Growth topic for annual meeting

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000 | 11:21 a.m.

The growing kid brother still has a lot of maturing to do but with the right guidance could equal or overtake his bigger siblings.

That's the word from many observers on the eve of the North Las Vegas "State of the City" luncheon, which will be held Thursday at Cashman Center.

"North Las Vegas has always been looked at as the little brother of Las Vegas," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said from Washington. "With the growth, it's going to be seen as more of an equal to Las Vegas."

The growth has seen North Las Vegas reach a population of 117,000 and another 80,000 residents are anticipated over the next three decades as the city annexes and develops 7,500 acres of federal land.

But with the growth must come greater control by city officials, some say.

"The city still is essentially a bedroom community, which means property taxes generate most of the revenue for the city," said state Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas. "We have to try to generate more of an industrial base.

"We have to have more than just gas stations on every corner. We need more credible businesses that can generate revenue." Neal said he is interested in seeing more manufacturing jobs in the city.

Mayor Michael Montandon said the city's positive direction will be a focus of his State of the City speech. He cited additional parks, landscaping on Lake Mead Boulevard, and a renewed focus on the "capital aspects of the city, the things you see when you drive around," as examples of improvements he will discuss.

A Bureau of Land Management study released last week regarding the 7,500 acres of public land added a lot more to his speech, he said.

The study recommended that the land, which would be auctioned, developed and annexed into the city, be sold over the next 25 years in 500- to 700-acre parcels. The parcels would be developed into "village" areas and built in several phases for master-planned communities.

Theron Goynes, a 36-year resident who served on the council for 18 years, cautions that North Las Vegas must be careful not to neglect its older sections as new areas are developed.

"We are going to have to look at controlling growth in certain areas like the northwest," he said. Goynes, who lives in the mature part of the city, said he continues to work with residents and the City Council to make sure older areas are not neglected.

State Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, disagrees with Neal, saying the city is no longer the bedroom community of the past.

"I see the energy of the city moving more to the northwest, similar to Henderson and Green Valley, with future improvements to the old North Las Vegas coming," he said.

But Collins said he would like to see the city work harder at preserving the rural community, which is being threatened by urban sprawl.

"A lot of people, including myself, have lived in North Las Vegas for a long time. And we want to maintain rural/residential standards ... not the latest fads -- tile roofs and block walls," he said. "I hope the city has grown enough that it will have the diversity that's been lacking."

He cited the struggling library as a major concern for the future. The city has only one library -- built in 1967 -- and it lacks resources. Montandon and Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Gates have been working with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District to discuss possible consolidation.

"The library district has to sit down with the City Council and fix the funding problems," Collins said.

While the city continues to stress its positive image, not all residents are persuaded.

Glen Easter, who regularly attends the bi-weekly council meetings, said the current City Council has to do more to bring the community together.

"A community is a place where people come together. And that's where we lack," he said. Easter, a 15-year resident, said there are no festivals that bring the community together, as there are in Henderson.

Speakers at the luncheon will include Montandon and Chamber President Louis Conner. The keynote speaker will be Las Vegas Sun business reporter Gary Thompson.