County to limit spending on park openings

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 | 10:49 a.m.

Clark County administrators are crafting a policy to limit spending on park openings and celebrations to prevent varying costs that seesaw between the low thousands and tens of thousands of dollars.

Assistant County Manager Rick Holmes said Tuesday that the county will establish a dollar amount administrators believe is sufficient for county commissioners to play host to celebrations.

"It's a definable thing," Holmes said. "Photo ops, press kits, hard hats, shovels, punch and cookies. Let's put a price tag on that, and let's be consistent."

The new policy, not yet fully written, is expected to be presented to the County Commission next month, although approval from commissioners is not necessary for it to be implemented.

The first park opening affected by the new policy would be the Dec. 8 dedication of Harmon Park at Harmon Avenue and Pearl Street, near Pecos Road. Although the new spending rules will not have been adopted, the celebration is in the early stages of planning and therefore must heed to the policy.

"We're looking at any park opening in the beginning stages of planning," Holmes said.

Concerns about spending related to park openings were raised after an October Las Vegas Sun story reported that commissioners had invested more than $100,000 on the celebrations since Sept. 11.

Although most openings cost in the $10,000 range, an October bash held to christen an indoor pool at Desert Breeze Park cost more than $38,000. The party, thrown by Commissioner Erin Kenny, featured entertainer Tommy Rocker.

Holmes said the county has a policy that addresses mailers, but nothing now limits the amount of money commissioners can spend on the actual event.

"That was something that was not a tightly controlled process by the board," Holmes said. "Certainly it ties into the budget."

Of the money spent since the terrorist attacks, only $35,000 was budgeted for such celebrations. County Finance Director George Stevens said most of the events had been planned before the attacks.

Holmes said the fixed amount that is established will be included in the project's budget. If board members wish to exceed the amount they must have the support of their colleagues. The board would also be able to consider fund-raising or private funding from sponsors.

"Overall the county is well-managed in a fiscal sense, but there are always areas for improvement," Holmes said. "I don't see the county moving away from special events. I see it being a little more organized and consistent with the budget."

Commissioner Myrna Williams, who hasn't spent any money on park openings since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, agrees with the limitations rule initiated by County Manager Thom Reilly. But like most of the board members, Williams emphasized the importance of making residents aware of a new park or recreational facility.

"I think it's important to do a celebration, but I think we have to be mindful what the other needs are in the community," Williams said. "I can't speak for other districts, but that money is spent on other things in my district."

Especially in a time when county revenues are lagging, it's important not to spend extravagantly on parties, Yvonne Atkinson Gates said. The commissioner wouldn't comment on whether the price tag associated with parties in board members' individual districts has increased over the years.

"I don't know what other people spend," she said. "I just know what I spend, and I don't believe in spending a lot."