Goodman holds series of meetings

Erin Neff

Thursday, June 17, 1999 | 11:21 a.m.

In the first of what will be weekly status reports, Oscar Goodman this morning discussed how he has been learning about city issues, staff and how to run council meetings as the mayor.

Goodman said he has met with Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, Clark County Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury, Metro Sheriff Jerry Keller and a number of developers in the past week.

He also referred to several collegial meetings he has held separately with City Council members Larry Brown, Michael McDonald and Gary Reese.

"Very, very meaningful relationships are being formed here," Goodman said during a morning press conference at his downtown law offices.

Goodman also hinted that he was backing former assistant city manager Lynette Boggs McDonald for the appointment to the Ward 2 council seat that must be vacated June 28 by Arnie Adamsen, whom Goodman defeated for mayor.

"I left with her having the expectation that she will get the appointment," Goodman said of an hourlong meeting he had with Boggs McDonald.

He also said he has held two meetings with developers and said they realize "they have to do what I want them to do."

However, Goodman would not name the developers he talked with, and said he did not discuss his campaign platform to impose higher impact fees on their new housing developments to help pay for city services and downtown redevelopment.

Goodman, who attended Monday's council meeting, said he is working with City Manager Virginia Valentine and others to discuss ways to streamline meetings that often last more than six hours.

He said he enjoyed the process he witnessed at Monday's meeting, however, he said he was concerned about the large number of city employees who attended -- and thus were not available for day-to-day city business during the session.

Although he has yet to name his staff, Goodman said he has met with Cheryl Russo, Carla Balsano, Mary Schoenfeld and Benet Vega -- who all work for Jones -- and called them "invaluable" public servants.

Goodman also said he has met with City Attorney Brad Jerbic to discuss the open meeting law and ethics code requirements. He vowed to abide by both, saying, "I believe in no secrets."