Las Vegas City Council briefs for March 4, 2004

Thursday, March 4, 2004 | 9:40 a.m.

Galardi to pay $1 million fine

The Las Vegas City Council made official Wednesday the agreement with strip club owner Jack Galardi that allows him to escape punishment for misdeeds that he was not involved with and that were committed by his employees or former associates.

In exchange, he pays the city a $1.017 million fine for crimes admitted to by his son and former business partner, Michael Galardi. Michael Galardi pleaded guilty to corruption charges first in San Diego and then in Las Vegas. He retired his share of the company in fall, which gave his father 100 percent control.

The fine amount was based on city statutes that allow up to $1,000 a day for each day of violation -- between August 2000 and May 2003.

Mall developer granted extension

Developer John Edmond was given by the council Wednesday an additional 30 days to get financing for his proposed Edmond Town Center mall at the southwest corner of H Street and Owens Avenue.

The council previously had given him until Friday to prove he had financing or it would declare him in default of the contract that gave him the city-owned land in exchange for development of the mall.

His representative told the council that it could take another 60 days to finalize the leases needed to secure the loans that would allow construction to begin, and offered a $20,000 nonrefundable check to indicate how serious Edmond was.

Although the council granted only 30 days before beginning the default process, and took the check, the effect of the action gives Edmond 90 days to win financing before the land goes back to the city. That's because he has 30 days to respond to a city declaration of default, and his financial backers then get 30 days. If he "cures" the default before that time, the city could rescind its finding of default and allow the project to proceed.

Mack raises scooter issues

Councilman Michael Mack, concerned because residents in his district have complained about motorized scooters in traffic, said he brought the discussion to the council Wednesday largely to inform the public about the issue.

"This is a step toward communicating with the public," Mack said.

City Attorney Brad Jerbic told the council that as motorized vehicles, scooters are covered by state law that forbids operation on sidewalks and requires a license to drive on streets. Jerbic said that gated communities and private driveways are not covered by the state law.

Council asked staff to follow up on some of the items mentioned during the discussion -- including posting fliers where the scooters are sold to inform parents that state law regulates the scooters.

The issue is coming to the fore across the valley as the machines increase in popularity. The city of Henderson recently passed a rule strictly regulating where the devices can be used.