Yerington considers moving business and liquor licenses to annual cycle; standpipe water rate proposals draw questions

City staff presented proposed code changes and fee schedule amendments (Bill #436 and Bill #437 and Resolutions 2026‑05 and 2026‑06) to move business licenses and liquor licenses from a quarterly billing cycle to an annual schedule.

Interim City Manager Jerry Bryant said the change is intended to reduce administrative work for both businesses and staff and to align licenses with the July 1–June 30 fiscal year. The packet includes a recommended conversion matrix with illustrative annualized fees; staff identified that gaming and some quarterly obligations (for example, certain gaming or gross‑receipts fees) would remain on a quarterly cycle. Bryant described a proposed liquor license change that would move from a $100 quarterly fee to a recommended $500 annual fee and added a proposed $50 application fee for new liquor applicants to cover background‑check costs.

On water bulk‑use fees, staff reviewed Resolution 2026‑07 (discussion only) proposing to change water standpipe fees: raising the commodity rate from $2.80 to $5.00 per 1,000 gallons, removing the prior $38.00 charge for the first 15,000 gallons, and replacing the deposit model with a non‑refundable $100 account startup fee and $25 reactivation fee for PIN/reactivation. Bryant said the change is intended to better align fees with administrative and operational costs.

Council heard questions from vendors and residents about whether vendor licenses would cost more, how pro‑rating would work for midyear startups and whether small vendors or seasonal operators would be disadvantaged. Kathy Dini asked whether vendor licenses would cost more or be limited. Bryant said the vendor license questions would be addressed in the fee schedule refinement and that staff could implement pro‑rated fees during transition.

These fee and code changes were presented for discussion and refinement; no adoption or final votes were recorded at the May 26 meeting. Staff said they would bring refined language and implementation guidance back to council for formal consideration.