An annexation item discussed will be an on-again, off-again annexation proposal, which has been circulating around city hall for several months. The council is considering annexing into the city more than 30 acres that lie more than 10 miles east of the Vista Boulevard interchange along Interstate 80. The item was continued from previous council meetings in order for the land owner, Tahoe Reno Commercial, to provide more information to city staff on plans for the land.
The council will also hear another presentation that was continued from a previous meeting. The Sparks All Star Band, a group of local high school musicians who recently performed in Longford, Ireland, will give a report on their trip. Although the students and faculty paid for most of the trip, according to band leader Dwayne Hollenbach, the city’s tourism and marketing committee pitched in several thousand dollars for the venture. The group of Sparks-area high school students were invited by the mayor of Longford Town, Ireland to play their music at the town’s annual Johnny Keegan music festival from Sept. 24 to 27.
About 40 students signed up for the trip at a personal cost of $1,350 each.
The group was not able to present a review of their trip at the Nov. 9 city council meeting due to scheduling conflicts.
In other presentation items, Washoe County School District superintendent Heath Morrison, will give a presentation to the council on school district issues. Morrison was hired as district superintendent during the summer.
Another reappearing topic the council will hear about is an update on the Sparks Citizens Advisory Committee, which was redesigned in September.
In council comment following the regularly scheduled Nov. 9 meeting, council members discussed their efforts to recruit members for this newly reorganized committee. Following the September reorganization, each member of the SCAC must be appointed by the city council. Each city ward must appoint two members of the SCAC as well as one alternate.
The SCAC is tasked with providing citizen input, gathering information, formulating opinions and offering advice on all governmental affairs. It acts in an advisory capacity to the city council.
Regarding other council business, members will consider changing Sparks law to allow for certain types of electric fencing in the industrial area. Currently, electric fencing is illegal.
The potential law change was jumpstarted in April by area business owners who wanted to send a serious message to potential thieves.
According to city reports, a few advances in the electric fence industry prompted business owners to approach the city with the law change request. Their purpose was to keep thieves off their property and out of their storage yards. Advances in fencing materials would allow them do accomplish their purpose humanely.
The fencing, which staff say “poses no medical risk,” would be powered by a 12-volt battery and pulse a current of electricity into the would-be burglar. According to the staff report, the short shock is the difference that makes the fences more humane. The current standard is a constant flow of electricity conducting through the person who touches the device.
The fence would also have to be the second hurdle for a burglar to leap, as the law would require at least a 6-foot tall wall surround the electric device.
The council meeting will be followed by a meeting of the city’s redevelopment agency. This meeting will include a monthly redevelopment status report, detailing the future of Victorian Square redevelopment efforts.
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