Unanswered questions by City of Reno officials • This Is Reno

This Is Reno asked city officials dozens of questions to verify information received through public records requests. Answers to these questions would have provided additional context and information for the 10-part investigative series. Those answers would have also given city officials the opportunity to clarify any information and ensure their perspectives were included in our series. The questions published below remain unanswered.

Except for a terse, 15-minute interview with Assistant City Manager Ashley Turney, the city refused to make available anyone to provide additional information for this series.

In addition to the following questions, which were sent in advance of publishing any articles, Reno Council member Devon Reese did not provide evidence he paid back extra expenses he included on his travel claims to the city. Council members Miguel Martinez and Kathleen Taylor also refused to respond to any inquiries from This Is Reno.

QUESTIONS TO THE CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER – NO RESPONSE

Hi Doug and Ashley,

We are working on a story about how council members are using their discretionary funds and have the following questions.

We were informed by Landon Miller that the city is refusing to make available anyone to speak to the issues raised by accounting documents. He said: “If there are specific additional questions, please provide them, and I’ll do my best to find you those answers.” He did not say why the city is refusing to make available personnel to answer questions.

We have a number of questions about what appear to be serial violations of city spending policies. A similar set of questions below is more geared for your accounting/auditing folks.

Our deadline for a response is Tuesday morning. Please feel free to call me at the number below if you prefer to answer these questions by phone. Thank you in advance.

Records show council members giving to nonprofits while campaigning. How is this not a violation of city policy?
At least one council member has used tickets or gala tables from lobbying organizations. Is this a violation of city policy in the donation, first, and then accepting tickets to attend those group’s events? That policy states that “donations shall not be made in support of individuals or for political campaigns or lobbying efforts. No donation shall provide any personal or private benefit to any Council member.”
Council resolution 8964 gives funds to Silver State Equality, a 501c4, and calls out the organization’s efforts to “elect pro-equality champions” and “pass pro-equality legislation.” How does this not violate the policy that states “donations shall not be made in support of individuals or for political campaigns or lobbying efforts.”
The city’s travel and training policy has a section dictating procedures for Unusual Travel/Training. What constitutes “unusual,” and has any travel been reviewed through this process?
Was Reese’s three-week Harvard course processed through the “Unusual Travel/Training” process? Where are those documents?
How common is it for council members to use their discretionary funds for personal development?
Why was Councilmember Taylor reimbursed for meals not documented by receipts in June of 2023?
What sort of review do expense reports go through prior to city manager approval and accounting’s check disbursements?
If an expense report is submitted that is in violation of city policy, what is the procedure to address it? Is it returned to the employee/council member for correction and resubmittal? Approved?
At times expenses such as rooms well over GSA rate or rental cars are included in travel expense reports and reimbursed to the employee, but written justification for those expenses isn’t included in the travel request or expense report. Why are these expenses then approved for reimbursement? Why is that process outlined in the policy if it isn’t followed?
Why does the city manager sign off on so many council member travel requests after travel is completed and that often show spending well above GSA rates?
Why are council and staff allowed to use GSA lodging rates on travel request forms when the actual room cost is known to be higher at the time the request is made?
How would lodging at a short-term rental at a higher cost than hotel (and with room for 8 for just one occupant’s stay), plus rideshare to get to a conference, fit within the city’s approved travel policy?
In what instances would an upgraded/non-standard room be approved for a council member?
Why are staff routinely allowed to receive meal per diem when meals are provided at the meetings?
Why did Devon Reese need a rental car for the Cities Summit in Kansas City when he stayed at a hotel across the street from the conference site? What city business was being conducted that amounted to more than 300 miles traveled in the rental car?
Why are council members permitted to add multiple days to their travel before or after a conference/event’s dates at the city’s expense and without justification for those extra days? Does the city cover the extra costs, or does the employee? (Although already requested, please provide any documentation of reimbursements by council members.)
Why did council members meet with Nevada congressional officials in Washington, D.C., rather than in Reno when they were in town? What is the need to visit them in Washington, D.C.? How does this benefit Reno citizens?
What was the community benefit of Mayor Schieve and Councilmember Reese attending the White House dinner for the president of France?
What other city staff aside from Devon Reese and Cynthia Esparza attended the Harvard executive leadership training? How is the Harvard training a benefit to Reno citizens?
Why was parks director Nathan Ullyot not included in a trip to Detroit with Mayor Schieve, Ashley Turney and Jenica Finnegan to discuss parks programs following the USCM conference in Ohio – since he is the parks director?
Ashley Turney said it is a requirement that the City of Reno be a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Can you please provide a copy of, or point to, that requirement, as we have been unable to substantiate this claim?
Did the city adopt any new vegetation plans to deter geese based on visits to parks in Michigan, per Turney?
Did Schieve, Turney and Finnegan see Taylor Swift perform in concert June 9, 2023 in Detroit?
Who used the tickets purchased for the following events?
1. Martin Luther King Gala (2 tickets) purchased February 2022
2. JA Hall of Fame Gala (1 ticket), purchased December 2021
3. Northern Nevada International Center 2021 Global Gala (table for 8) purchased September 2021
4. Nevada Women’s Lobby Annual Awards (2 tickets) purchased February 2022
5. 2021 Silver State Equality Awards (4 tickets) purchased September 2021

Similar questions for city accounting and the city auditor:

Does accounting verify expense reports against the backup documents provided prior to reimbursement?
Who among the council, manager’s office and council liaisons have purchasing cards, and how are expenses approved?
Does the city have a policy for purchasing tables or tickets for nonprofit fundraising events? Who is allowed to use those tickets? This was called out in the 2018 audit and was said to be addressed at that time. What changed then, and how is that demonstrated now?
Why are council members permitted to add multiple days to their travel before or after a conference/event’s dates at the city’s expense and without justification for those extra days? Does the city cover the extra costs, or does the employee?
When purchases are made on a city credit card, such as for a plane ticket or event registration, why are they not submitted to accounting with an expense report or other justification?
What sort of review do expense reports go through prior to city manager approval and accounting’s check disbursements?
If an expense report is submitted that is in violation of city policy, what is the procedure to fix it? Is it returned to the employee/council member for correction and resubmittal? Approved?
Have council members reimbursed the city for any of the extra travel expenses they’ve reported but used for personal travel? If so, who, when and why?
What is the city’s policy on purchasing conference registrations and travel for a member of a city commission (not council or staff)?
Why have council members been allowed to recommend and approve donations to nonprofits while also candidates (per NRS 294A.005) in violation of council resolution 9036? And while also serving in an official capacity to some of those organizations?
Who used the tickets purchased for the following events?
1. Martin Luther King Gala (2 tickets) purchased February 2022
2. JA Hall of Fame Gala (1 ticket), purchased December 2021
3. Northern Nevada International Center 2021 Global Gala (table for 8) purchased September 2021
4. Nevada Women’s Lobby Annual Awards (2 tickets) purchased February 2022
5. 2021 Silver State Equality Awards (4 tickets) purchased September 2021

QUESTIONS FOR MAYOR HILLARY SCHIEVE

Hi Mayor, this is Kristen from This Is Reno. We are working on a story about how you and the council members are using their discretionary funds and have the following questions.

Our deadline for a response is Tuesday morning. Please feel free to call me at this number if you prefer to answer these questions by phone. Thank you in advance.

Why were limos used to travel to and from the airport on your November/December 2022 trip to Washington, D.C., when a rideshare or Metro ticket would have been cheaper?
You purchased airfare and conference registration for the 2022 LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference on a city credit card but did not submit a travel request or expense report for the trip. Why?
What was the community benefit of you and Councilmember Reese attending the White House dinner for the French president?
Why did you need to meet with Nevada congressional officials in Washington, D.C., rather than in Reno when they were in town? How does this benefit Reno citizens?
You and Ashley Turney traveled to Washington, D.C. in March 2023 following a USCM meeting in Miami. What government officials did you meet with, and what were the discussions? What else was included on your itinerary that required six extra nights in the capital?
Why was parks director Nathan Ullyot not included in the trip to Detroit to discuss parks programs following the USCM conference in Ohio?
Did you go see Taylor Swift in concert while in Detroit?
Why do you need an assistant and Assistant City Manager Turney to attend US Conference of Mayors meetings with you?
Why do the US Conference of Mayors meetings require such a great increase in travel expenses in the past year?
You are quoted on the US Conference of Mayors website praising the organization for grant opportunities. What opportunities has the city taken advantage of?
Are you familiar with the council’s resolution 9036 barring council members from recommending donations while also a candidate for office?

Response received Feb. 13
Follow-up questions sent Feb. 14

Thank you for this response. It clarifies a few things, but I have a couple of follow-up questions as well.

I tried to match up the funding received as part of USCM with records. I see the DOT safety project was actually $8.9 million (not $6.9) if she’s talking about the Oddie project. I found ARPA, Dollar Wise and IRA funds as well. I only see $561,262 in NEA grants to the city from 2021-present. Any others went to specific organizations which were already receiving funds from the NEA (Artown, etc.) Does this sound accurate?

For the ARPA funds, looking at cities of similar size, Reno didn’t necessarily get any more funding than others, and in some cases much less. Toledo got $181 million and Buffalo for $331 million. Was her effort with USCM for ARPA funds solely for allocation to cities vs. counties? Was there no opportunity to advocate for more for Reno?

For the DC executive airport transfer, I couldn’t find record of any inclement weather during the timeframe for that trip.

For the Detroit trip, this provides some clarity as some documents are mixed with others. Which mayor extended that invite? Which communities did Ashley and Jenica visit?

And last, I have records for 8 trips across 2022 and 2023, but for five of them there were no travel requests or expense reports submitted. There are just flight and hotel receipts that were charged to Ashely’s city credit card. Why is there no requests/expense reports for those five?

Response received Feb. 17

QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER DEVON REESE

Hi Devon, we are working on a story about how council members are using their discretionary funds and have the following questions. Our deadline for a response is Tuesday morning. Please feel free to call me at the number below if you prefer to answer these questions by phone. Thank you in advance.

Why did you need a rental car for the 2022 Cities Summit in Kansas City when you stayed at a hotel across the street from the conference site?
What city business was being conducted that amounted to more than 300 miles traveled in the rental car?
Why did you arrive five days before the 2022 Cities Summit began, and what city business was being conducted?
Who approved your first-class and Comfort+ airfare?
Why did you need to meet with Nevada congressional officials in Washington, D.C., rather than in Reno when they were in town? How does this benefit Reno citizens?
What was the community benefit of your attendance at the swearing-in celebration for Sen. Cortez Masto in D.C.?
What were you doing on the days before and after Masto’s swearing-in?
What was the community benefit of you and Mayor Schieve attending the White House dinner for the French president?
Have you reimbursed the city for any of the extra travel expenses you’ve claimed?
What was the community benefit of your attendance at the Harvard Executive Leadership training in July 2023?
What city business was conducted before and after your attendance at the Harvard training?
Did you move discretionary funds from one fiscal year to the next in order to pay for the training?
Who attended the two dinners you paid for while in Boston — at Royal and Union Oyster House?
Who did you host at the Reno Aces baseball game in the city’s suite on Sept. 3, 2023? What was the purpose?
Who used the tickets purchased for the following events?
1. Martin Luther King Gala (2 tickets) purchased February 2022
2. JA Hall of Fame Gala (1 ticket), purchased December 2021
3. Northern Nevada International Center 2021 Global Gala (table for 8) purchased September 2021
4. Nevada Women’s Lobby Annual Awards (2 tickets) purchased February 2022
5. 2021 Silver State Equality Awards (4 tickets) purchased September 2021
Are you familiar with the council’s resolution 9036 barring council members from recommending donations while also a candidate for office?

Response received Feb. 12
Follow-up questions sent Feb. 12, Response received Feb. 12

Thanks Devon, I appreciate you getting back to me. I have a couple of follow-up questions based on your responses.

You indicated needing a car for Kansas City because it was cheaper than taking a cab. Where did you need a cab to travel to?
For the travel where you arrived early or traveled with first-class airline tickets, the records I was provided show reimbursement to you in full for the extra days/airline tickets. Can either you or the city provide me with the records indicating how you paid back the extra costs?
Were the other two city employees (aside from you and Cynthia Esparza) also attending the same Harvard Executive Leadership program or were they in Boston for another purpose? If so, do you recall which training/conference they were at?

Follow-up question sent March 4

Hi Devon – I’m reaching out for comment on your post re: Miguel Martinez reimbursing the city for travel expenses he was overpaid for. Some are calling for you to do the same, but I haven’t seen anything to that effect. Can you please let me know if you’ve reimbursed the city for any of your past travel spending, and if so how much and when? Documentation would be appreciated.

QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER MIGUEL MARTINEZ

Hi Councilman Martinez, we are working on a story on This Is Reno about how council members are using their discretionary funds and have the following questions. Our deadline for a response is Tuesday morning. Please feel free to call me at the number below if you prefer to answer these questions by phone. Thank you in advance.

Have you reimbursed the city for any of the extra travel expenses you’ve reported that fall outside of the conference dates for which you’ve registered?
Have you reimbursed the city for any expenses that may have been misreported?
Why did you file travel requests after traveling?
What was the need for the “premier executive” room at the Omni for your NRPA conference trip to Dallas? The hotel reservation indicates two guests. Who else went on that trip with you?
What city business was being conducted on the days while in NYC after the NALEO Educational Fund conference?
Why was a hotel dinner purchased when per-diem expenses were also claimed? And why was the hotel dinner included as part of the lodging costs on the expense report?
Are you familiar with the council’s resolution 9036 barring council members from recommending donations while also a candidate for office?

NO RESPONSE
Follow-up questions sent March 2

Hi Miguel – I saw that you reimbursed the city for $1,844.70 this week for travel expenses that were mis-reported. We are running an update to our story on council spending and I have a few questions. I also left a message on your VM, so if you’d like to call to respond to these questions that would be fine as well.

How did you come to that calculation?
Who completed your expense report documents before they were submitted?
Did you review the documents for accuracy before you signed and submitted them?
Why was it necessary to book an upgraded room for $915 a night in Dallas?
Why did you participate in the golf tournament at NRPA?
Why did you stay extra nights in NYC after the NALEO conference?
Why were your documents consistently submitted late?
Some people have said that with your years of experience and professional travel through TMCC you should have a firm understanding of travel policy and documentation. What went wrong here and what do you have to say to that?

Response received March 5
Follow-up question sent March 5

What I was really looking for was how you came to the $1844 total. You said “airfare, meal, some incidentals, upgraded room.” I know the plane ticket and the meal total $924.96. What does the remaining $919.74 cover, specifically and how did you come to that calculation?

NO RESPONSE

QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KATHLEEN TAYLOR

Hi Councilmember Taylor,

We are working on a story on This Is Reno about how council members are using their discretionary funds and have the following questions. Our deadline for a response is Tuesday morning. Please feel free to call me at the number below if you prefer to answer these questions by phone. Thank you in advance.

When did you join the board of directors for Eddy House?
Staff members joined ICMA membership at $200 each to reduce conference registration costs. Why did you not also become a member to reduce conference registration costs? According to records from the conference, this would have saved the city hundreds of dollars.
Why did you register for two conferences with overlapping dates that cost hundreds of dollars in registration fees when you knew you would miss much of the first one?
Why were travel requests submitted for two conferences after the conferences had ended?
Why did you park at the airport in short-term parking for seven days when a rideshare would have been cheaper?
Why did you stay in a short-term rental that slept 8 and cost far more than the GSA rate during the U.S. Conference of Mayors conference in Columbus, Ohio? Did anyone travel with you?
Who did you host at the Reno Aces baseball game in the city’s suite on Aug. 13, 2023? What was the purpose?
Have you reimbursed the city for any expenses claimed for travel, etc.?
Are you familiar with the council’s resolution 9036 barring council members from recommending donations while also a candidate for office?

NO RESPONSE
Request for correction received Feb. 22
Follow-up question sent Feb. 22

Hi there, where are the responses to our questions?

NO RESPONSE

QUESTIONS FOR CITY ATTORNEYS KARL HALL AND JONATHAN SHIPMAN – NO RESPONSE

Hi – We are working on a story about how council members are using their discretionary funds and have a question about the council resolution regarding donations from council members.
Section 1, #3 of the attached says candidate is defined by NRS294A.005, which is raising $100 or more in contributions. But then it goes on to say “from the time the member files for public office.”
So, are council members barred from recommending donations once they file to run for office? OR, are they barred from recommending donations once they’ve brought in contributions of $100 or more? This section of the resolution doesn’t seem clear and I’m looking for some clarification.