CITY OF RENO NEWS RELEASE
Today the Reno City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting. Below are some highlights from the meeting.
• Agenda Items E.2, E.3, and E.4 (acceptance of grant funding)
In support of the city’s strategic goal of providing safe and livable neighborhoods along with efficient and responsive city services, the Reno City Council accepted the following grants:
1. An Emergency Food and Shelter Program Grant in the amount of $52,360 for the Community Assistance Center shelter operations. The grant was awarded from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is locally administered through the United Way.
2. A grant award from the Truckee River Fund, administered through the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, to construct storm water conveyance across the Highland Canal in the amount of $400,000.
3. A grant award from the State of Nevada, Division of Child and Family Services for the State Victim Assistance Academy of Nevada in the amount of $4,985.
• Agenda Item E.10 (cable franchise fees)
In the effort to be efficient and accountable, the city of Reno contracted with Scott Lewis and Associates to provide an analysis of cable franchise fees paid by Falcon Cable Systems Company II, L.P. (“Charter Communications”). Reno City Council approved the Settlement and Release Agreement, whereby Charter Communications agrees to pay $88,122 to settle the amount of underpaid franchise fees owed for the period of Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2012.
• Agenda Item F.2 (new parking meters)
Providing efficient and responsive city services, the Reno City Council approved an agreement with IPS Group, Inc. to purchase solar-powered parking meter equipment and related services in an amount of up to $391,650. The agreement includes 898 single space parking meters that accept coin and credit card, spare meters and other parts for maintenance and operation, training and support, and a web-based data management system that provides management, financial and maintenance reporting on a system, route or individual meter level.
• Agenda Item J.8 (fire protection agreement)
In providing safe and livable neighborhoods and efficient and responsive city services, the Reno City Council directed staff to work with representatives from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and Sierra Fire Protection District on revisions to the Request for Mutual Aid provision of the Amended Cooperative Agreement and to return to Council for approval of any such necessary revisions.
Highlights from the Reno City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting
• DEPFA Bank Bond Refinancing Ordinance
In the effort to promote a sustainable and vibrant economy, the Reno City Council took the first of two steps to approve the consolidation of two DEPFA Bank bonds—the 2007 Fitzgerald’s Taxable Revenue Bond ($6 million) and the 2006 Taxable Lease Revenue Bond ($14 million). Fitzgerald’s purchase of the garage property at the corner of Virginia Street and Commercial Row for $2.5 million allows for the city to combine and refinance the DEPFA Bank bonds into a new lease revenue bond that will be paid from tenant lease revenue on the 32 ReTRAC properties. The new lease revenue bond will not be backed or financially supported by the city’s general fund.
