State offices sought for LV

Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 | 9:11 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Although Carson City will remain Nevada's capital, a member of the state Public Works Board wants to see more state buildings in Southern Nevada to serve its growing population.

The comments came during a meeting that included a plan for government buildings in Carson City.

Board member I. R. "Renny" Ashleman questioned why the board was assuming all of the growth would be in Carson City. He suggested the board do a survey of the square footage being used in Las Vegas and Reno and how that might change in the future.

Gus Nunez, deputy state public works manager, said the Capitol and the Legislature would remain in Carson City, and the state constitutional officers will have to have offices there.

In addition, Nunez said, agency administrations should be in Carson City to "relate back to the governor and the legislative branch."

Nunez added: "I don't think this means there is not a need for a presence in Southern Nevada."

Terry Melby, hired by the board to draft a master plan for the capital complex in Carson City, detailed the potential location and architectural details of future state office buildings in the capital.

He told the board Thursday that any future state office building should not be more than six stories high, so it is not higher than the Capitol. He said these buildings would be built in a "mall courtyard."

The state is currently leasing 750,000 square feet of office space in Carson City from private landlords.

Dan O'Brien, manager of the board, said there needs to be an inventory of space and the needs of the state in Las Vegas. He said the "lease-purchase" method of constructing state buildings would be "viable" in Las Vegas.

The state has embarked on its first lease-purchase agreement in Carson City for a 120,000-square-foot building for the headquarters of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The building will be on state land and the state will lease it for 30 years, eventually owning it. The state will pay $72 million over the 30 years, but it would pay $71 million if it continued to lease, officials said.

O'Brien indicated the 2005 Legislature could be approached for money to do a survey in Clark County of future needs and available land.

In other action:

O'Brien said UNLV wants the project to total 190,000 square feet. He said there were "some budget concerns," but that one of the labs on the fourth floor would be "shelled out" to reduce cost. He said UNLV has agreed not to ask the Legislature for money to complete the lab later and that it will do the financing itself.

O'Brien said the building would go out to bid late this year or early next year.