Friday, March 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- A bill allowing Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones to veto ordinances passed by the City Council has been introduced by the Assembly Government Affairs Committee.
Jones, pointing out that the mayor is elected by all of Las Vegas while the council members are chosen by voters in their wards, said it's good policy to give the mayor a greater voice in city government.
"This gives the mayor more authority without disrupting a system that works fairly well," Jones said Thursday.
She referred to the recent 4-1 vote in which the council approved casinos in Summerlin, in which she dissented.
"I know the public didn't want the casinos," she said.
She said veto power would give the mayor more of a voice in choosing the city manager in the future but would not change the city manager type of government. She said the system works well in Sparks.
With council members elected from districts, it can lead to vote trading on a project located in a particular ward, she said. One council member may convince others to vote for the project and those outside the ward may not consider all ramifications.
Under the proposed system, the mayor could look at all the issues that will affect the city, Jones said.
Assemblyman Doug Bache, D-Las Vegas, chairman of the committee, called it a move for a stronger type of mayor-run government. He said he understands several council members will testify in support of Assembly Bill 238, which was introduced Wednesday.
The mayor now votes with council members on ordinances. Under the bill, she would be prohibited from voting, except in the case of a tie.
But the mayor would have the power to veto any contract, resolution or ordinance approved by the council. It would take a three-fourths vote of the council to override the veto.
Bache said he would try to attach a rider to the bill allowing the council to increase the number of council seats. Minorities say they don't have adequate representation on the council.
The Senate Government Affairs Committee Wednesday recommended passage of Senate Bill 38 to amend the city charter of Las Vegas to authorize an increase or decrease in the number of wards. The bill was introduced by Sen. Joe Neal, D-Las Vegas, as a way to give minorities a bigger voice.
That bill will come up for a final Senate vote sometime next week.
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