Henderson news briefs for August 16, 2000

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2000 | 10:15 a.m.

Council approves amendments to plan

The Henderson City Council, sitting as the Redevelopment Agency, approved an amended redevelopment plan that would expand the city's redevelopment zone by nearly 4,000 acres while providing for more affordable student and senior housing projects.

The properties to be added stretch north from downtown -- including the Pittman and Village East neighborhoods, lands surrounding the city's wastewater treatment plant and the straggling Palm City project -- all the way to Russell Road.

Also included in the expansion is almost 300 acres that could one day contain the Nevada State College at Henderson should the state Legislature grant the new college funding next year. The amendment must still make the rounds through the City Council and Planning Commission before it can be finally adopted.

The agency also approved $400,000 for design work on a utilities upgrade along Water Street, considered vital to redevelopment efforts in the townsite.

City, family avert lawsuit

The Henderson City Council agreed to pay $27,500 to settle a 1998 lawsuit that alleges a Henderson Police officer assaulted a 9-year-old student of McCaw Elementary School.

The item passed without comment as part of the city's consent agenda Tuesday night.

Shane Jimenez, father of the student, said the council's agreement to pay the family $27,500 amounted to an admission of guilt, but city officials say the settlement is a fiscal decision -- approved to avoid a potentially more costly trial.

Filed against the city in U.S. District Court by Shane Jimenez, the suit alleges that Officer Randy Ryswick used foul language while disciplining a group of fourth grade students at the school and slammed 9-year-old Conrad Jimenez against a wall when shown a "lack of respect."

Police Chief Mike Mayberry said that a two-month internal investigation cleared Ryswick of any misconduct. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division found that the matter should be closed.

Since the episode, the city has stopped responding to calls from the Clark County School District, instead referring all calls to school police or school officials.

The city's legal council suggested that by settling, the city could save more than $40,000 should the ruling favor the Jimenez family.

Deadline set to solve glare problem

Stadium lights at Foothill High School that have been found to bleed onto several homes near the school will be addressed.

The Clark County School District has 90 days to "make whatever replacement of lights, addition of shields, or other modifications as necessary to restrict all directly reflected illumination," according to the condition attached to a denial of a revocation of use permit requested by one homeowner.

The decision was agreed to by both a representative of the school district and the original complainant and ends months of squabbling over the intensity of the lights.

"This gives us the ability to really resolve this issue, which is what we've all really been after," said Mayor Jim Gibson. The final adjustments must be approved by the council and Planning Commission.

Zoning move may open doors

Affordable senior housing may be coming to southwestern Henderson thanks to a new zoning classification approved by the council Tuesday night.

The amendment of the Southwest Henderson Special Study Area Plan allows densities as high as 22 units per acre for developments committed to providing low-income housing for senior citizens.

The council approached the matter cautiously, asking for assurance that the high-density residential sub-classification would only allow senior centers at the increased densities.

Mary Kay Peck, community development director for the city, assured them that not only was that the case but that the amendment reflected the request of developers and was supported by the housing and grants department.

"I think this is something we've needed for a while," said Councilman Steve Kirk, who made the motion for approval that led a unanimous approval.