Venetian criticizes closed meeting over monorail

Adrienne Packer

Friday, July 14, 2000 | 11:15 a.m.

The long-awaited decision on whether the state should issue $650 million in tax-free bonds for a monorail system along the Las Vegas Strip is expected to be announced Monday by the Department of Business and Industry.

Sydney Wickliffe, director of the department, has been mulling over arguments opponents and supporters of the monorail presented during an eight-hour public hearing June 8.

As opponents await Wickliffe's ruling, they are beginning to question the fairness of her decision process.

Representatives of the Venetian, the Strip property that has fought hardest against the monorail, are protesting a Tuesday meeting Wickliffe held with MGM Grand-Bally's Monorail LLC officials at their attorney's firm.

Andy Abboud, spokesman for the Venetian, said Wickliffe promised to keep meetings regarding the bond-issue open to the public. Abboud said that while the state met with the monorail group, it denied the Venetian's request for a meeting.

"That meeting cast doubt on the integrity of the entire process," Abboud said Thursday. "The reason they did it is the monorail proponents know they cannot get this project moving forward on its own merits. They must have inside help."

Wickliffe was unavailable for comment Thursday, but her office said the meeting was cleared by the attorney general's office.

The Venetian has teamed with transportation consultants from California and Illinois to produce studies that show the monorail will not make enough money to survive.

And, they argued, Clark County taxpayers will be left paying the bill for the 3.9-mile system.

The MGM Grand-Bally's group intends to extend the existing system between the two hotels north along the Strip. The route would turn east on Sands Avenue and north on Paradise Road, eventually ending at the Sahara hotel-casino.

The extension would add six new stations, including the Las Vegas Convention Center that competes with the Venetian's convention facility.

Abboud said Tuesday's private meeting proved the project leaders, consultants Bob Broadbent and Cam Walker, are purposely avoiding discussing the monorail publicly.

"What this means is the monorail proponents will find whatever they can within the letter of the law to deny public scrutiny because they know their project cannot survive," Abboud said.

Broadbent and Walker could not be reached for comment.

Abboud said the Venetian has not ruled out taking legal action as a result of the private meeting.

Wickliffe held a public hearing in June to allow both sides to deliver their arguments for and against issuing state bonds for the monorail system.

Broadbent's group has maintained that the system -- which will consist of nine four-car Bombardier trains -- will be the foundation for a larger public transit system expected to someday serve the entire valley.

Opponents told Wickliffe that the project is nothing but a scam aimed at bringing thousands of dollars to the consultants. And therefore, they argued, the project should be considered a private endeavor that is not eligible for state bonds.

Wickliffe's recommendations will be reviewed by the Clark County Commission. The state Board of Finance will make the final decision.