Las Vegas City Commission Minutes, November 20, 1957 to December 2, 1959, lvc000011-563

Motion seconded by Commissioner Whipple and carried by the following vote: Commissioners Elwell, Sharp, Whipple and His Honor Mayor Gragson voting aye; noes, none. Absent: Commissioner Fountain. URBAN RENEWAL Franklin Bills, Coordinator of Urban Renewal, asked the Mayor and Commissioners to Code Assistance read the report which had been given to each of them outlining the Code Assistance Program Program for preventing the spread of blight neighborhoods. Mr. Bills continued that he had tried to point out in this report ways in which each property owner by helping himself on his own property could help everybody to keep Resolution their property value stable. He added that it would make little sense to spend the Adopted taxpayers money in slum clearance programs, if at the same time, all steps were not taken to keep other areas from slipping down-hill. This would entail a program that will take years if it is to be equitable and legal as well as practical so that everyone would be treated alike. For this reason Mr. Bills requested the adoption of a resolution establishing the priority areas for scheduled inspection and enforcement of building and safety codes and rezoning ordinance; said resolution would adopt by reference a map outlining and describing various areas with more critical districts given higher priorities. Mr. Bills explained it was proposed to transfer someone from the Building Department to do this work for the Planning Department. Whenever an inspection uncovered a non-compliance with any City Code which presented a fire hazard or menace to life, health and property, remedial measures would be required within a reasonably short time; in regard to minor violations which tend to have a down-grading effect on property over a period of time and present no immediate menace, the property owner would be notified and the deficiency recorded against the property in the County Recorder's Office. This would require an ordinance change as the City did not have the authority to record such notices. Commissioner Whipple was of the opinion the property owners should be given ample time to bring the structure tp to code and Mr. Bills assured him that reasonable consideration would be exercised in all instances. City Attorney Cory advised the time limit would be set out in the ordinance and the resolution would express the desire of the Commission for such a Code Assistance Program. Commissioner Sharp moved the following resolution be adopted and order made: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND DESIGNATING THE PRIORITY FOR PROPERTY INSPECTIONS IN A CODE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DESIGNED AS A PART OF A TOTAL URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAM TO COMBAT BLIGHT AND BLIGHTING CONDITIONS IN THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS_______ WHEREAS, the City of Las Vegas has undertaken a program of Urban Renewal; and WHEREAS, evidence of the comprehensive nature of the City's program of Urban Renewal is indicated by the adoption of a workable program to combat slums and blight and blighting conditions in the City of Las Vegas which has been certified and twice recertified by the Urban Renewal Division of the Housing and Home Finance Agency of the United States Government; and WHEREAS, plans to carry forth the clearance and redevelopment phase of this program are indicated by the City of Las Vegas and by the United States Government through the application for and approval of Planning Advance Loans to plan the clearance and redevelopment of the Madison School Urban Redevelopment Project; and WHEREAS, the expenditure of public funds both local and federal, in the proposed execution of an Urban Redevelopment Project or Projects in the City of Las Vegas seems logical only if the Clearance and Redevelopment program is supplemented by measures designed to prevent other areas of the city which are now standard add stable from becoming deteriorated; and WHEREAS, as a part of its "Workable Program" the City proposes a program of assisting property owners to adhere to and conform to various city codes and ordinances designed to protect the public and each individual against crime, vice, disease, fire, and the deterioration of property and living conditions; and WHEREAS, it appears neither logical, practical nor financially feasible for the City of Las Vegas to retain sufficient qualified personnel to inspect every property in the city at approximately the same time; and WHEREAS, a more practical approach appears to require the scheduling of this inspection and code assistance program by starting in the areas where city and other public records indicate that obsolescence and deterioration have made the greatest headway in order to forestall the further downgrading of properties and living conditions, and if possible, upgrade these factors in these critical areas, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of City Commissioners of the City of Las Vegas does hereby adopt by reference a certain map prepared by the Urban Renewal Division of the Planning Department entitled "Code Assistance Program Proposed Priorities" dated September 1, 1959, outlining and describing the boundaries of various areas within the City of Las Vegas and establishing the priority of each described area for a scheduled inspection of properties for conformance with the various city codes and ordinances designed to protect the public and each individual against the menace of crime, vice, disease, fire and property deterioration; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the map establishing these priorities shall be reviewed periodically and revised or amended as changing conditions may indicate for such revision or amendment. /s/ Oran K. Gragson ORAN K. GRAGSON, Mayor ATTEST: /s/ Marjorie Holtschlag__________ City Clerk 9-16-59