On May 30, 2020, a peaceful protest regarding national events involving police forces and minority groups was held in downtown Reno. In the late afternoon, after the event concluded, a large contingent of people defaced the Reno Police Station with graffiti, threw rocks at windows of the building and vehicles parked outside and moved to Reno City Hall where many windows were broken, a fire was set, and the inside of the building was badly vandalized. Sparks Police responded to assist; the condition of civil unrest persisted until past midnight.

Sections 1.30.010 and 2.0.025 of the Sparks municipal Code empower the City Manager to proclaim the existence of a local state of emergency when the City of Sparks is affected by, or in imminent danger of, a public calamity and the City Council is not in session. In cocordination with the City of Reno and Washoe County, both cities and the county imposed a curfew on May 30, 2020, lasting until May 31, 2020, for the purpose of protecting public health, safety, and welfare. Declaration of a local emergency is required before emergency regulations like a curfew may be implemented. 

1. The City Council may ratify the declaration of local emergency as recommended.

2. The City Council may reject the declaration of local emergency and provide further direction to the City Manager.

I move to ratify the City Manager's declaration of a state of emergency in the City of Sparks on May 30, 2020, based on civil unrest in the Truckee Meadows.