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Residents, community groups push back on proposed Eddie lease of Believe Plaza; council debates vetting of unsolicited proposals
Summary
Public commenters urged the council to block a proposed $1 lease of downtown Believe Plaza to the Eddie and defended the plaza’s use for protests and community services; council members asked staff to examine whether the city's unsolicited-proposal process needs clearer vetting and public-notice steps.
A stream of public comments on June 3 focused on a proposed lease of Believe Plaza to the Eddie, with multiple residents and community organizers urging the council to deny any transfer that would limit the plaza’s current use as a free-speech and community gathering space.
Nicole Anagapasis (via Zoom) said she had reviewed the Eddie proposal and found it unnecessary and redundant with existing nearby restaurants and entertainment options. “If this gets in front of you guys and you move forward with it, you’re going to hate your lives,” she said, adding that she would oppose the proposal “over my dead body.” Deborah Galet, speaking by Zoom, told council that the plaza hosts weekly services such as Family Soup and accused Eddie owner Kurt Stitzer — a member of the Reno Redevelopment Agency — of a potential conflict of interest because the RDA approved the proposal to advance. “The demeaning value he has assigned to the plaza is laughable,” she said, and urged council to deny the $1 lease.
Several council members responded not by endorsing the proposal but by asking staff to review the city’s unsolicited-proposal process. Council Member Derer said she had previously submitted a memo and wants the city to consider additional vetting steps so that items do not appear prematurely on council agendas and so the public better understands staff recommendations before an item arrives at the dais. Council Member Eert proposed a simple public-notice step to invite competing proposals and reduce perceptions of private deals. Mayor Shibi emphasized transparency and noted that the current process aims to make proposals public but agreed that improvements could be valuable.
City Manager Bryant told council the Eddie proposal was not on the current agenda and that an attorney-client meeting would occur before item C3. Public commenters said they would continue to organize against any proposal to lease Believe Plaza at nominal cost.
