In the next two decades, the City of Sparks is expected to grow from about 93,000 residents to 120,000, which makes it a really good time to update the city's master plan. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss has the details.
The master plan will shape a uniform vision on maintaining and improving critical services like transportation, public safety, and utilities. Some components of the current plan haven't been updated in 25 years, and a lot's changed in that time
Adam Mayberry, a spokesman for the city, says that in the past decade alone Sparks has become more than just a bedroom community to Reno.
"It has become a stand alone city with, essentially, all the goods and services that Reno and other municipalities provide," explains Mayberry. "It's exciting to see the growth. We're going to continue to grow. We can't stop that; we know that."
With Tesla setting up shop in nearby Storey County, city officials want to be ready to support the anticipated population growth, which will undoubtedly impact traffic and some aging infrastructure. Before drafting a plan, they hope to get feedback from 2,400 residents, which Mayberry says could be challenging.
"Our residents, most of the time, are not particularly inclined to attend a public meeting or public workshop," Mayberry says. "When we host those, the attendance is very small. We don't want to just hear from, you know, two dozen community members."
That's why the city is putting boots on the ground to meet residents in the community and provide surveys online. Once enough feedback is collected, leaders will roll out their new master plan next fall.