Lobbyists to keep track of legislation

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Jan. 5, 2001 | 10:56 a.m.

North Las Vegas won't be storming the 2001 Nevada Legislature with bill requests, but a lobbyist team will still be out in force to monitor bills that could affect the city.

The city submitted only one bill request this session, which would change the city's charter to allow the City Council to hire an outside law firm to represent the city.

During the 1999 Legislature, the city introduced eight bills. Four were signed into law.

A team of city lobbyists will spend four months in Carson City, beginning in February, attending sessions and meeting with legislators to see how new bills could impact the city.

Kimberly McDonald, management analyst for the city, will attend full time, and Assistant City Manager Michele Richardson and a yet-to-be-named second assistant city manager will attend part time. City Attorney Sean McGowan will also be involved on a needed basis, McDonald said.

The city has set aside a $50,000 budget strictly for legislative activities, including travel, lodging, and registration.

The City Council has outlined dozens of bills for the team to monitor, including one being introduced by Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, which would make it more difficult to open neighborhood casinos.

Rawson said Wednesday the bill would close some of the loopholes in Senate Bill 208, neighborhood casino limitations passed by the last Legislature.

Rawson said the Clark County Commission has been caught with having to act on those loopholes, when owners request to build a casino in a nongaming area.

In January the commission approved a controversial zoning change to allow a casino in Spring Valley to be built by Triple Five Nevada Development Corp.

Although the vote was overturned by the state's Gaming Policy Committee, Rawson said his proposed bill will not allow any new neighborhood casinos.

The team will also have its eyes on a proposal by Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, which would scrap deregulation of the electric industry in Nevada. Neal says deregulation will lead to higher rates for consumers.

Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, said he will be focusing on pushing for more money for education statewide.

"I don't have a bill proposal, but I am going to talk to everyone I can about better funding for schools and education," he said. "Put the money up front in education or put a whole lot more money on the back end for social services and jail services.

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon said one bill he will be watching could affect the city's ability to regulate billboards. The bill would eliminate the city's ability to require the billboards to be taken down after 10 years.

Montandon also mentioned a bill proposed by the city of Las Vegas that would give the city the ability to annex county islands. North Las Vegas currently has one island containing the pig farm owned by Bob Combs and family. The city for years has been trying to take over the land.