Sparks City Council meeting highlights

The following are highlights from the December 11, 2023, Sparks City Council Meeting.

Announcements/ Presentations

• Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada Nicole Lamboley and Chief Executive Officer of The Children’s Cabinet Kim Young gave a presentation on the organizations’ collaboration on the Oddie Project.
• Chief Executive Officer of the Nevada Humane Society Jerleen Bryan gave a presentation about their work in the community.
• City of Sparks Special Events Supervisor acknowledged the 2023 Hometowne Christmas parade winners and Grand Marshal.
• Interim City Manager Chris Crawforth announced the following boards and commissions vacancies:
• Four vacancies on the Sparks Senior Citizens Advisory Committee including alternate committee members for Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4. Members must be Sparks residents, preferably over the age of 55. Applications will be accepted until Friday, December 29, 2023, at 5 p.m.
• Four vacancies on the Sparks Citizen Advisory Committee, including alternate committee members for Wards 1, 2, and 4 and a regular committee member for Ward 4. Members must be Sparks residents. Applications will be accepted until Friday, December 29, 2023, at 5 p.m.
• One vacancy for a performing arts representative on the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee to fill a partial term ending November 30, 2024. Members must be Washoe County residents, possess a full understanding of being an arts advocate, and have five years or more experience as an arts advocate. Applications will be accepted until January 12, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Applications for all vacancies can be found cityofsparks.us/getinvolved.

Council approved:

• The appointment of Michael Rawson and Steven Sperber to the Sparks Planning Commission, each for a four-year term ending December 31, 2027.
• The appointment of Douglas Marsh to the Sparks Civil Service Commission for a partial term ending June 30, 2024.
• The Assistant City Manager’s recommendation to appoint Ted Erkan as the residential construction representative on the Sparks Enterprise Fund Advisory Committee for a four-year term ending December 31, 2027.
• A resolution supporting the preservation of the railroad machine shop and erector shop buildings located at 599 Nugget Avenue.
• The FY 22-23 City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the City’s Plans of Corrective Actions relating to the City’s external auditors’ conclusions and recommendations.
• A reimbursement to the City of Reno for Sparks’ share of a construction contract with TNT Industrial Contractors, Inc. for the Steamboat Reuse Meter Vault Addition Project at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility. Sparks’ share is $121,320.34 of the total $386,740.00 project.
• The City Manager to apply for a $225,000.00 grant from the State of Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to fund wildfire mitigation at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility. The grant would fund the mitigation of noxious weeds by utilizing grazing by up to 200 Spanish goats and would require matching funds not to exceed $22,500.00, with the City of Sparks’s share being $8,268.75.

Council held public hearings and approved:

• A resolution to certify a Comprehensive Plan amendment to change the land use designation from Intermediate Density Residential to Multi-Family Residential for an 8.75-acre site located at 3755 Moorpark Court.
• A resolution to certify a Comprehensive Plan amendment to change the land use designation from Mixed-Use District-Mixed Residential to Mixed-Use District-Mixed-Use Commercial for a 5.77-acre site located at 1275 E. Prater Way.