Thursday, April 21, 2005 | 11:03 a.m.
A divided Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday narrowly supported the city taking over Floyd Lamb State Park, with opponents saying they were concerned about the cost of maintaining the large park and supporters saying this is the city's chance to preserve the park for future generations.
The proposed agreement would leave the state in charge of the park for two years. Then the city would take over the park at an estimated $1.3 million a year for security and maintenance.
Council members opposed to the transfer said they were concerned the city can't afford to adequately maintain the existing city parks, let alone another large park such Floyd Lamb.
Councilman Gary Reese said he didn't see how the city could afford to take on Floyd Lamb when "we can't put two or three marshals in Freedom Park."
But supporters, led by Councilman Michael Mack, said putting the park in city hands ensures the city will have control over the future of the park in the northern part of the city.
Proponents have argued for taking over the park, saying the city would do a better job maintaining it, although it would come at a greater cost.
Mack questioned the estimated $1.3 million maintenance and security cost, which he said could turn out to be half that amount. The state spends about $270,000 a year on maintenance and law enforcement at the park. He also said the city could apply for federal funds to improve the existing buildings and fishing ponds at the park, whereas the state could not.
"This is an opportunity to preserve open space," Mack said, adding that if left in state hands part of the park could eventually be developed. "The state could sell it, the county could jump in, who knows what could happen?"
Mack, whose ward includes the park, said the city has no plans to allow development at the park.
While the agreement, if approved by the state, would ease some restrictions on uses in part of the park -- all of the park would continue to be under the land-use restrictions that limit uses there to outdoor recreation.
Last year, a private company proposed putting a zoo there, but later dropped the idea after their consultant told them a large zoo wouldn't work without a large public subsidy. Mack said there are no plans to put a zoo there.
The council voted 4-3 to support the city acquiring the park from the state. The matter now goes to the governor's office and then either the state Legislature, or legislative finance committee if the Legislature is not in session, for final approval.
Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilmen Larry Brown, Steve Wolfson and Mack voted in favor of the measure.
"I don't want to lose a jewel," Goodman said. "This ensures the city has a say in its future."
Council members Lawrence Weekly, Lois Tarkanian and Reese voted against the city acquiring the park.
"I can't see where the money is," Tarkanian said, referring to the expected cost of maintaining the park.
The council was originally scheduled to consider the matter in February, but delayed action on the park proposal, after some City Council members expressed concern about the management and cost of taking over the large park.
The state-owned 680 acres of the park is now under a land-use restriction that allows for only passive uses there, such as trails.
The agreement supported Wednesday would lift that restriction on all 620 acres, leaving the passive-use restriction on the park's 60-acre core, which includes the fishing ponds and historic buildings.
The remaining 620 acres could eventually be used for ball fields or other recreational activities that aren't defined as passive.
The state's 680 acres is surrounded by 1,050 acres of federal land leased to the state. Under the agreement, the state would turn the lease over to the city.
Future uses on the nearly 1,700 acres would still be limited by the federal Land and Water Conservation Act, which allows for outdoor recreation only.
The agreement also prohibits the city from changing the name of the park. In 1977 the city, with the help of then-state Sen. Floyd Lamb, gave the high-maintenance park that was then called Tule Springs Ranch to the state. Lamb was later convicted in a bribery scheme but then regained his civil rights.
City and state officials have talked for years about the city taking over the park, thinking the city would spend more money on it and so do a better job of maintaining the park. The 2003 Legislature passed a bill authorizing the city and state to negotiate a deal for the park.
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