Thursday, March 3, 2005 | 11 a.m.
LV to submit own tax proposal
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's hope for a meeting of all area elected officials to discuss the issue of rising property tax bills won't come to fruition, and instead the city will develop its own suggestions to send to the Legislature.
"To say that I'm terribly disappointed is an understatement," Goodman said during the Wednesday City Council meeting.
Goodman said he hoped the Las Vegas-area elected officials would get together and reach a consensus on the matter, which has prompted some elected leaders to call for a cap on property tax increases caused by the dramatic rise in property value.
City Manager Doug Selby said city staff were trying to schedule a meeting for today, but were unable to accommodate the schedules of the other area elected officials.
Instead the Las Vegas City Council will develop its own stand on the property tax issue.
Goodman said the city's suggestion should include a hardship provision for those who simply cannot afford the higher property tax bills. He said those facing an economic hardship because of the higher bills could have a lien placed on their property for the taxes owed instead of being forced to pay.
Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell said she will review past studies and have a proposed resolution ready for the council's March 16 meeting.
Project approved at Alta-Rampart
A condominium, office and retail development planned for the northeast corner of Alta Drive and Rampart Boulevard includes two five-story buildings, a 10-story building, and bigger backyards for some neighbors.
The Las Vegas City Council voted 7-0 Wednesday to approve the Queensborough development, which is planned to include 340 condominiums on 30 acres near the Suncoast and Angel Park Golf Club.
About a dozen neighbors who attended the council meeting said they started out opposed to the project, but were won over by the developers during the past three months.
The concessions worked out by the neighbors and developers during their meetings included cutting 35 condominiums from the original development plans that called for 375 condominiums there, adding entrances and exits from the site to lessen the impact of the additional traffic, and offering the adjacent neighbors bigger backyards.
Greg Borgel, a land use consultant who worked for the developer, said they planned to have a 37-foot landscape buffer around the project. Then neighbors suggested giving some of that buffer to the homeowners whose yards are along the Queensborough property line.
The land is owned by Great Wash Park LLC.
Deal OK'd with county on tax
The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday approved an agreement with Clark County that formalizes the intention to use an additional 2 percent car rental tax to help pay for a planned performing arts center.
The County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a similar agreement about transferring the tax revenue to the city. The transfer has been planned for months and is an integral part of the funding plan for the performing arts center, which is planned for the city's vacant 61 acres downtown.
The commission and council's approval mean there is now a binding agreement between the two governments that states the tax revenue must be used for a performing arts center, Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell said.
Last month the commissioners approved the 2 percent tax on car rentals despite some objections from the Nevada Car Rental Association that complained the tax will increase the total taxes on rental cars from 37 percent to 39 percent.
The first $3 million of revenue from the 2 percent tax, which amounts to $1 on a $50 rental charge, will go to support expansion of the Culinary Union training academy in North Las Vegas.
Money above the $3 million threshold will go toward paying off bonds expected to be issued for the construction of the performing arts center.
Third Street high rise OK'd
Downtown Las Vegas development took another step into its high-rise future Wednesday when the City Council approved plans for a 15-story building for the northeast corner of Garces Avenue and Third Street.
The CityMark Development project plans to include space for commercial businesses and 342 condominiums, which will start around $200,000.
"What can I say? It's the best," Mayor Oscar Goodman said about the project, which will cover most of the block.
The council voted 7-0 to approve the plans for the CityMark building.
The building will be built on land purchased from the city in October for $5.2 million, which was the appraised value of the 2.4-acre lot.
Resolution targets Bush proposal
The City Council took a formal stand on Wednesday against President Bush's proposal to take funds from federal land sales in Southern Nevada.
The council voted 5-0 for the resolution that asks that all of the money from sales stay in Southern Nevada as intended by the 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilman Lawrence Weekly were not present for the vote.
The Bush administration has proposed using 70 percent of the money raised in those land sales to offset the federal deficit.
"It is important these funds stay in Nevada," Councilman Michael Mack said.
Revised drought plan endorsed
The City Council on Wednesday endorsed the revised drought plan being pushed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
The changes being promoted by the Water Authority include tougher penalties for wasting water, usually defined as letting water flow freely off a property or irrigating landscaping on the wrong day.
The fines would increase from $25 for a first-time violation to $40 for a typical house. Commercial properties with larger water lines would have fines go from $100 for a first-time violation to $160.
Water charges for Las Vegas residents are set by the Las Vegas Valley Water District, which is overseen by the Clark County Commission, who approved the changes on Tuesday.
The City Council voted 5-0 to support the revised plan. Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilman Lawrence Weekly were not present for the vote.
Because the council does not control water fees or fines, the effect of the Wednesday vote is that the most severe level of drought will now be called "drought critical" instead of "drought emergency."
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