Morning, Madam Clerk. Do you have any council members on the phone? >> All right. I think All right. Madame Clerk, do you Can you hear me? >> Yeah, I can hear you. >> All right. Good morning, everyone. Thank you so much for being here. I just want to confirm, Madam Clerk, do we have a quorum or do you have anyone on the phone? Is Councilwoman Eert on the phone? >> No. >> No. >> Good morning, Madame Mayor. We do not have a quorum quite yet. >> Okay. >> All right. There you go. >> Good morning. Okay, I do I can now count to four. All right, perfect. All right, madame clerk, I am going to open up the agenda for April 22nd. And before we uh begin, I would like to introduce everyone to the wonderful and beautiful Star Lamb. She is our mayor for the day. So, I'm going to give you all my emails, all my stress, and you are a senior at what? Alpine. >> Yes. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Um I am so impressed by you. Tell everyone a little bit about yourself before we begin. >> So, I'm 17. >> Um, I'm about to graduate. >> And you're Where are you going to college? >> TMCC in the liberal arts program for criminal justice and hopes to be a 911 dispatcher. >> Cody, where are you? Cody's usually here. He would and and JW, they would gladly welcome it. Do you know that's a really, really tough job. It can be hard to get people to want to do that job because it's so stressful. >> Yeah. One of my friends who I've known for years, she's a 911 dis she was a 911 dispatcher and she had to leave because of the overwhelming stress. >> Yeah. So, we have a lot of respect for them. They're amazing. >> Yeah. >> They can do remarkable things. Even deliver babies over the phone. They Oh, yeah. >> They're incredible people. Well, uh we'll definitely put in a good word for you from Cody. I also understand your mother is an art teacher. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And you are also a big uh fan of the arts. Am I right? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, good. You like to write, correct? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Favorite food. What's your favorite food? >> Tie between pizza and sushi. >> Uh, okay. >> Mainly sushi. >> There you go. Okay. Raise your hands for sushi. Raise your hands for pizza. Oh, I think pizza's winning. I think pizza's winning. All right. Well, we we are going to begin this morning and Star, I would love for you to lead us um in the pledge of allegiance. So, please stand everyone. All right, Madame Clerk, I'm going to send it to you to for roll call. Thank you, Madam Mayor. We're calling roll for Wednesday, April 22nd 2026 Reno City Council meeting. >> Council member Taylor >> here. Council member Dor >> here. >> Vice Mayor Martinez. Council member Eert >> here. >> Council member Reese >> here. >> Council member Anderson >> here. >> Mayor Shivy >> here. >> You do have a quorum of the Reno City Council. >> And one more. You forgot one more. >> Mayor of the day >> here. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. Um, we actually have a a proclamation that we want to make sure that um, we have a lot of staff in the room and I know that they have a very busy day, but um, we would love for you how about if you read the proclamation for records and information management month. What do you think? >> I read it aloud. >> We She says, "Do I read this out loud?" >> Okay. All right. Well, then we will make sure. Councilwoman Der, would you lead star and um, Okay. So this is um an honor to the people that do this very very tough job. This is a very intense job and it's a lot of work. So we wanted to issue them a proclamation because it is records and information management month. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> All right. Take it away. How are you both? Okay. And we've got our other records team over here. All right. Well, good morning everyone and welcome to the Reno City Council meeting. Um I am honored to read a proclamation on behalf of our um clerk and our records management and it begins and and take note um mayor for the day how to do this. Okay. Okay. All right. Whereas records and information are vital assets of the city of Reno documenting the rights of citizens actions of government and community history. And whereas effective management of these records ensures transparency, accountability, and the preservation of institutional knowledge for current and future generations. And whereas Nevada revised statutes establish the framework for public records access and retention and dedicated records professionals work diligently to uphold these standards on behalf of the public. And whereas the records management division within the office of the city clerk supports every city of Reno department through the administration of the document management system, coordination of public records requests and development of policies that promote compliance and efficiency. And whereas the thoughtful integration of modern technology, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence, continues to transform how governments steward information in service of the people. And finally, whereas ARMA International and Records and Information Management Professionals across the nation observe April as records and information management month to recognize the essential contributions of those who preserve the documentary heritage of our institutions. Now therefore, I, Naomi Der, on behalf of our mayor, Hillary Elshibi, uh, do hereby declare April 2026 as records and information management month. So congratulations. And just on a personal note, I want to say that I have worked in government for several decades. And in every agency I've worked at, the clerk's office and the records management uh role has been incredibly helpful to doing my job and also keeping our the members of our public and our community informed. So, I personally am am grateful that I was able to read this proclamation because it's been very meaningful to me and I want to celebrate. Would you like to say something? >> Yes. I I would love for you just to tell the public a little bit about what your job entails. >> Okay. So our job focuses on >> Oh my name is Anthony Sullivan for the record. I am the city of Reno uh record systems coordin or sorry uh manager. Um what we try to focus on is essentially providing transparency and accountability for the city by preserving the record. We want the city to know its history, understand its history, and be able to go back and understand decisions that we made and why we made them. >> All right. >> Another big part of it is public records requests. And that is for the public to if they want to see what's going on, why decisions were made, documents that we're creating, um they can make these requests to the city and we'll give them anything that we have on those. >> Okay, that's fantastic. How many do you have about How many requests do you have in a month? >> Oh, in a month. Um >> or a year. >> Yeah. Yeah. Year. >> Years. A little bit easier. Um >> we typically track above 20,000 a year. >> And so it's a it's a lot. >> Wow. >> Um and everybody in the city helps, you know, get those records together and >> Yeah. >> and fulfill those requests for us. >> Yeah. I heard here it's really intense. >> It is. It is. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, we appreciate you very very much. >> And would you like to say something? >> She's like, "No, I don't want to say anything." >> Well, we appreciate you. >> Uh, I'm Molly Rosen, uh, records management uh, program coordinator for the city. Most of my work is fulfilling those public records requests and like coordinating with other other departments. And I think it's just a very cool way to, you know, serve the public because they're it's their records and we're just working to provide them with the records that they're entitled to. Um, and it feels very nice to be, you know, part of that essential service for the city. >> I love that. And you're exactly right. It's the community's records. It's the public's records. So, don't be afraid to reach out to these guys. All right. >> Photo. >> No, I think unless you guys really, really want one, but you probably have many. >> All right. Well, let me give you this. >> We'll come by your office. >> All right. Well, thanks everyone and thank you for what you do. >> Yeah. All right, thank you very much. Okay, getting right back on track. Um, we are going to head into public comment. Um, I am going to ask Madame Clerk, we do have a lot of people here um, for our first item, which is C1. So, what I would like to do, I would ask everyone um I would like to take general public comment and because I'm going to move up the item to C1 so quickly, I would ask if you're here uh for that item to wait and speak on that item. And so, general public comment um is not pertaining to C1. So, um I'm just trying to make it more efficient and for many of you that need to get back to work, uh I want to get this um to the front of the agenda. So that's what I would ask is that we do general public comment and then we'll go into item C1. Um actually what we'll do is we'll do consent minutes all that and then we'll go into item C1. >> So sound good? >> Yep. >> Okay. Perfect. >> All right, Madame Mayor. So our first item today is opening public comment. It should be noted for those in attendance that comments are to be addressed to the mayor and council as a whole. Comments heard under this item will be limited to three minutes per person and may pertain to matters both on and off the council's agenda. Council may not take action upon any matter not agendaized on today's agenda. When you're called on for public comment, please state your name for the record and begin speaking. The timer will begin when you've stated your name and you will be afforded three minutes. For those participating in chambers in accordance with council rules 6.3.11 while in this room, please be respectful. Disruptive behavior from audience members like clapping, yelling, whistling, etc. which impede the meeting may result in a warning issued by the presiding officer. If this behavior continues, you may be removed from chambers. If you're an attendee in the Zoom meeting and would like to make public comment, please raise your hand at this time. Madame Mayor, our first public commenter today is Terry Brooks, followed by Robin Palmer, followed by C. Mcomes. >> All right. Good morning, Terry. >> Good morning. It's me, Terry Brooks, again, and today I'd like to share with you my thoughts on retirement and isolation and what seniors have to go through. When seniors retire and start another life of their own, they give up daily interaction with co-workers that they've known for years. They knew a lot of co-workers that they interacted with every day, and they listened and learned a lot from what their co-workers would say. And the more they knew their co-workers, the more that they would find that they could use their nearest co-workers to dump some things off for their mind. It was with such friends as those that they could exchange a lot of information as well as using a lot of humor in daily conversation. And it was with friends such as those you could always console. And doing so could help each other to bring comfort to your soul. Friends such as those you could usually depend on to help solve your problems and bring them to an end. You would not only receive help from other people, but you could also give your own help to a lot of people. A major factor in our lives is social interaction. Knowing other people helps to give us satisfaction. But when we no longer have such social interaction, not being with other people can lead to dissatisfaction. When I was a librarian at a university, I had a lot of interaction with a lot of diversity. I had a lot of co-workers who would share a lot of knowledge that would help someone like me to gain a lot of knowledge. I knew a lot of professors and a lot of students too. I would help a lot of them and they would help me too. I would like to thank you all for listening to me today and as usual I look forward to coming back soon someday. >> I love that. I love it. Okay, where are we at? >> Uh this is chapter 31. Just so you know, I've only got about 15 more chapters to go. And by the way, this is the 125th time that I've read one of my poems here. >> Wow. >> Wow. And I got more than 125 left to go. >> And Star loves that because she's a writer as well. So >> yes, sir. >> We'll have to get you two together. >> Robin Palmer, followed by C. Mcomes, followed by Tara Tran. >> Happy Earth, Commissioner or Council members, I'm sorry. Happy Earth. I'm Robin Palmer, climate and community advocate. I'm a member of the energy coalition and collaborated with others in creating the document presented to you today as Sierra Club Toyota chapters proposed best practices for data center ordinances. Please note the energy coalition acknowledgment at the end of that document. I quote, "I support a text amendment for data centers and a moratorum on data centers until a text amendment is adopted." Data centers are typically resource intensive and have detrimental impacts on a community and its residents. A planning commissioner for Santa Clara analogizes data centers to tapeworms in that they continue to grow, they continue to feed, they continue to consume resources, and they provide almost nothing to the city." End of quote. Deja vu. Those were my opening statements for public comment I gave at your February 26, 2025 meeting at which you considered directing staff to initiate a text amendment on data centers. The vote then tied and a text amendment did not move forward. Thank you for your reconsideration today. Ms. Taylor and Miss Anderson opined in the 2025 meeting that the cup process was sufficient for evaluating data center applications. I advocate for additional code to set minimal ground rules for data center development to protect our community and continuing the CUP process for each specific application. I applaud staff's proclivity to work with regional partners including the Truckucky Meadows Regional Planning Agency, Wo County, and City of Sparks to develop a unified set of standards followed by a public review process. Furthermore, I request you reconsider a moratorum on data centers until guard rails are in place. Miss Fouse indicated in 2025 that the text amendment process would take six months. Any data center application received in the interim would be evaluated by current inadequate standards. As I said in 2025, quote, please hit the pause button and consider the full impact of data centers on our community. Thank you for your service and for the opportunity to speak. >> All right. Thanks, Robin >> C. Mcomes, followed by Tara Tran, followed by Sheena Duckworth. >> Hi, how's it going? I know you said that this is going to be opened up in the comment for A3, but we already signed up. Yeah, go ahead. Is that okay? Okay. The >> Go right ahead. >> How's it going? My name is C. Mcomes. Uh I am a representative of the water over data alliance. Um wa um and I want to say first and foremost we are a group that's uh entirely opposed to data centers. Um we uh I think that there's an important if there's an important lesson I want to impart uh with y'all here in a conversation that I want to start. It's about uh Nevada's conceptualization as a wasteland and how unfortunate that is and how I think it's advantageous for all of us to counter that narrative, you know, and understand how dangerous that narrative is. you know, the um this is a narrative that has existed uh since Nevada uh came into statehood. You know, this is a narrative that drove extractive industry in Virginia City. This is narrative that drove uh extractive industry throughout this state throughout its history. And we really it's advantageous for us to counter that narrative here and now. And the only way to truly counter that narrative is to reconceptualize the function of the land by putting the health and safety of the river at the center of our world and understanding that is a way that we can do that. So uh the late Norm Harry would always say that uh what's good for the fish is good for the people. And I think that we need to we need to interrogate that a little bit and understand that a little bit. Uh what he's the argument that he's making here is that we have nothing we have nothing if we don't have the health and safety of the river. We don't have clean drinking water. We don't have fish. We don't have food. We don't have a way. Like this is at the core of everything. This is at the core of life here in the Trucker uh Truckucky River Basin. And I I I really um we are operating uh in a lineage of activism that has uh you know been throughout Nevada history. And especially I want to call your attention to recent more recent Nevada history. uh even the uh the function of activists are the ones that have kept nuclear waste out of our backyards. You know, many of whom are here represented within the Sierra Club within within uh third act. You know, this is within the former group citizens alert. Like this group worked with the Western Shoson and kept us from glowing a radiated green. You know, we need to like I if I want to impart anything with you and for you to take anything away here today is that we need to put the health and safety of the river at the forefront. And we're in a lineage of activists that have done that and we will continue to do that and it will not stop here today. No matter what you decide, um, we will fight like hell for the health and safety of the river because we understand that our entire world exists because the Truckucky River exists and is health is is healthy and safe. Um, so uh I would like to uh please please have you consider a moratorum on data centers. I would like to consider not approving data centers like many states have done, like many municipalities have done. Please, thank you so much. You're gonna hear a lot of really good comments, a lot of really good facts. I look forward to it. >> Thanks, C. >> Tara Tran, followed by Sheena Duckworth, followed by Jerry Myths. Hi, my name is Sat Trran and I also uh organize with water over data. We are an indig indigenousled organizing group led by the Harry family. Um as mentioned before they have had a very long history of fighting for protection for water in our in our region. Um, I do want to call that obviously I support C1 and I would like you guys to support C1, but I think as far as what that will entail, just know that that is going to be a conversation beyond just we need policy. We need robust policy that protects the watershed and includes the full consent of all native tribes and impacted native peoples in the watershed. and that is includes the WO and that includes the Pyramid Lake PAU tribe who feels the most effects of impacts to our water in our watershed. Uh they're at the terminal end of our lake and we know from the construction of the Derby B dam and the divergence for agriculture what it means for extractive industries to come and take and take at the detriment of the fish and the detriment of the people. Um I'm really really so glad to see you guys considering this today. I think it shows the potential for growth. I remember back when y'all were voting on the web data center, uh, you know, I remember when council member Taylor said all I have to say is we're open for business um about data centers. So like, you know, I'd love to maybe think about uh who is are are do you guys serve, right? You know, uh who do you serve? Uh the industries that are purely speculative that are losing money. I I'm going to put on the other side of this that this this economy um this this construction of hypers scale data centers for AI usage is not profitable. Open AI like all of these different companies they're not making money. They're getting giant subsidies from uh the federal government because they're this data is being used for surveillance. This is data is being used for war. Um it is not being used to our benefit. that that need is artificial. It's not there. What we need is clean water, right? I remember uh council member Reese, for example, saying, "Well, I think maybe data centers are good for our climate because AI can make fire maps." I was going to say, uh we can make fire maps. Um we don't need we don't need uh data centers to to to save our climate. Uh we need a council uh city council that will protect us. Um, and I just want to plug that on May 1st at 11:00 a.m. at the believe sign, uh, we will be doing a, uh, we'll be getting together to call for, uh, against the budget mismanagement that we've seen so far. Y'all have been talking about increasing the police budget to be 37% of the general fund. Meanwhile, like we don't have money for a clean river. We don't have money for for outreach. We don't have money for housing assistance. So, see you all there. Thank you, Sarah. I think it's >> Sheena Duckworth, followed by Jerry Miffs, followed by Tammy Holtzill. >> Hi, Mayor Shivi and city council members. My name is Sheena Duckworth. I moved up here from the Las Vegas area in 2021. Uh >> oh. >> No, I love it up here. It's a lot better up this year. Um, but I'm here because I'm participating in the 20 2026 Reno Sparks uh Chamber of Commerce leadership program. Um, so I joined this program just to learn a little bit more about how the local government works here and to network with uh other uh leaders in the community. So it's been a great experience so far. Um, so I'm really here just to sit to observe and to really see where I can help support the work that you guys all do to make Reno a good place to live. So, >> thank you for your service. >> We're glad you're enjoying it. >> Yes, >> it's a great program. >> Way. Yes, >> it's a great program. >> Yeah, I met a lot of great people so far, so it's been great. >> Okay, good. >> Sheena, would you meet with my staff so that we can get a coffee set up? >> Of course. >> Thanks so much. >> Thank you. >> Jerry Myths, followed by Tammy Holtz, followed by Tyler Coloulton. >> All right, Jerry, come on up. She's gonna She's gonna help you. >> Good morning, Jerry. >> Show these two first. Oh, >> look at that. >> Are those your babies? >> Um, >> good morning, Madame Mayor and Reno City Council. Been a while since I've been here. Um, I've been fighting um an eviction notice. I live in a senior complex. Three times they tried to evict me. Guess what? I'm still standing. With the help of city and county, we shut these people down. They they were going to relocate me while they renovated their their dump of an apartment complex for six months at the Ramada. And I said, "No, you're not going to do that." And they didn't. They didn't. With a little pressure, a little pressure, they relocated me for three weeks. When I came back, the hearing impaired doorbell was not in. There was no handles in the bathroom to come out of the shower. The AC unit was was an old one. and the roaches. Because of the roaches, they had to spray and they didn't tell me they were going to spray while I was asleep with my two cats, Casper, the boy, and his mom, Coco. They sprayed that night. Casper died. No, I don't think I get emotional. 18 years I had these two cats, a mother and a son. But they sprayed they sprayed my cat that back that place on Carville drag. Oh, that was hard. That was hard. Now, now it's just me. Me and Coco. Um, the mother, >> we're going to follow up on that. >> They're going to pay for that. >> One way or another. >> They killed my cat. Chrissy and Robert and Patrick, the very people that that you gave kudos to when you had the tent ground baking digging when you came out came out there Hillary. Those very people, they're evil and they're supposed to bring food out there. They went to McDonald's. They got those little packets of mayonnaise and ketchup. Call that food. They took out the piano. Seniors love that the pool table activities. They just want to collect the rent from seniors. Anyway, >> thank you Jerry. >> I wish I had more time. >> Thank you, Jerry. So, Star, just a little background about Jerry. Good to see you. He calls everyone seniors, right? And he has been instrumental in getting senior crossings identified throughout the city. And he does >> help me put the first senior street sign in Reno at a crosswalk. It says seniors crosswalk. And when they look up to that sign, they feel like somebody recognizes me. And that's because of you. >> No. Great job. It's because of you. Thank you, Jerry. I'm going to have someone follow up with you. >> What the hell? >> Tammy Holtz, followed by Tyler Coloulton, followed by Steve Mccerk. >> Tammy, >> where am I going? >> All right. Hi, Tammy. Overhead please. Hello, Tammy Holt. Still for the record. Nice to see you guys again. I'm here because last Friday I was at the RTC board meeting and two, the only two for the city of Reno were not there. So, I'm bringing it to your attention now. I sent over two months ago an email to you regarding Lemon Drive and the $88 million that RTC wants to spend for a two-lane road on a silt burm. I did not receive any responses from you at this time. Most of the residents, including myself, believe that RTC is unconstitutional because we do not have representation on that board. It's taxation without representation. This has got to change. We need responsive government. We need government that works with us, not against us. We need a government that is going to work acts actually as a true government. That has not happened and that's why I am running for county commissioner at this time because I have seen what you have done to the north valleys without proper representation up there with the annexation laws. Swan Lake is still contaminated. You're still putting effluent with PAS in that lake. You are also pumping that currently by Tommois's press release to American Flats, which you guys said you weren't going to do. There is a major problem here. Not only are you polluting our area, but then you're polluting another area on top of that in our north valleys in part of unincorporated Wo County that you have invaded without having the infrastructure in place to do what you need to do properly. That's why I am here. People are tired of traffic and not having responsive government and that is your guys's fault and that again is why I'm running. Tammy Holtz still for County Commissioner District 5 and please take a look at this and respond. Thank you. >> Okay. Thanks Tammy. Tyler Coloulton, followed by Steve Mccerk, followed by Cassandra Bums. >> Hi you guys. Nice seeing you all. Hi Brandy. Um you guys got a full house today. Uh so first I just want my name is Tyler Coloulton. Uh thank you guys. Devin Reese, Councilman Reese, Mayor Mashie, uh Angela Fos for really working with us and Jackie as well um for working with us for the entertainment code. Um, you guys have presented a pilot program that will help get rid of the conditional use permit. Um, I just wanted to just mention a couple things of why that is important. uh uh prior to 2021, all businesses within the entertainment districts within the 24-hour commercial use district, that's not all of Reno, that's just downtown Fourth Street and uh Midtown, um have the privilege of getting a cabaret license and operating having dancing, karaoke, poetry, whatever they like for within 24 hours. That was the commercial mixed gone. uh the condition use permit kind of hindered that ability for anyone after 2021 saying that you can't have music dancing after 11 pm and really impacted a lot of businesses as well as impacted code and code's ability to enforce businesses um which we know we're having a big problem with and the city's having problem with. Um so what it does is actually creates a level playing field from the existing business let's say tonic five-star chapel the Emerson um all of us have a privilege that any new business coming into these entertainment districts would not be guaranteed that same privilege. So this levels the playing field for everybody with this pilot program. Uh it also creates a security plan that then code can accur accurately enforce and they know that each building has the exact same rights and so they're not trying to guess what they're trying to enforce. So it helps reduce costs and helps code uh with their enforcements. So thank you for presenting this pilot program. Um, mayor, I'd also ask and uh, Councilman Ree, if a group of us might come to you and do a presentation and really share with you how it impacts our businesses. Um, there's been a lot of questions of like how much do you make after 11:00 per hour and we can share those numbers and how that impacts our business and that is a big number. Um, it impacts us trying to compete especially right now what's going on up with our economy with costs rising. Each business needs to do something and this generation wants entertainment. And we're always talking about this being bars. This code doesn't just apply to bars. This code applies to anyone who has entertainment. And we see a lot of coffee shops that now are doing entertainment. And a big one is Midnight Roers down in Midtown. Midnight is their name. So for them to have music after 11:00 is a huge burden on them. and they have bands and DJs and comedy and poetry as well as sha um shims downtown. So, this just isn't bars. This is across the board for entertainment. And we're just looking to level the playing field so that we can reach this new generation and every all businesses can thrive here in Midtown. And once again, we are a 24-hour city, 24-hour entertainment, and we really should get back to that what Reno is. Thank you guys. >> All right. Thank you. I'll have my um Steve Mc will have my office reach out to you. Thank you. >> Followed by Cassandra Bum, followed by Kamal Abun via Zoom. >> Hello. Good morning, mayor, council members, and city staff. My name is Steve Mccor, and I'm a district manager at WM. Happy Earth. I'm here to share how WM continues to focus on providing the most efficient, responsive, and effective service possible for Reena residents. We know convenience matters to customers. That's why residents can easily request replacements for broken or damaged carts through the MyWM app, which is available on Apple and Android devices. This self-service option also allows uh customers to quickly uh manage and uh reduces response times uh for their service needs. Equally important is our close working relationship with Reno Direct. By partnering with Reno Direct staff, we are able to quickly address customer concerns and complaints, whether that involves miservice, spilled litter, or environmental concerns. This collaboration helps us resolve these issues faster and keeps our neighborhoods clean and safe. WM also is proud to support the city's community programs. WM sponsors the river rangers patrol program along the Truckucky to remove debris and improve safety. We also provide same day delivery and removal of trash bins for the city ward cleanups. Removing these bins same day prevents them from being targeted for illegal dumping after hours, leaving trash accumulations behind on school property or potentially. This summer, we're continuing our annual partnership with the Greyar Environmental to offer free disposal of up to 50 50 pounds of hazardous household waste for residents with vouchers that are mailed to their address. Additionally, WM provides a wide range of curbside disposal options, including sticker packages and dumpsters ranging from four yards all the way up to 30 yards. These services enable homeowners to efficiently remove debris from their properties and mitigate fire wildfire risk. We also continue our inkind donation to support the Reno Fire Department's fire fuel disposal program. The contribution is valued at $14,000. Next, sustainability and transparency remain core priorities for WM. Through partnerships with UNR, the Reno Sparks Chamber Business of uh Commerce Business Green Business Program and other community organizations, WM opens the doors of our Ecoenter recycling facility and Lockwood Landfill to host tours and demonstrate responsible, transparent disposal practices. Finally, I would like to add on a personal note that I'm currently attending the Reno Sparks Chamber Leadership Class of 2026, which my colleague Sheena forgot to mention that that's the best class ever. Ann Silver and her team put on an excellent program and I'm excited to be a part of this incredible opportunity. Thank you for your time and continued partnership. >> I love that. Go ahead, Councilwoman. >> Uh Mr. Mckerk, uh what is your role at Waste Manager? >> I'm the district manager. >> District manager, I would love to meet with you on two initiatives. >> Sure. >> If we could um get one of our staff to hook up with you. We just started one this week which is bear uh well animal resistant trash cans >> to expand or double those generally in the m um Colin Ranch area. So I'd love to chat with you about that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Look forward to it. >> All right. Well enjoy the class. It's great. >> Thank you very much. Yeah, it's been great so far. Appreciate it. >> Cassandra Bum followed by Kamal Abuhan via Zoom followed by Art Rangel via Zoom >> because you would really like it. You would really like it. That's very cool. >> Thank you, city council. I am Cassandra Bum. I have lived in Reno my entire life. I've been born and raised here. So, I was thinking I would be a little bit later in line after hearing a little bit more about water and things like that. So, along with water and other topics, um some of the things that I think that maybe wouldn't be discussed, so I'll try to keep this short and sweet. uh what happens to these data centers after the technology is old with our phones? I know every six months they're coming out with a new phone. So, how long are these data centers um >> true able to be used and up to date and then what happens after that? This data center down here on Keystone, I'm worried about what happens after that. Oh, also tourism. Reno used to be really into tourism. We worked a lot on the river of trying to build it, beautify it. People used to come here to see Reno, our mountains, our beauty. Driving along the freeway, it's a little tunnel. You don't see the mountains anymore. I took my son to Oxbow. I grew up at Oxbow. I Excuse me. I used to go on field trips to Oxbow as a little child. Now driving by that was crazy seeing that data center. So I'm worried about Yes. our water, everything. I'm trying to make this short and sweet for everybody else, but what happens when the technology is old and what is happening with our tourism? Why are people be going to be coming here not to see the data centers? So, I would like to just say a few a short portion of home means Nevada, which is our state song, the chorus of it. Home means Nevada. Home means the hills. Home means the sage and the pines. out by the Truckucky Silver Reels where the sun always shines. That's just a portion. I want to keep it short and sweet. Thank you for listening. >> All right. Nice job. Thank you, >> Kamal Abuhan via Zoom. >> Can you hear us? Madam Kamal, if you would unmute and state your name for the record. >> Oh, my apologies. Good morning, everybody. Good morning, Mayor. Good morning gang. >> Uh, is it okay for me to talk about a data center? >> Sure. Go, go ahead. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, I hope your week's going well. My name is Kamal Abuhan again. Okay. So, uh, Reno is seeing a rapid rise in data center development and before we can focus solely on economic the economic benefits, we need to consider the other side of the equation. Um these facilities don't just store information, they concentrate power in an era uh shaped by artificial intelligence and broad federal authorities like the US Patriot Act, which we've been under that scope for a while. Uh that concentration of power can impact uh the public um in ways we may not be able to see. uh companies frequently discuss in uh national security reporting including a company called Palunteer which I'm sure many of us may be familiar with shows how quickly modern systems I can analyze and cross reference data to identify individuals. These tools are powerful and without strong local safeguards, the infrastructure we host could be used in ways that could raise serious concern for our civil liberties. Based on what has been reported by independent organizations, communities across the country are beginning to articulate clear expectations for data center operations. These, okay, I'm going to list six. The uh those expectations include data centers must not be used by foreign entities in any way to undermine the rights of Americans. Data centers must not enable actions that put American lives at risk. Data centers must not must respect privacy and comply with all local and state laws. Data centers must report unlawful surveillance or misuse of their systems. Data centers must notify local governments when their technology is being used in ways that affect residents. Data centers must not be built in close proximity to residential neighborhoods where impact on safety, noise, quality of life are most um um direct. My message is simple. Growth without oversight is not progress. If Reno becomes a hub for this infrastructure, then Reno must also insist on transparency, accountability, and clear protections for our community. Now, I'm maritime. I've been maritime. I've graduated Cal Maritime. I'm from the water. I've lived in the water. I know what the water's about. The water echoes and frequents itself through frequency. So, if for those residents who are concerned about water, I am concerned as well. The water must be clean up and down the river. I am hoping the data centers will be closed systems. Thank you everyone. Thank you. >> Kamal, thank you so much. >> Art Rangel via Zoom. All right, Art, you might be on mute. All right, you can you can hear me now, right? >> There you go. Yes, go ahead. >> Okay. All right. Well, thank you so much. Uh Art Rangel, for the record, uh the staff report for item 3C regarding indoor live entertainment claims alignment with strategic plan components, economic and community development. The recommended action doesn't neither. Regarding the economic component, let's include a costbenefit analysis for these types of businesses. For many years, downtown residents have seen the city utilize an inordinate amount of city resources with police, code enforcement, business license, development services, and the revocation process with some live entertainment bad actors, specifically electronic live dance music with its excessive seat based noise. With a city desperate for money and waiting to to cut or willing to to cut expenses, a costbenefit analysis would determine if most of these businesses create a net income. Regarding community development, the proposed action yet again excludes residents from the process. First, the city increased the land use appeal fee from $107 to $1,200. And now by eliminating the conditional use permit process, which by the way requires public notice, it appears the development services staff have forgotten what we city planners have known for decades, which is that the fundamental purpose of land use zoning is the separation of incompatible land uses to limit the impact of noise, odors, and traffic on residents. The conditional use permit, which is used throughout the United States, helps make these uses more compatible by working with the applicant and the neighboring community to come up with a livable plan benefiting both parties. Development services staff finally accepts that the city's master plan policy 3.1B encourages housing in the downtown mixeduse districts. But after almost 9 years of adoption of that policy, the city still does not have ordinances in place to protect downtown residents from excessive noise from electronic dance music and the mayhem in the neighborhood. Modern land use laws have provisions to make mixeduse district land uses compatible. There are equitable ways to have live entertainment uses and residents coexist. All it takes is a will to adopt such laws. staff recommendation is not one of those. Tyler brought up the issue of revenue. We'd like, some of us would like to be part of that meeting uh that he recommended to talk about revenues after 11:00. I'd like to learn more about that. So, please, if you put me on the list, I'll get other residents so you have a balance there. Not just the entertainment industry, but the people that are being impacted, the residents to be part of that. Thank you. All right, Art. Thank you so much. We'll we'll include you on the list. >> All right, Madame Mayor. With that, we have no additional live public comment. For the record, we did receive five comments which were general in nature, not rece or received prior to 4 p.m. yesterday, Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. These comments were written correspondents received via our reno.gov online public comment form or by emails to our office. Copies of these have been distributed to the Reno City Council and are available to the public on reno.gov/meings. >> Okay. Oh, um, do we have >> Yes, I see >> have another proclamation. >> There we go. >> Nathan, come on up. I believe you were at an Earth Day event, so we weren't able to issue your proclamation, but we are. We are now. >> Thank you. Thank you. Nathan Ory, parks and recreation director for the record. I'm just the hype man today for Matt Basil, our tree master here, our urban forester. >> He is the master. >> The master of trees. We love you. >> I just sometimes it's it's cool to share when government's out there really doing it. These uh these guys were out there with Bernice Matthews uh elementary school at Paradise Park hanging birdhouses uh in the trees at Paradise Park. So uh they the students decorated it, paint the pictures. Here's some of the here's some of the other urban forestry staff coming up. So just wanted to highlight that they're out there doing it. There's 29,000 something trees out there and they are getting to them as they can. Um, but they work so hard and do such a good job. So, I'll turn it over to Matt. >> All right. These are the guys behind the scenes. They're planting trees. They're hanging birdhouses. The work you do is amazing. You're out there assessing trees. Um, tell us a little bit about what you guys do on the daily. They're so shy. Look at you. He's over here with a hat and glasses. But no, your work is really important throughout this city. I don't think people realize what you do. Not to mention the shades that it provides. More trees. More trees. Right, Councilwoman Der? >> Oh, you bet. I'm right there with them. >> So, um, talk a little bit about that. >> Sure. We actually I see if I could share my phone here. Can you see that? >> Oxygen. >> Okay. I don't know if you can see that. This was just this Oh, >> just this morning we were planting We planted a tree with the students at Bernice Matthews. Um, >> and you know he's the real deal when you see his fingers. >> He's not just saying it. He's actually doing it. >> I love you, Matt. You're amazing. >> So, see, >> yeah, a little. >> But we um >> Could you hold up a minute? >> And here's the this >> I'm sorry. What's that? >> Can you hold up a minute while they enlarge your screen? >> Is there a problem? >> Can everyone see that? >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Go ahead. >> My eyes are >> So, this is we have Paul and uh Lucas here today and they were the arborists that uh put these birdhouses that the students from all the students at Bernice Matthews participated in this art project to build these uh these birdhouses. And so we had 88 birdhouses that uh Paul and Luke we we trimmed up this nice elm tree right next to the Paradise Park Activity Center and uh put them all in the tree. So it's it's hard to see in a picture, but um definitely recommend checking it out if um if you have a chance. >> That's so cool. >> Here's some of the the birdhouses. >> Wow, >> they're beautiful. >> Then we're using our our bucket truck to put it into the tree. Oh, that's so cool. >> Yeah, >> I was wondering how how'd you get up so high? >> Well, it's not a good video, but >> Wow. >> Um, but yes, we so we maintain over 29,000 trees throughout the city of Reno. Um, >> 29,000 >> Paul, Luke, and then three other arborists on staff that we have. So, uh, spring is is our definitely our most busy time of the year. We have not only our regular maintenance of tree trimming that we're doing, but uh we're doing our spring planting now. And if residents have any concerns about trees, we encourage them to call Reno Direct and um we're very proactive about addressing concerns that residents have and making sure that our all all of our thousands of trees are safe and um contributing to the canopy and and making Reno a a greener, more enjoyable place to be. >> Yeah, I I love that. And just so everyone knows, Matt has also um he's a big act activist and he'll run on to um some projects and say, "You can't take it down. You can't take it down in real time." This is why I love this man. And so when people are sort of messing with our trees, you don't want to mess with Matt. He's he's got your back. I love it. Thank you so much. >> We spend a lot of time working with uh different construction projects with all the different contractors that we work with in town. uh making sure that we preserve the trees that we have. And um and we have a lot of great partners with our um public works department and um with the local contractors working to be careful around our tree roots and make sure that we're preserving them and uh not doing any more damage than than we need to. So >> yeah, that's great. I also met his dad. He's a proud dad. So I just want to say I want to say that. So take it away. We have a a proclamation for you guys today. >> Sure. I just have a few words to share here. So, um again, I'm Matt Basil, the urban forester for the city of Reno. Uh good morning, mayor and council. I'm joined here with some members of our urban forestry team. And I want to thank you so much for this uh proclamation to celebrate Arbor Day. Arbor Day celebrates the planting and preservation of trees in our community. Here at the city of Reno, we maintain about 29,000 publicly owned trees in parks and along public spaces. I'd like to thank our dedicated urban forestry team for all the hard work they put into taking care of our trees. And I can't think of a better day to recognize the importance of trees than today is Earth Day, which is exciting. Trees are an important part of our climate as they create clean air and cool our neighborhoods and improve the well-being of our residents for years to come. We even have our initiative Relief Reno uh aimed at expanding our area's tree canopy. Currently, Reno has only about 8% tree canopy and we're working hard to increase that. In addition to today's proclamation, I'm excited to share that the city is hosting a special Arbor Day celebration this Friday, April 24th at Paradise Park from noon to 2:00 p.m. We'd love uh for anyone to join us. We're going to have a ceremonial tree planting and we'll have the the birdhouse art from the students at Bernice Matthews on display as well as our 2026 Relief Reno awards presentation. The following week on Saturday, May 2nd, we're having our annual Arbor Day volunteer tree planting event, which is also at Paradise Park. Uh taking place from 8:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. And that is in partnership with Keeping Truckucky Meadows Beautiful, who's been a great partner with us and uh our tree planting efforts. I invite everyone to attend these events and help make Reno the greenest little city. At the end of the day, trees not only provide the oxygen that we breathe, they enhance our public spaces, create inviting and peaceful outdoor areas for everyone in our community to enjoy. I'm proud to help expand Reno's tree canopy alongside our team. Thank you very much. And council member Der, did you want to read the proclamation? >> Uh, you could please go ahead, but I do have a couple words before or after. >> Okay. So without further ado, I'll read the uh our Arbor Day proclamation. Whereas Arbor Day is dedicated to the planting of trees in our community in order to promote a sustainable environment and bolster our quality of life. And whereas trees are important to the quality of life as they remove carbon dioxide, filter air pollutants, and cut costs for heating and cooling while providing other environmental benefits. And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community. And whereas the city of Reno has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation each year since 1982 and will celebrate its 43rd year as Tree City USA, the longest a city in the state of Nevada has held such title. And whereas the city of Reno is committed to planting new trees and expanding its tree canopy through the Relief Reno program by sponsoring a tree planting event at Paradise Park in partnership with Keeping Chucky Meadows Beautiful. Now therefore, I, Matt Basil, urban forester, on behalf of Hillary Elshevi, mayor of the city of Reno, Nevada, do hereby declare April 24th, 2026 Arbor Day. In and for the city of Reno, I encourage all citizens to plant and care for trees in our community and support the city's urban forestry program. >> Thank you very much. >> Very good, Matt. Nice job. I I do Um, I do want to say uh thank you so much to Councilwoman Dur. Relief Reno was was her brainchild and it's been going strong and there we do a lot of planning initiatives. If anyone wants to get involved, please reach out to us. We offer free trees and have a lot of different events. We have to expand that tree canopy. It's so so important. I I can't even begin to tell you. So, um, everyone knows that the climate's changing so rapidly. So we can all do our part by getting involved in what you do. I'm just curious. Tell me why why you do what you do. >> Answer you just >> I love it. I love it. Trees are awesome. What about you? >> No, it's the same. >> Trees are awesome. We need them. You know, we rely on them. >> So, why not make them more abundant? Yeah, because I know this work is really rooted, no pun intended, out of your out of your hearts for the love of what you do or you wouldn't do it. I just think that what you do is so fascinating. It's it's really tremendous. Council Dur. >> Yeah. Just real quickly, um I wanted to first of all thank the team uh for we had a public Earth Day last weekend on Saturday. Uh Matt was there all day. I was there a good part of the day, but we were also joined by the state division of forestry on our right and our own fire department on our left so that as a team we could talk about trees and why it's important to protect them and also the impact on fire um in terms of reducing fire impacts. And then I wanted to mention that um Rod Holland Beek has been a major force in our community for trees. Um he's known as the big tree hunter and unfortunately Rod has passed away uh recently and we have a special recognition for him. Um he was so widely recognized or known throughout the state. He's written several books about trees, but also the Wo County Arboritum, which is up at Rancho San Rafale, is um having a special dinner and to raise funds for the arburitum, but they are planning an entire tree grove in Rod's honor. So, I wanted to let people know about that. They can contribute here at the city. I think we are planning a special memorial as well. Um whether it's a bench or a tree or a mini grove and they are as well. Another thing that's happening is we are looking now at um establishing an official city arboritum potentially at Idle Wild Park which would be a first for the city um and it's something if people love trees for them to get behind. And then finally I just wanted to mention I'm really pleased that we're going to be bringing um the first phase of our tree ordinance to city council and that's planned for this summer. Um, I think it's about to go through public review. Um, and that really focuses on our public trees or the trees that the city owns. Those are the 29,000. But there's a part two to the tree ordinance and that's all the other trees in Reno, Nevada, which far dwarf the publicly owned trees. And I want to make sure that we make good progress on that. Uh, right on the heels of adopting the hopefully adopting the first one. um and move right into part two which will go into title 18 which is our development code. So those two things are really important if we want to make any meaningful change. We do tree plantings and we have for over a decade but it has this much it's very important but it only has a small impact you know 40 trees at a time compared to the thousands that we need. So again, Matt um also Nathan and Matt Brazina, thank you for your work in highlighting the importance of trees. It's super important here in the fastest warming city in America. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. Good job. Okay, I'm going to move right over to uh our city manager. Do you have any housekeeping? >> I wanted just real quick. I wanted to say something to That's okay. I know I'm kind of late. Um, Matthew, I just wanted to say something too, Nathan and Matthew. I want to say thanks so much for your work and and your crew for helping me get more trees in my ward. I know that we talk about Reno being the fastest warming city in the country and my ward particularly has the lowest tree canopy. So, I appreciate your efforts and going on tours with me and my ward to find areas where there's existing um irrigation systems so we can plant those trees because that's a hurdle I think a lot of people don't think about. I know I didn't until we had our meetings that um you can plant trees a lot of places, but you have to make sure that there's water as well and um sprinkler systems aren't free. So, I appreciate you looking for those opportunities with me and helping me plant some trees in some parks and um you guys have really put a lot of effort into it and I know we've had an Arbor Day celebration and in um Dorothy Mindenon Park and that was really wonderful. So, I also just wanted to say thank you and I know Matt uh you live in my ward so I appreciate seeing you around. And I know you probably have a particular interest in our area and just thank you for all your efforts. >> Oh, well three. >> Well, thank all of you. I appreciate all your work. >> So, wait, are they getting more trees than we are in our boards? >> Is that what's going on here? I think you just outed yourself, Councilwoman. >> I'm going to look into that. We're investigating that one. >> Yeah, we definitely need them. We have the lowest We have the lowest tree canopy. And so I'm always um encouraging staff to look for grant opportunities and ways to um fund areas to put in that that irrigation and and water trees. And we fortunately have that um effluent possibility out in my ward with the sewer treatment plant, but we just need to have more ways to um connect that water out to tree areas. So thank you guys for all your efforts in that area. >> Okay, that's great. Um, really quickly, we are going to get a picture u because typically you guys hide behind trees and we want to make sure we want to make sure that uh we capture this moment. Okay, let's do this. down a little bit on the >> Yeah, perfect. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Okay, now I'm going back to you, city manager. Do you have any keeping notes. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Mayor. The plan is to hear the agenda in the order as posted, except after consent pull. Council will vote on any items not pulled. The pulled items will return at the end of the C item. So, we'll do C6, then B1 through 10, and we will start the C items with data center C1. >> Okay. Thank you so much. All right. I'm asking for approval of the agenda. I have a motion from Councilman Ree. I have a second from Councilwoman Der. Madame May, I have a question. >> Go right ahead. >> Thank you. Um, this is kind of for our attorneys. Um, I have a question on item C1. I've heard some talk about a moratorum coming forward with this with this item and I just wanted to level set where we're at. We're we're agenda is to initiate a text amendment. Is that what we are going to be doing in item C1? >> All right. Can can we just come back to that and just right when we get to C1? Well, I was wondering if we needed to pull it or move it to a different agenda or a different day if that's a conversation that we're going to be having. >> No, I I I would like to have the conversation. Okay. So, we'll do let's just get to see one and then I'm going to hand it over to you. >> I would like I would like just clarification on what the implications of your question. >> Well, I'm just I'm I'm sorry. I've heard stuff about we're going to initiate a moratorum today. There's a lot of discussion. I want to make sure that people understand what we are agendaized to do with this item today and not give impressions that we're going to be. >> Yes. So if the to initiate a moratorum there's a process under the Reno Municipal Code under chapter 1.07. So that um I mean that item can be heard and it it wouldn't be in initiating a text amendment per se but it would be just basically direction to bring back a resolution to do a pending moratorum. So you can do that today because that's has to do with your agenda going >> but we're not going to be voting on a moratorum. >> You can't vote on a moratorum today. You can vote on initiating the process for a moratorum um under our code again chapter 1.07 that starts with a pending resolution. So, a resolution would come back at the next meeting. Uh, then there would be a final resolution after that. Um, assuming that you the council wants to go forward with that. So, it's a two-step process. >> Thank you, >> Councilman Ree. >> Thank you so much, >> Mr. Shipman. I want to make sure I understood what you said. Um, as a lawyer, words matter, right? And so, the agenda item today is a continuation of several agenda items that we've had on the data center topic. Correct. >> Yeah. And then within that the staff is looking for direction from us as to what kinds of things we are interested in. Is that correct >> for that item? Correct. >> And if this body chooses to tell staff to come back with a text amendment about a moratorum that is in within the purview of this item. Is that correct? >> So a te I mean we're mixing we're playing with a couple different words here. A moratorium versus a text amendment. A text amendment is when you're modifying the code. A moratorum under RMC 1 Chapter 1.07 is essentially where you pass a res a couple resolutions that put a hold on accepting any applications going forward um until you come back and do a uh a change of code later, you know, >> right? So, no one's asking for the text amendment today. What we would be asking for potentially is to staff to bring that a item back at a future meeting. >> And that's more of an agenda process, right? So that's so I again addressing um uh council member Taylor's concern is that um yeah that's not necessarily within the scope of this for the mortorium but it's certainly within the scope of the council to ask for today to bring back >> to as it is within any item we can always ask for staff direction on an item. >> Correct. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay appreciate that. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Seconded. >> Yes. Um and Council Neighbor, you have your light on. >> Yeah, we're just supposed to vote. So, >> okay. All right. I just wanted to make sure you didn't have any comments. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. So, I have um a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> All those opposed? >> Motion carries unanimously. Okay. Uh approval of the minutes. May I get a motion? >> So moved. >> I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor say I. All those opposed? >> Motion carries unanimously. Okay. We are going to um head into item B1 that is consent. I'm gonna start with my council member over to my left. Councilwoman, do you have any items you'd like to pull? >> Councilwoman Eert. >> Um can you start on the other side, please? >> Sure. I'm uh Councilwoman Doer. >> Uh none today. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> No, Madam Mayor. >> Okay. All right. Councilwoman Councilman. >> No. Okay. So, that means um Oh, Councilwoman Eert. >> Yeah. I don't believe I do. I just wanted to double check before I say no. >> Okay. Well, if you end up >> No. Um >> wanting to then just yell at me. >> Yeah. No, I do not have any today. Thank you. >> Move to approve the consent agenda as posted. >> Motion. I have a second. All those in favor say I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. I do want to call out there is a business on here. They have uh the best burger in town. So go um head out there and it's Beefies. Congratulations on um on your business and we we're excited. Please, please support this man. He's working very, very hard. So, congratulations. We'll have to have a beer. Right. >> All right. Take care. >> All right. Um Okay. Now, we're going to head into item C1, Madame Clerk, and we're going to go back into public comment. So, um eager to hear from all of you. So, I'm going to send it right back to our clerk to call on your name. So, please. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. if you'd like. Um, traditionally we would start with a presentation from staff. >> Um, >> so they can get their information and answer any questions before public comment stated. >> Actually, I I believe I would like to hear public comment first. >> All right. Thanks so much. >> Perfect. Um, if you're in the Zoom meeting and would like to play make public comment on item C1, please raise your hand at this time. And just for the audience, >> um, a reminder, you've stated, will you state your name for the record? You will be given three minutes. Um, and just to note, we do have a lot of public comment for this item today. And in order to make sure everybody's um, speaking and we're moving through the item timely, we do have two reserved chairs up here. I will announce three names at a time. So, the first public commenter should go to the podium. And as you're called on deck, please come and sit at these two seats here up front. And then lastly, we do have some participants that are still out in the lobby that were not able to make it in due to fire code. So, I would ask that um, the meeting is playing and there are tables and seats out in the lobby. So once you've completed your public comment, if you would actually exit the room so that we can make sure that the other commenters who are not in the room at this time are able to speak as well. >> Yeah. And that would be really great if you after you um make that comment if you could so that we can get um other uh other participants in the room so they can also get their public comment in. I just want to remind everyone public comment is three minutes. Um I like to give everyone equal time. the buzzer will go off so that you you're prompted to know when that time is up. The best thing to do so we stay really efficient is to make sure that when your name is called and and you'll hear madame clerk um call out the second name, just come and sit right over here. So then we can just you kind of go around like this. So it it gets pretty efficient. Um we do and I'm I believe do we have 30 comments or um public comments? We have 30 public comments. So, um, I just want to keep everyone aware in case you have to be somewhere or you have time constraints. Um, so I just want to make it as efficient as possible for all of you. Uh, and also make sure we get all of your comments on the record. That's really, really important today. >> All right. >> What do you do with these? >> Oh, hold on to them. >> If you have your public comment card and haven't turned it in, you'll need to come turn it in with us. >> Oh, okay. So, yes, grab one of those blue forms. Make sure you fill it out and then give it to Madame Clerk and then she'll make sure she gets you in the queue. Okay. >> All right, Madame Mayor. Our first public commenter today is Lisa Hill, followed by Jess Burroughs, followed by Bill Miller. >> Okay. Perfect. Lisa, come on up. >> And please, just as a reminder, um, in accordance with council rule 6.3.11, while in this room, please be respectful. Disruptive behavior from audience members like clapping, yelling, whistling, etc., which impede the meeting may result in a warning issued pri by the presiding officer and you may be removed from chambers. Lisa Hill for the record. I come with empty pockets under harsh council lights. The clock does not wait for what's right and paper shuffle like dry fallen leaves. You hold the keys to our high desert deer, to the wires and wells below. Won't you ride it down clear before heavy engines grow? Why, you may ask, our grid stretches like a tight rope, spewing carbon as temperatures rise. How much will be lost when fire comes and burns it all away? Oh, why, you may ask, when our waters run dry and all the fish die. Our taps run brown and our houses burn down and the river can't carry us home. I've seen cold boxes rise on keystone instead. Where children once played, trading so song for a dull humming dread. Could it be a library or park? A place where young ones gather. A healing clinic or circle of friends under the shade of a cooling tree. Lines get blurred with hurried hands. Yawning deals behind closed doors as trust falls like a wounded brand. And more fighting crowds the room. What gets lost in between? What slips through our civic seam? Is it time? Will it be you? Is it all of us? Where are the leaders for new times? Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? Tell me when you write down these codes in the ledger books. Who are you thinking of then? my children's eyes, their children's children's eyes, and the roots of our humanity that remember when the queue, the cottonwood, the mighty Truckucky that have all been here longer than we. Will you wear weigh their breath in the balance sheet? Will you let them and us be healthy and free? Most of us are calling now for a future we can defend. Will you hear the chorus in the public wind or retreat to your comfortable den? Develop new code for new times. Do it now before more are approved. Do it in the light with all of us in mind. >> Right. Nice job, Lisa. >> Jess Burrough Miller followed by >> Hello. Um, I'm Jess Burroughs with the Water Over Data Alliance. I have been working throughout rural Nevada for the past six years and I just moved to Reno around two years ago. And it didn't take me long to realize how precious the Truckucky WHED is and what a life source that is to this whole community and this area. The desert here is not barren. It's not destitute. It's beautiful. I fell in love with Nevada. I moved here from North Carolina. It's a beautiful, beautiful area and this watershed is incredible and it didn't take me long to develop a really strong connection to the water. I've bathed in the Truckucky. I've been in Tahoe. I've been to Pyramid Lake. And that connection only went deeper when I started working with River Justice and understood the perspective of Autumn and Beverly Harry along with their late husband and father Norm who have done incredible work to protect this watershed to clean up the river and to protect the fish in Kiwi Pa. It's it's incredible and my connection doesn't even go to those depths. I can't imagine the depth of connection for the Pyramid Lake PA tribe and to have them not be considered when you all are deciding on legislation over data centers that severely threaten their life source that they have protected already for time and memorial and especially through TROA a bystate agreement. They need to be here. They need to be at the table. They need to be in this room. They need to be considered. The community, your public needs to be considered. We're asking for the moratorum because that you need to talk to us. You need to come to us. You need to go to your tribal constituents. You need to talk to everybody and and hear all of our voices because these data centers are a huge threat to all of our livelihoods. Huge threat to everyone in this room. a huge threat to that watershed to the water that I have grown to love and that is vital and the lifeblood for so many people in this area including our tribal communities in order to create transparency and accountability that adequately protects our environment and resources and adequately adheres to the very purpose of the land development code that you are looking at right now. The purpose under article two number two that says to promote, protect and preserve environmental quality as a critical element in Reno's quality of life and encourage the wise use of natural resources. You need to do your due diligence and do the same. Please take this issue seriously and properly consult your constituents and local tribes and knack the data center moratorum previously proposed in February that you've already denied so that you can adequately consult the public and gain the full consent of the Pyramid Lake Pyute tribe at the terminus of the wershed and to develop ordinances that actually protect us the land and the water. Thanks, Jess. >> If we can hold the applause so I can announce names, that would be helpful. Thank you. Bill Miller, followed by Mia Levit Singer, followed by Curtis Linerez. >> Thank you, Mickey. Good morning, Mayor Shivi, council members, fellow citizens. I'm Bill Miller, Reena resident, back after six month chemo radiation therapy sbatical >> and happy to be here at all. >> The treatment appears to have succeeded in eradicating my tumor. We'll know in two months. >> Well, h we're happy you're here, my friend. >> Thank you. Thank you. As am I. And if not a second round of radiation will finish the job. Meanwhile, the chemo was widely successful in diminishing my stamina and voice, removing my beard, and 30 pounds, all of which are slowly returning. A small price to pay. Speaking of prices to pay, we are here to discuss, among other things, regulating new data centers and addressing the price Reno must pay to maintain them. These data centers are not unlike cancer and they devour local resources and put the host viability in jeopardy. Their only concern is their own growth and well-being. If left unchecked, they will deplete their host's ability to flourish. And like cancer, they don't care. Also, like cancer, they need us. We don't need them. And it's time to act like it. If we are going to allow any, and appears we must, we need to create regulations that keep them in check so they add value to our community while not unduly depleting our precious resources. Fact, data centers consume massive amounts of water. We are in a desert, the driest state in America. One typical 60 megawatt Danner setter consumes from 100,000 to a million gallons a day every day. In fact, data centers also consume massive amounts of power. One typical data center consumes enough power for 60,000 homes. That's half as many houses as we have in Reno today. Where is all that power going to come from? Currently, their developers are demanding new methane powered power plants be built, spewing megat tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in the city with the greatest average increase in heat in America from global warming. So against this assault, we are right to defend ourselves and our children's future with common sense regulation. I am deeply heartened that you are hosting this discussion today. We really only have this one chance to get it right. Let's get it right. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Bill. And thank you for your service. >> Mia Leven Singer, followed by Curtis Lenz followed by Reese Lamp. >> Hello. >> Um I'm Mia Lutzinger. >> Mia. >> Uh yeah. >> Mia is Mia. >> Mia. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Um I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said. um better. So, I'm going to keep it short, but leaving data centers unchecked without the possibility of dialogue is completely antithetical to the idea of community that Reno so often postures about, present company included. Um, I know that each of you is intelligent enough to understand that contradiction and I hope that you are dignified enough to honor it. Mayor Shivi, you uh were praising the arborist who spoke earlier. Um, I guess what trees need? >> Yeah. >> Water. >> Yeah. >> And like C. Mcome said earlier, um, activism against data centers isn't going to stop. So, I encourage you to just make it easier on yourselves by approving C1. Thank you. >> All right. Thanks, Mia. >> And Madame Clerk, before the next speaker and before Mia leaves, I I need to Mia. >> Mia, >> I just want to embarrass Mia for a little quick moment. I have three biological children and if I had a fourth uh Mia would be my other child. Mia was one of my debaters and uh is a graduate of Emory University uh with a full ride to attend there as a debate scholar and also is now teaching at the University of Nevada Reno. >> A congratulations Red. I'm on a meter. >> Curtis Linres, followed by Reese Lamp, followed by Anthony Postman. >> Okay, Curtis, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay, Curtis, the floor is yours. >> Lovely. Uh, nice to meet you guys. My name is Curtis Lener. I'm a local Reno citizen. Uh, when I was younger, I grew up in California. I know that's unfortunate for a lot of us, but I grew up knowing that, uh, water is an important resource. I spent most of my elementary school doing art contests trying to save water. So to be here today is really nice to know that water is really important and I think a lot of us here understand that. So with that being said, I want to say that I am here to speak in support of C1 and to advocate for a robust policy that protects the wershed watershed. I'm fortunate enough to be here today at a, you know, maybe not very easy time for a lot of local people, but I'm here talking in front of you with the support of a lot of local students and a lot of community members knowing that the local trucky watershed is important and crucial to the success and the future of Reno. Uh, we need a government that works for us and not against us. I heard that today. And increased regulation on data centers is one way that you guys can show us that you care. Protecting the Truckucky Wershed is vital for our future, like I said. And I want to thank you all for considering your roles in hearing local voices including those of our tribal communities. So before we consider the economic benefits, I think I think that it is more important that we think about the human effects as well. So thank you guys very much. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Reese Lamp followed by Anthony Postman followed by Cullen McInness. >> Okay. Hi, my name is Reese Lamp. Uh happy Earth everybody. I think it's so special that this is happening on Earth Day. Uh so I grew up in Las Vegas and I had the honor of getting a full ride scholarship to come swim at the University of Nevada. So go pack. >> Um with that being said, obviously swimming, water, they go hand in hand, right? So for me, I fell in love with Reno when I saw it. I couldn't believe something like Lake Tahoe existed so close by when all I knew was Lake Meade. If you've seen it, you know. Um, floating down the river is one of my favorite activities during the summer. Swimming across Donner, things like that. Knowing the detrimental effects that data centers have on communities has really broken my heart. Seeing water turn brown because of these data centers is breaking my heart. Water is critical to human existence, and these natural bodies of water make Reno a special place. More regulation on these centers is crucial to keeping our community safe. So, as someone who's given a scholarship to swim in this city, I will do anything to preserve the water in this city. A moratorium on data center development is absolutely necessary until more guardrails are put in place. I am in favor of agenda item C1. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> All right, >> Anthony Postman followed by the one and only Anthony Postman. I've got to brag a little bit. Anthony is an incredible artist and I believe you've released a few albums and you're working on another one. Um, but I I'm going to say because this is how small Reno is. Anony's sister Meline, she was my best friend in first grade and so um I have such a fondness for your your family and matter of fact, your dad was um an allergist and I remember everyone loved your father because they kept he kept everyone from the sniffles and all those things. So, but I just wanted to highlight that's how small Reno is and it's so nice to see you. >> Great to see you. Thank you. Thank you, city council, Mayor Stevie, for this opportunity >> to speak upon citizenship, connection and disconnection and environment. A little over a year ago, a group of us gathered here to protest the proposed building of a Jify Lube not far from here in the middle of a school zone in a mostly residential neighborhood. If it hadn't been for a special contractual question regarding the use of the land for development, we were told that this project would have already been given the green light that this is the way things work with developers and the city. I want to profer that just because this is the way things work does not mean that this eager green light for development is the right way forward for our community and for the environment in which we live. In Braiding Sweetg Grass, author Robin Walkeer writes about the ancient indigenous antagonist known as Wendigo, whose insatiable appetites cannot be fed. Windo howls from endless hunger, even as he feasts ferociously upon all of the earth's gifts. Maples and oaks that shade, bees and birds that sing to us as they spread and pollinate our food. horses who are companions and guides through vast sweeping country. And the very water that feeds, cleanses, and nourishes our bodies and our lands. All of this windo consumes whole without rest, never stopping, never satisfied. Windo destroys all that sustains us, our land, air, and water. It seems that Windigo spirit is alive and well within government at large. From our local city council right up to the national juggernaut, all seem to favor the rampant development of industries which consistently favor and benefit the riches of the few at the cost and peril of human health and well-being and the greater irreparable toll on our environments and climate. In a setting where we individuals are encouraged to consolidate trips on our cars to economize fuel, to use our smart thermostats in eco mode so as not to tap the grid as heavily during peak hours, especially if there may be heat and fire risks, and to water on only odd and even days. It is unfathomable to think about largecale users who will devour magnitudes more power on a 247 365 basis. How is it that with upwards of 30 data centers in Wo County alone that we are only now gathering as a wider community to talk about the power and water impacts? Could we possibly heat up our status as fastest warming city in the US and not to mention the broader environmental and social impacts? I would implore our governments to marry the priorities of profit, people and environment like a green business would in hopes of stewarding all of us into a sustainable future. Please data center moratorum now. >> All right. Thanks. Thanks, Anthony. Colin McInness, followed by Tammy Holtz, followed by Sandy Roth. >> Okay. Colin, correct? Colin. >> Colin. >> Colin. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Good morning, Mayor Shivy, and members of the Reno City Council. Thank you for putting this discussion on the agenda and considering changes to the development code around data center uses in our city. Better late than never, I suppose. My name is Cullen McInness, CU Len MCG INIS, and I am an organizer with the Sierra Club Toy Chapter. We are the largest and oldest grassroots environmental organization in the state representing over 30,000 members and supporters. I'm here today to call on you to put a temporary moratorium on new data center applications and to adopt strict regulations around data centers to safeguard our communities and landscapes from their destructive impacts. When I talk to people in Northern Nevada and other Sierra Club members, data centers are the number one environmental concern that I hear across the country and in many cities just like ours. data centers set up shop incentivized by state and local governments and then proceed to exploit the landscape and the people who live there. Communities have seen power bills spike, pollution of their air and water and a constant hum of noise that disrupts communities and lives. Pollution of the air and water is an existential crisis for many places that have welcomed data centers without proper guardrails. And until this point, we have been headed down that road. Mororrow County in Oregon is one such example. They saw a massive influx of data centers and then afterwards began to notice that rates of cancer and birth defects began to increase exponentially. After an investigation, it was discovered that the data centers were concentrating nitrates in their water through evaporative cooling and then reinjecting it back into the water table, contaminating the drinking water of an entire community. We have numerous lessons like this from across the nation and it would be foolish of us to not learn from them. We are the driest state in the nation and we need to have a ban on evaporative cooling and only permit water efficient cooling systems while making sure that more efficient systems are treating their water or funding treatment infrastructure so it doesn't fall onto the taxpayers. We also need to do what we can to incentivize the use of renewable energy. The CEO of Nevada Energy is quoted as saying that he believes a power grid could quadruple in capacity to power these data centers. I know the cost being passed on to customers from this buildout is not under the purview of the city council, but it is still valid to bring up how most of this infrastructure will be gas powered and not from renewable energy. This basically makes it impossible for us to meet our state climate goals and the city can have a role in requiring clean transition tariffs for new data centers as well as rooftop and parking lot solar panels to ensure that developers use more renewable energy and minimize air pollution. Speaking of air pollution, diesel generators are commonly used as a backup power supply for data centers. These diesel generators can be noisy and dirty. We are calling for the city to require that all data centers use tier 4 backup generators or lithium ion batteries as their source of backup power, which would reduce air and noise pollution. Data centers already voted for and approved by this body are planning on using dozens of low-quality backup diesel generators, polluting the air we have to breathe. We also need to make sure that these incoming projects are zoned appropriately on existing utility corridors and far from neighborhoods, schools, and sensitive habitats. We cannot accept at the end of this process of implementing regulations to have by approval. Every data center needs to be able to pass scrutiny of public process and community members who deserve to be consulted and involved at every step. I'm calling on you all to rectify the mistake made last year when this body failed to pass a moratorum or formulate regulations around data centers. We have an opportunity to address the concerns of the community on this important issue. Please support a temporary moratorium and strict regulations. Thank you. >> Thanks Colin Tammy Holtz followed by Sandy Roth followed by Barry Levenson. overhead. Tammy holds still for the record. I am here because of again the inadequacies of the city of Reno in the infrastructure. This shows here that data centers would not fit in our community. Out of 41 years of record, the mean is 9.44. In 20 of those years, we were below that average. Here is another information showing you the same thing. Now, let's get to the meat of the matter. The meat of the matter is back in 2008, WC3 was approved unanimously to conserve our water and only grow within our water means. The city of Reno has not done that. Neither has the Truckucky Meadows as a whole. To add to that, the anthropy the I have a hard time saying it. Um, this article here you have shows the issues in writing about Memphis, Tennessee and what's happened in the community. I also added in your pamphlet an additional two other articles regarding data centers in our high desert and how they will not work. The city of Reno cannot consider using data centers as a way to take themselves out of a budget deficit. It is inconceivable and irresponsible. We need to be conserving our natural resources all the way down the board. You've already outgrown your resources currently by what you've done to the North Valleys. You didn't listen to us then. I hope you will listen to us now. Thank you. >> Thanks, Tammy. >> Sandy Roth, followed by Barry Levenson, followed by Patrick Mud. >> Hello, my name is Sandy Roth. Over a year ago, you were asked to pass data center regulations and chose not to. You repeatedly have put off public meetings about data centers. I am here to encourage you once again to amend Reno's code to include data center regulations. Not just vote to explore the possibility of data center regulations because such a vote might be politically convenient for you given an upcoming election to actually adopt data center regulations. Not just any amendment. We need a good amendment. I hope that a desire for uniformity with our neighboring jurisdictions does not result in a weak amendment or no amendment. Data centers are coming to northern Nevada. They already are. They love our low latency fiber connectivity to the Silicon Valley. You should be proactive and plan for the data center growth that already has started in Reno. Reno is not going to get as many hyperscale data centers as the more rural nearby counties. However, it appears at least one developer wants to build big data centers here. Just as importantly, moderate and small data centers need responsible regulations as well. Cumulatively, these data centers can have impacts on things like our grid stability, our air quality, our services and infrastructure, our non-data center economic development, and our housing needs. Even just one unregulated data data center can have an adverse impact regardless of whether it's hypers scale. If your home or business is next to a data center, the noise matters. If the toxic emissions from a data center's diesel generators affect your health, it matters. If there is a fire and toxic runoff from the water used to fight the fire goes into the Truckucky River or a lake or onto the property of a neighboring home or business, it matters. If a data center doesn't properly dispose of e-waste or hazardous materials, it matters. The water issues go far beyond on-site water consumption for cooling. The power plants used to generate electricity for the servers and cooling use a lot of water. if they're using fossil fuel, and most of them are. More significantly for today's purposes, the water use and discharge can have impacts on local groundwater as well as on rivers and lakes and on our water and wastewater infrastructure. When data centers come to Reno, regardless of whether they are serving people from Reno or more commonly California or elsewhere, they should be required to be good corporate citizens of Reno. There must be common sense requirements and there must be truthful and transparent permitting processes with public meetings and hearings and no byright permitting. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Barry Levenson followed by Patrick Mud followed by Tara de Kieros. >> All right. Uh good morning Mayor Shibi and council members. My name is Barry Levenson. I'm a retired physician and engineer and a member of Sierra Club as you all know. As you also know, our Sierra Club group and other concerned citizens that you see have been pushing for some regulations around data center approvals for the past year and a half. We are grateful that the Reno City Council has taken the issue up today. In an ideal world, we would not have to choose between being able to protect our environment and energy bills on one hand and technological process and tax revenues on the other. But unfortunately, that is where we are regarding data centers in this new world of rapidly progressing AI. If the city of Reno is going to move forward with any future data center development, including at Stonegate, I would implore you to first consider whether the the development is the best use of land and resources and is truly in the interest of the people of Reno. If the council decides to move forward with a data center development, then the approval process must be governed by an ordinance specific to data centers and a strong one. This ordinance must include limitations on sighting with adequate buffer zones between the data center and adjacent properties and avoidance of sensitive areas such as anywhere close to the Truckucky River. It should require water conserving cooling technology. It should require the best available diesel generator technology to minimize harmful air pollution or better yet use lithium batteries uh for backup power. It should incentivize renewable energy including solar panels on the roofs and the use of new renewable energy from the grid and the data center developers must cover the cost of all required infrastructure including road, sewer, water treatment and firefighting services. Reno should not get stuck with those costs. We have developed we meaning Sierra Club Energy Coalition a few of our partners have developed a document outlining best practices for a data center ordinance right here which has been emailed to each of you. Um these recommendations are based on months of research speaking with subject matter experts and evaluation of ordinances written for other similar jurisdictions most importantly in Arizona where they face similar water issues and proximity proximity to California. Today, I'd love to see a unanimous vote from the council to move forward with a comprehensive ordinance governing data center development for the sake of your constituents, the city budget, and our environment, including our air quality and water supply. Thank you very much. >> Thanks, Barry. >> Patrick Mud, followed by Tara Day, followed by Aaron Sims. >> Hi. Oh, you're fine. Take your time. Um, >> no, no, just take your time. I know it's, trust me, I hate public speaking, but just take your time and we got you. >> All right. Well, good morning, city council and Mayor Shivy and the wonderful residents of Reno. >> Um, my name is Patrick Mud. I am 27 years old. I've lived here all of my life. Um I'm also an Eagle Scout from a local boy scout troop here uh and have and was a assistant scout master as well uh to that troop. So I've seen both sides of how that works. >> And I come here well for three things. Uh I believe that this AI data data center is financially irresponsible, environmentally irresponsible and morally reprehensible. Um, when it comes to financially, half of the data centers in the US have been shut down mid- project. How can we know that the money that the city of Reno may be giving this project is going to be spent on something that will be useful? Um, alongside that, uh, environmentally, I feel like we've got the best tap water in the world. The Truckucky River is delicious. And um I don't want to see that get tainted by pollution and whatever that uh data center is going to pull out put out. Uh and not only that, but morally I find it bad. Um and as a scout, I've always lived by the scout oath. Uh, on my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to guard my country, to obey the scout law, to help other people at all times, and to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. >> Uh, I take that into consideration with all I do. And seeing what AI has produced and including with many friends I have that are in the art community, seeing AI just strip other people's work and spit it out to be what they consider good. uh stealing ideas is not good. Alongside that, um there have been multiple instances of AI abuse uh in terms of there have been ways uh where it's fairly easy to manipulate. Uh there it has in a previous case as well. Um you can go on there and manipulate a bit to look at ways to end your life. And AI has also been used to create AI child pornography. I do not agree with any of this. I think it's morally reprehensible and I think we need strict strict rules on this AI data center and uh that is my comment. >> All right, Mr. Mud, you survived. >> Yeah. >> Tara Day followed by Aaron Sims followed by Jason Miller. Tara Dos for the record. Um, the first time I drove out of my neighborhood and saw the sign for the Keystone Data Center, I thought it must mean something else. Surely the city of Reno did not permit a data center to be built next to a residential neighborhood and a high school near the Truckucky River. But when the surveillance cameras popped up, I realized that it was in fact going to be a data center. There's no reason to have that level of surveillance for a normal construction project. However, whoever's building that monstrosity knows that people hate data centers, and I'm guessing that they have a few images of me flipping off the construction site as I drive in and out of my neighborhood. Despite being a neighbor, I had no warning about the project and has have received no information about impacts to air, water, and noise pollution, which are going to impact my neighborhood as well as Reno High School. There are houses right across the street from this data center. The Truckucky River is by far the best thing Reno has going for it. Without it, we would lack our lifegiving center. We're one of the fastest warming cities in the nation and our climate is pushing the limits of livability. I moved here from Elely 19 years ago and one day in July when I was 9 months pregnant, we hit a record high of 108. Our house was not air conditioned. So I went down to the river, waited in and just sat down. That feeling of cool water made me feel like Reno was going to be a good place for my family. The Pyramid Lake Pyute tribe has worked for decades to successfully return flows to the Truckucky River. For the city of Reno and Wo County to thoughtlessly sell off that water to corporations looking to build data centers shows a lack of care for the place we live and the people who live here. AI is an existential threat to our society. I edit academic books and papers, and over the past two years, I've had to add a no AI policy to my contract. after receiving AI written manuscripts that were unreadable and total nonsense. AI is the newest way that capitalism has found to make people's lives a little bit worse while making a few corporations much, much richer. It steals the intellectual property of writers and artists and delivers a product riddled with hallucinations misinterpretations and bias. For us to compromise our clean air and water to facilitate AI is so shortsighted. Unfortunately, Nevada has a history of selling off our natural resources to outsiders at ridiculously low prices. We have an opportunity to start to reverse that trend today. My personal request is not just a temporary moratorum but a permanent ban based on my understanding that multiple data centers have already been permitted. As far far as as one of the wa fastest warming cities in the driest state in the nation, we can't afford to sell off our quality of life to make tech companies rich. We should follow the lead of other communities that have decided to permanently ban data centers. Just yesterday, Marshall County, Indiana, voted to permanently ban data centers, and we should follow their lead. Aaron Sims, followed by Jason Miller, followed by Teresa Randolph. >> Hi, Aaron. >> Good morning, Madame Mayor. Good morning, Madame Mayor, for the day. >> Yeah. >> And good morning, members of the city council. Hello. Um, for the record, my name is Aaron Sims. I have been a Reno resident only for a year and a half, but I've been a proud Northern Nevada for over 23 years. >> Okay. All right. That's acceptable. But of course I am speaking here today pertaining to agenda item uh C.1 and I also want to echo what everybody else has said that I implore I urge each and every one of you to consider uh putting at least at the very minimum a moratorum on any further construction of these data centers. Now I I did prepare to talk about a lot of the environmental damage and everything else but I think that plenty of other people have that. Uh, one of the things I want to talk about actually is a little bit more personal. Um, you know, when I found out that a new data center was opening up just three blocks away from where I live, I was like, what the heck are we doing? Um, I understand zoning can be complicated. I understand that uh zoning laws and regulations can be complicated as well, but it doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever that when you have neighborhoods, when you have residents living close in close proximity to one another with restaurants, parks, uh schools, and we're not just talking about, for lack of a better term, people who are living living, you know, at the lower end of the class structure, but also $15 million homes. Why are we putting in a data center? So ultimately, I just believe that at the very least, if we can slow this process or halt this process for the time being and really study what we're doing for the future of our citizens and what we're doing for the health and safety of our community, that that would just go so much um you know, for everybody who's here today, but also everybody who can't be here today and who cannot speak on this issue. The other thing real quick is that I want to point out the fact that we all know that data centers have uh historically skyrocketed envy energy or energy costs and we only have one energy company we can go through. Workingclass people can't afford that in 2026. So please hear us. Please consider this moratorum each and every one of you. Um and I very much thank you for your time. >> All right. Thank you Erin. Jason Miller, followed by Teresa Randolph, followed by Donovan Brooks. >> Hello. It's my first time speaking at a Reno Hall. My name is Jason Miller. I'm a proud Reno night. I have lived here my entire life. So, I am a Reno native. >> It's rare. It's very rare. I am one of the co-founders and organizers of Reno Satanic who gave the county commission meeting uh last year. And with the news of these data centers, this has now become a fight for survival. Mark Twain says whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting. with data centers coming in and with the ecological uh damage that they bring. This isn't just a fight for anyone. This is a fight for all of our survival. These things cannot go forward at the rate that they have been going through. So I am for this moratorum being put into place and put on hold until regulations are put into place to protect the citizens where these are being built and the damages that it causes to our environment. This is our one and only planet that we have. We should best take our own responsibility to take care of it and the longevity of it for future generations to come. As someone who has lived here their entire life, I would hate to see this place be destroyed and the natural beauty of this place be ruined by outside corporations trying to buy up our land and try to make a quick buck that gives no benefit to the people here. With that being said, that is all I really have to say about these. >> Okay, Jason. It's Jason, right? >> Yes, >> Jason. Okay, thank you so much. >> Teresa Randolph, followed by Donovan Brooks, followed by Dwight George. >> Just to interrupt really quick, I see someone very notable in in the audience, and that is Frankie Sue Delpatha. I know I'm embarrassing her right now, but um for those of you who don't know, she's uh pretty miraculous. She was the first woman elected to be the Secretary of State. Am I right? The first woman. And she was the first woman elected attorney general. So there you are, Miss City Manager Bryant worked for you. Is that true? Back in the day. And you know who else did? Um, Chief Sulphurino, >> my dear, I had 350 employees. >> No. Well, they all tell me you're wonderful to work for, but I just wanted you to know Chief Sulfurino told me that and I was just my jaw just dropped. So, just know very kind kind words they'd say. So, all right, getting back to our regularly scheduled program. >> Hello. Good morning, Mayor. Good morning, um, council members. My name's Teresa Randolph. I didn't live here my entire life. We moved here when I was two. I have seen the river. I've come downtown when it was flooding. I saw the Helm's Pit fill up to be the come the marina. I've walked underneath both these bridges on rocks with my father when I was a child. Um, our environment is our greatest asset and I think that it should be included on your balance sheet. Um, our people are your next greatest asset. After that comes money and industry. And I have never one day in my life thought business was more important than people. Um, I'm an educator. I've just retired from being a preschool director. And I worked with children my entire life. And AI is a detriment to education. It's a detriment to um, did you see the robot they want to have teaching classes? That made me cry. Um, that is not what our future should be. Human brains took us to the moon the first time. I looked up what AI was used on for Artemis 2 and it was for navigation. It wasn't for discovery. It wasn't for uh planning our future. It wasn't for the poetry that happened in that week. Um, it didn't bring people together. Um, I think AI is unethical. the people who have developed it knew our planet needed water and electricity. There are already better answers and they don't care. I think it's unethical in that it steals from artists. It steals from ideas. Um, now it's going to steal from Tik Tok. So, there goes the next generation who will be mad and be here. Um, I don't belong to any of these associations until today. They are wellprepared. I watched a recording of the city council um Spark City Council uh presentation from the Sierra Club toy. Impressive. You should invite them to come in and give you more information because they have it. Um I'm here to tell you just my experience. So I grew up in Reno. I went to all the schools here, graduated from UNR. I live in Sparks now. We're down river. I ask you to to at least create this moratorum, but I don't think this is a business for us. I think we could do better. Um I think this is an unethical business structure. I know that they're already polluting other areas. I think we could do better. Like let's get renewable resources in and be leaders. Um you also could be leaders in speaking to the other communities. Let's talk to Fernley and Story County and Sparks and come together quickly, >> rapidly to work on these rules together and perhaps limit us. I didn't know there was 30. I looked up and found out we had 14 in my uh within driving of my house. Um I'm appalled. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Donovan Brooks, followed by Dwight George, followed by Samuel Sheridan. >> Hello, council members. My name is Donovan Brooks. I've lived in Nevada my entire life. I've grown to love the desert more and more every year of my life. Um, and I'm here to echo what everyone else has said that our desert community cannot handle the strain on our water resources that is presented by unregulated data data center construction. We need to develop very strict regulations for these data centers if we construct them. And I urge the council to develop and uh adopt a moratorum on the construction of data centers until regulations can be um implemented. And I urge that we use the time that we gain from that moratorum to develop the strictest possible regulations for the data centers that we can develop. And I um I think from what I've seen today that this council does care about the health of our city, the human wellbe, the human well-being of our city, the health of our river. I've seen uh such a uh tremendous support of the arborists and the work that they do. And I've seen understanding from these council members that we are in the fastest warming city in the nation in a time of climate catastrophe. And I think that we need to make our stance clear that we care about the health of our people. And if you care about helping uh protecting the constituents that elected you, then I think you will agree we need those very strict regulations. That's all I have to say. >> All right. It's Don, right? Donovan. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Dwight George, followed by Samuel Sheridan, followed by Laura Fallon. >> Okay. Dwight. >> Hey. >> Hi. >> I'm Dwight George. And on today, Earth Day, and as a native every day, I feel it is incredibly important for people to speak out and protect the only land we have. This land so important to me and my family and friends and my child deserves to be cared and valued for for more than what can only be taken from it. The data centers being spoken about today, like those already around this country, would cause so much damage to an already drought-heavy land that is also now clearly acknowledged by the council as the fastest warming city in the USA that it is not only irresponsible but irredeemable to allow its practices to continue. The Earth as a whole contains only about 3% of fresh water. And these data centers consume thousands to millions of gallons of it a day. Eagle to what thousands of your citizens would need every day just to be able to live their lives. With these cent's main goal to power AI, it seems too simple to point out that this artificial thing consumes too much of humanity's real resources. All while not being either reliable or the all- saving intelligence that these centers and its owners want you to believe it is. The trade-off of giving so much of what we rely on for our livelihood to something so unstable makes no sense. In a county where the city is allocating so much of its funds to the police department and the surveillance of its own citizens around the main water source we have here, the Turkey River, to then allow major corporations to do so much with so little oversight is such hypocrisy and the opposite of what you are here to do for us. To give that kind of power to something that's biggest concern is profit at the loss of so much for your people should not be allowed like so many times before. You may be voting for something presently but we are talking about the future for so many. There is no reason to go into it so blindly. Support the moratorum or the total banning and show the people of this land today that you support them too. Thank you. >> All right. Samuel Sheridan, followed by Laura Fallon, followed by Deandra Preswood. >> Hello everyone. Um, my name is Samuel Sheridan. I'm a graduate student at UNR and I've lived here in Reno for about seven years and I grew up nearby. So, I've loved this town. >> You're a Renoite. >> I'm a Renoite through and through. Um, so I'd like to speak in favor of C1 and to urge you all to pursue a moratorum on the development of data centers. Um there's been lots of well articulated arguments so far. So I'd like to present some data on one of these data centers which is the Keystone data center. So the size of the Keystone data data center is 12 megawatts. This is the equivalent of running 120,000 desktop computers 247. The cost data center construction costs on average between 10 to 12 million per megawatt for a basic data center. For AI focused, this could be much higher. Um, local estimates from members of our community come out to about 200 million initial build costs. Cooling. So, this data center on Keystone uses a closed um loop cooling system, which in theory addresses some of the water concerns people have. However, it still takes a lot of water to use a closed loop cooling system. So, it takes roughly 30,000 to 60,000 gallons for the initial fillup and an additional 600 to 1,600 gallons per month. Not to mention the waste that is produced by the chemicals they use to ensure this closed loop system. Energy. The trade-off for this closed loop cooling system is that it uses significantly more energy, about 10,950,000 kilowatt hours per month. In dollars, that's about 1,24 thou or 1,24,500 per month, the equivalent to 12,166 average Reno homes and approximately 2.5% of the entire city of Reno's total electricity usage. Tax breaks. You know, we've talked a lot about maybe what these could bring to our communities. However, 75% personal property tax break is what this has. Meaning that the data center will only pay 25% of their total property tax bill. That means that they would only have to pay about 1,255,000 on an estimated 3,130,000 yearly bill. Sales tax reduction as well. They have a 2% flat rate. Normally, every resident in Reno must pay an 8.265% 265% sales tax, but this data center only has to pay 2% of that massive amount for equipment supplies purchased. This data center will employ about 11 people for 31 bucks annually. That's about $644,800 per year to this community, which to be quite frank isn't a lot for what it takes. The noise as well, they will be using acoustic walls and that kind of thing to address these concerns with sound. However, it's still going to make sound. These things aren't going to be silent. They will produce sound. Thank you, >> Samuel. Thank you so much, >> Laura Fallon. >> Samuel, I'm gonna have someone from staff meet with you. Thank you so much, >> Laura Fallon, followed by DeAndre Presswood, followed by Josh Herbert or Heert. >> Laura. All right, go right ahead. >> Good morning, council members. Thank you for your sustained attention this morning. My name is Laura Fallon. So many of the talking points I've heard by financial interests in favor of data center development revolve around government budgets coming up short. The stance that the way to close those budget gaps is through diversification and that the primary option on the table to do so is data center development. With that, I'd like to invite you to consider a couple of things. First, two of the main sources of income currently keeping Nevada afloat, Nevada's bread and butter, if you will, are one, folks moving, coming to retire here because there's no state income tax, and two, the outdoor recreation live entertainment industry. Yeah. If data center development exacerbates our heat waves, pollutes our air quality, increases our utility rates, no matter what the state income tax is, do you think Nevada will continue to be a place that folks move to in the same numbers for that income? With public resistance mounting across the country, if Nevada becomes known as the state that moved forward with the highest concentration of data center construction that did not quote miss out on becoming what? Silicon Valley's dumping ground. Do you think people will continue to pick it for its outdoor recreation, for a live entertainment getaway? Data centers won't diversify or supplement our income. they will cannibalize the little income we currently have. The second thing that I'd invite you to consider is whether data centers are the primary budget deficit proposal on the table because of the unique abatements they are being offered. If additional industries were offered the same abatements, would other options be coming forward? Ones that maybe don't undercut our bread and butter, perhaps even complement it? Just for example, one thing I know about folks considering where to retire is that in addition to state income tax, they care about access to health care providers. Not only does Reno not have a level one trauma center, Renown Regional Medical Center is the only level two trauma center between Sacramento and Salt Lake City, cities in two entirely different states than Nevada. If Renown and other hospital systems were offered the same abatements, perhaps they would invest in such large-scale capital expenditure projects that not only bring construction jobs, but also a wide array of others here for years to come. Please vote at a bare minimum in favor of agenda item C1. And until we have common sense business models, plans, and regulations in place, please expeditiously call for a vote on a moratorum not conveniently after elections. >> Thank you, DeAndre Presswood, followed by Josh Heert, followed by Christa George. >> Hi everyone, my name is DeAndre Presswood and I am a secondyear PhD hydrarology student at UI. Wow. >> But I'm just here as a citizen and Reno person. >> You got to hang out with Councilwoman Dur. >> I do know her. >> I do know hung out with her. >> I love it. Okay. >> And so today I just want to tell you some of my concerns. I don't have any specific data or information on the data centers because that information is very inconclusive. There's not a lot of precise measurements on how much energy or how much water or the ramifications of the air quality and the sound. And so the reason a moratorum is needed is because there's enough data centers in the United States that's shown in anecdotal evidence that they don't always do what they say they're going to do. And so my question to you is if you're going to regulate them, what are you going to do to hold them accountable? Because if they pollute our waterways, and we already heard that we live in a terminal wershed, so meaning any pollution that happens will be with us forever. And any water resources they use, they will take. And so what does it mean when they violate those things? Is it just going to be an economic thing or just a fine? Because you can't buy what we have here and that's what everyone loves. The environment, the water, the truckucky, the py pyramid lake, you can't replace those things. There's no economic value on returning the ecological integrity we have on it right now. So the question is is whatever regulations you give them, are they going to hold up their end of the bargain? And what is going to happen when they violate those? because they will violate them because that's what industry does. People make mistakes, accidents happens, pollution happens, things are wrong. And also on top of that, the things that they say that we're going to do, it hasn't been proven. Closed loops data centers, the amount of water that they're going to use, the uncertainty is enormous. And so what does it mean when they're wrong and they just don't deliver? If they build it, is it just going to be a situation where, well, we've already built the data center now. We can't do what we said we're going to do. We're going to take way more water than we said we were going to. Too bad, too sad, which would be really unfortunate. And then also the jobs. I understand as uh legislators and council members that you guys need to help the economy and data centers seem like a way to provide people a job, but the question is, are people even getting employed? And after they're built, what is that going to mean? How many people are staffed there? People said it's only going to take 11 people to run a data center. that doesn't really make sense as as far as an economic thing, as far as jobs and employment. Is it really benefiting anyone is the question and so thank you for your time and I hope you consider it. >> Great. Great job. Thank you. >> Josh Heert followed by Christa George followed by Marie Oil. >> All right. Good morning. >> Uh hello Mayor Shi. >> Good afternoon. Sorry >> members of the council. Thank you for this opportunity to speak. My name is Josh Abear. Uh I'm a Reno resident. I'm one of Deon Reese's constituents. I'm also a candidate for Congressional District 2. >> Oh, congratulations. >> And I'm not going to duplicate what other people have said about the water and the power, but I would like to add to it. First, for these data centers that use I have a PhD in physics. So when I look at data centers, I see something that takes energy and power and turns it into money and heat. That money leaves Reno. The heat stays here. So if we have a facility like the one on Keystone that's a 12 megawatt facility, that's like taking the energy of 10,000 homes and putting it in a single location. So that's going to increase the heat in that location. And there have been a recent pre-print study showing, at least for these large hypers scale data centers, that they can increase the local temperature from about 3.5 to about 15 degrees. So it has an important influence on local heat. And that's not something that we can have in a city that is the fastest heating city in the nation. And then when it comes to these non-eaporative cooling systems, I think the one in Keystone is not entirely non-eaporative. So it will still be using water. But even if we have an entirely non-eaporative cooling system that's closed loop, most of the water that's used for these data centers in Nevada is used for power generation. So when you use non-eaporative cooling, it makes that data center less energy efficient. So what that ends up meaning is we're actually using more water for these data centers in a state like Nevada until we have requirements for them to have green energy power. So at this moment I think we absolutely need to have a moratorium on data centers in Reno. And I think we need to be considering whether this is actually an appropriate industry for this city. And I want you all to think of these things as industrial facilities. These are not tech facilities. These are industrial facilities for producing the compute power that the AI and the cloud computing center the industries need. So they should not be cited within residential neighborhoods because they produce a lot of heat. They produce a lot a lot of noise as people have spoken about not just from the generators but also if they have air cooled systems. These fans are enormous and they're extremely loud and they run 24/7 and they also these these diesel generators do a lot of pollution. And so as other people have said, we need to have batterybased systems if they're going to be based within cities, and they shouldn't be anywhere near homes or schools or any of these things. So I'll wrap up my comments here, but I hope I've added a little bit more to your knowledge about how these things work. >> All right, thank you so much, >> Christa George, followed by Maro Gil, followed by Brie Casper. >> Just use tight. >> Okay. Good afternoon. Um, I would like to show this really quick. Um, this is where the data center is located. This is my house. >> Um, we were never contacted, spoken to by anybody about what we thought about this. We were asked to come to city council meetings and my husband who is Jeff Shamberg who built that beautiful belief sign sitting back here. Um he came and he said there was a lot of talk about energy and water and money. Nothing about the people or this neighborhood that this is going to be built in. Um, as of today or up to date, there's not been any health impact studies about what this data center is going to do to our quality of life to um um Sorry, let me look at my notes here. I'm a little nervous. Um, it's, you know, we stand to lose our quality of life, our our livelihoods. Jeff builds in our backyard. He'll be subject to the noise and that is a big concern. He already is prone to migraine headaches. I'm prone to vertigo. And this noise that's going to be produced has been already studied to show that it causes sleep deprivation. It causes headaches. It causes, you know, vertigo. The things that we work to not have in our lives every day. And it's going to be 247. I come here to ask for the moratorum and in any thoughts that you have going forward um about um approving or amending any of the city codes to accommodate these very underststudied barely regulated data centers that you include the neighborhood include the people that are going it's going to be affected. I would personally love to see the halts of this until more study is done into what it's going to do to us. That's our home. We don't rent. We own it. We've been there for 14 years. That's where we make our living. That's where I plant all my plants. And I want to grow old with Jeff at. So I hope that you will pass the moratorum and really look into what this is going to do to the people that you govern here in this city. It's important and we ask you to uh think about us. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Where is where is your husband? >> Huh? >> Where is your husband? >> Do you guys know who he is? He's working on the uh the uh fence for the old post office. >> Yeah, he's getting that together right now. >> The home at the home, love, believe. That's who her husband is. >> Yeah. So, that's where he works. >> He's he's a tremendous tremendous artist. >> Take care of him. Marico Gil followed by Brie Casper followed by Morgan Wodssworth. >> I just like to make uh just want to say something before I actually get started. Uh the young lady that was running for uh Wo County uh district. I just want to say this to you guys uh here before I get started if that's okay. Uh, as of April 14th, 2026, the NACP filed a lawsuit against XAI, right, uh, in the US District Court of Northern District of Mississippi. I just want to let you guys know here in this community, right? Um, the second thing I want to say before I get started, you guys already started time, but I appreciate that. Right. Uh, I do want to say this. I got a phone call, that's why I left out of here, from DC, and they said, "Marico mentioned this when you stand up in front of the community here. The Keystone Data Center illustrates exactly why we need a community benefits agreement. A property, a property, and this is why I did not believe in this city. I did not believe you guys did this. A property that was supposed to be served as a art space now generating privately residual income for land owners while corporate operators receive state abandonments. and that community now bears the infrastructure cost gets no seat at the table. I just wanted to add that. Um, and I'm gonna move forward with this. This is a 17page document that I personally put together with the state with the national out of DC NACP for this community. Again, and who I am, my name is Maro Gil. I'm the third vice president for the Reno Sparks chapter NACP 1112. I'm here to talk about a community benefits agreement for data centers. Here's the problem. Data centers use massive amounts of electricity and water. They put a strain on the energy grid and often regular people end up paying higher electric bills to cover the cost all new infrastructure. Meanwhile, the companies like billion makes billions of dollars. Here's the solution, guys. And I told I told this council that you guys can continue to be the backend engine of this region of what I call and what the n what NACP out of DC is calling right I8 corridor. You guys are missing the mark here. Community benefits agreements, right? A CBA is a legal contractor between the developers and the community. It makes sure local people actually benefit from these companies moving in. We have prepared a complete benefits agreement based on the NAACP's national stop dera data framework specifically adopted to the nevada northern Nevada and let me walk you through the key provisions transparency real time public dashboard showing energy use water use and local hiring jobs for local residents with hiring goals and training programs financial commitments funding for workforce development water conservation and community programs. Protection for rate payers. Developers pay 100% of grid upgrades. No cost shifting to the residents. Community oversight. An independent community advisory board with real empowering force. This is good for everyone. The developers get a clearer process and community support. Residents get a real benefit. jobs, infrastructure, investment, and protection for our water and energy systems. And our city gets responsible growth instead of uh rapid growth. So, here's what we're asking. Partner with us. Work with the NACP Reno Spark Chapter 112 to make community benefits a standard part of how Reno approves data centers. We have done the work. The framework is ready. Let us make sure that when the companies come to our city, our residents actually benefit. Growth should work for everyone, not just for the corporations. >> Thank you, Mr. Casper, followed by Morgan Wodsworth, followed by Rob Blackstock. Hello everyone. Just wanted to display this for everyone that's here today. Hello, my name is Elizabeth Brie Casper. I'm a third generation Neadan and I am located less than 500 yards from the Keystone Data Center. My mother and I grew up on the property. My grandmother lived on the property and when it was birthdays, when it was Mother's Day, we would plant plants in the yard. And we weren't giftgivers. We cared about nature. We cared about the trees. We cared about our soil. In the last 46 years, I have been developing the heritage soil of and my medicinal herbs into cultivated herbal business, which premiered in the master gardener tour 2024. Now this data center threatens my business, my livelihood, my inheritance, and my peace. My mother taught me to protect our and enrich our soils, practice sustainable agriculture, and live in harmony with natur the natural world around me. Over the years, my yard has supported raccoon families, visiting, bringing their young, washing their hands in our bird baths, and swinging their babies on our hammocks. The blue jays have nested in our property for over 20 years. We have new and returning visitors all the time. Just yesterday, I saw an Asian longhorn beetle for the first time. Hummingbirds always visit the property as well as Phoenix moss just showed up this spring. I'm pleading to you all for the development for the developed trees who need fresh air. Please, we need a moratorum to start right now. For the plants that perish with fine particle matters that suffocate them, we need a moratorum right now. For the birds that get disoriented and low frequency hums, they don't get to speak their voice here today. So, I'm going to do this for them. We need a moratorum right now. For the worms and the microbes that depend on the limited moisture we do have in our soils, we need you to enact a moratorum and look out for all of our interests. Baseline, please initiate the process for a moratorum on all data centers within your control while we figure out how to make them healthy, sustainable, and profitable for Nevada. These are the following questions that I think are important if we were to move forward past a moratorum phase. What are the res courses when we run out of water in this state? What's our plan B? What is our recourses for nearby neighbors when our health is impacted? Are you going to pay our medical bills? Who will reimburse our increased utility bills? Who will reimburse my loss of income? Who will pay the depreciation on my property value? When a moratorum is decided, how quickly will you actually stop construction? And then to close, if we do not inherent the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. In this legacy, is this the legacy you want to live behind? Pollution, greed, natural resource rationing, and ultimately the human extinction. Thank you. >> Thank you. Morgan Wodssworth, followed by Rob Blackstock, followed by Jacob C. All right. Hi, Mayor Shivy and the council. My name is Morgan Wodsworth and I'm also running for Congress in CD2, which is currently held by Mark Day if you didn't know. So, I'm here today like so many of the people here um to talk about the data centers and the unre unregulated growth that we are seeing of them in our community. Just recently, Nevada Energy said that the electricity required to power the proposed data centers in our state, um, let alone Reno, is three times the amount needed to power the entire city of Las Vegas. Nevada Energy is also reporting that they will need to use fossil fuel energy to m to meet the energy demands of all these proposed data centers. And yes, some of our data centers use less water, but the ones that do less do use less water require more energy. And as many have pointed out, we only have one place to get our energy from in Nevada. And on top of these environmental concerns with our energy and our water, over the last decade, Nevada has granted approximately $457 million in tax abatements to data center developers for roughly a few hundred long-term jobs. This is revenue that we could have used for our schools and our local infrastructure instead of data centers. And also, as many people have stated, Reno is the fastest warming city in the country. Nevada is the driest state. We also live in the Great Basin region where all of our water and the pollution that happens to it stays right here. It doesn't flow out or drain out into the ocean. It stays in the region. Hence the name basin like a bowl or a sink. And here in Reno, we are on the Truckucky Whed and it drains straight to Pyramid Lake. We need to be conscious about what we are doing to our water, lands, air, and energy resources in this city and in this state. And so I urge the council to enact a moratorium on data centers. I also urge the council not to take any campaign donations from data center developers and their associates so that they can make so that they can meet the needs of the community without any conflicting interests. And lastly, I also ask the council to please make sure you are contacting and getting consent from our tribes when making decisions that impact our environment, land, and water. Thank you again, and my name is Morgan Wsworth. Rob Blackstock followed by Jacob C, followed by Casey Knap. Jacob C followed by Casey Knap followed by Georgina Wetzel. Hello. Before I get started, I just want to say happy Earth Day. Um, I think I speak for a lot of Oh, I was born and raised here in Reno, and I think I speak for a lot of residents when I say that data centers are not welcome here. I've yet to see a data center anywhere that helps its local residents. In fact, I've observed quite the opposite. I've seen residents paying more and more for electricity to make up for the data cent's usage because they made a deal with the electrical company to make residents pay for the new infrastructure required to meet the high electricity demands. I've seen communities polluted and water reservoirs drained to almost nothing. It doesn't matter if they're open system, closed system, or air cooled. Open system will drain our water supplies in our beautiful lake. Closed systems have saved some water, but are highly toxic for the soil and aquafers, which is especially bad considering we're in a basin and there's nowhere for the pollution to go. As far as aircooled systems, they consume up to 30% more electricity than air cooled and are often require huge diesel generators to help meet the facility's needs, which put off massive amounts of carbon emissions. There are more environmental concerns that we are oblivious to due to many ethical concerns, such as transparency. I urge you to keep in mind the points that we have all made today and do something about these data centers that are going to pollute our ecosystems and suck our resources dry. I know my fight will not end here today and just because these day these problems don't affect you because of the shoes that you are in they will. Thank you. >> Casey Knap, followed by Georgina Wetzel, followed by Charlotte Cox. Hi guys, I am Casey Knap and um I just wanted to confirm that my position was correct because I think I might have put the wrong position. So, I'm waiting for that to pop up. And I know that there were some other people that had positions where they said they were in opposition, but I think Okay, no position. Good. Um, but just wanted to make sure that that's looked at in regards to some of the comments because I think there were some that seemed like they were speaking against data centers, but maybe the position was not accurately reflected. Um, so I think a lot of the people here have brought up some really amazing points. Um, I came here prepared with all kinds of like facts and data, but it does not really seem to um, make sense for me to spend my time doing that because so many other people have done a fantastic job of speaking to that stuff. Um, what I want to speak to you today is what we see as the vision for Reno. Where do we want to take this city in the future? Um, we have a lot of different opportunities, right? And there are some things that are going to be um beneficial for the members of this community, for the wildlife, and for our outdoor spaces. Um, and there are going to be other directions that are more beneficial for corporations um and people that are looking to make a quick dollar from our resources and our lands. Um, do what do we want to prioritize here? What do we want to allow and what do we want to protect? And I think it is really critical for us to reflect on that as we are making some of these decisions that are going to affect Neadans for generations. Will we allow Reno to continue this trend toward becoming a mosaic of warehouses and data centers? Because I know in the last 10 years I have seen so many new warehouses that have been put up in the midst of residential areas alongside parks along our frontages. When you fly into Reno that is a dominant feature on our landscape. We've got these beautiful mountains, these beautiful outdoor spaces, and we have these massive buildings right in the middle of our city. Um, and it is showing what our priorities are. Um, we have the opportunity to lead in lean into the increasing recognition of Reno as a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts, for people who um are interested in natural spaces, who want to camp, who want to explore our mountains. um if we become this mosaic of data centers, of warehouses, um we're going to turn those people off. And I believe that that is the most promising future for our community in terms of recruiting more residents to move to our area um and encourage increased tourism. Um, so the in the fate of our incredible city is in your hands and as your representatives, I hope that you preserve and protect our resources and our lands and really lean into becoming this mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and people who really appreciate um, our beautiful natural spaces. Thank you. Thank you, >> Georgina Wetzel followed by Charlotte Cox, followed by Frankie Sudel Papa. Um, good afternoon. Uh, my name is, uh, Gina Wetszel. Um, I'm not from Reno. I know that there are strong opinions about that, but um I've lived here for five years and I've moved and lived in a lot of places in the United States. Um and Reno has captured my heart. I uh really enjoy the intense community culture that I've found in this city. Um I've also seen that today. Um, I'm one of the final speakers here today, I think. I'm not sure. I signed up when I walked in this this morning. Um, but everybody's feels strongly about this. You've heard facts, you've heard anecdotes, you've heard um personal emotions, poetry, art. These people care about their city. Now, a lot of what I initially wrote has been covered. Um, I wanted to cover what I thought were less talked about um negative aspects of data center development, which was water use, energy use. Um, I wanted to add that the noise um scientists have been studying the effect of urban noise since the 60s, since the beginning of suburban culture. Um, and now over the last few years with data center development, scientists are still studying the effects of low hum steadystate noise, which is long waves that are not adequately blocked as well as other types of waves by buildings. So they can go further and that hum your brain can tune out, but people who are prone to migraines or have any level of sensitivity will feel it. people who don't notice it do have a stronger or a higher chance of health problems regardless of whether they notice it or not. That was one thing I wanted to add. The other thing was the uh economics of this. 11 people for about two acres I think for that keystone. Um, that's a that's a crazy ratio of jobs to land, especially in the middle of downtown. Um, so just from that one common sense data point, it doesn't make sense extrapolating from that. I want to close that we have offered you a lot of information. So now you have it. There's no we didn't know. We haven't heard. We haven't waited long enough. I hear a lot that government is slow, that it takes a long time, that proper channels need to be addressed, but I've also seen government move very, very fast when it wants to. So, you have information and I am very excited to see what you do with it. So, thank you. >> Thank you, >> Charlotte Cox. Followed by Frankie Sudel Papa, followed by Yina Wells. Frankie Sudel Papa followed by Yina Wells followed by Howard Go Goldbomb. >> Good morning everyone. My name is Frankie Sudell Papa and it's a privilege to be appear before you today. Um I came a year ago February to ask for a pause when we were looking at the original uh data center request that came before you. That vote was 4 to3. I'm here today because um one of my favorite deputies was a a San Francisco 49ers football player and I called him the coach because he had a saying, a failure to plan is a plan to fail. And I would say that's really appropriate today. I think that in listening to this, what's exciting to me, look in this room. I mean, what's really exciting is to see all the young people engaged. I mean, normally where we go these days, it's dinosaurs like me and gay-haired folks that, you know, but it's really encouraging to see as many people engaged as they're engaged. What I'm hearing, and I don't need to repeat it, but I can tell you, I've pestered some of you over and over again, even as late as this morning, in this regard, but I think that it's time, one thing I would point out that we need to do, I went to the consolidation meeting of the fire protection. It's time to have a consolidated meeting of some sort in this regard because it's not just Reno's problem. It's our county's problem. It's our state's problem. And in the end, every community is what we together help make that community just as this state is what we together help make it. And frankly, there's a lack of planning going on. And we all know that there budget deficits everywhere. We know that. But I don't think this is the answer. I do think, however, we've got to to look at this in a comprehensive way. I appreciate each and every one of you for your service. From what I'm hearing out there and what you see nationally, every time a data center goes in, the utility bill goes up on average of 15%. And if those and if if they pull out, who's going to be left with to pay for those bills? It's going to be the rateayers. There are a lot of things that have been said today. I appreciate your time. But Jackie, one thing I would ask you to do. What where is Niko? Where is the Nevada League of Cities? I mean, frankly, I'm going to go back. I've talked to my legislators. I'm going to talk to them again. This is not just Reno's issue. This is a communitywide issue that has to be addressed in a communitywide basis. And it's even a state issue because all the the concern that's been expressed about the tax rebates, those are legitimate concerns. So, in any event, a failure plan is a plan to fail. It's great to see you all, but it's really great to see all these people here. >> Well, well, I just want to say thank you so much, Attorney General. It's a pleasure to see you. Um, and just for the record, what you will be hearing today in the staff report is a conversation about the regional efforts that will be going forward. Yinia Wells via Zoom, Howard Gold Bomb via Zoom, and Madison Hayden via Zoom. >> Hello, this is Yennia Wells for the record. Um, total in agreeance to everything that's been said previously as far as against um, the data center developments that we have going on in our community right now. And I just wanted to share a native proverb that I had heard um from Chief Seattle and I think it's very important for us to really understand its significance right now. It is we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children. I have two young children that I want to give the same life that I had. I want them to be able to float the river. I want them to be able to plant the vegetables. I want them to be able to enjoy the wilderness and the mountains. So, I think it's very important that we remember this is not our land to destroy. Um, it is ours to protect for future generations. Thank you. >> Howard Goldbomb via Zoom, Hayden Madison or Madison Hayden via Zoom, and Autumn Hardy Harvey via Zoom. Howard, if you'd unmute and state your name for the record. >> Okay. My name is Howard Goldbomb. Uh, thank you to the council for this opportunity to speak today. I am a retired professor from the school of journalism at UNR. I've documented my love of the state with my website allaroundnnevada.com. I don't wish to argue with those who find no benefit in the use of AI technologies. I've used it in a carefully vetted manner in my own research. I'm here to say today that there's a right way and a wrong way for us in Northern Nevada to move forward with its underlying technology, the large footprint data center. Across Nevada, proposed data centers would require staggering amounts of new power. Nevada's largest utility says it will need roughly three times the electricity it currently uses to power Las Vegas just to serve these facilities and it does not believe so it can do so without a major expansion in its use of fossil fuels. At the same time, analysts estimate the resulting projects could drive a 40% increase in the state's power infrastructure driven largely by only one industry that may not be sustainable in the long term. We already know what that trajectory looks like. Like a recent investigation into applications for new data centers shows that some would be powered by massive new natural gas plants being developed to largely bypass the grid and provide power solely for data centers. A trend known as behind the meter power. But these will be emitting millions of tons of greenhouse gases every year, more than the annual emissions of some entire nations. On top of the climate impact, there are local strains. Each large data center can use enormous amounts of water for cooling, potentially billions of gallons a year right here in the driest region of the country. That competes with residents, agriculture, and existing businesses. So, what should Nevada do? First, require incentivized data centers to run on new additional clean energy and to use the most water efficient and energy efficient technologies available. Other states and even NV Energy already already have models that let big customers buy dedicated renewable power. We should make this the rule, not the exception, and tie approvals for new centers to real clean energy buildouts, not more gas. Uh second, we should ensure strong environmental health and safety protections. Third, we must protect taxpayers. Municipalities should require data centers to pay for the infrastructure and services they require. Fourth, data centers must be built in appropriate locations avoiding sensitive ecosystems and cultural sites. Fifth, that the projects are coming here. The jobs must be good jobs. Policy makers should require strong labor standards, including fair wake wages and local hiring. Finally, we need real transparency. Data centers should be required to publicly report their energy and water use, their backup generation emissions, and the public subsidies they receive. Council, Nevada has a choice. We can let the current wave of AIdriven data centers dictate our energy system, pushing us towards more fossil fuels. Or we can set clear rules now that demand clean energy, protect our air and water, ensure fair course, cost and good jobs, and guarantee this new industry, if it comes, truly benefits our communities. >> Thank you, Mr. Goldbomb. >> Thank you. Madison Hayden via Zoom, followed by Autumn Harvey via Zoom, followed by Kiki via Zoom. >> Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yes, we can. >> Oh, hi. Um, am I okay to start? >> Yes. >> Okay, beautiful. Um, hi everybody. My name is Madison Hayden and I am here today on Zoom to represent both my husband, Lucas, and I. Um, my husband and I were are both Reno natives. Uh, we were both born and raised here in Reno. And I think it's important to note that we're just normal people. We're not fancy people. We're not high-powered executives. We're not tech gurus from the Silicone B Valley. We're just normal Reno whites. Um, we recently got married in May of last year's and we have saved our entire lives to be able to afford the opportunity to purchase our first home together, which we did in November. Uh, it was so disappointing and also alarming to see just a few months later that ground had been broken on a data center that is just a mere five blocks away from our new home. And and I want to ask the council, how would you feel? How would you feel if you had saved your entire life to buy a home, excited to have babies and to create this life together? And there is a massive data center going in next to the Truckucky River, which is the lifeblood of our community. It feels really scary. And more than that, something that I've noticed from some of the speakers who have gone before me is that it that people people feel angry. Um I don't necessarily feel angry. What I feel is sad. And it feels very sad because as city council members, it's your job to protect us and to look after your constituents. And by seeing this data center go up, it doesn't feel like anybody's looking after us at all. Um what we are being asked to do is is trust that these data centers that they are okay. Uh but if we have learned anything from history, it it's that that trust is not protection. oversight is, transparency, transparency is, and accountability is. And so, as as much as everybody's asking for a moratorum and to revisit um what's going to happen and reg how we're going to regulate these data centers, what I also implore you to do is to consider banning them all together within our city limits. Um they have no place here in Reno. And I think that with the immense turnout that you've had today, that should be pretty clear. And so thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you. >> Autumn Harvey via Zoom followed by Kiki via Zoom followed by Will Mantle. >> Hello. Um Autumn Harry. For the record, my name is Autumn Harry. I am both Pyute and Navajo and a member of the Pyramid Lake Pyute tribe. I identify as a fisherwoman and community organizer. Today I speak to you as a representative of the water over data alliance to vocalize my support for agenda item C1. I am approaching this topic as a community member who lives and has spent my entire life at the terminal end of the Truckucky River wershed. I am currently calling in from Kuwi Paw, also known as Pyramid Lake. Regardless of the specific level of land or water use, any data center development has potential impacts to the flows of water quality um of the Truckucky River. Approval of data center should not proceed without full, prior, and informed consent from the sovereign nations who are the traditional stewards of this land and water. Indigenous peoples of so-called northern Nevada, including New Moon, Northern Pyute, Wu, Lewo, and the Nua, Western Shosonyi, depend on the health of all waters within our homelands. It was only 120 years ago when the water diversion project Derby Dam was constructed, which resulted in massive water theft that led to an 80 foot decline in Pyramid Lake, the draining of Winnamaka Lake, and the local extinction of the ancient Lahan cutthroat trout. The Pure Lake Pyute tribe has spent decades in water litigation to regain our water rights. And our people continue to care for the endangered and threatened fish species, the Kuwi and the hot and cutthroat trout, which have sustained our communities and way of life since time in memorial. These fish species cannot survive without water and increase nutrient loads coming from upstream industries. The environmental impact assessment of any proposed data center should include a hydraologic analysis of source and potential impacts with respect to water quantity and water quality and to ensure tribal water laws are abided by including but not limited to the Truckucky River operating agreement. I respectfully ask the city of Reno to take the lead in adopting a moratorum on data centers and I agree with the previous speakers a full ban on data centers within city limits while also developing data center policies on a city level that include mandatory input from tribal leaders and indigenous communities. Pja, thank you. >> Thank you. Kiki Ang followed by William Mantle followed by Nicole Anna Gapapas via Zoom. >> Hi, can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> Okay, great. Um, my name is Kiki. I'm also a representative of the Water Over Data Alliance and everything I've written has already been said, but I'll go ahead and read um what I've wrote just to get it on record. Um, I'm here today in support of agendas item C1 and to encourage the Reno City Council to vote to put a place or to put in place a moratorum on data centers. Um, there's no reason to rush these projects without careful consideration of the impacts to our community. Data centers use an extraordinary amount of water and energy resources and we don't need more extractive industries that will ultimately hurt our neighborhoods by increasing the cost and available availability of these resources. The city of Reno needs to put protections in place for the community. How is opening Reno's door to businesses that are water and energy consuming entities like data centers going to help with the coming uh catastrophic climate change? We just had the warmest winter on record. As many have mentioned earlier, this is the fastest warming city in America and water is life. Um, data centers are also known to pollute and contaminate water supplies and I don't want to be drinking contaminated water that data centers use all sorts of chemicals to keep the water from evaporating quickly and keep their servers cool. There can also be leaks in any and all types of systems and mechanical components will absolutely release heavy metals as they age. For these and many other reasons, carefully considering um any requirements for building a new data center is absolutely imperative. Um you guys should be transparent with the community and allow all to um make sure there's a forum for us to participate and understand what uh building data centers entails. This is not something that we should risk our limited water supply on and that's why the city should define limits to water usage. That's why I'm requesting that city council put a moratorum in place before data centers are built throughout northern Nevada. The moratorum that was previously reached by city council was not meaningfully evaluated or discussed and I encourage the council to revisit it now with full consideration and public input especially while centering native voices. Thank you. Thank you, >> William Mantle, followed by Anna Gap, Nicole Anagapasis via Zoom. >> Mr. Mantel, before you get started, I just want to let Madame Mayor know that we um have gotten some requests to take a 15minute stretch break from some of the members of the council. So, we'll take your comment and Nicole's and then we'll take a 15minute break. I just wanted to make everybody aware of what's coming up in the next couple of minutes. And following that, I just want to state for the record, we've got about 20 public commenters left. >> Yeah. So that's why I want all of you guys to get up, go to the restroom, get some fresh air. >> I'd like to request an ADA accommodation of not leaning this close to a microphone, but William Anel, for the record, um I don't want to reiterate what you've already heard today. I don't want to belabor those points. I broadly agree with those and wish to echo those sentiments that you've already heard. Um, when thinking about this issue in data centers, I think it's poetic to apply it to an entire life cycle such as our natural world naturally exhibits. We know that our water comes from our lovely Sierras and the snowpack and then it melts and forms our rivers and then goes to our basins and our aquifers and whatnot. When thinking about these data centers, one thing I wanted to add on to is again the life cycle of these things. At the end of the terminus, when the natural cycle is completed, when these data centers are either outdated or unnecessary because technology has hopefully done a leap and bound beyond it, um what is going to be the requirement to remove these things because we already know that e-waste is an exceptionally difficult and challenging material to deal with already. It's not something I should just be I can just throw into my trash and think, "Oh, that's going to be fine. and it's going to go to where it needs to go and be processed the way it needs to be processed. These multitudes of tons of pounds of e-waste will be something that could just be left for us to absorb and deal with if we believe the chief of IBM saying that there is no way that these data centers at the current expenditures that are being expended across this nation and the world could possibly be profitable. which means that there will be losers and there will be winners. And we have no idea who that's going to be. So if the losers build their data centers here and they become insolvent and they say, "Oh, we're out. We got to we got to close up shop. We're leaving. Good luck. Goodbye." I worry about us having to take on the ownership of cleaning up those materials as we do have an EPA super fund site just up the road a little bit away because I think we all know what mining has done for the boom and bust generations of cleaning up afterwards. I don't want that to be our history too in the modern era. Um further I also wanted to add that data centers aren't exactly like us. The fact that they get state benefits to only pay 25% of their property taxes and 2% of the sales tax, that's not me and that's not you. So, we're not going to say they start off as fair partners should they meet those those requirements to get those kind of abatements, which they will, which is why they hire 11 people because that's what it requires in order to get a minimum 10ear abatement. And I know that's a Dylan's rule thing and I know that's not your legislative authority, but I would love to see you guys sponsor a bill in this next legislative session to tackle data centers and its regulations upfront and on hand because I think that's better than the planning commission bill that you guys put forward last time, but I know the Sierra Club would love to help you with that. >> Thank you, >> Nicole Anagosis via Zoom, >> Mickey. And then right after that, just to let everyone know, we'll go into a 15-minute break. >> Yep. >> Hey there. Can you hear me? >> We can. Thank you. >> Awesome. Um, like many other people said before me, uh, I'm not going to iterate what the folks who have spoken prior u have said because they're probably saying it better than I ever could. But I would like to mention that um, regulation here is not enough and that a temporary moratorium on data centers is simply a band-aid fix for a long ongoing fight that people have been living and dying for for generations now. Uh there are battles happening all over the country against the construction of the infrastructure of AI focused data centers and it feels like a moral and ethical obligation to oppose these technologies and their infrastructure from poisoning our land, water and human and non-human neighbors. It is imperative to realize that these battles are actually existential. Green energy is not green. It takes lithium batteries and lithium is just another extractive industry which requires mass amounts of fossil fuels to sustain itself. Solar panels and batteries are not enough. The only thing that stops these pollutants from contaminating our land, air, and water is a complete halt on the construction of these data centers. How, on one hand, are you going to approve surveillance cameras that supposedly prevent encampments of people who are literally just trying to survive from polluting the river, and on the other hand, the there are companies that are getting a 75% tax break while directly polluting that river. Uh, as a former commenter mentioned, uh, what is the accountability process for data centers if they break their regulatory promises? I want to remind everybody that if the only cost of a crime is a fine, that is not a crime, it is a price tag. I don't want a community benefits agreement. I don't want regulations. What I want is a community that I could raise children in. I want clean water. I want a view of the mountains. And I want to hear bird song, not diesel generators and turboed fans. And I definitely don't want to enrich literal blood suckers like Peter Teal. All right, Madame Mayor, with that we're going to go into a 15minute recess. We'll reconvene at 1:20. >> All right. Thanks everyone. We'll see you back here shortly. >> My name is Parls and I am the CEO and founder of tools development company. I grew up in the Bay Area in middle park and I moved to Reno in 1994. Met a pretty girl and chased her down and uh got married and decided to put down roots here and uh ended up being a really vibrant place for us to not only do business but grow a family and it's been a a wonderful decision. But always had the desire to start my own business and in 2016 started Tulsa Development Company with the goal to focus on all product types of real estate but with extra effort downtown. We bought a portfolio of office buildings with the uh goal to redevelop those buildings and really try to push downtown Reno into its next level. We also did that with Midtown. We bought a portfolio of retail buildings, turn that into what is now a very vibrant area. People always ask me the next Portland, is it the next Austin? My response has always been, we're Reno. We have this really interesting quilt. I love the fact we're not trying to turn it into somewhere else, but that we're allowing it to evolve in its own really unique way. Private investment in downtowns. It's hard, but it's also incredible mixeduse development. We have a good foundation of retail, good foundation of office, good residential arts and culture. We have a river that runs through it. It's important for us to move where the market is telling us to go, but also to be more than just financially worth it. I think it's important to take a longer term view when you're redeveloping and trying to obviously not only making returns for your investors, but also making more social returns for the community itself. We have a collaborative culture here. We're part of the fabric of this community. These businesses are our friends. You know, we don't have big commutes. People want to be together. We'll never regret it. this office portfolio and the Midtown portfolio provided right before co I've seen the vibrancy of downtown. It hasn't become as bad as it could and now we're prepared to continue to move it forward with with good development. It's easy to stay in suburbia but certainly not as fun. And you haven't come to downtown Reno yet, please come visit us. I promise you, you will make it your Friday night date night. It is one of the most vibrant special cities on the west. I can't wait for you to experience it if you haven't done it yet. Hi, I'm Monica Kirch. I am the director of housing and neighborhood development for the city of Reno. The rapid rehousing pilot program is a program that the city of Reno started in coordination with Volunteers of America and the Reno Housing Authority. >> Programs like the rapid rehousing pilot program are important to volunteers of America because it gives us an opportunity to catch individuals who are otherwise potentially falling between the cracks as far as services go. The Reno Housing Authority assists nearly 15,000 Wo County residents through its traditional housing programs. Yet we know there are many more who need assistance. The Reno Housing Authority supports the rapid rehousing pilot program in two ways. The first way is through a financial contribution to support half the salary of the service coordinator who works directly with clients at uh Village on Sage. The second way that we support the program is by um ensuring that clients are on one of our HAS's weight lists prior to being housed at Villa Jones. program is new and we just started housing people within about the last month. We have several folks now staying at the village on stage working with a service coordinator. Partnerships like this give RHA the opportunity to assist more families outside of our traditional programs. And it's these innovative partnerships that create a stepping stone from temporary housing into long-term permanent housing. So specifically, this program works with individuals who are on a fixed or low income who can't afford conventional rents and they are eligible for a housing voucher, but they still have to take the time to wait for that voucher. So it allows us to support them in that intermediary time frame so they can stay housed and have access to services. I know um specifically with this program, a lot of our folks are coming directly from the street and haven't had a rental in a very long time. Um, specifically Mikey hadn't paid rent in over a decade and so it was really exciting for him to come to the office with his money um and just celebrate that new experience that he got to have. >> Hi, I'm Mike and um welcome to Village on the Stage where uh Come on, let's go look around this. Yeah. Oh, Harold, welcome. And this is what we get. Um I got a brand new television. It's an element. This is one of the finer finer televisions. Um, you're welcome to bring your transportation inside with you. Uh, nobody cares as long as you keep it neat and tidy. Um, what can I tell you? The doors open, the train's right there, you know. Uh, so if you like trains, excellent. And this is where all the magic happens. This is where the happiness uh, you know, where we come to ground out. This is just where uh you know we can be ourselves. I know it's I used to come for the station. I used to come here and enjoy the hotels and go down to the river and and I was familiar with the automobile museum, but I never in a million years thought I'd be working here. My name is Philip McDougall. I'm the president of the National Automobile Museum. The history of the National Automobile Museum goes way way back. So most people know the name Hera from the casinos, but they don't know the story behind it. Mr. Hera, he had a collection of 1,400 of the most unbelievable cars. And when he passed, he didn't have a will. The community got together and they said, "You can't sell all these things. This is part of our community. It's part of our identity. We need to keep them here." They raised money to build the museum. The city said we're going to contribute the land if you get the money to build it. And then the holiday in who purchased all the assets of Mr. Harris collection said if you do all that then we're going to throw in 175 cars of the total collection of 1400. So all those things came together because the community thought it was important. And in 1989 the museum was opened up. We want to be a community partner and we are great. We have events. We have older cars, newer cars. Elvis's car, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future. We have a brand new children's educational activity center, 3,000 square feet of technology for those kids and adults to get hands-on experience on how cars work, how next generation of technology was created. We wanted to be different. We wanted to embrace the community, be a community partner. We did a complete renovation. And then we went out with an active campaign, not in that car mode, not museum mode, but outdoor concerts, speakers series parties birthdays and a whole new selection of cars. I think the biggest change is that we have a new exhibit every 60 days. It really is fun to watch how a family can come in and they'll just go in five different directions because we have something for every generation. It's not just a building. It's not just the cars that are in here. It's the people. It's the livelihoods of everybody that's around this town that keeps us going. The downtown partnership has been a lifesaver for us. Just helping us overall in the day-to-day challenges we have. Like any business downtown, we can't make it without the security issues addressed, without the communication addressed, and it's all one big team down here. So, the restaurants help us, the uh businesses help us. Everyone here, we all kind of depend on each other. And that's what we're trying to bring to the equation is another partner who can help us all be a little bit stronger and a bigger community partner. I see a greater emphasis from the downtown partnership, from the elected officials than the community leaders to get together and say if we really want to succeed, we have to succeed as a group. No silos. The restaurants, the businesses, uh the the gas stations, everybody that's here has to get a common bond. Otherwise, we're not going to succeed. It's the storytelling. It's a camaraderie and we had that not only with us in the museum but all the local businesses downtown here. We have the same common bond and passion. Downtown Reno is the place to be. It's a family place. It has something for everybody. Come to the museum. Go to a local restaurant. You're going to feel safe. You're going to have fun. And you're going to be 15 minutes away from wherever you live. My name is Robert DS. I'm a field specialist with Rise. And this experience with Bonnie Pace and the Pathway Pilot has been awesome and tremendous. And I'll never forget it. I'm free. I'm free. Heat. Heat. What home means Nevada to me is is just that it's always a place that I find comfort and soulless. We travel a lot. We camp a lot. And I just love coming home. Home means Nevada for so many reasons. My name is Scott Dunith and I'm the owner of the Home Means Nevada Company, which was formerly Reno Envy. I grew up in the Bay Area and I went to school at UNR and my thought was that I would spend 2 years in Reno and then I would go back home. But after the two years, I just fell in love with the place. I love the people, the community. It's just been awesome. I was talking to a friend. I was giving him my address and so I told him Scott Dunya D Reno Envy 89523 and he's like Reno Envy. I'm like Reno Envy. So it was kind of at that moment that was our aha moment where I realized that the state abbreviation for Nevada envy sounded like the word envy. So that's where it all started from. What's great about the downtown Reno community is that you know people believe in Reno. you know, we have something here. People really love this community as much as I do and and people really resonated with the idea of having like a local brand. Uh downtown Reno honestly has has been a challenge, but we're a small business and we've been down here since 2008. And honestly, if we can do it, you know, there's a lot of opportunity out there and we kind of wanted to prove to people that retail works. In 2012, rebranded ourselves and we went from Reno Envy and renamed our our brand the Home Meets Nevada Company. kind of try to support the local artists in the community by bringing their products in and selling them on on their behalf. We have all sorts of great stuff. We have coffee from Glory Cloud. We have local honey. It's important for us to collaborate too with local celebrities. Christa Palmer is an Olympic athlete and we have the opportunity to partner with her and create her own authentic Christa Palmer Battlebborne t-shirt. >> My name is Christa Palmer, Nevada's Olympic diver. This is a really special company to me because my roots are in Nevada. I grew up down in Carson City. I truly feel this connection between Homes Nevada and my story. This has been a really cool partnership that I've been able to develop over the years with Scott projection of Reno downtown. And I really see it opening up more doors for people to continue to get outside, continue to take their dogs for a walk and enjoy the Reno River Walk to be able to have space to enjoy those lovely afternoons. I think that's where I kind of see the progression of Reno going and for more people to enjoy what Reno is. It's truly a treasure here. >> People believe in Reno and we believe in Reno. There's so much opportunity and so many different types of people in downtown Reno. And the city of Reno has been great with this partnership with the visitor center, the RSCVA has been great. The collaborations that we do with the community, with the university, with Crystal Palmer, Olympic athlete, it really is about a community that kind of binds us together. If we didn't have that support, we wouldn't be able to survive in downtown Reno. I've always felt like Reno's been kind of our little secret, and we love to share that secret. We'd love to see Reno grow and prosper. Great for shopping for friends, great for gift giving. So, come on down, visit us, check it out. It's been a while. Come visit downtown Reno and see what you're missing. Do you want to make a difference in your neighborhood? The city of Reno's six neighborhood advisory boards are your chance to shape the future of your community. From parks and public safety to development projects, your voice matters. Joining an NAB is easy and it's a great way to connect with neighbors and city leaders while making Reno an even better place to live. Applications are open now. Visit reno.gov/nav to learn more and apply. Get involved and help make Reno not just livable, but lovable. Grab a slice, hit a ride, get a rush, and roll the dice. Step into a world where Nevada's northern lights shine bright and last calls are rare in a city that never sleeps. Where the spirit of the Wild West lives on through daring rapids and rocking out goes beyond the crowds. Founded on the rebels of resilience, we aren't what you expected. We're what's coming. We don't just embrace downtown, we infuse it with life. We are a convergence of adventure, art, and taste. It's not just our city, it's our identity. The mighty Truckucky, our lifeline, the Nevada sky as our backdrop. Downtown Reno is a tribute to our roots and a leap into the future. Discover 110 blocks of stories of residents entrepreneurs and masters clerk. >> Uh, we are coming right back. And I do believe I have a quorum. >> You do have a quorum. So, we're reconvening at 1:25 at this time. Council member Eert, Council Member Taylor, and Vice Mayor Martinez are absent. >> Okay. Thank you. All right, we are going back into public comment. >> All right, right back into public comment. Our first commenter today is Alyssa Whitmark, followed by Nancy Anne Leader, followed by Lauren Kern. Alyssa, are you in the room? >> Okay. Nancy Anne? Nope. Uh, Lauren Kern. >> All right, Lauren. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> For the record, my name is Lauren Kern and I am a representative of Reno's Sunrise Movement. Um, I'd like to echo the concerns of my community here today and also take a moment to reshare an excerpt from a public comment I had made um almost exactly a year ago uh concerning this same issue. Um, of course, last year it was just a few of us. Um, and as you can see, the community is growing repeatedly tired of the complacency displayed by the council to action this item, and it's starting to become too late. Um, this is what I said over a year ago in March. Um, I hope we can continue to push this moratorium to council and unheardly amend our city's code to adopt meaningful regulation on data centers. As Dur stated last week, March of 2025, um, let's not wait for a crisis. Let's be thoughtful and proactive. Um, this is a great moment to note that there has been no thought or proactive push to pass any regulations since from the council collectively and when discussion has been proposed like in the data center policy consortium um made late last year. The entire project was outcasted by most members of council. The community discussion on data centers has not stopped. In fact, what could have been a push for more regulation early last year has quickly now turned into a harsh disapproval of any data centers in our city whatsoever. I'll never forget my first city council and planning commission meetings and the stark contrast of discussion between the two, leaving planning commission feeling hopeful, yet consistently leaving city council feeling futile. Mayor Shivi stating, "The city of Reno is open for business." Um, after voting in favor to push through a data center previously denied by the planning commission. This quote constantly plays through my head every public comment I've made since making any change feel like a stretch. However, I'm here again on this same issue now with the state now with stakes that are much higher. Um, as I also live less than a mile away from the tall, creepy new data center building on Keystone, complete with trees that are not compatible in our aid climate. Um, and nice new EV chargers waiting to be put in. Um, on this Earth Day, I appreciate the discussion around a moratorum once again. Um, even as a year has gone by with no action. Um, and I hope being here today doesn't feel as hopeless as it usually does. Um, and we can vote to pass a moratorum. Lorraine Watson followed by Jordan Stone. >> I don't know. Guess it's a >> Oh, I'm just leaving this here. >> There you go. Okay, perfect. How am Lauren Watson a panita? My name is Lauren Watson. I'm from the Summit Lake Pyute tribe. I'm also secretary of American Indian Move in Northern Nevada. I'm honored to be here in front of you all today and um I guess I just learning about these data centers. So I'm trying to do my research and background and as much as I can seeing about um not only the data centers but living here in Reno for I'd say 21 years now. I moved my children here single mom. I moved our offices here with um a couple other people for Summit Lake. We have administration offices here now. We have a bigger and growing population of our tribal members. And to me it's very very detrimental and important not only for our water resources but for our land base, for our creatures, for water protection, for um everything that um as you can see this is up at Summit Lake and we are all connected with our water from all the way to when the rain comes down to Lake Tahoe comes down to our beautiful city here in Reno. and I honor and I love Reno. I have a lovehate relationship because I grew up in um in Oregon and I moved here to be on council. Um we initially um had our offices in Winnuka and we found that we couldn't get our resources so we moved our offices here and so um it's very important that um our future generation that's why I'm here. Um I really rely heavily on water for my health. I was um diagnosed with a rare condition and I had to drink lots of water and I love Reno's water even though sometimes I do get water. Yes. But um Summit Lake and everything is connected. Um there was a past um thing that uh to tell you about is that a Calvary guy popped up at our lake and he was at Pier Lake. So we know that's connected and we're also connected with the Quinn River which is on the other side which is um part of Pihi >> Muha. And that is backer pass versus lithium. I hear a lot of people saying all this and that. I'm not going to really elaborate on it, but um with the lithium, you know, it's not as not as just safe. You know, green energy is not clean energy. And we're having all these um uh I've worked with Ruby Pipeline. We got that stuff for a while like it was a natural resource uh gas pipeline. But um anyways, the pipeline is now shut down and we did all that environmental damage. We don't know what kind of damage these things are doing. I think that I completely disagree with this um these new databases coming in. We're also um our lake real quick is uh Summer Lake is the only self sustaining lake of the Han Cutto trout. We had hatchery in the 70s. In the 70s we gave our babies to Pyramid Lake and which end up supplying here in the Chucky River. So I hope you guys consider >> to look at this. >> Thank you. Okay, thank you. >> Jordan Stone, followed by Wendy Bavoli, followed by Stevie Apple White. Hello council. Uh, Jordan Stone for the record. Two weeks ago, I came here to ask you all to not fund the live view cameras along the river. And I was disappointed to hear that you voted against the multiple demands from the community. I hope that today you will listen to the people of the community, myself included, and at minimum put in a six put in place a six-month moratorum on any new data center construction. Before my public comment two weeks ago, I was introduced to you by my friend Bradley Carlson as the vice president of the Astronomical Society of Nevada. So, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to speak about the importance of water from the perspective of not just a member of this community, but also as an astronomer. When we look into the vast expanse of space, we find many things. We find distant galaxies, star clusters. And in the last several decades, we have found thousands of exoplanets well beyond the reaches of our own solar system. Many of the thousands of planets we have found uh in our galaxy alone. Of all of them, we know of exactly one planet that can definitively support life of any kind. Water is the most essential ingredient to not just human life, but all life as we know it. And as Dwight George previously mentioned, only 3% of the water on Earth is fresh water available to drink and otherwise support life. For all intents and purposes, and again, as many people have mentioned before uh uh today during public comment, water is life. Councilman Ree, why is it here? Want to give him comment please? Uh, please listen to the people of this community and protect our water, protect life. Do not allow data centers to come into this community and extract our vital water and energy resources. The people of this community do not want these data centers. Do not disappoint us. Thank you. >> Wendy Bavoli followed by Stevie Applewhite followed by Sharon Para Fig Figureroa. Okay, we got Wendy, right? And then Madame Clerk, Wendy, then >> Stevie Apple White. Okay. Stevie and then >> Sharon Par Figareroa. >> Okay. And if they don't show up, just put them on the back end because they might be just still on break. >> Can you guys see that? >> Right. So, we'll give them an opportunity to come back around. We'll just put them on the back end. All right. Wendy, take it away. >> My name is Wendy Baroli and u my family has been in Reno, Nevada since 1918. >> What? >> And um Yes. >> 1918. and um they're not fancy people. They were farmers and ranchers and um we obviously rely on the importance of good clean water and clean air and clean soil. I'm here right now though because all the arguments have been made about water. All the arguments have been made about soil and air. But some of the arguments that we haven't heard and it's very important to understand is that the council is trying to make up and the region not just city council is trying to make up for huge huge losses. Grants from the federal government, money from the federal government flowing to our cities and to our counties and data centers tell us that it's going to be an easy job because we can come in here and we can help fund this. Well, now we've heard all the reasons why data centers can be bad for our area. But what we don't really understand is that this is actually about military contracts. We understand that AI in the sense of hyperscale AI is completely different than small data centers and we need to actually make a differentiation between that because hypers scale data centers drive militarized surveillance militarized equipment and it's all related to contracts to our federal government to our state government that we get from the federal government and that's probably why this is moving is moving so fast. It's moving very quickly because there is going to be a stop to this and it's happening across our it's happening across our nation and small little tiny towns like Story County and places like that. They allow the data centers to come in because they're desperate for schools and fire trucks and just basic information. But the truth is this is about job loss. AI will create in our area actual job loss. And what are we going to do about that for the future? in the last year. Here are just some empirical numbers. Microsoft 680 employees. IGT 782. IGT is planning to to lay off another 820 employees. I know for a fact because my mother's husband works there that they are using AI to replace these artists. They are using AI to replace these midte jobs. So while AI data centers look like a good thing short term, they are probably one of the worst things in our state because our state doesn't have anything but extraction and home building to kind of keep our industries going. You need to think about long-term jobs because middle class white jobs are not going to come back once AI takes them over. I think it's very very important that this is not a moratorum but it's an actual ban especially within the city of Reno. I would also like to I would also like to mention quickly that you know this whole idea about closed loop safety ask yourself what happens when water scales the pipes and what they have to use to remove the scale and where that's going to go in our water system. Thank you, Wendy. >> Stevie Apple White, followed by Sharon Park. >> Is that Is that your phone? Okay. I I didn't remember Wendy putting a phone up there and I thought, uh oh, we better we better make sure. She was so sweet. She just smiled. Let you talk. Okay, good. Make sure you didn't leave anything Wendy. I thought it was >> okay. >> Sam Ringer. >> Sam. >> Drew Milroy. >> Okay. Sam, we'll catch you on the back end. And Drew. And then who's after Drew? >> Darren Glenn via Zoom. >> Okay. >> Oh, cute. May the forest be with you. That's what his his shirt says. May the forest be with I love that. I got to get one. >> It's Earth Day. >> Uh I'm Reno resident Drew Milroy. I've been around for all the Earth days and I've seen much more of our Earth ruined than restored. I'm afraid you should make this easy. There's no need for a regional study. Just let story council take the literal heat of the data centers. they've made their decision and uh that means that we're off the hook. So, you should ban any new data centers and not allow the expansion or replacement of any of the ones that are already here. Just say no like so many other local governments have all across the country. The council's considering a unified set of standards and a coordinated regional approach toward data centers. Now, that sounds reasonable, especially in an election year, but unified and regional opens the possibility of our standards being degraded by the Wild West model, by the uh precedent that's now been set in Story County. When you take awful like there and you average it with anything else then you go down towards awful. So we don't need to do that. There's no need to uh set a standard other than they already took the hit. They made the decision for the region. So let them stew in it. they uh the park the industrial park that's over there takes up 65% of that county and the owner has open the door wide to all kinds of development. There's already huge data center over there. So other commenters for this meeting have logically laid out the economic, natural resources, environmental justice, personal, privacy, and other reasons that data centers shouldn't be approved almost anywhere. Well, they certainly shouldn't be approved here. >> There's plenty of data centers already exist or being built in Reno uh and nearby. So just to the east of us is the place that all that stuff really should go. If it was a hazardous waste dump um and they decided they wanted it, uh that wouldn't mean that we necessarily have to do a regional plan and and have one here. Well, the u the results are pretty much the same. So draw this line in the sand, Reno. Let this decision be the standard for future decisions by the mayor, council, planning agencies in the region. Heavily weigh climate change impacts in every decision. Consider coming uh climate impacts on Reno and Reno's impacts on the coming climate. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. Darien Glenn via Zoom, followed by Sharon Par Figaroga, followed by Tim Lamden. Can you hear us? >> Darien, go ahead and state your name for the breakfast. >> Can you hear me? >> Hi, Darian. >> Can you hear us? Yes, I can hear you. Are you able to hear me? >> Yes, we can hear you. Go ahead. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Hi, my name is Darian Glenn. >> Yes, I do. Are you able to hear me? >> Are we getting two people? >> Okay. I don't know if you guys are able to hear me right now. >> We can hear you now. >> Okay. My name is Darian Glenn. I am a born and raised here in Reno, Nevada. I just like to say thank you for this time. Um, a lot of what I would like to speak about has already been said, but earlier there was a statement on um, you know, who's going to cover the medical bills regarding the effects of these data centers. And I would just like to say I think it would be a lot more than just medical bills. Um perhaps we should consider funeral bills at this point because what was is going to happen is unknown. Um I didn't know I was going to speak on here. But that's all I'd like to say. Thank you guys for your time and and consideration. Sharon Para Figueroa followed by Tim Lamden followed by Amy Allen. >> Um, I do have some notes. >> Okay, >> these are my notes. Uh, I hope it'll help kind of >> Wow. >> I'm just going to shake it off. >> I wish my handwriting looked like that >> a little bit. >> It's so pretty. Um, I mean, if everyone could just take a deep breath with me, that would be kind of nice. Inhale. Exhale. Yeah, it's a little tense. It's a little tense. Um, my name is Sharon uh, Par Figareroa or in Spanish, Shaon Parigeroa. Um, born in San Jose, California, but moved here when I was one and a half. So Reno is very close to home. I know we heard the home means Nevada song earlier which if there's time I might sing it cuz why not. Um so I am here in favor of the moratorum and hopefully a permanent ban on future development of data centers for multiple reasons uh expressed today. Uh at least a minimum one-year pause to just be able to reflect on what's been presented today. And it sounds like this has been going on for more than a year. Uh in a world where everything is going so incredibly fast, it feels pivotal uh pivotally important and necessary to slow down. Otherwise, we may have irreversible damage done to the local environment, economy, and health of the community. Um, yeah. I just also want to express it's been incredibly deeply frustrating seeing the pace at how fast this has all been developed. Uh, and all the construction going on at the same time and just seeing all the building happening like building on top of each other which is probably not part of this bill. Um, and I do also want to address the major pollution that comes from these closed looped water system theories. They're theories. They're not proven. Um, and again, we're getting this information from the data centers themselves. So, I would like to ask for you guys to have some healthy skepticism about the information that these data centers are presenting themselves. um especially in terms of the safety. Um of course they'll deliver all the positives and likely none of the negatives which we have heard a lot of the negatives today. Um please please don't let this go in one ear and out the other. Um and if I could I wish mayor didn't leave because I really wanted to just look at everyone in the eye and just acknowledge like thank you for being here. Thank you for your service. U but there's a lot of work to do. And this is my first city council um comment, but I will hopefully show up for more. Um and with my last 30-ish seconds, I just would like to get a raise your hand if your body is 50% water at least by weight. And raise your hand if you need to breathe to live. I hope everyone's hands are up. Um so yeah, the water cycle, right? H2O, two o two hydrogen atoms, one oxygen atom. Um, and oxygen is O2. So, whatever is happening in these systems is not just affecting the water, it's affecting the air that we breathe. It's going to affect future generations. Um, this is bigger than us. And the last thing I'll say is, uh, which side of history do you want to be on? What kind of legacy would you like to leave? Thank you so much. >> Thank you, >> Tim Lamon. followed by Amy Allen. Allison Clif Jennings, she was next, had to leave and I wanted to make sure that she got her comments on the record. So, I apologize everyone and um for being disrespectful, but I think we we fixed it. So, >> thank you all and apologize for cutting in line. >> Yes, my name is Allison Clif Jennings. Um hello, mayor, council members. Uh I am a lifelong Reno resident, like many people you heard today. I'm a mother of three and I'm also, unlike a lot of people here, a tech CEO. Um, I spent my re my career building companies in this industry in this area and uh which is exactly why I'm here today asking this council to set a real standard uh for data center development in our city. Data centers are coming to Northern Nevada. They're already here. We know this. They weren't necessarily done well, but here we are today. Uh the question is not whether we grow, but how we grow. And whether our residents can look back in 10 years and feel proud of the choices that all of us made here in this room. I'm not here to oppose the industry. I know what these facilities bring. I know that they bring construction jobs, skilled trade work, often union work, tax revenue for our schools and services that we genuinely need. But our region should compete for this investment. Except the competing does not mean accepting every single project on every term. It means setting a standard that reflects who we are and where we live. And as you've heard, where we live is in a desert. Water is not a renewable resource in the Trucking Meadows the way it is in other parts of the country. Our neighbors, our ranchers, and our children will be here long after any single facilities operating life. So, I asked this council to consider two straightforward performance-based standards. First, as mentioned, require closed loop cooling. This technology does exist today. It works. It's already standard at the newer hypers scale facilities across the west. And here's what makes this ask different. Data centers have a choice that our hospitals, our schools, and our homes simply do not. A hospital cannot run on closed loop water. A school cannot. Our families cannot. They need actual water drawn from our actual supply. Data centers are the only major new water user that can opt out of that demand entirely through cooling technology that is already commercially proven. Uh, every acre foot committed to a facility that has the option to use closed loop cooling is an acre foot of water no longer available for the schools, the hospitals, and the housing our community still needs to build. Second, uh, incentivize and where feasible require that the electricity powering these facilities come from renewable resources. Nevada has some of the best solar resources in the country as we know and energy already offers green tariffs and on-site solar is increasingly cost competitive. So the grid we build for this industry today is the grid our children inherit tomorrow. These aren't ownorous requirements. They are clear. They're measurable. They're aligned with where responsible operators are already heading. The ones who cannot meet them are not the operators we want building in our city. Responsible growth is not a contradiction, but it is a choice. And it's the choice that lets us welcome this industry with open eyes, companies like mine, knowing that the jobs and investment we gain are not coming at the cost of water our grandchildren will need or the air our families will breathe. I urge this council to set that standard. Thank you. >> Thank you so Allison's the recipient of the R award. We only have a few of them and you're one of them. So, thank you so much for being here. Thank you for having >> We'll let you go now. Okay. Tim Lamden, Amy Allen. Sorry, sorry, sorry. You're good. Good afternoon all of you. Um, my name is Amy Allen. I'm a local resident, uh, mother of three, and, uh, I was compelled to, uh, chat with you all today. Thank you for your time and your service, each and every one of you. Um, I was taking a run in my neighborhood off Westfield Avenue behind Reno High and I was looking at the crane of the data center which just feels like it's right behind, you know, the football field. And then um I went to work this morning um on Dickerson Road where I manage a much beloved uh shop and um I'm part of the community of residents uh down in there that have been recently developed. a lot of investment, a lot of commercial enthusiasm down there in Dickerson District, really bringing it to life. And that's why um I thought I'd come down here and do so much of what's been said has just been so great. It's so rational and um I was trying to think, you know, what can I say that's of some use and I think I'll I'll think I'll say the hard stuff and make it hyper local. That's often hard to do. And what I mean by that is it just seems to me that this was a circumstance where our city council was actually held hostage by the current regulation and laws because the land right was zoned industrial commercial and it had a use and the owners who are you know among a really fantastic philanthropic family you know they're doing what they need to do. They've invested in property it's got a new value and so what I want to do is I want to encourage my city council to think forward. It seems like we're a little bit behind the eight-ball here on data centers. And I want you to look at the other pockets of land around because people are going to grab the bat. They're going to keep doing that. And that stinks because if you were to take a drone off the roof of that Dana Center and actually look around, there's so much going on in that area. I'm sure I don't need to tell any of you, >> you know. And Reno, I love you. I'm proud of you. what you're saying here today that is a dense hub of community uh economic intellectual academic um I mean you name it when it comes to real living breathing people working every day it's hyper dense in that area and so I want to call out the situation for what it is because I understand it I get what happened and I'm bummed I'm definitely bummed about it. So what I want you to do is I want you to enforce what you can now and you need to make sure that those decibel levels are not, you know, they're not using the highway to see if they buffer it. You have that control. You have that control to amend tech to text amend so to make sure that future data centers are not built. You have that ability which is what I love about you and I know you show up to do that kind of thing. So, I just want to use this as a case study and to understand that we didn't get a shot. We didn't even get two seconds to say no to this. So, help us out next time. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. >> Amy, Amy, before you run out. >> Yeah. >> Amy, are you Sierra Water Gardens? >> Well, I'm not. No, by any measure, but I do work there. Yeah. >> Okay. So, I think that's where we've met. I I want to meet with you if you can. So, get my staff. They'll meet give you the contact information. Um, you should know that the Keystone project did not come before this council. It was done through the planning commission. And so we too have some feelings about it. But I want to sit with you and talk with you about it. >> Empower your city city planner then because that special use permit >> Yes. >> that special use permit is where this all started. >> Yeah. >> Once you get that in their hands, they're vested and we're out the window. >> We're stuck with it after that, you guys. >> So I understand that you couldn't do anything then. >> But if but there's no question in my mind. Would you all agree that data centers deserve their own industrial classification? >> That this isn't the same thing as an industrial commercial space. People mom and pops want to have, you know, commissary kitchens and we want to live our lives. We want to have good quality life here right off the Truckucky. >> Yeah. >> I mean, this is blocks from the McKinley Center for goodness sake. We know where this is. This is nuts. So, >> thank you. You remind me of Meg Ryan. >> I know. She's just adorable. You're adorable. Thank you. I appreciate your service. >> I love it. Okay. >> Rachel Henderson via Zoom, followed by Pablo Navadon, followed by Sky Webb via Zoom. >> Rachel. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> We can. Please state your name for the record and begin speaking. >> Rachel. >> Hello. My name is Rachel Henderson. Um, sorry, this came up while I was mid-sentence writing. Um, my name is Rachel Henderson, although most people know me as Laney Henderson. So, I'm declared that for the record. Thank you to the council for opening this issue for public comment. Um, I initially just submitted my public comment and wasn't going to speak, but I do believe I misre represented my position by marking in opposition. So, I just wanted to clarify. I am a first generation Neadan, mother of a second generation Neadan. I'm also a second generation Neadan business owner. In addition to echoing environmental, technological obsolescence and health concerns, I'm a massage therapist into alternative forms of healing is my practice and imploring council to consider wildlife as well as people as stakeholders. I'm here to eliminate the existential core of the matter. I support a ban on new data centers. Saying no to data centers as they are, pollutants as they are, does not equate to saying no to progress itself. We must for force progress to become sustainable and leverage the demand for progress to advocate for a sustainable future. Thank you. Pablo Nava Duron followed by Sky Webb via Zoom followed by Allison Cheetum via Zoom. >> Hi Pablo. >> Give me one. >> You're fine. Take your time. >> All right. Hello guys. Um hello guys. My name is Pabnat Duan. I was saying to you homes mean Nevada. Homes mean the hill. Homes mean the stage and the pines out by the Chuckies. Chucky survey hill. So there you go. Hello guys. My name is Pad Duan. I'm a NAP war three members and my concern about the data center about building the spending data center unchecked unregulated that include one of my nap media agenda in T near Valley developments. So I want to speak I'm a support of data center mortorium that will help uh help the resident and the death um help the resident uh help the data center to be more regulated and protect uh our environment that we live in the state in the union in Reno as a fastest warming or fastest warming city. um in a in a nation. So So we need we need Queen Angie. Um we need we need clean waters. Nevada doesn't have a lot of water. So the nor part of state seem fine, but if you look at southern southern half of the state, they barely have any clean waters left. Look dams beaver dams doesn't have it. So I want to make I want to pass the adoption. So I I want to make well one of you if oneful ways of city council or mayor ways Kathy Taylor D means I know you wonder many ways I hopefully you do not take any uh any donation from AI data center and and batch for you Kate Marshall if you listen to me do if you do not do not take a do not take a donation from corporate um D center or AI and same A Lin does same all of you we know may raise ways and then aspect of W city council war especially war two and war four as well so take a look uh you see what happened uh small town Missouri when four incumbent cattlemen voy out for improving those data center $6 million to have a AI data center before they void out of office. So, >> yep, there you go. And >> please vote yes on more. So, >> all right. Good job, Pablo. >> And thank you for your service on the NAB. >> Thank you. >> Sky Webb via Zoom followed by Allison Cheetum via Zoom. Yes. Hello. Good afternoon. Are you able to hear me? >> Yes, we can hear you, Sky. >> Great. Um, yeah, I grew up and went to high school here. Um, I'm a resident and health care professional here in our community. Um while we have heard already heard significant and valid concerns today regarding the environmental impact of these data centers I am speaking tonight to highlight another critical layer of vulnerability and that is our region's public safety and infrastructure readiness. So, as the largest data center facility in the United States, um the particular data center in the Truckucky uh industrial center or I'm sorry, the Ta T Tahoe regional industrial center and the sheer scale of that hypers scale data center presents unique challenges to our area. Given the current glo global climate, there is widespread public speculation that major defense contractors uh involved in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East along with federal entities and like the Department of Justice may utilize this massive in infrastructure. If there is truth to this, it naturally elevates the risk profile of our immediate region. My question for the council is this. Alongside addressing the environmental impacts brought up today, what proactive public safety measures are being taken at a municipal level? Specifically, there's been formal security councils or have there been formal security councils or strategic discussions between city leadership, local law enforcement, and the Nevada National Guard and our state alongside our state legislators to assess and prepare for any potential security risks. Our community safety and emergency preparedness must scale alongside our techn technological growth, just as our environmental protections must as well. As a first step, I'm a proponent for a moratorum, but for Nevada, I am asking for a ban. Thank you for your time. Alice, Allison Cheetum via Zoom, followed by Anton Leard. Allison, if you'd unmute and state your name for the record. All right, Anton Leard. Uh >> oh. >> Okay, as long as you're ready. >> Little hungry, so >> I know. I'm so sorry. >> No, it's all good. Um my name is um Anton Casano Labard. I'm actually the fifth generation of my family to come from Reno or to be >> from Reno. Um I come from Ward 4. I It sounds like Hunger Games or something, but no. Um I Cold Springs is where I live and I love it there. I've been fighting the data center stuff and I've been going to a lot of these. I don't like these. I don't even like talking. I I get nervous at these things. I don't enjoy it at all. But you guys have a big responsibility. I wouldn't want to be in your seats. I probably and well, you guys don't even know. I'm mad at you guys for, you know, things that, you know, probably are above you guys. But, you know, it you guys have a lot of responsibility and a lot of weight. And I'm going to go through some stuff. I'm going to try to do the best I can besides being a little hangry and cranky. I think I'll get through it. Um, I'm gonna ask some rhetorical questions for you guys to think about while you guys vote on this and consider. Um, council members, I'm here today to ask a simple question. Why are we moving so quickly to approve projects that shift long-term costs risk and put risks onto our residents while they deliver limited short-term benefits to our community? Data centers are being presented as economic development, but the evidence tells a different story. These these facilities cap are uh capital intensive and not labor intensive. After construction, they create very few permanent local jobs. The narrative that they are meaningly meaningfully stimulate the the job market doesn't hold up under scrutiny. At the same time, they are they require extraordinary amounts of electricity, water, and infrastructure. And when those demands increase, the costs don't stay with the corporations. They are distributed outwards outwards. residents face higher utilities rates, increased infrastructure spending, and long-term fiscal exposure, while companies often receive tax incentives, and abatements upfront. So, I'm asking you as decision makers, what is the net public benefit once incentives, infrastructure costs, and long-term resources strain our account are accounted for? That kind of sounds I don't know if I said that right but anyways because right now it it looks like privatized gain at social socialized cost. Um there are also public safety and environmental considerations that must be taken seriously. The to power these facilities we expand high voltage transmission lines infrastructure systems and increase wildfire risk in um um areas that are vulnerable in our region. Sorry, I'm a little bit slow. And then there's water. There's big water demand. Um, I know I'm running out of time, so I'm going to kind of jump to everything. Um, I also want to address equality. Communities with great wealth and influence. Places like surrounding Lake Tahoe consistently resist development that threatens their environment and quality of life. They demand higher standards and they get them. Um, so why is our city being asked to accept less? um why are we expected to carry the burden for projects that other um other others would reject? Like there was that lady that had her house right next to the data center. Would you guys want a data center in your backyard? Like you know and there's so much more to go. Um the very last thing since it's Earth Day and I know I'm going past everything. We're all stewards of our environment. >> Um and shoulder the responsibility to pro protect it. That means we are obligated and charged to use its resources justly. And when you're voting on that, think about that. Think about if it's what's best for everybody and the generations to come after us. >> Thank you. Anton, are you on um a board? Are you on a NAB? >> Are you on the NAB? >> On the um neighborhood advisory board. I think you should apply. >> Oh, I think you should apply. I think yes. >> That's no more. Good job. Thank you so much. >> Thanks, >> Carla Eban, followed by Allison Hartman. Okay. Carla and then Allison. Carla. Allison and Eva. Tara. Yuri. >> Oh, my feet are sleep. Sat too long. My feet are sleep. So, I wasn't Oh, good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Um, my name is Carla Eben. I am a member of the Pyramid Lake Pyute tribe. I um until about six months ago, I was the director of the elders program after on the reservation. Um, I I just introduced myself in Pyute. Um, really proud of where I come from, you know. Um, we're eighth eighth generation documented residents of the state of Nevada. But if you go back and look at how long we, you know, our stories tell us we've been here, we have 14,000 year old petetroglyphs at Winnamaka Lake. you know, um, in 1905, in 1905, um, we had our first water protector who was our sixth great grandpa and his name was Captain Dave Num Numa Numana Numa, father of the people. and he fought against um them diverting water um at Derby, you know, he didn't he says, "You you take our water, you're going to you're going to kill something out here because we need that water." Well, Winnamaka Lake died. And the the lake dropped, I think Autumn said, like 80 feet. And so he was our first um water protector fighter. Now we have Autumn. You she was on earlier. Um she's my niece. But anyway, um I just wanted to throw some history at you. Um when when I was growing up, we used to come to Reno every uh every Saturday and we'd go to the movies, go shopping, go whatever. And um Oh, did I say I was born in Reno? >> No, you didn't. >> Okay. I was born in Reno in 1965. >> Wow. >> Um I went home to the Renos Sparks Indian colony. Um, my grandpa was at the time the chairman of the colony. >> Oh. >> But then I I grew up at Pyramid Lake. >> Wow. That's history. >> That's history. >> A lot of history. >> Yeah. So, um, while while I was working um Oh, we'd come into Reno on Saturdays and we go to the movies and I was just walking by over here thinking the mates used to be there and the big movie theater over there and two more over there. And anyway, um, I know my three minutes is going to run out fast if I keep talk, keep babbling. Um, but we used we used to come to Reno to go to the movies. We'd be leaving Reno and on the way out um I remember seeing the the Truckucky River by Vista, you know, where you could see over it as you're driving on the freeway and and it would be black like somebody took car motor oil and just dumped it in the river. It would be black and bubbly and like oozy looking and steaming sometimes. Oh god. Um, it was it was pretty gross. another time I um so that that was what I saw growing up and I was wondering why do they treat our water like that because we have to we have to deal with it at the end you know and with the growth of Reno and expansion of Reno think of us we're still out there you know right now we were talking about data centers um how many are at at at the the thing in over here Tahoe Truckucky or Taco whatever it is Reno Tahoe because I was a tribal monitor and We um we were told that they were going to have like four major big tanks, water tanks holding it and that they were diverting the river because they needed to build meanderings because meanderings was better for the trees which now the beavers have all knocked down. >> But anyway, um I >> they it was to stall the water. We dig We dug trenches with and they came and brought big rocks and put big rocks in those trenches. But it's all in areas where it slowed the water down. >> All right. >> Anyway, the um that's one of the things. >> All right. I We got to let someone else speak so we give them equal time. >> Oh, I just had a question or or Yeah, I just had a question. So So they're talking about this data center over here, right? Is that a new data center or is that an upgrade from the level three? >> Thank you. And I'm trying to think trying to think the movie theater. The movie theater you were referring to. >> Allison Hartman followed by Tara. >> It was the Yuri >> followed by Chelsea Garin via Zoom. >> All right. Hi. >> Hello. Um hello council. My name is Allison Hartman. Um I do social media for Northern Nevada politics and kind of just things happening around the area. Um, and unfortunately with the subject of data centers, I did end up recently losing my job. Um, simply because of how large my data center videos have gotten, just the publicity of it alone, um, contractors reached out and did not want me working there. I was told it was nothing to do with my work ethic. It was quite literally just my social media platform. However, with my job loss happening, I do want to talk about those actually working on the data centers right now. um especially because they're probably not able to be here today. A lot of them are working 10 12 hour shifts. If they don't choose to work overtime, they're most of the time let go. Um it's one of the only jobs in Reno, Nevada that actually pays enough for a livable wage, which I'm just kind of sitting here like I just lost my job and the data centers are being built and these they pay really well. I don't know where the job market is headed in the future right now. It seems kind of bleak. We're seeing the trades pushed quite a bit and it is for the purpose of data centers. Um and with that with my social media following I have gotten the opportunity to talk to a lot of people that work in construction and that work on the data centers. Mental health is a crisis. Um they are five times more likely to die by suicide than actually working on the site. And that is because mental health is I mean they're just doing the same thing every single day. They don't have time to go hang out with people after work. They maybe get a day off in a month. they don't have time to go hang out with people outside of their job and that really concerns me. Um, not all data centers are the same, you know, like of course data centers exist in medical facilities. They exist and in a lot of places I mean we all have photos kept somewhere. We all have videos kept somewhere, but this data center being built on Keystone, this is a totally different level. They've even said it themselves that this is this is specifically for AI businessdriven, you know, things happening in the city of Reno. Sentra has already stated this in 2020. Um, that is what the purpose of the Keystone data center is for. The the fans that thing has, um, the sound it must produce. We will never hear things the same once that thing is turned on. Like, think about just literally a car driving down the road. We will never hear that the same as we do today. So, enjoy the silence we have right now if this continues. Um, we all know what a data center is and what it's quote unquote supposed to do, but what is the product? And I leave you with that question. Is this worth it for our future in the city of Rita? So, thank you so much. Did you excuse me? Did you say that you work you worked at a data center? >> No. >> Oh, >> no. I didn't work at a data center. I um got fired from the corporations at data centers though. So, it's like a weird network. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. I sorry if I Okay. >> Tara Yuri >> followed by Chelsea Garin via Zoom followed by Alex Nolton. Excuse me. >> Hi. Um Tara Giri. Um I have this is my first time speaking and I'm terrified right now. >> No, don't be don't be. Just take your time and um just go slow and we're rooting you on. >> Everybody has said everything I was thinking about saying, but so I thought I'd bring something new. Um, I've lived in Reno, um, since I was 6 years old. My parents moved here, and we've enjoyed all of the lakes and the rivers, and I raised my two daughters here, and we'd go out and we'd hunt and look at the wildlife like lizards and catch snakes and lizards and frogs and >> all sorts of stuff. Um, with these data centers, all that's going to go away. And um if the power consumption goes up and we're going to end up having to pay more power, I'm a person who's on disability living in low-inccome housing. As it is, I already during the winter don't turn on my heater except for maybe like an hour a day just to get the nip out of the air. Um during the summer I don't have an air conditioner because they're not provided and I don't turn on the fans just so I can afford to pay the power because disability doesn't pay that much >> and can't live anywhere but low-inccome housing and also the data centers will affect I wanted you to see this little face here >> now. Who is that? >> This is Willow. >> Willow. >> She is my service dog. >> Oh Willow. She doesn't want to be at council. Look at her. She's >> You terrible humans. You >> I know. It's weird cuz you guys are up. >> What kind of dog is she? >> She's a border. >> They're very smart. >> Um >> she's like, "Mom, I need to >> She loves the rivers and the lakes." And um >> tell him tell him say you like the rivers and she likes to swim in them. Um If the data centers are using up this water, then that's not gonna they're not going to be there anymore for her or other dogs to play with uh to play in. Um and then if she drinks out of contaminated water, then she's going to get sick. And um you know, that's another vet bill that I can't afford. Um, I just wanted you to see another face that will be impacted >> by this data center going in. So, please vote for the >> Sorry, >> more time. >> Um, >> is that what you're looking for? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Sorry. ADHD. >> No. Words just kind of go away. Um, and or just to vote no on it being here at all. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you. >> Chelsea Garin via Zoom followed by Alex Nolton. >> Hey y'all. Can you all hear me? >> Yes. Can you hear us? >> Yes. Excellent. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Um, so my name is Chelsea Garren and I'm a new resident to Reno for about three years now. I moved from Austin, Texas, where because of overp pumping of groundwater, um natural beauties like blue, uh Blue Hole and Jacob's Well no longer have natural flowing water. They're effectively dead areas now. I highly encourage y'all to look at that. Um, I also work in corporate securities and I see a lot of activity with investors pushing at a rapid pace to get returns on their investment in AI um to heavily lobby local governments and state local uh governments to effectively approve what they're needing to get in order to have more capital coming in. I did submit a comment yesterday, but I became aware of a recently published study from the Nature Conservatory uh conservy and the Desert Research Institute regarding groundwater and I'm going to send forward that link to y'all. Um but they have found nearly 40% of the thousands of wells across this state have significantly declining water levels. Uh, I also understand that Nestle Corporation out in California in the Central Valley area has overped their contractually allowed amount of water out of the ground since mid 2000s, which has amounted to nearly a foot drop per year in ground levels, destabilizing buildings across the area. that multiple corporations back in Texas because there's little to no governmental in inspectors, they're not finding out environmental problems until years down the road. And they don't have the manpower to actually investigate, test, and put together these reports in a timely manner. And it I moved to the west coast because I was told that we value our environment, that we protect our environment, and hearing about the data center push um is really devastating to someone like me. Um nearly pretty much all land in Texas is private. There's no such thing as public land. I love how much public land we have here in this area. It is absolutely gorgeous. and knowing that we rely on snow melt in the Truckucky River historic snowfall um well we had a lower amount right and it's only going to get worse and it's an uptick over the years uh I don't agree with data centers whatsoever a moratorum sure ban absolutely but I appreciate y'all sitting here for however many hours listening to all of our comments thank Thank you. Thank you, Alex Nolton. >> Hello, city council and Mayor Shivi. Uh my name is Alex Nolton. I was born and raised in Northern Nevada. I went to school at UNR and I am now a uh community member in Ward 1. I wanted to express um that I'm in favor of a moratorium on data centers because I believe that we need um development decisions that are backed by evidence and development decisions that put our community at the heart of those decisions. Um data centers and industry have lawyers and panels of people to make policy and um advocate for themselves. And I truly believe that you are our advocates in what we do. And I also just wanted to echo that what happens in our community now will affect it for generations. And I want to live in a community that is is green and also um puts a focus and the energy into keeping our water clean and our air clean. And then I had a few more thoughts. It's a my note card. Ah um yeah. And then I also just wanted to touch on our view of our public spaces and our lands. Um, it's a thought that I'm echoing that just because it's sage brush doesn't mean that it's right for development. And I understand it is uh more affordable to develop an area that is not filled with trees and sage brush is easier to clear. Um, but that is a habitat and I think when we view it as a habitat and an ecosystem first, it really changes the way that we view um, development. Um, thank you for your time. >> Did you say you graduated from UNR? >> Yeah, I did. >> You look like a freshman in high school. I hear that a lot. Yeah, I actually graduated in 2024. >> What are you doing? >> Huh? >> What are you doing? Give me some. >> I know. I get it all the time. It's okay. >> Good job. Very good job. Love it. >> All right, Madame Mayor, I'm going to read back through the list of non-responders. And then we have one final public commenter. Bob Blackstock, Charlotte Cox, Alyssa Whitmark, Nancy Anne Leader, Stevie Applewhite, Sam Ringer, Tim Lamen, Doug Thornley. All right, there's only one one man standing. Take take the take the podium. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor. I'm Doug Thornley Holland and Hart on behalf of NAB Northern Nevada and I want to start by saying um I appreciate everybody showing up the thoughtful comments obviously well researched General Delpapa is right this is a statewide conversation there's a reason that we don't use hyper local environmental regulations and that's because it leads to a patchwork that encourages industry to form shop. So they do nothing for the indirect impacts of development. It'll move to Lion. It'll move to story. And the same thing will happen with respect to the direct impacts of these types of development. City's already using the most effective tool, the conditional use permit. And you see it working. If you average the impacts of the three data centers approved by this city in the last gosh a year, I guess they use on average just under half an acre foot of water per year per megawatt of electrical usage. That's about the same as a house, one house. So in total, the impact of those data centers when they come online will be about 50 single family residences. putting a moratorum in place will adversely impact the city's position with respect to economic development across the country. Um what you'll see is the industries that you're looking for, the industries that you're hoping for in the master plan, advanced manufacturing, modern advanced healthcare, university research, they'll go somewhere else because the digital infrastructure they rely on isn't provided and won't be provided in the near term. So, just like any community can't thrive without transportation infrastructure like ports, like rail, like interstate highways, and those last mile roads that you take care of locally, you just can't get where you say you want to go unless we proactively develop this digital infrastructure that our entire modern economy relies on. Thanks very much. >> All right. Thank you so much, Mr. Thornley. Madame Mayor, we had one final commenter sign up online. Lily Baron via Zoom. >> Okay. >> Hi. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. My name is Lily Baron. Hi everybody. >> Hi. >> Sorry I couldn't come see you today. Um I just want to echo the sentiments of everyone else and really encourage everyone that showed up today to keep um showing up for local issues that matter. um and that if for some reason the vote doesn't go in the way that you'd like to not be discouraged um as I've seen dozens of council meetings with really great turnout um go in the opposite direction. Um, I also just wanted to mention that um I'm directly impacted by the um the Apple server which is on um Evans Avenue that broke ground in 2018 and my electricity bill is right around $300 a month. Uh regardless of um you know having the community refrigerator as you know um that takes about $20 a month and we don't really use our heating or cooling that much. So, there's really only one culprit to think of. Um, though this 20,000 square foot center was built quite a while ago. Um, and quite quickly, there are still houses in the neighborhood that are shuttered down that could be addressed much more quickly. So, I'd like everyone to investigate your priorities as far as other places as this is a neighborhood that there are not a lot of homes. Oh, it just started hailing. Um hopefully we continue to have moisture in this area and very dry place. Um despite the increase of data centers um and it encouraged us to do more work with local tribes. I do remember the last time a data center came before council. They said that they spoke with tribes and then I made sure to call around and it they in fact were lying to you. So um I'd like you to make sure that people are doing the things that they say they're doing when they come before you with large projects like this. Um the data center at my house or by my house on Evans employs it says 10 people. I've only ever seen two a couple of days a week and they just kind of stand there um outside of the data center. Um it is important also to note that people have now resorted to violence in other places um due to the attacks on their environment and it's important that we don't um make anyone that desperate as to cause civil unrest. Um thank you so much. Have a great night. much. >> All right, Madame Mayor, with that we have no additional live public comment. >> Okay. >> Um, for the record, I would like to state that, um, since this is a discussion and direction to staff, um, while there might have been sentiments expressed even in our live public comments, they're generally neutral or concerned comments because there is no for or against in this juncture. So, we did receive 156 neutral or concerned comments. Those have been logged into the public record and are available to the public on reno.gov. >> Okay. All right. Thank you so much. Um, first I'd like I'd like to congratulate you. You have been the longest serving mayor for the day, just so you know. Usually it one and done and they're out in 30 minutes because they're like, I'm bored. But look at you. You said I'm Nope. I'm here. I'm staying. I'm interested. >> She's interested. I love it. Okay. All right. Um Okay, Madame Clerk, then I believe at this time we have a staff presentation. >> We're moving into >> Members of the council, for the record, Lauren Knox, senior planner with development services. The item before you is a text amendment initiation request to title 18, which is our zoning code related to data center regulations. All right. In terms of alignment with our strategic plan, this item touches on economic and community development as well as infrastructure, climate change, and environmental sustainability. I just want to take a quick moment to clarify what this item is and what this item isn't. There's a lot of confusion and and questions about what it is. So, the item before you again is a text amendment initiation request regarding data centers. And I want to make it clear that it's not intended to be a discussion about a specific project or any specific proposed regulations that we have at this time. Um, and it's not a decision on a moratorum. I know there's a discussion that you you can have the discussion, but it's not agendaized as a decision on a moratorum at this point. All right. So before we jump in, let's do a brief refresher on data centers. You've heard a lot of information already. Um, but first, what are they? So the definition that we have in code is overhead here, but basically it's a facility that stores, manages, processes, or transmits data and all of the necessary equipment to do that. There are many different types of data centers. This slide really only touches on a few, but generally they can range from a small or enterprise function, which is often associated with a single business operation, all the way up to those much larger hypers scale type facilities. There aren't really clear definitions of what each of these are. Um, but the main takeaway here is that they can come in many different shapes and sizes. So, why do we need data centers? They're really the backbone that serves our digital needs. We are living in an increasingly digital world uh particularly with the step up in the use of AI and there's an increased demand in computing power. So, data centers are really that infrastructure piece that that feeds that need. And why would data centers want to locate here? There's a variety of reasons. They're listed overhead, but generally the proximity to other techreated businesses and data centers is important to this industry. Uh there are a lot of collocation desires. Uh the low latency and proximity to other users is another key piece there. Generally, we have a pretty tolerable climate. Uh low humidity is helpful for for that data center type use. We generally have a lower risk of natural disasters. So things like flooding or tornadoes, there's a perception of an abundant amount of land. We generally have an easier regulatory framework and process compared to development in other areas or in other states. And there are potential tax incentives um generally in the form of an abatement by the state that are available here. Okay. So we just heard about why data centers may be interested in coming here. And in 2023, we began receiving increased um inquiries about data center development in Reno. So in 2024, we recognized that this use is a bit different than anything that we've had in the past. Uh so we thought that we need to review them in a different lens. So at that point, um we developed the CUP or conditional use permit requirement. And then in 2025, we codified those requirements. And I'll get into the specifics of what was put into code in the next slide. But following that, we brought an initiation request forward for a related text amendment. Um, at that point, we had just adopted new code. So, we adopted new code in January of 2025. And the the text amendment initiation request was brought forward in February of 2025. Um, council felt at that point some council members that it wasn't maybe quite ripe to have that conversation yet and expressed a desire in wanting to see kind of those new code changes take effect first. So in a tie vote, uh, council did not move forward a text amendment initiation request at this time. So all this is really to say data centers have been on our docket for a multiple of years of this point. So what do we have in code currently? So currently we have a conditional use permit require requirement and it's still limited to certain zoning districts and generally the urban or employment zones. So that conditional use permit requirement allows us to review these on a case-by case basis for things like compatibility to adjacent development, consistency with our development standards, traffic, consistency with our master plan. We also have some additional use specific standards related to things like dock doors or loading areas. And then I just want to point out also that any development that comes in to the city of Reno is required to meet our standard development uh standards. Things like lighting, parking requirements, screening, building and site design requirements. So all of those pieces are in play now for data centers. So why are we here again? What's changed? Why are we talking about it now? So as you're aware, there's a large amount of conversation regarding data centers. That's both nationally and specific to our region. It pops up in all kinds of different forums. The Reno area was also recognized as a top emerging data center location and a lot of that has to do with development in nearby Story County. Uh there are also a lot of varied groups talking about data centers from the development community to different advocacy groups. Other jurisdictions are also talking about data centers as well at this point. And then I want to touch a little bit more specifically on one of our regional partners here, the Chucky Meadows Regional Planning Agency and their efforts in this space. Team RPA has really been on the forefront of research on this topic and they have a page on their website dedicated to specifically to this conversation. I encourage everyone to take a look at that. It's got some great information. But generally the regional planning governing board which oversees TMRPA's operations has expressed a desire uh to position TMRPA as really a resource of information but also as a convenor or a coordinator of efforts between Reno Sparks and Wo County. In the very near future, TRPA will begin engaging with stakeholders in the public and using that information to create a report of prioritized recommendations that all of our jurisdictions can then use in hopes of coming up with a consistent approach to regulating data centers. This initiation request will allow us to engage better with that process and let us be at the table there. as shown on TMRPA's website that I just mentioned, there are also many entities involved in the regulatory or service provider side of of data centers. All of this is really to say this is a larger topic than just the city of Reno. It's not just just our issue. There are more players at the table now and the time may be a bit more right for us to be at the table as well in terms of discussing data center regulations. And as I said earlier, we're all probably familiar with a lot of the conversation about data centers. So let's talk a little bit about what we've heard. I'm framing this a bit as trade-offs. Um that seems to be what I hear from from multiple different sides here. So in terms of positives or benefits, uh data centers can support our increased computing needs. They're generally low traffic, low sewer generators. The industry collocation attraction can help with some of our economic diversification goals or priorities. Um, sometimes they bring in capital investment, construction jobs. There's a franchise fee capture potential there on the energy side of things as well as some tax benefits or licensing benefits. In terms of concerns, we've all heard the high cooling, high energy needs. So, sometimes they can be water consumers, high energy consumers. Land consumption is another big concern. some impacts to nearby uses, things like noise on residential uses, rateayer concerns in terms of those higher energy cost potentials, some environmental costs, generally uh seen as a low employment generator. And then there's a question about the actualized community benefits. So there we're talking about the potential tax abatements given by GOED. We don't have authority over that piece, but it's talking about what does it really mean? What does it really bring into our city? So, let's talk about what this initiation might get us or at least allow us to review. So, through this process, I anticipate the topics on the screen here will be reviewed and we'll determine a best approach to regulations that address these issues here. Those items are things such as common definitions, location and sighting considerations, design, noise impacts, water and power use, and sustainability and other environmental considerations. I'm not saying everything here will be regulated, but these are the items we anticipate reviewing and analyzing as a region. I also want to provide some clarity that this doesn't mean we have to get away from or scrap what we currently have in code. This is intended to build upon what we have in code. If we find a better way to do it, that could be put into place or if we decide maybe the way we're doing it is fine. It allows us to still have that flexibility. We're not locking ourselves into anything here. And then where, excuse me, where do we go from here? At this point, it's up to council to decide whether an amendment to title 18, again that's our zoning code, to address data centers is initiated. Again, this will allow us to engage with our regional partners. It will allow us to be at the table and have the conversations about regulations. If an initiation is made, there is quite a lot of public touch points in that piece. So again, we would want to join in with Turkey Meadows Regional Planning Agency. They're going to be embarking on a big outreach process. This will allow us to join in on that piece. So, there's going to be a big stakeholder community engagement piece in that. And then on the city of Reno side, we have the neighborhood advisory boards that we generally go to. Our planning commission will review this as well as coming back to council for final approval. So, there's many, many touch points within that process. And then another piece in terms of timing, I want to do some kind of expectation or level setting here. There's a lot of key players, a lot of conversations that have to be had. um we're at the mercy of our partners if we are wanting to be in a in a regional kind of framework and doing this all together. So this may take a while. It may take a little bit more time than maybe we want. Um but for something to be well vetted and and have that regional approach, it may just take a little time. So I just wanted to to get that clear there. So with that, I have a recommended motion overhead and I'm available for any questions. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> Okay. Um just a a couple things because I do want to just clarify because I did hear some comments um that weren't exactly accurate. One of the things is that we have had concerns over um data centers and so we have been having those conversations um and and I'm grateful that the council is having those conversations but one of the things the big fear was um doing it sort of um you know in our own uh city and not taking into consideration of our jurisdictional partners. I was under the impression um that that was sort of the next step over at regional and I think it makes sense that's one of the reasons why we said hey if we do it here then what happens to um they'll just go to sparks um and everything will be in sparks but it still would impact all of us and so we re this council really wanted to take a a regional approach which I think makes absolute sense um however However, I think we have to live with a reality they might not be on the same page. And what causes me to have a little bit of fear in saying that is that when we had and Barry will remember when we had these the last council meeting that was really stressed about the regional aspect of what this policy looks like. Now listen, there is a much broader and bigger conversation to be had and that is statewide because I learned some things today that I didn't know and of course I had to look him up. Is that correct? And these things and like for one and I want to put it out there to my knowledge not saying that this is fact but I want people to know has the city of Reno ever given any incentives for a data center? The answer is no. And but at the state level the answer is yes. And so I think there is a big disconnect between how cities also have to take on these um extra sort of infrastructure needs and things like that. And we see it typically with housing whenever they incentivize um you know corporations or other things that happen and then cities we have to figure out how to manage those things or be good partners or all those kinds of things. And so that's where sometimes it really causes you to have major heartburn of um how we bridge the two. But I do think eventually we all need to be very aware that we might have to do this in our own lane. I don't think that's the best approach for the region. I think that that um becomes very problematic with other other resources and then you have to ask are you going to come to us and ask for our water and our resources because you're tapped out and then it's going to end up putting it on the backs of the city of Reno. So I just wanted people to know because you know I hear some of this is this a little too late. I was under the impression we were going to do this regionally and so I think we have to have a plan moving forward. Um, and you know, I I think we do have people that sit on regional planning, but it is collective. So, I I wanted to give people some backstory of we've been going down this road and uh I don't know why it's why we're at where we're at, but um I think that's definitely something that we need to get a commitment on and a and a timetable. I had hoped we were there sooner. So, all right. I'm going to bring it back um for questions and I have 9,000 questions. Um but I but I'm going to send it to my council first. Uh go ahead, Councilman Ree. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm going to start with um some comments and then I'll get to questions probably around two. But I want to start by acknowledging all the concerns we've heard from residents today uh organizations and people like the Harry family water over data centers the Sierra Club uh the issues surrounding water I think air quality energy and long-term sustainability are real in our region and they deserve to be taken seriously. I also want to note that when this issue came forward and your slide identifies it in February of last year was the first time that we had had a substantive conversation at this dis. I was in DC fighting with the administration over funds for the district board of health which I chair but I've had to spend time working on this issue since then both at the city and at the regional planning government board which I uh serve on too. Also had the opportunity to meet with the Reno Sparks Indian colony about it. The reason why I situate that is because in the last I I've served on the council now for seven years and in that time we've had two data centers that have come in front of us and those facilities as approved use roughly the equivalent of about eight homes worth of water and it's a very different scale than what's happening in Story County. But what that tells me is that the projects we're seeing in the past are not the ones that potentially want to come here. Um and our policies I don't think have caught up to that shift. Right. Right now, we're being asked to evaluate data centers without clear proposals or rules of the road. We don't have identified standards for water use, energy demand, or any of the long-term impacts, some of which are being developed as we speak, right? The question about human health impacts, for example. So, for me, it's pretty straightforward. We need a pause, right? We need to support a new moratorum on data centers so that we can take the time to put a real framework in place before the projects move forward. Now, some some might say, why didn't we do that before? Well, you can't put a moratorum or you can't regulate businesses that are already in the queue. So, when those businesses come and get in your development queue, we're riding with the rules that we have at the time. Today, we don't have any in the queue. And so, it's a good time for us to put a pause in place so that none can sneak in and be believed that they'll be under the old rules. So, this is, I think, a good time for us to do it. It makes sense from a timing standpoint, especially given our regional partners who I think in my opinion, maybe they're moving slower than I would like, but that's the thing about different governance structures and different entities, the county and the cities can move at different speeds, but I think the mayor's right. We want to be leading in this space. We want to make sure we are the people who are proposing the strongest regulatory framework. Um, I think it's about protecting our resources, making sure that the long-term decisions that we make have standards to guide them. I don't think it's that we're saying we can't do things in isolation. I think if Reno acts alone, it simply moves across jurisdictional lines. Um, that coordination is important to me. I think it's important to the folks who would like to have a seat at the table. Um, a defined moratorum really gives us the space to do that work in the right way. And so for me, bringing those stakeholders together, meeting those expectations, um a moratorum, we've done them in the past on certain issues like packaged liquor and alcohol, and we'll get there with our legal counsel, I hope, today to help us figure out that, but it's time it's time for a moratorum. >> All right. Thank you, council. Uh Councilwoman Der. >> Oh, thank you. >> Go ahead. And then I'll call on Councilwoman Eert. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um thank you. Great presentation, Lauren. Very succinct and to the point. And I too want to thank the 156 people who either sent us written comments or made oral comments today. I think that's including all of them. Um it takes a lot to come in front of a council and try to be heard, distinguish your voice, um say something unique uh and and impactful. And so thank you for doing it. And thank you for those that are not even in the room right now. Um I've had the opportunity over the last um year and a half to attend a number of meetings and conferences on data centers and it has really sharpened my understanding of what the issues are and certainly we heard a lot today. um if assuming we move forward with initiating an amendment u you already know about the water and the power and you've heard about the noise and the backup generation but I think there were a couple key uh comments today that are about things we don't hear that much about and that is the heat to air so I'm extremely concerned we've we've talked a lot about climate change and what's happening in Reno um being the fastest warming it's not a theory numerous uh groups have identified us we're twice as fast as Las Vegas. It's It's not a theory, it's a reality. So, we have to care about what is happening to our air. Um, we have to care about the used equipment, the recycling. You know, we started hazardous waste and electrical re waste recycling here at the city with special cleanups about six years ago. They've been immensely popular. Well, there's a good reason for that because this equipment has to go somewhere and we really need to make sure we address that in any ordinance. And then I wanted to address the community benefits agreement that was brought up today. I think that there is so much um concern about that that we really do at least need to acknowledge it and address it if we can. Now, this is a big list and I've been I am on Trek Meadows Regional Planning and I will say we've gone back and forth about whether they should lead or just inform. And what I've heard a lot from my colleagues is that they should inform and that they don't really want regional planning to take a regulatory role. And then I heard Jeremy say, Dr. Smith say, "Well, we're going to prioritize issues." I don't even know what that means because the water's as important as the power and the noise is as important as the generation and so on. So what what I've observed, I've served on regional planning. This is my 12th year and you used to work there and what I've observed is um three of us myself, Commissioner Hartung and Mayor Ed Lawson initiated an effort to deal with schools being reviewed at regional planning so that we didn't have conflicts. It took us over four years going on five years just to talk about one simple thing whether schools should come to regional planning so we can have better coordination and there was a lot of push back and it took us all this time and they just adopted a agreement in principle. So, what I'm really concerned about is that um to reflect on both what the mayor and council member Ree said is that we do need to lead. We we if our partners cannot work in the time frame we need to that we need to at least set some minimum standards and maybe they will follow us because we are the largest organization in our region and so therefore we are a natural leader and it is mostly Reno residents who have come out today. They're expecting movement and no matter what we do in Reno, Sparks and Wo County, we do have Story County and they are um embracing the largest data centers and that is going to continue happening. We have to take care of what we can take care of and in my opinion, we don't wait for the state to act. We don't wait for regional planning to act. We want to coordinate. We want to hear all the comments like we did today, but I still think we need to take some steps forward. And in round two, I I have some more detailed thoughts. But do you hear what I'm saying? I do. I do. And I just want to know I think it's helpful to know in terms of regionals's time frame. I did talk with Dr. Smith um about the time frame on this kind of regional report on on some recommendations for us all and he would like to have that complete by August of this year. So hopefully not the four years that you're discussing here for schools but um a little bit quicker in that >> but that's complete his report. That is not us as a regional body making decisions. >> Thank you. Just so >> for clarification, Jeremy is the director of regional planning, >> right? >> Just in case. Okay. Um, Councilw, go ahead. >> Yeah. Uh, thank you for the presentation and I also want to thank everybody for coming in and and giving public comment. I agree. It's not easy to do. And some of these people I've seen multiple times and I've met with many times and had many conversations with and um they've they've showed up for for multiple data centers now and and large projects in my ward that um uh had master plan amendment changes that will allow for for data centers that will be a huge could potentially be a big drain on resources. So, I've written some things down that I want to say so I don't mess things up, but I have a lot of feelings about what has kind of happened with regard to this conversation and how it's kind of been hijacked a little bit. Um, not by the public commenters, I want to say um but um I just want to start off by saying I have been consistent in advocating for my ward. I've done it at every meeting where we've talked about this. I consistently asked for um more parameters to be put around data centers. Um I have a list of meetings here. March 12th, 25 um January 16th, oh no, that's the Keystone one. Uh January 22nd, 2026 when the web data center came through. Uh February 26 when we had the vote to talk about data centers. So, I have been consistently asking for support on this and the answer I've received from my fellow council members has kind of been the cup process will handle it. Well, I'd like to point out that the web data center and opidon both were approved. Well, I take that back. Web was Opidon, no Keystone was approved by the planning commission. Didn't come to council at all. So, they didn't have us do a cup on them at all. OPDon uh appealed the planning commission's decision. So, it came to us at that point. Um I was able to work with them to get some sustainability features added. Um so, I was able to get there with them because they were willing to work with me and that's really what I'm trying to find is um partners in this. Um and I've been really working on these relationships. currently trying to get a tour with switch to see what sustainability features are being used in the region. But um kind of the elephant in the room here is my ward has the most open space and we have the most area zoned industrial. So we're really the ones that are going to be most affected by any decision like this. Um and I have a lot of area that's kind of intermixed with county. So um to say that a city um moratorum won't affect me is just not accurate. Um so I just am very concerned about how we handle this. Um I I have more stuff to say. I don't know if you could give me more time. This is so important to me. >> Yeah, we'll come back. We're we'll actually do three rounds. Okay. >> We typically do two, but I want to get make sure that you get everything on um the record. >> Okay. Okay, I'm going to head over here. Um I think it's so hard to see. I think >> Mine's on. >> Is it okay? Yeah, you just have to lift it up because if it's this way, it looks blue or dark. Doesn't show. Okay, go ahead. >> Thank you. Um I I want to say Councilwoman Eert, I absolutely respect your position and your consistency in this. We may not see eye to eye, but you've definitely been consistent, as have I. Um, I absolutely support a coordinated regional approach to looking at data centers. And when we talk about the regional governing board, there are four of us on here that sit on that board. Councilwoman Anderson, Council Member Ree, Council Member Der. They are doing exactly what we have told them to do. I talked to um regional planning yesterday. I talked to staff at PUC in the last two days. I've talked to the Ellis partners of the web center, the data center, and I've all of them have said that they don't necessarily see the value in a moratorum at a local level because we've heard this is a regional and this is a state issue. It's not just the city of Reno. It's the same river. It's the same air. It's the same resources. So, I would say the timing is very, very peculiar right now. Never at regional did anybody who sits from this dis on regional say anything about a moratorum. They never said anything like that. We always said we were going to support the regional approach with everybody. So madame mayor I'm not going to go into all the things that we heard. I am going to ask for the opportunity to make a motion before we hear a motion on moratorum. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you so much. Okay. Um, >> go ahead, Vice Mayor. >> Thanks so much, Madam Mayor. Thank you for the presentation. And I just had a quick question for you as we talk about you know the amendments or text amendments that we could be looking at and um obviously the path is a little bit different when we talk about moratorum but I just want to make sure that if the council decides to go down either of those paths would that impede city of Reno from being involved in the conversation in a regional context or what impacts does that have to the work that you are already doing and have identified in your presentation with our regional partners? So, so again, this item is right now agendaized for initiation of that text amendment. If that's not initiated, it does make it more difficult for me to engage in those regional conversations and talk about what regulations we might want to change. So, an initiation of that text amendment allows me to have those conversations. So aside from that on the moratorium side on things whether a moratorum is is decided upon or not won't really impact those conversations because a lot of times a moratorium is put in place to help with the time to craft those regulations. So again that would still allow us to be at the table. What what really is key to that conversation is this initiation piece. If not initiated it's harder for me to engage and use our resources if if I'm not being told to do so. >> Just so I'm clear. Is it possible to do both or are you saying they are competing directions to have one or the other move forward? >> You can certainly do both. Again, it's an agenda situation and legal should probably weigh in on that piece. Um, today we're not agendaized to to decide on a moratorium as far as I understand. Correct. You can certainly provide direction to get that on another piece, but they're they can go hand in hand. Um, they're not u one doesn't preclude the other. >> Yeah. And I understand I didn't mean to say that we were headed down that path. Mr. Shippen, before you jump in there, I just wanted to make sure that I put that on the record, understand sort of what the path is, whether we go one way or another. I think ultimately whether I've spoken to uh members of the Sierra Club or developers in our community, I've been consistent with telling them that I think we should all be at the table and making sure that we come up with policies that make sense to protect our natural resources and our community members that live near this area and that we're conscious of how these heavy energy and natural resource users are coming into the high altitude desert that we live in. And so being able to be clear and upfront with developers can also provide us an opportunity to limit any of those lastm minute conditions that have happened sometimes as that development process takes place through our code. And so having that from the onset um I think will help clarify any issues that we may have and prevent us from getting into any of a takings sort of arena and making sure that we avoid anything like that too. So I just wanted to make sure I understood from your perspective which path will sort of lead us to there and from what I'm understanding it seems like either or will get us to that position. >> Yes. again that initiation needs to happen to to get us to the to the table. >> Thank you. >> Sure, >> Council Anderson. >> Okay, great. I've um I'm just very proud of our community for coming out today and being so passionate and researched and staying engaged in this process. Um I was unprepared to speak about a moratorum today because that is not what was on the agenda. that I was prepared to speak in support of the very important work that four of us that are sitting on this DAS are doing with our regional partners at the Truckucky Meadows Regional Planning Agency. Dr. Smith um at our last meeting outlined a very robust plan which you um made mention to with I thought a very aggressive timeline um having the report be able to be in the regional partners' hands by August. Um so my understanding of this um based on my briefing and this agenda item was that we would be empowering you to go and do your work through this text um this amendment initiation to um invest in that regional work and those decisions on this very I think aggressive timeline now that we've gotten it off the ground. Um I will say that I I do hear you um Mr. Ree and Miss Door about leading in this space. Um, I will I will be the first to tell you that Reno often um loses traction and um offends their partners by thinking that we are the most important leaders in the region. Um, we don't necessarily have all of the land that would be considered for this um zoning and land use. And so going in as partners together in a regional um landscape like we've been doing very intently together I think is the right way to move through this. Um I haven't had time to study the the real impacts for not only job creators but people that are developing land community members residents that could be potentially in and around these projects. Um what a moratorum would look like. So, I definitely when it's on an official agenda will do my research there. Was not prepared to talk about that today. Um, thank you for the work. You've been at every one of the meetings that we've been at and so have these fine members of the community. Um, I just wanted to really thank um, a few of you for giving me additional things to think about. Um, one thing I've been I've been I sit on the Western Nevada Development District board and I was in um, Lovelock a couple of weeks ago participating in a conference where we learned a lot about data centers because that whole ID corridor is really the large the largest target and we were talking about something that I hadn't really um considered before which was the um, IT safety and privacy infrastructure and protecting our citizens on a privacy level. Um I don't believe that that's necessarily an appropriate conversation in our hyper local um regional discussion, but at the state level, I think that's something that we need to track very carefully. I'll have more um comments in my next couple of rounds, but thank you very much for bringing this to the council so we can get this started. >> Okay, sending it back down to um Councilman Ree. >> Thank you so much. Um I want to follow up and be clear about what I expect to be the outcome of a moratorum first. It's not just about pausing. It's about using the time intentionally. And I think one of my colleagues who is a dear friend and we just see differently on this issue said you didn't understand the value of the mortorium. Well, I'm going to identify a couple of them. First is the value is in listening to the people that we serve. Right? Every time I knock on a door, every time I shake a hand at a gathering on Earth Day, this is the question that people are asking. Right? So that's the first important thing. The second is value in ensuring that other government governments understand that we are going to move forward and move forward with some all due speed. Right? Government is very good at being slow and finding opportunities to do studies and get all the stakeholders in the room and those are all good things in a vacuum. But we are in the same place today that we were in a year ago and may no more closer um opportunities. Third is it signals to folks who might contemplate coming here that we are going to act before they can act. Right. Right now, as I've explained to people, the reason why we have not initiated these kind of regulatory frameworks is because we already had data centers in the queue. Today, there are none. Is that correct? >> As far as I'm aware. Yes. >> Okay. So, there are no data centers in the queue. It's also true that Envy Energy is right now trying to decide and maybe Miss Der can shed some light on this about how to serve power to these groups which they cannot because I know for a fact that there are groups that have tried to come here and they can't get approvals because they cannot get power from the uh regulatory authority in Nevada Energy. We also don't have the water resources to share. It it it is true that they're mostly moving away from water into different kinds of closed systems, but there is not the the water, land, or air, I mean, energy to do it. Um, and then the last thing is that look, Reno is not the big bad gorilla. We're not going to go around and swing our weight, but the truth is we're 300,000 people, right? We're the largest population center. We have the largest portion of developable land, if there is even land to do the kind of data center we're talking about. And we're also not even talking about the definition part of your presentation which said we need to be clear on what is and what is not being discussed. Right? Some of the smaller data centers are ones that are like in my building down the street. Right? Each casino probably has a data center in it. Our hospital certainly has a data center in it. The university has them. They are a function of the economy that we have created technology or otherwise. But we have to be talking about the same thing. And if we're not even talking about the same thing, how are we supposed to evaluate those things? A moratorum is the only thing that makes sense. And it has been my consistent position that we should do this on a regional level. I want to create the conditions under which that will be done successfully, but making sure the public knows that we're they're not going to find another data center around the corner because we couldn't prevent it because we have land use zoning regulations. Um I think um Amy said it very best and and and she was a great public comment because she said some of this is because of the structures of government being what they are. I don't want to focus on that. Those technicalities will not save us any longer. We need a moratorum. >> All right. Um Councilwoman Der, go ahead. >> Yeah. Um I'll speak to mortorium in my third round, but for right now I want to speak about the energy piece and I want first I want to start about water. So, some may know that I was the former state water planner for seven years and my whole world was water throughout Nevada. So, clearly when it comes to water issues, I'm going to want us to be the most conservative possible. We are the driest state. There's no room for mistakes here. Um, once the water's allocated, it's allocated. There's no pulling it back. They're trying to pull it back in other parts of Nevada and it it's being met with people being fired and lots of controversy. So once you have something, it's pretty hard to take it back. So I want to talk about energy for a minute. Um, one of my biggest concerns because I'm confident we'll we'll address the water piece has been the energy piece. And what we've seen in other states without regulation is that um more power generation is built and those costs get embedded into our rates and that means everyone in our region is paying to grow the system. But only a few are benefiting from that growth and that is these big mega users of energy. So what I have found um is already happening in north valleys is that developers are being told sure we'll take on your project but we have to build a whole new power center first because we have these two power uh users um in north valleys that we need to service. they've been approved by council and um what I've talked specifically to MV Energy uh lobbyists or proponents or advocates and they say that they are making data centers bring their energy. So, we need to know what that means. And I know that on May 4th, which is around the corner, MV Energy is going to PUC to ask to memorialize this uh requirement that data centers bring their own power. And it's specific to data centers, that they bring their own power. Um, recently you may have heard that Envy Energy told uh Liberty Utility, which is in Lake Tahoe, that they were no longer going to supply them power after a year. And I called to make sure that I understood the why. And the why is is that um Liberty Utility did not work with MB Energy to establish their needs and therefore MB Energy is not prepared to support those needs. It's rather like us with waste management putting them on notice that we're going to go out for an RFP and and so what's happened here is in a similar way people may be denied power here because of the demands that are sitting in front of them. And so I do encourage those that came and are concerned about energy use for data centers to attend the May 4th where this will be presented to the PUC and um also talk about all the whatifs. And then we've heard something today about green energy power not being very green. Um about the use of battery backups. I really think we have to address those issues when we move forward with what I hope is our um initiation of title 18 changes. So thank you. >> Okay, Council Neighbor. >> Yeah. So, uh I just want to reiterate again, we all are aware of the water and power issues. I know that I've brought up the um public utilities commission report that um Great Basin Water provided um in 2025 that showed that the groundwater level is dropping one foot per year in the Cold Springs area. And in spite of that um the people on this board that are also on regional planning approved a decision that would allow data centers to go into that area. So I find it disingenuous that somebody would now um virtue signal by saying that they want a moratorum when all of their actions have said otherwise. They have voted yes on every data center that has come through here and they have all been you know with the exception of one that didn't come to council in my ward. My concerns have been dismissed continually. This statement about a moratorum was not discussed with me at all considering that this will have the most weight in my ward. I'm disappointed in my um colleagues. Um I'm disappointed that there was no inclusion with the tribes on these discussions. I have been going out and trying to work with the various data centers to come up with a conclusion because again my area is intermingled with county. I understand that if city of Reno has a moratorum, it will still affect my community. We're a community. We don't we don't draw the boundary line and say you're not my neighbor because there's a county line there. Okay? So, I want to make sure that I have a seat at the table and I've been denied one at every opportunity to be on every regional board. I haven't been allowed to be on RTC, TAMA, um, uh, what's the other one? I can't even think. I'm >> Yeah, regional governing board. All of these boards that have massive oversight on my ward, which has the most open space, is going to have the most development, has no representation from the community. Nobody that lives there, nobody that was elected. I have been stonewalled essentially by this body. I'm not going to name names, but I find it really um upsetting when suddenly somebody wants to again virtue signal that this is important to them when everything they've done has shown otherwise. I spoke earlier about being consistent. I've been consistent. The other person has also been consistent in voting yes for data centers every time. I want to come to the table and work together and I don't think that saying oh we're going to do we're going to do a moratorum here well what's going to happen regionally because this person talking about a moratorum here are they going to do a moratorum at the regional board or on that side are they going to continue to work on data centers and put in regulations for my community and again I won't have a seat at that table >> councilwoman um I I just think it's going to be more helpful if we try to respect each other. Um, so >> I agree. I would love to be respected. Thank you. >> Yeah. No, no, listen. Listen, you know, I we will always work together and I reached out to you, been reaching out to you. So, you just need to know that if you ever want anything on the agenda, we'll make sure so you can always hear it. Well, I have meeting minutes up here that I've been reviewing that show that I have been asking for this to be on the agenda since January of last year. So, let me know when we can have it on the agenda when I ask for it because it doesn't seem like I have any uh weight in what's on the agenda, you know, since I've been here since 2022. Okay. I'm still waiting for an agenda item to come up. >> Have you I just want to make sure that you're getting everything you need. Have you asked staff? >> I'm not getting everything I need. >> Okay. I'm gonna help I'm gonna help you. Anyway, it doesn't do us any good to to um argue. So, I want to make sure you get what you need. I'm going to ask um our city manager to make sure that anything that you need that Jackie makes sure that she delivers that. It's important. Okay. I'm going to um go to Councilwoman Taylor. >> Yeah. I just wanted to add a little bit of information on the energy side of things. So, Nevada Energy and the PUC, they're having their integrated resource plan um come to the table in the next couple of weeks and I think it'd be a really good opportunity for everybody to get involved here and maybe the Sierra Club to look at some responses, but I think it's really important to understand. Um there's a lot of fear and emotion, but the policy is large load large load additions and data center developers must be responsible for paying their own way to avoid creating upward pressure on existing customer rates. It's part of rule nine. It's pretty complicated. It is true. It you it's it's part of the policy. its load growth must be managed responsibly and cannot come at the expense of affordability and reliability for households. That's how the PUC is doing business. I think it's really important that we have regional conversations. I'm not saying I'm in love with data centers. I want to do this right, but I also want people that are doing business in the city of Reno to know yes, we are open to business and it's not the most important thing, but there is definitely an economic benefit. The three data centers that we have approved are generating or will generate about $7 million a year. That's about a third of what the deficit is of the city of Reno. And while it can't be our only focus, it definitely has to be part of the consideration. I'll say this council when we're looking at our strategic plan has said at the very fundamental um base of what we're doing, financial responsibility has to be number one or we can't do anything else. And I appreciate the the people that are coming out and talking about other things that are also important, but we have to have a conversation that includes all of the stakeholders and all of the places that are looking at data centers. And I don't see the need right now. You said there's nothing in the queue. Why now? Why now are we talking about a moratorum? I again it's it's very very peculiar to me. Thank you. >> I do want to say something because I met with Barry and this was something that you did bring up at the council meeting and that's how this sort of um moratorium to me when I remember it was discussed quite a bit. So, it's not something that I feel like it's foreign or we haven't heard. Am I correct, Barry? >> Okay. All right. I just wanted to make sure. Um, okay. We have one more round. >> Oh, wait, wait, wait. >> Oh, sorry. Are you on? Okay. >> We haven't finished here. >> I didn't see your green light on. >> Go ahead. >> Who else is Oh, okay. Go ahead. Vice Mayor, >> thank you so much. Um obviously there's a lot of feelings around this uh conversation and I think um for me understanding um sort of where uh we can continue to be uh impactful in the regional conversations obviously some things are within our control and some things are at the state level that we don't have jurisdiction over. Um and that's been identified multiple times throughout this conversation and the conversations have happened um a little over a year ago. Our planning commissioners sent us a recommendation and so this conversation isn't something that's new or anything that hasn't had enough runway to have the conversation today. And so being able to talk about this in this context, I think hopefully can provide you as staff and uh arm you with um opportunities and uh whatever you need to be able to continue to stay engaged in that conversation at the regional level and being able to provide some of those protections that folks have been asking for during public comment and that you've heard echoed up here on the DIS um as well. And so I think just the way that you have the motion recommended today, I would definitely be in favor of initiating a text amendment um and looking at ways to further incorporate some of the things that you've heard today into the land development code that we have. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Um before I forget, I I was going to run out of time and I just wanted to call attention to Miss Fallon's comment earlier today. I thought she made an excellent point about other desired industries and the potential effects of abatements or the potential opportunities we have with abatements. So, I wanted to get that on the record that I know goed is doing their work right now and it would be an interesting um conversation to ask them about other um highquality industries that we're looking for because our high our shared goal is to attract and grow high-quality industries like healthcare innovation, advanced manufacturing, and tech enabled businesses that bring stable jobs and long-term resilience to Northern Nevada. Because we have to remember we have a workforce development opportunity here and we have a very expensive community that we live in. So high quality jobs and attracting these industries is key to keeping our students our um workforce develop you know the people that we have invested in and our children here in this region. Modern industries don't just need land. They need data infrastructure that is secure cloud access redundancy and proximity. Um and they're essential. they're just as essential as road roads and um industries as infrastructure. So the interest behind a moratorum um and the responsible planning is very natural and I'm excited to hear that the community is so engaged and I'm hoping that this public meeting can serve as part of the public record at the regional planning agency and that we can learn something from every public comment that we that we heard today. Um, Northern Nevada is competing nationally for these sectors. Regions um that can confidently say we have the infrastructure ready will win the opportunities with healthcare innovation companies, advanced manufacturing companies, tech enabled businesses. So, I'm just asking to um build trust with our community that we're listening and we're doing committed regional work with our partners so that we can have easy to understand and um clear expectations for anybody that wants to bring digital infrastructure to our region in a smart and responsible way. We can set clear expectations now on water use, energy efficiency, and land compatibility with this regional plan. And August, I think, is a very appropriate time frame. I want to echo Miss Eert's frustration um that right at this time we are trying to take an action that interrupts her ability to have productive conversations about the most popular land use that could potentially be coming to her ward. And so I want to support you in your comments there and I hear you. >> Okay, Councilwoman, this is our final round. >> Okay, nobody else wants to go first. >> I I don't care. Go first. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Um, so I wanted to talk about a mortorium, but first I want to respond to Miss Eert's comments. And I I think a different way of looking just think what I'm saying. I think a different way of looking at what you've experienced is that you're advocating for something. You want to be heard. And sometime having been in your shoes sometimes what happens is that your voice is actually being heard and you are having an influence. And I think a different way to interpret uh what you've heard here today is that people are hearing what you say, your voice is having an impact. And if people show willingness to change their perspective, I think we should honor that and not necessarily be angry that they changed. I think it's a a remarkable um uh note of confidence in what you're saying and I think you're being heard. So I I don't think that um it means that um it's a culmination of being angry. I think it's a culmination of actually having making a difference. So I compliment you uh Miss Eert. Um on a moratorum um I think that um Mr. Reese laid out the reasons to do one. I've been on the council and we have put things on a moratorum before when we are focusing on making changes with our regulations and we want to send a clear signal that we need a pause and that there are new regulations coming and that we don't want people to be surprised and I think uh council member Reese makes another important point. There's no better time to do it when you don't have something on your docket. Mhm. >> So the fact that there is nothing here and no one that can be affected by it in this moment is exactly the right time to do it. So I will if it comes up as an option to direct staff to develop whether it's our attorneys or you are working together to enact uh uh consider enacting a moratorum at a future date. Um I would be very supportive because I think this um rule change needs as much focus as possible. we need to not be simil uh simultaneously being distracted by competing um applications. So that's why I think it makes good sense. I remember we did it with signs and I think we did it with something else. Mr. Shipman can review it, but um I think it was what was that? >> Package liquor. I think it was very important. It gave us a moment to think and focus on the issue at hand and make good, valid, thorough decisions. So I I'm gonna just for folks to know I'm going to support both things. I want to move forward to initiate amendment to title 18 and I would support um moving forward with a mortorium. I don't know what the time frame would be. I want to hear more about that when we get there. Um but that's kind of where I stand. And again I have been with Miss Eert. I have voted no on data centers. But we both have also voted yes to her point. Um and we've gone to seminars. We gathered information and we both have voted against um uh the further industrialization of Ward 4 in the north valleys. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> So appreciate that. >> Okay. Thank you so much. I appreciate that. I am going to just say something because you guys you guys know that I have been fired up about this for a long time and you can thank the legislature. I have been on this council for almost 14 years. Yes, I'm ready to go. We need new vision and I'm excited for that. But let me tell you something. One of the things that I have seen that has been the most detrimental and people should be pissed about this and that is ward only voting. And I'll tell you why. Because the people voted against it. The legislature took it and shoved it down our throats. And what I have seen is that you have a council up here that is very divided because they all are um elected. Poor thing. She I'm like I'm just looking at you. I'm not like um so just no. Try not to look at me. Um, but my point is is that what that did, what I noticed out of anything is it fragmented this council and it fragmented this city. And I want people to think about that, how anyone can vote. I love how actually like everyone up here can vote on any of your issues wherever what you live in, but you don't get to vote for them. H how does that make any sense? Not to mention you you've heard it and you've and you see it over here where there's a frustration. Why? Because everyone has to worry about their own ward. They don't have to worry about anything. I don't think Reno is big enough to where we should be eating ourselves. We should all be working together. So, we help ward four, ward three, ward two. Then we made it even worse and took away the atlarge because I used to work with a council member that no one could work with. And I I was at large and that was amazing because then I could step in. But I will tell you what, I have watched it be so detrimental to downtown. I've watched it be detrimental to Ward 2 where someone wants affordable housing in their ward or they say, "I need more housing." The rest of the council votes against it. What? But yet you guys, I mean, it's it's unbelievable how we're voting on the things in your wards, but you didn't get to elect everyone up here. You only got to elect Does that make sense? So, I see this as part of also um when when it's so stark and Megan doesn't know because she was not here when when the structure was different. But that's where you have to feel for each council member because I've watched it in Ward I've watched it in W two over and over again. I've watched it in five. I've watched it in four and it's in one and it constantly comes up. And so now listen, you you have great council members up here. That doesn't mean that they don't care. They absolutely do. Um but I'm just saying I think what the legislature did, especially to the voters, was incredibly unfair um every step of the way. But this just hits me at the core whenever I hear this when we talk about my word, my word, you know, those kinds of things. Um again, I think how is that fair that you guys don't get to vote um for everyone that's up here on this dis? I I think that that's that's crazy. But they get to war vote for things in your ward that's going to affect you. I I just Anyway, okay. I'm sorry. I'm getting off my sofa. I do this a lot. This one This one issue is a real problem for me. Okay. Um Councilwoman, I'm going to send it back to you. Sorry. >> Yeah. And I appreciate the sentiment about the the citywide voting, but um you know again the atlarge position while it existed was citywide and I still don't feel like I had any additional representation considering um that and I have an overwhelming um outpouring from my community that people feel like that they're just not heard. I've had an incredible amount of people show up at different meetings for different uh data centers and and uh master plan amendment changes. Um you know maybe not 150 but um a roomful and they've been absolutely disregarded. So um I I um am very disappointed um that again that there was no communication. I think that the best way to solve this is by communicating. Uh as I said earlier too, I'm I'm working to take tours of existing data centers. Um I would like to work with the regional um governing board and and the state also, but I have been basically just kind of shut out of all these um regional boards. And um you know, I have the Truckucky Meadows um the American Flats Water Project in my ward. Uh, I was denied a position on the board even though I've been the alternate for for years. Um, at every opportunity that I have to be included in regional planning for my ward, I've been denied. And, um, you know, it's forced me to, um, work with other people. And now, um, you know, when it's somebody else's interest, they're they want to swoop in and say, "No, now we need a moratorum." and like where have you been with this? I I've been dealing with the fallout and the real world consequences for more than a year now and it doesn't feel sincere and honestly I don't trust the motivations behind it. Um I'll just be frank because there has been no benefit to my community um to date from um you know that that council member. So, um, they're in a position on the planning board to help. They're in a position on RTC to help. So far, we've not received any additional help. They're not listening to us about the Lemon Drive project. Um, you know, we just we we have to deal with the fallout of the votes. Um, we have people in a position that can help with that and they don't. Uh, so it's just insulting, frankly. Um, okay, Councilwoman Neighbor, I am we're going to move on, but I do need you to know that I asked our city manager to make sure that she follows up with you and was she aware and she said no. I also want to and I want to make sure you get what you need. The other thing is I want to remind everyone you can't go and actually talk to everyone. There's something called open meeting law. So, you have to make sure and you don't violate that. So, council members can't talk amongst each other. You can only talk to two members. So, it makes it also that much more challenging. Um, which is weird because the legislature doesn't have to do that. Why weird? I don't know. I just think that that's weird. So, we can't vi It's called something called open meeting law and I can only talk to only a couple. So, that also I think makes you super frustrated that you can't um work collaboratively to the extent that you want to. Um and so anyway, frustrated. Okay. Um >> Mr. Reese, >> I have my last time Reese. And then we have last this is our last round. >> This would be my last time. >> Um I wanted to start off by identifying um states that have or communities that have instituted moratoriums since the first of the year. So on April 14th, so just a few days ago, Maine became the first state in the United States to pause and enact a moratorum statewide on data centers. In California, Monterey Park and Oakley have um instituted data center moratoriums in Colorado, Lamur County, Georgia, Clayton County, Newton County. in Illinois, Champagne County, Kohl's County, Indiana, White County, Minnesota, Carver, Louisiana, Nor the city of New Orleans has a pending moratorum. Uh North Carolina, Orange County, Chattam County, Gates County, Oklahoma City has a moratorum. Um the truth is is that moratoriums happen and in this particular case, the moratorum idea was not on our agenda because it was not suggested by the topic that was on our agenda. It came from the community. the community is the one that put the moratorum conversation into place. It did not happen at this body and so it's a very strange thing. Lots of curious things happening today. Uh but what is encouraging is that people are here. Mr. Shipman, I want to ask about what I would propose as a motion and you tell me whether or not this meets the open meeting law requirements for today. So I'm not making a motion. I'm asking you a legal question about whether this motion would pass muster. So, it'd be a move to initiate an amendment to title 18 annexation and land development code to review and modify the requirements for data center uses and direct staff to return to council with an ordinance that includes a moratorum on new data center approvals. I would further direct staff to provide recommended standards addressing water usage, energy demand, air quality, sighting, and ongoing reporting requirements and to coordinate that work with regional partners and the state. >> So, I think the first half of that that mirrors the recommended motion is fine. I think the moratorum is just a different animal. Um under the code you or any council member can request to put a moratorum on the agenda by resolution. So it's not something that this body will vote on today. It's something that one or all of you you know collective I mean including the city man you it's essentially just direction to the city manager to put it on the next agenda and any one of you has that ability to do it's not required to vote on that. But where would the motion come from? In council comments or >> No, I mean you don't you it could be outside the meeting. It could be right here and you can say to Miss Bryant, you know, I I would like to have that resolution be brought at the next meeting or at a particular meeting. Um because I think as Miss Knox said, it was stylized as getting council feedback. My feedback is the necessity for a moratorum and the initiation of the text amendment issues that were described there. >> The text amendment um going forward and everything that you said that was pertinent to the text amendment is fine. Um I'm just it's just a legal difference here. You you're not being asked to vote upon a moratorum today. It's not on the agenda today. It's your right under our code to direct that a moratorum resolution be placed on an agenda as a council member and that's what our code allows. So that can come at the next meeting. It's a two-step process where there's a pending resolution. Once that's adopted, then that stops the pipeline and that gives way to a final resolution that everybody would vote on. But again, it's not something that this body would vote on here today. It's not within the scope of the item. It's something that you each have the right to ask for a moratorum at the next agenda. >> Right. So, a moratorum could not be instituted immediately following our vote today. >> Correct. >> But it could be asked for as part of the motion is what you're saying. >> No, not as part of the motion. The body is not doing anything with the moratorum today. You as a council member can ask for a a a moratorum to be placed on the next agenda. If that makes sense. Madam manager, have you heard that request from me? >> I have heard that request. And just to be clear, it's section 1.07.010 of the Reno code called moratorum procedure. It is a two-step process just to level set the expectations. The first step is a request by any sitting council member or me can place a pending moratorum resolution on a city council meeting agenda for consideration. If that is approved, we then move into the second phase which requires notice in the through the newspaper. It's a much longer process. It cannot come back the two weeks later. It would be a period longer after that. I do hear the request. If you would like to say yes, I will take it as you making a request to bring this back uh first meeting in May for consideration. >> Is that our next meeting? >> Yeah, that is. >> Yes, that is my request. >> Thank you. Okay. Okay. I want I just want to make sure Councilman Anderson, you have your light on. Yeah. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, just just to be clear, I appreciate all of that clarification. Um I'm very aware of threats of violating the open meeting law. My my stepmom worked for the district attorney's office for her entire career, and the number one thing she said after I was elected was, "I will kill you if you violate the open meeting law." So that is the exact reason why we rely on our agenda. We build confidence amongst each other with our community and trust with all the stakeholders by demonstrating preparedness showing we can thoughtfully manage industry development and growth and all of decisions and conversations that come with it. So, um, one of my favorite books about communication and business is called Critical Conversations and, um, it's written by a variety of authors, and it's come out in its third, um, edition. So, it's a very popular book. But I'm just very privileged to be a part of this very crucial conversation. I think it's crucial, not critical, sorry. Crucial conversation that we're having in our community about the regulation, expectations, and protection for this land use. So, I want to really thank you for coming here today, engaging with us. I want to thank you um or hope that you will come and follow us to the regional um process. Barry, I see you there all the time. Sandy, I see you there all the time. I appreciate your thoughtful and um wellressearched comments, encouragements, and you're helping move this process along in a really in a way that I think our community can be really proud of. So, thank you for staying engaged. Okay, >> I have one final comment. >> Okay. Um, no, Councilwoman Taylor has her green light on. >> Oh, I think we can all I think we're all on the same page now with that explanation of the motion that we can all get behind. So, I want to make sure did you have Manager Bryant? >> Go ahead. >> Oh, I I just wanted to be clear for the record that I need to double check the agenda. I need to double check staff availability. Um, we will get it back as quickly as possible and I will communicate to council when that will be. >> Okay. Okay. Sounds good. Vice Mayor, >> thanks so much. >> You just turned your light on. >> I did. I was waiting for my turn. Uh, thank you. Yeah, I would just wanted to add I know uh, Council Member, you're talking about taking tours of different facilities out in Story County. I would also add the Apple data center to your list. >> I have taken a tour of there and they were really um really great and open with showing me their different sustainability features they've put in and I was really impressed to see that there are some data centers that are doing it without being required to. Um and it's just kind of highlights that um what we're doing is not enough that you know we're not requiring anything. it's just not acceptable. You know, we should have some standards there. If other companies are doing it without even being asked, then we should have a baseline of requiring some some sustainability features. So, um but thanks for for bringing that up because it was a really great tour and I'm going to try and go to anyone I can find, you know, in driving distance just so we can um try and do the best we can. And I know I had a conversation with someone from uh Sierra Club. I don't Oh, yeah. Um, I I want them to come with me on a tour and see what's being done so we can work on this together and see what's working and what's not and just have transparency um, with the community. And, um, I think that's really been lacking. um and just having everyone's voice in at the table and not in a chaotic way. Not too many cooks in the kitchen, but um just um making sure that we're all being good stewards of the the um the area that we have here, you know. >> Yeah. Thank you. And I just bring that up because some of the stuff that I learned on my tour, I wanted to mention I wrote a little something while um we were here talking. And I'd just like to reiterate that is my hope that this process regardless of the outcome from the motion or vote will bring about clear codes at the local level, continue to in have influence at the regional and state level as well as stronger protections in line with the United States green building council lead framework and the alliance for water stewardship international water stewardship standards which I both learned about in the um Apple data center tour. And my hope is that these continued conversations with other elected leaders and government agencies will bring residents, developers, and utilities to avoid a takings case and protect private property rights along with the assurances that environmentally friendly policies are enacted to ensure the future of life in Northern Nevada, to protect the water basin, and to meet our fiscal year 27 to 29 priorities of fiscal stewardship and leg goal obligations. And just based on some of the comments I've heard, it sounds like there is support um in a motion to move forward. So, I'm looking forward to continuing that conversation and uh working with you all on this. >> Okay. Um, just really quick, um, Jackie, so I actually think that we should probably to do this thoughtfully and give it the time that it deserves is doing a special meeting just just on this if we're going to bring it back. So, we stylize it that way. >> Yes. And and just that the public is aware, we have like a three-month calendar that we plan out and we we underestimated a six-hour uh agenda item today. And so we've pushed some items. We're going to probably have to push some more. And we already have the next uh several agendas uh two to four and six weeks out heavily planned. >> So I think that is a great idea. >> Okay. Awesome. Love it. Madam Mayor, >> Councilman. >> Yeah. I wanted to go on record too asking Jackie um and staff to put um consideration of a moratorum on an agenda. And I'm going to push back a little about the three week three-month calendar. And that is it's been my experience the 12 years that once you um verbalize something that you're going to do something, this actually can generate a rush of applications. And that is why it's incredibly important that once you vocalize something like this that you actually take action. And I don't think it's that complicated. Our attorneys have done at least two before. They know the process. It's it's it's just >> it's not a complication issue. And and the mayor's idea, I think, resolves it. We'll work with the gender management to get something scheduled in the near future. Yeah. >> Where we can have uh one item >> two weeks >> so we can >> Yeah. >> Okay. So all I wanted to say is just that that you know I I want to at least have an opportunity to have it on an agenda so that we can discuss it and get all the issues out and have a thorough discussion but I also don't want to wait for three months because I've been here before and what I saw with signs and alcohol is that the minute we verbalized it we had a rush of applications to beat a moratorum and that is not good for any of our city staff or us. >> But I'm just thinking because I know we wanted to do possibly the next council meeting. I think we could do it um as a separate special meeting. Yes. >> Yeah. Abs and do it right away. No, I totally support that. >> All right. Good. Um so, Vice Mayor, >> I'm sorry, Mayor. And I just wanted to be really clear. This is not something I discussed before this meeting. This is something that I've received in the better part of 156 comments both online, written to us, and verbalized in the room. I'm I'm listening and I'm hearing and we're responding. And so I just want to be clear that someone on council didn't call me up and say, "Oh, we have to do a mortorium." That didn't happen. >> What happened was listening to our constituents. So, thank you. >> And and the other thing is um I I just want to make it really clear to my colleagues, if you need something, you got to go to staff. Um because we because of open meeting laws, sometimes you can't collaborate on um the level. And especially as mayor, I take it very sensitive because I want all of I feel like the mama. I want all of you guys to get along. Um and and it hurts my heart when my kids don't get along. And sometimes the best way to do that and it's one of the reasons why um uh that we have a team that helps us get there. And so if you need something um you know you you can't rely on your colleagues also because they are focused on their wards unfortunately. I want them focused all of Reno. But please reach out to um you know Jackie her team um you know and I want and I also want to hear if you're not getting what you all need from staff to get something on an agenda or hearing your concerns or um you know just what whatever it may be please um bring that up with our staff and then you can u call me and you know I I try to reach out to you all the time and you over here. And so just I want everyone to get what they need. With that, I'm going to send it over to Vice Mayor. Could you please give me a motion? >> Or did you or Kathleen, do you want to give me a motion? >> Love to give you a motion. And I just I wanted to kind of even when I started out today even set the expectations of what this item was. So appreciate you all being here, but I move to initiate an amendment to title 18 zoning to review and modify the requirements for data center uses. >> Second. >> Okay. So, I have a motion and a second >> discussion. >> Go right ahead. >> Madame Mayor, thank you so much. Um, I want to make sure that Miss Knox understands the motion because the motion as put up here um initiates a text amendment or to title 18, but I'm not sure it incorporates the concerns that have been raised by our community around water, energy, air quality, scaling, sighting. So, how is your staff going to take this very um uh vanilla motion and use it to the benefit of the folks who came here to testify today? H how does that happen from here? >> So, all of those items I will say that I've seen in all of the written comments, I went through all of those as well. Everything I've heard today, I've been sitting here listening the whole time. Um, all of those topics are topics that we will look into and when we come back to this body and to our planning commission in our NAVS and out to the public, we will discuss kind of each of those items and and kind of what regulations could look like, what the best practices might be for our region and move forward with that conversation. Everything that we heard today feeds into what I plan to develop and bring you. So, yes, I have heard it. It is vanilla, but it also helps us to to to take in everything and everything that we're gonna hear throughout the process as well, right? not just tonight but every other meeting that we've had about this topic >> and then you will be back to us how soon >> again it it depends on kind of the regional engagement level of conversation um as I stated before regional plans to bring that regional uh report forward and and go through this massive engagement process with stakeholders and the public plan to bring a report through um the governing board in August. We will have that information beforehand as well. So, we will try to do our best to be as quick as we possibly can, but again, this is a bigger conversation than just Reno. So, I I'm at their mercy to a point. Um, but we will try to go as as quickly as we can. >> And if tomorrow a data center application is filed in the city of Reno, it will not have any of these title 18 changes to it. >> It will not. It still has our conditional use permit requirements. I know we've heard that that's not perfect, but there is still something in play. There's a stop gap. There is still a public process that has to be gone down for any data center request. So, it'll still go through that process. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> And Lauren, just to clarify, you're going to be going through all the best practices that were you talked about earlier. So, location, sighting, site design, noise, water use, power backup generation, infrastructure. Those are going to be part of the conversation that in this motion. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, >> yes. Go ahead. >> I just had um kind of a comment that I wanted to share too. This is a quote that I wanted to read. Okay, so these are not my thoughts. It's a quote. Um it's uh from January 22nd, 2026. It says, "I certainly am not in favor of a moratorium as one of my colleagues suggested. I think that's best left or better left to the state if that's something that interests a state level folks." And that that'll be my thought process. That comment is by council member Ree from January uh 22nd at the 13th hour 15 minute mark at that council meeting. I just want to stress again that I'm very concerned that any uh movement on a moratorum will further disadvantage my community from having a seat at the table during any discussions be it regional or state level. So just want to reiterate that this is definitely a change in direction. The timing is highly suspect to me and I want to make sure this does not interfere with representation. Thank you. >> Madame Mayor, if I may, >> um, I want to make sure that the community understands something. On Saturday, I was at Earth Day and ran into Cullen McInness, who has been an advocate for the Sierra Club. He said, "Hey, it's going to be exciting meeting." And I thought to myself, I wonder what the excitement is about. And so I had to go online and find out that their organization was advocating for a moratorum. So certainly my position has changed since January. But that anyone questions the motivations of this body. Uh that's unfortunate. But at the end of the day, I'm grateful for Cullen and for your group for the advocacy that you'd offered. I'm also grateful for the 150 people here today who showed up and said we want a moratorum. I think listening to your community is a very important thing. Thank you so much. >> Can I also just say I I want everyone to know because there are housing projects that we support and there are housing projects we don't support. I mean things can really change too as we progress as we start to learn more about them. We start to learn about the impacts or we start to learn about communities that we build that don't really work for us, right? Like we're learning we're learning more about like zero zero scapes. I think I would think at one time we would have thought well that seems like a dumb idea but now a lot of people are doing it and it makes a lot of sense right because it um conserves water and also think about the impacts to fire and things like that. So so you know I hate when when we say well you said you said things change they evolve. I mean, who had any idea that AI would become I mean, how many of you had heard like I don't even know if I had heard of AI really two years ago? I don't know. Just I mean, we've been hearing about it, but not to like really see the magnitude of of what technology and how fast it moves and things like that. And so, I just want people to be aware that I think the most important thing about a council is that they listen to you, that they hear you. Um, and there have been many, many times that someone can give testimony and it completely changes the way that um, you feel about something. I am proud of my council um, for for listening and being respectful today. It it means a lot. I also don't want um, council members attacking council members. That gets very political and does not need to be necessary. So, I want everyone um to do this collectively, do this as good partners in the community so we can get the outcomes that we really need to see to have a sustainable future for our city. There's um and the other thing is I'd say there's many of you not just on this issue. I need you guys to get here for trees. I need you here for trees, people. Am I right? >> 100%. >> You know what else I need you here? I need you here for the river. I've been screaming about the river o on and I mean over and over and over again about the lack of funding that we've had for the river. I finally got the river stewards to to make sure that they're helping people and we're cleaning up the river and we're keeping it vibrant. We need sustainable funding sources. We need you at the legislature. We need your help. We need you at the federal government side. It it's crazy to me that there is not enough funding for the most incredible asset we have um running through our city. th those are things as well. So, love your passion, but also need you on some of these other things as well. So, please stay engaged. >> Okay. So, I had a motion, I had a second, and then we had discussion. Um, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed? >> Motion carries unanimously. >> All right. Um, anything else? >> No. >> No. Okay. Thank you everyone. Thank you for being here. Okay, wait. We are going to skip to item what is it? C5. Okay, C5. >> And I know uh Miss Van Beern is on her way down here. >> Thanks you guys. Um >> we're what? >> I pulled a fast one on her. >> Oh, did you? Okay, so she's on her way down. Oh, there you are. Hi. >> Perfect. She's ready to go. We'll be quick. >> Come on. Come on down, Vicki. All right, Madame Mayor, we're going to go ahead and open the redevelopment agency board at this time so that we can hear the budget for both the RDA and the Reno City Council. >> All right. So, >> okay. >> So, we're going to go into roll call for Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026. Reno Reed Development Agency Board. Member Taylor >> here. Der, >> Martinez >> here, >> Eert >> here, >> Reese >> here, >> Anderson >> here, >> Shivy >> here. >> You do have a quorum of the redevelopment agency board. >> Thank you. >> Our first item is opening public comment. We do not have any registered at this time. And just to note for the record, we're opening it at 356 on item A4, approval of the agenda for the Redevelopment Agency board. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Uh, I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. >> Okay. We're on item A5, approval of the minutes for March 25th, Redevelopment Agency Board. >> All right. May I get a motion? >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Motion, then a second. All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries. >> Okay. So, at this time, we're going to open item C5 on the Reno City Council meeting. >> All right. Afternoon. >> Take it away. >> Good new. I can't I cannot believe it. This Okay, I just want to take a little picture of this. >> Vicki standing right here with a smile on her face. This is very very rare. So, I want everyone to know something good's getting ready to happen. I can tell. All right, here we go. >> Good afternoon, Madame Mayor and Council. Vicky Van Beurren, director of finance. For the record, I'm before you today with the monthly update for April. Um, today's meeting updates a little different than the previous updates on the monthly because I have updates that the estimates through the end of the year since we're getting close to June 30, the end of the year. The estimates that you're going to see today are where I think we're going to end the year. And so, um, that's the information I have for you today. This aligns with the strategic plan through fiscal sustainability. And again, like I mentioned, I'm going to talk about the fiscal year 26 estimates. These are the estimates that we're using to build the budget for next year and then the 27 budget development and any changes since we previously talked. I want to really start today, you know, just start right off with consolidated tax here. We just received the February allocation, which is the eighth allocation of this year. We still have four more to go. Um, with that allocation, it's tracking 6.6% above budget for the month. You can see overall for the year we're tracking 5.9% above budget. Um it's doing very well. I do think that this is going to continue to decline a little bit. You can see January was at 8.5%, February was at 6.6%. we're going to start to see a little bit of the impact of gas prices is the estimate um that I think and you know talking to other local agencies as people start start to draw back on some of their spending we'll start to see some of that um coming forward um I do think we will still end the year um very positive I don't think we will end the year around that 5.9% I think probably more around 4.7 is the estimate that I'm giving it as it kind of rounds out and starts to level out as we end the year. Still good news in this space. So, looking at the four major revenues in the general fund where we're estimating those to end the year, property tax write on budget. The gold is going to be the budget uh for current year. The blue bar is where we estimate it to be and it might even look black. It's a darker bar there. Um that's the estimate. Property taxes right on track with budget. Consolidated taxes, as I mentioned, um we're estimating those at 4.7% above budget. So, that's going to be about $4.6 million. Franchise fees are still trending below. They're about 7.8%. If you remember last month, um they were tracking around 8% below. That's really how they're going to continue to track. That's even with the increase of the sanitation franchise fee. With that, um we just have a very mild year as far as weather. So spending with electric and gas, it's just really down. So with that one, uh 2.9% below budget. And then business licenses a lot of times trends very similar to consolidated taxes because if people are outspending spending money at businesses, businesses pay their business license and it's based on gross receipts. So a lot of times you will see that correlation, they will have similar um increases if you see that. So that's why business license is trending about 1.9 million above budget. So all good news. You know, franchise fees are down, but we're making up for it with consolidated tax and business licenses. On the expenditure side for salary and benefits, um we're looking at being about 1.7% below budget. So that means we have savings in that space compared to budget. It's about $4.5 million in savings is what we're estimated. It could be a little bit more than that. This is a little conservative here um in this space. But um this is uh the starting point as we built out the budget for next year. Um >> before you leave the slide, if I may. Um it sounded like we were allowed to interrupt you for just a moment. >> You can absolutely. >> Okay. I just want to point out how low the debt service is. I think you said it's six about six million. That's from general fund. Now, we have other debt that is from um dedicated revenues that go to pay for those things. So, if it's something in redevelopment agency or it's something with Retra or it's something else, those revenues somewhere else. But for a city our size to only be paying $6 million for debt and that is covering the Moana pool, the um public safety center and some fire trucks, >> the fire apparatus >> fire apparatus. I think that's incredible and I just wanted to highlight it that it really is. Uh it should not just be brushed over quickly and I know we've had a very long day but you know thank you. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> I appreciate that. What's that >> Vicki? I I think you are absolutely remarkable. I want a press release out on this because, you know, it is campaign season and you hear a lot of crazy rhetoric and this and that and we got to be this way and you're not being responsible and all these things. >> It is incredible what you have done and we are so fortunate to have you and >> not just me. >> Well, you're right. >> The city as a whole and you you guys, you know, given the direction making the hard decisions. I want to say that, you know, it just I know how hard it is because remember when we got here? >> Oh, yes, I remember. >> We paid down the debt, $200 million. We've really really tried to stay the course with also adding things that make a community vibrant and wonderful and healthy like the Moana pool, like you know that a lot of the housing projects that we have done like the car's campus. There's been so many initiatives that we invest in and I just want you to know how grateful we are. I don't even know how to thank you enough. But my my point is is I don't know I hear the negativity but that's because the mayor's office hears everything negative, right? That I live in negative land. But you need to know how I just think that you have done a remarkable job and I never want you to feel like um you know feel like we don't appreciate you because I I do I think >> we're just very very fortunate to have you and this is incredible. We should all be celebrating, but I think we've been sitting here for a long time and our legs are tired, but I want you to know that I want a press release out on this. Um, and this is the work of the executive team. >> And in the press release, it's 1.5% of our general fund budget goes to debt. That's just an incredibly low number. And I think the total debt that we could engage in is something like 15% of the whole entire property tax. >> Yep. >> 15% of our entire property tax. that's what we're allowed to do. Instead, we're at the extreme other end. So, I just want to get that on the record while you had the slide up. So, thank you. >> Yeah, Councilman Ree. >> Well, I I look, it is silly season, right? So, elections and campaigns and all that. So, people say things that they might otherwise say. So, I've heard things like um in interviews where they said, "Well, we're not being fiscally conservative enough and we've got to take approach or we've got to get back to basics." That approach th those words. Have we done that? Is that this slide's evidence of that? >> Absolutely. I mean, this slide is evidence of the city as a whole, you know, holding positions vacant, still supporting the community doing those services that the community uh expects and needs. And we're still doing that with, you know, frozen positions and holding positions vacant and creating the savings in this space so that we can move forward um and still try to continue to solve this in the future because this isn't a solve today. Um, we're solving it for one year at a time, but we are also planning for the future. And I have a some slides in the in the deck as we move out to really show you that. But this I mean it's a big win from where we were two years ago. >> Yeah. >> Trying to say how are we going to get through this and what's going to happen. >> Absolutely. >> But those slides are coming is what you're saying. >> Yes. And the this I make I hope that you will describe what the this is. The this is you mentioned higher gas prices. We have uncertainty out in the community. We have um an accounting system that the state has gone here, there, everywhere, leaving us at at the complete tail end of a process that we have absolutely no control over. You were going to add what's that? >> Uh we've had PERS increases. We've had increases to insurance costs. We I mean we have contracts that we have to live up to, not just our employee contracts, but other contracts that have built-in increases. There's a lot out of our control. And so the fact that we are managing managing through is remarkable as both a council and our staff doing their jobs. And I I just we don't hear that message very often and and I'm not running for any office. I mean it's important that we recognize what we are doing and we put the good message out there and I don't care how much people say well you you know you're trying to counter bad messages with good messages. This is reality. These are facts. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, Councilman Anderson. >> Oh, no. I'm just still in Yeah, I'm just >> Your lights's on. Sorry. Okay, go ahead. >> So, this slide is basically just showing you the savings that we're projecting from the current year. And that's what we just talked about. The departments, you know, holding positions, positions that are vacant, and then also, you know, saving money where they can. That's the operating expenses savings that you're seeing there. So all these departments in the city, they're all doing this so that we can continue to come before you and have some solutions for some things. So next year's budget, um we've often talked about what are the things we can do? We can decrease expenses, we can increase revenue, or we can do a combination of both. Well, you as council, you've done a combination of both. In order to balance the budget, we've done zerobased budgeting. We've done um we've changed a methodology in budgeting for vacancy savings. Um we're doing some things deferring some payments on some nice to have liability long-term future things. Um one-time sources for capital maintenance. Um fiscal year 26 that that's the vacancy savings that I was talking about on the prior slide. Using some of that savings to bridge the gap for next year. And then you as council obviously um increased the the sanitation franchise fee. Another hard decision, but it's part of one of the pieces of the puzzle to get us to this space. So, what does it look like now? So, we've we've gotten final projections from the state um and we've finalized what we think we're going to be at at the end of the year. These are the numbers that we submitted with the tenative budget. Again, these can change slightly between now and the final budget that comes before you. There the major changes that you'll see here are um property tax. That's the final state projection for property tax. It is down a little bit. 4.6% growth is anticipated for next year. Their numbers have been very spot-on over the last few years. We've seen growth anywhere from 7 to 8% for the last five years in the property tax area. So that is one area we're going to have to watch as we continue to move forward because we have seen that slowdown in the market. Um but with that said, consolidated tax is doing pretty well. We think it's still going to grow about 3% next year because inflation continues to grow. People go out and spend money and sales tax on that on top of that. So in normal circumstances, we definitely believe it's going to continue to grow just based on inflation. franchise fees obviously growing from the sanitation um franchise increase. Um others vary based on that. We are projecting using one-time fund balance of $4 million to bridge that gap. Um that's the savings from this current year. We're using that um to bridge that gap. And then on the salary and benefit side, I just want to explain here that we did include the IAFF contract that was just approved by council. Um that three-year contract has been built into these projections and we are at a balanced budget the way it's shown. So what does this mean long term? Um I think it's great to say yes, we we have a balanced budget for next year. We figured it out. you know, long-term. This is the thing that we've talked about um previously. It's not a one-year solution. This is a long-term issue as we move forward as revenue growth just don't keep pace with the inflationary costs of everything that keeps going up. We have that slow revenue growth, trying to maintain service levels when we're holding positions vacant, um freezing positions. Yes, we're doing it. Um but it it's challenging. We've had a couple of years of challenging years and I'm just going to tell you we're going to have we're going to have more because this model shows you we're not out of the woods, but we're doing really good things. And I think that's that's the result of this council making really hard decisions, manager Bryant making really hard decisions, um, and just really showing fiscal responsibility to the community. And so I just wanted to really highlight that here. Um, next up today, um, obviously this is the update. May 6, we will have, um, a budget overview that will go over all the funds again, not just the general fund, but all of them to give you an idea of that. We'll be talking about the fee schedules because I think there's still a few things on the fee schedule that um, I would like to get more input on for that. And then just a a brief overview on the capital again because you got a a big review of that on the workshop. May 14th, we will present to the FAB and then any uh anything uh between the budget overview um on May 6th that we hear and I get direction from manager Bryant will be incorporated into the budget adoption for May 20th on that day. So that concludes my presentation for this item and I'm glad to answer any more questions. >> Miss Muren, I I wanted to ask about two things. One is sometimes in the minutia of policy people don't distinguish the calendar years for fiscal years, right? And so we have balance our budget each year as we're required to. Right. And you're talking about the fiscal year 27 budget. So it's actually 26 through 27. >> Correct. >> We have closed up the prior year's 2526 budget. >> Uh >> or you're about ready to >> we're about ready to >> um so let me just ask a couple questions. One thing I have uh wondered often about is auditing. Am I correct? We have outside auditing help from ID Bailey. >> Yes. >> And we have to audit our books in order to meet the Gazsby accounting standards and submit to the the state. I mean, we have to get a an audit that >> we have outside a we're required to do an outside audit on our financials every year. And we have that um is it Moss Adams? They changed their name recently. What is it? Baker Tilly. They recently changed their name. They were Moss Adams. They >> Yeah, they're always buying join. They're now called Baker Tilly. We have a contract with them. They have done our audit for the last few years. Um they audit our financials. They audit our grants. That single audit for the grants as well. That's the item that comes forward to this body in December every year once we close the books. Um we've also engaged ID Bailey in for internal audit purposes. And so right now we do not have internal auditors that are actually staffed. Um but we did find that it was um financially beneficial to outside source that with ID Bailey. Uh we do have an item that will be coming forward to UA council in June and they will be presenting their risk assessment and with that risk assessment they lay out uh what the audit plan could possibly be and you can look and see what items are on there and engage in that. >> And do we have a bunch of no bid contracts out there that have not been reviewed for years that we're just sort of frittering away money on? >> 100%. >> Not that I'm aware of. No. and and you're aware of that because we do routine audits and you're involved in the finances every day. Um, okay. So, again, I think part of it is is we're trying to make sure that we share accurate information with the community and sometimes what we're having to deal with is inaccurate community um information and then you just want to have the right response. Um, certainly none of us can separate our intellectual capacity to understand the budget in the same way you do because you're in the budget every day. And so I want to make sure I understand it that the budget on this process timeline that you've had has been audited and reviewed. >> Yes. >> And it will be when submitted to the um state, it will be um it'll have been reviewed by that point. >> Uh we've submitted the tenative budget April 15th. Uh we've already received the letter back that they have reviewed it and it is good to go. Um, that's the whole point of the tenative budget so that they get that pre-look at it to make sure everything looks good and then we bring it back for adoption. >> Um, okay, Madame Mayor, if I may speak. Um, good job. Thank you for giving us this very important update before the May 6th because we have to be prepared to come in to to propose any changes we want or endorse the staff uh, proposed budget. I just wanted to share um there are um I wanted to say something about the audit. First of all um it's really important to me that we have a strong internal audit process. Now that is very different than the high level financial audits that we do and the detailed grant audits that we do. This is about how individual programs are or divisions or departments are handling their money. And what I would love to see and I think the auditors right now are coming up with a work program for the coming year. Is that right? >> Yes. That will be coming forward on June 10th. >> And then we would endorse that. We'd say yes. We want to see these departments audited or these programs audited. Right. >> I think it's super important and I want to distinguish between a financial audit and a program audit. So financial audit looks at the money in out and are we following proper accounting practices and all that because we want to make sure no fraud is happening, no one's stealing money. uh that the bills are being paid appropriately. All that's critical, but at the same time, I think it's really important to do a programmatic audit. And what that tells us is, is this program needed? Is this program being done efficiently? Um is this program meeting a city need? And um I'm not sure and again in my 12 years that I've seen us do program audits but I would love in your conversation with I guess Baker Tilly is that it or I >> with Bailey to talk to them about that because I don't think they're naturals at that but they may be able to subcontract out depending which departments we want to audit. Um, listen, as a agency head myself, I've been through some rigorous audits and sometimes audits are actually used um as a form of punishment. I'll say that I've seen this done where somebody somewhere doesn't like a project or program. Well, sick the auditors on you and they'll tie them up for months. It's hard for them to do their work. All they they're constantly being asked for documents. And I'm not suggesting that. But what I am suggesting is a reasonable program audit on some programs through the year. Maybe it's code enforcement. I would love to see a programmatic audit audit on code enforcement. You know, how many are in the queue? How many have we resolved? How many are still outstanding? Do we need to change the way we're doing business? Might be a good example. Um the second thing I just want to mention is just to prepare people from our upcoming budget discussion since you mentioned budget. part of our budget, and I think you mentioned this, is our fees. Um, I think some of our fees are too low and I think some of our fees are too high and I I'm going to try to I can't deal with what do we have something like 4,000 fees. I mean, it's crazy. So, I can't deal with 4,000 fees, but I can identify five and I want to do that. And so I think I'm going to share that with you and our our city manager. Um so you know what I'm thinking and just generally what am I thinking? I'll pick trees. $100 for cutting down a tree or 79 trees. As we've seen $100 is not an appropriate fee. Okay. It should at least be $100 a tree. >> Yeah. >> And well it's not. And we haven't changed that in the 12 years that I've asked for some change. So I'm going to bring it up again. The second thing is I already told you our um appeal fee is too high at $1,200. We've had zero appeals. If that's our goal, to not have our residents challenge anything we do, we have succeeded. But if our um goal is to make sure that our residents understand our decision-m and that we can justify our decision- making and that we're comfortable with our decision- making, that that is way too high. So, I'm just giving you two polar things that I think one needs to be higher, one needs to be lower, and there might be one or two others that I identify for the good of the group. So, just wanted to share that. >> I I appreciate that. And again, I'm going to just come back to I know we've had this conversation on context. That's what the county charges. And I do think to your point, there are fees that are I mean, I'm shocked that you can cut down 79 trees and >> get a $100 fine, >> right? >> Right here at the arena. That's just not acceptable. So, I understand >> it was against your permit. Not Not that we felt sorry for these trees, but they were required to be installed in your permit and they cut them down anyway. So, >> so I'm just saying I I understand what you're saying, but I want people to understand the context, too, that >> we're also trying to mirror other >> jurisdictions so that it is fair because honestly, there are a lot of things that we we don't right side. So, I get it. just for conversation for upcoming. >> Thank you. >> All right, Vicki, how can we help you? What's where are we at? >> This doesn't require a motion. It was just discussion only. >> Okay. >> Um the next item up is the augmentation. I didn't know if you wanted to take that. >> Um Lindsay, >> well, I think we opened up RDA so that we could do that budget next. >> I did also have some comments, too. >> Um just to kind of mirror what council member Derer said about the fees. I know um the county charges that fee, but we're not the county. And I think that um >> it's it's interesting that the only people that have really done a um uh an appeal is uh the data center itself that got a denial from the planning commission. Uh and I think that uh that kind of shows what the problem is there. I think that it should be um attainable for just people that live in the community that potentially could have a data center going in by them like the Keystone example that we saw today. So, I know it's been mentioned that there would be some type of fund to help people, but um I don't know that that's in place yet and um I think it's really just removing due process for residents in the city of Reno and I just have a problem with that fundamentally. We're public servants and that should be something that everyone has access to. It's affecting their quality of life, their property values. They should have a right to file an appeal without, you know, having to sacrifice anything else. I think $1,200 is is a lot of money. That's some people's mortgage payments. Um, so I just want to support Council Member Der on that. And I'll just say no one appealed the Keystone uh plant and I don't know if it came in before or after the higher fee. Uh I'm not sure so I don't want to make a comment about that but they a lot of people really cared right and felt like a they didn't get informed. I know that the people within 750 ft got informed. This this power plant or this data center had to get a cup. Um so the people within a certain distance got informed. Some of those might have been businesses >> and not homes. I'm excited for >> Okay, well enough said for me. >> Okay, we're gonna move on because that is not part of the discussion. >> Well, it's just the budget. She >> just the budget. So, but now her face is like h but we want we appreciate you. I think this is what these women are trying to say as well. And we just start to >> 100%. I've already met with Vicki. She even came to my nab last night and spent >> that was nice a good hour and the residents were so appreciative. It was their first glimpse of the budget for I mean our financial uh doings at the city for a very long time. >> Okay. All right. So yeah, it's not meant to be a Debbie Downer. >> Just so I know. I hope it didn't come though. No. >> Yeah. You take it personally, right? It's our decisions that you implement. So you have seven crazy. >> There you go. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's not a personal attack. It's just us commenting to the body. We asked her to give a presentation and now she's like ah >> she has nothing to do with the cost. >> Congratulations. Thank you so much. Okay, we're going to do budget augmentation. Uh madame clerk. >> Uh so item C6. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. Does council need a presentation? >> No. >> No. >> Which one is this? >> I'm going to make a motion. Wait, don't make a motion, please. Hold on. But this is C6. >> Yes. >> Is this all right? This is regular, not Yes. Not RDA. >> Can you just tell me what it is really quick? >> Uh Lindsay Hatfield, budget manager. Um it is the third quarter augmentation. >> Yeah. >> Oh yeah. If we can just get a high level run through. >> Okay. Hold on a second. Hold on. Okay. Hold on. >> Yeah. With that being said, because we went we went through a agenda um uh not process um I don't know what I'm drawing a blank right now. What do we go through? Agenda organization. So with that, hold on. I don't I want to make sure there are some people sitting here and um so I want to make sure that they are getting u their item heard. So, I apologize because what we'd like to do is make sure if you're on uh Madame Clerk's agenda that we move around. So, I apologize. So, hold on. And I think you're here for item D1. >> Is that right? Okay. And this is W three. So, I'm sending it over to um Vice Mayor, Councilman Martinez. Would you um So, Madam Clerk, do you have any public comment on this item? >> We do have one public commenter, Kathy Fitzgerald. Okay, Kathy, you guys, she gets the biggest medal. She has been here longer than anyone. Um, including the data centers. >> Bless your heart. >> It's been a long day and I can't believe that you guys do this um every what, two weeks, three weeks. Um, anyway, my name is Kathy Fitzgerald. I've been a a resident Reno for 35 years. Um, I have a doctorate from UCLA in environmental science and engineering and um, I've worked for and I'm a registered civil engineer and I've worked in for the past 40 years um, doing community health risk assessments, hazard analyses, um, off-site consequence analysis, site assessment, and site remediation. So, it's interesting that the first part of this was all about data centers because I wanted to talk about battery energy storage facilities, which is item D1 is annexation on your next agenda. And I think this project has flown under the radar in that the first that I heard of it was um from the Reno Gazette Journal article saying it had been approved by the Reno Planning Commission and they issued a cup on it. Um, you know, the city's and the community here is so concerned about data centers, but I think actually even though data centers use a lot of water and electricity, they're kind of innocuous compared to what they call best facilities. Um, and I was actually supposed to be in a webinar all day today on um, water and data centers >> and we made you miss it for this meeting. Sorry. But anyway, I think the risks and hazards have been downplayed on the meetings that and hearings that have gone before about best facilities. And I know all over the country, I know Councilman Ree was talking about all the moratoriums on um uh data centers around the country. Well, the same thing is happening with best facilities, you know, where people are banning construction or they're providing ordinances for these particular facilities. So, I wanted to say I'm not opposed to them because I was involved in the permitting of two facilities in Southern California, but there are a lot of hazards and steps and hoops that you have to go through um to get this approved. And um we had some really heated public meetings and had to submit over a thousand pages of documentation including fire safety plans, community health assessments, air pollution plume modeling, emergency action plans and I have not seen any information on this project. You know, during I watched the U Reno Planning Commission meeting, there was sort of one generic plan of the facility and one picture of what a Tesla mega path looks like. So, I'm running short on time. Um, the issues are fire. You know that you're these facilities are involved in thermal runaway, which are batteries overheat and catch fire. We have um 256 megaps um proposed for this facility. That's over 8,000 individual batteries per mega pack. So over two million batteries at the site. So that's going to cause a fire hazard. Um the other problem is if there is a fire, which happens I guess I'm out of time. Um do you have um >> 30 seconds? >> Oh, good. >> I'll give you just a little more time. >> Okay. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide gases, and the concentrations in the smoke. We're in really really close proximity to residential development. When we did ours, it was in um industrial zoning and here we're right next to what's proposed for that. I think it's the Telus facility. Um what I'm really concerned about is the lack of information that's been provided on this project. Um you know, the company Trio Grid LLC doesn't have any presence or employees in Reno. Who's going to run the facility? Who's going to construct it? you know, what what sort of provisions are there going to be? Um, location, proximity to residential development within the wildfire area. Um, you know, you could site this best facility. You want to site it near a substation, which is the Miraloma substation, but you know, you could site that at um Comtock Meadows, which is off of USA Parkway, which is right next to all the data centers, and they have a substation. >> So, those are my concerns in um three minutes and a half. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> Um, >> and madame mayor, before we get into it, can you open the public hearing? >> Yes. Um, madame clerk, I will now open the public hearing. Has proper notice been given and any correspondence received. >> Thank you. Proper notice has been given and we did receive correspondence as two letters of neutral or concerned um discussion. >> Okay, thank you so much. Um, I am going to ask staff um a couple questions. Hi, thank you so much. Um, I think she brings up some very interesting, um, and probably very valid points. Um, maybe talk about a little bit what this is if the council isn't familiar with it and, uh, what exactly um, what this looks like and give us an overview. >> Madame Mayor, would you like the presentation or would you would you like me to just address the question? >> No, whatever. Well, I think a presentation would be fine. >> Okay. >> He's like, I've Hillary, I've worked on this for months. >> No, no, no. We'll start there. So, no, please. >> It's it's quick. Good afternoon, Madame Mayor, Madame Mayor for the day, members of the council. Uh Nathan Gilbert, principal planner uh with development services. Uh this is a request for an annexation, right? Not a condition. This is a request for an annexation of a 53.49 acre parcel into the city limits, specifically Ward 3. Uh the site's located directly north of the Muraloma substation and about a third of a mile east of Veterans Parkway. On March 4th, the planning commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a battery energy storage system and a substation expansion. They're considered major utilities. Uh this annexation is requested prior to their site development. So from the annexation perspective, it's contiguous to city limits on western on the western and southern boundaries. It's within the sphere of influence. That's the area that the city has land use authority. Even though it's not incorporated, it's not the city of Reno. The city of Reno has building permit authority and authority to for discretionary entitlements like conditional use permits. So annexation of the site would ensure provision of city services for a project that the city of Reno approved and that the city uh benefits from the tax revenue. A master plan designation is city of Reno master plan single family neighborhood and unincorporated transition. Uh the the zoning is currently WO County zoning, highdensity rural on 55% general rural on the remainder and it translate to city zoning of single family residential three units per acre and unincorporated transition 10 upon annexation. So some key findings uh that need to be made are the logical extension of city limits. Again, it's contiguous to the city limits. It's located in the sphere of influence. We have existing city land use authority and an approved project on the site. uh infrastructure facilities and services can be readily extended from abuing properties and the fiscal impact analysis anticipates a general fund surplus of $4.2 million and a street fund surplus of $1.3 million over a 20-year horizon. That's the recommended motion on your screen and I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> And representative are here. >> I really appreciate it. Who's the representative? >> Uh Wood Rogers. >> Oh, hi you guys. Thanks so much for being here. Um I'm gonna council member or vice mayor talk a little bit about um this project and I assume you met with the applicants. >> Yeah, thank you. Thank you for the presentation. I I know that you all have had an opportunity the applicants have had an opportunity to attend the W three neighborhood advisory board and answer some questions um there and it sounds like they were also at the W six neighborhood advisory board to give some information there. Um, I believe they're in the room, the applicants. I'm just wondering if I could ask them a couple of questions just to make sure we address some of the concerns that you probably have heard throughout the public engagement process already. Um, but just to make sure we get those on the record today and specifically dealing with some of the fire um concerns that happen that were brought up today and were brought up also at least in the W3 neighborhood advisory board. I wasn't present for the W 6 NAB, but in W 3 that came up. And I think they also discussed noise and um any flood mitigation with being so close to Steamboat. If there are any concerns that you all have there and any mitigation efforts that you've made to protect your development there. >> Yeah, thank you. Uh my name is Eric Hasty for the record. Um I'm with Wood Rogers and I'm representing the applicant. Um, so, uh, for for today's the annexation, but with the conditional use permit, we looked at several things. Um, and because there was interest in this from the community, especially, uh, when we went to the W 3 NAB and then followed up with W six NAB, uh, there were concerns about that. So, we were looking at uh, hillside development standards, right? So, this is up on the hillside. So, um, it's not in any flood um, area. And we did have to account for residential adjacency. And we also pro provided a um sound uh a sound test that basically showed that it wasn't going to uh exceed the thresholds for residential adjacency. Um when it comes to the concerns about fire, um these these are these things are self-contained and so they don't they do not use any of the the water. It's it's a closed loop system. So, the water that's going to be on site, there are seven uh fire hydrants that were provided throughout the site, and that is to help with combating uh wildfire and not for uh any any battery fire. Um and then this is not going to be a manned facility, but there are several um sensors inside each one of these inside each one of these um units that can regulate the temperatures of the battery. They have some parameters in there that will cut off the battery if it gets too hot when it's either charging or discharging. And then if it >> lithium, >> yes, they are made out of lithium. Um, the ones that we are proposing. Um, and so there are there are several different products that you can use. The ones that we proposed in the uh conditional use permit was the Tesla mega packs. And so those do use the um lithium ion batteries. Um, >> great. Thank you for further questions. >> I don't have anything else. >> Okay. I'm gonna ask this. Um, where is our fire chief here? >> Okay. He's not here. Um, unfortunate because I do we've had like this concern uh for a while now. Well, I'm so sorry. Unless you guys have questions for him. I You don't need to do You do. Okay. All right. I'm going to keep him there then. Um I I just I don't want to look at you because you're not staff and I feel like you think that you're in troubles. So um it just know that this is not I'm not directing this to you. I'm directing this um I think at staff. This is something that we have been very concerned about for a while are lithium batteries. Um and they are incredibly difficult to put out. We have I I have asked Chief Cochran um to come before us. uh because we've addressed this especially in your in your ward uh where we have had some really big concerns about how we handle the fire mitigation. They they can spread incredibly fra fast. They get out of control and you can't just use the regular um fire mitigation on lithium batteries. uh we know this um and they are and so I I again like this is another area where I think we do have to have things in place where we know exactly how what the impacts are and particularly the fire impact. This one's huge. If you go online and read all about I I know all about this topic. Um and and you see lithium battery fires all the time in bike shops and um in in businesses and or on airplanes um with laptops, things like that. And so um I I really want to see this addressed before we move forward for with projects like this. again going back to some of the impacts that we don't know about in technology and those things but um I I will be not supporting this today um and also until we get a little bit more clarity on what our fire chief has plans because we've asked for this and um it has been quite a while and uh maybe I share in your frustration that when we ask for things and they don't um they tend to get pushed off so I I understand this but it reminded me of like, wait a minute, we've been asking for this. >> Yeah. And just to kind of I had other questions, too. But in regard to that, um there I've had conversations with Chief Cochran regarding uh there's a new like type of foam that they can use. >> But where is it? We've been talking about for over a year. But my the other part of that is the cleanup of the foam because of the PAS contamination we have in my ward from the um old firefighter training station when they were using PAS foam um that has now you know leeched into the soil. And I I understand that there is nothing that we know of that's toxic in this new foam at this time, but I'm concerned that you know as time progresses we'll find out that there's something harmful in the new foam. So, I just want to make sure that if we're using anything like that, any kind of chemical foam to put out electrical fires or lithium battery factories, that we also have a process in place to keep that from getting into our soil. >> Yeah. But we need to be prepared because what happens if you have a fire and you can't put it out and and the damage that could go for thousands of miles, >> thousands of miles. I mean, it it happens. So, I'm just saying like we need to be prepared. What does that look like? >> The other thing I wanted to say and this is off that subject but um I'm really curious about you know this type of technology being integrated into data centers. You know we have a lot of comments about um the use of diesel for um generators for backup power for data centers and there's a real push to kind of get away from that. Um, I just want to kind of put it on the radar that like if that is something that is possible to do with data centers, if you guys have ever collaborated with them or whatever, um, I think that maybe that's something that you guys should look into. There's definitely a market for that. I think >> um, Councilman Dur, you're agreeing. >> Thank you. >> You're agree. I also wanted to support this issue that I don't know that we've put enough detail into um we approved the cup. So I brought up at my briefing that I was uncomfortable doing an annexation after we've approved a cup. Like I think that the order of business is bring in the annexation then do a master plan amendment which we have to do it sounded like and do your cup. And you're shaking your head so maybe I'm missing something. Um, if anybody wants to address that, feel free. And then my second issue is that, um, I'm not really clear. I'm sure they put standard conditions about fencing for the horses. Um, the city has just built a wildlife, uh, refuge area just north of this area, and I want to make sure that if if this land is built right up against the mountains, that there is a way through for any animals on the eastern side of their boundary. So they may have to fence 20 ft inside their boundary so that all animals can pass by this battery um plant. So you see what I'm saying? So if you are going back to look at things, I want to make sure we've addressed that. >> Thank you. Nathan Gilbert, principal planner. I just want to make make clear that we're talking about an annexation, right? And that that conditional use permit has not has not been agendaized and it's been approved. >> Well, that's what I was saying. It's been approved. And normally the kind of things we're talking about would be addressed in the CP. >> Right. >> So as far as your your comment about requiring a master plan amendment, it does not require a master plan amendment. >> Okay. But and the zoning I thought that the zoning um they're bringing it in what the county zoning was, right? >> Yes. But upon annexation, it translates to an equivalent city zone. >> Right. And what is that? It's UT >> SF3 and >> SF3. >> But you can do a battery plant in SF3. You can do a you can do a major utility in any zoning district. >> That's what I had. I had a briefing and that's what they said. But I still I still think it's cart before the horses. My opinion. You don't have to agree, but I think that if you're going to review a project that it should be annexed into the city first. We should first decide because this sort of, you know, put some handcuffs on it. We've approved a cup. We haven't even agreed to annex a property. >> Yeah. >> I I it was struggle for me. So, so the way that works is through an interlocal agreement with Washer County that's been in place since the '9s. And so that means that areas of sphere of influence that haven't been annexed yet. If somebody wants to do a project or somebody wants to build a house, even something benign, everything that they do, they come to the city of Reno for building permits or if they want to do something, we can't make them annex >> um if they want to do that. But we did require it. Um, yeah. >> So that you know, hey, we're we're we're entitling something for Washer County and then saying Washer County, you take care of it. >> Yeah. >> Thanks, Nathan. >> Appreciate the backstory. >> You know, I know that after you do a CP and there's a >> I don't know is there there's no tenative map associated with this. So then there's no final map. >> Okay, councilor, I'm gonna move on. >> Sorry. >> Okay. But I had to confirm that are are they going to allow animals to pass or are they they uh fencing right up to a rock? >> It has to meet all the Virginia range standards and code for wild wild horse fencing. >> All right. Thank you. Okay, Councilman Anderson. >> Yes. I just wanted to um maybe address a couple of the things that Miss Dor was was concerned about. I was very grateful that even though this project is in the border of Ward 3, um a lot of my W six residents sent letters because they were concerned specifically about fire and the therma the the thermal lane. Um so thank you for coming to the NAB. It's in a in another life which is really um bizarre and kind of curious and cool at the same time. Mr. Togo. I I was working with that company years ago just to come up with his brand when he was coming up with these very sophisticated um logistical systems through engineering that keeps things you know working and efficient and better a you know easy to manage when you're remote and things like that. So it's pretty cool to see one of the projects come to life in Reno. Um, as it related to the fire protections, most of my letters were from people that had migrated here from Paradise when they lost their homes there. There's a lot of people in W 6 that moved here at that time. Um, so specifically, we had their their questions answered. Each one of these um pods is individual and the system specifically monitors them. So if one starts to overheat, it gets shut down, the energy gets transferred or saved. Um it's specifically built for fire safety based on rules um or some some failures in other communities like the Moss Landing um fire. Um each one of the pods has its own fire system to to put it out plus they have the wildfire mitigation system around it. Um, so I was um made more confident by the explanation that we learned about at at my NAB and then also the specific question was asked Miss Door about the horses and they are being fenced out and around not only the construction project but the permanent facility in accordance with um >> yeah your >> well or not mine but years ago the city's wild course fencing requirements of which there's eight conditions but I I don't know if my question was actually understood. I assume they were and thank you for confirming >> and when it's my turn again I will try to explain what I was getting. >> Yeah, I just wanted to share with you that it did come up even from my members. >> That's fantastic. >> Good comments. Interesting. Small world, huh? >> It is cool. >> Yeah. Okay. Um Council Member Door. Yeah. So, what I'm asking is not is it complying with the horse which you said Nathan, you said it's complying with the horse fencing standards. What I'm asking is that they have choices and what I what I've run into before in this particular region which is very narrow. We have flat land and we have we have uh foothill land then we have cliff. Okay. I'm not I haven't been out on site. It's not my words for three. But what I wanted to know is does their property boundary go right up to cliffs or is there some flat land beyond their property? That's all I was asking. Yes, it's 30% slope at at the edge of the >> It's 30% but it's not 60%. It's not cliffs. >> It's minimum 30% slope. It's steep. >> It's steep. Okay. So, um what I'm asking the applicant and it's not a must. It's a it's a it's a ask is that they set their fence back a little bit from their property boundary so that all wild animals can go past the property. if if the battery um facility is not covering the entire edge to edge of the entire property that they set their fence back a little bit so that animals all animals can bypass this and not get up into very steep terrain. Do you understand what I'm saying or asking? >> Eric Casey, for the record, I believe I do understand what you're what you're saying. I think that is possible along a majority of it. Um where we do fence connect into where the um existing substation is, we probably have to connect to that fence. >> Yes. >> But I think that's reasonable >> that that would be so great. That's just recognizing that there's animals already out there. >> And while we're going to fence our boundaries, we might put it inside 20 ft to allow animal passage without sending them up cliffs. So >> that's reasonable. I've been watching some uh video. I don't know if anyone else seen it about these goats jumping all over cliffs. I'm sure you've seen it, right? Well, you should. >> He's laughing. He's like, >> "Well, it's amazing what they can do, but unfortunately our our bobcats and our mountain lions and our horses and others aren't quite there with the with the mountain goats." So, thank you. >> All right. Um, Councilman Martinez, it's all you. Please give us a motion. >> Yeah. Thanks so much, Madam Mayor. based on compliance with the applicable findings. >> Sorry, before we do that, we need uh to read the bill into the >> Oh, sorry. I'm going to send it to the one and only Carl Hall. >> Thank you, Madam May. >> Ordinance introduction bill number 7329 for possible action. Case number ANX 26-00001 TOGO grid annexation ordinance annexing two and making part of the city of Reno certain specifically described territory of one plus or minus 53.49 acre parcel of property located 0.23 23 mi northeast of the intersection of Rio Wrangler Parkway and Antler Ridge Road north of Envy Energy Miraloma substation. Upon annexation, the site would have single family 3 units per acre SF3 and unincorporated transition 10 acres UT10 zoning designations together with matters which pertain to or are necessarily connected there with W three. >> Councilman Martinez. Based on compliance with the applicable findings, I move to refer case number ANX26-00001 TRGO grid annexation for a second reading and adoption. >> Um I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I discussion. >> Go right ahead. >> I just want to say that I um totally understand your concerns about fire. I've had a lot of constituents reach out to me when we had the possibility of the lithium battery factory. um going into that's what I'm referring to. >> Yeah. Yeah. It ended up that they're not going to go out to the dead airport, but it was a very hot topic for my community for a while and I think there might be another um similar type um battery um uh situation or um setup happening out my ward later. But um I just want to be supportive of the ward member and also I know that um there was another um they showed up for the NAB for the adjacent uh ward to answer questions. So, um, I just want to be supportive of of the war representative, so I'll support it. But I do share your concerns about fire mitigation, and I do think we definitely need to have more peace of mind from the uh, fire chief on what what the plans are and and u, you know, strategies for that. >> Thanks so much. >> All right. So, I have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed, I oppose. Motion carries. All right. Uh, madam clerk, we are now going into We just did. >> Oh, now we are going into item D2. Do you have any public comment on item D2? >> Madame Mayor, we do not have any public comment on item D2. >> Okay, I will uh now open the public hearing. Madame Clerk, has proper notice been given, any correspondence received? >> Proper notice was given and no correspondence was received. >> Okay, thank you so much. Um, I'm going to hand it over to the one and only Carl Hall. Would you like to read >> ordinance introduction bill number 7330 for possible action case number LDC 26-000031 Ridge Park zoning map amendment. A request has been made for a zoning map amendment on a plus or minus 1.57 acre portion of an overall plus or - 13.22 acre parcel for multif family 14 units per acre MF14 to general commercial GC. The remaining plus or - 11.65 65 acres of the parcel area are currently zoned GC. The site is located northwest of the intersection of Vistanol Parkway and Sky Vista Parkway and has a master plan land use designation of suburban mixed use SMU W 4. >> All right. Thank you. W four. >> Take it away. >> Can we get just kind of a brief um presentation on what this project is? Thank you. >> Yeah, definitely. Good afternoon. Grace McAdin for the record. Um, and I'll I'm here to talk about the Ridge Park zoning map amendment. So, the subject sites up off of Sky Vista, um, near Lemon Drive, kind of near the Walmart up there in Ward 4. The applicants requesting a zone change, um, on a 1.5 acre portion of a larger 3.2 acre site from MF14 to general commercial. So, the majority of the sites zoned general commercial already, and this will just bring a small sliver into that general conformance zoning. Um the master plan on this whole site is sort of a mixed use. The proposed zone change is supported by multiple of our master plan policies and that's discussed further in the staff report. So as stated the applicants requesting a change just of that sliver of this parcel from MF14 to general commercial. General is a conforming zoning district that SMU master plan. So no master plan amendment is needed for this zone change. Uh the main purpose of this zone change is just to clean up the parcel and make sure we have consistent development standards throughout the site. And like I said, this request provides kind of just consistent development standards. Cleans up the parcel. But most importantly, it's not needed to move forward with the associated um tenative map request. And so that was processed through planning commission that was approved. But either way, if this zoning map amendment is approved or denied, that request can move forward as is. So, here's the findings for a zoning map amendment. Staff and our planning commission were able to make all of these findings and planning commission was uh recommended approval um for the zoning map amendment and I'm available for questions and the applicant is also here. >> Great. So, um I'll just go ahead. I think it's okay. Um uh I just want to ask some questions just for the the public's benefit. I know I have constituents watch this meeting either while it's happening or after the fact. So, um can you explain um a little bit about the process of people bringing their zoning into conformance with the master plan? >> I can, but just for clarification, both the both zoning districts are conforming to this master plan. Okay. >> So, it's not which sometimes this body sees where it's non-conforming and we're bringing it into conformance. That's not what this one is. This one's just they're both conforming under that zoning district, but they're making it all the same zoning. >> Okay. And is this a scenario where there was no fee charged because it's conforming or they did have to? >> They did pay a fee because it's conforming to conforming. So, they're not they're not fixing anything. >> Okay. And was there any like plans submitted with this or is this strictly um just a zone change? >> This is strictly just a zone change. They did do a a a tenative map application but that was approved through planning commission. >> Okay. So is like do we have what's on the tenative map? >> We do and I can let the applicant kind of talk more about the plans if you want them to come up. Good late afternoon. For the record, my name is Dave Snellgrove. I'm with Bowman Consulting Group. Do have some presentation materials which I think will help address some of the questions that you're getting at. There it is. Hey, Grace did a great job in going through kind of what this is, why it is where it is. It's just a sliver of property there. Uh the 1.57 acres, the master plan designation. Grace did a great job going over part of part of this general area is this is identified in the master plan as a community and neighborhood center location. Um we felt bringing this to the general commercial zoning designation really conformed with that. We tried to show all the different services that are walkable out here. The long and short of what we did with the tenative map was we went from 79 approved lots up to 99. This extra room gave us a little bit more room to to work with the site. I do have an image that shows you kind of what the im what the impact is of that zoning line. I think that's on my next slide. Grace showed this the the sliver of MF14 that comes down between two general commercial areas. We're kind of cleaning that up making our 13.22 acre parcel fully conformant. just having one zoning designation on it. This is a copy of part of the tenative map application and you can see that red line. That one's not kind of the surveyed line in but it gives you approximate with the alignment of where that line is and the houses that we have. We basically would have houses that are split zoned. So, as Grace mentioned, um what this does is is makes the development standards consistent. We have one measure of standards. you could technically have a house that would have to meet MF14 on part of it and GC on the other, which creates creates a little bit of a challenge. So, we wanted to make sure that that was consistent and bringing this in. Yeah, we had to pay the fees and go through the extra meetings, but my clients wanted to do that to try and clean the property up. >> Yeah, thank you for showing that map. And can you go back to that, please? >> So, this is what I wanted to to see and and you came up to my nab and answered a lot of questions. I appreciate that. And um I just wanted to say I am always really supportive of housing. We have a desperate need for it. Um we all know we we need affordable housing and it's not going to happen until we have enough supply to meet demand. So I'm happy to see housing and also I think this location is great for walkability. As you showed with the map, there's already a lot of shops right there and then there's other stuff going in. There's a Dutch Brothers um that's already open. And there's a Panda Express going in. Um, so as far as like kind of community building a little bit. It's it's like starting to happen where there people can walk and and do things close by. It's walking distance to the North Valley's Regional Park. So, I'm really happy with this project. I know there was some concerns with parking and there's never enough parking. Um, I don't have enough parking on my street. Um but um I do think it's it's great and um I appreciate the conformance and um just h providing more housing. So thank you. >> Well, to toot my client's horn a little bit on the back side up towards Vista Nola. You can see some lines. Those are pedestrian paths and there's actually a branch path that goes up and we'll get up to Vista Nolles quicker. So people coming from other parts of the subdivision, they don't have to walk on the heavily traveled street of of Sky Vista Parkway. It kind of gives them another route that they can go. So I was really happy that they wanted to have that within this and and getting the acquisition of that property really helped them take control of some of those things a little bit better than when it was a divided piece and a sliver. >> Yeah. Well, that is really great. And it's it's close proximity to a bus stop, too. and um just uh I think it's I think it's a good fit for that location and it's a small little kind of a small piece but it's making good use of it. So um thank you for sharing this map. >> Appreciate the comments rendering. Yeah. >> Any other questions? >> Does anybody else have questions from the body? If not, I'll look for a motion. Council member. >> Uh yeah. Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Can we do a motion to refer? >> Oh, motion to refer. >> Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Did we ask for public comment already? Just to make sure, madam clerk. Okay, perfect. Uh, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you all. We'll move on to agenda items D3, four, and five. Clearac master plan and zoning map amendment. Ward four. >> Good afternoon, Mr. Vice Mayor, members of council. Oh, can we get the staff presentation please? For the record, Mikey, planning manager with development services. I know you've had a long day. I'll give you kind of a brief overview of the project and then we'll be available to answer any questions you might have. This is a request for a master plan amendment and a zoning map amendment on a 27.32 acre site located off of Clearacre Lane at Scottsdale Road. The master plan amendment would be from single family neighborhood and public quasi public to suburban mixed use and the zoning map amendment from single family residential three units per acre to mixeduse suburban. Also, we're requesting sponsorship of a regional tier amendment from tier 2 to tier one which would be to support the density allowed under the MS zoning district. To give you a little background, this site may look familiar to you. In 2024, uh, the council sold this parcel to the Northern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council. As part of that purchase and sale agreement, the requirement was to build 400 affordable housing units and 240 workforce units. The zoning that's being requested is to support the density needed to implement that agreement. Um, in terms of compatibility, to the north is the TMCC campus. Uh to the west we have the freeway and then it's a mix of multif family and single family residential with multifamily being on the west side of Clearacre and single family on the east side. It's also within a half mile of neighborhood centers, the Walmart center, the Home Depot there at Northtown. Um and Clearacre Lane is a major arterial which includes an RTC transit route. uh future project we have not taken in they have not formally submitted plans but it is anticipated based on that agreement to be a mix of affordable and workforce housing units with potentially some support office and commercial. Um the applicant is here and can speak to that if you have any specific questions. Um one comment that we received at planning commission and some of the public comments we received obviously concerns related to traffic that will be analyzed when they come in with a specific plan. They'll be required to do a full traffic impact analysis and then we will um require them to install any improvements necessary to mitigate their impacts. Um additionally, a site plan review will be required for any non-residential use uh or buildings over 55 ft in height. And depending on how they grade the site, it's it's definitely not a flat site. If they do trigger uh fills over 10 feet or cuts over 20 feet, that will trigger a major site plan review that will go before the planning commission. Um, this is just a side-by-side comparison of the master plan land use. As you can see, right now, it's a mix of public, quasi public, and single family going to suburban mixed use, which is supported, as you see, by a variety of master plan policies zoning. A portion of the site is actually already zoned MS. So, the the the west side of the site is Muse Suburban. Now, um, with the east side being SF3, this would essentially unify the zoning to SF3 or excuse me, MS across the entire site. So, 11.01 acres is actually what's being amended. Just a quick comparison in development standards. Obviously, the key differences would be the the density. Uh, MS does not have a maximum density where the SF3 is capped at three dwelling units per acre, which doesn't get them to what they need in terms of the number of units that were mandated by that agreement. master plan amendment findings. Staff and the planning commission were able to make all the findings. Same with the zoning map amendment. This did receive unanimous approval by the planning commission and the potential motions are on the on the board for you. >> Thank you, Mr. Ryland. Before we continue with the conversation, I want to let the record reflect that council has opened the public hearings on items D3, D4, and D5 together. and just wanted to check with Madame Clerk, was proper notice given and was any correspondence received for these items. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor Martinez. Proper notice was given and correspondence was received on this item. Give me just a second. Two comments um of neutral or concerned and we have no additional public comment registered. >> Thanks so much. With that, we'll go back to the body and uh actually move it over to our city attorney to read uh into the record. >> Thank you. Ordinance introduction on D5, bill number 7331 for possible action. Case number LDC 26-00003, Clearacre Commons master plan and zoning map amendments, ordinance to amend title 18, chapter 18.02 of the Reno Municipal Code entitled zoning reszoning of plus or minus 10.47 47 acres located on the south side of Scottsdale Road, south of Reno Vista Drive and west of Clare Lane and north of of East US Highway 395 from single family residential three units per acre SF3 to mixeduse suburban MS together with matters which pertain to or necessarily connected there with W4. >> Thank you, Mr. Hall. I'll just ask before we continue to questions, do any council members have any disclosures? Not seeing any. And we already received the staff presentation. Council member Eert, would you like applicant presentation? You're ready to move to questions? >> Um, can we just see really quick? Just just look at it just because I'm really happy about this project and um, you know, we've been kind of a part of it since 2024 and excited for it to move forward and just want to see where we're at. >> Perfect. I mean, in total agreement. It is a great project. Uh, plan our city council. My name is Broo Oswald. I'm with the ERC group. I'll go I think Mike uh covered most of the zoning and what we're doing. I think what's really important to this is the partner that the city of Reno has been working with in this and that is the Building Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada. Uh they were chartered in 1928, so they're almost 100 years old. So they've been in our region supporting the workforce and what they've been doing for a while. They work with 17 local unions and in 1978 they developed their own development corporation. It's a 5013C. So, it's a nonprofit development organization to go in and build housing. What one of the great programs they have is this apprenticeship uh uh program. And it really what it takes is apprenticeship in all the trades through the unions. It brings them in and uses these projects to help train them. So, it's a great apprenticeship program. It runs uh through all of the different trades and uh they they come in and they're making uh they're making uh union construction wages uh right from the bed. They have medical dental right off the bat. So for our workforce and that this is really what we need as we continue to build and grow. So it's a great organization and has been a great partnership. Uh one of the projects you might know is the Carbell Park Apartments. Uh they built that. That is a senior section 8 rehab program. uh the financing that provided 132 union construction jobs, 426 total jobs, and it had about an $80 million impact on our community. So, these projects are huge. As Mike showed this, we are required to build a minimum of 640 homes. Uh one of the things that's uh the TMC is very close and they've been talking to them uh through TMC. TMCC has shown real support and not only for their students, but really for their workforce. So that comes through th those positions that really need from custodians up to their their professors, right? This provides housing opportunities for that group. So there's another kind of partnership forming there. Um I can go a little bit deeper, but I think really that's that's the key of what I'd like to to show is just to the partner with the city of Reno and this partnership what we're going to be able to achieve with this zoning and master plan amendment. >> Yeah. and the the um apartments that just got redone. Um I can't remember what they're called. I think you mentioned them that they just remodeled all of the units. Was it >> was it the Carbell? Yeah, the Carbell project. Yeah, >> they did a beautiful job and it's it's such a great um you know facility with grass and trees and beautiful accommodations and I'm just really looking forward to this project being completed too. So >> yeah, it's great. And you know that that affordable housing that is locked in for 30 years. There's really a tie to that. They'll hit a certain uh economic demographic in that. Um talking to just the traffic and all of that. We have a general plan uh going some of the commercial they're looking at is actually to have their trade office there. So they want to really invest and have their offices on this site and be there. Um, I think some of the other things that you will see is, you know, we will be looking at the traffic. So, it it creates that opportunity if there's any off-site improvements or anything that would come through the developer and not not not come on the on the city for that. Additionally, I think uh pedestrian connectivity in that is really going to be important. So, this is really a going to be a community in in itself that will outreach to the surrounding neighborhoods. >> Great. All right. And will the unions maintain ownership of it? Uh it will be uh maintained by uh BCTN. Yeah. So they'll continue to main it. So they'll they'll as the development corp, they'll develop it and then and I think the plan is at this point that they they maintain the property and >> Great. >> Yep. >> All right. Well, thank you. I don't have any other questions if anyone else does. >> It doesn't look like that. Well, go ahead and ask for public comment. Is there any public comment registered? Okay. We'll look for a motion. I believe Mr. Riley, you had a slide with the recommended motions up there if we could get those up on the screen just for ease for everybody. >> We'll turn it over to you, Council Member Eert. >> So, do I do um individual ones? >> Yes, we need one motion for each item, please. Um so D3 um in the matter of case number LDC uh 26-00003 based upon the compliance with the applicable findings I move to uphold the recommendations of the planning commission. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. >> Uh D4 master plan amendment. I move to uphold the planning commission's recommendation and initiate a regional land designation tier change subject to a master plan conformance review and associated regional land designation tier amendment by the Truckucky Meadows Regional Planning Governing Board with the master plan amendment contingent upon approval of the tier change. >> We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. D5, please. Council member Map amendment. I move to uphold the recommendation of the planning commission and refer bill number 7331 for a second reading and adoption. >> Second. >> Way to collaborate. We have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you all. Thank you, Council Member Eert, for that. We'll move on to agenda item E1. Um, and two, give me one second. Sewer fee ordinance introduction. >> Sorry. Are we going to go to G1 or E1? >> Excuse me. E1 and two with the sewer ordinance and then we'll move over to G's, please. Thank you. >> All right. Could we move to slide six, please? Nope. There you go. All right. Um good afternoon uh members of the council. For the record, John Plansburg, regional infrastructure administrator. Um the item before you today are two items actually. The first one is that we can make the findings that the sewer fee increase that is um being proposed is in compliance with the NRS um and that those additional fees that would come in are going to be used solely for the purpose that the enterprise was set up for. And then the second one is the reading of the reading of the um uh of the ordinance introduction um and then a a motion for a for adoption. As you recall, this is for the um discussions that we've had on the sewer rate increases, the $3 per month um uh per year annually for three years. And I can go through additional information if you want or we can move from here. Do we have any uh questions or comments? Do we need a read of the ordinance before we jump in there? Mr. Paul. >> Item E2, ordinance introduction, bill number 7332 for possible action. An ordinance amending renom municipal code, title 12, public works and utilities, chapter 12.16, sewer service, article 2, ser sewer service charge regulations. Specifically, section 12.16.120 dwelling unit or residential unit 12.16.130 industrial commercial discharger and 12.16.200 200 searchcharge rates to increase the rates effectively July 1st, 2026 together with matters which pertain to or necessarily connected there to sewer fund. >> Thank you. Are there any comments or questions? Council member Reese? >> No, I I'm prepared to make a motion when you're ready. >> Okay. Council member Eert, do you have any questions or are you ready to vote? I just want to make sure >> I'm ready to vote and I know that I've made comments at the last meeting where this came forward that um you know I really appreciate all the work put into this and the um changes made to accommodate feedback from this body and from the senior advisory board and the community at large and there was real real changes brought forward um based off of that feedback and I really appreciate it um just with the current state of what's happening in the economy right now um I can't support it just due to outside circumstances. But um I appreciate all the work put into this. So those are my comments. >> Miss Stewart, are you >> I'm ready to vote. >> Okay. >> Mr. Ready for a motion? I don't think we've had a motion yet. >> Mr. Vice Mayor, I move that the fee increase is in compliance with NRS 354613 and the reason the council hereby finds a fee increase is not prohibited by law. The fee increase is necessary for the continuation or expansion of the purpose for which the enterprise fund was created and that the fees that are deposited in the sewer enterprise fund be used solely for the purpose for which fees are collected. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second um by council member Anderson. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Opposed. >> Motion passes. Thank you. With that, we'll move on to agenda item E2. Do we have a motion there? Move to refer has been read. >> Second. >> We have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Wait, hold on. >> It's the bill first reading and I mean the reading and adoption. >> Uh uh opposed. >> Wait. Okay. Motion passes. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. With that, we'll move on to uh our G items. G1 is the appointment of up to three individuals for historical resources commission. Council member Derer. >> Yeah, thank you. Um first of all, I want to thank everyone who has applied. Uh seeing the great interest in our historic resources is really uh warms my heart. Um the historic resources commission actually evaluated all the applicants. They made some recommendations. I validated their recommendations and I'm here to make a motion to um select uh Taylor Chase, Tina Davis, and Mercedes Delaga as the newest members of the Historic Resources Commission. I don't I don't know. Was there public comment or is there No. Okay. >> So, my motion is uh to appoint Taylor Chase, Tina Davis, and Mercedes Dela Garza. And there was a second. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. And all those in favor say I. I. Any opposed. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you, Council Member Der. We'll move on to item. Okay. >> G2. >> Yeah. For G2, we can appoint up to four individuals. I've um had the opportunity to talk to two and I still have two more to talk to. So, um at this time, I'd like to appoint DB Fenel, which is a reappoint, and Jennifer Guzman uh to urban forestry and to bring it back at a future meeting within a meeting or two. and I'll have had opportunity to interview the others. So for now, DB Finel and Jennifer Guzman >> second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. With that, we'll move on to back to item C6, our Q3 augmentation. Thank you for your patience with us as we made it through some of these other items. Um, we're looking forward to your presentation and conversation. Thank you. >> Uh, Lindsay Hatfield, budget manager. I actually don't have a presentation prepared. It's just there's not much in this one. So, just very briefly, it's um entirely grants and reimbursements that we're recognizing um with the city of Reno augmentation. And we haven't opened the RDA one, right? That item's later. Okay. So, >> yeah. Does anybody have any questions or comments or a motion? >> Move to accept. >> Second. >> We have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. >> Sorry. Can we motion to adopt? >> Adopt. >> Do you still second? Okay, we have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion passes unanimously. Thank you so much. Okay, now we'll back jump back into the redevelopment agency board uh and look at item C4, which is RDA financial updates of the budget. Just all that Good evening. Vicky Van Burren, director of finance for the record. Um, I have a budget update for you on the RDA redevelopment agency and this is for fiscal year 27. This is really intended just to be an overview of the information that was previously presented at the workshop on March 4th. So it's a highle overview giving you an idea um of the funds the fund balances and um a look at it kind of the way you've seen it in the past from finance. So redevelopment agencies one and two. Redevelopment agency one is the area you see in the yellow that's mainly downtown here. And then redevelopment agency number two that's this purpley pink kind of area. And it's spread over seven different areas around town. Redevelopment Agency number one was established in 1983 and it expires in 2043 and number two uh it was established in 2005 and expires in 2035. Um, redevelopment one has a debt service fund as well as redevelopment two. And the debt in the bonds for the bonds for redevelopment one mature in fiscal year 27, so next year. And then redevelopment 2, those mature in 2035. And I have some more detail on those. Just give you an idea of the tax increment that we expect as we continue to move forward. This is based on projects that we know currently, not ones that will come into fruition at some point in the future, but current projects that we know and coming online at the point that they are. Redevelopment agency one is shown in the green bar. This is the tax increment anticipated and redevelopment two is shown in that dark blue bar. Um, you can really see these are starting to take off. It wasn't just a few years ago. We were trying to figure out how to make the debt payments in redevelopment area one and really having to restructure some of that. Look at how to do that. We even borrowed some money from redevelopment area 2 in order to bridge that gap so we could get to the place where this tax increment was really starting to kick off and kick in. And so we're really in that place now where the redevelop redevelopment agency tax increment is really starting to take off. Proposed for fiscal year 27, there are 8.8 positions in the budget. They're listed here. These positions are allocated 30% to redevelopment agency 1 and 70% to redevelopment agency 2. The reasoning for that, and I'll go back to this chart, is because redevelopment agency 1 is still paying off debt and redevelopment agency 2 has taken off a little faster because there wasn't that much debt associated. And you can see that increment itself, there are more projects that have come online sooner because the increment was coming in sooner. And so for this reason, um, staffing is split 70% to RDA 2 and RDA1 30%. And as we move forward through the years, um I'm sure that's going to change as more projects come online in RDA1. So looking at the agency summary all together. So this is both redevelopment area one and two all together just so you can kind of have an idea of what does the agency look like as a whole and then I kind of have it broken down between the funds how we track it accounting wise. But you can see redevelopment agency one has tax increment that we anticipate of five point almost $5.5 million for next year. Agency 2 has 11.4 million coming in. The parking gallery revenue that's coming from the parking um structure that is on um Sierra Street and so that is managed by callers. Other revenues include motor vehicle property motor vehicle privilege tax. That's a set amount every year. doesn't change. Um that was dedicated at the point that that redevelopment area one was put in place. And then other income includes um interest income that we have on the operating expense sides. Obviously we have salary and benefits. We have supplies, services, and some other things. In total operating expenses for both agencies, you're looking at about $3 million. One of the things that came up during the budget workshop was what would be a good um reserve to have for these agencies since we really haven't had that before. We haven't had a lot of activity here because we were waiting for tax increment to catch up. So, if you look at operating expenses of three million in total, if you wanted to do a one-year reserve, that would be um $3 million split 1 million to RDA1, 2 million to RDA 2. 18 months, obviously, it's up here as well. But those are some of the policy choices that you have to think about as we continue to move through the budget process and talk about this. On May 6, we will be coming forward. I say we, but um your redevelopment staff will be coming forward to to go through the projects again and talk about the programs and projects and all of those again so you get another good look at it. But my intent for this presentation is just to go through the dollars that are there and let you be aware of what's there so that you have that um information as you continue to look at what projects as a policy decision that you want to do. And then also um think about what type of reserve you would like for this. My recommendation would be a year of reserve I think would be sufficient um given if something were to happen staff would be able to wrap up and close out projects if they needed to. I think that would work well in this space. If you look at redevelopment agency one so this is just the general fund piece of RDA1. Each one has a general fund piece and then they have a debt service piece. This is RDA1 general fund piece. This is similar to how I've shown it before um finance-wise. Um prior year actuals, what we're estimating for the current year and then what's proposed for fiscal year 27. Um you'll see that outside services programs, these are the programs that were proposed and that the RAB um did approve to move forward um to be recommended to council. There's $2 million in proposed programs here in RDA1. I put a list of them over to the side and I am not an expert by any means on these programs, but we do have some people here if there are questions on those today. But again, the presentation on May 6, we'll go through a lot of this again as far as allocation of those dollars and what you want to choose to do with those capital projects um that the RAB recommended are $2 million in those. And then you have an ending fund balance about $3.8 8 million in redevelopment agency 1. Um, if you chose to do a one-year reserve here, that would reduce that to the $2.8 million that is remaining there. That can remain here. It could be used on projects or you could um save it to do larger projects um in future years. So, redevelopment agency one um it has one has a bond that is outstanding. And that bond does pay off in fiscal year 27. Um this bond when it was created, it required a um a reserve. So a cash reserve set aside in the event something happened. And that cash reserve is what you see in that beginning fund balance. That $2.5 million. That's part of that reserve that h has been sitting in this fund. Well, this is the last payment of this bond coming up in fiscal year 27. and we can actually use that reserve money that we've had to maintain this whole time we've had this bond and make that last payment for this bond. So that's what's being proposed here. Just a little bit of tax increment 229,000 will be needed to bridge that gap and we will make this last payment on this bond and RDA1 is completely debtree. So wonderful news. You know just a few years ago that we were talking about um how are we going to bridge that gap? How are we going to pay this debt? There were talk of defaulting on the debt at a certain point, but now we've weathered that storm and we've really gotten to a point where now you can really focus on the projects and the things that you want to do with RDA. And yes, you will be debtree with RDA. And I would recommend paying that off early in the like the first quarter because we have the money sitting there. It's in the bond reserves. Go ahead and pay it off and be done with it. So really good news there. Next one, RDA2. So RDA2 took off a little bit faster than RDA1. Has some money that has accumulated over the last couple years. Um so we have a beginning fund balance there of 22 million, a little bit more, $22.8 million beginning. We have tax increment coming in of 11.4 and then some interest income that we're earning on the money that's there. The RAB recommended the programs that are listed on the side, those $2.3 million in programs, and also recommended um capital projects in the amount of $10 million. The ending fund balance projected is $19.5 million. If you do a one-year reserve, um which is what I would recommend, is $2 million. So, you would still have about $17 million in addition to what you see here. So if you wanted to do something more than the 10 million in capital projects, you could do that. Um you want to do something less. Again, that's a policy decision for us council here. But I just want to give you the information so that you um can make those decisions when they come back and talk about those projects. So debt side, so redevelopment agency 2 on the debt side of this one, there's just a very small bond. I say small, but it's, you know, $400,000 that's remaining on um the Cabela's debt that we had. It was for some improvements that were done at Cabela's. And so this one I'm proposing with the final budget I'll be bringing back. I want to propose that we pay this off in the first quarter of next year as well because we have funding that has built up here in this debt fund. We have $700,000 in there. The payments per year only about $50,000 a year. This one we is callable, so we could give notice 30 days and go ahead and pay this off. This one technically wouldn't pay off until 2035. We have the funds available in here. Doesn't impact the other projects that you know have been proposed. So I would recommend that we just go ahead and pay this one off early and then you will be completely debtree in redevelopment agency one and two. So really good news in this considering where we came from just maybe five years ago. So that concludes my presentation and I'm glad to answer questions. >> Okay, great job. >> Question. >> Go right ahead. >> Yeah. Um could you go back to um I think it is slide eight. Okay. So, this is RDA1 and if I'm reading this correctly, in the blue you have um programs and these are proposed programs in amount of 2 million87,000 roughly, right? And you've put the programs in blue and I guess I'm just putting our staff on notice. We've had a long day so I don't want to delve into this today. I appreciate the information I got. But what I hope at our budget meeting is that they will go through with us what what is meant by you know what's the parking gallery 900,000 my understanding is we get 900,000 it cost us 900,000 to run it it's a net zero but then we have items in here like uh oh I don't know activation pilots I don't know what those are uh studies I don't know what those are retail traction I'm not sure what that is restore 500,000 I'm not sure what that is so what I hope is to get some clarity at the meeting about what the staff is proposing for programs that are not capital improvements. Uh totally appropriate to have programs. I know at Western Regional Water Commission, their whole budget is programs pretty much because they're not building stuff. And what we do there at their budget is go through all the programs and say, "Love this, love this. Well, I'm not sure if we should do this one this year. Maybe we should wait for next year or maybe we could accelerate one of these." So, I'm hoping to have that kind of conversation. It's very traditional on the capital side, the green. Um, they've proposed two million. They went over it with us at the last meeting. But what I want to understand is it shows that if we do what staff recommends on programs and projects, we have 3.8 million left. And then you're recommending a one-year reserve. So, if I subtract 1 million, that leaves 2.8 million. So, is what you're saying if we do this exactly as it's laid out, we'll end the year with 2.8 million in the budget. That's correct. >> In the balance. >> So, is that money available for appropriation in this budget year? >> Yes, you could appropriate that. That's a policy decision for you as a body. Yes. >> Okay. And even if we did, we would still have a million dollars because we would have, you know, >> as a reserve. Yes. >> As a reserve. So, I just wanted to make sure I understood and I so appreciate this. This it all syncs up with me. I understand what we're doing. I understand what our policy choices is. how big of a a reserve even if we did 1.5 million this would be huge um we'd still have what 2.3 million left to discuss so that's good news and um the second one is on the other page for RD regent development 2 and uh what I want to understand here same comment on the programs and then on the capital side 10 million our staff have recommended spending and then we have 19.5 million if we take out your your one in your reserve 2 million that leaves 17.5 million. Are you saying that is also available for appropriation or just to leave in the bank account? Either way, >> that's up to you to decide if you want to do projects now that you can fit within the budget or you want to save it for larger projects. >> The reason is our staff showed us about 105 projects that were um proposed by somebody. I'm not sure where they came from, but it is possible to go beyond the top seven that they've recommended at this time. I I can't comment on how, you know, they came to that. No, I'm not asking you to. >> Some of the things that I think about, do you want to come on up? >> In this space are, you know, capacity to do projects, too. And I'm sure they've factored that in because, >> you know, >> you may have money, but you may not have capacity. Absolutely. >> To manage those things at potentially could be part of it. >> Just just to be clear, we do that at flood. We have something like $70 million, >> right? And we're not going to spend it all in one place because staff can't physically >> um undergo 10 projects simultaneous capital projects. So understand >> that's what I suspect but I have none. >> Brian, do you want to elaborate on that so that >> poor Vicki doesn't I mean I don't want her speaking I don't want her speaking for you guys. So could you please >> uh Brian Mardo revitalization manager for the record. So are you talking about the the remaining reserve funds? What what would those be used for? >> Well I'm just saying are they available? That's all >> those would be available. Um we're sort of running a year behind. Uh but you know there are a lot of projects proposed as capital improvements. There's also the opportunity to buy and assemble land for future projects. Sure. >> When we talk about river frontage, there's opportunity to do some land banking uh and reconvert those for redevelopment purposes. So the remaining funds I wouldn't say just need to be utilized for capital improvement projects. They could be utilized for land purchases. Well, I love that because earlier this year, I did recommend that several uh properties that are on the city's ledger, >> but they're within the redevelopment area could be bought by redevelopment, take that off our list, bring in more income, and then have redevelopment do their redevelopment thing and negotiate development projects on those, you know, rather than city staff. And you're saying that's possible? >> Absolutely. Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I I want to talk about all those things when we get to May six is the land banking, other projects that are on this list of a hundred projects, what these programs actually are. So, I hope we this is the one area where we actually do have money to spend and it other than buying some land from Reno and putting it in uh redevelopment, it's really not about city general fund, it's about RDA funds. So, I think uh Council Member Martinez is not here, but I know that was an important distinction to him is these different buckets. And so, I'm sorry he's not here, but hopefully you he gets the opportunity to hear about this too. >> Brian, one of the things with I want to be able to help you guys um because I know that you guys are working in it and you're doing it every single day, so you're living it, right? and then we see things and then we go, "Oh, we want to do this." So, I how can we best work together, the council and the RDA, to accomplish some of the things together? Because I do feel like there's this push and pull and it shouldn't feel that way. It should feel that we're all working in, you know, in the same direction. I've again like and you know um I would love to see placemaking on Virginia Street literally as we're walking so that the perception um just is changing. So how how can we best do this together where I feel like collaboratively we're accomplishing what we all are here to do with the RDA? And remember, I want everyone to understand this was not a thing. We haven't we didn't get this. We for a long time we have been um sharpening our pencils, keeping it incredibly nimble. So when and except for like you got some Arpa money and then everyone was like, "Oh my gosh, ARPA." But then that was crazy because it was like you get a maybe a year to spend it. I felt like it that was hunger games. Um that was crazy. Oh, you got to spend it with it. It's literally like some crazy game that you're playing. You got to spend it and it's just nuts. So I but I want to be more collaborative um with your department and know a little bit more like why you do something. You know, it's really hard to go out there and talk about I I'm not sure what that is. I think kind of like um Councilman Dur was mentioning like um the retail or is it the retail something? Yeah, the re um >> attraction. >> Yeah. Uhuh. >> It was on page eight. Okay. If you want to >> and just, you know, certain things like that, but I I really feel maybe we need to be having like a workshop or something in that capacity because I feel like and we haven't done any strategic planning yet um to the level of where I feel like maybe um we're helping you as well. >> Yeah, I would say that the redevelopment agency is in a unique space. Just to remind a reminder, it's only had its own budget for about eight months now. >> Right. Right. So that's why we're like >> and as Vicki just said, it'll be out of debt this year. Uh and so it's a whole new world. Um I would say that we have the opportunity to do some longerterm planning so that you can see what the next five years could look like and you can sort and filter of what projects can be done with the resources we have and we can do the fin the the the revenue planning out five years as well. So we know what we're playing with. Great. Um I will say downtown has been especially tough because because of the debt we have not had funds available to do any projects and even this year we are still limited in the funds after this year when the debts paid off >> this year being 20 >> after this coming year. Yeah, the debt is paid off and so that's an extra $3 million that we will have to invest into the downtown redevelopment area one. Um, so that is so we kind of still have another year >> uh before the debts fully paid off and we have the ability to capture those funds and really start making uh investments and doing projects. >> Okay. >> Awesome. >> Well, just to follow up if I may. I don't know if anyone else >> going to go >> I didn't know anyone else had their >> over here. I see green light. Go ahead. >> Yeah. I just I I didn't want the headline here to get buried in the in the future plans. The redevelopment agency is going to be out of debt in the first quarter of next year. And I don't have to explain to the members on this board that have been fighting this gorilla for 15 years. Ever since the original when the economy turned the first time, people were trying to, you know, make their best plans to utilize this RDA strategy for downtown and we just got sidelined. And so I just want to first of all recognize the work that Madame Mayor, Miss Door, Devin Ree, you guys have been doing to turn this ship around as it relates to the debt with the RDA for a really long time. And it's happening before you you leave council. You're giving us a really big gift in the next 12 years. You're giving me one anyway. I'm hoping that I'll be around for the next 12 years to be able to plan and do really big things with the in these redevelopment spaces. So, I wanted to a say thank you for all of the work that you did to manage this and also all the work that you did to bring it to this level because we actually have an RDA RDA that we can really grow with in the coming years and um I'm just want to express my appreciation to you for that. Well, that is incredibly incredibly nice. >> Um especially since I worry about, you know, the other things that you have to accomplish moving forward when it comes to finances. And so I do think this is going to be one of your um areas where you can get something done and be really proud of it. Look, we we had the pool, we had the police station, um we had the CARES campus, we've had a we've had Virginia Street Bridge. We've had um Sage Street and all that housing and some of and the most affordable housing that we've ever seen in the city of Reno. So, I want you guys to have um some of you know the winds, too. And I think this is going to be your your time to be able to shine. So, thank you so much. Appreciate that. Very nice. Okay. Uh, Councilman Ree, can I just ask would this also be something because I think it would be and this is Councilman Ree's um dream and he's wanted to do this for a long time, but could this be Brian where you this could help with um your vision for removing the dump off the river? >> Yeah, I hope so. I mean, I think that's the larger term question about how much money you leave in reserve and what is available in other years, right? because anything that talks about that is going to be a more expensive undertaking. >> Yeah, obviously, >> but also I I think it it dovetales with a lot of what the policy questions we were being asked earlier today, this particular budget proposal. I I I do have some questions about it because I I need to understand something about what the action item is for today. And so maybe that's the first question I want to ask about is is thisformational today? And >> just for discussion today >> and and discussion about what though is what I'm trying to say. anything you would like to discuss because they're going to come back and talk about capital projects and really dive into what they hear today on May 6th. >> Well, a couple things. Number one, thank you for the presentation and the way it was laid out, right? I think we had a meeting a couple times ago where we were all over the map on what was financially being presented. And I think that's because we sort of come to expect um budget presentations in the way that you've trained us to expect them. And so when we see them that they're not that way, then we're kind of all over the map about it. What I want to say about a couple of these slides and um part of it is it's hard for me. I'm having an eye issue today. So that my allergies are crazy, but the first slide about redevelopment agency one, which it looks like this, but then this one, if I had them on split screen, and I know that's not what we have, um I would line them up and I would want to first talk about the proposed programs for fiscal year 27. It seems to me that if I line them up together, you would see a more complete um thing about those individual programs. And for example, small walls, right? I think small walls was the idea that we would have small walls where we could go out and do murals on them. And I think we went out and did a call for that and maybe we didn't get a very good response yet. At least that's what I've heard from some folks um that we maybe didn't get. So I'm I'm I'm challenged to understand that today. Are you asking me to opine as to whether I want, for example, the small walls program to occupy $100,000? Is that a question I'm being asked today? >> Not really. This is just more forformational so that you can think about it between now and May 6 and you can really wrap your mind around. Are there projects we want to do more long-term like you just mentioned and maybe you don't want to do more, you know, more than the 10 million that's been recommended from the RAB or are there things that you think are more critical now? And this was really intended just to give you that look at it so you can kind of get your thoughts together for May 6. >> Well, and and I want to get my thoughts together, but it's also very important that we communicate our thoughts to one another because u of the way that our system works. Part of it is is I need to know for me before we vote on this when it comes back um the programmatic um allocations to just make sure that those are the things that we wanted as a council to do because again I I don't know if small walls has been as successful as we wanted it to. I see the love your block program being very successful and I I council member Martinez I think had a couple of really cool things that happened in his area but that restore has been a little bit challenging and the mayor and I have gone back and forth about this about whether or not we're helping like businesses and buildings that will go on into the future or whether we're helping and so there are some programmatic questions I have um and I would only be able to see that now that you've put them there and I would be able to compare them side by side so your expectation is when we come back in May that we'll have those conversations. Yes. >> And we'll also have conversations about our priorities for how we spend the money >> in those RDAs and then also what we will do in terms of what reserve levels we'll set. >> Yes. Those are the policy decisions that >> and do you want us to say anything about those policies decisions today or you just want us to be contemplating them or >> contemplating um talking about them? Whatever you would like to do, any discussion you have, we're obviously here. We're hearing it and we'll bring back the presentations to kind of mirror what get you in the mode to give those decisions. >> Well, and I'm over time and so I want to be cognizant of that. What I want to do is come back in my second time and give you some of my contemplative thoughts about those things. >> Just for me, like the timeline, like the drop do whatever that looks like. I want to be really cognizant about when you guys need that. I don't want to be caught off guard and you and we're just having like this sort of communication because you keep saying May 6, >> right? Well, >> so we want to be prepared what what you need from us. >> Yes. May 6 is really where we need some final decisions. Um whether you want to go with what the RAB has recommended or you want to make some adjustments to it or um I don't know if you wanted you know more discussions to come back again. those would have to happen between May 6th and May 20th because May 20th is really the budget adoption day. Okay. So, we really need those decisions >> and I would just encourage this council to really think about that. Um because honestly, I don't feel from the feedback that I got from the RDA board, they felt like here you go, here's the menu, this is what you get to choose from. I am going to highly recommend um modifying that in some way after working because I'd love to know what these guys want to see. So, I just want to make sure that um you know it it has to be I think really what this council believes in instead of like saying here you go and that is always frustrating whenever and sometimes people won't say anything and so I want to make sure everyone on the council is really really heard because I feel like some people from the RDA board um that was some of their concerns is they just didn't feel they felt like it was here you go one and done and I So that's all I'd ask. Okay. Uh, Councilman Martinez. >> Thanks so much, Madam Mayor. And I just wanted to join in some of the positive comments that were provided by Council Member Anderson. And thank you all for your guidance and your leadership uh and the legacy that you're leaving behind when it comes to the RDA and ensuring that we have such a great gift to be able to move forward and look at the possibilities of investing in our redevelopment areas and ensuring that our economic vitality continues to be strong in this area. So really, thank you, Council Member Derer. Thank you, Council Me. Thank you, Mayor Shivi, for your leadership and your guidance to help us get to the point where we're at today. I only had one question. Um, and then I think I'll reserve more of my commentary and stuff on the capital projects and the programs. When we get to May 5th or during our briefings, we can talk uh into more details. But my only question was serving on the capital P uh protections fund, capital fund protections committee, sorry. um and the NRS school set aside that is in RDA1. I'm just uh curious if you could provide us with more information. Um and it sounds like this was obviously uh agreed upon before WC1 was passed about 10 years ago. And so just wondering what the parameters are around uh this school set aside and if you're working with the school district to ensure that they're providing input on how to use these funds now that now that they're becoming available. >> Thank you for the question. Um, I'm just going to read to you what this is because when RDA1 was extended this last time for 15 years, meaning the time length of it was extended, so it goes out to 2043. When that was done as part of NRS, um this NRS here actually required to set aside 18% of tax revenue received on or after on or after the effective date of the extension to increase, improve, preserve or enhance public educational facilities. um support those programs which are located in or within one mile of downtown project area or which pupils or which students uh who reside in or within one mile of the downtown area. And so um to my knowledge I think there's one school and I know Brian and Ashley have been working with the school district. You'll start to see that line really grow because it's going to be 18% of the tax increment. There's no debt in here anymore. So now it's really going to start to tick because the 18% was after debt prior, but it'll really start to grow in here. Um, as of fiscal year 27, what we're showing here is we'll have $1.8 million that we'll be holding. They're working with the school district to determine what projects and what things. Um, one of the things is students who live here but then go to another school is a potential to use um or students that live in or within one mile of downtown um but go to other schools. So there's some there's some nuances to it and they're working through it. I don't know if did you want to comment a little bit about >> uh what you're working on with >> Brian Mardo revitalization manager. So we we hold those funds. um the school district has to propose a project for the use of those funds. So we don't send them a check every year um based on what that set aside is. We hold that and then we have a discussion on what sort of projects or improvements or programs they would like to see. Um they propose it and then we sort of participate with those funds >> into that project. >> Okay. Yeah. I think I have more followup but we'll um over my time and I'll move over to council member Derer. >> Okay. Um so I'll just follow up on this and then go to something else. So Brian, if you could come back. So if you're saying we'll have 1.8 8 that we basically have to set aside for school related projects. And let me pick a school in downtown Innovations High School. That is a Wo County charter school if I were am I correct? >> We're not even a charter school. It's a >> I'm not even sure what it's a special high school. >> But is that something that we could say we would love to invest in those programs? I have been principal for a day at Innovations. I've toured it. It's an amazing school. Uh they need equipment. They really do. I mean, they have a music program, but not really like the equipment to really take it to the next level. Um they're completely surrounded by concrete. So, if you wanted these kids to ever get outside, maybe to support the school, we would uh work on the river. You know, it's only like a couple blocks from the river. I mean, is that It sounds like those are some appropriate choices that we could make. >> Yeah. Uh that is correct. I'm reading it right here. and it's to either enhance the facility uh to run activities and programs to improve uh >> to improve preserve and enhance public education facilities and support activities and programs. So, it's not committed to just hard cost improvements. It can also go to programs and activities. >> I'll just put a pitch. It's one high school that one school I know downtown that could use some help and it's right downtown. It's not a mile away. Um and there's probably other really deserving schools. Um, the other thing I want to get clear, I had a briefing uh with uh Vicki and I asked a question and I don't think I got a full answer, but today you just said an answer and that was it was my understanding when we paid off the debt you said we would have $3 million more to spend on projects and I want to make sure that that is correct. Is that >> So, um, let me find that. So, currently we are paying about $2.8 $.8 million a year in debt service >> at RDA >> and we've been paying that every year for the last, you know, um, in fiscal year 2028, we don't have to make that debt service payment anymore. And so that is 2.8 million that is freed up to be >> and the money in the this debt fund is is it's transferred from the general fund into the debt fund to pay the debt. Is that how it works? >> That is correct. >> Okay. And so we just wouldn't transfer in the money because we don't need to anymore right? >> That's that was my basic question. It's actually the tax increment. So if you look at the property tax on this slide, this is the debt slide. If you look where it says property tax, um in fiscal year 25, we had to have tax increment of $3.1 million in order to cover that debt. 26 we needed 2.8 and in 27 we only need 200,000 because we're going to use the bond reserves that we were required to have to make this payment. So pretty much everything tax increment-wise in RDA1 is available in fiscal year 27 because it's all coming over here to this $5.2 million because previously it would go here first what we needed and if there was anything left it came over here. So that's why you see it growing on this side um as well. >> So it's not it's not exactly right. They they didn't start my clock. They just kept another one rolling. So from a previous version >> Yeah. I just asked. >> So I just want to make sure is so what you're saying we will have 3 million more rounding or >> we already have it for fiscal year 27 because we're not using any of that >> but for 28 >> and for 28 this number on this slide is just going to continue to grow as it normally would. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you council member Reese. >> Thank you so much and Miss Van Beern. Um again I know the day has been long and so I'm trying to be as succinct as possible. Um but you said you wanted to get some input from us so you were hearing things. Absolutely. >> And part of the problem is it's hard for me to do that when we don't have the projects in front of us. Right. And so I'm going to go from memory, but I'm going to make a pitch really to my colleagues through you that in RDA1 um there were a suite of projects listed and from my perspective, the one which ended up on the cutting floor the last time we were having a conversation about these dollars appeared to me to be the lear. I want to make sure that when we get to the moment in May that the LER is fully funded through redevelopment agency one even if that means it dips into what you all have identified as the reserves that would be a policy question that we would be making and what I'm suggesting is is that it is okay for me in year in a year um in one year to go below those reserve numbers and that those reserve numbers numbers are are kind of a funible thing that can be moved. Yes, I believe that a a reserve is important. At what level? I'm open to conversations at the dis but I believe that there are sufficient funds above the $2 million even if it meant cutting into the reserves and the um there would still be sufficient funds to fund a reserve to fully fund the lear. So hopefully I'm within my purview to make that claim. Um I think my good colleague, the vice mayor in our last conversation that was related to this suggested to me and then it suggests to us all at the end of the meeting that there was confusion over what could be advocated for on that particular day. And it made it sound like there was a desire not to conflate the conversation about the budget with the projects. And now that those are not in front of us, but you're asking these policy questions, I think I've hopefully identified to you and to the redevelopment staff what my expectation is that when we get back here in on May 2nd or six, I can't remember which day, six, that we are in a position to say we are going to spend money in redevelopment agency 1's budget for the LER at the level that will make it weatherproof. So that's where I am. And then the only other thing I'll say in my last 30 seconds is I need to probably have additional conversations with staff. It can be offline about what the programmatic cost and I'm really talking about um retail attraction and the blight mitigation ones because I'd like to see the combined cost between one and two because it looks like we're separating them out on each slide. But I don't know entirely what resecure is. I know I think what small walls is and I understood it maybe didn't have a lot of applicants. So I'm just trying to make sure that we aren't allocating money to a program which we are not supportive of >> and I think that's great input to bring it back so that they're side by side for the next conversation so you can >> another slide that has them side by side. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Yeah, I'm going to go to council member and then I'll go over to you. >> Yeah. So um I'm sorry it's been a really long day. Forgive me if I'm kind of if I've missed something, but um we basically only have $2 million, right, to work on something like we don't have $25 million to fully fund the LER. Correct. >> Well, redevelopment agency one, which is downtown where the LER is. >> Yeah. >> You current this is the current budget as it's was approved by the RAB. >> Yeah. >> Um >> if you were to go with their recommendations, that fund balance is the 3.8 8 million. >> Okay. >> So, >> if you reserve a piece of that, um, as council member, uh, Reese was saying, you could reserve part of that, maybe not the whole year. That's a policy decision for you to think about, >> but that's not fully funding, right? Like the the estimate we got back for that is like thought to $30 million. Yeah. Okay. The other thing is I've I've heard some comments about dipping into reserves. I'm very very um hesitant to do that, especially given what's happening with the economy. Um I know gas prices are going up. Maybe other people aren't experiencing it um to the same degree that my community is, but it's very detrimental to um my community right now. There's a lot less disposable income with people that maybe didn't have a whole lot to begin with. So um I'm very apprehensive of cutting into reserves at all. And again, I I hate to um beat a dead horse, but we just got the ACES deal out of our general fund, and it was in our general fund because there wasn't enough money in the RDA account. I'm not interested in getting overextended again and having to move something back into our general fund because we got ahead of our skis on something in the RDA and then we have to make up for it with general fund. We can't afford a mistake like that. I would prefer to do nothing for a couple years, see what's going to happen with the economy, acrew some interest, and then we'd have more money to have a bigger impact on whatever project it is that we want to do. But, um, there's a lot of unknowns right now. And I'm not sure that we won't have a a decrease in property values that affects our, um, our budget. And I'm not certain that our cax will go up. So, hate to be doom and gloom, but I I think that now is a really bad time to uh cut into reserves. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, Council Member Dor. >> Yeah. Um, thank you. And yeah, thank you. Um, a couple things. Baseball is in which RDA? >> RDA2. >> RDA2. And in RDA2, just to be clear, in addition to what um council uh staff have recommended, we have an additional even if we fully fund a reserve to the one-year level, which the uh CFO has recommended, we still have $17 million in there. I just want to be clear. I want to make sure I'm right. >> I have a real quick question, too. Why do we have RDA2? Do we know? Why is we have RDA1 and why do we have RDA2? different areas and it's based on the map. >> Okay. So, it was just we decided to have two RDAs. >> The map is area one is downtown. >> Yeah, I understand. But do we know why we have two? Do we just say we want to do this in more than one area? >> They're set up indivi they were started at different times. One was done in 1983, one was done in 2005. They were done at different times. Um the areas determine that the money is respent in that area to grow that area. Yeah, I understand the concept. I was just curious. >> They were just done a lot different timing. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. I'd like to get my time back if I could. It's like another minute. Um, so just being clear, baseball is an RDA2. RDA2's agreed. We are agreeing to take on the debt. Um, the debt is it a million every year for the rest of our life or is it a set amount of money? >> Till 2043. So it goes out till the end of RDA1. So if you look at this slide that I provided, this has that red line at the bottom. >> Yeah, >> that's the debt service and the contractual obligation which is the ballpark shown on that line. >> In RDA2, we have 17 million in addition to what's been proposed to be spent and in addition to $2 million in reserve. So we have a reserve account. We have a fund balance and in the fund balance is $17 million. Certainly we can afford to set aside a million dollars for the next u whatever it is 20 years. would pay until 2035 and at that point when RDA 2 expires because it ends that debt goes over to RDA1 and RDA1 would start paying it from that point forward. >> 2043 >> 2043. Yes. >> Okay. So my question I just want to clarify that because I understand if you could go back to the RDA1. Um what I want to understand on this slide is I want to make sure we with all due respect council member Reese you are not recommending dipping into reserves. what you I'm just going to clarify what I understand. You can speak later. >> Yes, of course. >> The one-year reserve is 1 million and I don't believe anybody's recommending that going away. So, we have a $1 million reserve. What we're talking about is the fund balance. And if we take the $1 million reserve out of the fund balance, we still have 2.8 million. And if I'm going from memory uh the lear uh to um weatherproof the building and make the basic improvements outside that are required, it was something on the order of I'm just going to round here 1.6 to I'll I'll round to 2 million just for sake of argument. That would still leave another 800,000 if we use this these numbers. I'm just saying at a max that we would still have a $1 million reserve and we would still have $800,000 in a fund balance even at a very high number of 2 million which hasn't been proposed. So what's been proposed is 1.6 1.7 if I'm rounding and that still leaves uh a million dollars in fund balance. So I just think it's important when we're talking to talk about the the right terms reserve fund balance. So just with all due respect, we're not dipping into any fund balance even with your proposal to do the LER. So just being clear and I just want to add one more thing. Um, I would also over on RDA2, I first of all, I support what council member Ree said, which I think is well within the budget, but over on RDA2, I would love to see Brian bring back some potential property acquisition and whether it happens, you know, now or late in next fiscal year, but I think it could help us with the budget next year. I mean, I won't be here, but I'm just trying to project where we'll be. And the second thing is I did talk to council member um Martinez for a minute and he mentioned some projects that he cares about that are ranked like number 30 that are in W three that I could easily support. You know there are things I think it council member Reese was I mean Martinez it was over on Grove Street or something over there. Um, and I just want to daylight that that I want to be supportive of things that other people want. And you have expressed to me that might be uh something you think is important to your community. It's not in the top seven. It's like down at 30 just like the leers over in RDA1 down at like 30. And I just think each of us have to look at this list really closely because I could easily support that, you know, and it's not included today. So, okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Me. Council Maurice. I think I'm in my last minute so I'll just be here quickly. Um I want to make sure that people understand something. One of the policy choices we have to make at this diserves will be right there is a choice between having them at one year or 18 months. Those are policy choices. We have not set those questions. The other thing is is that this question about you know I there's angst about the general fund because it is so up and down tied to the economy seax all those things these revenues are not dependent on sea tax to create them so it's a different kind of stability in this particular redevelopment agency than what we're dealing with in the general fund am I correct about that >> that is correct yes >> so again what I want people to understand is that it is a conservative approach we're being thoughtful the bottom is not going to drop out of these areas. I don't believe certainly you haven't projected them to. You have no concern that they're going to drop out and somehow all of a sudden we will have overspent or misspent. These are legitimate concerns, but there is some general misunderstanding of the difference between the general fund and redevelopment agency funds. And I just want to make sure that the public understands that we understand the difference between them even if some of our colleagues do not. And so for my part, I agree with Miss Derer that we can still keep all the money here. I'm suggesting that in a year you can have a priority that exceeds those amounts because it will be made up in the next year. Um, and so we're just really talking about how to best spend those funds. And uh again, my point in arguing for or articulating it is I would like to have you come back and help me better understand the programs and their costs which impacts what we have to spend on the general projects side of it. Yeah, the capital projects. >> Perfect. I completely understand. Gotcha. >> We got you. >> All right. >> Thank you. I think Council Member Heert is next. >> Yeah, but I guess I wasn't clear. I do realize that these are different funds that one is funded by what's the overage of the property tax from when the RDA was established. My point being if something happens, let's say major properties are devalued and we no longer have that money coming in that's above that threshold and we have agreements that we are going to pay certain amounts of money, it could come out of our general fund as it did with the Reno Aces. And our general fund is funded by Cax. Correct. >> I think you're talking about tax increment financing like the GSR. Is that what you're referencing or >> anything? I'm just saying we need to be careful with what we do with our funding because our fallback is our general fund and our general fund is funded by property taxes and CAX and I am aware that it is a different account. Thank you for making sure that that I'm I'm clear on that. I apologize for not communicating that effectively. But my concern is in the past our fallback has been the general fund. And if something dramatic enough happens that we are not solvent in the RDA, I'm concerned that that will also affect our ability to pick up any slack with the general fund. >> Okay. >> Thank you for that. Can I can I just say just so >> just just uh so everyone knows about that was the very first vote that I took on council was uh baseball and so I just want everyone that was um agreed by the entire council at that time. Um I voted no but it was uh it was agreed by the council um to use the general fund. Um, but that's a good point that, you know, you don't want to do that. But I'm what I'm trying to say is that is not even on the table. Um, it's not because you just changed that. You recently just changed that. So, the general fund is not obligated to the baseball agreement. >> I understand that. I'm talking about any future obligations. If we get overextended, I understand that the aces now will not go to the general fund. They now have the ability to sue us if we don't have the funds. That also concerns me. >> Councilwoman, I'm trying to tell you, you would have to agree as a body to do anything like that. So, to give you a little bit of comfort, that would have to be done as an from the body. It wouldn't just like >> Yeah, I I understand. And I lost about a minute of my time, so I'd like some of that back. But my concern is there are people on this body that don't seem to take into account the economy around us. and they're what totally fine with dipping into reserves. I I don't think that I was dreaming when I heard those words said that you're okay with having a lower reserve. I'm not cuz I don't know what that means if we have to fix something later. We have people getting their salaries out of there. I'm not fond of layoffs. So, I want to be as conservative as we need to be to make sure that we don't lose any more staff. >> Okay. Vicki, I'm sorry. >> No, it's okay. >> Are you okay? Yeah, >> you're doing okay. I'm fine. I mean, a one year reserve is really >> I don't want >> is really large quite honestly. We have a twomonth reserve in the city fund >> and that's what you know that's what we can have in there. That's the 15% that I talk about all the time in the general fund. That's a two-month reserve. What we're talking about here is extremely conservative with a one-year reserve. So, >> I'm very comfortable with it. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Do we need to do a reset? I feel like this has just been very heavy today and I don't want the attacks anymore. And so if we need to go into a recess so everyone can eat and feel better, maybe that would that would help because if we continue down this path, then I'll just keep going into re recess. Recess. Honestly, it gets exhausting. Everyone needs to work together. There's no reason to attack one another. And I'm just going to go start going back to that when we start doing that. I'm just going right into recess and then everyone can do a reset and we'll do 20 resets. So, and I want to make sure um that I apologize to you and and staff and I you know that's not the intent. So, >> we're here to listen to the feedback and then we'll come back on May 6th and we'll address the concerns that we heard here today and we'll try to dial in on what you want. I do want to make a comment though that the the projects that were brought forward were all scored by a committee that was done and the projects were brought forward based on the scoring from the committee. It wasn't something that staff sat through and went and said, you know, we like these. There was a scoring and the scoring was added up. These are the projects that came to the top. The RAP reviewed them and that's what was brought forward. You obviously can look through the list and see if there's some things that maybe you feel are more important than what the scoring shows and that's >> legitimate. >> That is absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, I'm very grateful, if I may, Madame Mayor, that what's what's happened here today is that Vicki has given us clarity. I mean, the comment you just made >> Yeah. >> Uh, for example, about this one-year reserve and your comment that the city as a whole and the general fund has a two-month reserve. So, you're already being conservative. And even if we went with a 18-month reserve, okay, even if we went to double your conservatism, even if we do that and we take 1.5 million out of this 3.8, we're still left with 2.3 million. Even if we go triple conserve, uh, we still have money to talk about projects. And we we may not want to, but I'm just saying we do have the ability to do it. Um, or we could save it all. I mean, if you want to be ultra conservative and not do anything more, then we can always that's a choice, too. >> So, I appreciate the education and the clarity here. And also us being careful with our terms, you know, >> and you know, this is really new. I do it seems confusing because this is so new. And as I was watching Brian up here, I was looking at this slide um from back which one? This one. This slide. If you look in fiscal year 25 actuals, the column on the left hand side, if you look down there, it says loan payoff from RDA1, this is recent. This is within last year >> because we had to borrow money from RDA2. >> Yeah. >> To put into RDA1 to make the debt service payments until the TIF could catch up. >> Yeah. >> We just paid this back last year. Now we're able to pay off the bond next year. Now we're in a great spot. So, this is so new. Like Brian was saying, >> it's just a really new space. And so, um, I think it is going to be challenging >> as we move forward and get a plan moving forward. It's just new, >> but it's exciting. >> It is very much. >> Yeah. This is I mean, how long has it been since we've been able to do anything Brian? >> Nothing because we just paid off. >> He's laughing. How long has it been, Brian? Come on. >> Nothing. So, yeah, >> it's been a long time. >> It's a good problem to have. So, yeah, >> I I'm going to have to go do some research because someone once told me that Mayor Sparza left with um maybe 20 million in the in the RDA and he had built the bowling stadium >> and so just interesting to see how like what's happening at different times of of downtown just throughout. I'm gonna have to get some history and find out like how maybe we'll do a whole like, you know, history through the years of like how the RDA did all this and that because it's kind of fascinating. >> It is. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Madame Mayor, you had asked and I want to just make sure Miss Van Beern was clear on slide five, is that the projected dollar amount in each year into the RDA? >> Yes. So, in fiscal year 28, you're anticipating in just RDA 2, um, is it, uh, $20 million or >> in RDA2 minus about >> seven. >> So, 15 million. >> Okay. 15 million and it goes >> and these are known projects because we actually hired a consultant and Brian worked with them to know what's coming online when we anticipate it coming online and going on to the tax roles so other things can come online in this model. These are the known ones we know >> and just marking those out as we go. >> This is what's >> Yes. So you would take the first year, >> next year, which is >> these are each year. Yeah. >> So it's not, you know, >> stacking, but these are each year. >> Stack it. >> If you saved money and then you want to do a bigger project, absolutely. You can do really big projects pretty soon. >> Pretty quick. >> So you could you'd have 10 million, then you'd have 15, that's 25 million. >> Yep. >> Is that what you're saying? >> Yes. And then quickly here comes almost 20 million. Yes. >> On top of 15. A lot of really good big problems. >> This is why I was saying thank you. >> Well, you'll have a lot of money to spend. Kind of like your own ARPA. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> On a same >> and to do a lot of great things. >> Absolutely. >> That's awesome. >> I like it. >> Okay. >> May if I could just make a note. >> Go ahead. >> Sessions. Since we're on the slide, I'm just wondering next time when it is presented if you can make the blue and green slides instead of like this like this so we can see >> comparative both of them. Yeah. Instead of having to do math >> while we look at those that would be helpful. I always say that thank you. >> Just to make you aware you know these are projections based on the known projects. Again, that's going to change as more come online. And so, I expect this to be even more than this as we continue to develop downtown and develop these areas. Um, I expect it to be more. So yeah. >> Hey, >> you can build a pool every year. >> Okay. >> Green lights. >> Are we ready to move on? I think we have an applicant in the >> in the glass is ready. I mean, >> okay. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's also just that's great. Again, my ward doesn't have any anything in those boundaries. So, that's no wonderful comment to to say you can have a a pool every year, but none of that none of those benefits will happen for my community. So, >> so I'd like to comment on that because I think that's a really good point and none of this is in W two either and none of it is in W five. So, on a future council and for in W six. So none of it's in four wards. I think what the council members going forward have to think about is if w one and ward three are getting money from this fantastic resource, then they need to remove some of the demand off the general fund so the other four wards can get money. So if this can pay for a park in W one, the park money should maybe be used in W six. You see what I'm saying? the the park money that's for general fund should not be evenly distributed because this is a separate fund that can only be spent, you know, within a distance >> within a distance and within very strict parameters too. So that's really what Brian's going to, you know, have to educate and really um try to bring that forward because it's very strict on what you can spend RDA money on. >> So if I may say something about that, too, this is something to think about. I know we've talked about extending RDA2, but and think about this. The money is coming in regardless. Um it the boundary the restriction is the restriction. If you remove the RDA overlay, that money goes to the city. It's still coming in. It's it's going to the city as a whole. It could be spent anywhere. And that's why, you know, I've been a little cautious about extending the RDA. I'll just be frank. I won't be here for that decision, but if you do extend it, it pushes all of this money you're talking about into these narrow boundaries. If it goes away, the money can be spent anywhere in the city. So, I just I think these are things you have to calculate in. >> More of a legal question because I think we've talked about that before too long time. So, I I'm not fresh on it, but I know we've had those discussions and there's some limits on that too. um legally. >> Good. So, >> a good good conversation to have though. >> M van Beern, related to that topic, um have the UN legal talked about whether it would be appropriate to have say an RDA um created a new we'll call it RDA3 in say Ward 4 to address the same kind of economic development option >> just for the benefit of the body. I've spoken with man manager Bryant about that >> that we could do that. I've inquired. So, I think she is looking into that. So, >> well, I would love to have conversations >> in that area, but I'm glad to >> Well, no, I think Miss Eert makes point and I would love to be a part of that conversation as well. >> Yeah. Um, I'm curious. I know you have to have some background on this, Brian. What What would that entail? >> Yeah. Uh, Brian Mardle again, revitalization manager. Um, so there are some statutes about creating a redevelopment area. You'd have to go and do a study, identify blight conditions, development opportunities. There's some certain thresholds and then you would have to ask the state legislature to uh approve that as well as negotiating with the other taxing entities because essentially you'd be removing future tax base from from them as well. >> Like and those are like a process the school district. Is that what you're saying? >> Correct. >> It basically huddles all the money right here with some carveouts maybe. >> It essentially freezes it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Says you will continue to get what you're getting today in the foreseeable future for the next potentially 25 years, but for every new dollar created has to be reinvested back in the within that area for the benefit. >> A good reason to maybe counter what I was saying before is we get to um freeze their take and keep more of the take in the city for these specialized projects. >> I would say redevelopment areas are like an investment fund and the taxing entities are the beneficiaries. So you take that dollar, you invest it and the idea is that you get a some sort of return or economic impact or social impact on those funds. At the end of redevelopment agency, the entities that receive the tax base are the beneficiary of all the value created over that time. So it truly is an investment fund for the benefit of the area. >> I will say this at the end of 2035 um all that value created uh the city isn't the recipient of 100% of that. the city would be the recipient of 26 cents of every dollar of that going forward because then then starts going to the county and the school district and the state of Nevada, etc. >> That right. So it unfreezes. >> Yes. >> But I love that. Um I love that idea. But it sounds like it's got a lot to get there. You know, you got to get to the ledge, which is uh >> Oh, Miss I will support let me know how I can support you in that effort for W four as well. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. you know, and I will say this, I know you don't feel like it, but I think everyone up here has always wanted to um support you in any capacity. And so, I think um you know, let's sit down. I've been trying to reach you and we'll sit down and we'll um talk about what the best way we can continue to help you do that because I love that idea and maybe you guys look at a BDR or something, you know, to that aspect. But um I think there's there's a lot that that can be done and I think that's a very interesting point like maybe back in the day a lot of this made sense and maybe you know as you grow and especially out there because it is much more um rule like that it makes sense right I don't know it's just it's got a lot of potential um you know especially if you were going to do some really big project. I don't know, maybe it's like big sports centers or soccer or whatever, but something, you know, think like that. >> Yeah. >> Big big. >> I know. You know, >> I would like to. >> Yeah. And I mean, I know I've called and left many voicemails for you and um just again, I've I've asked this this body for support. I've asked this body to be on regional boards to get that access to to be more involved and it just hasn't happened. So I feel like um it's not for lack of asking and if the body really wants to support um there are ways to do that >> well and I also think it works both ways. You have to support them as well and in other that that will really help too if everyone supports each other. You can't it just can't be one-sided. It's got to be both ways. So if there's something that you know can you can help Naomi in her ward that would be also very beneficial or in Bry's ward everyone helping each other is going to help you get where you want to go. So >> I don't like that implication of like >> I'm not I'm not I just I it's not about that but I'm just saying that I think it works both ways. >> Well I've been very supportive I've been supportive of horse fencing. I've been supportive of other projects. I was supportive of um allocating a million dollars to the Lear Theater from uh ARPA dollars. Like there's no shortage of me being supportive. I've been supportive of allocating funds to uh Virginia Lake. >> All right. I I'm not going to get into this. I'm just saying it works both ways. If if both sides >> um support each other, then you're going to have better outcomes. That's what I'm saying. It's both sides. I want everyone to feel supported. I want you to feel supported. I want you to feel supported. I want you to feel supported. So this can't be about what my word gets, what I don't get, what you get, what I don't get. We can't be holding things hostage. And sometimes I hear that and I don't and I'm not saying from you, but I'm saying that sometimes it can't be like that. Not sometimes. I don't want it like that. I want everyone to be able to get along and support each other in these things. And that's why I'm saying it's not just with you, Megan. Everyone up here tonight has said they want to help support you in any way they can. I believe that. I believe they do in their heart of hearts. It was Naomi and I that sat down with you and said, "How do we help you with the water situation out there when you didn't feel supported?" And so, we want to be able to support you. You know that. So, I want you to believe that and know that that's true. So, that's all I'm saying. I want everyone to support each other today. I I feel like it's for you that you feel um like you're not getting that support. and I I I want to sit down and understand better because I've really tried and you know that and we've tal talked about it and I said, "How do I help you get there?" So, I want to continue to do that. So, I don't want you to feel like you're out on your own in your ward. All right, moving on. Thank you. >> Thank you. I know. And maybe we need to go on a recess, but I don't want to do that to everyone that's sitting here. They want to get home to their families and get to dinner and it doesn't help whenever we're up here and I think we're also tired and it's been a long day. >> Is um the agenda remaining in redevelopment or do we have many items? >> I know we need to do budget augmentation. Where are we at? >> We did it. >> We need to do a budget augmentation for the RDA. >> Do we need a motion for this item? No. >> No. >> No, we don't. Right. >> Okay. So, moving on. Um JW, where are we at? Uh, I would say we move on to do the budget augmentation and close out C2 and C3 for the RDA. Finish the B items and complete C1 and then you'll be done with the RDA. >> Okay, perfect. >> Well, there were no items of the items that >> this is for the for the RDA. >> RDA. This is RDA. Okay. What do you need from us to >> All right, Madam Mayor, we're going to open item C2 on the redevelopment agency board, which is the budget augmentation for redevelopment agency 1. Okay, wait. Item. Sorry, I think I'm looking at the wrong agenda. Hi. Okay, what do you need from us? >> Um, Lindsay Hatfield, budget manager. I also don't have a presentation for this one. This is the first augmentation that we've done for the RDA for this year. So, we're doing all the kind of cleanup stuff that we do on the other ones. We're carrying funds forward, rolling poss, that sort of thing. >> Okay, perfect. So, then I motion to approve. >> Motion to adopt. adopt. >> I adopt. Sorry. >> I have a motion um and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries. >> I apologize. Who's seconded? >> Uh Deon. >> Thank you. >> For the other one C3. Is that for That's not for both of them. >> That's correct. We're on item C3. >> Okay. Um where are we? Okay. May I get a motion? >> Move to adopt. >> And I have a motion. I have a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those opposed? Motion carries. Thanks so much. Okay. >> Okay. We're on um our B consent agenda items for the RDA. >> Did we have >> polling? >> I I don't think we pulled any. >> We're on the redevelopment agency that's been set up. So, there are consent agenda items on the redevelopment agency. >> Okay. Are there any items you'd like to Yes. I'm sorry. Um we are very slow up here right now. Um we're out of practice this this long duration. Um, any items you want to pull off consent? >> Pull B3. >> Okay. All right. Any items? >> No. Okay. Um, >> move to approve the remaining items not pulled, which would be B1 and B2 of the REDA redevelopment agency consent agenda. >> Okay. Second. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed. Motion carries. All right. Council >> B3. I just wanted to get an understanding. Is there a change or are we just trying to clarify what is or this is all about the chair and it says that the executive director uh the city manager is the executive director. It says the council is the council. They have contracting authority. Um what repealing and suspending certain resolutions are we doing? And is there a change here? And I brought this up earlier because I said I thought Ashley was the chair of the redevelopment agency, but the city manager corrected me and said no, she is the chair or the executive director of the Do you want to just explain? >> Sure. Thank you. Uh Jennica Finnean, operations manager. So up on if I can get the dot cam working is a chart of all of the key changes in the proposed resolutions, but it's really just to clarify there are some ambiguities in the resolutions that have previously been adopted by the RDA. There's about 270 resolutions that I went through and noticed some inconsistencies and inongruencies between city policy and practice and RDA. So this clears that up. So >> So there's only four changes. Uh, so all of these resolutions would be affected by this. >> They would be deauthorized or >> preceded or repealed. Yes. >> Okay. >> Were relevant. >> So what did you come up with? Um, because I know you did see this at the RAD board and I I think I had to step out, but maybe just give us a little overview of what that would looked like. >> Sure. So resolutions one and 41 establish initial governments for the RDA. It establishes the mayor serving as the chair. Uh the secretary is the city clerk. Um and the executive director is the city manager. >> But I thought that was always like that. >> So that's what those resolutions do. It doesn't however have a vice chair for the RDA. So that would be one change. In addition, a proposed change is to give the city manager the authority to appoint an executive director. >> Okay. >> Well, what was it before? So resolution one established the city manager serves as the administrator and then resolution 41 changed the administrator role to an executive director role. >> Uh well I mean so if I may comment on that I I'm a little unclear about the executive director selecting another executive director. So I think that should be done by council frankly because we pick executive directors like we pick Jackie. I don't I don't think we want to delegate that role at the RDA. That's my feeling. I don't >> RDA director is like your city manager over >> Yeah. But then it says that she just said that the the city manager could then pick another >> director. And I guess >> I I do think the council should have at least um I Yeah, I would agree with that. I think the council should be able to have that purview since they are like the city manager but of the redevelopment agency, >> right? >> Um so I don't know. So, I'm not comfortable with that. >> I mean, we can do lots of these things. I'm just saying I'm not comfortable with that one. >> Sure. >> Because I think just like we picked the city manager for the city, we should pick the equivalent role for the RDA. >> Understood. >> And maybe and Well, it should stay the RDA board actually selects that. The RDA board should select their director. >> Director. I don't think so. >> Yeah, that's the council. >> Oh, the RDA board, not the advisory board. Yes. >> Yes. Yeah, >> exactly. >> Go ahead, >> Madam Mayor. Can I ask because I I Miss Bryant is not here. Um I And I'm just trying to get it right. The change to the resolution which you're identifying here in item B3 is that and we'll just use Miss Bryant. Miss Bryant is currently the head of the redevelopment agency. Um, and she's saying in her absence, she could designate another person or just in general, meaning she believe, and this is why because she's not here, I'm having a hard time being able to ask her what the thinking behind it was. Do you know what the thinking behind it was? >> Yes, I think um, as the agency gets going and there are more projects and things to manage, I think it's foresight in order to prepare for that um, to have a full-time executive director. So, this resolution doesn't contemplate a specific appointment. It just allows the city manager to have the authority to make that appointment. >> And >> I'm gonna suggest if I may, Mr. Reese, you are so right that Miss Brian is not here. We are very tired. This is a pretty big change. I just wonder if we should continue this particular item to the next redevelopment board just to better understand the all of these resolutions. You just said there's how many being deleted or >> 13? 13. >> Um, and >> I just don't know. Well, then let's make a motion to continue. >> Would that be okay? >> Yeah, I'm fine with that. >> Is there any reason for us to act today? Meaning there was something timesensitive that was necessary to No. >> Nope. >> Okay. Then Miss Der's motion is for continuence and mine is a second. >> Okay. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. All those opposed. >> Motion carries. Okay. >> Okay. JW, where are we at? >> C1. RDA. >> C1. RDA. Okay. Perfect. All right. What do you uh which one? Where's my >> In fairness, I did tell the Cold Water folks that today's meeting was going to be a long one and that they should not be prepared to be here at 10. I did not know that they would be here eight and a half eight hours later. So, Are we ready? Yeah. All right. Good evening, uh, Madame Chair, um, redevelopment agency board members, Brian Mccardo, re revitalization manager for the record. Uh today before you we have a tax increment fin tax increment financing application submitted by the applicant Cold Water Capital for a housing project on Lake Street that is within RDA2. It's very close to downtown but it's actually in the RDA2 area. Uh the developer is Cold Water Capital. Uh they're proposing 107 workforce housing units. These are attainable housing units. Average size is about 400 square feet. Uh these are studios and onebedrooms. The average rent is about $1,270. That kind of hits on the low income AMI spectrum um in in that in the affordability band. But this is a very also very dense project. It hits a Florida area ratio of 3.85, which is something redevelopment areas want to see. They want to see dense development. They want to see uh development of blighted sites. And this has a high floor to area ratio. Uh this project is a $24 million project and I'll show you where it is. Uh it's just north of the Reno Event Center across the street from the Reno Regency just south of the university new university village area. Uh this is the current site as it sits right now. Um it is underdeveloped and underutilized. Uh it could be considered blighted but it is mostly uh underdeveloped. And this is the proposed project um on that street. I'm going to go into the mechanics of how the agency part could participate financially in the um financing of the project, but we do have the applicant here. I wonder if you would like to hear from the applicant on their project or if you'd like me to go into the financials and the mechanics of the participation. >> Mr. Ricardo, I for my part, I had the opportunity to meet with the applicant uh independently and so I think I understand the project. My concerns are on the financial side of it. So perhaps those are the things that interest me, but I don't know about my colleagues. >> I I share same >> those. >> Okay, I will continue. >> The the project looks fantastic and of course we are rooting for people who bring such projects to us. I think we're going to have some questions at this body and dis about the financial. >> Okay. Um let me first state that before a redevelopment agency can approve any sort of improvement or project there's two findings that need to be um identified. One are these projects for the benefit of the redevelopment area. Um and there's a couple criteria that you can use to to justify if uh if it is having a a benefit to the area. Uh one of those is is it creating housing? Is it creating uh construction jobs? Does is there economic or social impact? Um and reviewing some of these the answer would be yes to to some of those. It does create attainable housing within the area. That is a um a identified strategy uh and goal for the city within the downtown area. Uh it does activate an underutilized and under underdeveloped project. There will be construction jobs. There will be some management jobs um on this project. And then the economic impact is over a long enough timeline. This does increase the economic base. Uh not only for the city on a long enough timeline, but for the county, the school district, and the state of Nevada. There's also construction sort of sales tax dollars that are created from projects like this. Uh and I'll note that after 2035, when the redevelopment area 2 sunsets, 100% of the property taxes all get distributed to the normal taxing entities. And as I mentioned previously, the city of Reno's general fund would receive about 26 cents on the dollar, 26% of all new future property tax. The second um well, let me let me showcase this real quick. Um currently, this site underdeveloped pays about $2,600 in annual property tax. If you run that over the next 10 years through 2035, when the redevelopment area sunset, it's about 26,000. If you go over the next 30 years, that's $78,000. Um, the city of Reno this year, I looked up the the property tax filing. Uh, this this pro this site paid $426 in property tax to the city's general fund, just $426. And they'll continue to do that as this project sits in this condition. Now, if you were to run this out after the project is developed, um, it they go from paying two $2,600 a year in annual property tax to $270,000 a year. So that's not a 10x return. That's a 100x growth in property tax paid. If you run that out through 2035, that's 2.2 million. Over the next three years, it's $8 million in new created property tax. So right now, currently, the city of Reno receives $426 a year in property tax. After this project's develop, after the redevelopment area 2 sunsets, the city of Reno's general fund should receive about $56,000 a year. So again, that's not a 10x, that's a that's about a 100x return on what the city is currently getting. Uh right now, um how property tax works is for every $100 of assessed value, they pay $3.66 in property tax, the redevelopment agency captures about $2.90 of that. But because of legislative uh carveouts and ballot initiatives that were passed after the redevelopment agency was created, um different taxing entities do get uh little allocations. And so over the next 10 years, that's about $450,000 that goes to schools, that goes to the county debt, goes to city's public roads, public safety. Uh and there was a ballot initiative for shel animal shelter operations. And so if this project gets developed, that's a new $450,000 in new property tax that goes to these entities um over the next 10 years. The second finding that redevelopment agencies need to do before they approve a project is determine that this project is not re is not financially feasible and that there are no other means of financing available. So we go out to a consultant in this case we go out to our consultant SB Freeman um to identify if a financing gap exists and essentially states that this project would not proceed but for the participation and support from the redevelopment agency. Um and this project does read that reach that threshold. Uh the packet u the gap analysis is in your packet. There is a financial gap on this project of $3.1 million. Um, so the consultant did say that it meets that threshold. Uh, the new increment created through 2035 on this project only creates about $1.8 million in new tax increment. So even the tax increment created from this project does not fully fill the financial gap for this project. Now you can get into the returns of what a developer should expect on a project, but I just want to focus on yield on cost. Yield on cost is the cost to build the project and the annual revenue they get from that. What does the developer make on an annual basis? Industry standard is about 6 to 7%. Um if this project gets no financial assistance from the redevelopment agency, this is about a 4.9% return on this project. Now the 10-year Treasury note that anyone can go and invest in risk-free is about 4.3 I believe at the moment. Um and so and they'd never have to worry about filling uh vacancy and rents. You could just do that and it's risk- free. Um this project would generate about 1.8 million in new tax increment. That gets them to about 5.8% yield on costs. Still not that market benchmark. Um and if they were to find the 3 million needed to fill this gap, it would get them right in the middle of uh industry thresholds on a on a return on this project. So this is a challenge of that RDA2 has so few years left. We're likely to see other projects the increment created not be able to fill the gap. Um so what this is saying that even with the 1.8 million from the increment created this project still is not feasible and is not likely to proceed uh without additional assistance. Um, and so the policy decision before you all today is if it is if you would like to entertain additional funds, resources, or a time extension to get this project the the financing it needs to be built. What did the RAB recommend? So the RAB heard this. The RAB recommended that the applicant receive 100% of the new tax increment incre incre uh created through 2035. That's about $1.8 million. and if the RDA2 is extended beyond 2035 that the applicant come back and ask for additional resources at that time. Um if the RDA2 doesn't get extended then the applicant can also come back and maybe find another different way uh to finance the project. That does create some complications. If they don't have enough money to build it, they may never build it. uh if they do go and build it and come back, what will the council at that time sort of how will they perceive this project after already being built? >> Yeah. >> But that is what the the RAB recommended. >> So you have four options. I'll summarize these today for for your view. Uh the agency can decide to to participate not participate in this project period. Um the second part is the agency can agree to give um a portion of the increment created up to 100% that would be 1.8 million or a lesser amount. Uh the agency can provide additional funding from agency reserves but as you mentioned we're not calling those agency reserves but the agency could create an allocation directly to this project to fill that financial gap. Um or the other option is to invite the developer back at a later date if RDA2 gets extended. I know those are four different options. >> Okay. >> Bit confusing and we'll go straight to the motion there in front of you. >> Okay. Um well, I think that come July I uh we will be discussing our BDRs. It's one of the things I think on the top of the list is to extend the RDA, which makes a lot of sense. I'm hearing from a lot of different people that it would a lot of projects would not be able to make it without it. Is that your recommendation Brian? >> My recommendation to extend RDA2. >> I will say that I that's obviously a decision for you all. I will say that it will be it will be it will continue to get harder to play a role in future development projects with so few years we have left. And so if you want to use the redevelopment agency as a tool to facilitate growth and future tax base, then it would probably require an extension of RDA2. RDA2 was created in a unique time. It was created in 2005 and before it was able to accumulate funds, we ran into the great recession and so you never got to use it as a tool uh in the beginning. Why it's creating so much money now is from projects like red >> uh from one of our apartments in Midtown, you know, off of Royal Street. There's a lot of projects that we don't really recognize that have really contributed to the base. Uh if you drive out toward towards Cabela's, there's a new industrial center and a new housing project right next to it called Meridian. All those projects contributed to the tax base for redevelopment area, too. >> And they didn't take any money, right? >> No, they did not. >> They they just gave money. >> Their property tax goes into the redevelopment agency. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But here's also um I Are you with the project? >> Yeah. Um I think I saw you on Zoom. Am I right? What talk a little bit about um what the comments I heard were that it was very difficult for to pencil and it just didn't make a lot of sense and so maybe talk to the council a little bit why uh this project probably wouldn't be able to move forward. >> Absolutely. Thank you, Mayor. Uh Mitch Morris with Cold Water Capital. from the applicant. Um, just for the record and I do appreciate the heads up that I was given yesterday afternoon that >> this may be a longer meeting and Brian even this morning confirmed that. So, >> been around the corner at a coffee shop and and hanging out. No, no, no. It's good. We as long as I don't have to reschedule my flight again to that's at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning because we're good. >> Well, we're definitely not going until 6 a.m. >> No, I'm just kidding. I >> I promise I will have you home soon. >> You're good. I'm I'm mostly just glad that I'm not presenting a data center here. So, >> well, we're glad you're not either. >> Um, but yes, to answer your question there, Mayor, um, ultimately, and and Brian really uh touched on this that I I think it comes not just from us and our perspective on returns, but SB Friedman's third party analysis, right? the butt for analysis that shows, hey, >> these guys need $3.1 million to be um to receive those uh to receive a market return. Um we've actually taken it a step back and said, "Hey, at $2.6 million, we can actually get uh debt and equity partners to agree upon this and and move forward with this." So, um but that's a that's a pretty hard threshold there uh with with those guys. So um so yes I think um we we are excited to bring you know our our product is at a 45% AMI for Reno and so we're excited to bring that and not be an affordable housing project. A typical affordable housing project is qualifies for LITC and when they receive those funds they can actually get um basically a a coupon for for property tax indefinitely. But if aren't you workforce? >> So we are we're attainable housing is probably the right >> terminology there with an emphasis in workforce. We like to call it workforce because that's who we have as our um tenants there, our residents, but um technically it's it's just attainable there because there's no income restriction on either end there. Yeah. So >> which is good. Yeah. >> To not have the income restriction. Correct. >> Yeah. Absolutely. So, we can um we can house students uh that don't want to be in student housing there. We can uh house employees of downtown. Uh also, we can it's a great stepping stone from the weekly housing that's downtown. There's thousand units from my understanding in the four high-rise towers that they're paying $400 weekly um versus this is at 1270 monthly. So, um, and I don't know if that's my time, but No, thank you. >> I actually really like your guys' buzzer. In some cities, it's like like a air horn, and you're like, "What did I do? Sorry, I wasn't breaking out. I promise." Uh, prison. But, um, yes. So, so I I think that's um some of the keys there is that we aren't affordable housing that doesn't ever generate property tax for the life of the project. We are attainable housing at affordable housing market, affordable housing rates. So, >> we're bringing a product that that is absolutely needed. I mean, there's the h the city's housing study last year showed that there's 9,000 over 9,000 well 15,000 units short total in the city. 9,000 of those are just at 80% AMI or lower. and our products at 45% AMI which not even 15% of your total housing in the last five years has been in that range. So um yes I think I we we look forward in participating in with our property tax and also bringing a solution to the residents uh of Reno and ultimately our goal is to build three plus of these a year for the next five to seven years. Um, and we really like Reno because of your guys' work that you've done. Um, especially with no parking mandates. That really brought Reno to the map for us as developers. We that honestly is probably the number one factor. Um, so we appreciate you guys doing that and I know that was helped by several of you. Um, we also really appreciate the permitting timelines that we've been told about and the programs like this tiff, um, which obviously are, um, are are for this exact reason. So, um, more than answered your question, it almost >> I guess I what I'm looking for, we we be we believe we can help you. I'm I'm not speaking for the entire council for sure, but um and and obviously more housing in downtown where we we really really want it because of the walkability and the more housing we get downtown, the more services from markets to, you know, just all these other things that we can qualify for when it comes to, you know, sort of these big drivers of downtown services um that we don't qualify for because we um aren't we're not quite there yet. like when I speak to, you know, these bigger like I don't know, Trader Joe's or it would be great and and locally they're just saying it's just too hard because the cost of food is just too hard, right? But the they require you to have so many doors in downtown to be able to trigger that to to open like a Trader Joe's or something to that effect. But I guess how can we um help you um you know because obviously there there's not a lot of tools other than an extended RDA because at this point it wouldn't pencil. Correct. >> Um we will absolutely if there is a an approval of the $1.8 million 100% or well not 1.8 20 million, but of the 100% that's generated. Um, that will allow us to be able to really dive into it more. Um, and the lower that gets obviously the harder that gets. Um, so I mean, we've already stripped it of several things, right? There's no parking, so the no parking structure or surface parking really brings down c costs. Um and then um we in short to answer your question there, one other one alternative that's um a little unconventional um that we've that's actually been discussed during the budget is that um we would ask for $100,000 of supplemental funds, basically an investment in our project for eight years. And that would be that gap between $1.8 million and $2.6 million. So that $100,000 um and I don't I won't sounds like there's some hot words there that I don't want to use the agency reserves or where it's exactly coming from in the budget. I won't say exactly where it's coming from, but it would be not from the general fund. It would be from the agency's um funds. Um, and our thought with that is that we actually have our GC, the S, we had three different GCs that estimated the project for us and um, their estimates on public improvements was $778,000, which is $800,000 there basically. So, RDA redevelopment funds are meant for public improvements first and foremost as state statute says. Um, and ideally, so ultimately those $800,000 would be put back into public infrastructure and meeting its criteria of what it's actually for. >> Exactly. >> So, it's it's uh Yeah. Does that does that make sense? So, so our ask could be um our our ultimate ask because this and Brian alluded to this as well. It's hard to take that to the bank when it says we'll give you $1.8 million or or we'll give you $2.6 million if there is an extension because that approval won't happen until July 2027. And so as we sit on our hands for the next 14 months, >> right? >> Construction costs don't go down, >> right? >> Rates hard to say what they're going to do. And there's so and and uh yeah, so we we um ultimately if we can have that guarantee of say you can have $2.6 million assuming that that RDA2 gets extended and um if that gets extended if if for some reason it doesn't sounds like everybody's on board that or mostly on board that that we want it extended there. So, if for some reason it doesn't get extended, um, then we would ask a fall back there of those $100,000 a year for eight years there. >> Okay. >> Does that make Does that make sense? >> Not really. I'm I'm a little lost. The eight a $100,000 a >> Hey, Brian. >> Yeah, Brian's great to clarify that. We've talked about >> Brian. I I guess I just want a little bit like I'm sitting here going, I love this project. We all love it. We want, you know, obviously more housing. You know, it makes a lot of sense. Um, but I feel like we're not understanding exactly how to get there until we have an extension. >> Maybe you can maybe I'm missing it. >> If you want to wait to the extension, there's a possibility that this project could never get built or even started until the extension occurs, which is June of 2027, July of 2027. So, another year and a half. Um, and as you mentioned, by then construction costs could go up, rates could change. Uh, we would have to re-evaluate the whole entire project again. Uh, so the numbers could change. >> Um, >> what we see now is that and if we had more years in RDA2, we could easily do this project. It would probably be a repayment structure of over 11 years or so. Uh, and they could get what they need. We don't have that time. >> So, the ability today is you could you could allocate 100% which is about 1.8 million. The agency does have the ability to allocate additional supplemental funds from the general agency budget. Um, and that is a policy decision for you all. One other opportunities you could do a development agreement that commits to not to exceed 2.6 million. Um, to the extent the the redevelopment agency is able to reimburse, um, that opens it up to where it's a soft commitment for 2.6. And if RDA2 gets extended, they don't have to come back and actually ask. It would just kind of be baked in where it said that our commitment today is a owner participation agreement to allow increment from this project to be paid back to the developer up to not to exceed 2.6 million as long as the agency is available or is is able to. And that's kind of the key language. >> Okay, >> I'm rambling. >> No, no, it's I just want your guidance. I'm looking at you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay, Councilman Ree, >> thank you so much. Um, for my part, um, and these question or these statements are related directly to you, Mr. Mardle, and to my colleagues. So, we are new at being a redevelopment agency, right? We've had this conversation for the last year about it. And in that offering, we are trying to set guidelines and we're trying to be consistent. So, there are areas where we still have an opine like this question about what level might we set reserves? We have not decided that. We haven't even decided if we need reserves, right? We're just grappling with these things. For my part, um I am a fan of the project. I'm a fan of the location. I think where it is relative to the university makes sense. We've obviously as a body made a real commitment to reducing parking minimums, which has allowed them to even get to this stage. So again, the commitment we have to housing and to smaller micro units and that type of housing, I think, is very obvious. where I become uncertain and where I need some help from my colleagues is number one this question about whether or not we've asked other tiff applicants to share in the proceeds of the tiff at basically an 8020 split right we've done that I think we might have even talked about 9010 but we've never done 100% and so I don't know whether or not I tonight am capable of saying I'm all in at 100% I mean I if my colleagues can get there maybe that will convince me Um, but it's the other things about like allocating money over and above the 100%. It's about the $100,000 in some kind of a side agreement. Um, those are where I start to get real heartburn and I'm not really interested in that. And again, it it has no the project is a good one. We have an expectation, of course, that projects pencil on their own. The only time I've ever seen us go kind of out of our way to allocate tax credits or sewer credits is when it's been affordable housing, right? A priority of this body. So, when it comes in at not that, it all just starts looking unfamiliar to us and we are trying to make good decisions that will um both outlast the time we're on the body and also be consistent over time. So, that's kind of where I am. I I think if my colleagues said, "Hey, we can do this at 100% I I might be able to do that." And and the other thing I will say is I don't think we can act in a way that obligates future councils to make decisions about extensions on the RDA or or act in a way that's like if the extension happens then we will do X Y and Z. I would just say at that point you just have to say the project doesn't make sense today. If you bring it back we'll evaluate it later. Um, so those are my thoughts about it and and again I'm interested in my colleagues thoughts, but that's where I find myself tonight as it is here before us. The only thing I'll say with the minute that I do have left is um, you know, sometimes Mr. Ricardo, we are asking you a question and we're asking for your opinion, not because we want to put you in the hot spot or you got, you know, voted on to do that, but sometimes we're just looking for your professional judgment. Uh and so um in your professional judgment, is there something that you believe is good and valid about tonight and which we could move forward on? Yeah. And also you might say what the advisory board said they were okay with was X. >> Um and that's also some people's professional judgment about it, but yours is uniquely important to us because you are um you know our our person, our human. >> Yeah. Um, if I may in response to that, there are some redevelopment agencies across the country that have written into their bylaws or their redevelopment plans that says in the last five years of the life of the agency, becomes really hard to support projects because you don't have that timeline. And so there's language in there that says that they can do direct allocations into projects because there's so few years left if they have the funds. We're approaching that timeline. We don't have that written into our bylaws, but there are three agencies that I could identify that have language like that that say when there's so few years left, the agency has the ability to directly allocate funds. >> And that is, >> if I may, in response to that, we would want to have a presentation about adding that thing into our bylaws so that then people who come before us know that what our expectations are and that we're fair to everyone who shows up, right? rather than kind of bootstrap it back into the conversation now to say that as a policy choice because maybe you would convince me that that's a good thing. Seems like an end run around how the the timelines are, but maybe it would be something you would prove is a good thing. The the other thing I'm curious about um what about the possibility and I don't know have other RDAs done this before like um like no interest loans or something like that where it ends up getting paid back to the city. >> Technically I think a tiff participation agreement is sort of a it's a financial instrument so it is a loan. Um, are you asking if the city could >> No, but but you're also asking like, hey, you can pay this, you know, amount now or whatever. >> Do you know what I mean? Like >> I mean, we're we're going to have considerable amount of money. It's something that the council could easily say, "Hey, we want to we want to do make this project happen." They could do that. But my point is, is there also some benefits to offering lowinterest loans or no interest loans or something to that capacity to um be able to access capital >> because it's getting more difficult and look at interest rates too. So just something to think about. >> I I think and these are the things I'm talking about of like having >> these conversations of what we want the RDA to be able to do and how to do it. And um I think there's just a lot of opportunity. Do we know what it looks like yet? No. And also looking at the bylaws and going through everything. Boy, outdated. Outdated. And so times have changed. And I think we just need to bring it into >> I don't believe there's anything that says you can't do these things. Yeah. >> Uh you just have to decide if you if you would like to. >> Okay. Councilwoman Anderson. Um yes. I just wanted to say that um I know that we've got lots of questions on the financing, but this is exactly the type of project that I this is very very exciting that you have this product and that you've chosen our region. Um, and that I I really do hope that by whatever moves we can make, whether it's by bylaws or by new opportunities of creating new tools within the um RDA or by just simply extending the RDA, that um if not tonight, in the future, we are partners with you on projects like this because the the property location is perfect, the type of style of um lodging is perfect um and the price point would be wonderful for people that want to really live a walkable lifestyle downtown and work downtown. So, um I think that this has been a really thoughtful discussion and um you know, I was very enthusiastic about this project when you and I met and um listening to all of my colleagues concerns on the financing side. I I understand that we have more work to do on that, but I really wanted to just enthusiastically tell you and your team that um if you if we can get the tools you need to um be partners with you in the future, this is exactly what I think um we need much more of. >> Okay, Councilwoman. >> Okay, thanks. Um I too want to support the project. I think it's a great project. Um a question and then a comment. Um, the question is I'm I'm kind of confused about where you come up with 45% AMI. Like we hardly fund anything at 45% AMI, but how did you calculate that? >> Yeah, Mitch Morris, Cold Water Capital. For the record, I think I'm supposed to do that. Um, the uh 45% AMI. If you look at the um Bless you. Um if you look at the city's uh >> are you saying that the 1,200 is equivalent to what are you saying? >> That's correct. Yes. 12 at at 125070. Yeah. >> 1270 is what ours is. 1250 is is exactly 45% AMI of Reno. >> Okay. So >> of of what qualified affordable housing or not qualified, excuse me, the they recommend 30% of your income go towards housing and that would be at 45% AMI Reno if that makes sense. >> I'm not sure that's asked you. >> Yes. >> Okay. So what I think that we should do, we have to be aware of this. How many years does RDA2 have? >> It sunsets in 2035. >> I know. Was that seven years? I'm not doing math very good right now. >> Yeah, it sunsets in 2035. So 10 years um by this project by the time this project is built and assessed they would have about eight years left. >> Okay. So we have 10 years right now today we have $17 million over and above what staff have recommended that we spend and uh after subtracting out a healthy reserve. Okay. And we have 10 years to spend it. And we were just shown, which is so helpful, that we're probably gonna gather a hundred million dollars very quickly in RDA2. Is is that >> it's about $12 million a year that RDA2 gets. And yeah, you're right. That that accumulates if you don't spend it, >> right? So in seven years or something, we'll have a hundred million dollars more. Okay. So what I would like to see, I think we just do need some process. We don't need wild wild west. What we need to do is make an affirmative decision that something like this might be okay. We wouldn't be approving all projects and to write it into our bylaws. And secondly, um I would not be comfortable really doing anything above 100% until after May 6. At the May 6 budget, we'll be deciding what portion if if we want to go over any amount in the capital pro programs and in the programs if we want to dive into the 17 million that's in the fund balance after paying reserves and all the projects at that time but but we might want to allocate like I mentioned I would support a project that's not in that list over in board three. Okay. So after we make the allocations May 6 and come up with a comfort level of what should be the remaining fund balance at that point I would be willing to to consider going above the 100% with some guard rails with some process that says and and I would look more they need 800,000 more and I might say okay that's a hundred you started it 100,000 a year for eight years that's ve that's that's a very good amount on a healthy $17 million budget which is probably going to be 117 million by the time RDA is over. Right? So, you know, that's when I would be comfortable making an additional allocation once we've made our original allocations that we're comfortable with making for programs and capital. We're going to have I mean 12 million 15 million some amount left and then we could talk about an additional allocation. But I'm uncomfortable um making a decision here today before we've discussed how we would like to spend the money in RDA2. You see what I mean? Like he if we approved it today, he's coming in before all the projects that are on that list of 100 projects that we've even considered. So we have to balance his request with the other projects that are already pending and have been pending for probably a year and that we haven't funded. And I would say it wouldn't be you wouldn't have to expend those funds in next year's budget. That would just be a commitment for a future date um to start >> legal says we can do a forward commitment of a h 100,000 a year >> for eight years to make up the missing 800,000. I mean I would probably be okay with that because it's not that much money. It's not a million dollars and it would but I'm only comfortable after we decide we've satisfied our immediate needs. But I really do like the project and I want to see, you know, be supportive. >> Okay. >> All right. Um I'm not quite sure how that helps helps you. Now give me a motion. >> Okay. Give me a motion. >> I would like to continue this item to after um two things happen. the May 6 budget allocation or let's just say the May 20 final budget vote and that you've adopted some um additional language in the bylaws to address this type of situation. >> So whatever meeting that would be like a early June meeting perhaps. >> Do you see what I'm saying to thinking? >> I know he's thinking the redevelopment agency doesn't have bylaws. the the redevelopment agency advisory board has bylaws. Okay. What the redevelopment agency has is the redevelopment plan that is a massive document. Essentially, it's the charter of the redevelopment agency. >> We continue the decision until after we have made our final budget allocations >> and we'll think about this one while we're making those and we've adopted um some amendments to the plan that would contemplate this type of action. >> Now, I'll ask maybe ask our council. I don't know if there's anything that limits you from doing this now. I don't know if it requires >> Well, what limits us is we haven't had a discussion about RDA and what programs we want to do, what projects we want to do, what capital expenditures we h I mean, we're we're having this jump ahead of our entire budget conversation. >> Um, and then let's go back from what I remember because I was in their meeting. It was not right now unless we get an extension. The recommendation from the RAB was give them the 100% of the increment created through 2035. That's [TRANSCRIPT TRUNCATED DUE TO EXCESSIVE LENGTH TO PREVENT PROCESSING COSTS]