Neighborhood Advisory Boards

Wards, Boards, and Projects for Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County

City of Reno Wards

Updates Continued...

Update 4: Council approves Resolution reinstating Neighborhood Advisory Boards as advisory bodies @CityofReno Apply Now and visit your board meeting! http://t.co/6ppKQcDCRQ

Update 3: From the City of Reno Prelights 6. There will be an update, discussion, and potential direction to staff regarding reinstatement of Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs). At the December 10, 2014 meeting, Council requested that a plan be formulated for reinstating a citizen engagement program similar to the City's former NABs program. The primary objectives of the new NABs would be to:

1. Improve communication between citizens, staff, and City Council Members.
2. Provide citizens the opportunity for early engagement on important community and regionally significant issues/projects.
3. Create a venue for citizens to review and provide feedback on certain development projects.

If the recommended program (view the Staff Report for details) is approved, staff anticipates initiating an awareness and recruiting campaign in March. Upon review of citizen applications, NAB members may be appointed at an April Council meeting. The first NAB meeting and NAB member training could take place in May.

Update 2: Here is the staff report. Please review this plan and send your support to launch the program to your council person. PDF STAFF REPORT

Update 1: Council did not get to the vote so rescheduled for Feb 25th at 10am. These are work hours for many volunteers who would participate, but please attend the meeting if you can or send a letter of support to your council representative to show your support.
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Hello Reno City Council,

I usually watch these meetings online from my air conditioned office and don't know how you do it, but came down today to tell a big picture story. I had to leave today's council meeting to help host the Open Trails meetup so prepared this statement in support of Item J2.

As a member of the volunteer tech community, I was surprised when it suddenly became more difficult to follow city plans. After a little research, the reason became abundantly clear. The city's in person teams weren't meeting and processing the information. I have a new appreciation for their work on the NABs and have volunteered with former members over the last year.

Please launch the neighborhood groups with full fanfare. Current legal notice policy and the one by one meetings have not been working out the bugs to get important projects off the ground. You need informed charismatic neighborhood leaders.

I'm going to resist any temptation to dive into any one project or even the topics. Make some funds available to inspire new participation and empower these neighborhood boards to change the tone of neighborhood engagement. Host a neighborhood fair to celebrate these volunteers and achieve the energy we need. 

I'll help with recruitment and organizing but I'm not the only one. The second Reno Citizen Institute meeting was packed again last night. The tone was celebratory and the relationship building prime.