LV redevelopment official Coder leaving for county post

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

Lesa Coder, who three years ago was brought to the city of Las Vegas to spearhead redevelopment efforts, will leave that post Friday to help implement redevelopment efforts in Clark County.

She begins Monday as assistant director of comprehensive planning for redevelopment. She had worked for the county from 1997 to 2000 in a similar position focusing on current development.

Insiders speculate that Coder's departure was hastened by Mayor Oscar Goodman taking greater control of the redevelopment of the 61 acres of former railroad property -- the job for which Coder was hired and the jewel of the city's redevelopment efforts.

City and county officials say Coder was not dissatisfied with her city role, but is just seeking a new challenge in a job that pays $112,647 a year, compared with the $117,368 she earned working for the city.

"She was a hard worker, she was diligent and she made many of the deals the city now is involved with," Goodman said Tuesday. "We are sad to see her go."

Councilman Gary Reese said, "Lesa did the best job she could, but I have always believed that anyone can be replaced.

"I would like to see the mayor and the council take a more active role in redevelopment, especially with the 61 acres," he said. "The mayor is a full-time city leader with experience and knowledge and ideas for redevelopment."

Goodman said Coder laid the groundwork for the creation of the music-themed destinations planned for the entertainment overlay district, a rundown, six-block sector east of the Fremont Street Experience and Neonopolis.

Coder, the first person to serve as director of the city's Office of Business Development when it was created in 2000, declined to be interviewed.

In a prepared statement, she said, "I've enjoyed being with the city and think it is a unique challenge to start a new redevelopment agency from the ground up."

County officials say they are glad to have Coder back.

"She applied for the director's position but we decided not to fill it at this time," said Assistant County Manager Virginia Valentine, who as Las Vegas city manager in 2000 brought Coder to the city. "But we knew how valuable Lesa is so we thought about how her talents could best be utilized.

"She gave no indication that she was dissatisfied with her position in the city."

City Manager Doug Selby said several candidates are being looked at to replace Coder.

"She was a real asset to our staff," Selby said. "Redevelopment was greatly improved in the few years she was here."

Selby also said, "I think she was satisfied with her job."

Goodman's apparent dissatisfaction over redevelopment of the 61 acres came to public light last October, when he said he wanted to take over the efforts to develop the property.

Instead, a task force was created on which Goodman, Selby and others were selected to serve. Still, Goodman today says with great pride that every proposed project dealing with the 61 acres "comes through my office."

The shift came after failed efforts of developer Southwest Sports Group, which wanted to put a minor league baseball stadium on part of the site. Goodman steadfastly opposed using taxpayer funds for a stadium.

Instead, Goodman wanted an academic medical center, residential housing, office space and a performing arts center on the site. He has since strived toward that goal, which many, including Goodman, consider the key to his legacy.

Coder, at the time, agreed that part of her office's role was to bring more business to various areas of town, but said Goodman should not have the sole say in how the 61 acres are developed.

"The fact is, the entire City Council will have to vote," Coder told the Sun last October.

At the time Coder joined the city, the city had just elevated the importance of the Office of Business Development, giving it sole responsibility over redevelopment. The private sector City Centre Development Corp. previously had that responsibility but was relegated to an advisory position when Coder came on board.

Coder worked for the county from 1990 until joining the city. She became assistant director of comprehensive planning in November 1997 and helped rewrite the county's development code.

Before that Coder was a senior city planner in Plano, Texas, and an associate city planner in Richardson, Texas.

She has a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Texas Tech University.