Discussion of downtown curfew continues on fast track

By Conor Shine

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 | 2 a.m.

Fremont Street could become a bit less crowded if the Las Vegas City Council approves a new curfew Wednesday barring unaccompanied teens younger than 18 from the area on weekend nights.

The council, which meets at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in the council chambers, 495 S. Main St., also will discuss potential fee increases at its parks and consider a lease for a new sandwich shop at City Hall.

Downtown curfew

Growing crowds in the Fremont East Entertainment District over the past months have sparked concern about unruly behavior, underage drinking and the potential for violence.

The concerns have led Mayor Carolyn Goodman to put forward a proposed ordinance that would extend the hours of the already-existing municipal curfew in the downtown area.

If approved, the curfew would prohibit people younger than 18 from being downtown from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and legal holidays. The ordinance mirrors a similar measure already in place on the Strip.

The council has fast-tracked the bill, which has generated positive responses from downtown business owners, after introducing it at its meeting earlier this month. It first will be heard by the recommending committee at 9 a.m. today. If it receives approval there, it will go to the full council for possible approval Wednesday.

Paying for parks

About 60 percent of the city’s annual parks and recreation budget is subsidized with general fund dollars, a situation that has officials looking at ways to eke more money out of the system.

That could mean price increases for everything from pavilion rentals to daily passes to class registrations at city-owned parks and recreation centers.

A consultant’s report prepared for the council shows Las Vegas’ parks system generates less revenue than systems elsewhere in the country and lays out a course to help the operations pay for more of their costs.

The council will receive the report and discuss possible next steps Wednesday.

City Hall sandwiches

City employees won’t have to go far for something to eat if the council approves a lease with Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop to open at a ground-floor space in City Hall.

The five-year lease with franchisee Hodges Enterprise of Las Vegas 4 LLC covers 1,229 square feet of interior restaurant space, plus a 546-square-foot patio at a monthly rent of $2,458. The restaurant would be situated on the southeast corner of the property near Clark Avenue and First Street and would have its own entrance separate from City Hall.