City Council briefs for December 21, 2000

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000 | 10:10 a.m.

Spending

How the City Council voted Wednesday to spend taxpayers' money:

To Welles-Pugsley Architects for the design of a remodel and addition to Doolittle Recreation Center.

To Hanson Aggregates Las Vegas Inc. for reconstruction of Atlantic Street from Boulder Highway to Wengert Avenue.

To Compaq Computer Corp. for portable and desktop computers and support services.

To Mercury Blueprint and Supply Co., Inc. for blueprinting services.

To create five new regular communication specialist positions for Fire & Rescue Services to handle increased dispatching needs.

To Santoro, Driggs, Walch, Kearney, Johnson & Thompson for outside environmental counsel.

$25 million authorized

Even as Clark County firefighters are clamoring for more equipment, stations and manpower, the city of Las Vegas is preparing to spend $25 million in voter-approved bonds on its Fire & Rescue Services.

On Wednesday, the City Council authorized $25 million in medium-term obligations to improve fire protection in the city.

On Nov. 7, voters approved an initiative to increase property taxes 9.5 cents to fund fire-related operating costs and capital improvements, including medium-term financing.

The funds will be borrowed at an annual interest rate estimated at 6 percent and will be repaid over the next 10 years.

Residents with a $100,000 home will pay $33.25 more a year, or $2.77 more on their monthly mortgage as a result of the election approval.

The money will be used to build four new stations, replace all city fire engines and ladder trucks and hire 96 firefighting and rescue personnel. Three fire stations will also be expanded to include rescue bays.

The fire department has already acquired the land for all four fire stations. They will be located at Torrey Pines Drive and Smoke Ranch Road, at Buffalo Drive and Summerlin Parkway, at Alexander and Fort Apache roads and in the Village 26 subdivision in Summerlin.

More northwest land targeted

With a planned 661-acre annexation barreling toward approval, the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday introduced a second proposal to acquire a massive tract of land in the northwest.

The proposed annexation, introduced as a new bill, would give the city 619.46 acres of county land west of El Capitan Way and east of Grand Canyon Drive between Grand Teton Drive and Rome Boulevard.

The latest proposal follows the proposed annexation of 661 acres west of Hualapai Way and north of Grand Teton Road. That proposal should be approved Jan. 3.

The 619-acre annexation faces a public hearing Jan. 2 before the council's Recommending Committee. That committee meets at 4 p.m. at City Hall.

Decature complex to be torn down

A constant eyesore for passing motorists and neighborhood residents alike will soon be demolished.

The Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency on Wednesday authorized a bid for demolition of a vacant and run-down shopping center at 1501 N. Decatur Boulevard. Pre-approval of the $150,000 bid amount will eliminate two to four weeks in the process.

City staff asked for approval before picking the winning bidder because they said it is important to demolish the building expeditiously.

The building is located on Decatur at Vegas Drive.

Councilman Michael McDonald abstained because his parents live nearby. Councilman Michael Mack abstained because his brother owns a business nearby.

Zoning changes introduced

Councilman Michael McDonald introduced a proposal Wednesday that would amend the city's liquor and zoning regulations to make them consistent regarding the discontinuation of nonconforming businesses.

Certain taverns and sexually-oriented businesses don't conform to city distance separation requirements because they are grandfathered in to a specific location that may be within 1,500 feet of another tavern, church or school.

McDonald's proposal establishes a uniform 180-day discontinuation period for all nonconforming uses if their license lapses for any reason. Under his bill, any nonconforming use that has been discontinued may be re-established within 180 days, but would be closed down after that time period.