Reno City Council Member Allegedly Violates Travel Expense Policy

Reno City Council member Miguel Martinez potentially violated travel policies during his attendance at two separate conferences. Documents obtained by This Is Reno suggest discrepancies in Martinez’s submission of travel documents and expenses, raising questions about accountability and adherence to city regulations.

Martinez’s first trip to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund conference in New York City in July 2023 drew attention due to several apparent policy breaches. Despite registering for the conference and purchasing airfare in April 2023, Martinez failed to submit a travel request form until August 8, more than three weeks after his return. Furthermore, his expense report was submitted a week later, raising concerns about the accuracy of reported costs.

Analysis of Martinez’s expense report revealed discrepancies, including the misrepresentation of lodging expenses. While Martinez listed his lodging at $492.15 per night, the receipts attached showed a lower actual cost of $455.62 per night. Moreover, his estimated expenses of $2,231 contradicted the nearly $4,000 spent by August 8, with airfare costs excluded from his travel request despite being paid for using a city credit card.

Additionally, Martinez’s failure to provide a reason for staying in New York City two days after the conference, with allegations of traveling with family for sightseeing purposes during this period, has raised further questions regarding the legitimacy of his expenses.

In a separate instance, Martinez’s attendance at the National Recreation and Parks Association conference in Dallas, Texas, in October 2023 also faced scrutiny. Despite submitting a travel request form on November 8, nearly a month after the trip, Martinez’s estimated expenses of $2,760 included lodging costs based on the GSA rate for Austin, Texas, rather than Dallas, the conference site.

Concerns have over the approval process for Martinez’s travel expenses, with questions lingering about oversight and adherence to city policies. While City Council member Naomi Duerr expressed confidence in the council’s adherence to travel policies, calls for transparency and accountability regarding Martinez’s travel expenses have intensified.

Efforts to obtain clarification from Martinez and city officials regarding the alleged violations have met silence.