Around the Arch Blog

From Friday, May 13 until Tuesday, June 1, Reno’s famous landmark, the Reno Arch will turn blue to honor fallen police officers.

National Police Week is May 15 through May 21, 2011 and is observed throughout the nation in order to recognize the hazardous work, serious responsibilities, and strong commitment to our nation’s peace officers.

President John F. Kennedy, in 1963, signed the Congressional resolution that each year makes May 15 “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and the calendar week of each year during which May 15 occurs, as “Police Week”, to commemorate those noble officers who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.

“I hope everyone will take the opportunity to pause and remember the officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty while serving and protecting our community and state,” advised Mayor Bob Cashell.

To cover the cost for the installation of the bulbs and the lost energy savings in taking out the current LED lights, Reno businessman Eddie Lorton of E T Carpet Cleaning donated $800 and the Reno City Council contributed $700 through their council discretionary funds. In November, community donations paid for the cost of the bulbs when the Reno Arch turned blue in support of the University of Nevada Wolf Pack.

We just started archiving our City Council meetings on our YouTube channel. We normally try to keep our videos short and sweet, but our special government channel allows us to upload long videos as well. We think this will be a nice format to archive these meetings.

As with any YouTube video, viewers can jump to any spot in the Council Meeting they want to see. We have a Council Meeting archive page set up on our website – check it out.

Acting Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts updated the Reno City Council on ideas he is pursuing to enhance efforts to clean up graffiti.

Reno Mayor Bob Cashell and members of the Reno City Council joined University of Nevada, Reno President Dr. Milton Glick and others to turn the Reno arch lights blue in support of the UNR football team. The team plays Boise State this Friday evening at Mackay Stadium.

On Monday at 5:30 p.m., Reno’s famous landmark, the Reno Arch will turn blue in support of the University of Nevada Wolf Pack.

American Sign and Crane Company donated the labor and equipment for the bulb replacement project. The cost for the bulbs has been completely funded with generous community donations.

The blue bulbs will remain in place until after the sold-out University of Nevada and Boise State football game on November 26.

“Turning our famous Reno Arch blue shows the town’s support for our Wolf Pack teams and generates great community spirit,” advises Mayor Bob Cashell.

The City of Reno is urging downtown casinos and business along with the entire community to put up blue lights or “Go Pack” on their marquees and signs.

“The University of Nevada has had an exciting fall and we have enjoyed fantastic community support for the Wolf Pack this fall. Seeing the famous Reno Arch turn blue will be great for our community as we look forward to our final home football game of the season,” Nevada Director of Athletics Cary Groth said.

What: The Reno Arch Goes Wolf Pack Blue
When: Monday, November 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Who: Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, the Reno City Council, University President Dr. Milton Glick, and Director of Athletics Cary Groth
Where: Harrah’s Plaza on N. Virginia Street next to the Reno Arch

Reno Municipal Court Judge Jay Dilworth swore in Reno Mayor Robert A. Cashell, Sr., Council Members Sharon Zadra and Dwight Dortch, City Attorney John Kadlic and Reno Municipal Court Judge Ken Howard for another term in office. Dilworth swore in Dorothy Nash Holmes as the newest Reno Municipal Court Judge to replace Jim Van Winkle who she defeated in the November election.

With the support of donations from residents, the beloved hanging flower baskets that beautify downtown Reno will return this spring, but the City has not yet received enough donations to fund the first 75 planned baskets.

The City is accepting donations through December 15^th, the deadline for the Department to order the seeds and grow them in time to hang them in May of 2011.

The donations help fund the cost of building and maintaining the baskets which averages $180 each. Residents can support this program with as little as $25.

How to Donate

Donna Dreska, who has been in the city manager’s position since Charles McNeely left, is officially Reno’s newest City Manager. The City Council approved a contract with Dreska in which she volunteered to lower her salary and benefits by more than $15,000. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkTXU9u47Xk]

On Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau recognized the City of Reno for their partnership in the successful Nevada Census 2010 Campaign.

In addition to a plaque presentation, David A. Byerman, Chief Government Liaison for Nevada, U.S. Census Bureau, presented a final operations update to the Reno City Council. In the presentation, Byerman advised due to invaluable partnership support, the Nevada Census 2010 Campaign:
• Maximized the Count for Nevada: Benefit equals $917 per person per year in federal funding for education, healthcare, and other services.
• Built a Broad Coalition: Over 1,500 partners statewide.
• Successfully Recruited 6,200 Nevadans to Work the Census: Providing short-term stimulus and extending unemployment benefits for thousands of Nevadans.
• Realized a High Response Rate: Nevada is one of only two states in the Denver Region to equal its 2000 response rate in 2010.

On December 31, the delivery of the national census count will be given to the President of the United States. For more information about Nevada Census 2010 visit www.nevadacensus2010.com.

Today, the Reno City Council approved an agreement with the Veteran’s Guest House for $200,000 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to expand housing services provided to veterans and their families seeking medical assistance at the Veterans Administration Hospital.

The funds will be used for the acquisition of property adjacent to the Guest House, renovating an existing structure and providing up to 12 additional client beds.

The Reno City Council made assisting veterans a priority in the City’s fiscal year 2010/2011 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Action Plan.

The Veterans Guest House, a 501(c)3 organization located at the corner of Locust and Taylor Streets, was founded in 1994 as “home away from home” for U.S. military service veterans receiving medical treatment at the VA Hospital and for families of veterans who are receiving care at facilities in the Reno/Sparks area. For a number of years the Veterans Guest House desired to expand its existing facility in order to better meet the housing needs of the veterans and their families. Many of the clients served have limited financial means to meet their housing needs while receiving care and need to be close to the hospital to access treatment or assist and support their family members. The Guest House’s policy is that no qualified veteran is turned away.

The CDBG Program provides annual direct grants to communities that can be used to expand affordable housing and economic opportunities, to revitalize neighborhoods, and/or to improve community facilities and services, principally for the benefit of low to moderate income individuals.

The City of Reno receives annual CDBG allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sidewalk improvements in the Linden-Grove area, the Oliver-Montello Neighborhood Revitalization, numerous pedestrian ramps within our community, and the West Street Market are just some examples of beneficial projects that were funded with the assistance of the CDBG Program.

For more information about Reno’s CDBG Program visit www.reno.gov, select “Government”, then “City Manager’s Office”, and “Community Resources.”