Sparks council approves heat-loop reimbursement, three-year cybersecurity contract, HUD report and retiree health MOUs

The Sparks City Council on Sept. 8 unanimously approved a series of operational contracts and routine reports, including a reimbursement to the City of Reno for construction work on a heat-loop boiler project, a three-year information-security services agreement, the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) consolidated annual performance and evaluation report for fiscal year 2024–25, and two memoranda of understanding clarifying health insurance language for retiring police personnel.

The most financially significant item approved was a potential reimbursement to the City of Reno for construction related to the near-term boiler portion of a heat loop project at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility. The council authorized reimbursement to Reno of up to $3,000,000, with Sparks’ share identified in the motion as $941,100. City staff said the work responds to a mechanical failure that disabled portions of the facility’s heating equipment and that long-lead components are expected to arrive in November or December.

The council also approved a three-year agreement (AC-6148) with Summit Partners/Alumen for information security services and maintenance totaling $407,200, payable in three equal annual installments of $135,733.34. City IT staff described the contract as 24/7 security operations center monitoring that alerts staff to suspicious activity and said the service is not connected to state systems.

In a separate vote the council approved the city’s consolidated annual performance and evaluation report (CAPER) for the CDBG program for program year 5 (FY 2024–25) for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Staff reported the city received $688,234 in new CDBG entitlement funds in FY 2024–25, carried forward $115,239 from prior years, reported $125,500 in program income, and had $330,000 in CDBG-CV funds available for pandemic response projects. Staff said some projects were put on hold in January 2025 and that funds for a Deer Park Place play-structure project will roll into FY 2025–26 after bidding is complete.

Finally, the council approved two identical memoranda of understanding (AC-6149 and AC-6150) clarifying language about group health-care reenrollment eligibility at retirement for the Sparks Police Protective Association and the Sparks Police Supervisory Protective Association (sergeants). Human Resources staff said the revisions correct contradictory language and have no financial impact.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of agenda: motion to approve agenda as submitted; mover: Councilmember Rabbit; second: Councilmember Vanderwell; outcome: carried unanimously (Anderson absent). - Approval of minutes (Aug. 25, 2025): mover: Councilmember Vanderwell; second: Councilmember Rodriguez; outcome: carried unanimously. - Consent items 8.1 and 8.2: mover: Councilmember Rabbit; second: Councilmember Vanderwell; outcome: carried unanimously. - 9.1 Reimbursement to City of Reno (Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility heat-loop/near-term boiler project): motion to approve reimbursement not to exceed $3,000,000 with Sparks share $941,100; mover: Councilmember Vanderwell; second: Councilmember Bitely; outcome: approved unanimously. - 9.2 Three-year agreement AC-6148 with Summit Partners/Alumen for information security services, $407,200 total (three equal annual payments of $135,733.34): mover: Councilmember Abbott; second: Councilmember Rodriguez; outcome: approved unanimously. - 10.1 CAPER submittal for CDBG (Program Year 5 / FY 2024–25): mover: Councilmember Vanderwell; second: Councilmember Abbott; outcome: approved unanimously. - 10.2 Memorandum of Understanding AC-6149 with Sparks Police Protective Association (health insurance upon retirement): motion to approve; outcome: approved unanimously. - 10.3 Memorandum of Understanding AC-6150 with Sparks Police Supervisory Protective Association (sergeants) (health insurance upon retirement): motion to approve; outcome: approved unanimously.

What staff said

- Water Reclamation Facility staff reported a mechanical failure of a heat exchanger that compromised the heat loop and led to failure of three of eight dedicated combustion heating units; the city sought to expedite procurement and site work to restore capacity before peak winter conditions. - IT staff described the Summit Partners/Alumen contract as continuing 24/7 security operations center monitoring and said it is not the same system used by the state. - Community services staff summarized the CAPER’s figures for FY 2024–25 (enclosed below) and said some projects paused in January 2025 will roll forward.

Key figures and clarifications (as presented)

- Reimbursement authorization (9.1): not to exceed $3,000,000; Sparks share listed as $941,100. - Information security contract (9.2 / AC-6148): $407,200 total; payable in three equal annual installments of $135,733.34. - CDBG FY 2024–25: $688,234 new entitlement funds; $115,239 carried forward; $125,500 program income; $330,000 CDBG-CV funds (pandemic-related funds); total available FY 24–25 reported as $1,258,973; $342,833.66 expended of entitlement funds; $527,930 obligated; total spent/obligated $870,763.66.

Next steps and implementation

- The reimbursement item was presented as pre-authorization to allow an award once the bid period closes; staff said the Reno City Council approved the same project on Aug. 27 and that equipment deliveries are expected in late fall. - The city will submit the CAPER to HUD as approved; a Deer Park play-structure project will return when bidding is complete.

Ending

All business recorded on the agenda was approved by vote during the Sept. 8 meeting; no item on the record failed. Several items noted scheduling or procurement steps that staff said will proceed following formal award or procurement close.