Soccer complex decision delayed

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999 | 11:46 a.m.

The lack of attendance by either member of the Las Vegas City Council's Real Estate Committee forced cancellation of Tuesday's meeting and delayed for weeks a decision on a proposed soccer complex.

Neither Michael McDonald nor Gary Reese -- who form the Real Estate Committee -- came in to City Hall for the scheduled 3 p.m. meeting.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, whose ward includes the site of the proposed 100-acre soccer complex, waited outside the meeting room with developers for the committee to arrive.

Although both Boggs McDonald and Councilman Larry Brown were available to hear the proposal, the city's charter requires committee members to be present during each such public hearing.

As a result, deputy city attorney Terri Ponticello ordered the meeting postponed.

Tom Skancke and Ryan Arnold of The Skancke Company, which represents the Las Vegas Premier Soccer Club Inc., were told to come back Dec. 13 for the rescheduled hearing.

"You mean we can't do this today?" Skancke asked as he paced the meeting room.

The committee normally meets on Mondays but was forced to meet on Tuesday this time because the recent two-day Thanksgiving holiday cut into the necessary business days the meeting could be posted for public attendance.

Even so, both Reese and McDonald had been informed that the meeting was taking place on Nov. 30. If either man had attended, the committee would have had a quorum.

The council's committees must recommend action to the full council on all real estate items and new bills before any official action is taken. Tuesday's lack of a quorum forced three items to be pulled from today's full council meeting.

Premier Soccer has offered to build a $12.9 million soccer complex, complete with 20 fields and a stadium, on Bureau of Land Management property between Summerlin Parkway and Washington Avenue, stretching from Buffalo Drive to Durango Drive.

The city, which leases the land from BLM, would have to enter into a lease agreement with Premier Soccer. The BLM would have final say in the agreement.

The unsolicited offer is hailed citywide due to the lack of soccer fields throughout the valley. The city's potential loss -- to the state Department of Transportation -- of Charleston Heights Preservation Park would cost soccer players two fields on which to play.

The shortage, coupled with the growing popularity of youth soccer, has left many leagues fighting for field space at night and on weekends.

Under terms of the proposal, the city would lease the land to Premier Soccer for 50 years. At the end of that lease, the land and its improvements would become city property.

The city is also being asked to spend about $1.9 million in off-site improvements to spark the $12.9 million developers will spend.

In addition to the soccer proposal, the lack of quorum delayed action on two other items.

The first was a lease agreement with the state Welfare Division for 30,840 square feet of office space at 1621 J. St. That lease is expected to bring in $16,927 in revenue each month for the first year of the agreement.

The other item held until Dec. 13 is a lease application with the BLM for property located at Marla Street and Red Coach Avenue for a future park site.

Rick Henry, McDonald's ward liaison, said McDonald was busy in other meetings Tuesday and could not attend. Reese was at work.