LOOKING IN ON: SUBURBS

By Mike Trask (contact)

Monday, May 14, 2007 | 7:04 a.m.

Eldorado Valley was again the subject of discussion at the Boulder City Council meeting Tuesday night. But this time there was no talk of land deals with developers or Clark County.

Now the city might consider annexing property across U.S. 95 from the Railroad Pass Casino.

The land is zoned commercial/light industrial. But many in Boulder City fear it eventually will be rezoned by the county, allowing for massive developments at the edge of town.

Larry Canarelli is planning to build 3,800 houses in the area. The city has been trying to find a way to prevent that, such as proposing ballot measures that amounted to three-way land trades among the city, county and Canarelli.

The proposals were recently pulled off the June ballot, however, because of financial and logistical problems.

Councilman Roger Tobler, who is running for mayor, proposed commissioning a study about the potential of annexation. Some landowners in the area would split the cost of the research, he said.

"We need to be careful and cautious," he said. "But we can't wait too long or we're going to miss the boat and we're going to be where we are with Canarelli."

No council member opposed the study. But Councilwoman-elect Linda Strickland, who was elected outright in the primary, said she was against annexation.

Boulder City golf cart driver Shelia Fava didn't get an answer on whether she can return to the roads at the Tuesday meeting.

Fava has been waiting since January for the city to research creating a law that would allow her to cruise the streets in her electric cart, which she had driven freely for years before a city crackdown.

City Manager Vicki Mayes said the city has had difficulty drafting an ordinance that would be consistent with state law while still meeting residents' needs.

The city does not have any developments designed for golf carts, such as some master-planned communities in Summerlin.

Mayes said the city will continue looking at the issue but did not set a date for a decision.

"How terrible," Fava said of the delay. "What a bummer."

The Boulder City meeting was attended by about 30 Boulder City High School students as part of their government classes.

Most spent the 90 minutes doodling pictures and figuring out a way to sneak out without getting busted by the television cameras.

After the meeting, a city staffer asked the students whether they learned anything.

"I learned how to sleep while sitting up," a young man quipped.

North Las Vegas has been making a stronger effort toward getting residents' input.

It's taking a survey focused on neighborhood improvements. The six questions are on quality-of-life issues and how people feel about the city's maintenance. The survey also provides a comment section for people to list what's on their minds.

The survey is available at cityofnorthlasvegas.com.