Four area mayors discuss local, regional challenges

Four area mayors keep asking themselves where they can expand commercial opportunities within their cities, how to spur economic development, what to do about housing needs and where funding for roads will come from.

Some questions keep them up at night.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson, Carson City Lori Bagwell and Fernley Mayor Neal McIntyre met Tuesday at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa for the second annual conference for the Certified Commercial Investment Members of Northern Nevada Chapter to discuss taxes, departmental needs, economic outlook and quality of life.

Moderator Cory Miller, sales manager of Stewart Title National Commercial Services, asked each mayor to describe the changes, challenges and accomplishments they’re most proud of in the past year, as well as some of the growing pains each city is experiencing.

Schieve, in her third term, said Reno has been receiving grants for light rail from among $42 billion available to the Federal Railroad Administration for improvement and safety projects. She also referred to a partnership with the Regional Transportation Commission to pilot a micromobility pilot project to enhance the use of bike lanes, cycle tracks, lane closures, restriping and protected intersections in Reno’s downtown to help reduce traffic. But she needs everyone to work with the local government.

“You guys are mini-mayors,” she said. “You have the same jobs we do. You have to go out there and sell your products, and the infrastructure is a big piece of that and working locally with your city can make a whole world of difference for me because there are things we can really do well. I just continue to keep seeing red tape. That is so frustrating.”

Bagwell said it was important for Carson City to remain “rural and rustic” as her Board of Supervisors constantly works to row its boat in the same direction.

“We don’t have anyone to argue with except for ourselves,” she said. “We don’t always agree … but I’m most proud that we have to do it together as a team and no one holds grudges.”

She said she likes becoming known as the region’s “art mayor” with Carson’s recent Mark Twain Days Festival, a three-day event celebrating author Samuel Clemens’ legacy, helping residents and visitors embrace the capital in a new way.

Bagwell also said her concern is to make sure she and her Board of Supervisors keep from becoming insolvent as state law requires cities to maintain a 4% ending fund balance. According to the fiscal year 2024 tentative budget, the city’s financial policy is to maintain a minimum of 8.3% of annual expenditures with a goal of 16.7% as an operating reserve in its general fund. To date, the tentative budget shows an ending fund balance of $9.8 million, or 11.2%, with expected .5% incremental increases to 13% through fiscal year 2028.

“I don’t know if anybody else has that much strength,” Bagwell said. “We’re having a really tough time because our revenue’s at the flatline. I need ‘east Reno’ (Sparks) to help me.”

McIntyre, who took office four months ago, is a former Lyon County School Board trustee who was term limited and decided to run because he “likes to see things get done.”

But staffing is one of his city’s greatest challenges. Fernley is hiring for a city manager, assistant city manager and human resources manager.

McIntyre said roads, traffic, sewer and storm drains all present problems in Fernley since the city sits along the Truckee River and Interstate 80.

“One thing that keeps me up at night is consolidated tax and the quality of service,” McIntyre said. “What can we provide to the citizens of Fernley? What more growth will bring more revenue, but will that revenue be enough to provide basic services for our community?”

“We don’t have any problems in Sparks,” Lawson joked, except that Washoe County and the city are out of land to develop further.

Later, he urged CCIM’s audience to watch the Legislature and some of the unfunded mandates accompanying bills under consideration. Miller asked him to address rumors of Sparks’ intent to move its industrial center away from the Truckee River.

“It’s not a rumor,” Lawson said. “It’ll be away from the floodplain, and you’ll be closer to Storey County where the employment is. … It helps us solve some of our fiscal issues that the state Legislature has never had in running a local government.”

Lawson said Sparks is in a “perpetual state of growth” that has supported and encumbered protection of natural resources.

“We think we’ve got one of the greatest gems in all of America in the Truckee River,” he said.

Schieve was asked about homelessness in Reno, which she said was connected to mental health and addiction and said the cost for providing services has been “astronomical” since the pandemic. She recalled the pain of losing a brother last year to overdose and the difficulty of finding proper treatment for him.

“I said no one is going to live along the (Truckee) river,” she said. “It puts all of us at risk. … I feel very differently about it today. We’ve got to provide access to mental services.”

Miller asked Bagwell about updates to the Ormsby House. Bagwell replied she would be excited to see something done with it during her administration.

McIntyre said it would be important to honor the traditions and rural ethic of Fernley’s ranching history.

“Over the two decades ranching has declined and growth has begun, again, from the prior session, balancing the growth takes good staffing, good planning and attracting opportunities for developers,” he said, adding the area would like to see more retail development.