Fountains to flow at resorts, dry up elsewhere

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003 | 9:44 a.m.

Fountains at business parks and condominiums are banned, but the same features are allowed at resorts in a new water policy passed Tuesday by the Clark County Commission.

The measure, which passed unanimously, is designed to stem requests for exceptions to rules passed last month by the county. The rules are backed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority, a regional board that has asked local governments to restrict water use in response to a four-year drought.

No one spoke against the measure at the commission meeting.

According to county officials, there are about 70 resort-hotels in the unincorporated county. State law defines a resort-hotel as a casino with more than 200 rooms.

The new county rule automatically grants an exception to the no-fountains rule to resorts that prepare a detailed water-conservation plan. Violations of the rule begin with an $80 fine for most commercial establishments.

Barbara Ginoulias, Clark County assistant director of development services, said this ordinance will replace one passed in July. Both ordinances were designed to allow fountains over 200 square feet at the resorts and prohibit them at other businesses.

But the earlier ordinance, which banned the fountains except where it benefited the area's "core economic function," drew applications for exceptions from property owners who were not originally intended to receive such permits, Ginoulias said.

"There were many different types of businesses that were coming in with requests," she said.

The County Commission has five exceptions to consider on its zoning agenda today, all from office parks. In Clark County and in Las Vegas and Henderson, which passed similar ordinances, applications have come in from businesses that argue the fountains provide a "core economic function" of the business if not the community.

County staff is recommending denial of the existing applications for exemptions, which can go forward despite the rule passed Tuesday because they were forwarded before the new law came into effect. Chuck Pulsipher, a county planner, said most of the applications are likely to be held without consideration today.

County Commissioners Rory Reid, Myrna Williams and Mark James all serve as members of the Southern Nevada Water Authority board, and all three voted for the proposed water restrictions earlier this year.

The Las Vegas City Council is scheduled to consider introduction of a new fountain ordinance Oct. 29, and Henderson, which has about a half-dozen requests for exceptions from the city's existing rule, will consider a new ordinance next month, according to city staff.

Sherri Collier, Henderson senior analyst for utility services, said her city's draft ordinance is "almost identical to the county's."

"We are close behind them," she said.

The one city that is not considering a new ordinance is North Las Vegas.

"We don't have an ordinance in the works," said Kirk Medina, North Las Vegas utility manager. "Our drought ordinance went into effect Oct. 1, so there's no real need to modify it at this point."

He said North Las Vegas has not received any requests for exceptions to the rule.