City of Reno, NV
12/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/11/2025 11:23
December 10, 2025 Reno City Council Meeting Highlights
In our ongoing commitment to keep residents and media informed we've summarized the outcomes of a few key agenda items from Wednesday's Regular Meeting of the Reno City Council. Staff Reports with more information are linked below.
B.7 - Reno Police Approved to Launch Drone as a First Responder (DFR) Program
Council approved a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program for the Reno Police Department (RPD), in partnership with the Real Time Information Center (RTIC). The DFR program will deploy four BRINC Responder drones capable of real-time video, thermal imaging, and emergency communication, arriving on scene before officers. Benefits include enhanced officer safety, improved situational awareness, delivery of lifesaving items, and potential reductions in use-of-force incidents and dispatched calls. BRINC MSI will fund the first-year pilot at no cost, with options to expand, while RPD explores collaborations with the Reno Fire Department (RFD), Washoe County Emergency Management (WCEM), and other City departments. If RPD continues the program after the pilot, costs will be incorporated into the General Fund, with a six-year total of $1,919,980 (Year 1: $0; Year 2: $319,996; Years 3-6: $399,996 annually). The program is expected to launch in April 2026. RPD will come back prior to the next program year with data on the pilot program in order to decide whether or not to extend the contract further.
B.8 - Contract for 2026 Permanent Patch Program
Council awarded a contract to West Coast Paving, Inc. for the City's 2026 Permanent Patch Program in an amount not to exceed $2,100,000. The program is funded through asphalt fees paid by contractors performing excavation work under the Encroachment and Excavation Permit Program. These fees are a pass-through cost collected via permits and used exclusively to fund pavement restoration. The City has used the Permanent Patch Program for more than a decade to ensure consistent and high-quality pavement restoration following utility cuts and street excavations on City streets, as authorized by Reno Municipal Code Section 12.08.040. This standardized approach helps maintain uniform pavement conditions, improves repair quality, and controls long-term maintenance costs as construction activity continues to increase. The contract is an annual agreement and may be extended for an additional one-year term upon mutual agreement between the City of Reno and the contractor.
B.9, B.10, & B.11 - Residential Construction Tax (RCT) Funding Projects
Council approved the following projects being funded through Residential Construction Tax (RCT):
- Hilltop Park Ballfield Lights Project: Council awarded a contract to Summit Line Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $224,225, which includes a contingency for unforeseen issues during construction (RCT District 2 Funds). Hilltop Park, located at 3950 Buckingham Square, has two ball fields with existing light structures. This project focuses on the northern ballfield where existing field lights are in deteriorating condition and present maintenance concern. The awardee will replace the existing lights with new and updated field lights.
- Purchase of Lights for Hilltop Park Ballfield Lights Project: Council approved the purchase of lighting equipment from Musco Sports Lighting LLC in the amount of $162,398 (RCT District 2 Funds).
- Purchase of Prefabricated Bridge for Teglia's Paradise Park: Council approved the purchase of a prefabricated bridge for Teglia's Paradise Park from Wheeler Lumber LLC by utilizing the joinder contract IFP 25-215 with City of St. George, UT, as allowed under NRS 332.195 in the amount of $126,200 (RCT District 3 Funds). Teglia's Paradise Park has a pedestrian bridge on the east side of the park that is due for replacement and does not currently comply with ADA standards. This bridge is on the Parks Capital Improvement Plan and was identified as a high priority for replacement.
B.16 & B.17 - City of Reno Arts and Culture Event and Project Grants for 2026
Council awarded various City of Reno Arts and Culture Event and Project Grants for 2026 through Room Tax Funds. In total, $91,484 was awarded for events and $88,591 was awarded for projects.
The following 18 organizations were awarded Arts and Culture Event Grants: Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts ($6,323), Latino Arte and Culture ($6,253), The Holland Project ($6,113), Nevada Humanities Inc. ($6,113), Asian Community Development Council ($5,763), Artown ($5,693), Wickedwayz ($5,343), Reno Jazz Orchestra ($5,203), Arts for All Nevada ($4,383), Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival ($4,465), Nevada Museum of Art Inc. ($5,063), High Desert Radio Project (KWNK) ($5,063), Laika Press ($2,351), Sierra Nevada Ballet ($4,783), Northern Nevada Rural Concert Initiative ($4,783), Reno Philharmonic Association Inc. ($4,713), Holy Cross Lutheran Church ($4,643), and Sweet Adelines International (High Desert Harmony) ($4,433).
The following 17 organizations were awarded Arts and Culture Project Grants: Arts for All Nevada ($5,623), Build Our Center ($5,553), Asian Community Development Council ($5,483), Latino Arte and Culture ($5,413), Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival ($5,413), Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts ($5,413), High Desert Radio Project (KWNK) ($5,413), Reno Philharmonic Association Inc. ($5,343), Laika Press ($5,343), David J. Drakulich Art Foundation for Freedom of Expression ($5,343), Nevada Museum of Art Inc. ($5,133), The Holland Project ($5,133), Sierra Nevada Ballet ($5,063), Reno Jazz Orchestra ($4,923), A.V.A. Ballet Theatre ($4,853), Reno Little Theater ($4,643), and Bruka Theater of the Sierra Inc. ($4,503).
These City of Reno Arts and Culture Grants challenge arts and culture nonprofits to serve Reno's traditionally under-invested populations and to seek innovative partnerships to attract wider participation. The grant applications ask organizations to demonstrate social impact beyond a traditional audience experience as well as a plan to reach diverse and under-served populations in unique, creative activities or artmaking.
B.7 - Reno Police Approved to Launch Drone as a First Responder (DFR) Program
Council approved a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program for the Reno Police Department (RPD), in partnership with the Real Time Information Center (RTIC). The DFR program will deploy four BRINC Responder drones capable of real-time video, thermal imaging, and emergency communication, arriving on scene before officers. Benefits include enhanced officer safety, improved situational awareness, delivery of lifesaving items, and potential reductions in use-of-force incidents and dispatched calls. BRINC MSI will fund the first-year pilot at no cost, with options to expand, while RPD explores collaborations with the Reno Fire Department (RFD), Washoe County Emergency Management (WCEM), and other City departments. If RPD continues the program after the pilot, costs will be incorporated into the General Fund, with a six-year total of $1,919,980 (Year 1: $0; Year 2: $319,996; Years 3-6: $399,996 annually). The program is expected to launch in April 2026. RPD will come back prior to the next program year with data on the pilot program in order to decide whether or not to extend the contract further.
B.8 - Contract for 2026 Permanent Patch Program
Council awarded a contract to West Coast Paving, Inc. for the City's 2026 Permanent Patch Program in an amount not to exceed $2,100,000. The program is funded through asphalt fees paid by contractors performing excavation work under the Encroachment and Excavation Permit Program. These fees are a pass-through cost collected via permits and used exclusively to fund pavement restoration. The City has used the Permanent Patch Program for more than a decade to ensure consistent and high-quality pavement restoration following utility cuts and street excavations on City streets, as authorized by Reno Municipal Code Section 12.08.040. This standardized approach helps maintain uniform pavement conditions, improves repair quality, and controls long-term maintenance costs as construction activity continues to increase. The contract is an annual agreement and may be extended for an additional one-year term upon mutual agreement between the City of Reno and the contractor.
B.9, B.10, & B.11 - Residential Construction Tax (RCT) Funding Projects
Council approved the following projects being funded through Residential Construction Tax (RCT):
- Hilltop Park Ballfield Lights Project: Council awarded a contract to Summit Line Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $224,225, which includes a contingency for unforeseen issues during construction (RCT District 2 Funds). Hilltop Park, located at 3950 Buckingham Square, has two ball fields with existing light structures. This project focuses on the northern ballfield where existing field lights are in deteriorating condition and present maintenance concern. The awardee will replace the existing lights with new and updated field lights.
- Purchase of Lights for Hilltop Park Ballfield Lights Project: Council approved the purchase of lighting equipment from Musco Sports Lighting LLC in the amount of $162,398 (RCT District 2 Funds).
- Purchase of Prefabricated Bridge for Teglia's Paradise Park: Council approved the purchase of a prefabricated bridge for Teglia's Paradise Park from Wheeler Lumber LLC by utilizing the joinder contract IFP 25-215 with City of St. George, UT, as allowed under NRS 332.195 in the amount of $126,200 (RCT District 3 Funds). Teglia's Paradise Park has a pedestrian bridge on the east side of the park that is due for replacement and does not currently comply with ADA standards. This bridge is on the Parks Capital Improvement Plan and was identified as a high priority for replacement.
B.16 & B.17 - City of Reno Arts and Culture Event and Project Grants for 2026
Council awarded various City of Reno Arts and Culture Event and Project Grants for 2026 through Room Tax Funds. In total, $91,484 was awarded for events and $88,591 was awarded for projects.
The following 18 organizations were awarded Arts and Culture Event Grants: Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts ($6,323), Latino Arte and Culture ($6,253), The Holland Project ($6,113), Nevada Humanities Inc. ($6,113), Asian Community Development Council ($5,763), Artown ($5,693), Wickedwayz ($5,343), Reno Jazz Orchestra ($5,203), Arts for All Nevada ($4,383), Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival ($4,465), Nevada Museum of Art Inc. ($5,063), High Desert Radio Project (KWNK) ($5,063), Laika Press ($2,351), Sierra Nevada Ballet ($4,783), Northern Nevada Rural Concert Initiative ($4,783), Reno Philharmonic Association Inc. ($4,713), Holy Cross Lutheran Church ($4,643), and Sweet Adelines International (High Desert Harmony) ($4,433).
The following 17 organizations were awarded Arts and Culture Project Grants: Arts for All Nevada ($5,623), Build Our Center ($5,553), Asian Community Development Council ($5,483), Latino Arte and Culture ($5,413), Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival ($5,413), Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts ($5,413), High Desert Radio Project (KWNK) ($5,413), Reno Philharmonic Association Inc. ($5,343), Laika Press ($5,343), David J. Drakulich Art Foundation for Freedom of Expression ($5,343), Nevada Museum of Art Inc. ($5,133), The Holland Project ($5,133), Sierra Nevada Ballet ($5,063), Reno Jazz Orchestra ($4,923), A.V.A. Ballet Theatre ($4,853), Reno Little Theater ($4,643), and Bruka Theater of the Sierra Inc. ($4,503).
These City of Reno Arts and Culture Grants challenge arts and culture nonprofits to serve Reno's traditionally under-invested populations and to seek innovative partnerships to attract wider participation. The grant applications ask organizations to demonstrate social impact beyond a traditional audience experience as well as a plan to reach diverse and under-served populations in unique, creative activities or artmaking.
Board Appointments
- Vice Mayor Miguel Martinez was appointed to the Regional Fire Study Board established pursuant to Senate Bill 319
- Daren McDonald was reappointed to the Financial Advisory Board
Other Headlines
- Acceptance of a $5,000 grant from the Reno Aces Foundation to support the Reno Swims Program
- Acceptance of a donation to the City of Reno on behalf of the Reno Police Department for 250 WYZE Security Cameras from WYZE Labs, Inc. Valued at $7,031.81 to assist victims of crime
- Vice Mayor Martinez donates $2,000 in discretionary funds to Friends of Wells to support their mission to provide extensive community outreach to help struggling small minority-owned businesses located within the Wells Ave. corridor.
- City's Finance Department gives an update on the City of Reno's General Fund FY 2026/2027 budget
Reno City Council meetings are streamed live at Reno.Gov/Meetings and televised live on Charter Spectrum - Channel 194. Past public meetings can be viewed on YouTube.
City of Reno, NV published this content on December 11, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 11, 2025 at 17:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]