Sparks Mayor Geno Martini

March 1, 2010

Sparks State of the City Address

Good morning, and welcome to Sparks and my fifth state-of-the-city address.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge our City Council, along with some of the people who help us get things done:

I want to point out that our City Council has had to make some difficult choices in the last few years. They have been steadfast in their commitment to Sparks, and I appreciate that. Each has embraced their job with a lot of heart and conviction when it comes to moving our city forward.

I also want to thank United States Senator Harry Reid, John Ensign, and Congressman Dean Heller for their support throughout the last year. It is good to know we have such dedicated people in Washington to look after us.

I also want to take this opportunity to remind our residents to participate in the Census this year, beginning April 1, one month from today. The Census is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to be counted. Our state has a tremendous opportunity to add a new seat in the U.S. Congress, and receive more of our fair share of federal dollars to pay for the vital programs that help serve our less fortunate residents, and build the infrastructure projects that help maintain our quality of life. Please fill out your Census forms on April 1.

This year, I am not going to single out the success of any specific department, as every city employee has played a role in our accomplishments. I do however, want to take a few moments to reflect on the last decade - and what a decade it has been for our great city.

In October 2000, the city completed and opened the Sparks Marina. Once an environmental disaster and eyesore, the giant gravel pit was transformed into a magnificent park for the city and region. Every year, thousands of residents and visitors flock to the Sparks Marina for a variety of recreation purposes. From boating to fishing, swimming to scuba diving, a place to walk, jog, or simply experience the outdoors, the Marina has become the icon of Sparks.

In 2006, the city opened the Larry D. Johnson Community Center, the second center of its kind in Sparks. This popular facility houses the Boys and Girls Club and has become a safe haven for many nearby youth.

In 2008, I had the privilege of throwing the first pitch at the Golden Eagle Regional Park and Sports Complex. When it comes to softball tournaments, the park is the envy of the west coast. 1.4 million square feet of artificial turf encompass the 140-acre park that brings one million people annually, along with countless softball tournaments, and youth baseball and football leagues.

In 2009, the Whitewater Park at Rock Park opened to the public. This beautiful venue has not only enhanced the environment and natural surroundings along the Truckee River, but is a welcomed addition to the first-rate services that the City’s Parks & Recreation Department provides today, becoming another outstanding recreational attraction in Sparks.

And thanks to all of the offerings of the Sparks Galleria, Sparks Crossing, Spanish Springs Town Centre, and the other commercial businesses bordering the Pyramid Highway corridor, we are keeping residents shopping in Sparks.

Last June, we cut the ribbon at the opening of the Legends at Sparks Marina. This successful redevelopment project has transformed the economic and tourist-based landscape of northern Nevada. Legends shopping features some of the top brands, 35 of which cannot be found anywhere in the Truckee Meadows. This magnificent project brought immediate employment to our area, and has brought optimism during a depressed time. It is a beautiful project and wonderful addition to our city that will help put Sparks on the map. I also want to congratulate the Legends for being awarded the 2009 business of the year from the Sparks Chamber of Commerce. Work will continue in the days to come as construction of a new 13-screen movie theatre and IMAX gets underway.

And speaking of redevelopment, despite some setbacks at downtown Victorian Square driven by the national recession, our redevelopment plans move forward. We are taking the necessary steps to advance development of this important area that has become known as a regional gathering place.

The City has purchased property, demolished buildings, acquired the right-of-way, and remains committed to bringing the necessary improvements and infrastructure to downtown Sparks in order to attract the development which will help us move forward.

Later this year, we will build the north – south street couplet that will connect Avenue of the Oaks to Victorian Avenue and set the stage for future retail and restaurant opportunities.

The world needs to know that Sparks remains open for business. We want to work with developers and business people who have innovative ideas and concepts to bring to the region. We are committed to doing what it takes to help you succeed in Sparks. We all know what the Sparks-Reno area has to offer – we just need to work harder to raise awareness despite the limited dollars we have available. I know it is not easy, but it is necessary. The video you saw at the start of my address is available on DVD, and on our website and YouTube. Copies of the video are on the table in the back at the conclusion of the today’s program.

I also want to acknowledge Prime Stor for their commitment to revitalizing Paradise Plaza in Redevelopment Area Two. Completed in 2009, this important project has improved the community appearance and has brought back a sense of pride for residents who live in one of the more seasoned areas of Sparks. I appreciate very much the work that was done to improve this area.

Throughout the last decade, we have expanded our special events, which are bigger and more popular than ever. The fact is, today, we are known for our events. Attracting a million people to Victorian Square, our events have created an image of Sparks as a place where it is happening.

That is why I think it is imperative that we embrace our new brand concept and move forward with its implementation. I want to acknowledge the City’s Tourism and Marketing Committee; Councilman Ron Schmitt, Councilman Ron Smith, and Stephen Ascuaga, for their commitment to this important venture.

Our branding campaign is the kind of project that is not always easy to explain in a newspaper article or 10 second soundbite on TV.

This is a strategy to help position us for a stronger recovery.

The fundamental purpose of creating a brand for Sparks comes down to one word - cash.

Considering the current state of the economy, it is imperative that we take the time to solidify our brand and begin to build it in the hearts and minds of our residents and visitors. By branding our community now, we are raising awareness about what Sparks has to offer.

Our goal is to give our visitors a reason to spend their money in our local community; at our hotels, casinos, restaurants, events, shopping centers, and entertainment outlets, ultimately establishing the groundwork for future visitation.

Over time, the branding process will help to guarantee that Sparks becomes known as the place where there is always something happening with great restaurants, nightlife and entertainment.

The Tourism & Marketing Committee has empowered a special group of business and community leaders known as the Brand Leadership Team, to move forward and implement this brand. Because the committee is comprised of business owners and leaders in the region, each member has a vested interest in the success of the program and understands how important it is to the City’s economic vitality. As volunteers, their commitment to this process is genuine. They are wasting no time in moving forward to streamline our event application process, identify potential new events, and have spent countless hours finalizing the new city logo that you see behind me.

To date, no dollars from the general fund have been used to pay for this program. Only tourism and marketing funds derived from hotel room taxes have been used to pay for this campaign. These funds are restricted to tourism and marketing uses only.

Beginning in late 2006, the Truckee Meadows began to see a softening in the local economy. The downturn was initially expected to be short lived, but as months passed, it became apparent that economic challenges would be long term, and would cause our state and local governments to rethink our roles, and retool the services we provide.

Last year in my address, I stated that 2009 would be a good year if the economy hit the bottom. It didn’t. Nor is there any guarantee that 2010 will provide economic stability. Our current forecast shows that next year, 2011, likely offers the most optimistic picture of our economy stabilizing.

For decades, the City of Sparks has shared in the tremendous success of the economic growth of our great state. We now realize however, that Nevada was never immune to a recession, certainly not one as deep as this. The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is upon us, and our state and region have been hit harder than ever before.

During the last three years, we have dealt with unprecedented and serious fiscal challenges. There has been no population increase, little development, and unemployment is hovering around 13 percent or more. No growth, no jobs, translates to no dough.

We have seen 33 consecutive months of declines from taxable sales, 23 months of double digit declines through last November. Just reported last week, December sales tax numbers decreased 9.2 percent, breaking our double-digit streak. Property tax revenue, consolidated tax revenue, and fees and permits combined are down 6 percent from last year.

As we move into the new fiscal year on July 1, property tax revenue is a serious concern. As new property assessments take effect this year, it is estimated that Fiscal Year 2010-2011 property tax will decrease close to 11 percent for Sparks. This is due to a decline in values of both commercial and residential properties. The assessment reduction is a loss of about $2.3 million to the city’s general fund.

The time has come when local governments, and Sparks is no exception, must undertake some soul searching and identify the core services that are important and required for their citizens. We must chart a course that helps us establish a more realistic and practical organization with the appropriate resources to provide for essential services, and the health and safety of our residents. We cannot be all things to all people. We cannot say yes to every request.

The hard fact that we must come to terms with is that we need to plan deliberately for a future that will look very different from what we envisioned a few years ago.

It is not just the recession and the state of the economy that are affecting local governments; these are symptoms of a much larger dilemma we face.

The decline in property values is to the point where it is extremely unlikely to return to levels achieved during the housing boom. Our state’s tax structure needs serious reform, and now! We can no longer be dependent on property and sales tax accounting for nearly two thirds of our operating revenue.

The state legislature needs to stop capping revenue growth for city and county governments, and stop imposing unfunded mandates on them.

And most importantly, I believe cities and counties across our great state need more autonomy. After all, local governments are the closest to the people, not the state government, and not the federal government.

And so, it is imperative in my view, that our state legislators allow the cities and counties a seat at the table and allow us to be part of the solution. Let’s work in a constructive and collaborative fashion. Local governments, and Sparks is no exception, are operating at a bare-bones level.

In March 2007, we had a peak of 644 full time employees. Through attrition, voluntary separation programs, and the difficult task of layoffs, today we have a workforce of 500, a 22 percent decrease.

Our current general fund budget is 21 percent lower than 2007. We have streamlined and eliminated numerous city services and positions.

We are doing far more, with much less. To highlight one example, in 1985, the city maintained 20.4 lane miles per street worker. Today, one city worker maintains 82.4 lane miles.

It is no surprise that consolidation remains a topic of discussion during the difficult financial struggles of today. The City of Sparks has studied this subject many times over. The fact is, consolidation is not a common occurrence, and results in more failed attempts than successful efforts.

Time and time again, we have concluded that no cost savings can be passed on to our residents by consolidating with another government. The notion that bigger government is a more efficient government is wrong. Just look at the federal government. Look at the state government. The City of Sparks is in a position, being closest to the people, to be the most efficient because we are the most accountable. We certainly support efficiencies and shared services where ever possible to save our residents hard earned tax dollars. But our strength is our ability to have 100 percent oversight of city funds spent on services.

Let me say this as clear as I can - I, along with the Sparks City Council, are committed to maintaining the City of Sparks a full-service city, by providing the necessary public services such a public works, parks and recreation programs, municipal and legal functions, and public safety which include police and fire fighting services.

As I did last year, I am asking our citizens to continue to be patient and understanding. It will take longer to repair our streets, approve building plans, perform building inspections, cut the grass and trim the landscaping at our parks. It will take longer for police and fire response, and for municipal court cases to be processed after a court hearing.

I am also asking our employees to continue to make the necessary sacrifices to keep costs low and save jobs. I, along with my colleagues on the council, have been there to support our employees during good times and I respectfully ask them to help our city during these tough times.

But I do want to add my voice to the ongoing debate on pay for public employees. Here in Sparks, our employees are some of the most dedicated and hardest working members of our community. While many of them have made significant sacrifices, they all deserve to be compensated fairly and equitably.

These remain unprecedented times in the modern-day history of our state and nation.

Last year, I asked our residents to volunteer to help our city. I am very proud to say that many responded to that call.

Our Parks & Recreation Department utilized more than 35,000 volunteer hours, much of which was performed with the Sheriff’s community service program. This program gave us the ability to remove trash, clean up debris, and maintain our parks at a savings of more than a half million dollars. Many of our residents and community organizations have stepped up to adopt-a-park, and others have helped by volunteering with our youth sports programs.

Fourteen parks were adopted in 2009, providing nearly 1,000 volunteer hours. With a reduced budget, it is critical to keep parks welcoming for community use. Our volunteers have helped to keep the parks clean, removed graffiti, and kept a watchful eye on these valuable public facilities. I am grateful to them all.

Many of our citizens have stepped up to answer the call. People like Tom & Bonda Young, owners of the Great Basin Brewery. Last year, they approached the City of Sparks to offer their support in facilitating improvements to Wedekind Regional Park. They helped raise funds for park renovations and spearheaded volunteer opportunities to assist with park maintenance. They plan to continue their efforts to see this park come to fruition. The 270 acre area is one of the last remaining open fields in the City. The park will offer future generations a chance to enjoy a beautiful section of open space right in the center of the City. Tom and Bonda are with us today – thank you both.

Additionally, our staff has aggressively reached out to numerous foundations, civic and community groups, and many others who have responded with their time, money, and in some cases, their equipment and manpower, to help sustain many important city projects and programs.

To all our volunteers throughout our city, from the Clerk’s Office to the Police Department, thank you for caring and sharing your time. You have made a difference. I hope you will continue to help us, and I again call on all our residents to help our city move forward.

And if you cannot help city government, then please help your neighbor. There are countless residents who need help maintaining their yards and homes. There are senior citizens who need support with day-to-day tasks. Volunteers are encouraged to step up to help remove graffiti on private property, especially on sites where the property owners are disabled or elderly.

Join or start a Neighborhood Watch program. We all need to keep an eye out for each other, and make sure our children are protected and safe. Let us work together as a family to ensure that we can continue to enjoy our way of life in this wonderful city.

One of the Council’s top priorities is always to protect the health and safety of our citizens. That is why it is important to ensure we have the appropriate staffing and training levels at our Police and Fire Departments.

While we were successful in being awarded a federal stimulus grant known as Community Oriented Policing Services or COPS grant which will give us 6 new police officers, we still need more law enforcement personnel. For a city our size, the ratio of police officers is 1.8 per 1,000 based on FBI statistics. The City of Sparks is currently at 1.18 per 1,000 residents, well below the national average.

Although understaffed, our police department has been successful in implementing a crime fighting philosophy known as COMSTAT. The program uses crime statistics to identify trends and patterns of crime early on. This allows the department to rapidly assign resources to specific crime trends, thereby reducing the number of potential victims. The result has been a significant decline in calls for service and cases taken, and an increase in the number of arrests in 2009 over 2008.

Last year, major crime was reduced by 7.2 percent. The Police Department is on track to reach a 10 percent reduction in burglaries, robberies and auto thefts. This has resulted in a 5.3 percent reduction in calls for service. Though the number of calls has been reduced, the level of violence continues to increase. In two separate recent incidents, officers of our police department were victims of an attempted murder. The Police Department is still investigating a homicide where both the suspect and victim are juveniles. We cannot continue to provide law enforcement services safely at the rate our citizens expect if we do not find the means to hire more police officers and staff.

Our firefighters are also experiencing challenges with three person staffing on all engine companies, putting a strain on the department and its ability to fight fires in a timely manner. Our fire department staffing is 48 firefighters below the national average, and calls for emergency service have increased from one year ago. And because our fire department has fewer firefighters, response times are slower than the nationally recognized standard.

We must begin a dialogue this year to determine how best to create the revenue we need to provide for the vital needs of public safety.



Last year, the City of Sparks began to embrace the importance of sustainability or “green” projects. We have a responsibility to protect our environment for current and future generations. There is an additional benefit to our green programs which is cost savings. That is why the city has adopted a sustainability action plan. The plan will continue to evolve as new ideas are developed, and new technologies emerge.

Next week, NV Energy will be presenting a rebate check to the city for energy savings from our new photovoltaic, or solar panels, at the Larry D. Johnson Community Center. We can expect further energy savings from photovoltaic projects to be installed at our police station, two of our fire stations, and at Golden Eagle Regional Park to name a few. We hope to make these a reality in the coming years.

Additionally, the city will begin replacing traffic and street lighting with more efficient LED lighting this year, reducing power consumption by about 50 percent.

Much of the cost of these projects was paid with federal stimulus funding from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, and energy rebates from NV Energy.

I want to take a moment also to discuss two key road projects that need to get underway now.

The Pyramid Way and McCarran Boulevard Intersection Improvement Project is currently in the environmental impact phase, which will help to identify a preferred alternative for improving this intersection.

This intersection is one of the most congested and dangerous in the region. RTC future modeling shows that traveling south bound on Pyramid Highway, delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected as far north as La Posada Drive. There have been nearly 400 auto crashes in a three year period.

Another key project is the SouthEast Connector, a north-south roadway connecting south Reno to Sparks, which by the way, has been planned for more than 35 years. The alignment connects Sparks Boulevard to Mt. Rose Highway, and provides a vital north-south link.

The population of the Truckee Meadows is projected to nearly double by 2040. If the connector road is not built, traffic on East McCarran will reach critical capacity within this decade. Gridlock on McCarran creates a domino effect on many key arterials in Sparks and Reno.

The voters of Washoe County approved RTC-5 in November 2008. Both projects were on a short list of priority projects that the RTC committed to move forward if the initiative passed. Funding is available. Jobs have been, and will continue to be created and our local economy will benefit. I respectfully ask the RTC Board to move forward and begin work now on these two critical projects.

And on that note, I do want to express my appreciation to the RTC for moving forward on two other important projects.

I can now answer one of the most frequently asked questions in Sparks - Vista Boulevard from Los Altos to Wingfield Springs is under construction. This widening project has taken nearly 10 years to get started, and will bring traffic relief to many residents who live in the Wingfield and Spanish Springs area. And thank you Councilman Carrigan for being persistent!

Construction of a beautification project on Victorian Avenue between McCarran Boulevard and Pyramid Way is underway. The finished project includes improved pedestrian access, a new bicycle lane, landscaping and lighting. The new look will improve our appearance for many first time visitors and onlookers from Interstate 80. And thank you Councilman Ron Smith for your persistence as well!

Before I close, I want to point out a few people who have given a great deal of their time to the city.

Councilwoman Julia Ratti has been with us for a bit more than a year now, and has brought a fresh perspective and new ideas to our city. She is our representative on the District Board of Heath, and serves as Vice Chair of our Redevelopment Agency. I appreciate very much her advocacy for the residents of some of our older neighborhoods.

Councilman Ron Smith has also been a strong advocate for our city and has taken on some big roles. He is our sole voice on the Regional Transportation Commission. He is also the new Chairman of the Truckee River Flood Project Coordinating Committee. Both committees set policy for critically important infrastructure projects that are vital to our quality and way of life.

Councilman Mike Carrigan has provided a decade of service to our city so far, and has worked tirelessly on water issues. He presently serves as Chair of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority and as Chair of the Western Regional Water Commission. Mike has also served for a decade on the Regional Planning Governing Board.

Mayor Pro Temp and Councilman Ron Schmitt has brought a strong business perspective to the city, and has worked hard as Chair of the Tourism and Marketing Committee, leading the city’s branding project. He is also the Vice Chair of the Regional Planning Governing Board, an important policy board that helps guide the development of our region for years to come.

It is also appropriate to recognize Councilman Phil Salerno who will be retiring from the Council this year. Phil has served his city honorably since 1995. He is a small business owner and dedicated life long citizen of Sparks who has made a difference for us all. Phil has served as Mayor Pro Temp, has served on the Washoe County Board of Health, and has been the city’s liaison on the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority for many years. I appreciate Phil’s service on our Council and his friendship. On behalf of the Citizens of Sparks, thank you Phil.

And finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge City Manager Shaun Carey. As most of you know, Shaun was raised in Sparks - he lives and breathes this city. I meet with him often, and I can tell you that it pains him to present some of the difficult choices we have to make. I appreciate his leadership and commitment to our city.

Again, we are living in a difficult time. But despite these difficulties, we still live in a wonderful city, in a great state, in the strongest nation on the face of the earth. We are a lucky people indeed.

So, while I am hopeful that our best days are yet to come, I am mindful that “hope” is not a strategy. Our strategy to the weather this storm is a multi-layered approach.

Until we see economic stabilization, we will continue to streamline and reduce our costs to meet the fiscal challenges in order to provide the necessary services our residents depend on.

We will move forward with branding Sparks in an effort to reposition our city for an economic recovery.

I continue to ask our residents to volunteer their time and talents in the city of Sparks. And I respectfully ask us all to take care of the appearances of our homes and neighborhoods in our community.

This week, we will be administering our annual public attitude survey. If you receive a call, please take the time to respond. The survey is an important tool for us to gauge how we are doing, and how we can improve.

Thank you for your time today. And don’t forget our website at w w w dot city of sparks dot us, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

God bless you all, God bless our great city, and God bless America.