City to move on growth issues in 1998

Friday, Jan. 2, 1998 | 8:39 a.m.

Responding to Wednesday's Census Bureau announcement that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area is the fastest-growing in the country, Jones said the news was no surprise.

City officials have recognized that growth has been, and continues to be, the No. 1 challenge facing Southern Nevada, Jones said.

The mayor said the three biggest problems facing the Las Vegas Valley are:

-Traffic congestion and related air quality problems;

-Adequate funding of education; and

-Recreational amenities.

Some think water is the area's most critical issue, but it isn't, Jones said.

The Census Bureau report said the Las Vegas metropolitan area grew 40.9 percent between 1990 and 1996, compared to 6.7 percent nationally.

Jones said her State of the City speech will likely call for tougher dust control standards and incentives to encourage inner city development and curb suburban sprawl.

She said she wants the city to take the lead among Southern Nevada governments on growth management.

"It will be better if we then take a comprehensive valleywide approach, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking at programs for the city to begin with," said Jones, who has been criticized for acting independently of a 21-member growth management panel created by the 1997 Legislature.

While Jones wants to possibly slow growth on the city's outskirts, she and others hope to spur development downtown. On Jan. 12, the city council will cast its first vote of the year on a proposed $84 million retail and entertainment center at the end of downtown's Fremont Street Experience.

City councilman Arnie Adamsen says he is discussiong with two Asian conglomerates the possibility of an international trade center on a 175-acre piece of land owned by Union Pacific, at the edge of the downtown district.

He said the Asian contacts are considering constructing an international trade center that would run $200 million to $400 million.