The following are highlights from Monday’s Sparks City Council Meeting:
Presentations and Proclamations
• The Sparks City Council heard a presentation about the 2018 Hometowne Christmas Parade awards: Best Overall: Hot August Nights Best Float: Pirates of Reno Best Marching Band: Mayor’s Own Marching Band Best Animal Entry: The Parading Arabians Best Vehicle Entry: Half Baked Best Community Group: TIE Sparks Kiwanis and Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada Best Business Entry: Xcape Performing Arts Center Best Costume Group: Washoe County Library System.
• The council proclaimed January as National Radon Action Month to encourage Sparks residents to test their homes for radon, a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas that is the primary cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in smokers.
• Council heard an overview presentation of Nevada Opportunity Zones.
General Business
• Sparks City Councilmembers conducted the biannual review of boards and commission assignments. They can be viewed on the City of Sparks website.
• The council approved the State Legislative Platform as presented. The City of Sparks Legislative Platform and Policies convey to legislators, policymakers, the public and the media where the Mayor and City Council stand in unity on important policy positions. Similar to a strategic plan, the Legislative Platform and Policies also provides a mechanism for staff, the Mayor and City Council to be on the same page and better coordinate implementation of the City’s priorities.
• Sparks City Council approved the city’s membership in the National League of Cities for calendar year 2019 with dues not to exceed $8,050.48
• Council accepted a $15,350.00 grant from the Nell J. Redfield Foundation to the Sparks Parks and Recreation Department to support the Leisure Without Limits program for calendar year 2019.
• Council approved the 2019 Preventative Maintenance Patch Project Bid that will permanently patch city owned streets that are on the schedule for the next preventative maintenance project. The patching work must be completed before any type of slurry seal application can be placed. The project advertised on November 7, 2018. The City of Sparks received four qualified bids for this project. Q&D Construction submitted the low bid, on November 28, 2018, in the amount of $279,605.00.
• Council approved an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement with the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County for signal timing projects including a $25,000 reimbursement to the city of Sparks. The City will provide staff to assist the RTC in implementing new signal timing into the city of Sparks central traffic system. The Interlocal Cooperative Agreement allows the RTC to reimburse the City of Sparks up to $25,000 of the City’s staff time. The funding for the project is 95 percent reimbursable from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) utilizing Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds. Upcoming signal coordination includes: McCarran in the area of Greg Street to Baring Blvd, Prater from Galletti Way to Pyramid Highway and Sparks Blvd and Vista Blvd in the vicinity of the South East Connector.
• The city council approved an interlocal agreement between the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), city of Sparks and the Sparks Police Department for the management and purchase of the Tyler Technologies Brazos Crash Data System in the amount of $64,577.00. NDOT’s program offers federal grant money to local agencies in order to purchase Brazos Crash Data Systems. The quote covers the purchase of 30 Brazos Crash Data devices, printers and associated accessories. The city of Sparks will be responsible for all of the initial costs; however, after receiving reimbursement from the State of Nevada for $61,348.00 the total cost to the city of Sparks will be $3,229.00. The Brazos Crash Data System allows police departments to upload data collected during crash investigations to the State of Nevada. This data is required to be collected and delivered to the state.
• Council approved paramedic level emergency medical service (EMS) on Engine 31 at Fire Station 3. Stations 4 and 5 (Ladder 41 and Engine 51) have been providing paramedic services since April 2017 and Station 2 (Engine 21) since May 2018. The implementation of paramedic level EMS at Sparks Fire ensures that our residents and visitors are receiving the highest level of pre-hospital care possible, consistent with that provided to the residents of Reno and the unincorporated areas of the County.
Public Hearings
• The council held a public hearing and approved the abandonment of a portion of public right-of-way along 6th and C Streets allowing for additional area for a larger developable lot.
• Council approved an amendment to the Stonebrook Final Design Standards and Regulations handbook for the Stonebrook planned development. The changes include moving and reallocating the acreage designated for various residential, commercial, and business park land uses in the western portion of Stonebrook in conformance with the recently approved Comprehensive Plan Amendment. The proposed amendment also includes consolidation of two neighborhood parks into one larger community park, changes to the summary tables and the phasing section, and associated administrative changes. Additional information can be found here: http://portal.cityofsparks.us/agendas/meeting/414/item/5400
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