Las Vegas City Council briefs

Ordinance would increase fees

The Las Vegas City Council introduced an ordinance Wednesday that would increase building permit fees 2.8 percent to conform with increases in the Consumer Price Index.

The city estimates the increase will result in $280,000 in revenue from the permits each year.

A public hearing on the proposal will take place at 4 p.m. July 17 in the eighth-floor conference room at City Hall.

Historic district not mentioned

It has a new name, new colors and a new logo, but the most telling change to a downtown plan adopted Wednesday is what was left out.

The former Downtown 2005 plan, now called the Las Vegas Downtown Centennial Plan, makes no mention of a controversial historic district proposed in the area near the former Las Vegas High School.

The plan establishes overall development principles for the downtown area and suggests design standards for future projects. It was adopted as part of the city's master plan Wednesday.

Funding approved for services

In addition to a new judge, the city's Municipal Court received more than $600,000 to spend on its services Wednesday.

Shortly after Betsy Kolkoski was sworn in to the Department 2 bench, the City Council approved spending totaling $629,673.

The money will go to fund the alternate judge program, translation services, public defender representatives, instructors and speakers and office space leasing.

The court's Alternative Sentencing and Education Division received the highest single amount awarded Wednesday -- $210,000 -- for instructors to conduct classes on domestic violence, drunken driving and related offenses.

Oversight contract with county OK'd

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday approved an interlocal contract to fund oversight of the Yucca Mountain Repository Program.

Clark County has provided funds to the city since 1998 to cover the costs associated with oversight of the repository program and the Department of Energy activities related to Yucca Mountain.

The city will get $60,000. Of that, $35,000 will be used in conjunction with funds from the county and the cities of North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City to conduct two studies examining the true impact of siting a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Substation will be senior center

The Metro Police substation on Hargrove Avenue will soon be turned into a senior center thanks to an agreement reached between the city and county.

Metro will soon vacate the substation, leaving the building next door to the Mirabelli Community Center near Jones Boulevard and U.S. 95 a prime spot for a senior center. The center will also include a new parking area and a small park.

Originally the city approved $150,000 in development costs for a senior center on Upland Boulevard across from Dexter Park. That location was later deemed too small to handle the proposed senior center.

Clark County has contributed $1.3 million in grant funds to rehabilitate the substation. The City Council on Wednesday reallocated the $150,000 in development funds from the original site to the new location.

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