Las Vegas City Commission Minutes, December 8, 1959 to February 17, 1960, lvc000012-8

There followed a detailed discussion of the application of Lewis J. and Katie Abrahams for a variance to construct additional motel units at 1919 Sunrise Street, between 18th and 19th Streets. Planning Director Bills reviewed for the Commission that some time ago these applicants requested permission to have the property rezoned and property owners protested on the basis of the increased amount of traffic it would generate. Mr. Bills asked if the members of the Board of City Commissioners would make a physical inspection of the area so that when the matter was before them again they might be in a better position to make proper disposition of the matter. Mayor Gragson: "This meeting has been called at the request of the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee on the subject of their Progress Report and whoever is to handle this item may proceed." Bob Bailey: "I am Chairman. I think most of you gentlemen know everyone on the Committee, with the possible exception of our newest member, Miss Marjorie Elliott, who is a Real Estate Broker in West Las Vegas. With your permission, I will read a copy of a Report, of which I believe you have all received a copy, and which sets forth in whole what our Program has been. We feel it is inport- ant that we submit this to you for your approval as it applies to the Committee and its activities to date." Mr. Bailey went on to say that the Committee was appointed by the Mayor and Board of City Commissioners in 1957- That they had held something like 43 meetings, which included people from the State Highway Department, the Federal Housing Administration and local and county School Districts, concerning problems they thought would pertain to the Urban Renewal Area as it is outlined in the Neighborhood Plan. That they had also held a meeting with property owners some six or eight months ago and only last week attended a series of meetings with specific property owners. The following Progress Report was then read aloud by Mr. Bailey: REPORT OF THE URBAN RENEWAL AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TO THE BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERS, OF THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. The Committee, hereafter referred to as URAAC, is a citizens committee, appointed by the City Commissioners. The aims and purposes of URAAC are primarily concerned with liaison between the people and their City Government, and with dissemination of information to the public. The liaison function of URAAC is aimed at better citizen confidence in Government, on one hand, and at stimulation of keener Government interest in the welfare of the people on the other hand. The first phase of this liaison function will require the interest and the assistance of the press, and will be driven home through the media of public meetings. This will amount to a program of public education. The people must understand what is to be done, otherwise there will be a tendency for mass resistance to the program, and poor public opinion of City Government. The second phase of the liaison function of URAAC, we hope to accomplish through regularly scheduled sessions with the Board of City Commissioners. We hope to have these meetings once every two months at the present, and more frequently as the Madison School Project draws closer to execution. These meetings are most important for a unified understanding, and for smoother operation of the public relations phase of Urban Renewal. The term Urban Renewal has been in use for the past ten years. It was a term coined by the Federal Housing people because they needed some title to this new concept of City Management. We realize now that the title does not adequately cover the overall program of removal and prevention of blight. Perhaps, Urban. Stability, would be a better description, for it would point out the permanence of such a program. Urban Renewal must not be looked upon as just a single project, but instead it must be looked at as a new and permanent part of City Management, otherwise there would be a constant repetition of decay and restoration. Urban Renewal must be dealt with as a community project, and not as an area, nor as a neighborhood project. It is necessary to arouse the interest of the entire populace in order to carry out a Renewal project in any given area of the City. It is the financial responsibility of all of the people of the City, and not of just the people of a given area. Urban Renewal is a costly affair, and its need must be sold to all of the people. The selling job can be facilitated by an Advisory Committee of broader representation of the community, than the present committee which is composed of only residents of the area in which the first Urban Renewal project is to be undertaken. The need for City wide interest and understanding of Urban Renewal cannot be overemphasized. It will not be an easy job to create this interest and understanding. We must solicit the aid of as many groups and organizations as possible. Representatives of each of these groups must serve on the Advisory Committee. The 12-8-59 REZONING (Z-5-59) Lewis and Katie Abrahams Referred to City Commissioners JOINT MEETING OF URBAN RENEWAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COMMISSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING PROGRESS REPORT OF ACTIVITIES OF URAAC