City Council to consider construction-tax boost for parks

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1999 | 11:05 a.m.

Although the state Legislature snubbed the city of Las Vegas' attempt to make parks eligible for construction impact fees, a proposed 12-percent hike in the tax could bring in some money for recreation projects.

The City Council on Wednesday will consider the increase in the residential construction tax forwarded by the Recommending Committee.

If approved, the tax will increase from $32 to $36 per square foot of residential construction. It would add $7,200 to the price of an 1,800-square-foot new home.

City planners estimate an additional $1.9 million for park construction would have been raised if the $36-per-square-foot rate was in effect over the past five years.

Councilman Larry Brown, who sponsored the bill and was the lone attendee at Monday's Recommending Committee, said the tax will "help us get a little closer to our needs."

The city currently has about 1.7 acres of park space for every 1,000 residents, far below the national average and below the 2.9 acre goal the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Authority has determined the region needs.

An effort by city lobbyists to make park facilities eligible for funding through construction impact fees was approved by the state Senate this past session.

However, the Assembly defeated the bill because it came up for a vote the day after the Las Vegas City Council authorized a 2 percent property tax hike to fund parks.

Impact fees are used to build infrastructure such as roads and street lighting. The city residential construction tax used to be called impact fees. With the new name and proposed extra funding, the tax will help pay for infrastructure and parks.

The County Commission has approved similar increases in the county's residential construction tax to fund park projects.

In other business, the Recommending Committee forwarded to the council a bill that would require independent massage therapists to be licensed by a national board.

Metro Police special investigator Dawn Leslie told Brown the proposed ordinance will make it safer for the public to seek the services of a masseuse because each therapist will have proven certification in the field.

The bill, sponsored by City Manager Virginia Valentine, requires independent massage therapists to have current certification by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

Masseuses who work for a salon would simply be required to obtain a work card.

A similar bill, relating to accupressure and reflexology services, was tabled for two weeks to add amended language.

That bill is expected to be heard again at the Sept. 13 Recommending Committee. The other bills will be considered Wednesday by the City Council.