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Iris Dumuk, Special to the Sun
Nevada State Museum building at the Springs Preserve.
Sunday, May 27, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
A county commissioner derisively noted last week that government thinks it is “saving” money when it pays less for something than was expected. For example, if a union asks for 7 percent pay raises but only gets 4 percent, government likes to say it “saved” 3 percent.
But union members still got a 4 percent raise.
You heard hints of that same mental twisting last week when county commissioners talked about Springs Preserve, the 5-year-old, $235 million architectural ode to the well-springs that slaked the thirst of the valley’s earliest visitors. Well, it was said, the Springs Preserve subsidy is down to between $4 million and $6 million, a far cry from the $8 million or so it was a few years ago. (The preserve was sold, in part, with cheerleaders who said it would pay for itself. Its annual costs include about $11 million per year to pay off a $180 million bond.)
So for the sake of argument, let’s say the Springs Preserve is “saving” money.
Why, then, is it going to add another expense?
What are you talking about?
Haven’t you heard yet about the train? The cost isn’t nailed down, but the Las Vegas Valley Water District will spend what one commissioner estimated to be a few hundred thousand dollars to purchase a trackless train on rubber wheels that will pull passengers on its cars through the 180-acre preserve, regaling riders with the story of Las Vegas’ watery birthplace. Ticket costs are expected to be minimal, but more accurate dollar figures will be known after the district puts out a request for proposals and sees what is out there.
But right now, the trackless train is not being looked at skeptically, the way one might expect after three years of relentless economic hardship?
The expectation is for the train to be paid off in about four years from revenue derived from sponsorships and ticket fees. After annual maintenance, the rest, as they say, will be gravy.
Gravy that is expected to help the Las Vegas Valley Water District, which just jacked up water rates like all the other water districts?
You just had to spoil a happy story. Let’s think positively and hope that, for once, projections that a public development will pay for itself — remember the monorail? — come true.
•••
The first County Commission meeting in June should hold one item of interest because of its potential to directly affect those gigantic shrink-wrapped advertisements pasted to the sides of buildings. You’ve seen them over several stories on the side of the Flamingo to advertise the “Donny and Marie” show.
Some off-Strip hotels facing the Las Vegas Convention Center want to paste the supergraphics to the sides of their hotels because, well, it’s good money. For a week of display, county officials say, a hotel could pull in well over $100,000.
Is there a problem with this?
There are potential problems. Ever seen the gigantic but empty Fontainebleau resort? Its multibillion-dollar exterior would be prime real estate for a supergraphic. But because the First Amendment would prevent the restriction of most advertising messages, one county official said, imagine the side of that empty hulk plastered with an advertisement for, say, condoms.
And have you seen all the ads for movies and other things plastered on the sides of buildings in Los Angeles? It isn’t always the most aesthetically pleasing sight.
What does the county want to do?
Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani has been working with resorts and businesses to craft an ordinance that would keep the supergraphics from popping up willy-nilly all over the valley.
“To me, it comes down to visual clutter,” said Giunchigliani (pronounced june-killy-ON-knee). “They should serve a purpose, and I don’t like all the signs all over.”
An ordinance proposed in March defined “supergraphics” as signs “displayed during a convention (that is) held at an approved convention facility.” An “approved convention center” has to be one that is 1.5 million square feet or more. The only place supergraphics could be displayed is basically in an area that includes the Strip from Sahara south to Russell and stretches a bit east and west to areas that include the Convention Center.
The graphics also could not be displayed on buildings fewer than 10 stories tall, a building could not use its walls for advertising more than 10 times per year, and the graphics could not be put up more than two days before or after a convention.
Permit fees for the signs would be $100 plus 10 cents per square foot of sign area.
The ordinance would be reviewed in a year to see how it is working.
But so far a public hearing hasn’t been held. Why not?
Giunchigliani said tweaks and bugs needed to be worked out.
More of the same with unelected, unaccountable bureacratic pencil-pushing drones! Saving historical sites is one thing; losing multi-millions while doing it is another. These bureacratic drones believe there is an endless supply of money; like water, you turn a handle, and it comes pouring out. Well, that's not the case and someone has to shake them up and wake them up! Unfortunately, the wimps on the Clark County Commission do not seem to be up to the task!
Springs Preserve is a wonderful attraction and cultural addition to Las Vegas. The idea of a train ride is a projection for the current and future retirees who enjoy the preserve, but lack the physical stamina to walk the 180 acres. This will be a beautiful experience in the spring when all the flowers are in bloom.
It will also allow easier access to some of the more distant areas of the preserve.
With the natural history museum opening up this train will allow people to park at the preserve and then take a train up to the museum and not have to move their car again.
At least the Preserve management is trying new ideas to make this a better place for the future.
Investment in the future is necessary for society to advance.
Or we can just continue to stagnate, like the US has done since 1980.
Another train to nowhere..... is Harry Reid behind this???
Yes, the Springs Preserve is a nice attraction, but I feel that it is over priced for most folks to visit often. Now they want to charge even more to ride a train around. Sounds like the Government, we need more money-raise taxes. Springs Preserve-we are not making enough - more tickets. How about dropping prices, or just an all inclusive, then work on getting more people out there. Try out a $5 all inclusive entry fee, and see how it does. Not a locals only deal either, everyone.
Team up with the Strip casinos to get tourists out there, so that they see that Las Vegas is more than just gambling. LV needs to diversify its economic base if it wants to move forward, and this is one way to do that.By getting tourists out, and about off the Strip they will spend money in other businesses therby helping the general area. Not saying that this will ever be the next San Diego wild animal park, but more people through the doors means more people who know that LV is not just casinos, and shows.
Why not approach some of the Major companies in Las Vegas and get them to sponsor the train outright?
Have each company by one of the "cars" of the train so the park has no upfront outlay. The car they buy is painted their colors and has their company logo on it.
I am betting with just a bit of effort they could get this train paid for then all they have is operating costs. No four year payback time.
Sounds like a great idea!
As to those whining about the money, I personally have no issues with their current pricing and do not want the tourist visiting the preserve.
One thing I would suggest is the SP work with the LV Zoo and maybe relocate the Zoo to the Reserve. I think that addition would solidify the future for both.
How about extending the monorail to McCarren airport. Then, when the monorail is making tons of money (which it would) use the excess money to fund projects like this? Oh wait, the cab companies would fight that to the death. I guess the county needs to decide who it wants to offend, cab companies or taxpayers. My guess is I'm going to take the hit.
"...I don't want the signs all over"- C.Giunchigliani
"I don't want tourists visiting the preserve."
The sound of selfish, small minds impeding progress.
I love these "Questions" which just reinforce the author's bias... because they're posed and answered by a single person with a single view. This is 'journalism-light.'
Lon Miller...
Edge, you nailed that one.
Loved the bit about the 'big union raises' he got in there, too... (like we're seeing that all over the place, right?)
Written like a true TeaNut.