Carson City Supervisors grant special permit for church

The Board of Supervisors Thursday reversed an earlier decision by the Carson City Planning Commission and granted a special use permit for a new church.

The planning commission in March denied an SUP requested by Jose and Elizabeth Hernandez to build an 8,766 square-foot church on a one-acre site on Clear Creek Avenue near Silver Sage Drive.

The commission found it didn’t meet certain requirements, including not being a detriment to surrounding properties, not creating traffic problems and fitting into the purpose of the area, which has been zoned single-family, one acre.

The board of supervisors didn’t concur, and granted the appeal brought by Robert Lauder, RL Engineering, the project designer.

But the board’s motion included certain conditions, including the addition of berms and an outside masonry wall, gates or chains on one of the exits, and a commitment not to house a school there.

In addition, the board said it would investigate ways it could curtail commercial traffic on nearby Arthur Drive, a big concern for several residents near the proposed church who spoke during public comment.

The board also passed a resolution that allows the city to launch the process to apply for bonds for $5.3 million in energy-saving projects.

The projects were outlined in an energy audit conducted by Ameresco and are to be paid for through energy savings identified by the consultant.

The city is applying for its own federal qualified energy conservation bonds as well as authority to take over unused QECB bonds held by the state and Washoe County to finance the projects.

The projects include replacing boilers at the courthouse, new air conditioning controls at city hall and interior LED lighting at more than two dozen public buildings.

The supervisors approved a master lease agreement with Dell not to exceed $200,000 annually.

The lease allows the city to get zero percent financing for equipment over several years.

“This is a financing methodology not an authorization for you to spend,” said Supervisor Lori Bagwell.

Any purchase more than $50,000 will still need to be approved by the board.

The board approved funding for several special events recommended by the Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee and the Cultural Commission with one exception.

The supervisors decided not to give $6,000 to La Ke Lel Be Pow Wow Committee for its pow wow because the event was not located in the redevelopment district.

It did grant $5,500 to the Brewery Arts Center for its Levitt Amp Summer Concert Series, $6,000 to the Carson City Arts Initiative, and $8,000 to the Mile High Jazz Band for its Jazz & Beyond Music Festival, all recommended by the commission, and $9,000 to RSVP for the Independence Day fireworks, recommended by RACC.

During public comment at the start of the meeting, the city’s new Parks & Recreation director was introduced.

Jennifer Budge said she has worked in parks and recreation for 25 years, including 17 years with Washoe County, where she was most recently park superintendent.

She said her immediate goals were to develop relationships with staff, streamline processes, and do a report card on all the parks.

Maurice White, the Airport Authority treasurer, during public comment told the board the authority passed its 2017 budget with an opening fund balance of $384,635 and an ending fund balance of $312,913.

“I want to put those rumors to rest today that the airport is insolvent,” said White.