Sparks City Council Meeting with Redevelopment Agency Session - October 26, 2026

The Sparks City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, October 26, 2026, starting at approximately 2:00 p.m. The meeting lasted about 27 minutes, followed by a brief Redevelopment Agency meeting that adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Key actions included approval of an attainable housing policy, first readings of two development-related bills, and public comments on RTC transparency, fire safety, and surveillance cameras. The council also recognized outgoing Councilmember Charlene Bybee for 12 years of service.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the agenda as submitted, the minutes of the October 12, 2026 meeting, and consent item 8.1 (no items).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeff Church (RenoTaxRevolt.com): Criticized the Reno Transportation Commission (RTC) for allegedly misleading the public about declining fuel tax revenues. He presented charts showing consistent revenue growth from 2020 onward and cited a December 2025 letter from RTC Director Bill Thomas that reported a 7.94% increase. He challenged RTC to prove his claims wrong and offered to donate $300 to the VFW if they could.
• Gina Cords (Preserve community homeowner): Expressed concern about the North Truckee Ditch corridor through her community, which is overgrown with dry vegetation and poses a fire hazard. She requested the city inspect the corridor, schedule a fuel reduction cleanup before the next fire season, place it on a regular maintenance schedule, and provide a staff contact for coordination between the city and the homeowners' association. She noted the ditch is within a city easement and cannot be maintained by residents.
• Sean Sullivan: Argued that the city's mass surveillance cameras (from Axon) are not secure, citing Axon's own publications about vulnerabilities. He claimed he was delayed for months in obtaining video records and that officers could view footage without proper safeguards. He urged the council to remove the cameras for public safety.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 3504 – Attainable Housing Policy (Item 9.1): Housing Specialist Amy Jones presented the resolution, which creates a policy for using funds reimbursed or donated to the city to support attainable housing. The policy stems from Nevada Assembly Bill 540, which established a fifth affordable housing tier (up to 150% of area median income) and a $133 million state Attainable Housing Account. The City of Sparks is eligible for up to $877,574 in annual matching funds. The policy prioritizes: (1) fee waivers for projects serving households at or below 60% AMI with a 50-year affordability period; (2) fee waivers for projects serving 60–150% AMI with 50-year affordability; (3) land acquisition for attainable housing; (4) other council-approved priorities. Staff will accept fee waiver requests starting January 2027, with allocation by March 31 and June 30. The council praised the effort and unanimously approved the resolution.
• First Readings (Items 9.2 and 9.3):
  • Bill 2863 – Modification of the Miramonte plan development to update public infrastructure requirements for potable water from the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. The development covers 831 acres northwest of Los Altos Parkway and Balmar Drive.
  • Bill 2864 – A development agreement between the city and Silver Sage Manor, Inc. for a 0.889-acre site east of 4th Street and Right Way. Both bills will receive public hearings and final action at the November 9, 2026 meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approval of Resolution 3504, creating the attainable housing policy.
• First reading of Bills 2863 and 2864, set for public hearing on November 9, 2026.
• Announcement of vacancies on the Sparks Civil Service Commission (1 seat) and Planning Commission (2 seats), with applications due November 13, 2026.
• Recognition of Councilmember Charlene Bybee for her 12 years of service, with a proclamation read by Mayor Lawson. Councilmembers thanked her for her contributions, especially to the Washoe County School District.

Redevelopment Agency Meeting

• Immediately following the council meeting, the Sparks Redevelopment Agency held a brief session. The agency unanimously approved the agenda and the minutes of the September 28, 2026 meeting. No other business was conducted, and the meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.