Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Long haul expected today at Las Vegas City Hall

Those planning to attend today's Las Vegas City Council meeting might want to pack a lunch ... and dinner ... and maybe a sleeping bag.

There are more than 130 items on the council's agenda. Not only is that about 25 percent more than normal, but a some are major issues expected to produce time-consuming debates.

Decisions topping the agenda include whether to put a controversial strip club out of business, whether to continue a fight over a new flight path at McCarran International Airport and how to proceed with several high-profile developments .

"It's the same as a short one , only longer," Councilman Gary Reese said of the agenda.

One of the lengthier debates probably will focus on the Crazy Horse Too strip club. The issue is whether to grant the club a permanent liquor license or, by allowing its second - and last - temporary license to expire this month, to essentially put it out of business.

In September, when owner Rick Rizzolo tried to keep his license to ease the sale of the club, the debate lasted several hours. Although no sale is on the horizon, attorney Jay Brown, representing Mike Signorelli, who has leased the club , is unlikely to give up the temporary license without a fight.

The city also must decide whether to continue to fight the Federal Aviation Administration over the so-called right-hand turn, a new flight path in which planes leaving McCarran headed west turn right and fly over the northwest part of the city. The route has generated intense controversy in affected neighborhoods, which could be a harbinger of a long discussion today.

Although the city has spent about $100,000 on the battle, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has said there is only about a 20 percent chance the FAA's decision will be overturned in court.

Other agenda items include a hearing on whether to sell $75 million in economic development revenue bonds to finance the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in Union Park and discussion on a development agreement for Frank Wright Plaza, a park across the street from City Hall.

With so many high-profile issues in one session, more mundane matters could get short shrift . But Reese says the council works hard to make sure that doesn't happen.

"You try to make sure that you don't leave any stones unturned . You want to make sure that people feel comfortable that they are getting their valuable time, too," Reese said. "I don't think anybody on council wants to give them the bum's rush."

Lia Hernandez is one of those with an issue before the council that is not exactly a headline grabber.

Her appeal of the denial of her child care license was moved to the next council session, partly because of the packed agenda, according to her attorney, Charles Wright.

Wright said he would have liked to see the issue addressed today, because Hernandez cannot work in her chosen field until the issue is resolved.

"This is her livelihood at stake here," he said.

Hernandez provided child care in Utah before moving to Las Vegas, but failed to obtain licensing in Nevada before resuming her career. When it was discovered that she was not certified here, she applied for a license but was denied.

It might seem simple enough to limit today's agenda to avoid a long meeting or shortchanging some issues. That, however, can prove impossible.

Several agenda items are for businesses such as restaurants or taverns that have looming expiration dates on permits or licenses. As with Crazy Horse Too, those permits, by municipal code, cannot be extended without council action.

One city staffer described the confluence of agenda items as the "municipal equivalent of a perfect storm."

Although storms in the desert are usually brief, this one figures to go all day and into the night.

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