City of Reno, NV
10/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/09/2025 11:01
October 8, 2025 Reno City Council Meeting Highlights
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 - Design Engineering Services Agreement for the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility Thickened Primary Sludge Pumping Improvements Project
Council approved a consulting agreement for design engineering services with Keller Associates for the Thickened Primary Sludge Pumping Improvements Project at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF). The contract is an amount not to exceed $600,000, with Reno's share being $411,780 from the City's Sewer Fund. TMWRF is an industrial wastewater treatment plant that processes most of the raw sewage from the Truckee Meadows. As part of the treatment process, solids are separated from the liquid stream, thickened, and then pumped to a digestion facility. The existing Thickened Primary Sludge (TPS) system is aging and increasingly unreliable, requiring frequent maintenance due to high pump pressures and hydraulic issues within the piping network.
B.4 - Interlocal Agreement Extension for Horse Protection Project
Council approved the extension of an interlocal agreement between the City and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to install wildlife fencing along State Route 341 (Geiger Grade) as part of the Horse Protection Project - South Phase. Increasing development in the area has led to more encounters between vehicles and horses along unfenced roadways, creating safety concerns. This project aims to improve safety by completing a continuous fence line in the area. The updated agreement, which extends through June 30, 2026, provides for reimbursement of up to $280,000 from the Nevada Department of Transportation for design and installation of improvements within their right-of-way. The project will be completed using funding from private donations, the Regional Transportation Commission, Washoe County, and the City of Reno. Council previously authorized a contract not to exceed $660,000 to complete the work, which will connect the South Phase to the North Phase barrier funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
B.5 - Grant Awarded to Reno Police Department for Regional Gang Unit Operations
Council accepted a grant in the amount of $17,260 from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice Assistance (OCJA) for the Reno Police Department to use for regional gang unit operations. The Office of Criminal Justice Assistance has provided financial support to combat crimes in our region for many years. This grant funding will be used to support technology that allows for the quick analysis of fired cartridge cases, in order to combat gun crime.
C.2 - Results of City's 2025 Community Survey
Council received a presentation on the results if the City's 2025 Community Survey. In spring 2025, the City conducted a community survey to assess public perceptions and satisfaction with City services. The City plans to conduct a similar survey every two years, reflecting its commitment to using data and community input more strategically to inform decision-making.
B.3 - Design Engineering Services Agreement for the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility Thickened Primary Sludge Pumping Improvements Project
Council approved a consulting agreement for design engineering services with Keller Associates for the Thickened Primary Sludge Pumping Improvements Project at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF). The contract is an amount not to exceed $600,000, with Reno's share being $411,780 from the City's Sewer Fund. TMWRF is an industrial wastewater treatment plant that processes most of the raw sewage from the Truckee Meadows. As part of the treatment process, solids are separated from the liquid stream, thickened, and then pumped to a digestion facility. The existing Thickened Primary Sludge (TPS) system is aging and increasingly unreliable, requiring frequent maintenance due to high pump pressures and hydraulic issues within the piping network.
B.4 - Interlocal Agreement Extension for Horse Protection Project
Council approved the extension of an interlocal agreement between the City and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to install wildlife fencing along State Route 341 (Geiger Grade) as part of the Horse Protection Project - South Phase. Increasing development in the area has led to more encounters between vehicles and horses along unfenced roadways, creating safety concerns. This project aims to improve safety by completing a continuous fence line in the area. The updated agreement, which extends through June 30, 2026, provides for reimbursement of up to $280,000 from the Nevada Department of Transportation for design and installation of improvements within their right-of-way. The project will be completed using funding from private donations, the Regional Transportation Commission, Washoe County, and the City of Reno. Council previously authorized a contract not to exceed $660,000 to complete the work, which will connect the South Phase to the North Phase barrier funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
B.5 - Grant Awarded to Reno Police Department for Regional Gang Unit Operations
Council accepted a grant in the amount of $17,260 from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice Assistance (OCJA) for the Reno Police Department to use for regional gang unit operations. The Office of Criminal Justice Assistance has provided financial support to combat crimes in our region for many years. This grant funding will be used to support technology that allows for the quick analysis of fired cartridge cases, in order to combat gun crime.
C.2 - Results of City's 2025 Community Survey
Council received a presentation on the results if the City's 2025 Community Survey. In spring 2025, the City conducted a community survey to assess public perceptions and satisfaction with City services. The City plans to conduct a similar survey every two years, reflecting its commitment to using data and community input more strategically to inform decision-making.
Top highlights include:
- The survey received 3,247 responses, exceeding the original goal of 1,500.
- Respondents were most satisfied with Reno as a place to live, visit, and work.
- Least satisfaction was reported for public transportation, downtown, and traffic.
- Fire and 911 services, along with City activities, received high positive feedback.
- Traffic flow, code enforcement, and crime prevention has the most dissatisfaction.
A community webinar is happening on Wednesday, October 15 at 2 p.m. if community members have questions related to the 2025 Community Survey.
C.3 - Discussion on Proposed Sewer User Rate Increases
Council received a presentation on the sewer user rate sufficiency analysis, public feedback on proposed 8 percent rate increases over two consecutive years, and updates to the sewer utility assistance program. Council chose not to make a recommendation at this time and directed staff to bring the item back for discussion at the October 22, 2025, Reno City Council meeting to allow for further review of all presented alternatives. The proposed sewer increases are driven by rising capital improvement and treatment costs. Based on the DOWL analysis, the rate increases are necessary to maintain the Sewer Fund's solvency.
D.2 - Abandonment of Giroux Street near Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
Council approved the abandonment of Giroux Street, north of its intersection with Kuenzli Street, to the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony (RSIC). This section of the street mainly serves RSIC employees accessing the Health and Wellness Campus and nearby parking, with limited public use. The abandonment will allow RSIC to expand the Tribal Health Center's campus. The property will be transferred to RSIC at no cost, since it will be used for a public purpose, in accordance with state law (NRS 277.053).
F.1 - Ordinance Adoption on Accessory Dwelling Units
Council adopted an ordinance regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) within the City. An ADU is a small, separate home that can be built on the same lot as a regular single-family house, which was previously not allowed in most areas of Reno. In November 2023, the Reno City Council began the process of changing city rules to allow ADUs and gathered feedback from Neighborhood Advisory Boards, community members, the Planning Commission, and City Council. At the September 10, 2025 Reno City Council Meeting, Council heard a draft ordinance on this topic. Council requested the following changes be made in response:
- Remove a 28-day prohibition on Short Term Rentals (STR)
- Adopt design standards from Reno Planning Commission recommendations
- Setbacks would be required to be the same as primary residences
Staff incorporated these requests in the ordinance adopted.
Other Headlines
- Council accepted a United We Stand (UWS) grant award of $9,318 from Washoe County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to support communications equipment compatible with protective gas masks.
- Council accepted a $8,869 in-kind donation of labor from Tholl Fence to install perimeter fencing and gates for a new dog play area at Northwest Park
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.
City of Reno, NV published this content on October 09, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 09, 2025 at 17:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]