Las Vegas Recommending Committee Meeting – August 17, 2026
Las Vegas Recommending Committee Meeting – August 17, 2026
The Las Vegas Recommending Committee met on August 17, 2026, to consider the approval of prior meeting minutes, a bill to allow restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption when sold with a meal (Bill 2026-29), and a bill to relax trash enclosure design standards in the downtown overlay district (Bill 2026-30). The committee voted to approve two items for referral to the city council—one (Item 5, subject unclear) on August 19, and both bills on September 2, 2026. A third item (Bill 2026-30) was also approved and referred. Public comment was received on the trash enclosure bill.
Consent Calendar
- Item 4 – Approval of Minutes: The committee considered approving the final minutes of the August 3, 2026 recommending committee meeting. A councilmember disclosed that he teaches a class at UNLV once a year, stating it does not affect his vote. A public hearing was held with no speakers. A motion was made to approve Item number five (rather than Item 4), creating a discrepancy between the agenda item discussed and the motion. The motion passed and the item (presumably Item 4 or 5) will be heard at the city council meeting on August 19, 2026.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jennifer Lazovich (Republic Services) spoke on Item 7 (Bill 2026-30). She noted that after discussions with city staff, Republic understands the bill is about enclosure design, not placement. However, she raised a separate challenge regarding proper placement of enclosures for servicing and requested that applicants use a universal lock (Model 2004) for ease of access. She did not oppose the bill.
Discussion Items
Item 6 – Bill 2026-29: Alcoholic Beverages To-Go from Restaurants
- Sponsor: Councilman Brian Knutin. The bill amends LVMC Chapter 6.5 to allow restaurants licensed for on-premise alcohol sales to apply for an endorsement to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption when sold with a meal, provided the beverages are in sealed, tamper-evident containers. This implements Assembly Bill 375 from the state legislature.
- Ms. Adlyhard (staff) explained the ordinance establishes a local framework including packaging requirements, age verification, delivery recordkeeping, and compliance with city and state laws. Package liquor stores already have off-premise authority, so this extends similar capability to restaurants.
- Councilman Knutin reported outreach to the Nevada Restaurant Association and the Vegas Chamber, both of which saw no issues. The National Restaurant Association was also consulted and was okay as long as sales are not to gaming establishments.
- Councilwoman Chandra Summers Armstrong asked about fees. Ms. Adlyhard clarified the endorsement fee is $500 semi-annually, in addition to the existing $5,000 application fee for alcohol licenses.
- A public hearing was held with no comments.
- Outcome: A motion was made and approved. The item will be considered by the city council on September 2, 2026.
Item 7 – Bill 2026-30: Standards for Trash Enclosures in Downtown Las Vegas Overlay District
- Sponsors: Councilwoman Olivia Diaz and Councilwoman Chandra Summers Armstrong.
- Tom Burkhart (City of Las Vegas, Department of Community Development) presented. The bill amends LVMC 19.09 to modify design standards for trash enclosures within the downtown overlay districts (Areas 1, 2, and 3) for properties serviced by alleys. It does not change Title 9 (solid waste management).
- The current code requires a full enclosure with a roof or trellis (a suburban standard). This is problematic downtown due to small lot sizes (typically 50x140 ft), high costs for custom designs, and issues with trespassing and unsanitary conditions in fully enclosed spaces. The bill removes the requirement for a full roof/trellis, allowing simpler screening solutions (e.g., the container park example) that still screen bins from public view.
- The change applies only to commercial, multifamily, and industrial uses in alley-serviced properties within the overlay. Residential single-family is not affected. The bill primarily helps adaptive reuse projects (e.g., converting old retail to bars/restaurants), not major new developments.
- Councilwoman Summers Armstrong noted public safety benefits from eliminating hidden spaces often used by unhoused individuals.
- A motion to approve was made and passed. The item will be considered by the city council on September 2, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of minutes (Item 4) / Item 5: A motion made for Item 5 (rather than Item 4) passed; the item was referred to the city council meeting on August 19, 2026.
- Bill 2026-29 (Item 6): Approved by the committee and referred to the city council meeting on September 2, 2026.
- Bill 2026-30 (Item 7): Approved by the committee and referred to the city council meeting on September 2, 2026.
Note: The transcript contains a discrepancy: the motion for the consent calendar item referenced “Item number five” even though the committee was discussing Item 4 (minutes). The final disposition of the minutes is therefore unclear.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. This is the recommending committee for August 17th, 2026, and I am calling us to order. I'm assuming we are in compliance with the open meeting law. Yes, we are. Item number four is for possible action to approve the final minutes by reference of the August third, two thousand twenty-six recommending committee meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Loncene. And for the record, I uh teach a class at UNLV, which is under the system of higher education one time a year. I don't think it impedes or changes how I would vote on this. Gillian Black Sagan for the record. Uh yes, I think that the disclosure is sufficient. Thank you. Perfect. And this is a public hearing for anybody who would like to comment. Hearing and seeing none, I'll turn it over to the councilman for a motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to approve item number five. There's a motion, please vote. Um don't pay attention to that. I hind the curtain. I didn't do it. That item passes. And will be heard at the city council meeting on August 19th, 2026. Moving on to item number six, bill number 2026-29 for possible action amends, LVMC chapter 6.5 to allow restaurants that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for on premise consumption to apply for an endorsement to sell alcoholic beverages as a to go item in connection with mill, provided such alcoholic beverages are in sealed tamper evident containers. This is sponsored by myself, Brian Knutin, and I'm guessing turning this over to Miss Adlyhard. Good morning. Thank you. Um yes, exactly as you mentioned. This proposed ordinance amends uh chapters uh 6.50 for regarding the sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages. Um I think the most important point is that much of what we're discussing is an extension of an activity that's already occurring today. Um it is package liquor stores and other appropriately licensed businesses are currently permitted to sell alcohol to off-premise consumption, including through pickup and delivery. This ordinance uh does not take that authority away. Um the primary change is based off assembly bill 375, which authorized local governments to allow restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages, including mixed drinks for off-premise consumption when sold in connection with the meal. Uh, this ordinance establishes the local framework that would allow eligible restaurants uh to take advantage of that. Um it will include packaging requirements, age verification, delivery record, record keeping requirements, requirements for delivery services and drivers, and continue compliance with all city and state laws. If you have any questions, I'm here for that. Thank you so much. And just for my colleagues, I was approached by the the restaurant uh restaurant associated association. No, restaurant association, sorry, the restaurant lobbying group. Uh they asked me to do this to put them on par with other restaurants that can deliver package looker. It was a bill that passed in the last legislative session, so this is enabling language for us to do that. Um I talked to the Vegas chamber just to get some general business outreach, um, and they didn't see any issues with it. I also talked with the NRA. Um, and as long as we don't sell to uh any gaming establishments, they were okay with it. And so those were some of the outreach steps that I took. Um if there's any questions up here or any comments, please. One quick question. Uh I had a brief conversation with a gentleman from the Nevada Restaurant Association.
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