Around the Arch Blog

During yesterday’s Reno City Council Meeting, nine students from Proctor R. Hug High School were honored for their excellence in education and successful completion of the City of Reno’s “4 Steps into the Future” program.

The city-sponsored school-to-career program course matched the students with City departments which closely complement their career goals and academic interests. Students had the opportunity to learn on-the-job while earning academic credit towards high school graduation. In addition, students received a city paid internship, bus passes, and were eligible to participate in the “4 Steps” scholarship program. Of the nine students, five of them received scholarships totally $3,000 to help with their post-secondary college studies in a publicly funded State of Nevada university or college.

Procter Lotuleili, a former student of the “4 Steps into the Future” program said, “I know that if more teens go out and start to contribute more to their community, it will help inspire younger youth to go out and do the same.”

Created in 2002, the “4 Steps into the Future” program was designed to educate youth about the range of career opportunities available in municipal government; encourage youth to participate in civic affairs; expand the diversity in future applicant pools for City positions; and to strengthen relationships with area schools.

Starting in June, Reno City Council Meetings will convene at noon rather than 10 a.m. Public comment will continue to be heard at noon, and will now be the first substantive item on the City Council agenda.

Public hearings will commence no sooner than 12:15 p.m., and controversial public hearings that draw more public participation will continue to be held at 6:00 p.m. The regular public meetings will still be held in the Council Chambers, or other properly noticed location. They will still convene on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month except for July, November, and December when the Council shall meet on the first and third Wednesday of the month and the month of August when the Council shall meet on the third and fourth Wednesday of the month.

The new schedule will create staffing efficiencies permitting cost savings, while continuing to encourage public participation in City Council meetings. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Wednesday, June 9. The meeting schedules and agendas are available at www.reno.gov.

The Reno City Council formed the Alcohol Advisory Committee to consider ways to curb problems that are taking place during late night and early morning hours in or outside of downtown bars. The group is considering options like possibly closing bars down at a certain time, making it more expensive to secure a bar license and other measures.

The City of Reno formally celebrates its history during the month of May. Part of the celebration is recognizing individuals for distinguished service and advocacy in historically related projects.

Since 1997, the Historical Resources Commission has recognized property owners and preservationists through the annual awards program. At today’s Reno City Council meeting, four awards were presented to the following deserving individuals:

Alicia Baldrica, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer – Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual or group that have shown through their work a career in preservation that has resulted in the preservation of structures, education and other related preservation activities.

Ed Bath – Advocate Award
The Advocate Award recognizes an individual or group that has through education, deeds or specific historic restoration(s) increased the public awareness of historic preservation with the community.

Chism Residence – Residential Award
The Residential Award recognizes an outstanding renovation, restoration or preservation of a single family home or multi-family residential building.

Humphrey House – Historical Landmark Award
The Historical Landmark Award recognizes structures, landscapes, objects, etc. that are considered to be of citywide, state or regional significance.

Urging all citizens to join the City of Reno and Nevada in recognizing and observing the importance of historic preservation, Mayor Cashell proclaims May 2010 as National Historic Preservation Month.

Historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth and sustainable development, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride, and maintaining community character while enhancing livability.

“Old is the New Green” is the theme for National Preservation Month 2010 which is co-sponsored by the Historical Resources Commission in Reno and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Historical Resources Commission is the official advisor to the City of Reno on matters relating to the historic preservation of cultural resources and buildings. To learn more visit www.reno.gov, click “Government,” then select “Community Development,” and “Historical Resources.”

Council Member Dave Aiazzi talks about the City’s latest wind turbine project at Mira Loma Park in southeast Reno and other alternative energy projects. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHChIbSPa2U]

Grab your bike and mark your calendars for May 15 through May 21, 2010. It’s Bike to Work and School Week!

At yesterday’s City Council Meeting, Mayor Cashell presented the proclamation to announce the week in hopes of encouraging all commuters to join the City of Reno and the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance in promoting and participating in bicycling as an alternative, non-polluting form of healthy transportation. 

Commuters who travel by bicycle employ a clean, quiet, and efficient mode of transportation while helping to reduce harmful exhaust pollutants and improve air quality, saving on fuel and maintenance costs associated with driving to work or school. Moderate physical activity such as bicycling on the part of employees can in turn be a benefit to employers by reducing healthcare costs, decreasing absenteeism, and increasing productivity.

The City of Reno and Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance encourages parents and kids to bike safely by observing all safety measures, including wearing a helmet and obeying all traffic laws.

To help raise awareness about Bike to Work Week, local elected government officials are riding from Sparks City Hall to Reno City Hall on May 17 at 10 a.m. More information will be sent out in the upcoming days.

The Reno City Council has made “green” a priority by enhancing the City’s efforts to reduce its impact on the environment by providing leadership in the community to encourage residents and businesses to join in this effort. To learn more about the Green Priority and how the City is “Keeping it Green” visit www.reno.gov.

To learn more about Bike to Work and School week visit www.bikenevada.org— “Burn calories, save money, help the environment and have fun.”

Crisis Call Program Assistant Sally Walker invited the City Council to attend the April 24th Reno Beer Crawl for the 2010 WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES! event. The event hopes to get men to walk a mile in high heels to support the end of gender violence. Council Member Jessica Sferrazza offered up her high heels to Mayor Bob Cashell. The event begins at 2pm at Amendment 21 in downtown Reno.
Sferrazza read a proclamation declaring April Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Reno. Pictured: Jessica Sferrazza, Sally Walker.

NV Energy staff gave the City Council a SureBet rebate check for $50,129. The rebate is for projects in which the City has used alternative energy in the Reno Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiative. The City has put solar panels on public buildings and is saving energy at City Hall, mostly through conservation programs. The City is also putting up wind turbines at various locations, including the roof at City Hall. Pictured: Mary Simmons and Johnny Hargrove of NV Energy and Jason Geddes, City of Reno Environmental Services Administrator, Reno City Council and Linda Bissett, NV Energy.

Transplant recipient Tracy Copeland tells the City Council how a liver donor saved her life. Council Member Dwight Dortch read a proclamation declaring April National Donate Life Month in Reno. Tracy is the event organizer for the Donate Life Fun Walk May 16, 2010, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (packet pick up opens at 8:00 a.m.). The 2-mile fun walk will be held at the Sparks Marina.