Assemblywoman pushing redevelopment reform

Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999 | 11:40 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani is making another run at revising Nevada's redevelopment law, which ran into opposition from casinos and other groups two years ago.

She has toned down some of the language in Assembly Bill 306 and says its focus is helping people in decaying neighborhoods.

The bill requires redevelopment agencies in Clark and Washoe counties to set aside 5 percent of their budgets to help neighborhood councils spruce up their residential areas.

"It does no good to relocate business if you don't take care of the people around the area who have lived there for the last 10, 20 or 30 years," she said.

Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, wants to "empower" the residents in these areas to go after redevelopment money to improve safety.

"I have areas in my district that have no street lights, no sidewalks," she said. "They don't even have the curbs and gutters where they can get across handicapped accessible."

The redevelopment agency in Las Vegas was involved in controversy when property was condemned in the downtown area to allow the creation of the Fremont Street Experience.

Several property owners sued, saying they didn't get adequate compensation and were unhappy with the way eminent domain was used.

The bill would require redevelopment agencies to provide written findings supported by specific facts why eminent domain is necessary to condemn property for a private project.

Giunchigliani said she believes the redevelopment agency "should make a finding that it's some public purpose," in condemning the land.

Douglas Dickerson, lobbyist for the city of Las Vegas, said attorneys for the city are examining the bill. At first glance, he said the city is not "totally against" the bill.

"It's workable in some areas," Dickerson said.

He suggested that many of the things in the Giunchigliani bill are already being done.

"The city of Las Vegas has several neighborhood committees that it has been working with, and funds are available for them to fix up the neighborhood," Dickerson said.

He said the bill makes it optional for the creation of neighborhood councils.

He said there may be objections to requiring 5 percent of the redevelopment budget go to community boards. He said the city is interested in working through its present program and sources of money rather than creating new things.

"It looks like the bill is trying to move money from the redevelopment agency into housing," he said. There is already a re-housing agency that helps to relocate people who lose their homes because of condemnation.

If a person is forced to relocate because of condemnation, Giunchigliani said landlords should be required to pick up part of the costs under certain conditions. If the property has been declared uninhabitable or a public nuisance by the city, the costs related to the moving of the occupants should be paid by the owner.

Dickerson also questioned the bill being restricted to counties of 100,000 or more residents -- Clark and Washoe counties. He said there are other cities such as Elko that have redevelopment authorities.

Giunchigliani said most of the problems have occurred in Clark and Washoe counties.

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