Las Vegas City Council Meeting – August 20, 2025
Las Vegas City Council Meeting – August 20, 2025
The Las Vegas City Council met on August 20, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, consent agenda approvals, public comments, and multiple land use and policy discussions. Key actions included the ratification of a new Deputy City Manager, adoption of a dog paw safety resolution, approval of several land development projects, and a performance review for the City Attorney.
Consent Calendar
- Items 11 through 32 on the consent agenda were approved in one motion without discussion. These items were considered routine and recommended by staff.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Eric Melchizedek Christ Nimrod spoke during the public comment period for agenda items, expressing support for fire and rescue equipment purchases (Agenda 18) and participation in the 1033 program (Agenda 21-22), while cautioning against misuse of military gear. He also raised concerns about the city’s sanctuary jurisdiction label.
- Cyril Bastion (resident of 290 Mohawk Street) opposed the Taylor Morrison development (Item 49) on the grounds that it did not comply with the 2050 master plan’s rural character requirements and was not supported by the neighborhood. He requested denial of the general plan amendment, rezoning, and vacating.
- Edgar Venegas (5240 El Parque) supported Mr. Bastion’s comments.
- Art Lanier (1501 North Gateway Road) spoke against the multifamily development (Item 52), citing insufficient notice, concerns about traffic, density, and the loss of a prior agreement for ingress/egress on Gateway Road. He asked the council to preserve the existing character of the street.
- Lex Anderson (Ward 5 resident) opposed the trucking company use (Item 53), arguing that the applicant’s request for 37 parking spaces (seven times the ordinance limit) and a dumpster transfer station was too intense for the area and incompatible with the historic neighborhood and rural preservation overlay.
- David Gomez (East Las Vegas resident) raised concerns about traffic safety near schools, specifically at Sunrise Acres Elementary, and urged the council to protect children near the school zone.
- Khalila Shabazz (7101 Smoke Ranch Road) reported being assaulted at the Clark County Detention Center and stated that her complaint to the Citizen Review Board was not properly processed. She requested an investigation.
- Malcolm Gare (Centennial Hills) urged the city to keep Baker safe for all regardless of immigration status.
Discussion Items
- Employee of the Month (Ceremonial): Jennifer Gallego, Administrative Section Manager in the Department of Public Safety, was recognized for saving over $12,000 in vendor costs, leading the three-year strategic plan, securing a grant for a training system, and launching the Flock Safety Camera Initiative.
- Eagle Scout Recognition (Ceremonial): David Gregorian, Edvin Escovian, Ricky Barlow II, and Caleb Shargoloff were honored for achieving Eagle Scout rank. Their service projects included building structures for Ronald McDonald House and other community improvements.
- Item 33 – Reappointment to Historic Preservation Commission: The council unanimously approved the reappointment of Donald Hotchkiss (Category 3 – building construction) to the Historic Preservation Commission.
- Item 34 – Ratification of Deputy City Manager: The council ratified the appointment of Rosa Cortez as Deputy City Manager with a salary of $228,913 plus benefits. Cortez, a long-time city employee who started as an intern, was praised for her leadership and engineering background.
- Item 35 – Resolution on Dog Paw Safety: The council approved a resolution (R-62-2025) to promote public awareness of the risk of injury to dogs’ paws from hot pavement when temperatures exceed 85°F, encouraging use of protective footwear.
- Items 37 & 38 – Adoption of Bills: Bills 2025-29 (amendments to Title 19 on public improvements, street standards, etc.) and 2025-30 (amendments to include condominium hotel provisions) were adopted.
- Item 42 – New Bill Introduction: Bill 2025-34, which adjusts hours for construction noise prohibitions, was introduced and assigned to the September 2, 2025, Recommending Committee.
- Item 41 – Closed Session: The council held a closed session to discuss the City Attorney’s annual performance review.
- Item 43 – City Attorney Performance Review: Following closed session, the council voted to approve a 3.3% COLA, 4% merit increase, and three weeks of administrative leave for City Attorney Jeff Dorocak. Council members praised his responsiveness, team-building, and work on the Badlands settlement.
- Items 49 A-D – Oaky Mohawk Subdivision (Taylor Morrison): The council approved a 38-lot single-family residential subdivision on 5.06 acres, with a revised plan featuring a cul-de-sac on Oaky, reduced grade, and one fewer lot on El Parque. The applicant’s changes aimed to address traffic and drainage concerns. The approval passed despite neighborhood opposition.
- Items 52 A-D – Owens/Gateway Multifamily Development: The council approved a 20-unit multifamily development on 1.18 acres, with conditions including relocation of the trash enclosure to meet residential adjacency standards and no parking on Tom Boulevard. The project had been modified from five buildings to two, with increased parking and setbacks.
- Items 53 A-D – Trucking Company on Tom Boulevard: The council approved a trucking/vehicle storage facility on 0.89 acres, subject to conditions limiting parking to five trucks and five trailers, no outside storage, a trash enclosure in the westernmost portion, and a ban on parking along Tom Boulevard. The applicant agreed to remove dumpsters from the site.
- Items 55 A-I – Homestead in O’Hare Subdivision (Woodside Homes): The council approved an eight-lot single-family subdivision on 4.5 acres, with variances to allow a 20-foot front yard setback instead of the required 50 feet. The homes will be one-story, ranging from 3,099 to 4,136 square feet, with RV garages.
- Items 56 A-E – Richmond American Homes Subdivision (Kyle Canyon Area): The council approved a 37-lot residential subdivision on 4.43 acres, including a general plan amendment and rezoning to medium-low density residential and residential compact lots. The project includes a tot lot, bocce ball courts, bike racks, and a shade structure.
- Items 36 & 57 – LaMadre Foothills Special Area Plan: The council adopted the LaMadre Foothills Special Area Plan (Resolution R-63-2025) and the accompanying Director’s Business item (Item 57). The plan focuses on outdoor recreation, environment-sensitive design, quality neighborhoods, and transportation, with a centerpiece LaMadre Foothills Park and trail connections.
Key Outcomes
- Ratification of Deputy City Manager: Passed unanimously.
- Dog Paw Safety Resolution: Passed unanimously.
- Bills 2025-29 and 2025-30: Adopted.
- City Attorney Performance Review: Approved with a 3.3% COLA, 4% merit increase, and three weeks of administrative leave.
- Oakie Mohawk Subdivision (Item 49): Approved 49 A-D (vote tallied).
- Owens/Gateway Multifamily (Item 52): Approved 52 A-D with added conditions.
- Trucking Company on Tom Boulevard (Item 53): Approved with conditions for no parking on Tom, trash enclosure location, and reduced vehicle count.
- Homestead in O’Hare Subdivision (Item 55): Approved 55 A-I.
- Richmond American Homes Subdivision (Item 56): Approved 56 A-E.
- LaMadre Foothills Special Area Plan (Items 36 & 57): Adopted.
- Correction of vote: Mayor corrected a previous inadvertent “no” vote to “yes” on an earlier resolution.
- Councilwoman Seaman excused: After item 57, Councilwoman Seaman was excused for the remainder of the meeting.
Next Steps
- The City Manager and City Attorney were directed to follow up on public comments regarding the Courtyard Homeless Shelter gate issue and the citizen complaint against the Clark County Detention Center.
- Future meetings will address the new bill on construction noise and other pending items.
Meeting Transcript
All right. May I ask everybody to please be seated. We will be beginning our city council meeting immediately. The August twentieth, twenty twenty-five meeting of the city council is called to order. This meeting has been properly noticed and posted in compliance with the open meeting law.gov slash connect. The Wednesday of the meeting at eight PM, and also on Friday at four AM, Saturday at 7 PM, Sunday at 7 A.M. and the following Monday at 5 p.m. This building is protected by a state-of-the-art fire detection and suppression sprinkler system. If alarms should activate during today's meeting, please evacuate using the exits at the back of the chambers out to the mezzanine, proceed out the double doors to the terrace and down the back staircase. For anyone that has difficulty with stairs, please check with the marshal or fire official for assistance. Once outside, assemble on the northeast corner across the street from City Hall at Lewis and First Street. Employees wearing safety vests or city marshals will inform you when it is safe to re-enter the building. For public comment related to the items on the agenda, citizen participation and public hearing items, we have available a speaker card which you can complete and submit to the city clerk. If there is anyone present today that has need for hearing impaired equipment, please see the city clerk's staff. Please note if you parked in the parking garage across the street, a self-validation machine is located in the foyer between council chambers and the security desk you walk through to enter these chambers. You must have your ticket with you to use the machine. If you do not have your ticket, see security personnel when exiting for a validation coupon. Before we proceed with the agenda, would everyone please rise for the invocation given by Pastor Richard Box, Living Grace Four Square Church, and please remain standing as he leads us in the pledge. Welcome. Welcome, thank you. Legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian once said when he started coaching that he had his team at Fresno, and they walked into a restaurant and they were in all separate seats. And the waitress came in and said, Sir, do you are you the coach? Do you think you could bring your team together? And he said, Ma'am, I've been trying to do that all year long. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I'd like to pray a prayer of unity for our city and for our council. Father, in Jesus' name, we thank you for this opportunity to be here. God, we thank you for your grace, and we thank you for your mercy. Your word tells us that how bl how good and how pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity. Lord, I pray a spirit of unity upon this council. I pray a spirit of unity in our city. Lord, we know that what happens in Las Vegas doesn't stay in Las Vegas. It changes the world. And may this city, the city of Las Vegas, and may this council be known for their unity and for their oneness. Lord, because you promised that when people are gathered together and they're united for a cause that's greater than them, you promise to bless them. And so, God, give wisdom, give grace, give mercy, may this council uh govern in humility, because your word says that you will exalt those who humble themselves. Father, bless them, bless their families and the things that are weighing heavy on their hearts, God, would they look up to you and may you minister to them the things that maybe no one else knows about, Lord, would you be with them just as men and women who are trying to serve people and trying to serve you? And so thank you for the unity of spirit, and thank you for your grace. And we ask these things in your precious name. Amen. Amen. And would you lead us in the pledge? Yes, ma'am. My pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. Thank you. Thank you so much. We will now proceed with our ceremonials. Good morning again, everybody. We will start with recognition of the employee of the month.
openpublica.com