Carson City agenda watched carefully in south

One bill would add two commissioners locally

Nevada legislators this year will mull expanding the Clark County governing board from seven to nine members. County commissioners on Tuesday did not reveal feelings on the bill, but it will be one of several they plan to follow in 2019.

The commission will track state lawmaker activities during the legislative session, which kicked off Monday, and commissioners are particularly keen on the progress of four bills that originated in Clark County.

Assembly Bill 79 would provide the county with speedier recourse to address abandoned buildings, expedite the delinquent tax foreclosure process for properties deemed vacant and reduce from three years to two the period in which a delinquent property is eligible to sell at public auction.

AB 2 raises the threshold for projects that require professional engineering or land surveying from $35,000 to $100,000.

Senate Bill 36 would change how fair market value is calculated for property that is leased or placed up for sale, averaging two required appraisals in lieu of using the higher of the two.

And SB 77 expands the purchasing authorization for county hospitals to include services through purchasing groups in which they participate.

Mason Vanhouweling, the CEO of University Medical Center, told commissioners that the bill would enable UMC to participate in contracts for blood, linen and other services afforded to 8,000 other hospitals in the country.

“We anticipate that this could net about half a million dollars savings to the hospital annually,” Vanhouweling said.

County officials also plan to closely monitor bills beyond their own, including SB 127, the legislation that proposes to expand the number of commissioners by two.

County Manager Yolanda King also called commissioners’ attention to bills that enact bail reform, push for additional marijuana dispensaries in incorporated cities and enable jurisdictions to create a nonprofit in emergency situations.

She added that the county also will watch the city of Las Vegas’ bill to impose an additional tax on real property transfers in certain counties to boost funding for services and affordable housing for the homeless or indigent.

Marijuana concerns

After a monthslong hiatus, the commission revisited talks about cannabis consumption lounges on Tuesday — albeit briefly.

The commission decided to defer to the state, where Gov. Steve Sisolak recently created a marijuana advisory panel in lieu of vetting potential for social use venues themselves through the county’s Green Ribbon Panel.

Gunshot detection program

The commission appeared to welcome a three-year expansion of Shotspotter, a gunshot detection pilot program in conjunction with police officials that has shown early signs of success.

Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick said the county is seeking an $11.5 million grant through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension that could mean installation of the program in every district. Currently, it’s in 6 square miles on the north and south sides of the county.

Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Dori Koren, the Shotspotter program manager, said it would cost $8 million to $10 million over three years to introduce it in each gun violence hot spot.

Contact Shea Johnson at sjohnson@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0272. Follow @SHEA_LVRJ on Twitter.