North Las Vegas council briefs for Dec. 19, 2002

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2002 | 9:24 a.m.

City will challenge ballot initiative

A proposed North Las Vegas ballot initiative that would give citizens more say in City Council meetings will go to the courts before it goes to voters.

As expected, the council voted 4-1 Wednesday to challenge the legality of the proposed initiative.

The initiative seeks to make several changes to council meeting policies including adding a second public comment time at the beginning of meetings, allowing any resident or council member to put an item on a meeting agenda, and starting council meetings at 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.

If it is allowed, it would appear on the April 8 municipal elections ballot.

City Attorney Sean McGowan said ballot initiatives are for legislative issues, not administrative matters.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith was the lone vote against challenging the initiative in court.

"The people want it. We should put it on the ballot," she said.

Wal-Mart to get its grocery section

A proposal to add a grocery section to a North Las Vegas Wal-Mart was approved Wednesday by the North Las Vegas City Council.

The council voted 4-1 to deny an appeal of the planned expansion of the Wal-Mart at 1807 W. Craig Road.

Donna Sparks, who lives near the store, had appealed the Oct. 23 decision by the city Planning Commission to approve the expansion. Scott Smith, Sparks' lawyer, said the expansion would add too much traffic to the area near the intersection of Craig Road and Clayton Street.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, the lone vote for upholding the appeal, said the expansion could be "too much for that particular intersection."

Jennifer Lazovich, an attorney with Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw, who is representing Wal-Mart on this matter, said there is already substantial traffic on Craig Road, and the property is zoned for commercial use.

Two residents testified in favor of the expansion during the Wednesday council meeting.

Wal-Mart is proposing adding a 80,942 expansion to the store, which would house a new grocery section. The existing building is 128,125 square feet, according to city documents.

Such combination Wal-Mart merchandise and grocery stores are generally called Wal-Mart Supercenters.

The North Las Vegas City Council

on Wednesday unanimously approved an 18-month, $2.25 million contract to provide health care to inmates at the North Las Vegas Detention Center. The contract with NaphCare includes medical, dental, and mental health treatments, according to city documents.

The contract runs from January through June 2005.