Mesquite grows, wants more

Mesquite city officials presented their case for seceding from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Tuesday, but also suggested Mesquite might drop its bid for an independent convention and visitors authority if it is given a permanent seat on the LVCVA's Board of Directors.

The board seat currently held by Mesquite Mayor Ken Carter rotates between Mesquite and Boulder City. The Nevada Assembly's Government Affairs Committee last month rejected a request that the board be expanded beyond its 12 members to include a full-time seat for Mesquite.

But moments after that decision, the committee agreed to add a 13th seat to the Board for the Nevada Resort Association, settling a dispute between the NRA and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. That action angered officials from Mesquite, putting the city's latest LVCVA secession attempt into motion.

"It seems like once every two years we come before you with some kind of request for equity," said Carter at Tuesday's LVCVA Board meeting. "We seem always dissatisfied with the results."

In 1995, the LVCVA rejected a similar secession attempt.

Mesquite wants either a permanent seat on the LVCVA Board, a commitment from the Board to spend at least a dollar on marketing and promoting Mesquite for every dollar Mesquite pays the LVCVA in room taxes, or an independent convention and visitors authority funded by Mesquite room taxes.

It seems the preferable solution would be a seat on the Board. Mesquite City Attorney Terrance Marren began his presentation Tuesday by describing the city's anger at the Government Affairs Committee's decision denying it a permanent seat.

"Basically, at the same time roses were thrown in front of the (Nevada Resort) Association, we were shown the door," said Marren.

Because it has hit a roadblock at the Legislature, the Mesquite City Council decided as an alternative to ask the LVCVA to let it set up a Mesquite Convention and Visitors Authority. Under its plan, Mesquite would continue remitting enough room taxes to the LVCVA to cover its bond obligations to the Authority, but would keep the remainder for itself.

Using the example of several other Clark County cities, Marren detailed the discrepancies Mesquite sees between what it pays into the LVCVA and what it gets out.

According to LVCVA figures cited by Marren, from 1994 through 1998 North Las Vegas paid the LVCVA $889,000 in room taxes, and received distributions of $3.6 million, a net gain of $2.7 million. Over the same period, Henderson paid in $900,000 and received payments of $4.2 million, a net gain of $3.3 million. Boulder City paid in $430,000, and received $994,000, a net gain of $564,000.

Over the same period, Mesquite paid in $3.2 million in room taxes, and received payments of $4 million, a gain of $856,000. But that $4 million includes a special grant in 1998 of $2.5 million to fund a recreation center. Officials complained that in most years, Mesquite receives less than it pays in.

Marren emphasized that Mesquite is not trying to get the money back from past years. He said the city simply feels it is not getting its money's worth from the Authority.

"We would ask you to explore with us the creation of a Mesquite Convention and Visitors Authority over the next two years," said Marren.

He said Mesquite has modeled its plan after one used by Incline Village in Northern Nevada. Incline Village maintains a relationship with the Reno Convention and Visitors Authority, but uses its own room taxes to market and promote itself, Marren said.

Board members were sympathetic to Mesquite's plight, but split on ways to deal with it. Board Chair and Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones argued against both secession and an additional board member for Mesquite.

Jones said Incline Village has actually been hurt by its new autonomy. If Mesquite were to split from the LVCVA, it would likely find itself saddled with unanticipated administrative and overhead costs, said Jones.

"It may appear that you'll be dollars ahead, but I think you'll find that you're dollars behind," said Jones. "I say that trying to think in your best interests."

Jones cautioned against expanding the board further. She noted that there are a variety of other groups that would like Board representation, and worried a few small steps down the road to Board expansion will lead to complaints from other shunned groups.

Jones argued that Mesquite should work closely with the LVCVA to put together a marketing plan that serves the city's needs, rather than simply look to leave the Authority.

"Don't cut off your nose to spite your face," said Jones.

But Marren said the LVCVA's record promoting Mesquite leaves much to be desired.

"Frankly, we're way ahead of the curve on getting growth," said Marren. "We're not ahead of the curve on marketing Mesquite uniquely to the world."

Short of a separate Authority or a seat on the LVCVA Board, Marren said Mesquite would at least like the Authority to promise to spend a dollar on the city for every dollar it contributes to the LVCVA.

Several Board members said they want a thorough report from LVCVA staff analyzing what benefits Mesquite receives from the LVCVA before taking any action. Some expressed concern that the Board was discussing the issue at a meeting not attended by five of the current 12 Board members.

Board members also noted that the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce and the Oasis hotel-casino in Mesquite sent the LVCVA letters urging further study.

Mesquite's request for a separate convention and visitors authority was on the LVCVA's Tuesday agenda for discussion only. It will be placed on the Authority's June regular meeting agenda for further discussion and action. Ultimately, any decision to allow a separate Mesquite Authority would require the approval of the Legislature and of all the other local governments who contribute to the LVCVA.

Regardless of what the LVCVA, and governments decide, Marren said Mesquite's assembly representatives today will attempt to attach an amendment authorizing a 14th LVCVA Board seat for Mesquite to the bill authorizing the 13th Board seat for the Nevada Resort Association.

"We are going to ask for an amendment to the bill today," said Marren.

Board members James Gibson, mayor of Henderson, and Mary Kincaid, a Clark County commissioner, said they support an additional seat for Mesquite.

Marren suggested a designated Board seat would end Mesquite's quest for a separate Authority.

"That would go a long way toward healing some very hurt feelings," he said.

"It seems like once every two years we come before you with some kind of request for equity."Ken CarterMESQUITE MAYOR

"Frankly, we're way ahead of the curve on getting growth. We're not ahead of the curve on marketing Mesquite uniquely to the world."Terrance MarrenMESQUITE CITY ATTORNEY

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