City council briefs

Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 | 11:48 a.m.

Spending

Here is how the Las Vegas City Council voted Wednesday to spend taxpayer money:

To J.A. Vay and Sons Inc. for construction of fire station No. 41 at Buffalo Drive and Wittig Avenue.

To Union Pacific Railroad for construction of four temporary railroad bridges and funding of railroad flagmen to allow the construction of the upper Washington Avenue conveyance system.

For the purchase of hand-held computers for the Department of Detention and Enforcement.

For a five-year lease of a telephone system at the Las Vegas Business Center.

For permanent partial disability award from the Workers' Compensation Self-Insured Trust Fund to a maintenance worker.

Developer given more time to find site

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday authorized more time for a planned downtown residential complex to find a suitable location to build.

The council extended until March 31, 2000, the time with which the Tom Hom Group can find a location for its planned affordable housing project. The site initially eyed for the building, at Las Vegas Boulevard and Gass Avenue, was deemed unsuitable by the city's staff.

Tom Hom Group was allocated $4.1 million in private activity bonds on Aug. 18 to construct a 47-unit mixed-income, mixed-use apartment complex. The first floor is designed for retail uses while the housing is planned for the second and third floors.

City awards $125,559 to local organizations

Eight local child care programs were awarded $125,559 in improvement grants from the city of Las Vegas on Wednesday to cover costs associated with playgrounds, training and facility improvements.

The Neighborhood Services Department received $300,000 from the Legislature to continue expanding the Child Care Improvement Grant program.

The Equal Opportunity Board received $15,000 to cover the cost of scholarships to UNLV or the Community College of Southern Nevada for its teachers. The state Department of Human Resources won a $30,000 award to build a playground at its Welfare To Work Professional Development Center in Las Vegas.

Mini-grants totaling $80,559 were awarded as follows:

Other awards were $12,559 to the Friendship Child Care Center for operational costs; $15,000 to Godsend Inc. for a planned expansion of its facility; $15,000 to EOB's Reach Out program for operational costs associated with its HIV-AIDS program; $11,000 to Exodus Christian Daycare for a new storage unit and playground equipment; $13,000 to Jumpstart for a playground and training costs and $14,000 to Smart Start for computers and training.

Changes to zoning laws proposed

New bills dealing with the city's zoning code and the use of beverage containers at special events were introduced Wednesday to the Las Vegas City Council.

The first bill, sponsored by Councilman Larry Brown, makes minor adjustments to the city's zoning code by updating the land-use tables and limitations governing massage establishments, real estate sales offices, cleaners, animal-related businesses and medical businesses. It also adds a provision to govern the termination of special-use permits and variances.

The beverage container bill prohibits the possession and use of any glass or metal containers during large-scale special events such as New Year's Eve or Independence Day celebrations. The council has already adopted an ordinance prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages in glass or metal containers.

Both bills will be heard at the council's Recommending Committee meeting Dec. 13 at 4 p.m.

Contract approved on loop road design

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday approved a $185,000 professional services agreement with a local company for the design of the Town Center Loop Road.

Post Buckley Schuh & Jernigan was awarded the funds to design and prepare bid documents for the construction of roadway improvements on Durango Drive from Centennial Parkway to Elkhorn Road.