CITY OF RENO NEWS RELEASE
Today the Reno City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting. Below are some highlights from the meeting.
•Proclamation declaring the week of May 19, 2013 as Emergency Medical Services Week
Recognizing the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical services providers, Mayor Cashell declares the week of May 19, 2013 as Emergency Medical Services Week. In Reno we have a two-tiered emergency medical services system which consists of emergency physicians, emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, and others. These members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All first responders’ commitment to patient care throughout northern Nevada has been an integral factor in our community’s safety, security, and success. The region is proud to have all first responders operating within the state to ensure the highest quality of patient care and community support. The success of our first response system is an indication of the city government’s dedication to community wide emergency medical care.
•Presentation of Chief’s Commendations and Lifesaving Medals
Reno Police Officer Ira Coffey: Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez and Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts presented Officer Coffey with a Lifesaving Medal and a Chief’s Commendation for his quick and decisive action which resulted in the life of a little girl being saved. On May 4, 2013, the Reno Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire on East Moana Lane. Officer Coffey was in the area and first to arrive on scene. Upon arrival, the mobile home was fully involved, and a two and a half year old child was outside of the trailer, not breathing. Officer Coffey took the child and performed CPR, then ran to the street with the child in his arms to meet medical services, who would provide further medical assistance and transportation to a local hospital.
Reno Police Officers Michael Barnes and Greg Bonnette: Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts presented Officers Barnes and Bonnette with Lifesaving Medals. On April 17, 2013 Officers Barnes and Bonnette responded to a report of a fight in the area of Citron and Helena. Upon arrival they immediately recognized that one of the individuals had numerous stab wounds. Officer Barnes noticed the individual was having difficulty breathing and began to apply pressure to the injuries. Officer Bonnette placed bandages over the injuries which allowed the injured individual to begin breathing easier. It was later learned the victim had sustained six stab wounds and had two collapsed lungs. Medical personnel advised that had the officers not done what they did the patient’s outcome would have been questionable, and also that the officers remained extremely calm and allowed paramedics to make rapid access to the patient and egress from the scene.
Reno Police Officer Sean Schwartz: Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts presented Officers Schwartz with a Lifesaving Medal. On February 1, 2013, a citizen was involved in an altercation which resulted in a severe laceration to his arm. Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Schwartz noted the amount of blood surrounding the citizen and quickly realized the seriousness of the injury. Officer Schwartz utilized recent medical training and applied a tourniquet to the arm, stopping the bleeding. The attending physician treating the citizen at the hospital, noted the tourniquet and the skill with which it was applied, and stated that had the tourniquet not been utilized the citizen would have succumbed to his injuries prior to being treated in the hospital. Officer Schwartz acted with decisiveness, compassion and professionalism, ultimately saving a life.
Reno Police Officer Noah Gallop: Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts presented Officer Gallop with the Chief’s Commendation Medal. In an ongoing effort to utilize technology to maximize efficiency, Officer Gallop is being honored for his exceptional meritorious performance related to the downtown video surveillance/mapping project and the development of the “Mobile Officer’s Guide” mobile app. Officer Gallop has embraced the challenge to be technically responsive to the agency’s future demands to ensure the Reno Police Department remains a model of policing excellence.
John Molt (resident): Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts presented Mr. Molt the Chief’s Commendation Certificate for his dedication to civic duty during the development of the Department’s “Mobile Officer’s Guide”. Mr. Molt contributed greatly to the success of the project by his commitment and pride in ensuring that the project was not only successful but a model for others to follow. Members of the Reno Police Department are indebted to Mr. Molt for his professionalism and all of his assistance rendered during this project. It is this type of demonstrated cooperation which builds public and private sector relationships that are for the benefit of our community.
Reno Police Sergeant Greg Blair: Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts presented Sergeant Blair with the Chief’s Coin for his leadership which supported Officer Gallop’s dedication to be technically responsive (see above).
Reno Police Officer Steve Mayfield: Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts presented Officer Mayfield the Chief’s Commendation Certificate. Over the last year, a downtown Reno business had been burglarized several times amounting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss. As the department’s canine trainer, Officer Mayfield organized the unit’s training at the business and supplied Reno Police Department Canine signs as a deterrent. Officer Mayfield also coordinated a multi-unit response resulting in the arrest of those responsible.
Reno Police Officer Tom Mueller: Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts presented Officer Mueller the Chief’s Commendation Certificate for his development and continued work on the Reno Police Department’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and Inspection Operations. Officer Mueller has helped secure numerous grants and funding to help with this important safety measure.
•Agenda Items E.3, E.4, H.1, H.2, H.3, and H.4
The City Council approved the following requests from Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NAB) to allocate Community Pride Grant (CPG) funds:
1.$1,000 from the Ward Five Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) to the City of Reno Office of Communications and Community Engagement (OCCE) to purchase graffiti removal supplies for a graffiti removal project in a City park located within the Ward 5 Northwest NAB. OCCE staff will work with NAB members and other City staff to coordinate this citizen effort.
2. $19,361 total from Wards Two Central ($5,167), Two South ($3,780), Five Northwest ($7,780), and Five Old Northwest ($2,634) to the City of Reno Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department to offset costs associated with playground and equipment repairs, turf renovation, and graffiti removal in Ward Two and Ward Five parks.
3. $1,000 from Ward Two Central to Controlled Burn to present Compression! Art and Fire event on the City Plaza as part of Artown. Event attendees will enjoy free youth and alternative performances including dance, sculpture, and flame effects in a safe environment.
4. $6,500 total from Wards Two South ($1,500), Two Central ($1,500), Five Northeast ($2,000), and Five Old Northwest ($1,500) to the International Church Fellowship Youth Empowered to Succeed (Y.E.S.) Program to provide activities and resources at local schools for at-risk students.
5. $1,000 from Ward Five Northwest to Truckee Meadows Tomorrow to sponsor a civic engagement indicator in their Community Indicators Program. Indicators in this program measure economic, social, governmental, environmental, and other categories important to community members.
6. $1,000 from Wards Two South to Reno Continental Little League to offset costs associated with the installation of artificial turf on the main infield at Jack Tighe Fields, located in the Moana Springs complex. The infield improvements will provide a safe and maintenance free surface that will last between five to seven years.
Each NAB’s CPG funds are designed to be used for neighborhood-specific projects. These funds are allocated to projects that the City may not have budgeted for that the NAB would like to expedite. Funds are generally intended for projects that are short term in nature and quick to implement. While funding is recommended by the boards, its use and expenditure are guided by established city procurement, expenditure procedures, and ground rules.
•Agenda Items H.5
The City Council approved a resolution donating $2,500 in Reno Access Advisory Committee funds to the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada to defray expenses associated with brining the “iCanShine” recreation-training program to Reno to teach people with various disabilities how to ride a bike. The mission of the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada is to create a positive understanding of Down syndrome. They provide events, information, education and awareness as they advocate for full community inclusion of people with Down syndrome and their families.
•Agenda Items H.6
The City Council approved a resolution donating $5,000 in Reno Access Advisory Committee funds to Team River Runner (Reno Chapter) to defray expenses associated with providing active duty service members and veterans an opportunity to find health, healing, and new challenges through recreational paddle sports programs. Team River Runner volunteers and partners provide local communities unique opportunities for the active, safe and positive support of healing service members and their families through active recreation programs.
• Agenda Item K.1
The Reno City Council approved several appointments for Boards and Commissions:
Reno City Planning Commission: Charles Reno
Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority: Jerry Hall and Rick Murdock
Recreation and Parks Commission: Nathan Daniel and Layne Van Noy
The City of Reno continues to look for enthusiastic citizens to gain leadership experience and volunteer for Reno by serving on Boards and Commissions. For more information about the latest opportunities to serve or for a complete list of a complete list of all Boards and Commissions and appointments contact the City Clerk’s Office at 334-2030.
• Agenda Item L.4
The City Council approved the allocation from Council Member Hillary Schieve’s Council donation funds for fiscal year 2012-2013 in the amount of $5,354 to the City of Reno Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department. These funds are to be used to fund the efforts of the Senior Citizens Advisory Board to offer programs and events for seniors in our community and for the Arts and Culture Commission Art Blast for the juried art show planned for September 7-8, 2013 at the McKinley Arts and Culture Center. Council donation funds can only be used for nonprofit organizations that provide substantial benefits within our community.
