By Carla O’Day
A three-year, $8.3 million collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Reno Fire Department Administrators Association was approved Wednesday by Council members.
Pay for battalion chiefs, division chiefs, emergency medical dispatch chiefs and fire marshals will increase 2 percent starting July 1, 3 percent in July 2017 and 3 percent in July 2018, the contact states. It’s their first raise since 2008.
Battalion chiefs currently earn $53.10 hourly. The other chiefs make $61.16 per hour.
Each is entitled to 11 holidays, a floating holiday and 8 hours for their individual birthday.
“They get time in their holiday bank,” Chief David Cochran said. “They get 8 hours in their next check after their birthday that they can use.”
Cochran said the birthday perk has been in place since he joined the department 23 years ago.
Overtime is earned in 15 minute increments but each employee has the option of receiving additional compensation or taking equivalent time off in lieu of payment.
Other Council Highlights
The following are from the city of Reno
- An abandonment of a 20-foot wide by 150-foot long section on the east side of Nevada Street south of its intersection of University Terrace was approved.
- A 20-acre site at Pan American Way and Terra Court in the North Valleys was annexed into the city at the request of the property owner.
- The Council accepted a $47,787 grant from the Community Foundation of Western Nevada’s Truckee River Fund to hire a cleaning crew along the river.
- A $42,547 grant was accepted from the Community Foundation of Western Nevada to purchase pool equipment to aid people with disabilities who go to city pools.
- Electronic citation computer hardware for the Reno Police Department will be purchased for $190,147 from Tyler Technologies with funds from a Nevada Office of Traffic Safety grant.
- The Council heard a presentation from city staff on updating amendments to a restricted gaming license ordinance. Proposed ordinance changes include definitions of gaming, bar top requirements for bars with more than seven slot machines, proof of gaming revenue not exceeding 50 percent of all revenue generated, grandfather provisions, annual revenue audits from the city to ensure compliance and an enforcement process. Hearings are tentatively scheduled during the June 15 and July 20 meetings.
- Council affirms Planning Commission decision on The Eddy downtown container park project: There was a Public Hearing regarding the proposed downtown container park project, called The Eddy, located at 16 South Sierra Street. Council heard an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of a special use permit regarding the park’s footprint and design. The site is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of South Sierra and Island Streets.
Council unanimously approved to affirm the Planning Commission’s decision with the following additional conditions: that the venue be open to all ages at all times; no smoking or vaping will be allowed on the premises; special activities cannot exceed two days per month; and sound limitations must be improved in advance by code enforcement. Furthermore, revised hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with exception of special activities, which will be 8 a.m. to 9 pm Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Council agreed they could make the required findings with regards to the special use permit.
