Las Vegas Centennial Board Meeting – July 27, 2026
Las Vegas Centennial Board Meeting – July 27, 2026
The Las Vegas Centennial Board met on July 27, 2026, to review fiscal year-end financials, hear reports on funded projects, discuss a funding request for rooftop safety guards at the historic Fifth Street School, and elect officers. Key topics included budget outlook, community engagement, and preservation efforts.
Discussion Items
1. Finance Department Report
Paul Bresnahan, financial analyst, presented final numbers for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Revenues totaled $1,880,000 ($1,680,000 from license plates, $197,000 interest). Program expenditures for the year were $1,650,000, with $3.4 million in awarded projects rolling forward. Net assets increased by $15,000 to $6,230,000. Bresnahan noted that while the board has committed $3.4 million, ongoing DMV revenue should sustain the fund. Commissioners expressed concern about overcommitting but acknowledged the historical cash balance trend. Commissioner Helton requested that future 990 tax returns be presented to the board before filing; staff agreed to add it to the agenda.
2. Report by Megan Delaney, Director of Communications
New communications director Megan Delaney introduced herself and her team. She outlined the Office of Communications’ capabilities (media relations, social media, marketing) and committed to supporting centennial initiatives. Commissioners discussed limitations on advertising at the DMV and tasked Delaney with exploring legal promotional options for the centennial license plate. Delaney also addressed a technical issue with the historic timeline video archive on the city website, saying IT is working on a fix.
3. Nevada Preservation Foundation – Home + History 2026 Report
Amy Raymer and April Mentch presented final results from the 2026 Home + History festival (second year of a three-year grant). Highlights: 1,151 guests, 50 volunteers, 28 events over five days, 85% average event occupancy, $60 average ticket spend, 37 first-time attendees, and 98% said they would return. The foundation emphasized that centennial funding supports their mission and they promote license plate sales at events.
4. Heldorado Days Parade Report
Jasmine Freeman and Marja Vegas reported on the May 9, 2026 parade. The parade had 142 entries (highest since revival in 2005), 5,000 attendees, and contributed $42,000 to school bands and floats. Marketing included 41 billboards and radio/TV spots. Commissioners noted low spectator turnout and suggested tying the parade to other downtown events, carrying it live on Channel 2, or moving part of the route to Fremont Street. Staff will work with the rodeo (now moving to May 2027) and communications to boost attendance.
5. Documentary Premiere Report
Diane Siebrandt reported on the 1980s documentary premiere held at the Beverly Theater. 85 people attended from 121 RSVPs. The documentary has over 140,000 YouTube views. Commissioners encouraged making future premieres bigger events.
6. Funding Request – Rooftop Safety Guards at Fifth Street School
Staff requested $95,856.45 from centennial funds for safety rails on the historic Fifth Street School. The project has HPC and SHPO approval (2023). Commissioners debated whether safety improvements constitute historic preservation, about setting a precedent for other city-owned historic buildings, and whether the city should fund it. After discussion, a motion to hold the item until the September 28 meeting passed unanimously, with the suggestion that the newly elected officers receive a detailed briefing.
7. Election of Officers
The board elected officers per the recently adopted bylaws. The motion (by Senator Bryan, amended by Bob Stodal) passed: Mayor Berkeley as President (by virtue of office), Bob Stodal as Vice President, Ryan Arnold as Treasurer, and Senator Bryan as an additional Vice President. The secretary position was not filled; the motion assigned it to “you” (the speaker identified as the commission member who seconded? The record is ambiguous, but it was passed without objection except one voice noted opposition, which was ignored).
8. Executive Director’s Report
Diane Siebrandt outlined current projects: decade films (1990s in 2027, final in 2028), rodeo (Nov 6-7, 2026, moving to May in 2027), Home + History (April 16-19, 2027), sports oral history project, West Deal exhibit at Springs Preserve through October, Star Sign Motel restoration by end of 2026, topic-specific documentaries (Fremont St. and 1911 land auction), Marble Manor oral history, MLK Day parade, Atomic City project, and Juneteenth Nevada. A new exhibit on indigenous cultures of Southern Nevada (Southern Paiute and Mojave) will be displayed at City Hall from August 13 to November 19, 2026, funded separately.
9. Future Agenda Items
Commissioner Helton requested a strategic planning session. Commissioner Sinnoch raised a funding need for the Nevada State Veterans Memorial relocation and expansion at Thunderbird Family Sports Complex, noting a $7 million goal. Commissioner Arnold suggested improving the centennial commission website and linking funded project videos; staff will coordinate with the communications director.
Key Outcomes
- Item 10 (Rooftop Safety Guards): Held to September 28, 2026 meeting; officers to receive a full briefing.
- Item 11 (Officer Elections): Adopted motion electing Mayor Berkeley (President), Bob Stodal (Vice President), Ryan Arnold (Treasurer), and Senator Bryan (additional Vice President). Secretary role was not explicitly filled in the motion but passed.
- Finance Report: Noted for information; future 990 filings will be added to the agenda.
- Promotional Task: Director of Communications Megan Delaney will research legal ways to promote the centennial license plate and report back.
- Parade Cooperation: City staff (communications, rodeo) will work to integrate and promote the Heldorado Parade and rodeo together starting 2027.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. I'd like to call to order the July twenty-seventh, twenty twenty-seven commission for the Las Vegas Centennial Board meeting to order. Are we in compliance with the open meeting law? Yes, we are. Commissioner Stoddall. Commissioner Hilton. Commissioner Sinop. Commissioner Mowbray. Present. Commissioner Truesdale. Commissioner Brandenburg. Commissioner Creer. Commissioner Mills. Present. Yes. Okay, thank you so much. Item number three, public comment. Comment during this portion of the agenda must be limited to matters on the agenda for action. If you wish to be heard, give your name for the record. The amount of discussion as well as the amount of time in any single speaker is allowed. So moved. Second. All those in favor? Motion passes. Agenda item five. Report by City of Las Vegas Finance Department staff regarding the commission for the Las Vegas Centennial Budget for fiscal year 2026. Thank you so much. You know, to state your name for the record. Yes, Paul Bresnahan, uh financial analyst for uh the finance department. So uh the year ended June 30th, and we have uh final numbers for for the complete year. Well, not maybe totally final because there might be some adjustments like accounts payable doesn't close until August 15th. August 15th. So there could be some expenditures that come in after the fact, but these should be pretty close to your final numbers. So for license plate revenues, we have uh one million six hundred and eighty thousand dollars, interest income a hundred and ninety-seven thousand dollars. Total revenues uh one million eight hundred and eighty thousand dollars, and then you have your program expenditures, these are the uh uh amounts you've awarded. You've awarded out um five million fifty-four thousand in total projects in the current year ended June 30th, uh one million six hundred and fifty thousand dollars was expensed, leaving a balance of uh three point four million that's gonna roll forward into this next year. Uh GNA expenditures two hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. Uh so the net change in assets was about fifteen thousand dollars. You begin the year with uh six million two hundred and fourteen thousand dollars, and you end the year with six million two hundred and about thirty thousand dollars. So you actually increased your net assets by about fifteen thousand dollars. But if you go to this program expense line item, you have three point four million dollars in amounts that you have already awarded that are expected to be expensed uh in the current year. So let's look at that. Uh pretty much all of these projects are expected to be expensed in the current year. The only two that would roll into multiple years are uh the El Dorado Days parade is for 405,000. Half of that would be this year, half of that would be next year, and the Eldorado days rodeo 27, 28, and 29. So 250,000 a year for three years. So if you go to this next slide, uh if you look at the third line, no, the fourth line, grant awards, you can see 2.7 million expected to be spent in 27, 452,000 in 28, and 250,000 dollars in 29. Uh, we adjusted the slide slightly. We had uh we were projecting a two percent decrease in DMV revenues. We adjusted that to 2.25 percent.
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