CITY OF RENO NEWS RELEASE
Agenda Item D. 1
Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts recognized Charles Sperry with the Chief’s Medal of Commendation. Sperry’s widow Milka and son Joe accepted the award. Sperry, 80, died on Oct. 16 after being shot while trying to stop a man from robbing a Bank of America in Reno. The alleged bank robber, Van McDuffie, 66, shot Sperry in the chest.
Pitts awarded the Medal of Valor to Officer German Rodriguez. Rodriquez was off-duty and in the Bank of America on Oct. 16 when the shooting occurred. Rodriguez followed McDuffie outside the bank and pursued the suspect to a bus stop where he removed the suspect’s weapon as on-duty police officers arrived.
Pitts also honored Officer Anthony Della with the Life Saving Award for his efforts to save a stabbing victim’s life after an altercation at the corner of Second and Lake Streets.
Pitts gave Life Saving Awards to two members of the Downtown Enforcement Team. Officers Brian Bocchese and Adam Blount came to the aid of a homeless man who was on fire.
Agenda Item E. 5
The City Council approved an agreement between the City of Reno and the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) to fund construction of the new Virginia Street Bridge in downtown Reno. The project will replace a more than 100-year-old bridge, which has the lowest sufficiency rating in Nevada and needs to be replaced.
The RTC will allocate up to $2 million in regional fuel tax dollars for the project. The City has also garnered funding totaling $21.2 million for the Virginia Street Bridge Replacement Project from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) and the Reno Street Fund. Each agency has budgeted, or is in the process of budgeting for the respective portions of the project. Construction is set to begin in late spring/early summer. For more details on the bridge design, art and historic components, go to http://vsbreno.com/
Agenda Item I.2.2
The Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that increases the cost of parking tickets for limited-time parking spaces from $15 to $25. The increase of the fine would support enforcement of parking in Midtown and other limited time areas.
Agenda Item J. 7
The City Council approved moving forward with a petition process to expand the current Police Special Assessment District (SAD) in downtown Reno. The petition is to increase the overall assessment from $1,324,781 to approximately $1,520,000. This would cover the cost of the existing 14 officers and an additional two officers.
Today’s action is only the first step in a long and detailed process. Should the petition effort prove successful, staff will return to the Council for a public hearing to expand the police district on March 26, 2014. The Subcommittee for the Future of the Downtown Police and Maintenance Special Assessment Districts proposed the petition process.
Agenda Item J.9
The Council approved staff’s recommendations to move forward with a new Community Engagement Program that discontinues the Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs) and directs staff to continue forward-thinking and productive citizen engagement through Community Forums in a revised format, Council Grass Roots Outreach as directed by Council Members, and Hot Topic meetings. Issues of importance will be identified by citizen input through multiple channels including the Think Reno Idea Portal, Reno Direct and direct citizen contact with staff and Council.
Agenda Item K. 1
The Council appointed Sharon Honig-Bear to the Arts and Culture Commission.
