SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
During the weekend, Reno’s Community Safety & Service Team (CSAST) visited several downtown businesses during peak operating hours to ensure the health, welfare, and public safety for people visiting Reno businesses.
“We did not find any major public safety issues during our visits this weekend,” advised Alex Woodley, City of Reno Code Enforcement Manager. “Our team is looking forward to continuing to work with business owners in providing a safe atmosphere for everyone visiting these establishments.”
Issues identified during this weekend included:
- Insufficient number of licenses for bartending staff and operating bars
- Minor electrical issues
- Excessive noise
- Open container violation
- Public intoxication causing a disturbance
- Employees without Alcohol Education Cards (required by the State of Nevada)
The CSAST was created to ensure departments within the City work collectively with business and property owners. The team consists of representatives from the Reno Police Department, Code Enforcement, and Reno Fire Department plus will include other agencies when needed. CSAST contacts businesses to educate on required rules and regulations and provide corrective actions to ensure compliance with those rules along with proactively working with business owners in problem-solving endeavors in order to minimize continued or potential problems.
The joint approach provides for minimal contact for the business/property owner with different agencies, avoids contradictions between agencies, and ensures all issues are addressed with the intent to provide for a safe environment for all visitors and residents within the city. This initiative will also assist in reducing calls for service to establishments, minimizing the strain on public safety resources.
The concept of the team was developed from the work done by the Downtown Alcohol Advisory Committee (DAAC) which consists of representatives from downtown residents, business owners, and officers from the Reno Police Department. The DAAC provides input and recommendations to City Council regarding alcohol related issues within the boundaries of Keystone Avenue, Wells Avenue, Interstate 80, and California Avenue.
Attached is a letter that was sent out to business owners advising about visits from the Community Safety and Services Team.
