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Record of Proceedings

Sparks City Council Meeting - July 28, 2025

City Council & Boards — Monday, July 28, 2025
BodySparks, Nevada
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateMonday, July 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:08

All right, let's call the order of the Spark City Council meeting for Monday, July 28th with a roll call.

0:13

Mayor Lawson here.

0:15

Council members Abbott.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Manuel?

0:17

Here.

0:17

Anderson.

0:18

Here.

0:18

Bibi.

0:19

Here.

0:19

Rodriguez.

0:20

Here.

0:20

City Attorney Duncan.

0:22

City Manager Louthing.

0:23

Here.

0:23

We have a quorum.

0:24

Thank you.

0:25

Thank you.

0:25

And then we have Pastor Barb West here to give our invitation.

0:51

And this fine council that you've put together.

0:55

Pray that you would bless them and help them as they lead our city.

0:59

And we're thankful too for the people from Truckee Meadows who helps to keep our city so beautiful.

1:07

Thank you, Lord, for the Sparks High School and their reunion.

1:12

We pray that it would be a joyful time and that people might recognize one another, even though it's been a while since they've seen one another.

1:23

So we're calling upon you to fill every one of these council members with your wisdom that they might do the work that's before them to lead our great city forward.

1:37

We pray a blessing over our teachers, our police officers, our firefighters, and all of those who helped to make our city so wonderful to live in.

1:49

Hear our prayer, Lord, in Jesus' name.

1:52

Amen.

1:54

Wes, will you lead us in the pledge, please?

1:57

Yes.

1:59

I pledge leading it to the flag of the United States of America.

2:04

And to the Republican sense.

2:07

One nation under God.

2:10

Liberty and Justice.

2:13

Okay.

2:15

Madam Clerk, we have one public comment.

2:19

Mr.

2:19

Mark Markell.

2:23

Are you wearing a sparks hat today, Mark?

2:25

Yes.

2:25

Not a boy.

2:26

No more Reno hats in the Sparks chambers, please.

2:32

He said you got that for him.

2:51

There we go.

2:53

Man was in critical condition Friday at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was taken for treatment of head injuries after a car crash Thursday, authorities said.

3:01

Mark Markel, 24, was thrown from a 1977 Dotson as it overturned on Live Oak Canyon Road at the eastbound Interstate 10 off ramp at 4:30 p.m.

3:10

said California Highway Patrol Officer Amber Drysdale.

3:13

The driver was driving south on live Oak Canyon Road when he lost control of the car, struck a curb and skidded into the off-ramp.

3:20

The vehicle rolled over several times and landed on top of Mark Markel.

3:26

Thank you.

3:26

Good morning, uh good afternoon.

3:29

Mayor City Council neighbor, city manager, and city attorney.

3:55

And 32 drowned a license.

4:00

So this is bound to happen to me, but it doesn't happen to you.

4:09

God will be allowed to be an example and warn people about getting in their car with the drink jar.

4:21

So please don't thank you.

4:23

Thanks, Mark.

4:25

All right, anyone else in the public wishing to speak?

4:28

Okay.

4:29

We'll bring it back to the dais.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████25%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Waste Management█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████9%
Community Engagement███████7%
Personnel Matters███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Historic Preservation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Sparks City Council Meeting - July 28, 2025

The Sparks City Council met on July 28, 2025, with all members present (Mayor Lawson, Councilmembers Abbott, Manuel, Anderson, Bibi, Rodriguez, City Attorney Duncan, City Manager Louthing). The meeting featured a presentation from Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, a proclamation for the Sparks High School Grand Reunion Weekend, and unanimous approval of several resolutions and agreements.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Agenda: Motion by Councilmember Anderson, second by Councilmember Rodriguez. Unanimous.
  • Approval of Minutes (July 14, 2025): Motion by Councilmember Vanderwill, second by Councilmember Abbott. Unanimous.
  • Consent Items 8.1 through 8.3: Motion by Councilmember Anderson, second by Councilmember Bibi. Unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mark Markell: Read a news report about a car crash involving a 24-year-old man thrown from a vehicle and warned against drinking and driving. Also joked about wearing a Sparks hat.

Discussion Items

  • Presentation – Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB): Executive Director Darcy Phillips reported on 2024 activities funded by the city, including 150,000 pounds of trash collected, 8,000 Christmas trees recycled, graffiti removal, tire abatement, and a new concern about commercial-scale illegal dumping. She noted that Sparks-specific quarterly reports are sent to councilmembers and invited them to request cleanups. Councilmembers discussed the annual litter survey and the upcoming 'Raise the River' fundraiser on August 21, 2025.
  • Proclamation – Sparks High School Grand Reunion Weekend: The mayor read a proclamation declaring August 1-2, 2025, as Sparks High School Grand Reunion Weekend. Alumnus Mike Biselli and others described the event, including a car show, shuttle service, and fundraiser for the high school. The reunion is expected to draw 500-560 attendees.
  • 9.1 – Nevada Main Street Program (Resolution 3472): Development Services Manager Scott Carey presented a resolution supporting downtown Sparks' inclusion in the Nevada Main Street program (exploring downtown level). The program offers a holistic approach to downtown revitalization with grant funding ($700,000 distributed in 2024). Councilmembers expressed strong support, noting no immediate financial impact and the potential for a separate nonprofit entity to administer the program. Motion to approve by Councilmember Abbott, second by Councilmember Vanderwill. Unanimous.
  • 9.2 – Truckee River Operating Agreement Extension (TROA): Utility Manager Rob Bedar presented the second amendment to the joint funding agreement extending the agreement through September 30, 2030, with Sparks' annual share at 10%: $82,000 (FY26), $84,500 (FY27), $87,000 (FY28), $89,500 (FY29), $92,000 (FY30). Councilmember Anderson highlighted the 28-year negotiation effort and the value of water supply stability. Motion by Councilmember Anderson, second by Councilmember Rodriguez. Unanimous.
  • 9.3 – Employee Compensation Correction (Resolution 3471): Assistant City Manager Alison McCormick explained that the approved resolution for management, professional, and technical employees contained an error in health insurance premium data. The amendment corrects this and provides pay range increases for additional positions. Estimated cost increases: General Fund $16,948 (FY26) and $19,719 (FY27); All Other Funds $4,634 (FY26) and $6,652 (FY27). Motion by Councilmember Vanderwill, second by Councilmember Bibi. Unanimous.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous (6-0).
  • Resolution 3472 (Nevada Main Street program) approved; staff authorized to submit application.
  • Second amendment to TROA joint funding agreement approved for FY2026-2030.
  • Resolution 3471 (employee compensation correction) approved.
  • Councilmember Vanderwill requested a future agenda item to discuss data center policy and code.
  • Councilmembers expressed condolences and thanks to police for response to a violent incident at the GSR in Reno, noting Sparks Police assisted with mutual aid.
  • City Manager recognized Public Works team for clearing a glass spill on Prater Way in under an hour.

Meeting Transcript

All right, let's call the order of the Spark City Council meeting for Monday, July 28th with a roll call. Mayor Lawson here. Council members Abbott. Here. Manuel? Here. Anderson. Here. Bibi. Here. Rodriguez. Here. City Attorney Duncan. City Manager Louthing. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. Thank you. And then we have Pastor Barb West here to give our invitation. And this fine council that you've put together. Pray that you would bless them and help them as they lead our city. And we're thankful too for the people from Truckee Meadows who helps to keep our city so beautiful. Thank you, Lord, for the Sparks High School and their reunion. We pray that it would be a joyful time and that people might recognize one another, even though it's been a while since they've seen one another. So we're calling upon you to fill every one of these council members with your wisdom that they might do the work that's before them to lead our great city forward. We pray a blessing over our teachers, our police officers, our firefighters, and all of those who helped to make our city so wonderful to live in. Hear our prayer, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen. Wes, will you lead us in the pledge, please? Yes. I pledge leading it to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republican sense. One nation under God. Liberty and Justice. Okay. Madam Clerk, we have one public comment. Mr. Mark Markell. Are you wearing a sparks hat today, Mark? Yes. Not a boy. No more Reno hats in the Sparks chambers, please. He said you got that for him. There we go. Man was in critical condition Friday at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was taken for treatment of head injuries after a car crash Thursday, authorities said. Mark Markel, 24, was thrown from a 1977 Dotson as it overturned on Live Oak Canyon Road at the eastbound Interstate 10 off ramp at 4:30 p.m. said California Highway Patrol Officer Amber Drysdale. The driver was driving south on live Oak Canyon Road when he lost control of the car, struck a curb and skidded into the off-ramp. The vehicle rolled over several times and landed on top of Mark Markel. Thank you.

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