The following are highlights from the November 20, 2023, Sparks City Council Meeting.
Announcements/ Presentations
- Interim City Manager Chris Crawforth announced the following board and commissions vacancies:
Two vacancies on the Sparks Planning Commission, each for a 4-year term ending December 31, 2027. Applicants must be registered to vote and reside in the City of Sparks.
One vacancy for a residential construction representative on the Sparks Enterprise Fund Advisory Committee for a 4-year term ending December 31, 2027.
One vacancy on the Sparks Civil Service Commission for a partial term ending June 30, 2024. Members must be Sparks residents and cannot be a city employee or related to one within the third degree of consanguinity.
- Mayor Ed Lawson proclaimed the month of November 2023 as Youth Homeless Awareness Month to acknowledge children experiencing homelessness and build awareness of the issue, including its causes and solutions.
- Mayor Ed Lawson proclaimed November 13-19, 2023, as National Apprenticeship Week to recognize the vital role apprenticeships play in creating opportunities and preparing pathways to well-paying careers and enabling employers to develop and train their future workforce.
Council approved:
- The appointments of Karen Damon as the visual arts representative and Clinton Hohenstein as the performing arts representative, each with a two-year term ending November 30, 2025.
- A not to exceed $50,000 contract with Bob Murray and Associates to conduct a national executive recruitment for City Manager.
- Direction of the City Manager to initiate the possible sale of an approximately 0.124-acre parcel located at the southeast corner of Rock Boulevard and C Street.
Council denied:
- A legal services agreement with outside counsel to potentially participate in future litigation addressing impacts to drinking water to be filed against manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers of firefighting foam products known as aqueous film-forming foams which contain polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Council held public hearings and approved:
- The City Attorney’s Office to retain McDonald Carano, LLP as special counsel to represent Neil Krutz in his capacity as the former Sparks City Manager in Mark Lawson v. City of Sparks at a rate of $375.00/hour for work completed by a partner, and $300.00/hour for work completed by an associate.
- The City Attorney’s Office to retain Gunderson Law Firm as special counsel to represent the City of Sparks in Mark Lawson v. City of Sparks at a rate of $375.00/hour for work completed by a partner, and $300.00/hour for work completed by an associate.
- The City Attorney to retain Pisanelli Bice PLLC as special counsel to represent the City of Sparks concerning public records requests and potential pre-litigation issues related to Neil Krutz, at an hourly rate not to exceed $500, not to exceed a total billing of $50,000.
- The memorandum of understanding amending the current collective bargaining agreement between the City of Sparks and Sparks Police Protective Association with no direct cost increase in FY24.
- The amended collective bargaining agreement between the City of Sparks and the Sparks Police Supervisory Protective Association Sergeants for the period November 13, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
- The amended collective bargaining agreement between the City of Sparks and the Sparks Police Supervisory Protective Association Lieutenants for the period November 13, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
Planning and Zoning
- Council held A public hearing and adopted a resolution revising fees for development services provided by the City of Sparks to modify fees for noticing, add a fee for building elevation review, add a fee to recoup actual costs for credit card transaction processing, correct the fees for temporary sign permits and review of expired tentative subdivision maps to match previously adopted fees and update hourly rates for current planning, engineering, and administrative support.
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