Las Vegas City Council Meeting – November 19, 2025
Las Vegas City Council Meeting – November 19, 2025
The Las Vegas City Council met on November 19, 2025, in a regular session that began with ceremonials, including a proclamation declaring November 19, 2025, as UNLV Day, recognition of the Employee of the Month (Deputy City Attorney Carmen Gilmett Gilbert), and honors for local business owners Freddie Goldines and Alexander Stabler for their contributions to the community. The council then proceeded through a full agenda of consent items, public hearings, land use decisions, and discussion items.
Consent Calendar
- Items 10 through 24, considered routine and recommended by staff, were approved in a single motion (10–24).
- Items 36 through 42 were approved in one motion–one vote after no public objections.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Catherine Duncan (Unified West Side Neighborhood Association) spoke during the public hearing on Item 60 (Marble Manor Phase 2). She expressed concern that the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority had not conducted sufficient public engagement, particularly for residents without internet access. She requested that the housing authority allocate one penny out of every dollar toward meaningful community outreach, including a STEM lab for resident input on safety, broadband, and transportation plans. Council members noted that multiple community meetings had been held and that information is available online.
- Johnny Rawlinson (5901 Mendoza Court) spoke during Citizen Participation (Item 64). He reported that a recently sold single-family home at 5900 Mendoza Court appeared to be converted into an 11-room rental for commuters, with work occurring without proper permits. He requested a stop-work order. The City Manager confirmed code enforcement would follow up.
Discussion Items
- UNLV Update (Item 62, Ward All) – Dr. Chris Heavey, Interim President of UNLV, presented an overview of the university’s growth and community impact. He noted that UNLV has tripled in size since 1980 but Southern Nevada’s population has quadrupled, creating ongoing challenges. Key statistics: 7,000 graduates last year, 25% of students attend with no direct costs, and the university is the largest in Nevada. He highlighted new programs in cybersecurity, insurance, mental health, and a focus on workforce development. Council members expressed strong support and discussed further partnerships, especially in the medical district and mental health services.
- Civic Plaza Retail Lease (Items 26–27, Ward 3) – A public hearing was held on a lease agreement with Gonzo Madness LLC (Teriyaki Madness) for a 2,500-square-foot retail space at 525 South Main Street, Suite 150. The lease term is 10 years with two 5-year options, total value $2.27 million. The applicant, a local family business, plans to open a fourth location. The council approved the resolution (Item 27) unanimously.
- Secretary of State Lease (Item 28, Ward 3) – The council approved a 10-year lease (with two 5-year options) for the Nevada Secretary of State’s office at 70 East Bonanza Avenue, Suite 100. The lease value is over $3 million over 20 years. Deputy Secretary of State Ruben Rodriguez stated the move will create a one-stop shop for businesses. The motion passed unanimously.
- Monument Hills Development (Items 48A–D, Ward 6) – After a presentation by Olympia Companies, the council approved a 940-acre master-planned community called Monument Hills. The project includes 6,000 residential units, military housing (first in the nation without federal subsidies), a 1,000-job economic development parcel, 10 acres of soccer fields, and a charter school. The total projected economic impact is $3.5 billion. The motion passed unanimously.
- Marble Manor Phase 2 (Items 60A–B, Ward 5) – The council approved a site development plan and vacation to facilitate the second phase of the Marble Manor redevelopment. The project includes 223 units (85 project-based vouchers, 93 serving ≤50% AMI, 88 LIHTC, 50 market rate). The Planning Commission and staff recommended approval. Despite public concerns about outreach, the council approved the motion unanimously.
- Medical Office Development (Items 59A–B, Ward 2) – The council approved a revised 178,400-square-foot medical office development at 12.23 acres on Alta Drive, with a parking variance (863 spaces instead of 1,018) and landscape waivers. The applicant stated the project is appropriately parked per medical office standards. The motion passed unanimously.
- Appeal – Gym Variance (Item 44, Ward 1) – The council heard an appeal of a Planning Commission denial for a residential accessory structure (gym) variance. The applicants argued the slope of their backyard prevented other locations, but the council noted unpermitted construction had begun. After discussion, the council voted to remand the matter to the Planning Commission for consideration of a revised design, with a deadline for the February 10, 2026, Planning Commission meeting.
- Rezoning Requests (Items 46, 47, 54, Ward 5) – Three rezoning items from RE to C2 were withdrawn without prejudice after councilwoman Summers Armstrong expressed concerns about incompatibility with adjacent residential uses and outstanding code enforcement issues. One item (Item 53, 1700 Bonanza Road) was approved unanimously.
- Denial of Auto Repair Business (Items 49A–B, Ward 5) – The council denied a variance and special use permit for a minor auto repair business at 2147 North Decatur Boulevard, citing insufficient parking (14 spaces required vs. 48 needed). The applicant’s proposal would have exacerbated parking overflow onto residential streets. The motion carried 5-2 (Councilman Knutson excused).
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Consent agenda (Items 10–24, 36–42); UNLV Day proclamation; Employee of the Month recognition; ceremonial recognition of Freddie Goldines and Alexander Stabler; Teriyaki Madness lease (Item 27); Secretary of State lease (Item 28); board appointments (Jesse Sleezer to Parks and Recreation, Kenneth Kraft to Traffic and Parking Commission); ordinances for short-term rentals, pet handling, Desert Pines development, and police tax extension (Items 31–34); Monument Hills development (Items 48A–D); medical office development (Items 59A–B); Marble Manor Phase 2 (Items 60A–B); and several other land use items (Items 44 remanded, 50, 53, 56).
- Denied: Appeal of variance for gym (Item 44) – remanded to Planning Commission with directive to redesign; auto repair business (Items 49A–B).
- Withdrawn: Rezoning items 46, 47, and 54 were withdrawn without prejudice after concerns about compatibility and incomplete property assembly.
- No Action Required: UNLV update (Item 62) was a report only; fair market value hearings (Items 25–26) were informational.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. The November 19th, 2025 meeting of the City Council is called to order. This meeting has been properly noticed and posted in compliance with the open meeting law. These proceedings are being video recorded and can be viewed live on City of Las Vegas TV on Cox Cable Channel 2. You could also watch the meeting live online and access other city content by visiting Las Vegas, Nevada.gov slash connect. The proceedings will be rebroadcast on City of Las Vegas TV the Wednesday of the meeting at 8 p.m. And also on Friday at 4 a.m. Saturday at 7 p.m. 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 alarm 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 a 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 our 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. Cards are available in the clerk's office or in the rear of the chambers. If you do not submit a card, it does not prevent you from speaking under public comment, citizens' participation, or specified public hearing items. If there is anyone present today that has need for hearing impaired equipment, please see the city clerk staff. The Apostle Paul, one of his first instructions to his protege, Timothy, was to pray for rulers and all who are in th all who are in authority that we may live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness. And so, Lord, today we pray for all who serve in our local communities. We pray for our mayor, our city council members, and all you've called to lead in this city. I ask that you strengthen them with your wisdom and grace for the heavy burdens that they carry. May they manage their teams and projects with love, keep their hearts pure, and their eyes turned toward your face as they work in the best interest of the people they are called to serve. I ask for your blessing to be upon the proceedings today, and then all things you'll be glorified. I pray these things in Jesus' name, and everybody said, Amen. Please lead us in the pledge. Absolutely. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for the we will now proceed to our ceremonials. And so, as much as as you all may be lobbying us, we are actively lobbying you to come into downtown Las Vegas because you cannot have a great city without a great university partner, and we are ready to be partners. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Obviously, I'm all in red. So I am a rebel through and through, and uh one of my honorees is also from uh UNLV grad. So I just want to say that um UNLV was uh the first institution of higher learning that my family had access to, being the first generation uh to go to college. It's so important that you continue that work in our community and that we make sure that we're still inspiring and motivating our youth to see themselves on your campus because there's so much talent, there's so much energy, there's so much genius in Las Vegas that we need to capitalize on. I wanted to also say that obviously uh through the work that Freddie's doing, um, we're partnering, and I hope that we can partner more with uh real hands-on learning, real world application and scenarios for so many of your departments that would go amazing with just what the city does, and hopefully inspire some of that talent to come to the city post their studies so that they can get a little bit ahead and help us figure out what the path uh for the future is because we're constantly trying to innovate and to be forward thinking and to make sure that we're heating the call and meeting the needs of our community. So just wanted to articulate that we are all about making sure that we're partnering. Um I know that the School of Landscape Architecture is uh very heavily involved right now with a few things in my ward, and it warms my heart to see college students already putting their heads together to help us figure a way around problems and figure out solutions because I think that's so so imperative in their formation, especially their academic formation. So thank you so much. Um, I've been entertaining whether I go back for more education. Uh, but you know, it life learning, lifelong learner here, being a teacher, you have continuously have to take credits and be on top of your uh education game, but maybe we pivot in another area. But looking forward to seeing all the amazing things that UNLV is capable and competent of doing, and I also want to elevate that it's a R1 institution, and that is not an easy thing to secure. So bravo to UNLV for being the research institution, premier institution in our state. And um, you know, Notre Dame has been around a really long time and hasn't always had it either. So uh I think it's it just speaks to the quality of work that's happening at our alma mater or my alma mater here, UNLV. Good morning. I am not a UNLV graduate, but I used to teach a lot at UNLV, and I think in addition to providing access to higher education for our students or our community members, one of the key responsibilities of a university is the community engagement. And I just want to actually call out President Heavey and your leadership team because you have taken community engagement to a whole new level, and I look forward, we look forward to working with you as we continue to build that partnership and help our community.
openpublica.com