NLV City Council briefs for May 20, 2004

Thursday, May 20, 2004 | 9:55 a.m.

Minimum distance for bars increased

On the day North Las Vegas' six-month moratorium on new taverns expired, the City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved changes to city laws that will keep liquor-selling businesses farther away from churches, schools, parks and day-care centers with 12 or more children.

The changes increase the minimum distance to 1,500 feet. However, the Planning Commission can waive that distance requirement if a significant barrier, such as a highway, separates a tavern from a school, church, park or day-care center.

The minimum distance requirement had been 400 feet and applied only to schools and churches.

In addition, new tavern licenses must now be approved by five of the seven members of the Planning Commission members instead of a simple majority.

City to change animal shelters

The council unanimously approved changing animal shelters.

North Las Vegas will contract with the Animal Foundation's Lied Animal Shelter to care for the city's unwanted and runaway pets.

Under the contract, also approved Wednesday, North Las Vegas will pay $375,000 for the first year, $300,000 a year for the second through the sixth years of the agreement, and then $250,000 for the last four years of the contract, which also includes two five-year renewal options.

The city currently sends found pets to the Dewey Animal Shelter, which it will continue to do until the city's $180,000-a-year contract with Dewey expires in April 2005.

The Clark County Commission awarded the county animal shelter contract to Lied last July after terse debate between supporters of Lied and those who wanted the county to stick with Dewey.

Janie Greenspun Gale, a member of the Greenspun family, which owns the Sun, is a member of the Animal Foundation board of directors.

Split vote OKs two billboards

Two billboards proposed for land next to the Interstate 15 and Las Vegas Beltway interchange in North Las Vegas were approved by a split council.

The council voted 3-2 to approve the billboards, which were requested by property owners JV Properties LLC and FLF 98 LLC.

Mayor Michael Montandon, who voted against the billboards with Councilman Robert Eliason, said he's against any new billboards for the city. Montandon said these billboards are not allowed because new billboards are restricted to within 300 feet of the I-15 right-of-way.

But Councilwoman Stephanie Smith said she agreed with the attorney for the property owners who argued that I-15 includes the highway off- and on-ramps.

The two billboards would be about 20 feet from the ramps, but more than 660 feet from the freeway.