City of Sparks Council Takes Giant Step to Promote Economic Recovery

At a recent City of Sparks Council retreat, the City Council requested staff to look at amendments to the development codes to remove barriers to development and job creation.  In response, the city staff prepared a resolution to amend fees for development services such as Special Use Permits, Site Plan Reviews, Code Amendments, and Tentative Maps. 

On October 10^th the Council approval the resolution with an added specific review period of six months and fee caps which limit collects not to exceed current amounts.

Currently, there are three types of Special Use Permits:

• Major
• Routine
• Minor.

These three delineations are based on the amount of staff time typically devoted to the type of special use permit. For example, a major Special Use Permit for a new casino in the TC (Tourist Commercial) zoning district. A minor Special Use Permit might be an amendment to a previously approved Special Use Permit. A major requires a $10,000 deposit, a routine is $13,385 and a minor is $7,495. 

Sparks will eliminate the different types of Special Use Permits and simply charge applicants a fee of $120 per hour of staff time. They will require a deposit of $1250  for a Special Use Permit. Staff will be required to track time associated with the entitlement and charge toward the deposit. If the project requires more time than the deposit provided staff will bill the applicant for the remaining fees. 

This is the process used when reviewing Planned Development Handbooks. If less time and materials are required the remainder of the deposit will be refunded (as is with a handbook review process.)  Under no circumstance will the fees exceed the current fee schedule.

The Site Plan Review fee is very similar to that of the Special Use Permit. Currently there are two types of Site Plan Reviews: routine and minor. The fee associated with a routine Site Plan Review is $6,975 and a minor is $4,250. The purpose of a Site Plan Review is to determine whether a proposed use, building, structure addition or change to any building, structure or use will conform to the zoning ordinance, building and fire codes. 

The Site Plan Review insures development provides an acceptable project serving the interests of public health, safety and general welfare. The Site Plan Review process is an administrative process and does not include public hearings. The Council approved removal of the two types of Site Plan Reviews and will require a deposit of $1,250 to move through the process. Again, this $1,250 deposit would be time and material based and requires staff to track time to charge against the deposit. If City costs exceed the deposit amount the applicant would be billed for the remaining charges.

Lastly, the Council approved revising the fee for review of an expired Tentative Subdivision Map. The fee is currently $16,050. As described above with Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review, staff is proposing a fee for review of an expired Tentative Subdivision Map based on time and materials with a deposit of $1,250.

The Builders Association of Northern Nevada applaud the City of Sparks for the insight and leadership in promotion of the economic stability and job creation.

Recharge Nevada Summit on Economic Development

Leaders from the City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County, Nevada Office of Economic Development,  Nevada State Office of Energy, UNR and EDAWN are coming together tomorrow the Recharge Nevada Summit on Economic Development.

The Summit is taking place November 17, 2011 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center from 4:00p to 7:00p. 

The round table discussion is seeking concrete, actionable advice that can  be incorporated into the planning for a regional approach to economic development. 

The intent behind Recharge Nevada is to:

• Create formal and informal structures and processes to pursue economic development effectively and collaboratively on a regional basis; and
• Cooperate on the preparation of a regional economic development plan to respond to the economic challenges and opportunities facing northwestern Nevada; and
• Develop regional and public-private partnerships and responses to Assembly Bill 449 and to work in close cooperation with the State of Nevada.

To learn more about the submit, visit http://www.rechargenevada.com/. 

Congress Needs to Reinstate Higher Loan Limits

Statement from NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen on the Need to Reinstate Loan Limits

Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev., issued the following statement regarding the need for Congress to pass legislation to reinstate the higher loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration that expired on Sept. 30:

"Legislation pending in the House and Senate will restore the higher mortgage loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration and is essential to help stabilize the nation's housing financial markets.

"The FHA program is fully self-supporting, and a great example of a public-private partnership with lending institutions. Restoring the loan limits will provide millions of potential consumers in markets throughout the nation access to safe, affordable mortgage financing.

"To help mend the struggling housing market, stabilize home values, provide constancy while private investors re-enter the market and ensure that millions of creditworthy home borrowers can access the best possible mortgage rates, Congress must support this bill to help American families and get the lackluster economy moving forward."

NAHB Fall Construction Forecast Webinar

Below is a message and invitation from David Crow, NAHB Chief Economist. Please join us this Wednesday for thoughtful analysis and insight at what’s ahead for the housing industry.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the housing market has continued to struggle towards recovery, we’re starting to see bright spots. NAHB/First American’s new Improving Market Index (IMI) tracks metropolitan areas where economic recovery is underway. At the Fall Construction Forecast Webinar, I, along with Joel Prakken and Robert Denk, will take a look at regional markets and address questions like:

·  Are house prices back in line with incomes?

·  Is multifamily rental production the bright light at the end of the tunnel?

·  How will mortgage rates react to debt reduction plans?

·  Have tighter underwriting requirements increased the cancellation rates for new home sales?

·  Is acquisition, development and construction credit more accessible?

·  Are there markets that are improving? Where?

I’m looking forward to the opportunity to discuss these issues and take your questions. Join us on Wednesday, October 26 at 2:00 PM ET for two hours of thoughtful analysis and a look at what’s ahead for housing. Register now at www.nahb.org/CFW.

Nevada Department of Transportation Developing 50 Year Plan

Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is working on a series of transportation workshops to develop the 50 year plan. The workshops are titled “Connecting Nevada: Planning Our Transportation Future”.

First meeting:

• November 16, 2011 –1pm - 3:30pm
• NDOT Offices
• 310 Galletti Way
•  Sparks, Nevada

The Connecting Nevada Plan (formerly the 50-Year Transportation Plan) is a comprehensive statewide

multi-modal planning effort with the goal of improving communication and coordination among partner agencies, geographic areas, and planning efforts. The intent of the Connecting Nevada Plan is to develop an umbrella framework that coordinates and integrates the results of the multitude of planning efforts into a unified, consistent vision.

Through this Plan, the individual goals of various studies, focus areas, and state, regional, and local plans can be synchronized into a concise set of larger, multi-modal transportation goals. Furthermore, the Connecting Nevada Plan provides a broad structure for previous ideas to be reconsidered under changed conditions. The intent is not to replace existing plans, studies, or processes but to enhance their effect across the transportation planning spectrum.

The concept originated from the Nevada Statewide Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (STTAC) as a means to identify and preserve priority right-of-way corridors for transportation. During the Connecting Nevada Plan process, the participating stakeholders recognized the opportunities associated with a coordinated planning structure and process across transportation disciplines and modes, as well as, the ability to better identify priority right-of-way corridors as originally intended. The Connecting Nevada Plan is mid-way through a two-part, multi-agency development process. The Connecting Nevada Interim Report documents the progress the twenty two participating agencies made to date and illustrates the plan moving forward.

For more information please visit the NDOT website or call NDOT directly at 702-880-8452.

How to Get Involved in the Green Building Program

By: Jess Traver, P.E., and Director of Government Affairs

In 2007, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) partnered to establish a much-needed and nationally-recognizable standard definition of green building.

The resulting ICC 700 National Green Building Standard™ is the first and only residential green building rating system to undergo the full consensus process and receive approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Standard defines green building for single and multifamily homes, residential remodeling projects, and site development projects while still allowing for the flexibility required for regionally-appropriate best green practices.

How can builders get involved in green building?    

For builders who want to become more involved in the Green Building program, we recommend taking Green Professional classes.  The Certified Green Professional designation recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes.  Class work leading to the designation provides a solid background in green building methods, as well as the tools to reach consumers.

Certification is provided by the NAHB. Copies of the Standard, a companion commentary, and other publications related to the Standard can be purchased online. A free Green Scoring Tool compatible with the standard is available on the certification side of the NAHB Green website.

For residential buildings, four threshold levels - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald - allow builders to quantify and qualify green building at all levels. At the Emerald level, the highest rating for a residential green building, a building must incorporate energy savings of 60% or more.

To comply with the Standard, a builder or remodeler must incorporate a minimum number of features in the following areas:

• ·         Lot and site development
• ·         Energy, water, and resource efficiency
• ·         Indoor environmental quality
• ·         Home owner education

In order to attain a higher level of green certification by the NAHB Research Center, a home must accrue successively higher levels of minimum points in every category – the highest level of certification is dictated by the lowest category score level.

In my next blog, I’ll share with you detailed tables that highlight the point values required in each area for green buildings.

Have you participated in Green Professional classes? What did you think?

IRS and Department of Labor are Cracking Down!

Heads up! 

The IRS and the US Department of Labor are embarking on an enforcement effort to crackdown on “misclassification of employees”. 

This practice (too common in the construction industry) consists of the use of “1099 – Independent Contractor” status to pay workers when they do not meet the test for that status.  The rules for determining who is an employee vs. who is an independent contractor can be vague – but just because you want to pay your work crew without paying employment taxes or going to the hassle of withholding/paying their share is not one of the tests. 

Visit the IRS Website to read information about classification of employees.

To decrease the pain of making the transition the IRS has announced a program that offers substantial reduction in penalties IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY BEING AUDITED.

Industry Bulletin | Single Project Limit Increase Takes Effect

This bulletin just arrived in our inbox from the Nevada State Contractors Board, and we wanted to spread the word.

Please read and share with our friends in the industry!


"Assembly Bill 32, which revised the provisions governing the process for a single project limit increase takes effect October 1, 2011.

Specifically, AB 32 amends NRS 624.220 to read that a request received by the Board from a licensed contractor to increase the monetary limit of his or her license for a single construction project must be submitted to the Board at least 5 working days before the date on which the licensed contractor intends to submit a bid for the project and must be approved by the Board before the submission of a bid by the contractor for the project. The previous process allowed a contractor to submit a request at least 2 working days before the date on which the licensed contractor intended to submit a bid for a project.

The Nevada State Contractors Board will begin adhering to this statutory change effective October 1, 2011. NSCB will continue to keep industry groups informed as the policy is finalized.

Should you have any questions, please contact either of our main offices for more information:

Las Vegas/Henderson                               Reno
2310 Corporate Circle, Suite 200             9670 Gateway Drive, Suite 100
Henderson, NV 89074                               Reno, NV 89521
(702) 486-1100                                           (775) 688-1141


We hope you find this information useful, and would welcome you to begin following us on our social media sites listed below, where additional information concerning the Board, industry news, and industry-related events will be posted regularly.

Thank you very much for your continued interest in the Nevada State Contractors Board!  We look forward to better serving you!"

Multi-Jurisdictional License for Reno, Sparks and Washoe County

By - Jess Traver

I recently received a note from Bob Webb, Planning Manager for the Washoe County Department of Community Development, advising me about the implementation of a multi-jurisdictional license for the three jurisdictions – Reno, Sparks and Washoe County.

The license would allow a business operator (e.g., a builder or a contractor) who performs business within two or three of the jurisdictions to obtain his/her initial license at one location; essentially, a one-stop-shop for obtaining a license.


The operator would go to the jurisdiction wherein the business office is located, submit the normal license application, and the jurisdiction will collect license fees for all three jurisdictions at that time and review/inspect the license as normal.  Once the license is approved, that jurisdiction will notify the other two jurisdictions, who will then issue their license. The process will create one primary point of contact, making the process that much more efficient.


The renewal process remains the same; however, the hope is that one single application will be of benefit to business operators who need licenses to operate within Reno, Sparks and/or the County.


The County is sharing the process with the building community and seeking feedback from business owners. You can join the process on Friday, October 7 from 9:00am to 10:00am at the Washoe County Complex on E. 9^th Street, Building A.


I hope you can join us!

Midyear Construction Review

Home sales statistics around the country continue to point to a slow recovery of the economy. History will show that after a sharp dive, it takes time, even years – for the market to turn around.

Is that true today in Northern Nevada? What does the future hold for Nevada’s housing industry?

Yesterday, the Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN) hosted the Midyear Construction Review. Mark Krueger, Senior Vice President of Land Division at Grubb & Ellis|NCG, discussed existing conditions and future trends in the residential market, and also provided an update on home sales and recent land purchases in the area. 

“Market conditions remain very challenging but with land prices at 25 year lows, builders and investors are finding opportunities that make sense.”

If you missed Krueger's presentation, you can download it here. 

The Review also featured a presentation from Brian Bonnenfant, Project Manager, Center for Regional Studies at UNR. Bonnenfant addressed Nevada's most recent unemployment figures and pointed to a growing population in Washoe County. To download Bonnenfant's presentation, click here. 

Bob Nielsen, Chairman of NAHB, also addressed the pent-up demand for new homes that will in turn drive the housing market, as well as the actions needed in Congress to create an upward movement in the housing industry. 

Finally, we've included video of the local media coverage from KTVN Channel 2.. 

We will post articles from KRNV News 4, the Reno Gazette Journal and the Northern Nevada Business Weekly as they are made available. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Builders at 775.329.4611.

OSHA Fall Protection Requirements Clarified

Many contractors in Nevada have been recently perplexed after the federal OSHA granted a three-month phase-in period to allow residential construction companies additional time to comply with its new directive (STD 03-11-002).  This directive does not apply to residential construction in Nevada.  There is no change to the way residential construction companies do business in Nevada relative to fall protection requirements.

The State of Nevada, under an agreement with OSHA, administers the federal OSHA occupational safety and health program regulations within the state and enforces standards contained within 29 CFR, Part 1926 (construction).  The state did not, however, adopt the federal interim fall protection standard enacted by federal OSHA in 1995.  Essentially, that interim standard allowed a contractor to use alternative fall protection and work procedures without showing infeasibility or greater hazard and without a written fall protection plan.

Nevada residential construction workers in areas six feet or more above lower levels must be protected by conventional fall protection (in other words, guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems) in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13).  If an employer can demonstrate that the fall protection required under 1926.501(b)(13) is infeasible or presents a greater hazard, it must instead implement a written, site-specific fall protection plan meeting the requirements of 1926.502(k) and obtain Nevada OSHA approval of the plan (consistent with requirements of STD 03-11-002 effective June 16.)

Remember -- the three-month phase-in period in the federal OSHA directive does not apply to the Nevada OSHA program.  Contractors in Nevada will continue to operate as we have in the past.

-Jess Traver, BANN Director of Government Affairs

RENO C-CORE MEMBERS, COACHES AID NEVADA VETERAN

Marine Sergeant Dylan Gray knows the definition of a hero. Ask him, and you’ll hear him cite the hundreds of volunteers who participated in the construction of his new home. Ask those volunteers, however, and each of them will recognize Sgt. Gray as theirs. 


Sgt. Gray returned to his home in Nevada without legs after his deployment in Iraq, the result of an injury received when his Humvee drove over the pressure plate of an IED. Husband and father of three small children, he and his family are living in a two story home in the rural town of Wellington, nearly 2 hours south of Reno. Confined to the first floor of this home because of his injuries, Sgt. Gray had difficulty caring for his family and participating in the daily life we all take for granted.


The Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN), affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders, and an intermediary partner of the C-CORE (Construction Coaching Opportunities to Reach Employment) program, saw that assisting Sgt. Gray and his family was right up its alley. C-CORE is an innovative mentoring and coaching program that partners mentors (coaches) and students aged 16-18 (members) for a year, encouraging them to explore industry careers, set life goals, and participate in community service projects that reinforce their connections to their local community and to others. 


Partnering with Homes for Our Troops, a nationally recognized charitable organization that builds adapted homes for disabled veterans, BANN helped to secure land, contractors, subcontractors and materials to build “A Home for Sgt. Gray”. Embraced by the community and by the industry, hundreds of volunteer laborers and tradesman participated in a community “Build Brigade” weekend in mid-March that took the home from a slab to a completely framed, roofed and sheathed structure in just three days.


C-CORE members and coaches hauled building materials, cleaned up and recycled surplus building debris, served food as part of the “chow line”, and even built a dog house for the Gray family pooches. The participation of the C-CORE volunteers freed up valuable skilled labor that was needed to meet the ambitious 3-day building schedule. 


C-CORE members represented a broad spectrum of volunteers, and hailed from a number of Northern Nevada schools and referral sources. Without the enthusiastic participation of C-CORE, a home for Sgt. Gray would still be a dream. Because of the involvement of the Reno C-CORE volunteers, the Gray family will be enjoying a home for a true Nevada hero by early summer.

BANN helps build a new home for a disabled veteran

Hundreds of volunteers will converge in Wellington Nevada tomorrow as the Builders Association of Northern Nevada (The Builders) and Homes For Our Troops come together to build Marine Sgt. Dylan Gray a new, specially adapted home at no cost to him. Sgt. Gray lost both of his legs in Iraq and is not able to get around his current home to help his wife care for their three small children.

“I’m overwhelmed by the generosity and support of the community, even in such difficult financial times,” said Teri Scharosch, director of operations at The Builders. “A vast majority of the building materials, supplies and hours of labor have been donated by companies right here, in Northern Nevada.”

The three-day “Build Brigade” will begin with a brief ceremony tomorrow at 8:30 am. The group of volunteers hope to take the home from bare foundation to a weather tight home by Sunday.

Republicans demand construction defect reform

After many months of focused hard work and meeting with Republican and Democrat legislators, we finally had a HUGE breakthrough. Assembly Republicans included construction defect reform to specifically protect builders and subs from automatic attorney fees in their list of five demands for change that the Democrats will have to agree to before they would consider supporting any tax package.

- Change construction defect law to protect contractors and subcontractors against lawsuits.

This is a big step for our industry toward the chapter 40 reform we so desperately need. Read more in the Las Vegas Sun article: Republicans issue list of demands to be met before they’ll talk taxes

We also received a bill draft last week. It is currently under review by the Legislative Counsel Bureau. We're keeping a close eye on it and will keep you posted.


What can you do? How can you get involved?

1- Attend our General Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, March 9th for an update from Bruce King and Jay Parmer. Bruce King, of Pete King Nevada, is the chair of the Coalition for Fairness in Construction. Jay Parmer is the Legislative Strategist/Lobbyist for The Builders. Register online or download a flyer.

2- Send us a letter addressed to Nevada Legislators telling your personal experience with construction defect. Tell them how your business, your family and your employees have suffered because of this unfair law. We will continue to fight for you but we need your voice to be heard - 100 voices together makes a lot more noise than just one!


Related Construction Defect News:
Prosecutors are suspected of leaking sensitive information about the investigation of fraud involving Nancy Quon and valley homeowners associations. Quon is an attorney who is believed to have been involved in rigging home owners association elections in order to file construction defect lawsuits. Quon reportedly made over one hundred million in these HOA construction defect suits. Read more about Nancy Quon's Construction defect investigation.