Las Vegas City Council Meeting – January 7, 2026
Las Vegas City Council Meeting – January 7, 2026
The Las Vegas City Council convened on January 7, 2026, to conduct ceremonial recognitions, consider routine consent agenda items, discuss key personnel and development matters, and hear public concerns about parking in the Arts District. The meeting opened with proclamations declaring January 7, 2026 as Craig Galati Day and Nevada School of the Arts Day, followed by a moment of silence for former city employee Roger Bailey and his wife Christine.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda items 10 through 18 (with the exception of item 15) were approved en bloc as routine matters recommended by departments. These included various administrative approvals and contracts.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Several members of the public spoke during Citizens’ Participation (agenda item 30) opposing planned parking price increases in the Las Vegas Arts District. Speakers included Becky Miller (Las Vegas Arts District), Tony Chavez, Elise St. Pierre, Brian Janay (Associate Producing Director, A Public Fit Theater Company; Artistic Director, Fallout Fringe Festival), Scott Gibson (salon owner), Troy Heard (Artistic Director, Majestic Repertory Theater), Alex Ferrati (business owner), Jennifer Hunter, Margo Beauty (student, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts), and Liliana Beckstrom (Arts District board member). They argued that higher parking costs would reduce foot traffic, harm small businesses, burden workers and artists, and make the area less accessible. Several requested that a community meeting on the issue be held in the Arts District rather than at City Hall. Councilwoman Diaz acknowledged the concerns, noted that the city had paused the rollout of paid parking on the north side of Charleston Boulevard, highlighted existing reduced-cost permits ($10/month for over 700 residents and employees) and free on-street parking from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, and committed to exploring solutions such as additional employee/resident lots, partnerships with private lot owners, and improved transit.
Discussion Items
- Agenda Item 15 – Modified Employment Agreement for City Attorney Michael Jansen: Councilmembers discussed the importance of retaining Mr. Jansen for leadership continuity and succession planning. All speakers expressed strong support. The agreement, with a salary of $360,000 plus benefits from the general fund, was approved unanimously. Council also thanked outgoing Human Resources Director Vince Zamora for his service.
- Agenda Item 19 – Boards and Commissions Reappointments: The council approved reappointments to the Community Development Recommending Board from a list of nominees submitted by council members, along with two new appointments (Ali Caliendo, Ward 2; Kathy Freeman, Ward 5).
- Agenda Item 20 – Appointments to Southern Nevada Council of Governments: Councilmembers Brian Knutson and Francis Alan Polenski were appointed as representatives to this newly created regional board.
- Agenda Item 21 – Ordinance 2025-43 (Ward Boundaries): An ordinance updating descriptions of ward boundaries (Wards 2-6) to reflect precinct adjustments by the Clark County Election Department was approved.
- Agenda Item 22 – Ordinance 2025-44 (Revenue Bonds): An ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $90 million in various purpose revenue bonds (Series 2026 A tax-exempt and 2026 B taxable) for building projects was approved.
- Agenda Item 25 – New Bill 2026-1 (Monument Hills Master Plan Community): A new ordinance adopting a development agreement for the Monument Hills Master Plan Community was introduced. It was assigned to the January 20, 2026 Recommending Committee.
- Agenda Item 26 – Summerlin West Development Report: The required 24-month review of the Summerlin West Development Agreement was presented. The master developer (Howard Hughes Company) reported that approximately 13,600 homes have been built out of 30,000 planned, with significant commercial development anticipated. Staff noted some outstanding responsibilities but recommended approval. The council approved the report.
- Agenda Item 27 – Report by Nevada Housing Coalition: Maurice Page, Executive Director of the Nevada Housing Coalition, presented on housing progress and 2026 priorities. Key points: 63 housing bills were introduced in the 2025 legislative session (up from 5-7 in 2019), with 27 passed (40%). The state has dedicated over $2 billion to housing since 2021, producing nearly 5,000 affordable units. Priorities for 2027 include expanding the state low-income housing tax credit (current credits will run out by end of 2026 or early 2027), increasing the state housing trust fund, preserving existing affordable housing (up to 1,000 units at risk), addressing construction defect laws and insurance liability, and promoting transit-oriented development. No action was required.
- Agenda Item 28 – Report on Good Word Market Hall and Shared Downtown West Side Project: City staff and Cherry Development provided an update on the workforce housing project (102 units, now topped out, leasing begins February 21, move-in in May) and the adjacent Good Word Market Hall (an 8,700 sq ft food hall with four stalls, mezzanine, and bar). Total investment is $8.7 million from the Redevelopment Agency and a Neighborhood Services grant. Groundbreaking for the food hall is scheduled for next month, with completion expected in fall 2026. The project includes an incubator program for emerging small businesses. No action was required.
Key Outcomes
- Votes:
- Modified employment agreement for City Attorney Michael Jansen: Approved unanimously.
- Boards and commissions reappointments: Approved unanimously.
- Appointments to Southern Nevada Council of Governments: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 2025-43 (ward boundaries): Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 2025-44 ($90M bonds): Approved unanimously.
- New Bill 2026-1 assigned to Recommending Committee.
- Summerlin West Development Report: Approved unanimously.
- Directives/Next Steps:
- Councilwoman Diaz committed to continued community engagement on Arts District parking, with a public meeting to be held in the district at a date and location to be announced.
- The Good Word Market Hall groundbreaking is scheduled for February 2026, with completion in fall 2026. Workforce housing interest lists open February 21, 2026, at the Love on Jackson event.
- The Nevada Housing Coalition will work with the city on local housing policy discussions and prepare for the 2027 legislative session.
Meeting Transcript
We'll be starting in about two minutes. Okay. The January seventh 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 pre suspend 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 a marshal or fire official for assistance. Once outside, please 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 or 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 at the rear of the chambers. If you do not submit a card, that does not prevent you from speaking under public comment, citizens' participation or specified public hearing items. If there is anyone present today that is in need of hearing impaired equipment, please see City Clerk staff. And please note if you are parked in the parking garage across the street, a self-validation machine is located in the foyer between council chambers and the security desk that you walk through in order to enter these chambers. Now before we proceed with everybody, please rise for the invocation given by Pastor Joel Menchach Manchaka, Amistead, Christiana Church, and please remain standing when our Mayor Pro Tem will lead us in the pledge. Welcome. Welcome, Pastor. It's so nice to see you. Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for this beautiful day. Thank you for our councilwoman and our councilman, our mayor. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much. Mayor Pro Tem, will you meet us in the pledge? I pledge all these races to the flag of the United States of America. We will now proceed with the ceremonials. Councilwoman. Thank you, Mayor. I found so many lovely parts of this job. Really have. And the uh, you know, working with all of you, working with an incredible staff. This has got to be one of the favorite things I do. And this is my first citizen and uh recognition. And uh the decision was really easy for me because I've known Craig Galati for probably about 40 years. And um what's so important about this recognition is we really try to find people who have dedicated some of their time to bettering the city of Las Vegas, and no one exemplifies that better than Craig Galotti, who has dedicated his entire life to making Las Vegas a better place. And I've had the pleasure and privilege to work with him on many projects, so I know this firsthand. I do want to tell you a little bit about Craig because I think it's important to understand the things that he has done and both the the breadth of it. He has touched Las Vegas in so many ways. As an accomplished architect, planner, and community advocate, Craig has helped shape the culture and economic landscape of Las Vegas, consistently championing and thoughtful, sustainable development that improves the quality of life for residents across our great city. And I will tell you, improving the life of the residents is the filter by which he engages in anything for the community.
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