Las Vegas City Council met Wednesday, Dec. 1. Below are some agenda items that may be of interest. Get the agenda and watch a recap.
Agenda Item 5 – Citizen of the Month: City Council recognized David Hudzick, principal of the Clarence A. Piggott Academy of International Studies. Hudzick was recently named the 2021 Nevada Elementary National Distinguished Principal of the Year for his work at the school located at 9601 Red Hills Road.
Agenda Item 6 – Recognition of the City of Las Vegas First Responders: City Council recognized the work of city of Las Vegas first responders including members of the Department of Public Safety, the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department and the Las Vegas Municipal Court Marshals.
Agenda Items 10 to 15 – State of Nevada Division of Emergency Management Grant Awards: City Council accepted a number of grants from the State of Nevada Division of Emergency Management for the receipt and appropriation of funds from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Urban Area Security Initiative Grant (UASI), to support the Southern Nevada Community Emergency Response Team Las Vegas Fire & Rescue subdivisions and our Emergency Management Program.
Agenda Item 16 – Badlands: City Council voted to continue funding for McDonald Carano to represent the city in an action filed against it by 180 Land Company, LLC, Case No. A-18-775804-J, in the Eighth Judicial District Court concerning the City Council decision to strike from the agenda applications to develop a 133-acre property on the former Badlands Golf Course.
Agenda Item 20 – Advancement and Promotion of Downtown Las Vegas: City Council approved an allocation of $60,000 to the Downtown Las Vegas Alliance (DVA) for the advancement and promotion of downtown. The purpose of the DVA is to serve as a collaborative leader, devoted to creating an attractive, vibrant, diverse and sustainable downtown. The partnership between the City and the DVA supports the continued growth of the DVA, provides community engagement and educational events, and increases communication and coordination between the two entities.
Agenda Item 21 (related to RDA Item 5) – Downtown Vegas Alliance Office Space at the International Innovation Center @ Vegas: City Council approved a Facility Use Agreement between the city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency and the Downtown Las Vegas Alliance (DVA) for office space located at 300 S. 4th St.
Agenda Item 22 – Las Vegas Boulevard/Sahara Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Design Services: City Council approved a contract with GCW, Inc. to continue design services for the pedestrian bridge through 70 percent design. Funding is provided by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). GCW, Inc. was selected through a competitive Request for Statement of Qualifications process and is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Agenda Item 23 – Reconnaissance Level Historic Resource Survey of the 1950s and 1960s Charleston Heights Neighborhood: City Council approved an allocation of $50,000 for costs associated with hiring a cultural resource management firm to conduct a Reconnaissance Level Historic Resource Survey of the 1950s and 1960s Charleston Heights Neighborhood and related activities. A funding request in the amount of $50,000 was awarded to the city of Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission by the Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial at the Centennial Commission’s September 27, 2021 meeting. This area contains a number of mid-century aged structures including residential, commercial, and public buildings. The area is generally bounded by Rainbow Boulevard, Charleston Boulevard, Vegas Drive, and Valley View Boulevard. The Charleston Heights Neighborhood has not been previously surveyed, but a recent visit to the neighborhood led to the observation that the physical conditions of buildings range from possibly maintaining their historical integrity to drastic alterations and reuse modifications. A Reconnaissance Level Survey is needed in order to identify and differentiate between non-historic resources and potentially historic resources in the neighborhood that dates from 1950 to 1969. This grant requires City Council approval due to being over $50,000 pursuant to the CM 501- Grant Application and Management Policy/Procedure
Agenda Item 31 – Charleston Boulevard between Rancho Drive and Martin L. King Jr. Boulevard Speed Limit: City Council approved a change in the speed limit on Charleston Boulevard between Rancho Drive and Martin L. King Boulevard from 45 mph to 35 mph. On Aug. 26, 2021, the Traffic and Parking Commission approved to permanently change the posted speed limit from 45 to 35 mph on Charleston Boulevard between Rancho Drive and Martin L. King Boulevard based on the USLIMITS2 evaluation study, road geometrics and adjacent land uses. This change will be effective with implementation of the Charleston Boulevard - Complete Streets Project which will begin construction in 2022.
Agenda Item 32 (related to RDA Item 6) – 300 S. Fourth St.: City Council approved a Resolution consenting to the undertakings of the city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency (RDA) in connection with an Owner Participation Agreement (OPA) between the RDA and PI BPG Fourth Street Partners, LLC, to participate in a public/private partnership with the landlord in connection with a ten (10) year lease with PAC Downtown Las Vegas for tenant improvements in the leased space, located at 300 S. Fourth St. (APN 139-34-210-077), to be in compliance with and in furtherance of the goals and objectives of the RDA. This is related to the cost of improvements to the property located on the sixth floor.
Agenda Item 33 – Las Vegas Police Protective Association Bargaining Agreement: Senior City Management and LVPPA leadership have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year collective bargaining agreement. In accordance with NRS288.153, the agreement is being brought forward for Council consideration and approval. The new agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025. The total cost of the three-year agreement will not exceed $2,603,000. City Manager Jorge Cervantes will present the report to City Council approved the new agreement.
Agenda Item 34 – Director of Economic and Urban Development: City Council ratified Ryan Smith as the Director of Economic and Urban Development.
Smith was previously serving as the acting director of the Economic and Urban Development Department. Prior to joining the city, Smith served as the director of Business Planning and Analysis for the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development. During his time in that office he helped bring more than 100 companies and more than $5.5 billion in new capital investments to the state.
In his new role Smith is responsible for business attraction, expansion and retention as well as redevelopment within the city. His department plays a key role in working to diversify the local economy, which is one of the City Council’s top three priorities. The council specifically identified this priority as part of the city’s strategic plan so our economy is not as heavily reliant on tourism and gaming.
Smith has a Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University. Smith and his wife Elyse are raising two young daughters.
Agenda Item 35 – Reed Whipple Cultural Center: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related matters, the Neon Museum has asked the city to suspend the construction timelines temporarily until further notice. City Council approved the request.
Agenda Item 37 – Redistricting: City Council approved the ordinance to adjust the ward boundaries of the city in accordance with a redistricting plan, taking into account the most recent official census information. The bill also includes adjustments to reflect changes in precinct numbers made by the Clark County Election Department. Learn more.