Wording key in plan to handle growth

Scott Reeder

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998 | 11:08 a.m.

After almost 18 months of deliberating over the future of the Las Vegas Valley, the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority is seeking help from the Nevada Legislature.

The authority, which was created by the Legislature in 1997 to deal with the effects of growth in Clark County, has developed a long-term strategic plan, which it will present to the Legislature when it convenes in February.

As part of the plan, the authority is pushing for the passage of certain laws.

But the specific language of the various proposals is still in flux, Tracy Cotton, project coordinator for the authority, said.

Some bills have been drafted but they are functioning primarily as "bookmarks" to be modified as the authority members continue to discuss the issues. All proposed legislation had to be submitted by Dec. 15, but the substance of each bill can be changed anytime during the session. The authority is still debating what specific proposals to push.

Here are some under consideration:

* Creating tougher air pollution regulations. The authority is considering asking the Legislature to require that all diesel engines in Clark County undergo smog testing and that the state rather than private businesses operate smog-testing centers.

"This doesn't stand much chance of passing," State Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said. "A few sessions ago, they talked about doing this and it would really hurt the small businesses that do the testing."

Jeff Van Ee, an environmentalist on the authority, said that there may be less cheating on emissions tests if the state runs the testing facilities.

Titus said construction groups, which use diesel-powered machinery, have opposed diesel engine testing because they say they are not significant contributors to pollution in the valley. Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani added , "I wish the authority had looked to see just how many diesel vehicles are in Clark County so we could make a better judgement on how big the problem is."

Van Ee said the authority is still discussing this issue.

* Creating more flexibility in how cities can receive bids on construction projects.

This would allow cities and counties to accept bids for both the design and construction of highways and other projects with a consolidated bid.

"Right now, we are studying the potential advantages and disadvantages of this," Cotton said. "It's an issue that we are still learning more about."

The thought is that this would enable highway projects to be constructed faster because there would not have to be multiple bidding processes.

* Create a system where Clark County and area cities can pool their ability to issue bonds so that they pay a lower interest rate.

The exact mechanism for how this would work has not yet been determined, said George Stevens, Clark County finance director.

But, he said, the object too is reduce the interest rates that cities, particularly smaller ones, pay.

One way it could work is for Clark County, which has a good bond rating, to borrow money for a project in a smaller city, like Henderson, and then that city could pay the county back at the lower rate of interest.

"This sounds like a good idea -- as long as the taxpayers in the bigger entities don't end subsidizing the smaller cities," Titus said.

But Stevens said he is unaware of any city in Nevada that has ever failed to repay its bonds.

* Create a team that will spearhead economic diversification in the valley.

This proposal would create an economic development team that that would include the Nevada Development Authority and state, local, education and business leaders.

The team would work toward creating more economic diversity in Southern Nevada so that the area is not so dependent on gaming.

Pat Shalmy, president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and a member of the authority, has said more coordination is needed between these groups and this team could help accomplish this.

But Titus said the Legislature doesn't need to take action on this item because a voluntary advisory group can be formed without any legislative approval.

* Create a new entity that will work with the Clark County School Board on school construction issues.

"This is a good idea because we are growing so fast that and building so many schools that the school board isn't able to focus its time as much on education as it should," Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, said.

The new entity would likely be subordinate to the school board, but would focus exclusively on construction issues, he said.

Giunchigliani said that because education and school buildings go hand-in-hand, the school board should be responsible for construction issues.

"Creating another entity would just be creating one more layer of government that we just don't need," she said.

All of the proposed legislation is being sponsored by Porter. He pushed for the creation of the planning authority during the last legislative session.

"I'm not necessarily supporting every detail of these bills, but I think it is important that these recommendations are at least heard by the Legislature. So, that's why I'm sponsoring them."