Kurt Fritsch, Chair, City Of North Las Vegas
John Sullard, Vice Chair, City of Boulder City
Thom Reilly, Clark County
Phil Speight, City of Henderson
Doug Selby, City of Las Vegas
The meeting of the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition Technical Committee was called to order by Kurt Fritsch, Chair, at 4:13 p.m., on Thursday, September 12, 2002, in the Mead Conference Room #2, at the Las Vegas Valley Water District, 1001 South Valley View, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89153.
The Agenda for the September 12, 2002, meeting was duly posted in compliance with the Open Meeting Law.
A motion was made to approve the agenda for September 12, 2002, agenda. The motion was approved unanimously.
A motion was made to approve the minutes of the July 11, 2002, meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mary Kay Peck, City of Henderson, informed the members consultants, Clarion Associates, are scheduled to meet with representatives from the Department of Natural Resources regarding self-assessment and conformity. The consultants will complete all of the conformity agreements by the month and mail the agreements to the staff of the Tier I and Tier II agencies for review. The consultants will be available to meet with the agencies upon request. An update report regarding the agreements will be presented to the Technical Committee in November and be forwarded to the Coalition Board's November meeting for adoption. Mr. Fritsch requested an update on the outcome of the consultants meeting with the Department of Natural Resources.
Ms. Kay stated that a subcommittee of the Planning Directors acted as a selection committee on this project and the firm that was chosen, Parametrix, was the consulting firm that most clearly stood out from the other three firms that were interviewed. Parametrix's proposal reflected the policies that are contained in the SNRPC's Policy Plan and the political realities that are in the guiding principles of the plan. Parametrix has experience with the regional forum desired and has done them throughout the West. Parametrix presented an approach that was different than what was anticipated when the Request For Proposal (RFP), which was to combine all three topics. Their experience is that it is better to look at the growth issues in a holistic way rather than separate. Ms. Kay concluded stating that the recommendation of the Planning Director's Committee is to hire the firm, Parametrix. The members were informed that consultants would schedule an initial visit in late October 2002, to interview the Planning Directors, Technical Committee and staff. The Growth Summits would be scheduled for December and January. In addition, one of the representatives form Parametrix will attend the September 26, 2002, Coalition meeting.
A motion was made to recommend to the Coalition Board that the Technical Committee be authorized to enter into contract negotiations with Parametrix for professional services and that the Chairman of the Technical Committee be authorized to sign the resulting contract. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a report on Land Use, Transportation, and Air Quality (Exhibit A). Jon Wardlaw, Clark County, stated that according to Nevada Revised Statues, every two years the Coalition is required to submit a report that summarizes the policies related to land use, transportation, and air quality which it has adopted and which the local air pollution board and the regional transportation commission have adopted. The Coalition's next report is due to be submitted to the Nevada State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Division of Environmental Protection and Division of State Lands), Department of Transportation, and County Clerk, by October 1, 2002.
A motion was made to accept the report and forward to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the Visioning Workshop final report (Exhibit B). Skip Swerdlow, consultant, stated that the facilitation process went very well and thanked the members for the opportunity to work with the Coalition.
A motion was made to accept the report and forward to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the draft resolution to establish the annual population estimation process for 2002 (Exhibit C). Mr. Wardlaw stated that the Nevada Administration Code (NAC) directs a county government and the cities within its boundaries to coordinate and agree upon the data to be used in determining population estimates. For the past several years, Clark County has worked together with the entities and the city of Mesquite to prepare population estimates in a joint effort to present to the State Demographer. Exhibit C is the result of the collaborative effort. The Planning Directors have been briefed on the proposed 2002 process.
A motion was made to accept the report and forward to the Coalition Board. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a packet containing the Crisis Overview, Draft Plan of Action, Member Agencies, Recommended Strategies, and Statistical Information (Exhibit D). Each member also received a copy of the presentation (Exhibit E), and a Triage Center Funding Proposal from West Care (Exhibit F). Janelle Kraft, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Dievet Shea, University Medical Center (UMC), and John Asit, representing West Care gave the presentation. Mr. Fritch recognized Assembly Woman Barbara Cegavske and thanked her for attending the meeting. Ms. Kraft gave an overview on the issue stating that during the last two years the Chronic Public Inebriates (CPI) Task Force has been working diligently to resolve the problems associated with emergency room overcrowding and the divert situations that have been adversely affecting our community on a regular basis. The group has developed a number of recommendations to reduce the number of chronic public inebriates and seriously mentally ill persons being held in the emergency rooms for extended periods. Although the majority of these individuals are not in need of emergency medical care, they must be taken to a hospital for medical clearance before they can be transported for treatment. This requirement places a severe burden on emergency responders, consumes valuable emergency and hospital resources and prevents patients with true emergencies from receiving timely care. Ms. Kraft stated that the most critical component is a crisis intervention center where emergency responders can take people to a "one stop" location regardless of their crisis. Ms. Shea gave an overview of how and why the CPI Task Force was created. Referring to Exhibit E), Ms. Shea stated that the Task Force was formed in 1999 to develop a plan for emergency department overcrowding. During the process two problematic groups were identified; chronic public inebriates and mentally ill. Ms. Shea's presentation continued with describing 1) Entities impacted; 2) Existing resources, and 3) Bed counts for mental health and detox providers. Ms. Shea's presented information regarding the 3-year cost (1999 - 2001) for detox services and a 3-year cost comparison for detox services for chronic public inebriates. A cost comparison of psychiatric patients was also presented. Ms. Shea's presentation concluded with resolutions for the problem, which included a proposed community triage center service budget. Mr. Asti presented the resolutions and solutions that the CPI Task Force is recommending. Referring to Exhibit F, Mr. Asti stated that a community triage center would be available to all persons in behavior crisis. The intent is to take the 6,000 individuals that are currently being served and to add another 6,000 to be served in the triage each year with a total cost of $4,228,833. The funding formula includes 1/3 from the hospitals, 1/3 from the government entities, and 1/3 from West Care through State, and Federal grants as well as donation; thereby, not placing the burden on any one particular group or entity. Mr. Asti noted that there has been some changes made to reflect additional funding generated for West Care. Mr. Asti concluded by explaining how the proposed community triage would be established. Referring to the budget contained in Exhibit F, Mr. Fritsch stated that the 203 Grant Funds that Clark County is proposed to receive credit for are County/General Funds and all of the entities pay into that fund. Mr. Fritsch recommended that the budget be recalculated based upon per capita cost so that all the jurisdictions receive credit for the 203 Fund.
After discussion, a motion was made to keep this item at the Technical Committee level and direct the CPI Task Force to meet with the respective financial representatives from each jurisdiction regarding this issue. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Wardlaw stated that the agenda item regarding the 2002 Las Vegas Valley Flood Control Master Plan update was not placed on today's agenda in oversight; however, staff request that this item be forwarded to the Coalition Board. The Plan conforms to the SNRPC's Policy Plan. In addition, the Coalition Board requested that an item regarding meeting locations be placed on their next agenda. Agenda items V, VI, VII, and VIII would be forwarded to the SNRPC Board for their September 26, 2002, meeting.
The meeting date and time for the Technical Committee was confirmed; however, the location will be determined.
There was no public comment.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:57 p.m.