John Sullard, Chair, City of Boulder City
Phil Speight, City of Henderson
Doug Selby, City of Las Vegas
Dan Tarwater, Alternate, City of North Las Vegas
John Schelgel, Alternate, Clark County
John Sullard, Chairman, called to order the meeting of the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition Technical Committee at 4:07 p.m., on Thursday, February 13, 2003, in Training Room #3, 1st Floor of the Clark County Government Center, 500 South Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89155.
The Agenda for the February 13, 2003, meeting was duly posted in compliance with the Open Meeting Law.
A motion was made to approve the agenda for February 13, 2003, agenda. The motion was approved unanimously.
A motion was made to approve the minutes for both dates. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mary Kay Peck, City of Henderson, informed the members that she would report on the recent planning consultant activities and the Conformity Agreements. Each member received a copy of the Conformity Agreement between Clark County and the SNRPC (Exhibit A). Ms. Peck stated that one additional conformity agreement has been completed and the consultants are continuing to work with the remaining agencies. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has taken hold of the "spirit" of the conformity agreements and asked that the SNRPC continue to work with them. The consultant from Clarion has agreed to travel to Carson City to be part of the Legislative Update Team that will meet with key legislatures in March 2003. The Growth Summits have been rescheduled for March 24, 2003, and a second date will be scheduled for sometime in April. The planning directors received a draft presentation from the consultant, Parametrix, outlining the opening presentation that would be presented at the first workshop. The planning directors were very impressed with the presentation to the point where several requested a copy of the presentation to show to their elected officials.
A motion was made to receive the report and forward the report to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
Debra Soule, City of Boulder City, informed the members that at its January 23, 2003 meeting, the SNRPC Board entered into discussion regarding the SNRPC Regional Planning position and the salary range to be offered. 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 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. The members were informed that the proposed classification for the position is a Principle Planner. Staff was directed to compare the salaries for the local jurisdictions for the position and include that information when the report is given to the Coalition Board.
After discussion a motion was made to accept the report and send this item to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
This item was addressed in Agenda Item IV.
Each member received a copy of a memo regarding the Crisis Intervention Center and possible Federal Continuum of Care Funding (Exhibit B), Crisis Intervention Center Services (Exhibit C), City of Las Vegas Neighborhood Services Department Monthly Reporting Form (October 2002, November 2002, December 2002) (Exhibit D). Sabra Smith, City of Las Vegas, stated that Crisis Intervention Center, opened in 1994, is a one-stop shop for supportive services for homeless individuals. At this single facility, homeless individuals can more easily access services that previously were spread throughout all of Southern Nevada. Due to the untimely exit of the Saint Vincent DePaul organization and the subsequent loss of federal funding, the existence of the Crisis Intervention Center has been in jeopardy. The Crisis Intervention Center is currently being operated by Catholic Charities under a five-month agreement. The cost for the current operation includes contributions from the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, HUD, and United Way. Both contracts with Catholic Charities and the funding to support the Crisis Intervention Center will expire
February 28, 2003. Without continued support from Southern Nevada governments, the Crisis Intervention Center will be forced to close its doors. In January 2003, the SNRPC Homelessness Task Force heard a report regarding the Crisis Intervention Center and voted to support and continue its operation.
After discussion a motion was made to accept the report; however, the Technical Committee is not prepared to recommend funding at this point until further discussion with staff. The motion was accepted unanimously. Ms Smith was informed that she would not have to bring this item back before the Technical Committee.
Each member received a copy of Report: Reducing Homelessness in Southern Nevada: Implementing the Five Best Ideas to Make it Happen (Exhibit E), and Question 11 Media Packet (Exhibit F). 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.
A motion was made to accept the report and forward this item to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the Report to Congress: HUD's Strategy for Homeless Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting (Exhibit G). 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 accept the report and forward this item to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the Appeal resolution letter (Exhibit H). Chris Knight, City of Las Vegas, stated that in December of 2002 Clark County, the Cities of Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Las Vegas filed appeals with the State concerning the 2002 Population Estimates of the State Demographer. Through the appeal process, a comprised 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. There is the recommendation 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 accept the recommendations and forward this item to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Sullard stated that Nevada Power has requested to be placed on the Board’s agenda to give a presentation on the Centennial Energy Project. The presentation was given to the Technical Committee in September of 2001; however, it did not get placed on the Coalition’s agenda during that time. There have been no changes in the presentation.
The agenda items set for the February 27, 2003, SNRPC Board agenda are as follows:
- Agenda item IV, Receive a report on recent planning consultant activities.
- Agenda item V, Receive a report on SNRPC Regional Planner position.
- Agenda item VI, Approve the Conformity Agreement between Clark County and the SNRPC.
- Agenda item VIII, Receive a report and recommendation from the Homelessness Task Force to proceed with the administrative and organizational steps to establish a Homelessness Trust Fund.
- Agenda item IX, Receive recommendation from the Homelessness Task Force for support of an application for federal funds to establish a Homeless Management Information System in Southern Nevada.
- Agenda item X, Approve the formation of an ad-hoc population estimate working group and appointment of two representatives from Southern Nevada to serve on a Statewide Technical Committee.
- Nevada Power
The members agreed to also include a report from the Legislative Update Committee.
The Technical Committee’s meeting date, time and location was confirmed.
There was no public comment.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.