The City Council approved an agreement in the amount of $32,957 for asbestos removal of the former Mint Casino in preparation for the city's upcoming demolition of the building.
It is part of ongoing efforts by the Sparks Redevelopment Agency to purchase land near Victorian Square to increase the chances of attracting a new developer to the area.
The council voted to accept a $15,000 grant from the Historic Preservation Fund Grant Program to begin the seventh phase of the cultural resources survey of Sparks' historic neighborhoods. The sixth phase of the study considered historic buildings located north of the Century 14 movie theater.
This next phase will possibly consider the historical significance of buildings located west of the theater, but that determination will be worked out between city staff and its consultant. The survey was partly funded by similar State Historic Preservation Office grant awards.
Sparks Mayor Geno Martini read a proclamation that May 27, 2008 is now Bank of Sparks Day. Constructed in 1905 at the western corner of 10th Street and Victorian Avenue, the Bank of Sparks was the first bank in the city. The historic building was added to the Nevada Register of Historic Places in June 2007, and the National Register of Historic Places in November 2007.
City councilmen approved an agreement with the Washoe County HOME Consortium to support construction of affordable housing throughout the area. The HOME Consortium is the chief agency that distributes low-income grants and funds to each of the respective cities and county. Sparks' latest distribution from the Consortium totaled about $221,000, said Victor Villarreal, Planner with the Community Development Department.
The council continued to work on specific aspects of the Sparks Master Plan, which will guide future development in the city. City councilmen approved an amendment to an agreement with HNTB Corporation to increase the contract amount by $39,220 so they can complete the "land use" portion of the Sparks Master Plan. This will outline future land uses in Sparks, taking into consideration all constraints that were discovered when the "conservation" and "public service/facilities" parts of the plan were under development. These parts of the plan have not yet been completed.
Following the city council meeting, the same councilmen, acting as the Sparks Redevelopment Agency, voted to reconsider a new agreement and extension in which to close escrow on city-owned land at the Sparks Marina where a developer wants to build condominiums.
The housing market has taken a beating, and the developer wanted more time to be able to adequately fund and build the condo project.
On May 12, the redevelopment agency voted 3-3 against Marina Landing 2, LLC's request to extend the close of escrow on the 10 acre parcel of land, which effectively rejected the request. However, there was some confusion about what the developer was proposing, and Mayor Geno Martini, who originally opposed the request, voted to reconsider it on Tuesday.
The developer's latest proposal is to take its $75,000 held as a deposit that would go toward purchase of the land, and give half of it — or $37,500 — to the city as a non-refundable deposit. In addition, the developer is proposing to pay the "carrying costs" of the land, which racks up $6,000 a month in fees and interest for the city, from April 1 until the close of escrow.
The developer is asking for an 18-month extension on the close of escrow on the land, when construction is slated to begin.
The developer's proposal was not fully identified on the redevelopment agency's agenda, so the matter will be decided at the June 9 Sparks Redevelopment Agency meeting.
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