North Las Vegas: Audit recommends money-saving plans

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999 | 10:52 a.m.

An audit of North Las Vegas shows that the city could save money with better financial management, by restructuring the city organization and consolidating departments.

Jim Morrison of Ralph Andersen and Associates told the City Council at a special meeting Tuesday that if the audit's 92 recommendations are implemented, the city would be better organized and able to accomplish its original goal -- to best serve the community.

According to the audit, the city is struggling to meet growing service and facilities demands.

The council voted 4-0 to accept the audit and begin implementation.

The City Council hired Ralph Andersen and Associates for $123,000 in April. The audit process, which took approximately 16 weeks, included a survey of about half the city's employees and a review of the city's organization and operations.

Morrison praised the city staff, which he called dedicated and committed, but he said the survey showed that many felt overworked.

According to the survey, 56 percent of employees said there were not enough people to juggle workloads. While city employees operate on a four-day work week, the drawback is less staff available on Mondays and Fridays when the workload is heaviest, Morrison said.

He recommended the city consider closing City Hall on Fridays, but he admitted that could cause problems. For instance, many residents pay their utility bills at Public Works and would be inconvenienced with a closure.

The City Council is expected to discuss the four-day work week at tonight's regular council meeting.

Morrison recommended that the city manager's office should be reorganized so it is able to provide the City Council with more support. He suggested that an assistant city manager be hired to take over administrative functions and daily operations.

Part of the reorganization could also involve combining economic development, redevelopment, and grants into one department. He also recommended combining building and safety development services.

"These changes aren't all that dramatic," he said. "We think this (restructuring) will allow department heads to be more effective."

His partner, Bill Kirchoff, stressed that at the rate the city is growing, major changes need to take place.

According to the 1999 City Comprehensive Plan, North Las Vegas' population will exceed 100,000 by next year.

The audit also made suggestions for the poorly funded North Las Vegas Library and Parks and Recreation Department.

Kirchoff recommended that the library consolidate with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, or perhaps work with the Clark County School District to pool resources. He added that Parks and Recreation could be better utilized by shifting the department to Public Works.