On January 10, 2023, the Reno Senior Citizen Advisory Committee (SCAC) met at City Hall and found that their agenda had been changed by city staff without their knowledge or agreement. Two very important items that they wanted to discuss and vote on had been changed from “action items” to “information only items”.These changes to the agenda meant they could only listen to information and ask questions but could not make recommendations or vote on them. Open meeting law requires the public to be notified on the agenda if the group plans to take action on anything listed there. If an item is not marked for action, the group cannot take action.
SCAC members had been looking forward to hearing from the senior community and city staff and discussing and making recommendations to the Reno City Council on how the $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds set aside for seniors should be spent. They had been looking forward to hearing from the staff and the senior community about ideas for Paradise Park senior programming and making recommendations to the council.Instead, they were surprised and disappointed when they could do neither. So, what did they do?
As required by law, the SCAC took public comment from all who wished to speak, then voted unanimously not to approve their agenda for this meeting. This means that the meeting had no agenda so had to end. The members felt that it was a waste of time to go forward without the ability to advise the council on these very important matters, so are currently scheduling a special meeting with action items on ARPA funding and Paradise Park. All seniors are encouraged to attend.
Reno City Council met the next day. These were my comments to them:
In 2023, people age 50+ make up 35.7% adults in Washoe County; people age 60+ make up 27.1% of adults in Washoe County per World Population Review statistics.
Washoe County, including Reno, has one of the fastest growing senior populations in the US.
Reno became an AARP Age Friendly Community in June 2018 and has a thriving Age Friendly Action Team made up of over 100 community members working as volunteers with senior-serving agencies to implement its action plan to enhance information outreach, transportation, and affordable housing to improve life for all residents as they age.
The City of Reno used to boast of having the best senior recreation programs in the US. Covid decimated the program, and it has not returned to pre-covid activities. Community seniors have many exciting ideas to improve and expand senior recreation and social activities.
Reno Senior Citizen Advisory Committee (“Committee”) was formed in July 1995 “to advise the city council on matters relating to senior citizens, to support senior-oriented special events and collaborative events that meet the needs of seniors; and, to serve as an advocacy body on behalf of senior citizens in the community.”NV Admin Code, Title 2, Chap. 2.08, Article X. Reno Ord. No. 5615, Sec.1 10-27-04.
The Committee has worked to provide many outreach events for seniorsimproving communication to Reno seniors, supporting Paradise Park Activity Center’s senior programs, attempting to make recommendations on the use of the $1 million ARPA funds set aside by Council for senior programming.
The Committee held its last meeting yesterday. They had to refuse to adopt their agenda because the actions they wanted to take to advise the council on ARPA funding and Paradise Park were changed from action items to information only items. They could not act.
The Committee needs council to direct that the city staff help the Committee to carry out its legal obligations to advise Council on matters concerning senior citizens by providing requested agenda items, by providing information needed by the Committee to carry out its legal duties, and by communicating with them in a timely manner on matters on which they are working.
If you are concerned about what is happening to senior issues at the City of Reno, please call Reno Direct at 775 334-INFO or 775 334-4636 and ask that your comments be forwarded to the Mayor, Reno City Council and the Reno City Manager.
