Tuesday, March 11, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- A freshman legislator is not certain that all seven Clark County commissioners are on the same page when it comes to tackling Southern Nevada infrastructure problems.
A hearing on air quality got sidetracked Monday when Assemblyman John Lee, D-Las Vegas, questioned Commissioner Erin Kenny about a so-called "white paper" presented last week to the Assembly Infrastructure Committee.
Kenny told Lee she had not seen the report, but later admitted she had not checked her mail box since last Thursday.
After Kenny had a chance to briefly review the "white paper," she said that county officials should first determine what the communities want.
Kenny said there was no mention of parks, fire stations or police.
The paper, prepared by Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates and Commissioners Myrna Williams and Mary Kincaid, accompanied a needs assessment study that all commissioners were briefed on last Wednesday.
That study identified $2.4 billion worth of unfunded basic needs, compiled by Assistant County Manager Randy Walker from data provided by the five cities of Clark County and the water purveyors.
"We already did a staff study," Gates said.
The original study looked at schools, water, sewer and transit needs that aren't funded for the next 10 years. When commissioners were briefed on the study, Kenny insisted that parks be included, which added another $300,000.
Gates said fire stations and police were not included because the study was trying to focus on unmet needs.
Lee, a member of the Assembly Infrastructure Committee who was present last Friday when Gates presented the needs assessment and "white paper," said Gates had assured him that the entire County Commission backed the study.
"I clearly said our intent was to have this endorsed by all the mayors and the County Commission," Gates said.
Lee said he showed a copy of the white paper to Commissioner Bruce Woodbury.
"I could kind of tell he had never seen it," Lee said.
Woodbury testified at Friday's infrastructure hearing that he supported the white paper's concepts.
Lee said he got the impression that commissioners were not communicating enough, even though their offices are only 50 feet apart.
Gates, accompanied by Williams and Mirage Resorts executive Punam Mather, briefed every commissioner on the needs assessment last Wednesday. She said the white paper was delivered the next day, prior to a meeting with the county's five mayors.
"Why don't they go back and look at their mail," Gates said.
Lee said when he did not see Woodbury's name on the report, he asked Gates specifically if Woodbury agreed with the conclusion. He quoted Gates as saying, "Rest assured everybody is in agreement with this."
Gates disputed that.
"He specifically asked why his commissioner (Lance Malone) wasn't on there," Gates said. "I said I'm sure Lance supports this."
Malone said he received a copy of the white paper and the needs assessment on Thursday, and that he supported the concept.
The white paper asks the Legislature to approve the proposed quarter-percent sales tax increase to pay for a second pipeline from Lake Mead. It also endorses proposals by the gaming and home-building industries.
"If I went to the bank with this, I doubt I would get a loan," Lee said of the white paper.
Gates said she didn't understand Lee's logic, or why he was criticizing her after asking for her endorsement last fall when he was running a close election.
"This is not intended to be a loan, it's a philosophical paper," Gates said. "I want to see what recommendations Lee has. Has he got something he can take to the bank to get a loan for?"
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