Las Vegas council briefs for May 16, 2002

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

$1 million OK'd for senior project

The city of Las Vegas will contribute $1 million in federal funds toward development of an affordable housing complex for seniors.

The project, which is being proposed by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, will be a public-private partnership between the city, Harrah's Entertainment Inc., and the state Housing Division. Harrah's has contributed $800,000 toward the project.

Reid is proposing legislation to grant one of two Bureau of Land Management-owned sites to the city to be used for the project.

Street honors late power firm exec

The late Steve Rigazio, former president of Nevada Power Co., will have a street named after him.

The council on Wednesday approved changing the street name at the Nevada Power building on West Saharea Avenue east of Torrey Pines Drive, to Steve Rigazio Court.

Former Nevada Power president Chuck Lenzie, for whom the street is currently named, was in full support of the change, city officials said.

Rigazio, 47, died late last year of complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Consultants hired on post office plan

The city's Leisure Services Department will hire Chattel, Goldstein and Pally to work on proposed cultural, educational and museum programs at the historic downtown post office.

The consulting firm -- which will be paid $70,000 -- specializes in developing cultural sites with an emphasis on museum programs. As part of its services, the firm will gather information and prepare recommendations for programming at the building.

The city earlier this week received ownership of the historic post office, the city's first federal building, after negotiating with the U.S. General Services Administration for more than three years.

Goodbyes said to Valentine

The council will wait until June 5 to appoint an interim city manager.

In her last council meeting, City Manager Virginia Valentine received a standing ovation from city staff and council members who thanked her for more than four years of service.

Valentine, who announced her resignation last month, effective May 31, has taken a job at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Oscar Goodman asked that an interim city manager be named at the council's next meeting. Meanwhile, the city on Wednesday began a statewide search to find a replacement for Valentine. The applications should be back within 30 days and the interviewing process will begin.

Way cleared for downtown garage

The city will sell a parcel of land to John and Marilyn Moran in order to make room for a future downtown parking garage.

The Morans, through the law firm Moran & Associates, will purchase a parcel for $100,000, near Garces Avenue and Fourth Street.

The city has plans to build a parking garage next to the Morans' law office, and needs to occupy a small alley that the Moran firm currently uses for parking. In exchange for eliminating the Morans' alley, the city sold the firm the parcel to be used for parking.

Contract extended for consultants

Anticipating a hectic Legislative session next year, the city has hired Bob Ostrovsky and Associates for government affairs consulting services at a fee of $258,000.

The firm has been under contract with the city since 2000. The renewed contract would be effective June 1, 2002, through June 30, 2004. The two-year contract would total $225,000 plus expenses not to exceed $33,000.

The firm will provide assistance and representation before the Legislature for issues of interest to the city.

The city also hired the firm Lionel Sawyer & Collins for consulting on issues associated with federal lands in Southern Nevada.

The $33,328 contract with Lionel, Sawyer & Collins will be effective through December 31, 2002. The firm was retained to assist in developing improved relationships with Bureau of Land Management officials at the state, local and national levels, and to monitor the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.

Prison Health Services Inc.

has been awarded a $4.07 million contract to provide inmate services in city detention facilities through May 2003. The company was competitively selected based on overall value, city officials said. The company will have two one-year options with total costs not to exceed $13.03 million.