Boulder City will cast votes on 4 ballot questions

Jace Radke

Thursday, April 22, 1999 | 11:22 a.m.

In the past the City Council of Boulder City chose a mayor from within its ranks, but that changes with the June 8 election when, for the first time, Boulder City residents will vote for their mayor.

While the city's first elected mayor will help guide Boulder City into the new millennium, the election's four ballot questions could shape the city's future just as much.

Here is a look at the questions and what they would mean if passed by the voters:

Question one would give the city's blessing to the state to construct a bypass freeway to route traffic around the south end of Boulder City.

The initiative was brought forward by Councilman Bill Smith to clear the way for an alternate traffic route around Boulder City when the proposed Hoover Dam bypass bridge is built.

"We have a horrible traffic problem now and when the new bridge is finished we'll have even more cars coming across and through Boulder City," Smith said. "We need to have a plan in place to take care of that traffic."

The dam bypass is not expected to be completed before 2006 or 2007, according to the federal Highway Administration.

Councilman Bryan Nix has questioned the initiative, saying it would severely limit the city in negotiations with the state because it gives the state the city's OK now even though the freeway is years away from becoming a reality.

The second question would make a vote of the people a requirement to allow the lease of any city land greater than an acre. The initiative would also require that any revenue generated by future leases be placed in the city's capital improvement fund, the disbursement of which also is subject to voter approval, according to the city charter.

The citizens behind the initiative say the money should be placed in the city's capital improvement fund to pay for the infrastructure needs created by the leases.

The question is the result of two controversial lease agreements the city entered into with the MGM Grand hotel-casino to build two golf courses and an agreement with El Dorado Energy to build a natural gas-fired power plant.

City officials say the initiative would hurt the city's fiscal health, which is already suffering from tax distribution changes that cut Boulder City's share of the revenue generated by growth elsewhere in Clark County.

The third question asks voters to approve a $4.4 million bond that would allow the Boulder City Library District to build a new library on 4 acres at the site of the city's former children's home.

The old library building would be used as an annex for the police department, a city spokesman said.

The fourth question will decide if Del Prado Park should be moved to a vacant piece of land off Utah Street, which would make way for residential development at the site of the old park.