[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6540314,"mediaKeyId","3428720-3241b73b3f81d25da504bb6700e7fbab","parentId",3428720,"title","Council refers sign code overhaul to second reading after public fight over school digital signs","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",21317000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428720-3241b73b3f81d25da504bb6700e7fbab&start=21317&end=21317","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428720-3241b73b3f81d25da504bb6700e7fbab/thumbnail_21317000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6540314/Nevada/Council-refers-sign-code-overhaul-to-second-reading-after-public-fight-over-school-digital-signs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540314-13d65733efe1ceae60973d820cf6c2d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440672&Signature=e8AmmyiZZnZ9nZjKEURWdpw-SsdLxY7YpT0Z5fNA1KMD0up7xyl7RHL1~ObcKNfUUlmNEtHDQP1sZmkwt8KmAKjnrL5qqYS8~vScjK2tSU-~egXARkeOOd4yTYoo-rSkkl7CCXYFZlj2-fzGGKTCEGh8geeZ3O4ey8eYqwbLkszjinqLDsFoBMfcl99Li6iQwFkbWsoyil3sgldQC~-zOQF56KowkzaJWcr65B5c3jU0YVvTpphDiDGDNTLJ7TdEWF-7RHuJ0dU~jpj7~g8fqkhokRecBI~xLcrV6QsAbw4mXelwJZpsYJZd130~4Wtw-zjZSd-8xtnV25V5wIznYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Reno, NV","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Reno City Council voted on May 21 to send a major text amendment to the sign chapter of the municipal code for a second reading, after months of stakeholder meetings and public comment and a long hearing in Council chambers. The update would remove the old unrestricted “gaming overlay” unlimited signage allowance except for restricted casino uses, clarify many sign definitions and exemptions, and add new language to address digital and animated signs — including a draft allowance for Washoe County School District digital signs subject to limits staff negotiated with the district.

What the ordinance would change: The draft before council would tidy and consolidate sign rules in Title 18 (the zoning code), standardizing entitlements, clarifying which signs are exempt (official or government notices) and updating definitions. Two of the most contested changes were (1) removing an old “unlimited” signage allowance that had applied broadly across the gaming overlay and (2) creating a path for schools to install digital on‑premise signs under specific limits. Staff’s draft allows animated school signs but includes discrete limits intended to reduce noise, glare and traffic distractions: maximum nighttime brightness (a 150‑nits cap after sunset), limited animated/“flip” area (32 sq ft) and a minimum content hold time of eight seconds, plus restricted operating hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Proposed approvals for school signs would require discretionary review when sited near residential properties.

Public testimony and Planning Commission: Scenic Nevada and many nearby residents urged tighter limits — for example, a 15‑minute content hold, operation only while school is in session, a six‑foot maximum sign height, one sign per campus and shorter hours (for example 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Washoe County School District and business groups favored more permissive language, saying schools need a modern, maintainable communication tool and described burdens of manual changeable signs. The Planning Commission offered comments and a recommendation to council for approval with stated modifications; the commission discussed limiting numbers of signs, distances from residences, hold times and emergency exceptions.

Council discussion and outcome: Councilmembers debated balancing school and district needs against neighborhood impacts. Supporters emphasized efficiency and public safety uses (rapidly updating notice for emergencies or schedule changes); opponents stressed neighborhood character, potential distraction and nighttime glare. After public testimony and discussion, council voted to refer the ordinance for a second reading and requested staff refine the school sign limits and other details in response to the comments heard.

What comes next: Staff will prepare a revised ordinance, addressing issues raised (brightness limits, hours of operation, distance from residences, and number of signs per campus) and bring the amended text back for a second reading with a consolidated summary of stakeholder input. Because federal law limits government regulation of content, staff noted restrictions will be time‑, place‑and‑manner‑based (hours, brightness, size, setbacks) rather than content controls.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Reno City Council Meeting - 5/21/25","oneSentenceSummary","Council members referred a broad update to the city sign code to a second reading after heated public comment and lengthy discussion focused on proposed allowances for digital, animated school signs. Scenic Nevada, Washoe County School District, business representatives and residents all urged revisions.","taxTitle","City Council Meetings , Reno, Washoe County, Nevada","taxId",69270,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6540318,"Council moves forward with Stonegate Hines Ranch master plan amendment; zoning change to return site to industrial mix draws debate",122,1474000,1596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428720-3241b73b3f81d25da504bb6700e7fbab&start=1474&end=1596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428720-3241b73b3f81d25da504bb6700e7fbab/thumbnail_1474000.jpg","/articles/6540318/Nevada/Council-moves-forward-with-Stonegate-Hines-Ranch-master-plan-amendment-zoning-change-to-return-site-to-industrial-mix-draws-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540318-62a2da9fb58fc3bf47e1ae55de98e9da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440672&Signature=FbhVhNrQMWXmXqKj1w511nwphT08k4KC9n6xP4QJsLMXOnhMyFvMOEne9gBkhWcEpiQNDDqrNb3P-PgiEFnP7AdCH0aQp6oIsTDmTLFJFJjg21avIlxj7dt6sUjbGQGljLUCR12h4MX1O40uD5brsjA9IrO7Do74FQ8wENbZjFQ44kPEWU365UT5sZaNJcNNkgJdbS~be~BZr9OYkmABgRQOkLrqEPPMIB0U1UZqScNPz1gJzo3XTTE46H59~XryZ8btzo9JooDDH7Fi1Bj5ZjVi0RH1xkugTOjRQ3oM18zy9Zt8mvupmW2Uvxb8SHewOIABYWPVdCQ7r3A5lepSGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved a master plan amendment on May 21 to change land‑use plans for the 1,767‑acre Stonegate / Hines Ranch site north of U.S. 395 in Cold Springs, endorsing a revised mix that reduces residential build‑out and re‑emphasizes industrial and commercial acreage. The proposed revision replaces the 2018 Stonegate PUD approach — which had shifted much of the property toward homes — with a plan that the developer says will be economically feasible and will deliver infrastructure, jobs and public open space sooner.

What the council approved: Council voted to overturn the Planning Commission’s technical denial recommendation and adopt the master plan amendment. The City subsequently referred the accompanying zoning map amendment ordinance for second reading and adoption (a separate legislative step). The change would dissolve the Stonegate PUD and map most of the property back to conventional zones: roughly 923 acres for industrial uses, about 386 acres for single‑family (SF‑5) neighborhoods, 55 acres of general commercial, and approximately 404 acres designated parks/greenways/open space in the applicant’s proposal shared with council.

Why the change was proposed: Stonegate’s development team told council the original PUD residential plan has become economically infeasible because infrastructure costs and construction prices made the earlier home‑heavy plan uneconomic. The developer said switching to a jobs‑heavy mix (industrial and commercial) combined with targeted housing in later phases will stimulate early infrastructure investments (roads, sewer, water) and create near‑term employment and tax base in the North Valleys.

Key issues and council debate: Council and public discussion focused on several recurring concerns:
- Water availability: The city, Great Basin Water Company and Tomah (TMWA) staff explained complex local groundwater conditions and the developer’s claim to 1,700 acre‑feet of perfected water rights. Council members and residents pressed for clearer assurances on long‑term water supply, interties, and whether potable supplies could sustain later phases. Staff noted that any future development will require service commitments and permits from water purveyors and building permits; the city does not have authority to promise water beyond the purveyor’s will‑serve process.
- Traffic and evacuation: Staff and the developer said traffic modeling and regional transportation investments (projects included in the regional transportation plan) would address congestion; the applicant and staff emphasized off‑site improvements (e.g., White Lake Parkway interchange, culvert upgrades under US‑395). Council members asked that the project’s phases align with transportation improvements and evacuation planning underway for the valley.
- Compatibility and buffers: The developer proposes a 100‑foot park/open space buffer between industrial uses and adjacent residential zoning; council members pressed for stricter transitions in places where industrial abuts current residences and for guarantees on landscaping and noise mitigation.
- Jobs and housing balance: Supporters — including the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and local builders — argued the plan restores regional industrial land needed to attract high‑paying employers and keep jobs in the Truckee Meadows; they said the mixed plan would create thousands of construction and permanent jobs. Opponents — including several Cold Springs residents and community groups — said the plan would reduce promised housing, intensify industrial uses near homes, and risk water and quality‑of‑life impacts.

Planning Commission and public outreach: The Planning Commission initially voted a technical denial and recommended denial to the council after public testimony and commissioner concerns about quality‑of‑life and compatibility. City staff and the applicant provided multiple rounds of outreach and revised materials during the months‑long review; staff maintained that the proposed plan is substantially consistent with the city’s master plan goals for employment, infrastructure, safety, and open space, and can meet required findings.

Outcome and next steps: The council-approved master plan amendment moves the proposal forward; the zoning map amendment was referred for a second reading and adoption, which requires a separate ordinance vote. Staff noted that any specific development — industrial buildings, residential subdivisions, or mixed‑use parcels — will still require entitlement reviews, environmental and drainage reviews, and separate permits to address site‑specific traffic, water service, grading, and buffers before construction can proceed. The council also asked staff to keep the public informed about water and evacuation studies referenced during the hearing.","The council voted to approve a master plan amendment reverting the 1,767‑acre Hines Ranch/Stonegate site to a mix emphasizing industrial and commercial uses, with substantially fewer homes than prior PUD plans. The vote followed months of public meetings and debate over water supply, traffic, open space and regional benefits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6540322,"Reno and regional fire chiefs report progress on shared dispatch, evacuation planning; ask for next steps",896,3154000,4050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3428720-3241b73b3f81d25da504bb6700e7fbab&start=3154&end=4050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3428720-3241b73b3f81d25da504bb6700e7fbab/thumbnail_3154000.jpg","/articles/6540322/Nevada/Reno-and-regional-fire-chiefs-report-progress-on-shared-dispatch-evacuation-planning-ask-for-next-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540322-2b92c6f6c9b24ffd99e042b1b07085b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440672&Signature=JOI-er7-GKVA3~cSn9Bj9MSye9EpFnhoNqHvm8JN7TSENDnErDFocjlKFwza1winGCmYKpWM~-bo8Izh9IqxB4VO7gFzQQkG51wG6hu07IWhtKMsulEoXeTJGgxJwZ2mYbDrTGt~3wtZPbmgTXxbxlLog-GHLi4o8uLRR5Whx0HujQmo2kfvRC3TR0dnK4fnTBuoxO3mSFT0FuImo0sIN6VnxUko~DGdaR5nqzC2Oz6HuW6q~SyGNTvAju3qy4fCLCLzlzJBSLlcqp6yJpj~A4-P82txjO5~zcugEIAYbnrJvzGqPvTV47bf8qIXZDBXHk-2YR49rRNDTctBwd29Tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Reno and regional fire leaders told the City Council on May 21 that they have moved from discussion to implementation on multiple fronts of a long‑running effort to make fire and emergency medical services (EMS) in the Truckee Meadows faster and more consistent. The update summarized weekly work by an interjurisdictional managers group and operational chiefs, progress on drafting regional operating guidelines, and three near‑term lines of work: (1) unify dispatch routing and implement a shared computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) system (Hexagon) to enable faster, automated aid; (2) prepare a formal, consultant‑led study of regional governance and consolidation options (RFP to be issued by a managers’ committee if the Legislature keeps the study mandate); and (3) build out evacuation planning and route risk analyses for Washoe County and the City of Reno.

Chief David Cochran of Reno Fire said the group had met nearly every week since February and had completed most of a core set of regional standard operating guidelines focused on safety (RIT, Mayday, firefighter safety) and training. Cochran and other chiefs described the Hexagon CAD as the linchpin: once fully configured and tested it will show Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) across jurisdictions and make it possible to automatically route the closest appropriate unit to a call regardless of jurisdictional boundary. Cody Schadl, director of public safety dispatch, said the CAD configuration is still being tested and training up to 1,000 users is required; a September go‑live date has slipped and the vendor now estimates up to a 90‑day push. He emphasized the need for coordinated schedules so testing and training can be finished before switch‑over.

Cochran and the chiefs also described legislative activity: Senator Daley’s Senate Bill 319 (regional fire study/consolidation framework) was on the Assembly floor the same day; the draft as negotiated would require jurisdictions to appoint two representatives to govern the study committee and would permit the RFP process to be managed by that committee. Cochran said the working group had drafted an RFP that could be used once the committee convenes; the RFP would be for a consultant to evaluate operational models, governance options, costs and savings, service levels, and the financial/governance hurdles to consolidation.

Chief Andy Ancho (Reno) presented evacuation preparedness steps the region has started since the Feb. 6 meeting: public education (signups for Rave/Smart911 alerts; promotion of the Perimeter mapping platform for real‑time evacuation maps and road‑closure information), “go‑bag” messaging, and targeted outreach in wildland‑urban interface neighborhoods. He described two funded route/evacuation studies: a City of Reno Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) grant (about $244,000) to do a route risk analysis and entrapment risk assessment focused inside city boundaries; and a privately funded, county‑wide evacuation/route study (approximately $185,000) led by Washoe County with DRI and other subject matter experts to identify the top five countywide evacuation areas of concern. Both studies will use GIS and fire‑modeling to assess road connectivity, neighborhood densities, fuel loads, and potential entrapment corridors.

Questions from council members and the mayor pressed chiefs on interoperability details: how automatic aid will be triggered (currently by dispatch/judgment but Hexagon CAD will enable closer‑resource routing), how emergency alerts and the Perimeter site are used to notify residents, how NV Energy coordinates planned de‑energizations and emergency de‑energizations with fire agencies, and whether dispatch consolidation will include REMSA (ambulance) operations (chiefs said REMSA would be incorporated into a single CAD/dispatch). Chief Cochran and dispatch staff said existing AVL equipment is already on many rigs but those AVLs feed separate CAD systems today; the shared CAD is the key integration piece. Chiefs also reported labor‑group engagement and that an operations subgroup has met weekly to align training and field procedures.

Why this matters: Chiefs framed the effort as a continuum — from mutual/automatic aid (short term) to full consolidation (long term) — intended to reduce response delays across jurisdictional boundaries and to provide consistent public messaging and evacuation guidance. The council and chiefs also flagged preparedness gaps: public awareness of how evacuation alerts will be delivered and which websites (Perimeter, county WebEOC, Rave alerts) will carry official instructions; potential limits of municipal water and other infrastructure in extreme wildland events; and the need to coordinate communications across the three jurisdictions’ communications offices for consistent public messaging during incidents.

What’s next: Chiefs asked council to anticipate appointments to the study committee if the Legislature keeps SB319 in its final form; dispatch staff committed to a detailed Hexagon progress update once the vendor‑testing schedule is final; the two evacuation studies will proceed with the grants/donations already secured and publish findings within roughly a year; and staff said they will return with a plan to consolidate public‑alert signups and to improve outreach on Perimeter and other real‑time resources.","Reno Fire Chief and regional partners gave a progress report on a multi‑jurisdiction effort to regionalize fire/EMS operations, improve dispatch (Hexagon CAD), and study consolidation. Chiefs outlined operational milestones, an RFP for a regional study, and separate evacuation‑route risk analyses funded by grants and private donations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council refers sign code overhaul to second reading after public fight over school digital signs

Council moves forward with Stonegate Hines Ranch master plan amendment; zoning change to return site to industrial mix draws debate

Reno and regional fire chiefs report progress on shared dispatch, evacuation planning; ask for next steps