May 28, 2014 Reno City Council highlights

Joint Special Meeting – Reno City Council & Redevelopment Agency Board

Council unanimously approved the three-year Personal Property Sublease Agreement (Rink on the River) between the Redevelopment Agency and SK Baseball Ballpark Management LLC (“SKBBM”). Due to the pending re-construction of the Virginia Street Bridge, the City of Reno will not be able to operate the rink at its current location at City Plaza during the 12 to 18 months of bridge construction. SKBBM will operate and manage the ice-skating rink, and will use the City’s equipment and machinery to do so.

Weather permitting, the rink generally operates between November 25 through at least February 24. View the Agenda Packet here.

Regular Meeting

For detailed information about the May 28, 2014 Regular Meeting, click here (click on “Agenda Packet”). For general information regarding Reno City Council Meetings, click here.

Virginia Street Bridge Replacement Project – E.2

Council unanimously approved an amendment to Highway Agreement No. PR125-13-063 for the Virginia Street Bridge Replacement Project. The amendment adds language to facilitate early property acquisition process, increase the funding for the property acquisition and extend the termination of the funding agreement to December 31, 2017. Funding agreements have been approved with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Flood Management Authority (FMA) and Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) for a total of $19.25 million.

Arts & Culture Grants – H.1 & H.2

Council adopted a Resolution to allocate $64,000 General Fund dollars to the following 18 nonprofit Arts & Culture organizations:

1. Bruka Theatre of the Sierra, Inc. – $3,650
2. Controlled Burn, Inc. – $3,650
3. David J. Drakulich Art Foundation: Freedom of Expression – $4,150
4. Inner Rhythms, Inc./Inner Rhythms Dance Theater – $4,150
5. Lake Tahoe Classical Guitar dba Sierra Nevada Guitar Society – $2,750
6. Nevada Opera Association – $3,000
7. Note-Able Music Therapy Services – $4,150
8. Reno Jazz Orchestra – $3,650
9. Reno Little Theater – $4,150
10. Sierra Nevada Ballet – $3,050
11. TheatreWorks of Northern Nevada, Inc. – $3,650
12. Holland Project – $3,750
13. Nevada Museum of Art – $3,500
14. Reno Irish Dance Company – $3,250
15. Sierra Arts Foundation – $3,500
16. University of Nevada – Sheppard Contemporary and University Galleries – $3,250
17. University of Nevada Latino Research Center – $3,250
18. VSA Arts of Nevada – $3,500

Council also adopted a Resolution to allocate $130,000 Room Tax dollars to the following 22 nonprofit Arts & Culture organizations:

1. A.V.A. Ballet Theatre – $6,500
2. Bruka Theatre of the Sierra, Inc. – $6,000
3. Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Company – $3,000
4. Holland Project – $8,000
5. Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Company – $4,668
6. Nevada Museum of Art – $8,500
7. Nevada Opera Association – $6,032
8. Note-Ables Music Therapy Services – $6,000
9. Pioneer Center for Performing Arts – $8,000
10. Reno Chamber Orchestra – $6,500
11. Reno Jazz Orchestra – $3,600
12. Reno Little Theater – $6,000
13. Reno Philharmonic Association – $6,000
14. Reno Pops Orchestra – $3,000
15. Renown Health Foundation – $7,200
16. Sierra Arts Foundation – $6,000
17. Sierra Nevada MasterWorks Chorale – $3,000
18. Sierra Nevada Ballet – $6,000
19. University of Nevada Music Department – $6,000
20. University of Nevada Extended Studies – $6,000
21. University of Nevada Sheppard Contemporary and University Galleries – $6,000
22. VSA Arts of Nevada – $8,000

The allocations were reviewed by the Reno Arts and Culture Commission (RACC).

Parks, Recreation & Community Services (PRCS) Staff Reassignments – J.1

Council adopted a Resolution finding it necessary to reduce staff of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department by four positions. Staff will work to minimize the impact of the resulting reduction in force related to The First Tee of Northern Nevada recently assuming full management and operations of the Rosewood Lakes Golf Course on behalf of the City of Reno. With the City no longer responsible for management and operation of the course, the City plans to reassign the affected employees, where possible.

Virginia Lake – J.2

Council unanimously approved a donation agreement between the City and SWD-NVL, LLC to provide financial assistance to the City and facilitate construction of public improvements designed to improve the water quality and circulation of Virginia Lake.

Reno Accelerator Funds – J.4

Council unanimously approved amendments to the existing agreement between the City of Reno and Newbean Capital (NLRK, LLC) related to the administration of the Reno Accelerator Fund (RAF). The provisions address extending the program’s performance period beyond June 30, 2014, setting performance measures, making the indemnification reciprocal and the handling of program income.

The $200,000 program is supported by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and designed to provide early-stage financing to promising startups. More information here.

Santa Crawl Economic Impact – J.5

Council accepted a report by the University of Nevada, Reno on the economic impact to the City of Reno by the 2013 Santa Crawl special event. The University of Nevada found that the Santa Crawl generates sufficient tax revenue (of taxable sales) to the City of Reno to cover the City’s costs associated with the event of an estimated $46,553. The total economic impact from non-local visitation is estimated at $5,591,067.