Maxfield is eager to rise as force in county

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

For one year Clark County Commission newcomer Chip Maxfield sat quietly at the end of the dais. He listened, he observed, he learned.

But, maybe most important, he generated ideas.

Now Maxfield is prepared to plunge into the New Year with a proposal he believes will shore up weaknesses in county policies and move forward with transportation projects he discussed during his campaign.

But that's not to say audiences should expect Maxfield to become more controversial.

"I'm not an outspoken person," Maxfield said. "My nature is not to be controversial, but to be effective."

The question is whether Maxfield can avoid causing disputes on a board notorious for its infighting.

Last year Maxfield had to negotiate with fellow board members on two controversial issues -- the designation of a northwest neighborhood as "rural neighborhood preserve" and an interlocal agreement struck with Las Vegas.

"One thing you have to remember is there are seven people with seven different backgrounds and seven different experiences," Maxfield said. "You have to learn to work and try to accomplish what you think is important."

Maxfield this year plans to amend the process to make zone changes that do not comply with master plans.

Maxfield said he noticed a troubling pattern, of which county watchdogs have long been aware -- the board doesn't always respect the opinion of the commissioner who represents the district under discussion. And, as a result, zone changes pass that may not be in the best interest of constituents.

"One thing that is important to me is respecting commissioners and the things that are important to them in their area," Maxfield said. "I think that is an area where we have room to grow."

Rather than a simple majority vote, Maxfield said his proposal would require a supermajority (five votes) to pass zone changes that do not conform with the master plan.

With a year's experience, Maxfield is prepared to become more active on the board. However, with some commissioners gearing up for re-election and at least one gunning for higher office, how productive will they be?

Commission Chairman and congressional candidate Dario Herrera guarantees he will serve residents well while running his campaign against Republican opponent Jon Porter.

As for his district, Herrera plans to spend the next few months working on methods to protect residents along the Russell Road corridor from encroaching commercial development.

By creating buffers and enacting height restrictions on new buildings, Herrera believes the task can be accomplished.

"We need to protect the integrity of the neighborhood," Herrera said. "There have been a number of examples throughout the county in which the transition wasn't handled properly. That provided tremendous guidance."

During the next year commissioners are likely to emphasize the phrase "diversified economy."

After the Sept. 11 attacks and subsequent layoffs in the gaming industry, commissioners began meeting with various organizations and business leaders to work toward diversifying the Las Vegas Valley's economy.

Commissioner Myrna Williams said diversification has been discussed for two decades. The attacks and the fact the quality of life in the county has improved will push the issue to the forefront this year.

"The companies that were hesitant about moving here are now looking," Williams said. "Companies wanted things like a good university and cultural activities; back then we didn't have enough of that."

Williams will spend the next year balancing her campaign for a third term with finishing park and road projects she started during the past three years. And if she wins she will continue rehabilitating her aging district.

Williams said her last year on the board could be burdened with obstacles.

"The challenges obviously in times of recession are going to be to have the ability to provide services at at least the same level we have now," she said.

One of Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates' goals -- which she said will be controversial -- is to designate areas where the unincorporated county can spread as the valley's population increases.

Atkinson Gates said that by creating boundaries agreed to by each jurisdiction, disputes over land with neighboring governments may be avoided.

"Clark County wants to grow and should grow in the future," Atkinson Gates said. "That way we can eliminate the turf battles we constantly have with each other."

Atkinson Gates also plans to assemble a domestic violence task force to examine streamlining services and coordinating services provided by the county, Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

The health of the county's budget will undoubtedly be a thoroughly discussed topic, Commissioner Bruce Woodbury said.

"Obviously, we're going to have some financial challenges compared to what the situation would have been otherwise," Woodbury said, referring to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "It has yet to be determined what the full impact of that will be. There will be a prioritizing process for everything."

On Woodbury's list of priorities are achieving approval from the Environmental Protection Agency with the county's carbon monoxide implementation plan and its particulate matter plan. Without approval, Clark County can be sanctioned.

Woodbury said he also hopes to further accelerate transportation projects, such as the Las Vegas Beltway and the monorail.

All five board members -- commissioners Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and Erin Kenny did not return phone calls -- emphasized the need to watch the budget and protect area workers, including their own.

"We need to stay online financially due to the crisis and economy," Atkinson Gates said. "We need to make sure we don't have to lay off people. That's going to be a critical and important issue."