City Council briefs

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997 | 10:07 a.m.

* ZOO LAWSUIT -- The Las Vegas City Council unanimously approved a 120-day delay in the city's lawsuit against Pat Dingle of the Southern Nevada Zoological Park over the default on a loan agreement signed in 1991. The trial for the lawsuit was set for Sept. 8, but was granted a delay because a tentative agreement is in the works, part of which would allow the zoo to give 240 acres of land in exchange for payments on the loan -- which is now in excess of $144,000.

* GROWTH STUDY -- The Urban Land Institute will get $46,250 in city funds for conducting a study of growth issues. The rest of the $95,000 fee charged the institute is being paid by Clark County and other cities in the valley and will pay for a panel of national experts to visit Las Vegas and conduct a study of the valley. The study should last about a week and is scheduled to start around Oct. 19. The researchers will consult with public and private officials while studying the geographic area and growth's effects on it.

* BILLBOARDS -- Outdoor advertising that exceeds the 672-square-foot limit will have until September 2000 to get into compliance according to an ordinance unanimously passed by the City Council Monday. The previous limitations allowed signs to exceed the limit if they used embellishments, which were not to exceed 128 square feet. However, several signs in the city have embellishments that make the sign much larger than the limit. After residents complained about the abuse of the ordinance, the city agreed to change it.

* ROOM TAX -- Visitors will pay an extra 1 percent in room taxes to help pay for capital projects of the Clark County School District. The city ordinance approved Monday implements Assembly Bill 353, approved by the Legislature in the last session.

* TRUCKS LIMITED -- Trucks will have to avoid residential neighborhoods and use the highway or arterial streets after 7 p.m. according to an ordinance unanimously approved by council. The law does allow for trucks that are delivering something to a residence and for garbage trucks to pick up residential trash. However, Councilman Michael McDonald has introduced another ordinance, that has yet to be voted on, that would limit residential garbage pickup times.