Furniture mart job plan raises concerns

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002 | 9 a.m.

Last-minute tweaking and questions about an employment plan caused the Las Vegas City Council to again delay approval of a final participation agreement with developers of a proposed furniture mart west of downtown Las Vegas.

The developers have been seeking approval of the final agreement -- which would spell out the city's intent to provide up to $40 million in tax incentives over 20 years -- but the item has been delayed for several months.

The sticking point that left the developers without a council vote at the last meeting has apparent been resolved. Until minutes before the item was called Wednesday, the developers were negotiating with attorney Daryl Alterwitz, who represents local business owners, on a provision that would allow the furniture mart developers to hold clearance sales.

But at Wednesday's council meeting, the protest was of a different kind, this time from the American Civil Liberties Union and local veterans who said the developer's proposed employment plan was inadequate.

Council members also said they did not have time to digest the amendments to the agreement, some of which were handed to them right before the item was called.

Gary Peck, executive director of the ACLU, said the developers' employment plan violates the city's own policy and state law, which requires any redevelopment project to include an employment plan "describing with specificity how the project will affect employment opportunities in the community."

Attorney Mark Fiorentino, representing the developers, said the plan in general terms addressed how it would approach employment issues, including the commitment to offer opportunities to handicapped persons, minorities, veterans and women. The developers, though, could not say exactly how many construction jobs would be needed and how many jobs will be available, Fiorentino said.

Lesa Coder, the city's business development director, said the submitted plan "meets the intent" of state law, but could have a higher number of specifics. She said that type of detail might be better suited "down the road."