Park money may be diverted to Yucca fund

Diana Sahagun

Monday, April 29, 2002 | 11:07 a.m.

What's more important -- funding a new park or putting more money toward the state's fight to keep high-level nuclear waste from coming to Nevada?

It's a choice that the Las Vegas City Council is scheduled to make Wednesday, when it considers taking money from future parks and recreation centers and funneling it into the governor's fund to fight the proposed Yucca Mountain repository.

While the council has not yet committed to a figure, several members said they have talked about contributing an extra $50,000 to $150,000.

The contribution -- above the $100,000 the city has already committed -- would come from a discretionary fund used for parks, recreation and other one-time expenditures, City Manager Virginia Valentine said. That fund is already short millions, considering the council has requested $89 million for new projects. Only $24.4 million is available.

Further complicating matters is that the city is also facing a $1 million deficit heading into the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Any additional contribution would compete with proposed park projects scheduled for the next fiscal year, including the renovation of Circle Park, near Maryland Parkway and Charleston Boulevard, and reconstruction of the Mirabelli Community Center.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said Thursday that a $50,000 additional contribution would be acceptable, but acknowledged that it would come from other projects.

Unless the council decides to contribute additional funds from the current budget, which will be augmented on Wednesday, the monies will not be sent until after July 1.

That may be too late, because a decision by Congress is expected by the end of July.

Nevada has a $6 million fund to cover lobbying and legal expenses related to fighting the proposed dump, but state leaders say they need more money to fight the nuclear energy industry's powerful lobbying efforts.

Gov. Kenny Guinn and Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign have asked for public, private and government contributions to help the state's lobbying effort against the dump.

A legislative committee agreed to give $3 million as long as governments matched the donation. Last week the Clark County Commission contributed an additional $1.5 million -- above its previous $1 million donation. The North Las Vegas City Council has agreed to contribute $10,000 to the fight.

On Tuesday the Henderson City Council will consider increasing its contribution from $50,000 to $100,000.

A number of Nevada towns and businesses have also given, including the tiny city of Wells, which offered $1,367. Mesquite, about 90 miles northeast of Las Vegas, gave $50,000.

Councilman Gary Reese said he is willing to spend additional dollars, as long as it doesn't come from proposed parks and recreation projects.

"I wouldn't scrap my ballfields," Reese said. "If we can (contribute) without robbing Peter to pay Paul, I would be in favor of that."

Councilman Michael Mack said he'd agree with giving an additional $100,000. Some $300,000 is left over from projects that were not completed in his ward this year, Mack said, which he would be willing to put toward the Yucca Mountain fund.

"We are not going to enjoy those parks and recreation centers if we have a (nuclear) catastrophe," Mack said. "It's important we join the fight."