State of City address full of promise

Denise Cardinal

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1998 | 10:09 a.m.

Let's all work together to build better roads, clean up our neighborhoods, cut down on billboards and neighborhood casinos, educate our children and build a sense of community.

These words came from Mayor Jan Laverty Jones in her State of the City address at Monday's City Council meeting. Her speech ended in an eruption of applause as 200 residents, city workers and reporters stood and cheered.

Jones' address, however, was full of promises that could quickly come to haunt her if they go unfulfilled.

Examples of some of her statements include:

"I want to completely ban neighborhood casinos. Even slot machines in grocery stores."

"I want to do away with sawtooth roads. Install traffic signals in every intersection that needs it ... revamp every street sign in the city so you can see it."

"Let's require desert landscape in all city buffers."

"I have been and always will be in support of consolidated government."

Though she's confident these things, and many others, can be accomplished, it's not necessarily in her hands to decide. Many of the components -- especially those that deal with "guiding growth" -- must be approved by the Legislature.

For instance, Jones' outlined plans for "infill" development, that is, filling in lots within the city rather than developing outside the urban core where infrastructure is not yet in place.

She proposed mapping out four concentric circles within the valley and establishing different requirements for builders in each circle. For instance, developers would be given incentives to build on infill lots, such as speedier permit approvals and lower fees.

Those building in the outer rings would be required to pay for the infrastructure of their development. For instance, in order to build a housing development, there would have to be adequate roads, schooling and other city services either already in place or paid for by the developer.

Though it's an idea that's worked in other cities -- Seattle and San Diego -- Jones can't do it on her own. She'll need the approval of the Legislature to move forward with those kinds of developing restrictions.

She has the full support of Sen. Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas) in her efforts, since it was Titus' "ring around the valley" plan that was the impetus for the four Las Vegas rings. However, her braggadocio may have alienated some potential allies in Carson City.

In an effort to encourage the valley's governments to work together in managing the rapid growth, Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, got Senate Bill 383 passed. This organized the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority, made up of representatives from the valley's governments, businesses and special-interest groups. Though the authority has no real jurisdiction, it is ordered by state law to come up with legislation drafts for the 1999 session -- much as Jones will be doing with her plans.

Jones serves on the authority, and has been accused of ignoring its mission and focusing instead on her own -- and Titus' -- agenda. Her State of the City address, and the legislation that will come out of it, may only further that notion.