LV council plots two-year strategies

Jeffrey Libby

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001 | 11:10 a.m.

Priorities set by the Las Vegas City Council Monday are unranked:

MESQUITE -- While a marketing consultant paced the conference room, offering thumbs-up for each new priority suggested by Las Vegas City Council members, City Manager Virginia Valentine measured the mounting optimism against signals she's been hearing from state officials that fiscal hard times are coming.

It was the second and final day of the council's brainstorming retreat at a Mesquite resort, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The idea was to frame the city's priorities for the next one to two years.

Council members and staff -- dressed casually -- spoke of fixing up old neighborhoods, building on 61 vacant acres downtown, increasing police presence, adding new parks and attracting new businesses.

But a slowing economy, paired with expected decreases in tax revenue, means if Las Vegas adds or expands new programs, other programs will be cut, Valentine said.

At this early stage in planning, though, money was no option. Council members were encouraged to dream, albeit constructively. They avoided individual ward issues and focused discussion on improvements that should benefit all residents.

But those ward issues will likely surface again once Valentine compares priorities with available funds and presents council members with suggested changes next month.

"All of us can't have what we want," Councilman Larry Brown said.

The list of 12 priorities is meant to achieve the city's new vision of itself, which was distilled from a six-hour session Sunday: "A vibrant, vital, diverse city of opportunity in which all citizens can live affordably, safely and know they will be heard."

Most said rebuilding the old downtown will be one of the first, best steps to take. Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilmen Gary Reese and Lawrence Weekly talked about spending money in West Las Vegas and on 61 vacant, city-owned acres as a way to better the entire city.

Councilman Michael Mack wanted to do more to attract businesses, saying that many have been lured away by better opportunities in Henderson and North Las Vegas.

Councilman Michael McDonald cautioned council members that before selling residents a dream, they should be sure the money is there to build it.

To build revenue, Councilwoman Lynette Boggs MacDonald said council members will need to work closely with state legislators before the 2003 session "to avoid surprises."

Both Gov. Kenny Guinn and state Sen. Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, have said the state could cut back on revenues for cities, counties and the school district.

Boggs MacDonald also wants to do more to direct lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.

"We are not an island to ourselves. We're only as successful as our ability to partner with other agencies," Boggs MacDonald said.