Las Vegas Council briefs for Jan. 9, 2003

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 | 9:26 a.m.

Council to get data on pay raises

Las Vegas City Manager Doug Selby said he will have information about ballot advisory questions regarding raises and car allowances for the mayor and city council ready for the City Council to consider at its Jan. 22 meeting.

Last month, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman struck from the agenda a proposal that would have given raises to those who won their next municipal races. Critics argued that voters, not the council, should decide if elected officials deserve a pay hike.

The raise proposal had been submitted based on a 1998 citizens committee report that recommended raises. Council members receive $40,664 annually and would have received an additional $8,000 under the proposal. They also would have received an additional $7,200 car allowance. The mayor currently receives $53,422 annually and would have received an additional $9,700. The mayor's annual car allowance would have been $10,800 under the proposal.

Goodman and Councilmen Lawrence Weekly, Michael McDonald and Gary Reese are up for re-election this spring. Council members Lynette Boggs McDonald, Larry Brown and Michael Mack will not run again until April 2005. Voter-approved raises would not kick in until after the 2005 election.

Panel to review liquor ordinance

A proposed ordinance that would further restrict the drinking of packaged liquor on city streets was sent to a Las Vegas City Council recommending committee Wednesday.

Councilmen Lawrence Weekly and Michael Mack will hear public comment on the bill at 4 p.m. Jan. 21 in the city manager's conference room.

The measure would make it illegal to open packaged alcohol and drink it within 1,000 feet of a "church, synagogue, public or private school, hospital, drug treatment center or homeless shelter."