Las Vegas council briefs for June 6, 2002

Thursday, June 6, 2002 | 8:53 a.m.

Selby selected interim manager

Despite concerns that his appointment would give him a leg up in a search for city manager, the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday named Doug Selby the interim city manager.

Selby, currently one of three deputy city managers, was appointed to the temporary position by a 6-1 vote.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald objected to Selby's appointment because he and fellow deputy Betsy Fretwell have both applied to become the permanent city manager to replace Virginia Valentine, who left May 31.

During the meeting she had suggested that Deputy City Manager Steve Houchens -- who has not applied for the top job -- be named to the interim post.

Bank proposed for City Hall

City employees will soon be able to hit the bank, drop off their dry cleaning and pick up lunch -- all without leaving City Hall.

The City Council on Wednesday authorized staff to negotiate lease terms for 1,900 square feet of retail space at the southwest corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Stewart Avenue inside the parking garage add-on being built at City Hall.

Kennedy-Wilson Properties Ltd. has clients proposing a deli and U.S. Bank branch with an ATM, and ROI Commercial Real Estate, Inc. has a client proposing a dry cleaning drop-off and pick-up office.

New ward map is accepted

Without comment or protests, the City Council on Wednesday approved new boundaries for the city's six wards.

The changes were necessitated by the 2000 Census, which reported a greater than 5 percent change in population between the wards. By law the wards had to be redrawn to have more equal footing.

However, the process will mean that some voters will have to wait six years to vote for a City Council representative because only half of the council seats are ever up for election at once. A resident who voted in 1999 would typically get to vote in 2003, but because a precinct was moved, may not get to vote until 2005 under the approved plan.

The City Council awarded a bid to Richardson Construction Inc.

to build a a $5.9 million park at Elkhorn Road and Buffalo Drive, which will feature a concession building, restrooms, lighted picnic pavilions, adventure playground and sand volleyball courts.