Sparks City Council Highlights June 9, 2025

Julie Duewel
Communications Manager
jduewel@cityofsparks.us
(775) 353-7894

Sparks, NV - The following are highlights from the June 9, 2025, Sparks City Council meeting.

Announcements, Presentations, Recognition Items, and Items of Special Interest:

• Taylor Adams, President and CEO of EDAWN, presented the organization's annual update, highlighting key economic development achievements and future initiatives.
• RSCVA CEO Mike Larragueta and Future Partners Research Director Alexandra Molin presented the 2024 Visitor Profile Study findings, the 2024 Brand Health & Advertising Tracking study, and the Resident Sentiment report on tourism awareness and initiatives.
• Soulful Seeds founder Earstin Whitten presented on the organization's efforts to create healthy neighborhoods, increase fresh food access, foster independence, and build social connections.
• Mayor Lawson proclaimed the following:
  • June 19 as Juneteenth Day to honor the end of slavery in the United States and celebrate African American freedom, resilience, and cultural contributions.
  • The month of June as Pride month to recognize and celebrate the contributions, diversity, and equal rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
  • The month of June as Scoliosis Awareness Month to raise awareness about scoliosis, promote early detection, and support those affected by the condition.

General Business

City Council appointed:

• Mike Carrigan as the Sparks representative to the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board of Trustees through June 30, 2029.
• Scott Benton to the Sparks Civil Service Commission for a three-year term ending June 30, 2028.
• Tracy Gale and Megan Mentzer to the Sparks Parks and Recreation Commission, each with terms ending June 30, 2028.

City Council approved:

Council accepted the City Manager's performance evaluation, including specific goals and performance expectations, and approved a 3% salary increase and a $5,000 performance bonus. However, the city manager has chosen not to accept the performance bonus.

Council approved:

• A resolution to augment the FY25 budget by $5,714,035.00 in aggregate to provide appropriations for the General Fund, Impact Fee Service Area 1 Fund, Parks and Recreation Fund, and the Municipal Self-Insurance Fund.
• A $3,847,279.54 reimbursement to the City of Reno for Sparks' share of a $12,264,200.00 contract with KG Walters Construction Co., Inc. for the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) Filtration Process Improvements Project. Additionally, the Council approved a $1,434,270.00 agreement between Carollo Engineers, Inc., and the City of Reno for engineering services during project construction, with Sparks' share being $449,930.50.
• A reimbursement to the City of Reno for Sparks' share of a $1,962,420.00 contract with EMCOR Services Mesa Energy for the TMWRF Bleach Building HVAC Project. Sparks' share is $615,611.15. Council also approved a $70,440.00 agreement with CR Engineering and the City of Reno for engineering services during project construction, with Sparks' share being $22,097.03.

Public Hearing and Action Items Unrelated to Planning and Zoning

• Council held public meetings and approved:
  • The FY 2025-2029 Community Development Block Grant and Home Consortium Consolidated Plan, the City of Sparks Citizen Participation Plan, and the FY 2025-2026 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan, with an estimated cost of $1,695,869.00, for submittal to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  • A resolution authorizing the Financial Services Department to establish an interfund load to the Community Development Block Grand Entitlement Fund, the Community Development Block. Grant Fund, and/or the Sparks Grants & Donations Fund, from the General Fund as needed during FY 26. They also approved a resolution authorizing the Financial Services Department to establish an interfund loan to the General Fund from the Motor Vehicle Maintenance Fund of the City of Sparks as needed during FY26.
  • An agreement between the City of Sparks and the Sparks Police Protective Association for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, with an estimated cost increase of $31,201 in FY26 and $358,290 in FY27.
  • Agreements for professional legal services with the following firms on an as-needed basis for the remainder of FY25 and FY26: Marquis Aurbach, Fisher & Phillips LLP, Pisanelli Bice PLLC, Lemons Grundy & Eisenberg, and Simons Hall Johnston PC.

Planning and Zoning Public Hearings and Action Items

Council held a public meeting and adopted a bill to amend section 20.02.013 of Sparks Municipal Code to require approval of a conditional use permit for new construction and intensification of existing drive-through facilities, and section 20.03.016 to modify use standards for drive-through facilities.