John Sullard, Chair, City of Boulder City
Thom Reilly, Vice Chair, Clark County
Phil Speight, City of Henderson
Doug Selby, City of Las Vegas
Kurt Fritsch, City of North Las Vegas
John Sullard, Chairman, called to order the meeting of the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition Technical Committee at 4:07 p.m., on Thursday, May 8, 2003, in Mead Conference Room #2, at the Las Vegas Valley Water District, 1001 South Valley View, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89153.
The Agenda for the May 8, 2003, meeting was duly posted in compliance with the Open Meeting Law.
A motion was made to approve the agenda for May 8, 2003, agenda. The motion was approved unanimously.
A motion was made to approve the minutes. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mary Kay Peck, City of Henderson, informed the members that the Growth Summits have concluded and the final step is for the consultants to prepare a report on the regional initiatives that have emerged from the Growth Summits. The consultants will attend the July SNRPC Technical and Board meetings to give a presentation. The Planning Directors recommend inviting all of the elected officials to attend the July 24, 2003 Board meeting to hear the presentation, as many of the elected officials participated in the Growth Summits.
A motion was made to accept the report and forward the report to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the proposed Regional Planner job description (Exhibit A) prior to the meeting and received a revised copy (Exhibit B) at the meeting. Bob Genzer, City of Las Vegas, stated that at the last SNRPC Board meeting a question was raised regarding how the position would be supervised. Referring the members to Exhibit A, Page 1, Supervision Received and Exercised, Mr. Genzer stated that the position would be under the direction of the SNRPC Board and would report directly to the char of the Technical Committee. However, the planning directors would have input on the task of the position. Referring to Exhibit B, Page 2, Item 10, Mr. Genzer stated that a minor change was made to the job description. Item 10 previously read as follows: "Represent the SNRPC at regular formal and informal interagency meetings; prepare and distribute agenda materials for the board meetings; make oral presentations before the SNRPC board, city managers . . . ". The change replaces the words "city managers" with the "Technical Committee". Mr. Genzer continued stating that the planning directors are ready to move forward with the position and are currently working on an employment agreement, which will be finalized and presented, at the June SNRPC meetings. Referring to page 4, Special Requirements, City Manager Fritsch asked if it were necessary for the work location to change every year for the position. Mr. Genzer stated that the word "may" could be added so that the sentence reads "Work location may change each year, corresponding with the location of the SNRPC Technical Committee Chairman." Referring to Exhibit B, Page 1, Supervision Received and Exercised, the Technical Committee members agreed to drop the second sentence from this section so that the sentence would read "Receive administrative direction from the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition board."
After discussion, a motion was made to accept the report and forward the report to the Coalition Board with the noted changes. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the SNRPC Work Program FY 2003-2004 (Exhibit C), SNRPC Proposed Budget FY 2003-2004 (Exhibit D), Actions to Achieve Conformity with the Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan (Exhibit E) prior to the meeting. Debra Soule, City of Boulder City, distributed a revised budget (Exhibit F) at the meeting. Ms. Soule stated that the revised budget reflects activities as of April 30, 2003 as opposed to March 2003 in Exhibit D. Referring to Exhibit F, Ms. Soule noted that line items for office supplies, postage, and printing does not include items that are in the process of being billed. Additional columns have been added to the proposed budget: 1) Expenditures as of April 30, 2003 and 2) Projected Expenditures by July 30, 2003. It is projected that all of the budgeted amounts will be expended for this current budget year, with the exception of the $25,000 contingency fund. However, there may be some miscellaneous amounts such as advertising cost for the new position may come out of the contingency fund, as well as the $5,000 equipment allocation and the $53,200 half year salary allocation for the new planning position. These amounts will be carried forward and the submitted budget for 2003-2004 reflects that, therefore, no requested allocations for contingency or equipment are in next year’s budget. The salary component for the planner position in next years budget is for a half years salary which will be combined with the equivalent carry over amount. The budget that is submitted for 2002, 2003-2004 still includes the $135,000 allocation for professional services for implementation of the work program. The total budget proposed for the 2003-2004 fiscal year is $258,670.57 as well as the carry over amount, which is indicated, in bold print. The proportionate shares are listed for each jurisdiction and the amounts are slightly less than last years amounts. Regarding the budget allocation for professional services; there is a lengthy list of items that require action from the SNRPC Policy Plan and the items that were identified at the Growth Summits, it is clear that the items have to be prioritized and select those that are most pressing. Ms. Soule stated that Donna Kristaponis, City of North Las Vegas, has been asked to provide additional information in respect to the Land Use Transportation and Air Quality Systems Model (LUTAQ), which is still being recommended for inclusion in next years SNRPC’s budget. The planning directors received notification that the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) was successful in obtaining grant funding in the amount of $69,988 for the LUTAQ model (Exhibit G). Ms. Kristaponis stated that she thinks it is the agreement of the planning directors that they have not done a good job in trying to explain why the LUTAQ model is so important. The planning directors agreed to make one more attempt because they do believe it is important and would like to present it to the SNRPC Board at their next meeting. The planning directors were impressed because of what Krystyna Stave had done with the RTC3 in preparing for a major bond issue. Ms. Stave took a group of people who had various ideas on what was most efficient, what would move traffic better and what would improve. Through a hypothetical example of how the model works, the group had the opportunity to go through the modeling exercise, of setting up assumptions, of laying out the facts and looking at the cost, and then being able to go through the model and seeing what the outputs were, the group was able to come to agreement on what was best for the region. The planning directors were impressed with the model as a tool, which is what comprehensive planning does; create tools. All jurisdictions will all be able to participate and have access to the model for a very limited sum to each agency. Ms. Kristaponis gave examples such as the Rancho corridor in the City of Las Vegas and the Ivanpah Valley. The modeling tools could be used to affect the outcomes and how best to address air quality transportation and land use. Ms. Kristaponis stated that Chris Robinson has informed the planning directors that we are at a point in air quality that she can not permit a major employer to come here. These are things that we must come to grips with. Therefore, the planning directors are strongly supportive of the modeling tool and believe that the only limitations are the variables that are entered into the model. Ms. Kristaponis stated that each jurisdiction would only have to contribute $15,000, which equates from the SNRPC $75,000. Jacob Snow, RTC, was present to answer any questions. Ms. Soule added that because of the emphasis that was placed on parks and opening space planning at the Growth Summits, the planning directors have revised the reminder of the work program for next years budget and would recommend the preparation of a regional parks and open space master plan. This would be one of the first priorities for the new planner position and it is recommended that $60,000 of next year’s budget be allocated for professional services for a consultant who could help develop an implementation strategy for the master plan. Thom Reilly suggested that Mr. Snow and Ms. Stave meet with Commissioner Williams, Clark County, and himself to give another presentation. Mr. Sullard suggested that all of the SNRPC elected officials receive an individual presentation. Regarding the budget and the carry over amount for the new position, Mr. Speight suggested that the total amount of $106, 400 should be in the submitted budget for 2003-2004 because the current figures do not accurately reflect what the staff amount is.
After discussion, a motion was made to accept the report and forward the budget to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
The agenda items to be heard at the May 22, 2003, SNRPC Board agenda are as follows:
• Agenda item IV.
• Agenda item V.
• Agenda item VI.
• Agenda item VII.The members agreed to make the LUTAQ model a sub item of the budget. In addition, Mr. Genzer suggested that the item regarding the planner position, be placed on the Boards agenda requesting approval of the job description and the ability to advertise.
The Technical Committee’s meeting date, time and location was confirmed.
There was no public comment.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:23 p.m.