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Record of Proceedings

Sparks City Council Meeting - August 11, 2025: Proclamations, Opioid Settlements, Water Reclamation Projects

City Council & Boards — Monday, August 11, 2025
BodySparks, Nevada
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateMonday, August 11, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 34:53

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:10

All right, let's call to order the Spark City Council meeting for Monday, August 11th with a roll call.

0:16

Mayor Lawson.

0:17

Here.

0:17

Council members Abbott.

0:18

Here.

0:18

Vanderwell.

0:19

Here.

0:19

Anderson.

0:20

Here.

0:20

Bibby, here.

0:21

Rodriguez.

0:23

Assistant City Attorney Northington.

0:25

City Manager Louthan.

0:26

Here.

0:26

We have a quorum.

0:27

Thank you.

0:28

Okay.

0:28

Our uh invocation is gonna be given by our city attorney Wes Duncan.

0:36

Please hire us.

0:50

Right.

0:51

So we are we are just uh Mr.

1:05

Rodriguez, will you lead us in the pledge?

1:09

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:14

And to the Republican nation with liberty and justice.

1:28

Sounds like my dishwasher.

1:33

It sounds like my washing machine does a little slingy.

1:40

All right.

1:41

Public comment.

1:42

Do we have any public comment, Mount Clerk?

1:45

We do not, Mr.

1:46

Mayor.

1:46

Okay, anyone in the public wishing to comment this time?

1:49

All right.

1:50

We'll bring it back to the dias.

1:52

Looking for an approval of the agenda.

1:57

Ms.

1:57

Vanderwell.

1:58

I move to approve the agenda as submitted.

2:01

Mr.

2:01

Rodriguez.

2:03

We got a motion and a second.

2:04

Any further discussion?

2:06

Seeing none, please vote.

2:08

Motion carries unanimously.

2:10

Minutes.

2:11

Do we have any additions or corrections to the minutes?

2:13

If not, I'm looking for a motion.

2:16

Mr.

2:16

Anderson.

2:17

Move to approve the minutes from the Spark City Council meeting for July 28th, 2025.

2:21

Miss Bybee.

2:22

I'll second that motion.

2:24

Got a motion and a second.

2:25

Any further discussion?

2:26

Seeing none, please vote.

2:28

Motion carries unanimously.

2:30

All right.

2:31

It's the Diane Vanderwell show.

2:34

7.1.

2:35

Carpenter Union Local 971 Appreciation Day.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Community Engagement████████████████████████24%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████████23%
Pending Litigation███████████████████19%
Personnel Matters████4%
Educator Appreciation███3%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sparks City Council Meeting - August 11, 2025

The Sparks City Council met on August 11, 2025, at 5:52 PM PT. The meeting included proclamations recognizing community contributions, approval of multiple opioid settlement agreements totaling approximately $119,740 for the city, and approval of two contracts for the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF). All votes were unanimous. No public comments were made.

Proclamations & Recognitions

  • Carpenters Union Local 971 Appreciation Day: Mayor Lawson proclaimed August 11, 2025, as Carpenters Union Local 971 Appreciation Day for constructing raised planter beds at the Sparks Senior Center. Union representatives Dave Stolfer (apprentice coordinator) and Jesse Garby (president) thanked the council and noted the union's commitment to community service.
  • Moana Nursery Appreciation Day: The council also proclaimed August 11, 2025, as Moana Nursery Appreciation Day for donating soil, mulch, and tomato plants for the senior center garden. Owner Deanna and manager Brad Troto expressed gratitude and highlighted the nursery's tree donation program (300 trees per year to Sparks).

Consent Calendar

  • The council unanimously approved consent items 8.1 through 8.3 (routine approvals).

Discussion Items

  • 9.1 Opioid Settlement – Purdue Pharma: The council approved participation in a $57 million national settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. Sparks' anticipated share is approximately $103,763 after attorney fees (originally ~$138,000). City Manager Louthan noted the funds must be used for public health/safety related to the opioid epidemic.
  • 9.2 Eight Additional Opioid Settlements: Approved settlements with Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun, and ZTIS totaling nearly $9 million. Sparks' share is approximately $15,976.97, paid in installments.
  • 9.3 TMWRF Heat Loop Boiler Replacement Design: Approved a contract (AC 6135) with Carollo Engineers Inc. and the City of Reno for design and construction management of the near-term boiler replacement project at The Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility. Total contract amount is $882,588, with Sparks' share at $276,867.86. The project addresses a mechanical failure that compromised heating capacity. Design is 90% complete; construction award expected September 8, 2025.
  • 9.4 TMWRF Mobile Organic Biofilm Technology: Approved a contract (AC 6136) with the City of Reno and Nuvoda LLC for licensing and equipment for mobile organic biofilm technology. Total amount is $778,000, with Sparks' share at $244,058.60. The technology was successfully piloted over 18 months and will treat 20-25% of the plant's flow.
  • 10.1 MOU with Police Supervisors (SPSPA): Approved a memorandum of understanding (AC 6137) between the City and the Sparks Police Supervisory Protective Association (lieutenants). The MOU corrects education incentive pay by incorporating the 8% bachelor's degree pay into base salary and reducing the master's degree premium from 10% to 2%. It also updates health benefits language for retirement separation. No direct financial impact.

Key Outcomes

  • All motions passed unanimously.
  • The city will receive opioid settlement funds subject to restricted use.
  • Design and procurement for the TMWRF heat loop and biofilm projects are authorized to proceed.
  • The MOU with police lieutenants is effective upon approval.

Council Announcements

  • Councilmember Rodriguez was congratulated on his promotion to State Fire Marshal.
  • Councilmember Anderson highlighted successful city events: Hot August Nights and the Wild West Watercross (championships in Sparks).

Meeting Transcript

All right, let's call to order the Spark City Council meeting for Monday, August 11th with a roll call. Mayor Lawson. Here. Council members Abbott. Here. Vanderwell. Here. Anderson. Here. Bibby, here. Rodriguez. Assistant City Attorney Northington. City Manager Louthan. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. Okay. Our uh invocation is gonna be given by our city attorney Wes Duncan. Please hire us. Right. So we are we are just uh Mr. Rodriguez, will you lead us in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republican nation with liberty and justice. Sounds like my dishwasher. It sounds like my washing machine does a little slingy. All right. Public comment. Do we have any public comment, Mount Clerk? We do not, Mr. Mayor. Okay, anyone in the public wishing to comment this time? All right. We'll bring it back to the dias. Looking for an approval of the agenda. Ms. Vanderwell. I move to approve the agenda as submitted. Mr. Rodriguez. We got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, please vote. Motion carries unanimously. Minutes. Do we have any additions or corrections to the minutes? If not, I'm looking for a motion. Mr. Anderson. Move to approve the minutes from the Spark City Council meeting for July 28th, 2025.

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