Around the Arch Blog

Residents can have a voice in how the City of Reno allocates the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual funds for our area.

Residents can help by completing an easy survey about their housing and neighborhood improvement needs. The survey does not ask for names or addresses. The survey must be completed by March 31, 2010 and can be taken by visiting www.reno.gov under “Quick Links” then “Housing Survey.”

The survey is part of an overall planning process for housing and community development needs that the City of Reno is in the process of conducting. The plan is required in order for the City to obtain annual allocation of federal housing and community development funding.

Last year the City received more than $3.8 million in HUD funding that improved our community by supporting social services, neighborhood revitalization projects, accessibility improvements (i.e. pedestrian ramps and housing modifications for disabled individuals), and a rehabilitation program for homeowners.

I’m sure many of you are tired like I am of seeing the many fliers that are plastered all over the poles throughout our city. It makes our beautiful city look horrible and I for one take pride in my town so I don’t want to see this. Not to mention, these signs often blow away and litter our city. Very bad.

Do you know it’s not only horrible to look at but it’s actually illegal to post signs just anywhere? Many individuals and businesses are finding out that posting these signs are in violation of Reno Municipal Codes. It is legal to post these signs on private property with the owner’s permission.

On Wednesday, the Code Enforcement Division spent four hours cleaning up almost 1,000 illegally posted signs in the downtown corridor. That’s just in four hours! The signs taken down advertised for a variety of businesses, bands, or concert venues. If Code Enforcement is able to track where the signs came from those business or individuals will receive a warning letter. If some have already received a letter in the past or if they continue to post after receiving the letter then the citation process starts. The first notice is $100, 2nd is $250, 3rd is $500, and 4th & all subsequent is $1000. The notice advises to remove all signs currently and not to post in the future. If it is deemed a chronic problem of a business posting illegal signs, Code Enforcement has the authority to pursue a suspension of the business license.

I think it’s great that Code Enforcement is working at improving our city especially during these times when we are trying to keep visitors, attract new ones, and keep residents enjoying our area. In case you don’t know what Code Enforcement does, the division assists to enforce the Reno Municipal Code as it applies to property maintenance, property nuisances, and other issues in residential and commercial zoning districts.

In an effort to assist residents with household clean-ups and curb illegal dumping, Waste Management will be offering reduced residential rates for municipal solid waste at both Transfer Stations in Reno on Saturday, January 2 and Sunday, January 3. In addition, identified items associated with illegal dumping will be accepted at no charge.  For complete details and to eliminate any confusion, please read information from Waste Management.

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 »

Today City of Reno crews have started plowing in some residential areas and are continuing to go back to arterial and collector streets to re-sand and try to get those streets down to pavement. While having the sun out today does help with melting the snow, it will also pose a danger to drivers tonight since the melted snow will turn to ice. Tonight with the ice and anticipated freezing tempatures, crews will remain focused on sanding.

Tomorrow’s operations will be much the same as today with plowing continuing in more residential areas.

It’s important to remember the clearing of residential neighborhoods is based on areas surrounding schools, high traffic volume, and areas with larger snow accumulations.

City crews are maintaining 24 hour operations by working 12 hour shifts and will continue to do so (these same crews are also responsible for clearing up the roadways with street sweepers after the storm). Crews have been on this shift since Sunday afternoon when the storm arrived.

Remember more information can be found at www.cityofreno.com under “Quick Links” then “Snow and Ice Plan.” The information related to the 2009-2010 snow season includes route maps, environmental mandates, available resources, and equipment.

The City of Reno’s Neighborhood Advisory Boards are showing support for services and programs aimed at preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as offering support and counseling services.

The Neighborhood Advisory Boards approved a request to provide $6,500 in Community Pride Grant funds to African-American Community Cultural Education Programs and Testing (A.C.C.E.P.T.) to provide HIV testing and support for AIDS programs. Read the rest of this entry »

Poverty is tough, especially on children. But a little bit of funding through a City program along with the efforts of a non-profit group are helping children in this situation.

At-risk children at Echo Loder Elementary School started off the new school year with new clothes and school supplies. Now, they are also going to be delighted when they discover Santa will not miss their home this year. They will wake up to find new toys waiting for them this coming Christmas.

This all came about through a request from a non-profit group, the Active 20/30 Club to the Ward 3 Neighborhood Advisory Board. The Club asked for $1,500 in Community Pride Grant funds to provide back-to-school and Christmas shopping opportunities to help at-risk children at Echo Loder. The Board liked the idea and recommended approval to the Reno City Council. The Council unanimously approved the request.

Last month, the Ward 2 Central Neighborhood Advisory Board also agreed to provide the group with $1,500 in Community Pride Grant funds for the same purpose.

Community Pride Grant funding is designed to be used for neighborhood specific projects. The funds are generally intended for projects that are short term in nature and quick to implement. In this case, the funds are providing more than just a few smiles. It is demonstrating the commitment to better our community and providing lots of warm, wonderful memories for the children.

Re-energizing Reno
The Reno Arch goes green!

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: On Virginia Street under the Reno Arch.

The 2,076 incandescent 11-watt bulbs in the Reno Arch will be replaced with highly energy efficient 2.5-watt LED bulbs. Mayor Bob Cashell and the Reno City Council will celebrate the re-lighting of the Arch. The Reno Arch going green is just one project in the City of Reno’s $20 million Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiative.

The City of Reno looks forward to seeing you at the celebration!

The snow season is fast approaching but of course nobody seems to worry about what will happen during a storm event until it is actually snowing outside. Rest assure though the City of Reno has thought about it ahead of time. The City has a plan clearly outlined, equipment ready, materials on hand, and employees trained to respond. Oh yes, the City of Reno is prepared for the snow!

 I realize some won’t take the time to read the plan so here’s the information I think is most important to remember:

• First, don’t panic! It’s just snow and you live in Nevada now Sorry, this native NV girl couldn’t resist!
• Plowing operations can’t begin until a minimum of 4 inches or more are on the streets. If they started sooner, streets get damaged and equipment gets destroyed which equals $ to fix/replace. Not to mention the safety of the plow operator becomes jepordized along with the safety of nearby bystanders.
• If you don’t need to drive in the snow storm then stay home where you are safe. Relax with some hot chocolate and stay warm inside.
• If you do need to drive take it slow and give yourself some extra time. Just because the speed limit is 55 mph doesn’t mean you should be driving at that speed in the snow. Change your driving for the conditions. This means increase your following distance, decrease your speed, be more cautious, allow for more time to get to your destination, and keep a safe distance away from the operating plows.
• As it should be, access to schools, hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and necessary locations is the foremost objective during a winter storm. The hardly traveled street is not going to be the first street to be cleared.
• Roadways are going to be made accessible. Completely dry streets with no snow or ice is not possible or realistic.
• Lastly, remember if keeps snowing or starts snowing again the plow operators have to go back to those priority streets and continue keeping them accessible before moving to the next.

Read the rest of this entry »

Having grown up in Reno, I’m always happy to see improvements to older neighborhoods especially when those neighborhoods need a little boost. The Linden-Grove neighborhood is a perfect example.

In October 2008, the Reno City Council approved Linden/Grove Yori as the fiscal year 2008-2009 Neighborhood Revitalization Program target area. The focus of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program is to assist in efforts for families to engage in positive community gatherings and improving community esteem along with reducing blight and crime in the area.

What’s great is to date, numerous revitalization projects in the Linden-Grove area have been completed which include improvements to lighting, upgrades at Yori Park, a neighborhood clean-up, and community outreach. To add to the positive changes, the City of Reno is taking another positive step.

At the last Reno City Council meeting, the City Council approved a bid award to Gradex Construction Company in an amount not to exceed $200,000 for the Neighborhood Revitalization Phase 2 project (Linden-Grove Area Sidewalks). Maybe that doesn’t seem so great until you learn that the funding for the project is provided through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-R) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

You are probably wondering what that $200,000 exactly does for the neighborhood so here’s the answer:

The project will provide a continuous, unobstructed pedestrian path along at least one side of every street within the project area which will provide improved routes to transportation and services for the residents in the Linden-Grove neighborhood. The project consists of constructing new sidewalks where there are no sidewalks, removing and replacing deteriorated sidewalks, and construction or replacement of curb, gutter, and pedestrian ramps on various streets in the Linden-Grove area.

A definite win for the residents!