Public urged to vote on council additions
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998 | 11:22 a.m.
The committee recommending whether the Las Vegas City Council should be expanded made a slight about-face Monday when it presented an update to that board.
Despite a vote taken last Thursday that it recommend adding two seats to the board, committee Chairman Ron Portaro said Monday the committee is "not recommending that two wards be added."
Instead, Portaro told City Council, the committee is recommending the matter be left to the residents.
In the motion approved Dec. 17, the committee said it would recommend that City Council add two seats and allow voters to express their opinion in an advisory vote. The vote of the voters was approved as an amendment to the committee's original vote.
The Council Review Committee met again Monday before its presentation to the City Council and decided it would only be recommending the advisory vote.
The committee has been closely watched to see whether it would recommend a salary increase for City Council, vote to make the position a full-time job or increase the number of wards -- and thus, some argue, increase the likelihood of a minority getting elected to the position.
"There seems to be this myth that we are able to create a new ward, district, whatever, for a particular race or ethnic type," Councilman Larry Brown said Monday, referring to past state Legislature efforts seeking to mandate that Las Vegas increase the size of its council from four to six members.
State Sen. Joe Neal (D-North Las Vegas) introduced the legislation that failed by one vote. A compromise bill, which gave the city the authority, but not the mandate, to add council seats was approved instead.
City Council created the CRC in October to study whether it should add seats. The seven-member committee's final report will be made Jan. 11.
The committee is recommending that City Council salaries be increased to 90 percent of whatever Clark County commissioners make. That would increase council salaries from $36,900 to $48,600.
The committee also agreed to keep the salary differential between city councilmen and the mayor at roughly the same percentage it is now. The mayor's position thus would increase from $48,527 to $63,163 -- or roughly $9,100 more than the county commissioners earn.
The committee is also recommending council members be allowed to hold jobs outside in addition to their council work -- a practice currently allowed.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Sarah Palin wasn’t a disaster, but Obama is
- CityCenter’s Mandarin Oriental makes Vegas debut
- Kimbo Slice not enjoying cutting weight for first time
- As national jobless rate improves, LV sees signs of trouble
- AG says any Station Casinos trustee must be licensed by regulators
- Kruger may soon seek more disciplined shot selection
- Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on, March date likely
- Del Sol seeks upset against powerhouse Bishop Gorman
- Sub-freezing temperatures hit Las Vegas
- Jim Gibbons vs. Harry Reid: Health care plan ignites dispute
Blogs
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Great Santa Run: Unofficial 14,595 runners would be a new record
Elsewhere
Rampage Jackson to return to UFC (3 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Superintendents want state to immediately seek Race to Top funds
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: The great Jennifer debate (2 Comments)
The Kats Report
From Eva Longoria Parker to a cluster of execs, crowd takes a shine to Crystals (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Harry Reid's recipe for getting health-care deal done (10 Comments)
UNLV in at No. 11 in SI's college hoops power rankings (3 Comments)
Calendar »
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
- 8 Tue
- 9 Wed
-
Chickenfoot at The Joint
The Joint | 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale at the Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms | 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Great Santa Run at Town Square
Town Square | 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
-
Willie Nelson at Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Cash'd Out at Aliante Station
Aliante Station Casino and Hotel | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Brooks & Dunn at the Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Ron White performs at the Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












