City Of Reno: City Of Reno Limiting In-Person Meetings Due To Rising COVID-19 Cases

Press release from the City of Reno:

01/04/2022 4:11 PM

Based on the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the community, the City of Reno is limiting in-person meetings to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Starting this week, the City is transitioning to hosting public meetings in a virtual environment whenever possible. Per the CDC, you are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 when you attend indoor events.

Reno City Council and Planning Commission meetings will still be in a hybrid format, allowing for in-person public comment. However, the majority of the City’s boards and commissions will be meeting virtually on a temporary basis. Public comment will still be available for all virtual meetings. The City of Reno will ensure all public meeting agendas clearly identify a virtual link and directions on how to participate. 

COVID-19 numbers in Washoe County and statewide increased significantly this past week in terms of daily new cases:

• The Washoe County Health District reported 410 new cases on Friday, which was the most new cases reported in a single day since January 7, 2021. 
• The 7-day moving average has increased to 244.1 cases per day since December 26, when that number was at 97.4 (a 150 percent increase). 
• The results of the most recent University of Nevada, Reno’s Truckee Meadows wastewater testing also showed a significant increase in occurrence of COVID-19, with Omicron being the predominant COVID-19 variant in Washoe County.

City of Reno facilities will remain open for business during their normal hours of operation, including Reno City Hall and Parks and Recreation programs. The State has continued mask requirements in indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status, in Washoe County and other counties listed as high or substantial transmission risk by the CDC.

Reno City Council meetings

Reno City Council meetings will still allow attendees to make public comment in person, but those who can participate virtually are encouraged to do so at this time.

Those wishing to submit public comment virtually have several options:

• Submit an online public comment form found at Reno.Gov/PublicComment.
• Provide public comment via Zoom. People will need to register in advance using the Zoom link on the agenda prior to the meeting. 
• Send an email to publiccomment@reno.gov.
• Leave a voicemail at 775-393-4499.

Community meeting on Neon Line District will be virtual only

Related to the City’s decision to limit in-person meetings to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, the upcoming community meeting on the Neon Line District will now be virtual only. This meeting, which will be held on Monday, January 10, 2022 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., was originally set up as a hybrid meeting, meaning the public would be able to attend either in-person or virtually. However, the meeting will now be held virtually only. Residents can register to participate virtually by Zoom.

The project is a mixed-use entertainment area in the western portion of downtown Reno, which the developer is calling Reno’s Neon Line District. The City is hosting this community meeting to discuss the Neon Line District project, the associated development agreement, and the downtown land development process in general.

A significant portion of the meeting will be devoted to questions and answers. All virtual attendees will have an equal opportunity to participate. Additionally, we are accepting questions prior to this meeting so that we may be able to incorporate much of the concerns in our opening presentations.

The community meeting on the Neon Line District will also be broadcast on the City of Reno YouTube page.

This press release was produced by the City of Reno. The views expressed here are the author’s own.