Virginia Valentine, Chair, City of Las Vegas
Kurt Fritsch, City of North Las Vegas
Thom Reilly, Clark County
Phil Speight, City of Henderson
John Sullard, Boulder City
The Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition Technical Committee meeting was called to order by Doug Selby, Alternate, City of Las Vegas, at 4:16 p.m., on Thursday, August 9, 2001, in the Pueblo Conference Room, at the Clark County Government Center, 500 South Grand Central Parkway, 1st Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89155.
The Agenda for the August 9, 2001, meeting was duly posted in compliance with the Open Meeting Law.
A motion was made to approve the August 9, 2001, agenda. This motion was approved unanimously.
A motion was made to approve the minutes of the July 12, 2001, meeting. This motion was approved unanimously.
(Ms. Valentine arrived at this point in the meeting and continued with agenda item IV.)
Ms. Valentine stated that one of the items from the July 26, 2001, SNRPC Board meeting carried over.
Phil Rosenquest, Clark County, gave a recap on the process that has occurred thus far concerning this item. He stated that the Infill Development grant is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant that was awarded to the SNRPC. A working group from all of the SNRPC jurisdictions has participated in developing a request for proposal (RFP) to hire a consultant to assist in the infill development study. The RFP was mailed to various consulting firms and five were returned. Following directions received from the Technical Committee, the Planning Directors narrowed the five down to three. Mr. Rosenquist stated that the three finalists would make a presentation to the Technical Committee members today. After the presentations the Technical Committee will select one finalist today and the finalist will be available at the SNRPC Board meeting two weeks from today to give a presentation to the Coalition members. In addition, there will be an agenda item on the Coalition's agenda to authorize the Chair of the Technical Committee to enter into a contract with the selected consultant. Each member was provided with a set of interview questions (Exhibit A) and a ranking sheet (Exhibit B) to use if they choose. Mr. Rosenquist informed the members that the consulting firms would present in the following order:
1) Design Workshop.
The presenters were Richard Shaw, John Restrepo, and Terry Murphy2) Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc. (Exhibit C).
The presenters were Larry Carroll, Paul Tecpanecatl, Dave Maloney, and Derek Johnson3) SAIC International. (Exhibit D)
The presenters were Polly Caroline, Dave Siegle, Lloyd Matherson, and Dave BruneDesign Workshop gave their presentation. After the presentation Ms. Valentine directed that the meeting continue with agenda item VI while the next consulting firm set up for their presentation.
Mary Kay Peck, City of Henderson, informed the members that the consultants are working on the template for the conformity process for the self assessment. The Planning Directors were to have their comments submitted to the consultants by last Friday, August 3, 2001. No comments were received. There was discussion held to have the Conformity Workshop on September 26, 2001; however, one of the consultants will not be available on that date. Therefore, the Workshop will be held on October 10, 2001.
After the report, a motion was made to accept the report. The motion was accepted unanimously.
(Agenda item VII was tabled until later in the meeting.)
Each member received a copy of a resolution for Annual Clark County, Cities and Unincorporated Towns Population Estimate Process (Exhibit E). Jon Wardlaw, Clark County, stated that demographers from various entities have coordinated and agreed upon the data to be used in determining and reporting common population estimates to the State Demographer as required by the Nevada Administrative Code Section 360.365.4. Exhibit E is a resolution that establishes the process for the year 2001. Mr. Wardlaw requested that the Technical Committee accept the resolution, and forward it to the Coalition's August 23, 2001, agenda for their consideration.
A motion was made to accept the resolution and forward it to the Coalition Board. This motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a draft copy of the Regional Trails Plan (Exhibit F), and a draft Regional Trails Plan Map (Exhibit G). Mr. Wardlaw informed the members that on the direction from the Planning Directors, the staff-working group has developed a draft regional trails plan. A regional trails plan with a regional funding base is a Plan Priority within the Southern Nevada Regional Policy Plan. The plan is a step in meeting that Plan Priority. In addition, the regional trails plan is related to the presentations that were being given by the consultants, as the plan is the local in-kind match for the EPA grant.
A motion was made to forward the presentation on the draft regional trails plan to the Coalition Board for their consideration. This motion was approved unanimously.
(The Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc. gave their presentation at this point in the meeting)
After the presentation by Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc., Ms. Valentine directed the meeting to continue with agenda item VII while the next consulting firm set up for their presentation.
Christine Robinson, Clark County Health District, distributed two draft resolutions (Exhibit H) and (Exhibit I) to be used for discussion only. The resolutions will be presented to the Air Quality Management Board at their first meeting, which is scheduled for August 21, 2001. The first resolution is to create a Technical Advisory Committee to consist of a representative from the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Mesquite, the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), McCarran International Airport, University of Nevada- Las Vegas (UNLV), and the Clark County Department of Comprehensive Planning. In addition, the membership would also include a representative from the environmental community, one citizen member of the State Air Quality Forum, general contractors, homebuilders, the fuels industry, motor transport industry, manufacturing industry, the power generating industry, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This group would meet monthly and have a series of subcommittees. The second resolution is to create an Executive Committee. The committee would be made up of the County Manager or designee, the City Managers or designees from each jurisdiction, the General Manager of the RTC, a representative of the Division of Environmental Protection, Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Division of Weights and Measures. Ms. Robinson reiterated that the resolutions are in draft form and that any feedback would be welcomed. In addition, Ms. Robinson requested discussion regarding the Air Quality Subcommittee and the Transition Management Committee that currently exists. Governor Guinn met with elected officials recently and he truly expressed an interest in hearing about air quality issues and suggested updates on a quarterly basis.
After discussion, a motion was made to recommend the two resolutions, as well as the continuance of the offices of the Air Quality Subcommittee, and upon the approval of all three recommendations by the Coalition Board and the Air Quality Management Board, then terminate the agreement of the Air Quality Transition Management Committee. The motion was approved unanimously.
(SAIC International gave their presentation at this point in the meeting.)
After the presentation by SAIC International, Ms. Valentine directed the meeting to continue with agenda item X.
Each member received a copy of the listings and maps from each respective jurisdiction for nominations for the BLM special allocation fund (Exhibit H). Ron Gregory, Clark County, however, representing all the participating jurisdictions for this agenda item, informed the members that the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act allows nominations for expenditures from a special account for parks, trails, and natural areas. Regarding the nominations, the units of local government have found it very beneficial to submit a collective nomination package to the BLM in order to provide continuity in both municipal and regional recreation proposals. Last year the units of local government were successful in obtaining guaranteed approval from the Secretary of Interior for approximately 8 million dollars worth of parks and trails in the Las Vegas Valley and Boulder City. This year the local governments plan to collectively submit nominations that total approximately 21.7 million dollars. This includes 2.16 million for the city of Henderson, 6.36 million for the city of Las Vegas, 2.45 for the city of North Las Vegas, 5 million for the city of Boulder City, and 5.75 million for Clark County. Mr. Gregory stated that information regarding additional projects in the Wetlands Park area, which Clark County plans to submit in future nomination packages are also included. Lastly, Clark County would like to propose an additional agenda item for the Federal Lands Disposal Subcommittee to review. It is to discuss the possibility of forwarding a recommendation to the BLM to amend the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act Implementation Agreement to allow more flexibility in future parks, trails, and natural areas special account nominations. Mr. Gregory requested that the nominations and recommendation be forwarded to the Federal Lands Disposal Subcommittee.
After discussion, a motion was made to forward this agenda item to the Federal Lands Disposal Subcommittee. The motion was approved unanimously.
Ms. Valentine directed the meeting back to agenda item V, stating that the Technical Committee is to recommend a consultant group to the Coalition Board. Mr. Rosenquist informed the members that the Planning Directors met on July 25, 2001, with the representatives from three jurisdictions present: City of Las Vegas, Henderson, and Clark County. The City of North Las Vegas called in their top selection prior to the meeting. Design Workshop was the top choice by consensus.
After discussion, a motion was made to recommend Design Workshop to the Coalition Board as the consulting firm to assist in the infill development study. This motion was approved with Thom Reilly abstaining. The members agreed that due to the length of the Coalition Board's agenda, Design Workshop would not give a presentation, but would be available for questions.
Each member received a copy of the HomeBase Work Plan (Exhibit K), a hard copy of a Housing & Homelessness presentation (Exhibit L), and the minutes from the SNRPC Homelessness Task Force Meeting dated July 25, 2001 (Exhibit M). Bill Arent, City of Las Vegas, stated that the Task Force was adopted by the SNRPC on February 22, 2001. The first public meeting was held on July 25, 2001, where the agenda consisted of a needs assessment as determined by the Southern Nevada Homeless Study prepared by UNLV in 1999, a discussion of challenges and strategies by the local government jurisdictions, and discussion regarding a work plan presented by HomeBase. HomeBase is a nonprofit consultant firm based in California and has been retained by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide technical assistance to homeless planning in Southern Nevada. The goal of the assistance is to reach consensus on key concerns and to develop action plans to move forward on the concerns. Mr. Arent requested that discussion be held on possible approval of the Work Plan. HomeBase will be facilitating a Homeless Summit, which is scheduled tentatively for September 13, 2001. The Work Plan is an outline of work to be completed by HomeBase. Directing the members to page 5 of Exhibit K, Mr. Arent outlined the local activity to support the Work Plan. He requested that the Technical Committee accept the report and forward the report to the Coalition.
A motion was made to forward this item to the Coalition Board's next meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
Each member received a copy of the Chronic Public Inebriate Task Force Draft Plan of Action (Exhibit M). Janelle Kraft, City of Las Vegas, and Davette Shea, representing the Chronic Public Inebriates CPI Task Force, gave the presentation. The issues of CPI and the related problems of emergency room overcrowding and diversion were brought to the attention of the SNRPC at previous meetings. The Board directed staff to continue their work with the CPI Task Force and bring back a list of recommendations for consideration. Recently the CPI Task Force met to discuss the current status of the CPI situation and exchanged information on the progress that has been made by the various agencies responsible for emergency care. Staff from the local governments within Clark County, together with representatives from UMC, Clark County Health District EMS, Westcare, Southwest Ambulance and Psychiatric Emergency Services, developed a draft plan of action that outlines initial strategies that could enable resolution of the CPI related emergency response problems affecting the entire community.
After discussion, a motion was made to forward this agenda item to the Coalition Board's next meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Selby informed the members that today's meeting is Dale Askew's last meeting as an SNRPC Technical Committee member.
The next meeting of the Technical Committee was set for September 13, 2001, 4:00 p.m., at the Las Vegas Valley Water District.
There was no public comment.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.