City Council briefs

Plans for Metro Police infrastructure expansion were given the go-ahead Monday by the Las Vegas Council.

Metro wants to relocate the Southeast Command Center to a new site and construct three other command centers over the next four years.

Metro's Committee on Fiscal Affairs approved the same plan last month and forwarded it to the city and Clark County for approval. The county has not yet reviewed the matter.

Metro has five command areas -- the largest of which serves 315,000 residents. The department estimates it is 3.7 command areas behind the population growth.

By 2001, the department plans to open a new Southeast Command at Pearl and Harmon avenues and a South Central Command at a still undetermined location.

A West Central Command, planned for Rainbow Boulevard and U.S. 95, and a Southwest Command are both set to open in 2002.

The projects will likely be funded by city or county bonds.

Niarchos replaces Todoroff on board

Nick Niarchos, the former general counsel for the Howard Hughes Corp., was appointed Monday to the board of directors of the City Centre Development Corp.

Niarchos was appointed to fill the position vacated when Doug Todoroff resigned in December.

CCDC is a private agency that acts as the city's redevelopment arm. The Las Vegas City Council unanimously approved the appointment during a meeting at which the council oversees CCDC business.

Niarchos, who resigned from Howard Hughes Corp. last September, was instrumental in working with the city during design of the master-planned community Summerlin. He also handled the estate for the late Hughes.

Niarchos will serve out Todoroff's term until July, when the position goes up for election for another three-year term. The position is not paid.

Las Vegas pilot city for national program

The Environmental Protection Agency has selected Las Vegas as a pilot city for a national program to study quality of life issues.

The City Council on Monday accepted a $60,126 grant from the EPA, awarded as part of the Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking program.

As EMPACT partners, the city, county and UNLV staff will measure, monitor and deliver environmental and quality of life information residents need for education on better health.

Longer hours slated for new city facility

The new municipal pool will attempt to make up for its oft-delayed opening by offering longer hours of operation when it does open its doors next month.

The new pool, which was constructed as a replacement to Dula Pool, will be open 80 hours a week.

The pool, on Bonanza Road near Las Vegas Boulevard, will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

The City Council approved the new hours and a new fee schedule Monday.

The Clark County School District will pay $2.50 per lane per hour of use and swim teams will pay $3 per lane per hour. Summer fees for synchronized swimming and diving classes will increase from $25 for six weeks to $30 a month.

Daily rates for open swim remain the same as last year.

A grand opening of the $5.6 million facility will be held either March 10 or 11. The pool was originally supposed to open in September.

Administrative fee would cover fines

A bill that would charge vehicle owners a $10 administrative fee to cover costs related to parking fines was introduced to the Las Vegas City Council on Monday.

Under state law, the city can file a notice of nonpayment with the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety in order to collect delinquent parking fines. The state DMV will not issue a vehicle registration to a driver if such a notice has been filed against him.

In the past, the state charged the city a nominal fee to process such notices. The state is now, however, implementing a $5 fee for each type of notice.

Company requests homes amendment

The Las Vegas City Council on Monday tabled a request by Saxton Inc. to amend the general plan to allow 167 townhomes to be built in an area specified for lower density. About 250 residents had expressed opposition.

The item was rescheduled for Feb. 22.

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