LV council briefs for August 3, 2000

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

Spending

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

To Wells Cargo Inc. for Sahara Avenue sanitary sewer replacement.

For the relocation of utilities at the site of the planned Stewart Avenue parking garage.

To various vendors for printing paper and envelopes.

To White Bear Sales Inc. for four 3-wheel scooters.

To Trade West Construction for Smoke Ranch Road sanitary sewer improvements.

Goodman proposes ordinance repeal

The illegal tips handed out nightly by adult nightclubs to cab drivers who bring them customers might become legal in the city of Las Vegas.

Mayor Oscar Goodman introduced a proposal Wednesday to repeal a city ordinance making the practice illegal. Goodman said the code is not enforceable.

Taxi drivers are tipped anywhere from $10 to $20 a customer for bringing business to strip clubs such as Crazy Horse Too, Cheetahs and Olympic Garden.

Olympic Garden owner Pete Eliades requested that Goodman repeal the law because he said he did not want to violate code by tipping cabbies. Eliades, who recently started tipping cabbies, said he was forced to do so to stay on an even playing field with the other clubs that tip the drivers.

The measure faces a public hearing Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. in the eighth floor conference room in City Hall, 400 E. Stewart Ave.

One day of slots will protect license

The historic Moulin Rouge was granted one day of slot machine action by the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday so that it won't lose its gaming license.

The council authorized Las Vegas Gaming Co. to bring in slot machines for one day at the 900 W. Bonanza Road hotel in order to satisfy state gaming regulations. Holders of gaming licenses must conduct at least periodic gaming activity or risk loss of licensure.

The hotel has been shuttered for most of the past two decades after numerous revitalization efforts fell by the wayside.

The casino is currently being remodeled, and a re-opening with gaming is anticipated by early October, according to Jim DiFiore, the city's business licensing director.

Littlefield joins planning panel

The Las Vegas City Council made two key appointments Wednesday, replacing a veteran planning commissioner and keeping a respected audit committee member.

Lanny Littlefield was appointed by Councilman Gary Reese to serve as his representative on the Planning Commission. Littlefield replaces Marilyn Moran, who served for eight years and is no longer eligible.

Mayor Oscar Goodman reappointed Nevada State Bank chief executive Bill Martin to a community-at-large post on the Audit Oversite Committee. Martin was actually appointed to the seat vacated when former Councilman Scott Higginson resigned from the committee. Martin's seat will likely be filled Aug. 16.

Planning coalition delivers report

Consultants to the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition trotted out a progress report on local growth to the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday.

The report, commissioned by the coalition and already presented to the Clark County Commission, highlights the Las Vegas Valley's successes and remaining pitfalls in dealing with sprawl, affordable housing and the environment.

The valley ranked highest for land-use density in a survey of comparable Western cities such as Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Denver. That factor indicates that sprawl just may not be as bad here as elsewhere.

But Las Vegas is also near the bottom of the list when it comes to park space, water and air quality and traffic.

Veteran urban planner Lesa Coder

was hired Wednesday to head the city of Las Vegas' redevelopment efforts. Coder, currently assistant director of comprehensive planning for Clark County, will become director of the city's Office of Business Development. She begins her new job Sept. 1 and will make $102,500 plus benefits annually.