The regular meeting of the Mesquite City Council was held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, public comments on city and police issues, a presentation on vacation home rental regulations, approval of interlocal agreements, a zoning change, and a controversial discussion regarding an independent review of the Police Department. The meeting adjourned after a final public comment period.
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 regular city council meeting for the City of Mesquite. Um, we do not have someone down for the invocation tonight, so we're gonna go ahead and start with the Pledge of Allegiance, if you can please rise. Pledge. And to the Republic for which it stands for one nation, undervisible with liberty and justice row. And now I'd like to uh welcome Mary Mathis up for a presentation on the National Arts and Humanities Humanities Month Proclamation. I face them, right? Well, talk into the mic, but yeah. Okay. You face them. My name's Mary Mathis, I'm president of the Mesquite Fine Arts Center, and the Proclamation, National Arts and Humanities Month, October 2026, whereas October is celebrated across the nation as National Arts and Humanities Month, a time recognized by communities and states, the White House, Congress, countless arts and cultural organizations, and whereas the arts and humanities enrich our lives in countless ways, sharing the wisdom, imagination, and creativity of humankind, sparking new ideas and connecting us to one another. And whereas here in Mesquite, our arts community is a shining example of that spirit, offering free classes and events in the visual and performing arts for citizens of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging everyone to explore, create, and discover new passions. And whereas the city of Mesquite has proudly established an official art district enhancing the beauty of our city, strengthening our local economy, and earning recognition as a vibrant destination for the arts. And whereas, beginning in October 2025, a monthly community event, now called Second Saturday Community Art Walk, was created in partnership with the Virgin Valley Arts Association Association, the Mesquite Public Arts Commission, the Mesquite Community Theater, and the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum, and the Women's History and Cultural Center. This has become the monthly gathering event of the community, welcoming residents of Mesquite as well as visitors to our city. The event includes music, food, shopping at the Fine Arts Center, as well as booths of artistic vendors and tours of the pottery, glass, and matter matting studio, framing studios, also included in the tour of the museum and a walk walking tour of the amphitheater next door. This event is where creativity thrives and where residents and visitors alike can experience an ever growing variety of artistic expression. And whereas throughout October, the Mesquite Arts Community will host a full month of events, performances, and exhibits that celebrate the talents, cultures, and stories that make our city unique. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Jesse Whipple, Mayor of the City of Mesquite, Nevada, along with the City Council, do hereby proclaim October 2026 as Arts Month in Mesquite, and call upon all citizens to join in celebrating and supporting the artistic treasures that enrich our community every day. Thank you, Mary. Oh, let's see. Why not? Oh, okay. There you go. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, now we're gonna go ahead and move into our opening public comment period. This is for items that are not on the agenda. And you have three minutes, please come forward. For the record, Al Littman, President of Musquite. Uh, two things tonight. First item is I know that the city appoints committee members to various uh commissions around uh Las Vegas and so forth. We never get an update on what's going on, and I think it's time that we start hearing uh if we're on Las Vegas Visitors Convention Authority, Southern Nevada Health District, Public Transportation, and so forth. We should be getting updates on these. Okay. Tonight, I want to talk about an item that's quite important to me, and I think to everybody in the city. The city council needs to resolve the impasse between the city and the MPOA. It's time to settle the contract. It is probably not to everybody's satisfaction, but the citizens of Mosquite need to come first. Public safety must be your top priority. We became the safest city in Nevada for one reason, and that's due to the dedication of our police force. It's not because of the city council. It's not because of the mayor, and it's not because of the city manager. Yes, there are some serious problems within the police force, and they should be investigated and resolved, but not at the expense of the majority of the department. There was a time when some nearby jurisdictions paid less and offered fewer benefits than mesquite. It was very easy to hire lateral officers or find new recruits. No more. We will certainly lose officers without a contract in place.