Police get first crack at 10-acre land parcel

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999 | 10:15 a.m.

Clark County commissioners were bailed out of a tough situation Tuesday when their attorney suggested a 10-acre parcel of public land eyed by a performing arts group should instead be given to the Metro Police Department.

The board was in a difficult position because over the years the county had told both Metro Police and the Las Vegas Performing Arts Foundation that the property was available.

While the site to the south of the Clark County Government Center was not committed to either group Tuesday, the board voted 6-0 to give Metro first crack at it.

"I was surprised they were considering it for other uses after they had committed it to Metro," Sheriff Jerry Keller said after his presentation to the board Tuesday. "We need it for Metro. That is my deal."

Deputy District Attorney Mary-Anne Miller told the board that because the 10 acres is county owned, it cannot be given away to a private entity. The land can be leased only if the county determines it cannot be used by another government agency.

With Keller before them explaining that Metro spends $300,000 a month on leases, operates out of 24 buildings throughout the valley and needs an administrative office near downtown, board members had little choice.

"Metro had clear dibs on the piece of land," Commissioner Erin Kenny said. "From a financial standpoint and the number of leaseholds, this only makes sense."

Keller said Metro has been budgeting for the new administrative building that would house at least 1,000 employees. He said while there are no specific plans for the building, construction would likely start in early 2000.

Clark County Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury supported Kenny's stance and said Metro -- which is funded by the county and Las Vegas -- is wasting money by leasing buildings.

"They seem to be in the same position we were in several years ago, spending millions of dollars in rent that could be going toward a new facility," Woodbury said.

The Las Vegas Performing Arts Foundation, which is led by Elaine Wynn, Mirage Resorts board member and wife of Mirage Chairman Steve Wynn, had asked to lease or buy the property valued at more than $10 million for $1.

The group was told by board members earlier this month that it could continue to study the possibility of building a $100 million performing arts center on the site. Foundation representatives, who were not present at Tuesday's meeting, emphasized the importance of building a center near downtown.

Attending Tuesday's meeting was another collection of residents working on plans to build a performing arts center.

Las Vegas Performing Arts Inc., headed by music store owner Donald Kemp, has secured a 43-acre site off Charleston Boulevard near the entrance to Red Rock Canyon.

Kemp's group has been hosting fund-raisers for several years and plans to construct the center with private money. Kemp attended the meeting knowing that if the competing arts foundation was granted the county land, it would go forward with its project.

He said it is unlikely two arts facilities could survive in the community.

Kemp said his organization plans to meet with Wynn's group to discuss the possibility of working together on the project in Summerlin.