City Council news briefs for May 6, 2004

Thursday, May 6, 2004 | 9:54 a.m.

Council receives post office report

The Las Vegas City Council accepted a report Wednesday that says the downtown post office should be turned into a museum that capitalizes on Las Vegas' history but does not repeat what is available at other area museums.

The report recommended that the post office, renamed The POST Modern, also capitalize on its own history, including having an exhibit honoring the building serving as one of the sites of the 1950s hearings into organized crime by Sen. Estes Kefauver's committee.

The City Council voted to take possession of the historic building in April 2002, and Mayor Oscar Goodman recommended, that among other things, it be used to record the mob's early influence on the gaming industry. The museum is expected to open in 2007, Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell said.

Policy delayed on legislative seats

The City Council on Wednesday again put off setting a policy on city employees who run for elected office, including the Nevada Legislature. The board instead moved the agenda item to the May 19 meeting.

It was the fourth time this year that the council has declined to take action.

Hearing planned on capital projects

The City Council has scheduled a special hearing for 4 p.m. Tuesday to consider a plan for funding capital projects in the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

The City Council at an April 20 budget workshop allocated an additional $59.2 million for such projects, including $20 million in new park bonds.

However, the city is still $6.5 million short in funding all of its capital projects, including city facilities, detention buildings, roads, flood and traffic facilities and parks.

Union Park offered as 61 acres' name

Its name is City Parkway, but everyone at City Hall knows it as the 61 acres.

The Las Vegas City Council received a report Wednesday that suggests calling the western downtown urban village development Union Park -- a term that refers to the unification of the old downtown with the new and pays homage to its origins as the Union Pacific Railroad yards.

City Manager Doug Selby said the streets in the City Parkway Corp.'s 61-acre project will be "pedestrian friendly" with drought-tolerant landscape and wide sidewalks.