Around the Arch Blog

Council Member Dwight Dortch read the proclamation declaring April 4-10 Reno Community Development Week. Community Investment Manager Jodi Royal-Goodwin accepted the proclamation thanking the Council for their commitment to the program, which has been very busy with new President Obama Incentive Programs to help residents.

Council Member Sharon Zadra presented the proclamation to Phillip Ulibarri from the Development Office at the Washoe County Health Department. The proclamation seeks to raise awareness of the problem in our community Ulibarri noted some national child abuse statistics that have found that nearly five children die every day as a result of child abuse and more than three out of four are under the age of four-years-old.

Council Member Jessica Sferrazza read a proclamation declaring April Fair Housing Month in Reno. The Executive Director of Silver State Housing Katherine Knister thanked the Council for their efforts to uphold the rights of citizens to live where they choose to.

On this Council Connection, Reno Council Member Dave Aiazzi discusses City action to consolidate services and share services with Washoe County and the City of Sparks. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT1jMJ7RXfk]

Thanks to the Ward Two Central Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) area residents will be able to enjoy the water play feature at Yori Park.

At last Wednesday’s Reno City Council Meeting, the Council approved a request from Ward Two Central NAB for $3,000 in Community Pride Grant (CPG) funds to the City of Reno Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. The CPG funds will be used to offset operating expenses associated with the water play feature at Yori Park.

Yori Park is a heavily used neighborhood park with a popular water play feature. Without the CPG allocation this feature would not be operational this summer due to budget restrictions. Turning the water play area on at Yori Park this summer encourages family visits while providing free entertainment and relief during the summer months.

Each NAB’s CPG funds are designed to be used for neighborhood-specific projects. These funds are allocated to projects that the City may not have budgeted for that the NAB would like to expedite. Funds are generally intended for projects that are short term in nature and quick to implement. While funding is recommended by the boards, its use and expenditure are guided by established city procurement, expenditure procedures, and ground rules.

The Reno City Council Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Michael Hernandez as Chief of the Reno Fire Department effective March 15 and welcomed him to the community. Hernandez becomes the 14th chief of the Reno Fire Department since the department was organized under the City Charter in 1903.

To learn more about the Reno Fire Department’s new chief, please go to the City of Reno’s website at www.reno.gov and follow the “Newsroom” link.

Thirty union represented positions identified as part of the City of Reno’s reduction in force have passed the Civil Service review process and affected staff members were notified today. On Tuesday (1/12/10), 12 non-union employees were notified that they were among those who were being laid off. Forty-two staff members in total were given notice this week to help reduce the $6 million budget shortfall projected for this year.

In addition, 22 open positions have been frozen and two other staff members have notified the City they will retire, bringing the total force reduction to 66 positions across all funds. The reduction in force was authorized at the Council special session held January 8, 2010.

These cuts come on top of wage and benefit concessions made by staff coming into this fiscal year, due to worse than expected revenue losses. The City reduced its budget by $5.0 million in Fiscal Year 2007-2008, $25.4 million in Fiscal Year 2008-2009 and another $14.0 million for Fiscal Year 2009-2010, with the assistance of employee bargaining units.

With the additional $6 million reduction taking place now, the City has cut more than $50 million from the General Fund over the past three years. Over the same time, almost 300 positions have been either held vacant or eliminated, equaling approximately 17% of the City’s workforce.

Since the savings for these positions will be realized between February and June this fiscal year, the impact on next year is three times as much, possibly saving more than $9 million in Fiscal Year 2010-2011, which begins July 1, 2010.

Civil Service rules provide a ten day appeal process for employees given notice, so the elimination of the following positions will be effective as of February 1, 2010:

Community Development
Inspection Services Supervisor (1)
Public Works Construction Inspector (2)
Combination Inspector (1)

Finance Department
Accountant (1)
Accounting Assistant (2)

Communications & Technology
Information Systems Technician I (1)
Communication Technician (1)
Office Assistant II (1)

Public Works
Custodial Coordinator (1)
Public Works Construction Inspector (1)
Survey Instrument Technician (1)
Administrative Secretary (1)

Fire Department
Fire Prevention Officer (2)
Firefighter (12)
Office Assistant II (2)

Cuts in the Police Department have come through holding an additional 18 unfilled positions open. These positions had been purposefully left unfilled in anticipation of further cuts being necessary this year.

The City Council will continue to look at Fire station staffing scenarios at future Council meetings. At the January 27th Council meeting, new projections for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 will be discussed that reflect new revenue forecasts and the savings projected from this reduction in force.

It is now easier to connect to the City of Reno website. The City has changed its web address to “reno.gov.”   Why?   Simply put, shorter is better.

“Reno.gov” is easier read, type and remember!  Plus, the change is part of an overall cost savings measure that saves up to $40,000 a year.

Simply type “reno.gov” into your web browser and you will be connected to the City’s website where you can perform a number of transactions online saving gas or stamps and time! Read the rest of this entry »

Other cities have streetcars and light rail systems…is the City of Reno poised to have them too?   Work continues to make it happen!

The new head of the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission told members of the Reno City Council a number of significant transportation projects are continuing to move forward including efforts to build a mass transit system along Virginia Street that could include street cars and eventually a light rail system. 

RTC Executive Director Lee Gibson said work continues with the area’s congressional delegation in Washington D.C. to secure as much federal funding as possible for the project.

 The Reno City Council has already approved a four phase concept to implement the plan as well as seven steps to move the project forward. 

The first phase of the project is underway with the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit in the downtown core.  The new RAPID buses began service in October of this year and Lee notes so far, the new buses have increased ridership by 10 % from downtown to the Meadowood Mall from a year ago.      

To learn more about this project go to the newsroom on the City’s website at www.cityofreno.com