Raggio wants more strings attached to Lamb Park transfer

Thursday, April 3, 2003 | 10:06 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- While Gov. Kenny Guinn continues to wait for Las Vegas to decide if it wants to accept Floyd Lamb State Park, Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio is trying to add more conditions to the transfer.

State Parks Administrator Wayne Perock told the Senate Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday the governor wants to deed the park to the city with the requirement that it continue to be used as a recreational park. But Patrick Smith, a lobbyist for Las Vegas, said city staff has "yet to receive clear direction (from the City Council) whether we should take over the park."

Smith said that if the city acquired the property, it would remain a park and its cultural resources would be maintained. But he said he expected the negotiations between the state and the city to be lengthy.

Meetings about future recreation needs are under way with residents in the northwest valley, he said.

Raggio, a Republican from Reno, said the deed transferring the park to Las Vegas should include a section that the name could not be changed without the consent of the Legislature.

The city, when it got into financial trouble, gave the former Tule Springs Ranch to the state. It was renamed after the late Sen. Floyd Lamb, who was instrumental in getting money for its improvements.

Lamb was later convicted in a bribery scheme but then regained his civil rights. There have been several attempts in the Legislature to change the park's name, but all have been unsuccessful.

Raggio also said he did not want the state to have any continuing financial obligation.

Perock said the state will retain ownership of the Forestry Division's tree nursery and the Tule Springs Archeological Site.

The committee did not take action on Senate Bill 444.