Strategic Plan to Address Growth in Southern Nevada

2. Legislative Enactments

The Strategic Plan and Appendices have been prepared in accordance with the direction and mandates of the 69th Session of the Nevada Legislature, pursuant to Senate Bill No. 383.

The text of the Act specifically sets forth the organizational process and required structure to form the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority (“the Authority.”) The Act further defines various responsibilities including planning, evaluation and the mandated time frames for completion by the Authority.

Following is a summary of the various assignments listed in SB 383,

Section 2.1:

• Identify and evaluate the needs of Clark County relating to its growth.
• Prioritize the objectives and strategies relating to Clark County.
• Prepare a set of strategy recommendations to meet the growth needs and objectives of Clark County and provide recommended strategies to the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature

Section 2.2:

• Review master plans and policies and capital improvement plans and policies from planning and other agencies responsible for providing services related to infrastructure, and
• Determine and report whether the plans and policies are sufficient to meet both current needs as well as expected needs over the next 20 years;
• Analyze whether any duplications, inconsistencies or omissions exist within the master and capital improvement plans.

The Authority was required to, and did, complete its Master Planned Capitol Improvement Plan Review report and submit it to the Legislative Council Bureau by June 1, 1998.

Section 2.3:

• Complete a Needs Assessment on or before October 1, 1998.
• Prepare a strategic plan that sets forth the objectives, goals and strategies of the Authority with regards (among other subjects) to the issues set forth in the needs assessment. The issues required to be addressed in the strategic plan included:

1. Economic development, including creation of new jobs
2. Educational institutions including public schools
3. Environment, including air quality
4. Housing
5. Local land use and growth boundaries
6. Parks and recreation
7. Public safety
8. Transportation
9. Water, sewage and sanitation
10. Other issues as determined by the Authority to be pertinent.

Note: These other issues are Health Care and Flood Control.

The Act directs the preparation of an evaluation of the current allocation of resources for the development of regional infrastructure not supported by the payment of user fees, including, without limitation, regional flood control, transportation and parks. The Infrastructure Financing report was required to be submitted along with the strategic plan by April 1, 1999. Again, this assignment was completed in advance of the mandated time frame.

The strategic plan was required to be provided to the Legislative Council Bureau by no later than April 1, 1999. The plan is actually being submitted well ahead of the prescribed deadline in order to provide adequate time for review and consideration of the issues.

Finally, the Act required the submittal of recommendations for legislation to be considered during the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature. These recommendations were also required to be submitted no later than April 1, 1999, but were completed early to accommodate a 120 day legislative session.

The Act is set to expire on July 1, 1999. The full text of SB383 is included as Appendix 1.