Election may turn on city land sale

Friday, May 20, 2005 | 11:03 a.m.

Mike Pacini

Democrat

Age: 37

Occupation: Store clerk

Endorsements: Southern Nevada Central Labor Council and Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters.

Jeremy Lilly

Age: 26.

Occupation: Sales and marketing for Smart Pools.

Endorsements: None.

Andrea Anderson

Age: 60.

Occupation: Community college administrator.

Endorsements: Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Metro Police Managers and Supervisors Association, Southern Nevada Central Labor Council and Las Vegas Board of Realtors.

Two challengers are vying to unseat two incumbents for the Boulder City Council, an outcome that might be influenced by a ballot measure to sell city land.

Swimming pool salesman Jeremy Lilly and Bradley Farmer are challenging two-term incumbent Mike Pacini and Andrea Anderson, who is seeking a second term. The race, however, may come down to three candidates since Bradley hasn't campaigned nor has he raised any money.

At the June 7 general election, Boulder City voters will decide for the second time in seven months whether the city should sell 46.5 acres northeast of Boulder Creek Golf Course. The city would use the proceeds of the land sale to a housing developer for paying off the $22 million cost for building the golf course.

Both Pacini and Anderson support the land sale, but Lilly has made his opposition to the ballot initiative a key plank in his campaign.

"The voters said no to this in November, and they put it back on the ballot," Lilly said. "That's why the council is not trusted. I don't know why they don't listen to the voters."

Anderson said the city needs to sell the 46.5 acres to pay off the golf course debt that costs Boulder City $1.5 million a year. She said the golf course is getting closer to breaking even on its operations, but there is not enough revenue to pay off the debt, she said.

"We can't afford the $1.5 million payment and have to scrape the money together," Anderson said. "It's fiscally responsible to do that."

By paying off the debt now, the city will have more money for much-needed pay raises for police officers and firefighters and for other needs, Anderson said.

Pacini said it's a good move for the city to pay off the debt quicker and that's he confident the golf course's operations will continue to improve. He said the city will continue to market the course to increase play.

Pacini said there's nothing wrong with the council putting the land sale back on the ballot after its narrow defeat in November. He said a lot of residents urged him to do so, saying they needed more information about it before they could approve it.

"There is much more details now, and I think we did the responsible thing," Pacini said.

Lilly said the golf course bonds go out 20 years, and that there was no rush to pay it off now. That land will continue to increase in value at a greater rate than the accumulating interest on the bonds. Saving the city $5 million in interest payments will be much less than the increased value of the land, he said.

Lilly said he's not against the ultimate development of the 46.5 acres but said the city should wait and focus solely on the golf course.

"Paying off the bonds doesn't take away that the golf course is losing money," said Lilly, who said the council should consider a lease.

Lilly was critical of Pacini for past suggestions that the city consider selling 1,500 acres near Dutchman's Pass on the east side of the McCullough Mountains, as a way to generate revenue for Boulder City. Lilly said the millions Boulder City would receive isn't worth the inconvenience of more traffic and tarnished mountain views.

Pacini said he will continue to have an open mind about selling the property but added any decision will be made by the voters, and not him.

Boulder City residents must approve of any sale of city land of 1 acre or more. Anderson, who opposes selling the Dutchman's Pass land, said the community is protected from developers by its ordinances. Boulder City limits new home construction to 120 a year.

"We have all kinds of controls," Anderson said. "No developer can come in and tell us what to do."

In the campaign expenditure filings this year, Pacini reported $4,200 in contributions and $2,685 in expenses. Anderson reported $8,240 in contributions and more than $3,600 in expenses. Lilly reported raising no money but spending $2,700.

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