North Las Vegas City Council Regular Meeting - August 20, 2025
North Las Vegas City Council Regular Meeting - August 20, 2025
The North Las Vegas City Council met on August 20, 2025, for a regular meeting. The meeting included presentations honoring fire department personnel for their deployment to Texas flood response and a proclamation for National Emergency Management Awareness Month. Council members provided reports on community events and initiatives. The Council approved several items including a donation agreement with the Las Vegas Aces Foundation for basketball court renovations, appointments to the Education Advisory Committee, and reappointment of the Mayor Pro Tempore. Public comments addressed a denied charter school application and immigration concerns.
Presentations
- Certificate of recognition presented to City of North Las Vegas Fire Department personnel (Jeremy Hines as Technical Information Specialist, Captain Michael Rogers as K-9 search specialist with his dog Pop Tart) for their service during the July 2025 Kerr County, Texas flood deployment. Captain Rogers was absent (in Texas).
- Proclamation recognizing August 2025 as National Emergency Management Awareness Month, accepted by Emergency Manager Ben Erickson, along with staff Solome Barton and Jeremy Hines.
Council Reports
- Councilman Baron reported on the North Las Vegas back-to-school giveaway on August 9, giving away nearly 1,000 backpacks and over 600 pairs of shoes, thanks to donors including attorney Eric Palacios. He also attended the Raisas cultural event at CSN on August 14. Announced the 7th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff event on September 14 from 2 PM to 9 PM at City Hall Liberty Park. Highlighted improvements in Clark County School District staffing, noting Cheyenne High School went from 35 vacancies last year to fully staffed this year.
- Councilman Churchill announced a Project REACH Senior Expo on August 21 at Aliante Casino, for seniors 62+ needing utility assistance. Attended the Injured Police Officers Fund event. Announced "Paws in the Park" on October 25 at Aliante Nature Discovery Park, with pet vaccinations and a Halloween costume contest.
- Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black attended the Care Court Veterans Treatment graduation on July 30, where eight veterans graduated. Joined Fire Department at Vista Park senior living community for a symposium. Attended Neighborhood Watch captains meeting at Sun City Aliante with Police traffic division. Participated in a SWAT/narcotics operation resulting in four apprehensions and drug seizures.
- Councilwoman mentioned the back-to-school giveaway, attended a women's empowerment workshop at Dolores Huerta Resource Center, and the Joint Mayoral Business Power Luncheon. Announced a free movie night (Fast X) on August 23 at Craig Ranch Park.
- Mayor thanked attendees for support at the Joint Mayoral Business Power Luncheon.
Consent Calendar
- Items 2 through 27 were approved unanimously on a motion.
Business Items
- Item 28: Las Vegas Aces Donation Agreement – Approved a donation agreement with the IXS Foundation and Las Vegas Basketball LP for $75,000 to renovate two basketball courts at Desert Horizons Park. The project includes resurfacing and branding with city and Aces logos. The Aces will host community basketball clinics. Motion passed unanimously. Nikki Fargas, team president, and other Aces executives were present.
Appointments
- Item 29: Appointment of Ariya Ramos to the Education Advisory Committee for a term ending August 19, 2027. Ramos expressed gratitude and commitment to representing youth. Approved unanimously.
- Item 30: Appointment of Elise Norda to the Education Advisory Committee for a term ending August 19, 2027. Approved unanimously; Norda was not present.
- Item 31: Reappointment of Mayor Pro Tempore – Councilman Scott Black was reappointed as Mayor Pro Tempore for a term ending June 30, 2026. He spoke about growing up in North Las Vegas and his honor to serve.
City Manager's Report
- City Manager reported on the SWAT operation with Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black, noting four apprehensions and drug seizures.
- IT milestone: over 10,000 tickets resolved in 2025 to date.
- Announced police promotions effective September 6: three Sergeants (Gabriel Suarez, Joseph Manelli, Ryan Johnson), two Detectives (Christian Carriot, Alexander Cuevas), and one Lieutenant (Shane Arendale).
Public Comments & Testimony
- First Public Forum (on agenda items): Leandris Wright, founder of Purpose Leadership Academy, expressed disappointment in the city's denial of authorization for their charter school for boys (African American and Hispanic). He said they will revise and resubmit.
- Second Public Forum (non-agenda items):
- Nathan Atkins (represented by Amy Sparrow) of NECA Academy questioned the city's commitment to school choice, requested a collaboration meeting, and raised procedural concerns about the application process and lack of notification for denial reasons.
- Jasmine Kenyatta expressed fear of ICE targeting undocumented community members and criticized the city for not being a sanctuary city. She asked what the city will do to protect all residents.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda (items 2-27) approved.
- Item 28 (Aces donation) approved.
- Items 29, 30, 31 (appointments) approved.
- All motions passed without dissent.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. The North Las Vegas City Council welcomes you to its meeting. There are two public forums set aside for public comments at this meeting, one at the beginning and one at the end. If you wish to speak, please complete one of the blue cards, which are located on the table outside the main entrance and at the podium rail. Please give your card to the city clerk when called upon to speak. We request that you limit your comments to no more than two minutes and that you avoid repetition. Madam City Clerk, are we in compliance with the Nevada open meeting law? Yes, Mayor, we are. Thank you, ma'am. Today we have the opportunity to have the indication given by Mayor Pro Tim Scott Black. Following that will be the Pledge of Allegiance as led by Councilman Richard Churchill. Please stand. Dear Father in Heaven, at the beginning of this council meeting, we bow our heads and give thee thanks, express the gratitude that we have in our hearts for the many blessings that we have. We're grateful to live in this community in this country among so many wonderful people from so many places. Heavily Father, at this time, I pray for those in our community that are in tremendous need. I pray for their comfort and upliftment, that their needs may be maybe met, and most importantly, I pray for inspiration to be upon each of us in this room that if we have that we can give and that we can share our time and our talents to lift and lighten the burdens of others. I pray for our first responders, our firefighters and police officers that serve our community every day, that they can be watched over, protected, and give given guidance as they meet individuals in their difficult circumstances. I pray for the children in our community that they may enjoy and have fulfillment during their school year. Grateful for our mayor and council and the work that we collectively do to strive to lift the lives and elevate the quality of life in North Las Vegas. And I pray for this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Please remain standing for a pledge. I pledge allegiance to fly and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God and visible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Today we have two presentations. And the first one is a certificate of recognition for our very own City of North Las Vegas Fire Department personnel for their efforts during the 2025 fires in Texas, the floods I mean in Texas in July. And then next we're going to have a proclamation recognizing National Emergency Management Awareness Month. So, Council, let's go down front. Let me make sure I have everything. That's a great thing, enthusiastic. But first of all, from the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank you all for the work that you've done. I know you see a lot, you experience a lot more than we could ever imagine what you all go through. But yet you're here, you're smiling. Um, but thanks for being steadfast. Thanks for being committed, and thanks for serving the community, whether it's here or in another state. So we really appreciate you. So first, I'm gonna call up Jerry Behinds, our City of North Las Vegas emergency management specialist. And I'm just gonna read a little something about you so I get to brag about you for a few minutes. So it's a position at Nevada Task Force One, Technical Information Specialist. So the responsibility is during the Kerr fire. Why do I keep saying fire? I don't know. During the Kerr County, Texas flood deployment, Jeremy served as a technical information specialist, responsible for collecting, managing, and visually presenting operational data from rescue and search teams in the field. He compiled K-9 search tracks, field search routes, and points of interest, such as potential human remains or damaged or structures, an accurate and to accurate real-time mission maps. He maintained all devices and platforms, provided just in time training on the search and rescue common operation pitchers or SARCAP system, and you endured data integrity through rigorous quality control. For 18 days in the field, he directly supported mission objectives by enabling situational awareness and operational coordination in the search for flood victims. This is Jeremy's fourth deployment, and you have been with the NVTF 1 team for five years. So congratulations again and thank you for all you do. Lots of big words.
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