 1996 to be redeveloped. I’m not here to relitigate the decision to tear it down. But the reason that happened was because the City believed that the parcel would be more appealing to potential developers if it were vacant. The intention was for something fabulous to be built on the site, to help revitalize downtown Reno and the Truckee River corridor in particular. But no one bit. Then the recession descended, and the City decided to convert it into a plaza and seasonal ice skating rink.

That didn’t work out, either, and yet we’re still here struggling to endlessly program and either populate or de-populate it (depending on who you’re talking about), while simultaneously claiming that the downtown river corridor feels unsafe, unoccupied, and inactive. (And just a reminder, it wasn’t just the Mapes that stood there—the current City Plaza site housed the YMCA and the Majestic Theater, too—three bustling riverfront properties!) But what of open space? Well, there’s already the existing and soon-to-be revitalized Wingfield and Barbara Bennett Parks just a stone’s throw away for all your public gathering needs, right?

The Mapes parcel was just one of the properties acquired by the Reno Redevelopment Agency specifically for purposes of redevelopment—i.e. to transform into something that would revitalize the urban core and generate property taxes. They also included the former Citicenter bus station currently occupied by the DRP offices and the current site of The Eddy (which would have been fully developed with a multi-story mixed-use building long ago if not for the recession and the parcel’s subsequent transfer into private hands). See my February 2021 Brief called “Reimagining Reno’s Riverfront” for more on that, and let’s start thinking about whether the options and expenditures being presented to us truly constitute a bold new vision for downtown revitalization or just the same old band aids masking a wound that refuses to heal.

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If you want to comment on any item on the December 4 Reno City Council meeting agenda, you can attend in person beginning at 10am or virtually by registering here. Comments can be delivered in person, by submitting an online public comment form at Reno.Gov/PublicComment; (2) emailing Publiccomment@reno.gov; (3) leaving a voicemail at 775-393-4499; or 4) participating in the meeting via Zoom.

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December 5, 2024 Reno Planning Commission meeting

Be sure to take a look at Thursday’s Reno Planning Commission agenda. The five planned public hearings include the following:

4.1 - Advanced Purified Water Facility at American Flat (a request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow for a non-single family use within the Sky Vista PUD, with operating hours between 11pm and 6am). This has a Staff Report and multiple exhibits accessible via the online agenda.

4.2 - Webb Data Center (a request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow the development of a data center and business operations between 11pm and 6am near the intersection of North Virginia Street and Stead Boulevard). See the Staff Report here and access associated Exhibits via the agenda.

4.3 - Orrcrest Drive Zoning Map Amendment (a zoning map amendment from Large-Lot Residential to Mixed Employment on Orrcrest near Carson Lane). Access the Staff Report here and Exhibits via the agenda.

4.4 - Reno Housing Authority at Carville Master Plan and Zoning Map Amendments (amending zoning from Mixed Neighborhood to Multi-Family Neighborhood, changing zoning from MF-14 to MF-30, on the northeast corner of Sutro Street and Carville Drive. Staff Report here with Exhibits via the agenda.

4.5 - Plumas Redevelopment (a 273-unit multifamily apartment complex on the former site of the Lakeridge Tennis Club). This one has a Staff Report and a lot of Exhibits, which can all be accessed from the agenda, including many public comments.

You can attend the Planning Commission meeting in person at Council Chambers or virtually by registering here. Individuals not in attendance may provide public comment by: (1) submitting an online public comment form at www.reno.gov/PCPublicComment; (2) sending an email to RenoPlanningCommission@reno.gov; (3) sending a letter to the City of Reno Planning Commission, P.O. Box 1900, Reno, NV 89505; or (4) leaving a voicemail at (775) 393-1776. Consult the agenda for deadlines to have your comments provided to the commission by the time of the meeting.

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Apply for the Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board!

Someone literally just told me that you can now apply to serve on this important board, although the City hasn’t been advertising that fact. You can read the bylaws for the requirements here and access the application form here. And good luck!

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Be sure to check out my Citizen Guide for helpful resources and links for anyone hoping to become more informed and engaged in issues related to urban development (& more) in Reno.

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