In our ongoing commitment to keep residents and media informed we’ve summarized the outcomes of a few key agenda items from Wednesday’s Regular Meeting of the Reno City Council. Staff Reports with more information are linked below.
B.3 - Contract Awarded for Canyon Creek AC Path Rehabilitation Project
Council awarded a contract to FW Carson Company for the Canyon Creek AC Path Rehabilitation Project in an amount not to exceed $164,149. Funding will be allocated through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. This project will remove and replace the deteriorated asphalt walking path at Canyon Creek Park, located at 1485 Robb Drive in Northwest Reno. The new path will improve pedestrian safety, accessibility, and overall park usability.
B.10 - Authorization to Bind Annual Liability Insurance Policies
Council authorized the City Manager to finalize and approve the City’s annual liability insurance policies. This includes coverage for property, cyber risks, general liability, and workers’ compensation at a cost not to exceed $3.1 million. The amount will be funded from the City’s Risk Management Fund.
C.2 - City’s General Fund Financial Update Presentation
Council received an update on the City’s General Fund for the fiscal year 2024/25 from Vicki Van Buren, the City’s Director of Finance. Recently, the City received its final consolidated tax (C-Tax) distribution from the State for June 2025. However, due to technical issues on the State’s end, the allocation was delayed and included collections for an additional week which normally would have been included in the July payment. Subsequently, the July allocation was below budget by $1.3 million. Preliminary results for the General Fund for fiscal year 2024/25 show total resources of $366.6 million and total uses of $365.3 million. This results in an unassigned ending fund balance of $38.5 million (12.3% of expenses), and an estimated surplus of $1.3 million. However, due to timing issues with C-Tax distributions, FY26 currently shows a $1.3 million shortfall.
C.3 - Consideration of Regulatory Measures for Residential and Short-Term Rentals
Council heard a presentation on information related to the residential and short-term rental (STR) market in Reno, what other jurisdictions regulate, and potential impacts of implementing an ordinance regulating rentals of all types. Council directed staff to continue to monitor rental activity and report to Council with updates as needed. On June 4, 2025, while discussing STRs, Council expressed the desire to discuss the possible regulation of all residential rentals in the City.
C.4 - Future of Lear Theater/First Church of Christ, Scientist
Council directed that the future of the Lear Theater/First Church of Christ, Scientist be referred to the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) for discussion and recommendations about a public workshop format, topics, and recommendations. Following their review, and the public workshop, recommendations will be presented at a future Council meeting. In February 2025, Council gave direction to staff to sell underutilized properties and directed the Lear Theater/First Church of Christ, Scientist to remain in the City’s inventory at the time due to lack of budgeted funds needed for repairs and/or development. Multiple parties have since expressed interest in renovation, development, purchase, or management of the Lear. A letter of interest has been received from Gina Hasler.
D.3, D.4, & D.5 - Mt. Rose Junction Master Plan & Zoning Map Amendments
Council upheld the Planning Commission’s recommendation and denied the requested Master Plan and Zoning Map amendments for the one-acre site on the west side of Plumas Street, south of Mt. Rose Street. The proposal included:
- A Master Plan amendment from Mixed Neighborhood (MX) to Suburban Mixed-Use (SMU)
- A zoning change from Multi-Family Residential (MF-14) to Specific Plan District (SPD)
- An increase in building height from 25 to 38 feet
- An increase in residential density from 30 to 40 units per acre
- Inclusion of various sustainability features
A new application for substantially the same project may not be filed for 12 months unless the City Council finds the original decision was made in error or lacked information, or the Administrator determines the project or applicable code provisions have substantially changed. The Planning Commission recommended denying the request on June 5, 2024, citing insufficient detail in the applicant’s plans.
Board Appointments
- Jeff Bonilla and Melba Ksiazek were appointed to the Senior Resident Advisory Board
- Mike Ginsburg was appointed to the Ward 2 Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB)
- Trenton Kelly, Victoria Luck, and Benjamin Johnson were appointed to the Ward 4 Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB)
Other Headlines
- Council accepted a $2,500 grant from the Youth Engaged in Service (YES) Fund, administered through the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada to support a STEM Fall Camp for the City’s Sierra Kids Program
- Council accepted a $520 Historic Preservation Fund Grant from the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office to cover registration costs for the City’s Historical Resources Commission and staff to attend the NAPC Virtual Summer Short Course
- Council supports recommendation to nominate Bethel AME Parsonage to National Register of Historic Places
Reno City Council meetings are streamed live at Reno.Gov/Meetings and televised live on Charter Spectrum - Channel 194. Past public meetings can be viewed on YouTube.
