City Council briefs

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1998 | 11:07 a.m.

HANDICAPPED PARKING -- The Las Vegas City Council voted Monday to strike a controversial proposed ordinance that would have shrunk the size of handicapped parking spaces. The move was just a formality because late last month a council recommending committee killed the bill that had been challenged by local disabled rights groups. However, Monday's vote was necessary because the City Attorney's office said it had not received proper notification to strike the item from the council agenda. The measure would have reduced the size of handicapped parking spaces at new developments from a width of 9 feet to 8 feet and also would have reduced from two to one the number of required 5-foot access aisles.

CITY CITIZEN -- Las Vegas Housing Authority board member Dewain Steadman has been named the city of Las Vegas' Citizen of the Month for August. Steadman, a 40-plus year resident of the city was recognized for his community service at Monday's City Council meeting. He has been involved with the Nevada Resort Association and Nevada Senior Coalition and has been active in veterans affairs. Steadman earned a masters degree from UNLV at age 46 and is a graduate of the Metro Civilian Police Academy. He wrote a vocational education program that was adopted by the Clark County School District and served as the program's coordinator for 14 years. Mayor Jan Laverty Jones said Steadman has "brought the (LVHA) board to new levels of vision."

UNLV-TV PACT -- The Las Vegas City Council has voted to increase its grant to the UNLV Greenspun School of Communications by more than $2,000 to continue to fund gavel-to-gavel coverage of City Council meetings and the bi-weekly public affairs show, Las Vegas Town Hall. The $54,000 grant approved Monday exceeds last year's gift by $2,040. UNLV-TV, Channel 4 on Prime Cable, broadcasts and repeats all City Council meetings and airs 24 episodes of Las Vegas Town Hall. The increase in the city's donation will provide additional playbacks of council meetings, city officials said.