Council Dynamics, Rhetoric, and Shortchanging Discussion
This weekend, I rewatched several portions of the August 14 City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board meetings (which I had also watched live), and I have to admit that I am finding myself increasingly uncomfortable with and even alarmed by how some discussions are proceeding in front of this body—and how they aren’t.
I have grave concerns about how some issues they address are being framed by both staff and members of the body, how valid concerns raised by some are being ignored or mischaracterized by others, and in general, how many complex issues simply aren’t getting the focused attention and deliberation that I feel they (and we) deserve.
I’ve heard similar concerns from many of you about your experiences watching City Council meetings lately, and I think we’re going to have to talk about it directly, if we want to see anything change. It’s a tough issue to tackle, but it impacts important development-related decisions with far-reaching outcomes, so I think we need to.
But not quite yet (sorry). Many of my latest (although not my first) concerns along these lines were spurred by City Council’s discussion of the item I highlighted in my last Brief: the proposed relaunch of Reno’s Redevelopment Agency by City Council sitting in their role as the Redevelopment Agency Board (spoiler alert: the materials proposed by staff were adopted by a majority vote). It’s going to take me a while to formulate my analysis of the patterns I’ve been observing over time concerning these dynamics, the accompanying rhetoric, and shortchanging of discussion, so if you have similar concerns, let me know your thoughts, and we’ll come back to that in the future.
In the meantime, I’m just going to let this edition of the Brief live up to its name.
City of Reno meetings for the week of August 19, 2024
The full calendar of this week’s City meetings, plus agendas and accompanying materials, can be found on the City’s Current and Upcoming Meetings page here. They include the following:
- Monday, Aug. 19 at 4:00pm: Arts & Culture Commission
- Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 3:00pm: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Subcommittee
- Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 5:30pm: Ward 2 NAB
- Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 6:00pm: Recreation and Parks Commission
- Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 6:00pm: Reno Planning Commission. Online agenda here. Item 4.2 will be a presentation on “broader initiatives and programs the City of Reno is working on that relate to development,” so that could be informative.
- Thursday, Aug. 22 at 9:15am: Truckee Meadows Stormwater Permit Coordinating Committee
- Thursday, Aug. 22 at 5:30pm: Youth City Council
In the News
Several items that I’ve discussed have been covered via local media and opinion pieces, as have some new developments and opportunities for civic engagement.
The Railroad Tracks Ordinance
City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance prohibiting trespassing within 100 feet of either side of the railroad tracks.
“City’s railroad trespassing ordinance raises enforcement questions” (Kelsey Penrose, This is Reno, 8/16/24)
“Railroad trespassing ordinance passed: Some say ‘anti-homeless,’ others plead for approval” (Jaedyn Young, Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/15/24)
Disposition of the City’s former CAC properties on Record Street
Reno City Council voted 4-3 to move forward with negotiations with Ulysses Development Group on Wednesday. The company proposes to demolish the former Community Assistance Center (CAC) buildings on Record Street and construct affordable housing in their place.
“Council hears Community Assistance Center proposal, again” (Kelsey Penrose, This is Reno, 8/15/24)
“Reno’s former homeless shelter to be converted to 136 units of affordable housing”(Jaedyn Young, Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/15/24) [Note: the headline on this article is incorrect; the proposal would not convert the buildings to a new use, but demolish and replace them.]
Multiple City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board updates
“Reno Police Protective Association contract takes back seat to conspiracy accusations” (Kelsey Penrose, This is Reno, 8/18/24) [Note: This headline is misleading; as the article states, Councilmember Brekhus expressed concern about what she considered to be an appearance of impropriety; it was Mayor Schieve who used the term “conspiracy theory.”]
The Nevada Cares Campus homeless shelter
“Washoe County employees who work at the region’s massive homeless shelter, the Nevada Cares Campus, say they are being subjected to the same security measures as shelter clients, exposing them to safety threats.” – “County employees say their safety is threatened at Cares Campus homeless shelter” (Bob Conrad, This is Reno, 8/17/24)
Home prices in Reno
“Reno posted a record median home sale price of $672,500 in July, according to Sierra Nevada Realtors. The data is limited to existing, stick-built, single-family homes and does not include condominiums, mobile homes, apartments and new housing.” – “Reno’s median home price just hit a record high” (Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/13/24)
Designs for Truckee River bridges
“Participate in the design of the new Sierra Street Bridge” (Mike Van Houten, Downtown Makeover, 8/8/24)
“OPINION: Terrible plans sends semi trucks to Truckee River and historic area” (Ky Plaskon, Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/13/24)
Land Development Applications
Remember that you can check the City’s Land Development Projects webpage to view recent applications. The latest include an abandonment of part of Record Street south of East 4th Street and adjacent land behind the historic Morris Hotel and Abby’s Highway 40 totaling around 5,000 square feet (see below). That abandonment request is currently scheduled for review by the Ward 3 NAB on September 3 and a decision by Reno City Council on September 25. View the website for more details.
Read the rest at the Barber Brief.
The Barber Brief is an independent e-newsletter and blog written by Dr. Alicia Barber on the Substack platform. It is reposted by This Is Reno with her permission.
