City Council briefs

Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

Transportation ban approved on 6-1 vote

The city of Las Vegas may not have legal authority to stop transportation of high-level nuclear waste through the Spaghetti Bowl, but the City Council, by a 6-1 margin, agreed it would rather try the city's luck in court than face even the potential for a nuclear accident.

Mayor Oscar Goodman won approval for a measure prohibiting the transportation of high-level nuclear waste within the city limits. Goodman said he floated the proposal as a way to draw public attention to U.S. Department of Energy plans to store the nation's nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Councilman Michael McDonald voted against the measure because he said he didn't think it could pass legal muster. Even though he voted against the ordinance, McDonald said he remains completely opposed to the DOE's plans.

Councilman Larry Brown said he supported the ordinance because, even though it might run counter to existing federal law, it makes more sense than the federal government's nuclear waste policies since 1982.

"History has shown in the last 18 years that politics have dominated science," Brown said, referring to the 1982 plans that called for equally balanced nuclear waste storage throughout the country.

The ordinance makes transporting such waste through the city limits a misdemeanor crime.

"We don't want that junk here," Goodman said. "If it fails in court, we've done what we can."

Appointment of Keach delayed

A move to appoint Marty Keach, Mayor Oscar Goodman's former law partner, to a downtown redevelopment board hit a procedural snag Wednesday when a citizen called attention to a potential open meeting law violation.

City Attorney Brad Jerbic asked the council to table the request for two weeks so the agenda item could be properly advertised.

City Hall watcher Tom McGowan questioned the legality of adding an eighth seat to the City Centre board under an item described as "discussion and possible action to approve the amendment to the articles of incorporation of City Centre Development Corp. Inc. to modify the requirements of the directors."

The added seat was proposed this week to accommodate Goodman's request that Keach be allowed to serve on the board. Originally, the city asked City Centre to amend its articles of incorporation so that required backgrounds on the board merely be suggestions.

The board's directors currently come from finance, real estate development, legal, gaming and architecture/engineering backgrounds. Tom Schoenmann's resignation from the board left the architect position open.

If an eighth position is added to the board as an at-large community member, Goodman can appoint Keach to the board and still leave Schoenmann's position for an architect.

Council vows to fight developers

Sparked by the County Commission's recent approval of a neighborhood casino in Spring Valley, the Las Vegas City Council sent a strong message to would-be casino developers.

"No neighborhood casinos here."

The council approved a resolution taking 1997's Senate Bill 208 one step further.

That legislation included a way for a proposed casino to locate outside of established gaming corridors. Wednesday's resolution ordered the city staff to propose legislation that would "close the loopholes" in 1997's legislation.

"We do not want to turn abandoned shopping centers into neighborhood casinos," Councilman Michael McDonald said. "We're willing to go to the Legislature, we're willing to go to the highest court in the land to say we don't want neighborhood casinos."

Justice system study approved

The Las Vegas City Council gave hesitant approval Wednesday to study possible consolidation of the city's Municipal Court with the Clark County Justice Court.

But council members made it clear they were only looking at possible cost savings by combining technology or front-counter clerks.

Council members said they would not allow Municipal Court to be absorbed because they felt they would lose control over various city issues.

The Municipal Court's six judges work hand in hand with the council addressing specific crime and quality of life issues that may get lost in the shuffle of Justice Court's more serious offenses, Councilman Michael McDonald said.

The study will be jointly funded by the city and county.

Adult-store ruling prompts changes

The City Council introduced bills Wednesday related to adult bookstores and zoning hearings.

The first bill, proposed by City Attorney Brad Jerbic, clarifies the time period in which the city can act upon any license or application related to an adult bookstore.

The change is sought to remedy a deficiency in the city's code that was uncovered in a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision against the city related to the Hot Stuff Video Store case.

The other bill, sponsored by Planning Director Tim Chow, establishes new procedures for hearing certain appeals and variance applications. The proposal is meant as a replacement for the Board of Zoning Adjustment.

Both bills are subject to a public hearing Feb. 14 at 4 p.m.