City Council Meeting Highlights

The following are highlights from the December 13, 2021, Sparks City Council Meeting.

Announcements/Presentations

• Boards and Commissions Vacancy Announcements. To submit an application, go to www.cityofsparks.us/getinvolved. – Three vacancies on the Sparks Senior Citizens Advisory Committee for Wards 2, 3 and 4 alternate positions. Each vacancy is coterminous with the appointing elected official. Applicants must be Sparks residents, preferably age 55 or older. Applications will be accepted until Friday, January 14, 2022, at 5 p.m. – Seven vacancies on the newly created Sparks Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board for three- and four-year terms. Board members must reside in the City of Sparks. Applications will be accepted until Friday, December 17, 2021, at 5 p.m.
• Council heard a presentation from the Washoe County Registrar of Voters on the upcoming 2022 elections including information about registration list maintenance, mal-in ballots, ballot procession and election statistics.
• The Council was presented information regarding language that has been added to all City of Sparks department directors’ job descriptions to highlight the importance their leadership of and accountability for pursuing the City’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

General Business

• The Sparks City Council reappointed Clara Andriola to the Sparks Planning Commission for a four-year term, ending 12/31/2025. They also reappointed Francine Burge as the Sparks Trustee on the Sierra Arts Foundations Board of Trustees, for a one-year term ending December 31, 2022.
• The Council heard a presentation from Chief Financial Officer Jeff Cronk on the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for fiscal year 2020-2021.
• Sparks City Council accepted an $3,000.00 internship grant from the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators to provide temporary records management support for the Sparks Fire Department.
• Council approved changes to the City of Sparks Group Health Plan Document to eliminate language on the Back on Track program and to add language to allow continuous glucose monitoring systems to be paid through the pharmacy, effective January 1, 2022, with no fiscal impact.
• The council proposed changes to the Capital Improvement Plans for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022.
• Sparks City Council accepted advice and recommendations provided in a resolution from the Sparks Tourism Facility and Revitalization Steering Committee regarding the expenditure of up to $900,000.00 in lodging tax proceeds for support phase 2 of the Fiscal Year 2022 Downtown Barricades Project.
• Council approved a $176,832.8 purchase of a spare centrifuge conveyor, bowl assembly and feed tube for the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility.
• The Council approved a $420,852.37 purchase of a Jet/Vac used by Public Works Maintenance to flush clogged sewer lines with high pressure water.

Public Hearing

• Council held a public meeting and approved a resolution adopting revised land use assumptions, capital improvements plan and imposition of impact fees for Impact Fee Service Area #1.
• The Council heard a second reading, held a public meeting and approved a bill to amend a section of the Sparks Municipal Code regarding the Regional Road Impact Fee and to approve the Regional Road Impact Fee General Administrative Manual, Capital Improvements Plan and Impact Fees as revised by the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County in October 2021.

Planning and Zoning

• Sparks City Council held a public meeting and amended the final approved plan for the Legends at Sparks Marina, New Urban District to establish sign standards for casinos, modify sign standards for hotels, change multi-family residential density and parking standards, modify parking standards and buffer wall use standards.