Plan would combine downtown agencies

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, June 8, 2000 | 11:58 a.m.

Las Vegas City Council members found a solution to the frequent communication breakdowns hindering renovation in the city's core: Reduce the two government bodies overseeing redevelopment projects to one.

City Manager Virginia Valentine presented a plan Wednesday to merge the City Centre Development Corporation with the city's Office of Business Development.

The city's office will oversee redevelopment projects, essentially reducing members of City Centre -- the city's private sector redevelopment arm -- to advisors. Since its inception in 1997, City Centre has been the lead agency for redevelopment.

Over the years, however, the two bodies have competed with each other while working on redevelopment areas.

Compounding the problem has been personnel troubles in both agencies. Last month, the city axed the business development division's director and two managers to save money.

In April, City Centre lost two members because of conflicts of interest.

City administrators anxious to jumpstart the stalled redevelopment program said having two agencies also quashed potential business deals.

"There is confusion now with developers on where to go when they have a project proposal," said Steven Houchens, deputy city manager.

Under the new plan, the business development division will assign a project manager to each case to track and coordinate the development, keeping the council updated regularly.

"From what I've seen so far, there have been too many cooks in the kitchen," Councilman Michael Mack said. "A lot of clients are going to other jurisdictions and that's sad to see."

Peter Thomas, a member of the City Centre board, said the agency was modeled after a redevelopment program in San Diego whose key to success was its independence.

Mayor Oscar Goodman supports the plan, saying the city does not need a buffer organization and can handle the redevelopment effort.

"The City Council is not afraid to take the heat, to take a stand," Goodman said. "We will value the members who decide to continue on as advisors, but the buck stops here."