LV council briefs for February 8, 2001

Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001 | 11:22 a.m.

Action delayed on tavern license

Political consultant Sig Rogich will wait until Feb. 21 for the City Council to hear his request to transfer his tavern license to two Houston brothers.

The item was delayed for the third time at Wednesday's City Council meeting. The previous delays were initiated by the council. This time, the delay was at the request of Rogich's lawyer, Mark Fiorentino.

Rogich's Ranger Building Corp. has been trying for months to transfer the tavern license at 2801 Westwood Drive to Ali and Hassan Davari of Houston. The brothers, who run several topless clubs in Houston, plan to turn Rogich's former office building into their latest venture, the Board Room.

In one week the Las Vegas Ethics Board will hear a complaint against Mayor Oscar Goodman, Council members Lynette Boggs McDonald, Larry Brown, and Michael Mack, that they gave preferential treatment to Rogich when granting the original tavern application in 2000.

That same day, Councilman Michael McDonald will appear before the state's Ethics Commission, which will hear a case that the councilman was behind the scenes trying to block Rogich's original application.

Moves are taken to conserve

The slowing economy and rising electric costs have prompted the city to implement three cost-saving measures.

Beginning immediately, no new employees will be hired until the positions have been screened by City Manager Virginia Valentine. Safety positions, including firefighters, will be deemed "essential" and other positions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

There are about 100 vacant full-time city jobs.

The city will also delay augmenting the budget and hold $10 million in a reserve account until the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Departments will also be asked to conserve energy.

Valentine said if there is an energy crisis, a possibility suggested by Gov. Kenny Guinn for later this year, the city will adopt a four-day work week.

McDonald shelves ordinance

Councilman Michael McDonald shelved his proposed shopping cart ordinance Wednesday, saying that he didn't expect his proposal to become such a heated issue.

The City Council voted to start over again on a proposed ordinance and this time include the grocery industry.

The ordinance would have allowed the city to retrieve carts left abandoned and charge the grocery store owner for removal and storage.

Since 1998, McDonald said, the city has spent $236,087 to pick up shopping carts.

"What we are trying to do is take the burden off the taxpayers and put it back where it belongs," he said.

Councilman Michael Mack, who owns local pawn shops and boutiques, said the city should let the private sector take care of the problem.

Panel formed to review bond

Residents in the northwest may soon have their own tee time.

A committee appointed by the City Council will review a proposed $12 million bond issue to build a municipal golf course and a park at Gowan and Durango roads.

The bond issue would not result in a tax increase because the city will have an independent operator running the golf course. The annual revenue would go toward paying off the bonds. Any remaining money would go toward future improvements at the golf course and neighboring city-run park.

Council approves development plan

The Las Vegas Valley Water District has received approval to move forward with building a "Central Park" on 176 acres in Ward 1, at Valley View Boulevard and Alta Drive.

The Las Vegas Springs park is expected to open May 15, 2005, on the date of the Las Vegas Centennial.

The council Wednesday approved the site development plan for the preserve, which will have a 266,000-square-foot visitor center, museum, research area, garden, and offices.

The Las Vegas Valley Water District Board last year approved raising $54.5 million in private funds through a nonprofit foundation to pay for turning the area into what is being called the "Central Park."

Legislature asked to extend terms

Las Vegas Municipal Court judges will be allowed to extend their terms if a proposed bill is passed by the Legislature.

The City Council approved a resolution that would allow the city to extend the judge's term from four years to a maximum six years. The new legislation would be in line with the length of terms held by justices of the peace in Clark County.

City will pay utilities bills

By a narrow vote, the City Council agreed to pay $136,500 annually for the cost of utilities at the Northwest Family Resource Center at Gowan Road and Durango Drive.

The facility is a recreation center that is run by the YMCA, which by contract is obligated to pay expenses including utilities.

Council members Lawrence Weekly, Lynette Boggs McDonald and Michael McDonald voted against allocating the funds.

The city contracted with the YMCA in September 1999 to run the center. The city receives 1 percent of the center's annual gross receipts.

Councilman Larry Brown said the center has had numerous construction problems, including faulty electrical wiring, cracks in the pool, and other safety issues that are "no fault of the city or the YMCA."

Representatives from the YMCA said they could not pay the utilities because the center has not achieved projected revenues.