Council approves Afton senior housing support, labor pact, $3.2M separation program and multiple contracts

The Sparks City Council on Jan. 27 approved a set of measures to advance a 142‑unit senior affordable housing project, implement a one‑year contract with the firefighters’ union, authorize a voluntary employee separation program and award multiple construction and interlocal contracts.

The council voted unanimously on each item during the meeting, approving: a resolution backing use of funds from the State of Nevada account for the Afton Senior Housing project; a one‑year collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 731 covering July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025; authorization for a voluntary employee separation program not to exceed $3.2 million; and multiple construction and professional services contracts and interlocal agreements tied to streets, sewer and radio system upgrades.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 3454 — Support for use of funds from the State of Nevada account for affordable housing (Afton Senior Housing, 142 units). Motion to approve carried unanimously. The resolution supports a deed restriction reserving 100% of units to senior households at or below 80% of area median income for a minimum of 30 years and puts the City on record supporting the project’s application for Nevada Housing Division funds. - Collective bargaining agreement AC 6087 — One‑year CBA with IAFF Local 731 (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025). Motion approved unanimously. The agreement includes a 5% base pay increase, a $250 base add to support cancer screenings, increases to longevity and uniform allowances, additional education and instructor pay, and other changes described in staff presentation. Total estimated cost increases: $981,352 (general fund) and $24,464 (Development Services Enterprise Fund). - Voluntary employee separation program (authorization) — City manager authorized to establish a voluntary separation program, not to exceed $3,200,000 total (including $2,200,000 general fund and $1,000,000 cumulative from other funds). Motion approved unanimously. Applications were set to be due March 13, with city manager decisions by March 21. - Open‑ended RFP for 306 10th Street — Council approved releasing an open‑ended request for proposals allowing developers to propose demolition, relocation, or rehabilitation of the existing building as part of an affordable housing proposal on the parcel acquired through the Home Means Nevada initiative. Motion carried unanimously. - P25 radio system first addendum (AC 5677) — Council approved the first amendment to the Washoe County P25 radio system interlocal agreement addressing construction and materials cost overruns; Sparks’ proportional share is $247,019 spread across fiscal years 2026–27. Motion carried unanimously. - Construction and professional services contracts — Council approved a set of construction contracts and related engineering services for city infrastructure, including: AC 6090 (M4 Engineering, 2025 CDBG pedestrian infrastructure project), AC 6091 (West Coast Paving, 2025 preventative maintenance patch project), AC 6089 (M4 Engineering, Boise Drive Sewer Interceptor Rehabilitation), AC 6092 (Lumos & Associates, construction support for Boise Drive project). Motions carried unanimously. - Interlocal with Truckee Meadows Water Authority (AC 6093) — Approved reimbursement agreement for water main relocation work (estimated $659,484). Motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters Taken together, these votes advance near‑term capital work on streets, sewers and ADA pedestrian ramps while also positioning a nonprofit developer to use state affordable‑housing funds for an income‑restricted senior project. The labor agreement preserves negotiated pay and benefit changes for firefighters this fiscal year; the voluntary separation program is being used as a personnel‑cost management tool as the city faces a projected FY26 budget gap.

What the council and staff said City staff described the separation program as a cost‑mitigation strategy to reduce the FY26 budget shortfall, with applications and approvals to be handled by the city manager. Jeff Kronk, chief financial officer, outlined the program’s not‑to‑exceed funding and the proposed application timeframe. Staff said the Afton resolution formalizes support for the state funding pathway and the deed‑restriction terms requested by the Nevada Housing Division. Casey Chawla, administrative analyst, summarized project configuration and deed‑restriction expectations.

Next steps - The Afton project will pursue Nevada Housing Division funding and coordinate with Washoe County on a similar resolution expected from that board. - The city manager will issue the separation program details to employees and process applications according to the published deadlines. - Winning bid contracts will move into construction and departmental project management and reporting as scheduled.

Details and provenance This article draws on council presentations and votes recorded in the Jan. 27 Sparks City Council meeting: the Afton Senior Housing presentation by Casey Chawla (transcript at 2025‑01‑27 12:00:00 pm segment), the city manager and CFO remarks on the voluntary separation program (Jeff Kronk), the human‑resources and IAFF presentation and public comment on the one‑year firefighters’ CBA, and multiple project presentations for capital contracts and interlocal agreements.

Ending note The unanimous votes reflect short‑term agreement across the dais on advancing affordable housing, critical infrastructure and a negotiated labor package while the city pursues staff cost‑reduction strategies to address an anticipated budget gap.