Senate Bill No. 383

Senate Bill No. 383-Committee on Government Affairs

CHAPTER

657

AN ACT relating to regional planning; establishing the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority; setting forth the purpose and duties of the Authority; creating a technical committee to advise the Authority; providing for the funding of the Authority; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

[Approved July 17, 1997]made applicable for the provisions of this act because of the economic diversity of the local governments of this state, the unusual patterns of growth in certain of those local governments, the need to identify and evaluate the needs of certain counties that have arisen as a result of growth experienced by those counties and the special conditions experienced in certain counties related to the need to provide basic services; now, therefore,

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. 1. The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority, consisting of 21 members, is hereby created in Clark County. The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority consists of:
(a) The respective mayors of the City of Las Vegas, the City of Henderson, the City of North Las Vegas, Boulder City and the City of Mesquite.
(b) The Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Clark County.
(c) The Vice Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Clark County.
(d) One member appointed by the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association as its representative.
(e) One member appointed by the Nevada Resort Association as its representative.
(f) One member appointed by the Nevada State AFL-CIO as its representative.
(g) One member appointed by the Nevada Taxpayers Association as its representative.
(h) One member appointed by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce as its representative.
(i) One member appointed by the Nevada Development Authority as its representative.
(j) One member elected by the plurality vote of the members specified in paragraphs (a) to (i), inclusive, and (l) to represent environmental concerns.
(k) One member elected by the plurality vote of the members specified in paragraphs (a) to (i), inclusive, and (l) to represent the concerns of racial and ethnic minorities.
(l) One member appointed by each of the members specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) to represent the concerns of the residents of each city specified in paragraph (a) or Clark County, respectively. Such members must not be affiliated with any organization or special interest represented by the members specified in paragraphs (a) to (k), inclusive.
2. A member who no longer meets the qualifications by which he secured his membership on the Authority automatically ceases to be a member of the Authority. A vacancy must be filled in the same manner as the original member was selected.
3. A member of the Authority who is:
(a) An ex-officio member pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection 1 shall serve without compensation.
(b) Appointed or elected pursuant to paragraphs (d) to (l), inclusive, of subsection 1 must be compensated by the Authority at the rate of $40 per meeting or $200 per month, whichever is less.
Sec. 2. 1. The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority shall:
(a) Identify and evaluate the needs of Clark County relating to its growth.
(b) Prioritize the objectives and strategies relating to the growth of Clark County.
(c) Recommend to the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature strategies for meeting the growth needs and objectives of Clark County.
2. The Authority shall review the master plans and the plans for capital improvement of the planning agencies of Clark County. The Authority shall review the plans and the policies contained therein to determine if they are sufficient to meet the needs and address the expected amount of growth of Clark County over the next 20 years. A report regarding the determination of the Authority, including an analysis of whether there exist any duplications or inconsistencies in the plans, or whether any issues have been omitted, must be submitted to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislative Commission on or before June 1, 1998. As used in this subsection, "planning agency" includes:
(a) The planning agencies for Clark County and the cities located within the county; and
(b) Any agency responsible for planning for the provision of services related to infrastructure, including, without limitation, the Regional Transportation Commission of Clark County, the Clark County Regional Flood Control Board, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Clark County School District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
3. The Authority shall develop and submit to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature for its review on or before April 1, 1999:
(a) A needs assessment that identifies the issues relating to the growth of Clark County over the next 20 years. The needs assessment must be completed by the Authority on or before October 1, 1998.
(b) A strategic plan that sets forth the objectives, goals and strategies of the Authority with regard to those issues. The strategic plan must address the effects of such growth with respect to:
(1) Economic development, including, without limitation, the creation of new jobs.
(2) Educational institutions, including, without limitation, public schools.
(3) The environment, including, without limitation, 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 are determined by the Authority to be pertinent.
(c) An evaluation of the current allocation of resources in the development of regional infrastructure that is not supported by the payment of user fees, including, without limitation, regional flood control, transportation and parks. The information relating to the allocation of such resources must be provided to the Authority by a subcommittee of the Technical Committee created pursuant to section 4 of this act. The subcommittee must consist of the directors of finance of Clark County and the cities listed in paragraph (a) of subsection 1 of section 4 of this act.
(d) Recommendations for legislation.
4. The Authority may make reasonable requests for information to any local government.
Sec. 3. 1. There is hereby created the position of Facilitator of the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority. The Facilitator:
(a) Must be nominated by the plurality vote of the members appointed to the Authority pursuant to paragraphs (d) to (l), inclusive, of subsection 1 of section 1 of this act from a list of persons who have applied for the position and who:
(1) Have the necessary training, experience, capability and interest in planning to perform the duties of the Facilitator;
(2) Have demonstrated the ability to administer a major program relating to planning; and
(3) Are not affiliated with any entity listed in subsection 1 of section 1 of this act; and
(4) May be a consultant or a consulting firm.
(b) Must be appointed by the plurality vote of the members of the Authority set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection 1 of section 1 of this act.
2. The Facilitator shall appoint a Project Coordinator who:
(a) Shall devote his entire time and attention to the business of his office and shall not pursue any other business or occupation or hold any other office of profit.
(b) Shall not hold any other position relating to planning with a regional or local entity in the county, or be on a leave of absence from any other regional or local entity in the county while holding the position of Project Coordinator.
(c) Is responsible for the administration of the Authority.
(d) Shall prepare an annual budget for the Authority.
(e) May:
(1) Appoint professional, technical or clerical staff to positions that are approved by the Authority.
(2) Execute contracts for services and interlocal agreements that are approved by the Authority.
(3) Direct the activities of all persons employed by the Authority.
Sec. 4. 1. The Technical Committee of the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority, consisting of 13 members, is hereby created. The Technical Committee consists of:
(a) The respective city managers of the City of Las Vegas, the City of Henderson, the City of North Las Vegas, Boulder City and the City of Mesquite or their designees.
(b) The County Manager of Clark County or his designee.
(c) The General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority or his designee.
(d) The General Manager of the Clark County Regional Flood Control Board or his designee.
(e) The Director of the Regional Transportation Commission of Clark County or his designee.
(f) The County Health Officer of the Clark County Health District or his designee.
(g) The Superintendent of the Clark County School District or his designee.
(h) The General Manager of the Virgin Valley Water District or his designee.
(i) The Chief Executive Officer of Nevada Power Company or his designee.
2. The Technical Committee shall advise the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Commission regarding the growth of Clark County.
3. A member who no longer meets the qualifications by which he secured his membership on the Technical Committee automatically ceases to be a member of the Technical Committee. A vacancy must be filled in the same manner as the original member was selected.
4. A member of the Technical Committee shall serve without compensation.
Sec. 5. 1. To pay for the costs associated with carrying out the provisions of this act:
(a) The governing body of:
(1) Clark County shall allocate not less than $150,000;
(2) The City of Las Vegas shall allocate not less than $75,000;
(3) The City of Henderson shall allocate not less than $60,000;
(4) The City of North Las Vegas shall allocate not less than $45,000;
(5) Boulder City shall allocate not more than $20,000; and
(6) The City of Mesquite shall allocate not more than $15,000,
from its general fund to the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority.
(b) The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority may solicit and accept contributions from the organizations specified in paragraphs (d) to (i), inclusive, of subsection 1 of section 1 of this act and any other organization that wishes to contribute to the Authority.
2. The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority may expend any money received pursuant to this section in carrying out the provisions of this act.
3. Any money received by the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority pursuant to this section must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 1999.
4. The Facilitator of the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority shall cause any remaining balance of the money allocated or contributed to the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority pursuant to this section that has not been committed for expenditure as of June 30, 1999, to be transferred to the various entities which made the allocations or contributions in the proportion that the entity's allocation or contribution bears to the total amount of all allocations and contributions received by the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority pursuant to this section.
Sec. 6. The Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority and the Technical Committee of the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority shall each hold its first meeting on or before September 15, 1997.
Sec. 7. The provisions of subsection 1 of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any additional expenses of a local government that are related to the provisions of this act.
Sec. 8. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval and expires by limitation on July 1, 1999.
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