Henderson City Council briefs

By Jeremy Twitchell

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 | 5:10 p.m.

Sloan Canyon Gateway design standards approved

The Henderson City Council last night approved the design standards for a conservation-themed development to be built on 700 acres between Inspirada and the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area.

The land is within Henderson but is owned by the Bureau of Land Management and slated for future auction to private developers.

City officials said they wanted to have the design guidelines in place so developers are aware of the city’s expectations before purchasing the land.

The standards incorporate concepts of sustainability and conservation by requiring that all structures meet rigorous energy and water efficiency requirements. They also call for development on the site to take place in tight clusters, leaving tracts of open space for parks and trails.

Eventually, the city hopes to build a regional park on the site that will include a visitors center for Sloan Canyon.

Low-income housing funds accepted

The City Council agreed to accept more than $85,000 from the Nevada Housing Division for help in homeless prevention efforts.

Henderson works with HopeLink, formerly known as HACA, to implement homeless prevention programs in the city. Among HopeLink’s offerings are one-time rent assistance and one-time utility assistance for families facing eviction or foreclosure.

To qualify, a household must demonstrate that it is unable to pay its rent in a given month because of unforeseen circumstances but that it has the means to make future payments.

For more information, contact HopeLink at 566-0576.

Roofs to be replaced

The roofs on the original portion of City Hall and the Valley View Recreation Center have deteriorated beyond repair and must be replaced, the City Council decided.

The council unanimously approved two contracts worth $440,000 to replace the roofs. The roof at the original City Hall is 20 years old and will cost $170,000 to replace; the Valley View roof is 15 years old and will cost $270,000 to replace.

Nevada State to build elevator

The facility that Nevada State College has leased from Henderson for its main classroom building since 2001 will soon be getting an elevator.

Nevada State had requested permission to build the elevator at its own expense but needed the city’s approval because it owns the building. The City Council unanimously granted approval last night.

Henderson Public Works, which has active contacts with elevator companies for city facilities, will handle the contracts and bidding process for the college.

Emergency grant received

Henderson’s Emergency Management Office has been funded for another year through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The City Council last night accepted the $121,000 grant, which required an equal match from the city.

The money will fund the city’s emergency management coordinator position and a small office staff.

June 2 meeting rescheduled

The City Council voted to reschedule its June 2 meeting to June 9 in deference to the municipal general election scheduled for the date of the originally scheduled meeting.

The council did the same thing when the municipal primary election fell on the same day as its first council meeting in April.

Voters will be choosing between councilmen Andy Hafen and Steve Kirk for Henderson’s next mayor and between Kathleen Boutin and Cathy Rosenfield to represent Ward III on the City Council.

The June 9 meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 240 S. Water St.