City officials disclose owning downtown land

Tuesday, July 28, 1998 | 11:02 a.m.

Four key city employees have disclosed that they own property in the Las Vegas downtown redevelopment area.

Each year city officials are required by state law to disclose such interests. However, councilmen and planning commissioners may still vote on redevelopment issues where they have no conflicts of interest. Also, non-voting city officials who own such property can work on projects in the redevelopment area.

Councilman Gary Reese noted at Monday's public meeting that while he leases his barber shop at 2341 E. Bonanza Road, he does not own the land which is under the thumb of redevelopment.

Mayor Jan Laverty Jones and the other three councilmen declared that they own no property in the redevelopment area.

In all, 50 key city officials were required to declare whether they owned property in the redevelopment zone.

Leading the pack of city officials who own such land was Planning Supervisor Robert Genzer, who said he has an "indirect" interest in six properties owned jointly by his wife and her parents. They are at 519 S. 8th St., 516 S. 10th St., 601-607 S. 4th St., 406-408-410 E. Bonneville Ave., 1131 S. Main St., and 1117-1119 S. Main St.

Deputy City Attorney Robert Sylvain disclosed he has 10 percent interest in buildings at 815 and 821 S. Casino Center. Sharon Segerblom, director of neighborhood services, disclosed a 50 percent interest in a law office building at 704 S. 9th St. Planning Commissioner Marilyn Moran said she owns a building at 630 S. 4th St.

All of the disclosure forms were filed with the city clerk's office in June and July.

State law requires that "if any officer or employee owns, purchases or acquires any interest in such property they shall immediately make a written disclosure of such interest."

In fulfillment of state law requirements the council had to approve the disclosures twice at Monday's meeting -- once as the City Council and later as the Downtown Redevelopment Agency.