Valley keeps an eye on growth bills

Local government officials throughout the valley will be keeping a close eye on how the 1999 Nevada Legislature decides to deal with growth in the southern half of the state.

The cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas along with Clark County and Metro Police plan to introduce a number of bills concerning growth.

And while Boulder City and Henderson don't have any specific bill requests on their legislative plates, officials are prepared to respond to any proposals that could affect their respective cities.

At stake for all the local governments is how legislators, following today's swearing-in ceremony, receive the recommendations of the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority. Two years ago, the Legislature formed the group -- comprised of 21 community leaders -- and tasked it with determining how best the valley should grow from a regional standpoint.

The strategic planning authority's plan is expected to be unveiled in separate presentations to the House and the Assembly later this month.

Clark County has taken an important role in the regional planning authority, said spokesman Tom Warden.

"We are very interested in how that plays out," he said.

Bonnie Rinaldi, assistant county manager, said the county has put most of its strong growth initiatives "into the SNSPA basket."

The county also will ask the Legislature to help restore the Las Vegas Wash through a wetlands mitigation banking program, Rinaldi said.

In addition to a $700,000 request from drug court to continue the program, the county will request that judges be allowed to make parents financially responsible for some of the costs of probation and parole services for their children, Rinaldi said.

Like the county, in addition to the regional planning authority's recommendations, Las Vegas officials plan to promote several separate bills, including one that would impose impact fees for parks and fire services and another that would require disclosure to homebuyers about the surrounding area.

North Las Vegas will introduce five bills, the majority of which address the city's almost 15 percent growth rate.

Marta Brown, manager of legislative and special affairs for the city, said among its requests, the city is asking for an addition to a state law that would enable the city to annex county property that is completely surrounded by the city's corporate boundaries.

The city also is asking for a change in its beautification fee to generate funds for graffiti removal as well as $1.6 million for construction of a northwest branch library and the establishment of special assessment districts to obtain funding to maintain parks in redevelopment areas.

Metro Police's government liaison, Lt. Stan Olsen, is hoping for changes in laws ranging from how evidence from clandestine drug labs is stored to allowing the department to own buildings.

Boulder City spokesman Roy Theiss said Boulder City also is going to be very watchful of the bill drafts Sen. Jon Porter, R-Henderson, will be introducing on behalf of the regional planning authority.

Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom, D-Boulder City, plans to introduce a bill asking for $400,000 to fund exhibits in the Boulder City Museum.

"The museum is the main thing for downtown Boulder City," she said, adding more than $200,000 has been raised since the last session. "We don't have gaming or big hotels, so we need tourists to come downtown and stop on the way to the (Hoover) dam."

Betsy Fretwell, intergovernmental relations director for the city of Henderson, said legislative issues for the city include a feasibility study for a future state college, economic development and, of course, growth management.

"One of the other things we will be watching closely is the tax distribution formula," she said. "There was a big revamp of the tax system last year, the way they pooled and distributed funds, so we're going to be watching adjustments to that formula, because we are receiving less revenue than we would have under the old formula."

Porter, along with Assemblyman Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, is sponsoring a bill asking for a feasibility study concerning locating a state college in Henderson.

On the economic development front, Fretwell said several bills focus on economic diversification plans for the state as well as at the local level.

"Those initiatives go hand in hand with the state college and smart growth concepts," she said. "It's all about building a well-balanced community."

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