Rhodes: Politics forced policy change

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Sept. 15, 2000 | 11:58 a.m.

North Las Vegas City Councilman John Rhodes says a change in the city's travel policy was politically motivated against him, but others at City Hall say the change was necessary to assure more accountability.

Records show that in the last six months Rhodes has spent $6,685 on trips, billing the city and two other agencies that he serves as a board member -- the Regional Transportation Commission and the North Las Vegas Housing Authority. The city was billed $2,851.

While Rhodes did not exceed the travel budgets authorized by the city and the other agencies, and while his bills to the city were in line with other council members, his total travel expenses and his practice of not briefing fellow council members about his trips led to the new policy.

The city's new travel policy, adopted Sept. 6, says that a council member must have advance approval by two other council members before going on a trip. And council members returning from a trip must now brief the whole council on what was learned.

In the past, the city manager approved travel requests, and there was no requirement for a post-trip briefing.

Councilwoman Shari Buck said the old policy put the city manager in an awkward position.

"I don't know how you say no to your boss," Buck said. "It (the former policy) left room for those who would abuse it."

During discussion of the new policy, Buck questioned Rhodes about two of his recent trips. She complained that she had no prior knowledge of them and did not know what city business he was conducting.

In June, Rhodes went to Washington, D.C., for a meeting about transportation with the city's lobbying firm, Rick Alcalde & Fay. The total cost, including his lodging at the Ritz Carlton, was $1,198.

In August, Rhodes flew to Los Angeles to meet with a golf course owner to discuss a city parks project, billing the city for $413.

Rhodes took offense during discussion of the new policy, sensing that the change was aimed at him.

"This is the first time in seven years on the council that my integrity has ever been questioned," Rhodes said. "For you to come in here and question, that is hypocritical and it's crazy.

"We are moving into a place where this is going to become very unproductive on working relationships."

Mayor Michael Montandon, however, agreed with Buck. He said he, too, has been left in the dark about council members' travels.

"I don't know all the details of where the rest of council is going," he said. "The only time I know is if someone goes outside the budget."

None of the council members exceeded their $5,000 travel budgets last fiscal year, which ended June 30.

In an interview Thursday, Rhodes said the change in travel policy was "petty politics."

The only trips taken this year by council members Stephanie Smith and William Robinson were to Washington, D.C., March 9-14 for the Congressional Cities Conference, spending $1,610 and $1,962, respectively.

Buck, who traveled to the city conference and spent $1,877, also billed the city $340 for a Nevada League of Cities conference in Ely in August.

Montandon, in addition to the city conference for $1,243, also spent $1,634 for a leadership conference in Cambridge, Mass., from July 7-30.

At the Washington conference, Smith, Robinson and Montandon stayed at the Doyle Washington Hotel for $177 a night. Buck stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel for $179 a night. Rhodes stayed at the Capitol Hilton for $259 a night, according to travel vouchers on file at the city.

Smith said she favors the new policy because it gives more accountability to the council.

"I think when you're dealing with public money, there needs to be more access to the information." Of the old policy, she said, "... none of us ever knew where (the other council members) were going."

Rhodes said it only had been a courtesy, not a policy, for council members to inform their colleagues of where they were going. It was a courtesy that had lapsed in recent practice.

"There's nothing being done that is not common practice," Rhodes said. "There are no red flags, no secrets."

Of his Los Angeles trip, Rhodes said he was invited by golf course developer Gary Lewis. He said they discussed a joint-venture entertainment complex proposed for City View Park.

Rhodes said he was invited because he was one of the first people to meet Lewis and strike up a businesses relationship.

"It was research as well as a trip to validate that these people are going to do what they say they are going to do with our community," Rhodes said.

Since March, Rhodes has spent $2,851 on travels through the city budget, Montandon $2,877, Buck $2,217, Robinson $1,962 and Smith $1,610.

But Rhodes also has taken a number of trips through the RTC and North Las Vegas Housing Authority.

Rhodes, Smith, Robinson and Montandon are all members of the Housing Authority, but only Rhodes has traveled on its budget since July 1999. Melodie Rudd, housing authority spokeswoman, said there is no cap on the travel budgets for board members. The same is true for the RTC.

The two most recent trips on the Housing Authority budget were to Pennsylvania to meet with a former housing director to discuss tax credits, costing $719 between Aug. 22-25, and to Washington, D.C., March 24-28 for a national housing convention, costing $1,223.

In March, Rhodes traveled to Washington, D.C., three times -- 12 days out of the month -- on conferences on behalf of the city, RTC, and Housing Authority for a total cost of $4,355. Two trips were only one day apart.

"There's a plethora of different boards, and these issues are issues that are pertinent to Southern Nevada, also to North Las Vegas. If I don't go and establish relationships, we are just one city out of thousands in America," Rhodes said.

Rhodes said he will continue to concentrate on issues that he feels are of importance.

"There are games being played, and I am in the midst of it," Rhodes said. "The rest of the council has decided to change the policy, and that's fine. I have nothing to hide."