IN ATTENDANCE:
Mayor Robert Ferraro, Chair, City of Boulder City
Commissioner Myrna Williams, Vice Chair, Clark County
Mayor Oscar Goodman, City of Las Vegas
Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, City of North Las Vegas
Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers, City of Henderson
Trustee Mary Beth Scow, Clark County School District
Mayor Robert Ferraro called the meeting of the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition to order at 3:15 p.m., Thursday, February 27, 2003, in the Pueblo Conference Room, 1st Floor of the Clark County Government Center, 500 South Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89155.
The agenda for the February 27, 2003, meeting was duly posted in compliance with the Open Meeting Law.
A quorum was not present to action as necessary; therefore, Mayor Ferraro stated that the Board would hear the reports and not take any action, beginning with agenda item XI
Rich Carlson, a representative from Nevada Power, requested that their item be held until a later meeting.
Mary Kay Peck, City of Henderson, informed the members that the first workshop of the Growth Summit, which is limited to elected officials and those who are in a leadership role, is scheduled for March 24, 2003, at the Clark County Government Center in Training Room #3. Ms. Peck stated that the workshop will be an all day event and the success of the workshop depends on attendance. The workshop will be a "hands-on" with discussion on how the Valley should grow. Ms. Peck stated that the planning directors received a very impressive presentation from the consultants, outlining the presentation that will be presented at the March 24th workshop. The next workshop is scheduled for two half days on April 28th and 29th, 2003, also at Clark County. Answering a question, Ms. Peck informed the members that an itemized agenda would be available for the March 24th workshop.
(A quorum was present at this point of the meeting)
Ms. Peck continued her report stating the SNRPC has approved ten Conformity Agreements. Next month the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be presented to the Coalition for approval and all others are forthcoming. In regards to the Legislative Update Team, the team will travel to Carson City on March 17th to discuss with key legislators the accomplishments of the SNRPC since the last legislative session.
A motion was made to accept the report. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mayor Ferraro directed the meeting back to agenda items II and III.
A motion was made to approve the agenda. The motion was approved unanimously.
A motion was made to approve the meeting minutes. The motion was approved unanimously.
John Sullard, City of Boulder City, reported that all items discussed at the February 13, 2003, Technical Committee meeting were forwarded to today's Coalition Board agenda, with the exception of one item, the report on the Nevada Power Centennial Energy Project.
Mayor Goodman gave comments concerning the Crisis Intervention Center (CIC). He stated that at the City of Las Vegas' last Council meeting the city agreed to contribute 80 thousand dollars to keep the CIC open until June. Clark County has also made contribution in the effort. The CIC needs contribution from the other jurisdictions. The City of North Las Vegas and Henderson should do their part in helping the center stay open, if that help is not received the center will close and the homeless will disperse. Mayor Goodman suggested that Henderson and North Las Vegas address the problem before it’s too late.
Debra Soule, City of Boulder City, gave the report stating that this item was prepared due to discussion from the last Coalition meeting in January. The Planning Directors have proposed that a salary range of $72,000 to $80,000 would be appropriate in order to draw suitably qualified and experienced candidates to the position. The proposed classification for the position is a Principle Planner. At their last meeting, the Board undertook discussion as to whether this salary level reflects current salary ranges in the marketplace. The American Planning Association (APA) Survey of Planners’ Salaries and Employment Trends from 1998 reveals the following ranges:
Nevada planners with 5 – 10 years of experience average $44,800. Planners with 10+ years of experience average $71,000. California planners with 5 – 10 years of experience average $51,800. Planners with 10+ years of experience average $74,300. Arizona planners with 5 – 10 years of experience average $43,600. Planners with 10+ years of experience average $65,600. Colorado planners with 5 – 10 years of experience average $43,700. Planners with 10+ years of experience average $56,800. In order to approximate 2003 salary levels, an annual 3.3% increase was calculated based upon actual cost of living increases for 1997, 1998 and 1999 from the Department of Labor’s Employment Cost Indexes for 2000. Based upon this, a salary of $71,000 in 1998 would be $83,513 in 2003 and $44,800 earned in 1998 would now be $52,696. The Planning Directors have indicated that the new position will require an experienced planner and that this will require a salary in the higher ranges. Ms. Soule stated that according to the Department of Labor’s National Occupation Employment and Wage Estimates for 2000 and 2001, the most experienced regional planners nationwide (those in the upper 10th percentile) earned an average of $72,090 in 2000 and $74,240 in 2001. In answering a question, Ms. Soule stated that one-third percent would be added to the base salary. After discussion, Commissioner requested to hear from each planning director on this issue. Bob Genzer, City of Las Vegas, Mary Kay Peck, City of Henderson, Misty Haehn, City of North Las Vegas, John Wardlaw, Clark County, and John Sullard, City of Boulder City all explained why the position would be a benefit to the Coalition; mainly stating that there is enough work to warrant a full-time position, which is now being burden by each participating jurisdiction’s staff.
After further discussion, a motion was made to accept the position with the proposed salary. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the Conformity Agreement for Clark County (Exhibit A). Ms. Peck stated that on January 21, 2003, the Clark County Board of Commissioners approved Clark County’s Conformity Agreement and it is now ready for the SNRPC's adoption.
(A short break was taken at this point in the meeting due to a lost of a quorum)
When the quorum resumed, a motion was made to adopt the Conformity Agreement between Clark County and the SNRPC. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of Report: Reducing Homelessness in Southern Nevada: Implementing the Five Best Ideas to Make it Happen (Exhibit B), Question 11 Media Packet (Exhibit C), and a hardcopy of the presentation (Exhibit D). Ms. Smith stated that In September 2001, the Homelessness Task Force, in conjunction with homeless advocates and service providers, participated in the Southern Nevada Homeless Summit—a daylong discussion of solutions to homelessness in Southern Nevada. Out of that discussion came the report "Reducing Homelessness in Southern Nevada: Implementing the Five Best Ideas to Make It Happen," which was presented to the SNRPC in June 2002. The first of the five strategies set forth in the report was the establishment of a Trust Fund for Homeless Services and Housing that would help to support the other strategies and services for homeless individuals in Southern Nevada. In November 2002, voters rejected Question 11 on the Clark County ballot that would have established a property tax of $.01 per $100 of assessed valuation to support this Trust Fund. In January 2003, the Homelessness Task Force voted to direct staff to move forward with the administrative and organizational steps necessary to develop a Trust Fund. Ms. Smith stated that staff is requesting approval to move forward with the administrative and organizational steps necessary to establish a Homelessness Trust Fund. Mayor Goodman stated that the HTF has worked hard to get to this point. The purpose is to set up a nonprofit 501c3 organization to support in the effort to help the homeless.
After discussion, a motion was made to accept the report and direct staff to move forward with the administrative and organizational steps necessary to establish a Homelessness Trust Fund. The motion was accepted unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the Report to Congress: HUD’s Strategy for Homeless Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting (Exhibit E), and a hardcopy of the presentation (Exhibit F). Ms. Smith stated that The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has mandated the implementation of a Homeless Management Information System by October 2004 in all communities that receive federal Continuum of Care funding. Because Southern Nevada homeless service providers receive $2-3 million annually in federal Continuum of Care funds, the implementation of HMIS in Southern Nevada would not only aid the provision of services to homeless individuals, but also fulfill the HUD requirement necessary for continued federal funding. In the 2002 Continuum of Care process, the Howard W. Cannon Center for Survey Research unsuccessfully applied for federal funding to establish HMIS in Southern Nevada. In an effort to encourage another application for HMIS in the upcoming Continuum of Care process, the Southern Nevada Homeless Coalition will hear a presentation and witness a demonstration of HMIS in February 2003. In January 2003, the Homelessness Task Force voted to support an application for federal Continuum of Care funds for a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Support of a successful HMIS application would provide increased technical assistance in the implementation of HMIS as well as provide federal funding for a mandated system in a time of local budget shortfalls. Support of a HMIS application from the Homelessness Task Force would include a letter of support to be included in the federal application for Continuum of Care funding as well as possible technical assistance for the grant application, as needed, from staff.
After discussion, a motion was made to provide a letter of support for the HMIS in Southern Nevada.
In answering a question posed by Commissioner Williams, Doug Bell, Clark County, informed the members that the United States Congress wants to know how many homeless people are in the Country in an effort to build a national database. Each state presently uses a different type of system; therefore, it is mandated that all states convert to the HMIS system.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the Appeal resolution letter (Exhibit G). Jon Wardlaw, Clark County, stated that in partnership with the Cities of Henderson, North Las Vegas, Las Vegas and Clark County an appeal was filed with the State concerning the 2002 Population Estimates of the State Demographer. Through the appeal process, a compromised agreement with the Demographer was reached on behalf of the Southern Nevada communities. The agreement is comprised of 3 parts: 1) the immediate solution is for all parties to accept a revised population estimate developed by the State Demographer in response to the appeals. 2) The mid-term solution is to continue to work in a collaborative manner to address the methodology used by the State. The Demographer agreed to establish a Statewide Technical Advisory Committee and to work with the entities in Southern Nevada regarding membership and organization of the Committee. 3) The long-term solution is that the Demographer will work through the statewide committee to review the Nevada Administrative Code and Nevada Revised Statutes to address deficiencies related to the population estimate process in 2004. The Planning Directors recommend that the work of the agreement be channeled through the SNRPC as authorized by state statues. The Planning Directors further recommend that the Technical Committee establish a staff-working group to advise SNRPC on population and demographics related matters including, but not limited to, working with the State Demographer regarding membership and organization of the Statewide Technical Advisory Committee. The working group membership will be the demographics staff of SNRPC member entities and will report to the Planning Directors. It is recommended that the Coalition Board designate Tom Perrigo from the City of Las Vegas and Cherie Garrity from Clark County as SNRPC representatives to the Demographer's Statewide Technical Advisory Committee.
A motion was made to follow the recommendations. The motion was approved unanimously.
The next date, time and location were approved as above.
There were no public comments
The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.