Las Vegas council briefs for Sept. 5, 2002

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002 | 9:18 a.m.

Selby receives $26,800 raise

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday gave recently appointed City Manager Doug Selby a $26,856 raise and officially swore him into office.

Selby, who said he will work to streamline the city's operations, will be paid $148,863 annually. The salary range for the city manager position, based on experience, is $102,599 to $170,997.

Selby, who has served as deputy city manager since July 1999, was selected from a field of four candidates and is replacing Virginia Valentine, who resigned May 31. She has since taken a position with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Fifteen candidates had applied for the city manager position, and the list was narrowed down to five, with one finalist dropping out late in the process. The council selected Selby from a list that included Las Vegas Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell and Boulder City Manager John Sullard.

Action on furniture mart delayed again

The City Council on Wednesday held in abeyance until Sept. 18 a resolution to support the World Market Center, which remains adrift amid controversy over its employment plan to address jobs for minorities and veterans.

The decision not to address the matter Wednesday was one of several delays to the city's proposed agreement with the huge wholesale furniture mart.

Some Southern Nevada residents have called for permanent work and job training at the site and have vowed to put pressure on the City Council to assure jobs will be made available to ethnic groups, the disabled, women and military veterans.

The center plans to develop 57 acres west of downtown. Estimates have been that the project would provide 35,000 jobs.

The American Civil Liberties Union has called for elected officials to make sure benefits from such a development will be available to everyone in the community.

Ethics panel will get a close look

A motion to reappoint members of the Las Vegas Ethics Review Board was delayed 30 days to give the City Council time to study whether it wants to continue to have such a body.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said holding the item will give the city time to determine if it wants to "retain as we now know it or abolish or modify it," or turn the panel into a council advisory board.

In the aftermath of the recent acquittal of Las Vegas Councilman Michael Mack on ethics charges, Goodman said he is inclined to limit the ability of the board to prosecute public officials. Goodman, a longtime attorney, says such a job is better suited for the district attorney or attorney general.

Mack was acquitted of four criminal charges of "willfully" violating the city's ethics code. In his ruling, Municipal Judge Bert Brown said the prosecution had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Goodman has said he is leaning toward introducing an amendment that would limit the board's authority to only issue opinions on ethical behavior.

Funds approved for Veterans Day event

The City Council approved a one-time plan to increase funding for the Veterans Day parade from $5,500 for cleanup, bleachers, barricades and similar services to up to $10,000 of taxpayer money.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said the move does not set a precedent for future Veterans Day parades or any of the other four local parades the city helps support.

"This is a very special year for Americans and veterans need to be recognized," Goodman said, making reference to the first year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "I think it (a parade) is the best advertisement for Las Vegas."

Last year's parade cost officials $15,500 -- $10,000 after the city's donation. This year's parade is expected to cost $20,000 before the city's boosted gift of $10,000 is factored in.

Last year the parade drew 40,000 to 55,000 spectators, reportedly one of the largest turnouts for a Veterans Day parade in the nation. A crowd of 80,000 to 100,000 is expected for the Nov. 9 parade through downtown Las Vegas.

Neighborhood projects funded

The Neighborhood Partners Fund allocation of $75,000 for 23 neighborhood projects was approved Wednesday.

This is the fifth year of the project that to date has doled out $350,000 to help 88 local neighborhoods, project officials told the council.

This year's allocation will fund, among other things, five youth programs, seven beautification projects and five communications projects, officials said.