Friday, July 6, 2001 | 10:58 a.m.
Saying he was "sorely disappointed" with Gov. Kenny Guinn's decision to give Clark County authority to regulate air quality, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will draft a letter asking him to reconsider the move.
Goodman, who has the support of the City Council, has directed the city manager's office to draft a letter to the governor, asking him to meet with city officials to discuss the matter.
As council members voted to back Goodman's action Thursday, Clark County officials expedited the process by calling a special meeting to formalize the county's new role.
"Everything is in limbo now until the ordinance is enacted," Commissioner Bruce Woodbury said. "We need to move expeditiously so there is some legal certainty and not a question over whether the Health District has the ability to do certain things."
Woodbury joined Commissioner Erin Kenny, who lobbied Guinn to grant air quality authority to the county, in petitioning for a special meeting to consider the ordinance. Commissioners would otherwise take up the issue during their July 17 meeting.
Goodman was hardly pleased that Commissioner Kenny expedited the process knowing the city had concerns.
"I would hope I have the opportunity to speak with the governor beforehand to waylay her plans," Goodman said.
City officials were shocked when Guinn, after vetoing a bill that would have created an independent air quality board composed of local officials, designated Clark County as the sole air-quality agency for Southern Nevada.
Deputy City Manager Doug Selby said the city has had a continual role in air quality matters, including working on Senate Bill 536, which would have created an independent board to oversee the issue. Goodman also heads the Regional Planning Coalition, which has given a high priority to air quality as an important regional issue.
"I was shocked when the legislators didn't fund this," City Councilman Gary Reese said. "Everyone in Clark County supports the need for this agency, but I feel like the governor has taken a lot of our duties ... away from us."
Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald said that because of the way Nevada law is written, it has always been the intention that, as with the Regional Transportation Commission or Regional Flood Control District, the discussion of air quality would take a regional approach, with representatives from the Las Vegas Valley.
According to Nevada Revised Statute 445B.503, the local air quality board "shall" cooperate with the regional planning coalition and other local representatives.
Boggs McDonald said the issue is not about the effectiveness of Clark County, but rather about the law.
"We have not followed our own laws on the books as to how we proceed," she said.
Woodbury said that during the legislative session he urged Guinn to approve the creation of an independent air quality agency, with or without funding. Because Guinn vetoed the bill, Woodbury said the governor's most recent directive is the best option.
"Under the circumstances, this seems to be perhaps the best alternative," Woodbury said. "The County Commission is a regional agency; it's the only board that represents every citizen in the county, including all residents of the cities."
Goodman said he didn't feel comfortable allowing the county to take over air quality regulation because in 1999 it blew a deadline to submit reports to the Environmental Protection Agency. He was also upset with the commissioners' attitudes during a recent meeting of the Health District.
"There was a certain arrogance by the county as to how they wanted to address this issue," Goodman said. "The county can't do it without us, at least to my satisfaction."
City officials also fear the county's increased control over zoning and projects might affect their economy. Woodbury, who is meeting with Henderson officials Monday, rejected the suggestion.
"That's not even a consideration for the county on these issues," Woodbury said. "I wouldn't ever go along with anything that would compromise the interest of those cities. I think most, if not all, commissioners feel the same."
Whether the city's letter to the governor proves effective is doubtful, Woodbury said.
"The DA has advised us the governor's letter is authoritative and final, and it doesn't appear that was something the governor was going to reconsider," Woodbury said.
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