Editorial: Drop rhetoric, start work on real solutions

Saturday, Jan. 17, 1998 | 7:07 a.m.

The only thing as annoying as these daily frustrations is Southern Nevada politicians quarreling over how best to solve growth-related problems.

Thursday's meeting of a board studying growth in Southern Nevada was hyped as a showdown between its members and state Sen. Dina Titus, who supports a so-called ring-around-the-valley that would restrict growth in outlying areas. The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority's meeting, at least in terms of emotion, lived up to its billing. Titus, a Las Vegas Democrat, accused the panel, which includes developers, of being hostile to her. At one point during the meeting, Tito Tiberti, a member of the board who represents the Nevada Taxpayers Association and owns a construction company, accused Titus of grandstanding. "These are re-election issues," Tiberti groused.

Healthy debate is one thing, but the debate over growth in Southern Nevada becomes even more polarized with each passing day. Unfortunately, the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority's meeting Thursday also symbolizes a problem facing the valley as it tries to wrestle with growth: lack of accountability. The board, which was created by the Legislature, is only advisory and doesn't have any teeth.

But all hope shouldn't be lost.

Despite all the fireworks, a plan quietly advanced by Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury might get the ball rolling on how to manage growth. Woodbury's suggestion is to develop a Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition. Woodbury's proposal was overshadowed by Titus' plan, but deserves equal consideration.

Under Woodbury's plan, the existing Government Efficiency Committee would be renamed the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, and its role changed specifically to address growth management. It would meet at least four times a year, possibly even monthly. Among its responsibilities, it would make nonbinding recommendations to local governments on growth issues.

It's a step forward, and should serve as a starting point for discussion. Woodbury's board would be composed only of elected officials, giving it accountability to the voters. In contrast, the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Authority includes members from various industries that actually benefit from growth. Public confidence would be better instilled in a body consisting of individuals who represent all citizens, not one that includes representatives from special-interest groups.

While Titus' plan for a ring-around-the-valley is not feasible and might actually have the unintended consequence of increasing housing costs by reducing the supply, she should be commended for advancing honest ideas and keeping other politicians' feet to the fire. Titus and other elected officials, such as Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, correctly believe government is moving at a snail's pace in solving Southern Nevada's growth woes.

For Woodbury's proposal to work, though, it needs real muscle. Assemblywoman Chris Guinchigliani, D-Las Vegas, say she will push for a state law during the next session of the Legislature to create a single Regional Planning Commission that would approve projects affecting the entire valley. It's a good idea that should have been put in place some time ago. A single authority, looking at the big picture, has a much better perspective on which projects to approve or deny. If we had a Regional Planning Commission 10 years ago or earlier, it's a safe bet we probably wouldn't be facing the mess we do today.