Around the Arch Blog

The Reno City Council will meet again on January 8, 2010 at 1:30 PM in the Reno City Council chambers to discuss ways to shore up a projected shortfall of $3.6 million in the current Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget. Another budget session is set for January 27, 2009 to deal with an anticipated bigger shortfall of $16 million in the following fiscal year, Fiscal Year 2010-2011.

In the first of what will be a series of budget workshops over the next several months, City Manager Donna Dreska and Finance Director Mary Ann Parrot told members of the Council today the projected shortfalls are the result of continued declines in revenues and that the City needs to implement long-term solutions to balance the budget in subsequent years. Read the rest of this entry »

Reno prides itself on being a unique, 24 hour town.  That is why many of us love living here!  But some are spoiling the downtown scene by drinking too much and creating all sorts of problems.  What’s the solution to these rowdy, sometimes annoying and sometimes potentially dangerous people? 

If you think  you have a solution that would make the bars, restaurants, downtown residents and downtown businesses happy, you might be a perfect fit to serve on the downtown Alcohol Advisory Committee. Read the rest of this entry »

Reno residents are taking advantage of federal programs aimed towards helping first-time homebuyers purchase foreclosed homes. We met up with first-time home buyer Pam McClean and her realtor Tiffany Dean to talk about her “house hunt”. The City’s Community Reinvestment Manager Jodi Royal-Goodwin explained the federal programs she administers to help residents purchase homes.

If you’re thinking about expanding your business or starting a new one, you already know how tough it is to get financing right now. Fortunately, thanks to action taken by the Reno City Council today, you now have another option if your business is in the City of Reno.  Check out the small business loan program that will now be administered through Nevada Microenterprise Initiative (NMI). Read the rest of this entry »

The City of Reno and the Reno Redevelopment Agency will help struggling local businesses weather the economic downturn through a program called the Reno Community Vitality and Economic Recovery (RECOVER) program.  It is designed to ease the impacts of the recession and stimulate the local economy to create new jobs at the same time.  Read the rest of this entry »

The Reno City Council approved the expenditure of $50,000 for services from the Nevada Small Business Development Center to the Reno Redevelopment Agency. Since 2005, the Agency has utilized the services provided by the SBDC to assist small businesses working with the Agency.

The SBDC is a statewide business assistance outreach program of the University of Nevada, Reno, College of Business. The Center provides a variety of technical assistance to support Nevada business such as counseling, consulting, education, training and environmental compliance. The Center also assists in gathering data, statistics and research. The Center is a valuable resource and important tool that provides information ranging from the basics, such as how to start a business to providing more advanced strategies such as how to grow a business.

The SBDC provides free counseling to would-be small business owners and existing small businesses at the Redevelopment Agency at City Hall and at its UNR Campus location University of Nevada, Reno, College of Business Administration Ansari Business Building, Room 411, Reno, Nevada 89557-0100.

Over the course of a year, a comprehensive review aimed at improving the process to obtain a business license in the City of Reno has been implemented. The goal was to make getting a business license more customer-friendly, as well as streamline the process. The review was in response to concerns raised last year by second-hand dealers, including antique dealers and pawnbrokers.

On September 9, 2009 Council accepted a final report on the initiative.

During the year-long study, staff worked with a Business License Task Force made up of representatives from the business community. The Task Force provided input and recommendations that included creating a Business License Guide and instructional video, as well as online application process requirements and changes to the processing of alcohol licenses.

While the action plan has been implemented, the work to improve the business license process will be ongoing.

The Reno City Council is moving forward with an impact fee proposal but wants more input before deciding whether the timing is right.

On August 19, Council accepted the land use assumptions to determine an impact fee formula. The assumptions are the projections over the next 10 years regarding changes in land uses, densities and population for the City of Reno and Sphere of Influence. The adoption of the assumptions is just one step in a lengthy process of implementing impact fees. Five more steps are still ahead.

Due to the economic downturn, Council agreed to hold a workshop to receive more input from all stakeholders on whether the timing is right to continue moving forward with the proposal. The workshop would be held in late September or early October with a firm date, location and time that will soon be determined.

In November of 2008, the City of Reno began a lengthy process established by state law that allows Cities to impose impact fees as a way to ensure new development pays for growth to help fund police and fire facilities and parks. Generally, the City receives fees for parks, and obtains other police and fire infrastructure improvements and/or contributions from developers through negotiations. Supporters say the impact fee proposal would provide an equitable formula that would determine a consistent fee.

For Memorial weekend, I had a great time camping, visiting with friends, and exploring some of our beautiful area. During my little four day vacation, I went to some nearby historical mines – Nightengale Mine and M.G.L. Mine. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see these places and are interested in this type of thing, I would recommend taking the short little trip. While there, I was amazed at the history and couldn’t help but think of how life once was and how the people that lived during that time worked so hard. They built amazing structures with such limited resources. They also had to travel so far for necessities. All these thoughts came to my mind while knowing how important it is to honor those that help preserve history. With that said, in May the City of Reno formally celebrated its history. Our City Council honored the month and also recognized individuals in our community for their contribution. I’d like to acknowledge those individuals and thank them. Cheers to history and those that help preserve it!

The award winners:
• Nancy “Nan” Spina – Distinguished Service Award
• Kelly Rae and Pamela Haberman from HabeRae Investments, Inc. – Advocate Award
• Ginsberg/Cassity Home (Mr. and Mrs. Cassity) – Residential Award
• Lane Building at 401 West 2nd Street (University of Nevada Reno) – Non-residential Award
• St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral at 310 West 2nd Street (Catholic Diocese of Reno) – Non-Residential Award
• Lake Mansion at 250 Court Street (VSA Arts of Nevada) – Historic Landmark Award
• Linda P. Newman, Map Librarian from the University of Nevada, Reno – Historical Resources Award

Are there some mornings you wish you could just teleport yourself to work?  Unfortunately we don’t have that technology just yet, but there is something in the works you will find interest; Rapid Transit is coming to Reno!  

This fall Reno will see the beginnings of what is called bus rapid transit or BRT.  The concept is similar to a light rail system but the vehicle is equipped with rubber tires and looks very much like an extra long bus.  BRT is being used very successfully in other cities such as Eugene, Oregon.  

The route will initially run north and south on Virginia Street from downtown to the Meadowood Mall.  Later phases of this plan call for a streetcar system similar to one used in Portland.  It will connect the Convention Center to downtown.  We will keep you posted as there are new developments on this sustainable living plan.