Clark County Redevelopment Agency - Regular Meeting

Alright. Good morning. This is the County county commission redevelopment agency meeting for Wednesday, February 18. Mister Schiller.

We're at the first section set aside for public comment.

This is the first period for public comment. Anyone wishing to speak? Seeing none, we'll close the first period for public comment.

Commissioners, your next item is approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on 12/17/2025.

Is there a motion to approve? Cast your vote. That motion passes.

Commissioners, your next item is approval of the agenda with inclusion of any emergency items and deletion of any items. Staff is recommending the deletion of items nine and ten. Move approval.

Cast your vote. That motion passes.

Now move to the business section of your agenda. Your next item is to designate a chair and vice chair for the Clark County Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors.

Alright. Commissioner Laft. Thank you.

I move for the appointment of commissioner Jones for chair and commissioner Seger Bloom for vice chair.

Alright. Cast your vote. And that vote passes, so Commissioner Jones, you're in charge.

Thank you, Commissioner Segerbloom for indulging my request for the last, ten months here on the county commission to chair the redevelopment agency that I care so much about and know you do too. And thank you to Commissioner Kirkpatrick who committed to come to the redevelopment agency meeting. We appreciate it. Alright, with that I'll turn it back over to our county manager.

Commissioners, your next item is to review current Clark County redevelopment agency fund balance and expected FY '26 revenue per district.

Ms. Coleman.

Commissioners, so current oh, next slide. Current fund balance, for the agency is 47.7, million dollars. That's actual cash that we have currently in the bank. Current allocations that we have, we have commercial center planning. There's still roughly $97,000 grease trap.

We have one last grease trap to cover the real property improvement grant for commercial center. We have not had any expenditures. That is the original allocation, but it was approved. Commercial center, security, we roughly have 391,000 left. Chinatown improvement grant, that was the original amount that was approved at the last agency board meeting.

Demolition, commercial center, you guys may have seen the building that we owned at 925 is coming down, and so we are finalizing that. We have some, funds remaining. Acquisitions, these were actually items nine and ten on your agenda. We are currently in contract, but we will bring those items back. The cultural district enhancements are for Chinatown Arts Mural project that was approved by the board, and then miscellaneous vendor payments.

So with that, there's roughly 6.2 in actual contracts and obligations that we have bringing our net cash balance down to approximately $41,500,000. And I'm happy to answer any questions.

Any questions from the board? If none, thank you much Director Coleman and I'll turn it back over to Manager Scheller.

Commissioners, your next item is to approve, adopt, and authorize the chair to sign a resolution adopting the inspiring Spring Mountain redevelopment plan as the guiding community driven policy that celebrates the Las Vegas Chinatown, supports small businesses, and reimagines the area as a shaded, walkable, and sustainable cultural destination for Clark County.

Very good. This is the formal adoption from our last meeting. So I'll entertain a motion. Alright, there's a motion on the floor. All those in favor?

Motion carries.

Commissioners, the next item is to approve and authorize the allocation of 1,500,000.0 to the Chinatown Improvement Grant Program to assist with district enhancements and improvements to real property located within the Chinatown and Koreatown districts authorize the executive director or the designee to take other actions as necessary to implement the program.

Alright. Director Coleman, do you wanna just give us a quick update as to the additional request?

So at the last RDA board meeting, there was an approval by the board to establish an improvement grant, a facade improvement grant for the Chinatown redevelopment area. That approval was for approximately $750,000. During that time, or since that time, we've seen an extreme amount of interest in that program. Currently to date, we have roughly 73 applications. So with the enthusiasm and excitement around it, we wanted to make sure that the best of the best proposals were able to be funded, so we are requesting some additional funds to go into that program.

Thank you. And I just wanna give a shout out to Jason Dagger from my team who's done many office hours in the corridor and has had people lined up, property owners, business owners, to talk about this grant. People are very excited about it and I think this will be money well spent in the corridor. And as a refresher, this has a matching requirement to it. With that, I'll go ahead and make the motion to approve on agenda item seven. Please cast your vote. Motion carries.

Your next item is to approve a memorandum of understanding between the Clark County Redevelopment Agency and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for the reimbursement of cost to purchase, license, and or install security cameras, license plate reader cameras, and other related hardware and software within Area N5 And 6 of the redevelopment area and authorize the executive director or the designee to sign the MOU and further that the Board of County Commissioners consent to the foregoing approval. I'll entertain a motion.

There's a motion on the floor. All in favor, please cast your vote.

Commissioners, your next item is to approve the rehabilitation or demolition of 900 Liberace Avenue located at APN number 16210510Dash029, which consists of 1.14 acre developed parcel with four story retail office buildings containing a gross building square footage of 72,500 feet and authorized the executive director or designee to sign agreements and any other related documents to facilitate and complete the full rehabilitation and restoration of the demolition of the site improvements. All right. Ms.

Doctor. Coleman, do you wanna comment on this or Commissioner Segerloom?

I'll leave it to Commissioner.

Your honor, Mr. Chair, ask that this item be held for two months.

Okay. Alright then 's there a motion on the floor. Please cast your vote.

Commissioners, your next item is to receive a presentation on Commercial Center redevelopment area.

Is that I think b So when we had the item on today with the fact that the big yellow building is coming down, I thought it would be great to look back at where we've been and where we've gotten to at Commercial Center just so everyone can kinda see that it has been a work in progress but we've actually made a tremendous amount of progress not just in that Commercial Center but in the whole redevelopment area between the Sahara Hotel and Maryland Parkway. Can we have the slides? You go back to the first slide? So, if you look, commercial centers on the right, inside the yellow, you see all those apartments in the middle of yellow. That was the most dangerous area in Clark County.

But, thanks to the sheriff, thanks to metro officers, they've come in and with our security officers at the commercial center, it is now, I won't say crime free, it is one of the safest areas in Clark County. It really has made a huge difference. And then, just So, one of the things we did with public works is we were able to, pave some of the alleyways. Some of the apartments have been rehabilitated. We also had pow lights, what they call pow lights attached to the power lines had been installed back, I think, in the eighties or nineties, and those had all come down.

I don't know if you if you have them in your districts or not, it's getting back on. It's, like, crazy. But we we actually worked with Nevada Energy, and, we were starting to get the power lights back on, and that's according to Metro again, that's that's made a huge difference as far as the crime rate and the security of the folks in what we call the forest. From

Hi. I'm Maggie from Casa de Luz. I'm the executive director and I've been in commercial center since 2022. I've seen incredible change since they began the remodel over here and the county has purchased the property. In the beginning, there was a lot of break ins and crime, and it felt really dangerous to myself and the kids and families that we serve here, but the twenty four hour security has changed all of that.

So now we can go, and we know that our space that we have here in Northern Square is safe. And when we're bringing the kids back and forth, they're coming from the bus, they can feel safe. And it's really improved immensely. The security is easy to work with, and we just don't see those bad actors around causing trouble.

You can wave. Thank you. Anyway, Casa Duluth, is a nonprofit that is based there, and they deal with the kids in the in the forest, doing fantastic work. They contract with us at some of our sites too, but but I can't think enough about you, what you do for us in in Clark County. So thank you, and thank you for staying in in commercial

center. So

this is the big news. The big yellow building, which we investigated and turned out that there's nothing we could do to it. Lots of asbestos, lots of problems. We contracted it out and lo and behold, it's actually down. You can actually see the sphere from Commercial Center now, which is which is amazing.

But, it's gonna open up a huge vacant piece of property that the county owns that hopefully someday we can put into a a cultural center or something there. But in the meantime, it just it really opens up the space and really shows what the potential is going forward with concerts and things there in the parking lot. And as Shani mentioned, we we've spent quite a bit of money on the grease traps, which have been a huge beneficial effort to the the restaurants. We have several new restaurants that are in commercial center, the existing restaurants are are doing well, including the Bulgarian Cafe. Actually, it's the Balkan Cafe.

Sorry. We have somebody here from the composer room. But the composer room, I call Damian the mayor because he knows what's going on over there and won't warn anybody. We also have a new supermarket there, the old Albertsons. So that's a huge influence on that commercial on that corner of Maryland Parkway and Sahara.

And we brought we were able to bring them back because of the change in the environment. And, of course, once we have the the bus line completed, that's gonna really help with the neighborhood too. And there there's the famous Balkan Cafe, Vicky Steiner, who was an old, down here, the old White Cross Drugs. And then Laufensendad, the they they have two restaurants, but this is a a brand new one. They opened a cantina there on the corner, and they have great vintage Volkswagens.

And every month I say this, but I I do believe it. Lotus of Siam is is almost ready to come back to commercial center. They spent millions of dollars in renovating the property, and so it's gonna happen. Arty's steakhouse. I don't know if Derek is here today, but but he's he's plugging away.

And if you go inside there, it's it's it's a huge it's gonna be a fantastic space. Then we have the the Sahara event center, the ice palace where we're still negotiations as far as that goes, but that's that's gonna be the the big piece that that thanks to Marilyn's help. I think we're gonna be able to get that thing up and running and remind her of her old days hanging out at commercial Center. And and then, I'm working with Jeff, our district attorney, on how we can utilize the parking lot. The county it's not the redevelopment agency.

The county actually owns the parking lot, but it it's it's, dedicated to the property owners that surround the parking lot. And somehow or other, we need to, as the county and the redevelopment agency, figure out a way that we can, have events there, make everybody happy. And so, you that are here that are owners, hopefully, you'll work with us to come up with some type of a plan where we can utilize the parking lot for events, for concerts, and and bring people in that can then go to your restaurants and things. It'll be it'll be a win win. And that's my quick summary.

Thank you very much. That was a great presentation and update. Any comments or questions from the board? Seeing none, we'll go on to our next gen item.

That concludes the second section set aside for public comment.

This is the second time set aside for public comment and we wish to provide any public comment with regards to matters before the redevelopment agency. Agency. Please step forward to the microphone, state your name, and please limit your comments to three minutes.

Good morning, commissioners. For the record, my name is Taylor Avery, and I'm the manager of political affairs for the Vegas chamber. My comments are related to item 12. The chamber believes this is a timely and appropriate conversation as the organization has supported redevelopment efforts in the valley for many years. East Sahara and Commercial Center are important areas for revitalization. The chamber, on behalf of the Southern Nevada business community, looks forward to additional proposals to revitalize this area, and we look forward to next steps. And we'd like to thank commissioner Zeggerblum for bringing this item forward. Thank you.

Good morning, commissioners. I'm Monica Gresser, owner of Brazen Architecture. My office is at 900 Liberace Avenue. We are on the South Edge of Commercial Center. I'm asking you for your support into revitalizing Commercial Center. Would love to see that happen. You know, when it first was developed, there was a lot of community involved in people coming there to something that was greater than themselves. And then of course in the 80s it declined quite a bit and it kind of stayed there for a while. And in more recent years, in the last two to three years, things have changed. We've seen a lot of changes there.

My organization I belong to, the American Institute of Architects, Women in Architecture, we we had two events at Balkan Bar and Grill and people were safe there. Things have just changed immensely since things since Commissioner Segobelam has started putting his nose into things over there. So we really appreciate that and hope that you see the same things that we see there and community is coming together for Commercial Center, how Commercial Center relates to its surrounding neighborhoods and people in general would love to see more of a local feel for that whole area. So thank you very much.

Good afternoon, oh I'm sorry, Lisa Mayo Doriso. I'm actually here to read something for my good friend Christine Kiliani who's at doctor's appointment and couldn't be here but knew I was coming down for the meeting. So I going to read this from Chris G. I think the building could be repurposed rather than demolished. When Ron MacMenny had it and worked out of the 2nd Floor, there were many small businesses.

I hired GLA years ago to work with and interview apartment owners and businesses in the redevelopment area. It was a good planning process. The SOSA design area was established, then Sahara Hotel shut which used to generate what little money they had for redevelopment. I'm now writing as the former commissioner that represented Commercial Center. In 2007 Commercial Center had 56 separate owners.

Over the years I worked with owners and when I left I think there were 22 separate owners. We the County also and still have a deed restriction that said the parking lot must remain a free public parking in perpetuity. Eventually, the county could or developer could platform residences or workshops over the parking lot so to keep it free public parking. Things to consider. Keep the historic building, find local non profits that need space and rent to them for a reasonable price, ask some of the theaters to come back.

We had three Onyx and Cockroach Theater. Create artist lofts, build above the parking lot assisted living with caregivers rooms for elderly and our aging LGBTQ. I tried to find a developer years ago. I believe that the old roller rink had been purchased and many others have tried to use that for different purposes, she says. And I'm glad it's staying.

Keep up support for the composer's room, Kamala's, the uniform shop, John Fish Jewelers, Vicki's Diner, Cortez Cleaners, Paula's Nails Salon, Mark's Trophy Shop, Vicente Mexican restaurant, Palacios and others that have hung in there. Refresh the exterior with facades they make, entering the center welcome. Invite the two sex businesses to move to adult areas. I was close to getting them to move, but the crash and close of Sahara killed me having any redevelopment money to spend including helping those businesses move. The parking lot was last striped that I know of by Boy Scouts that Steve Fish brought to me to earn their badges.

County Public Works wasn't supportive of putting any money into the area at that time. I had to fight for lighting upgrades. Good luck but don't dismiss Christian Kiliani, 02/17/2026. I'll put that in the public record for her. And as Lisa Mayo who love redevelopment, I'd love to see you build things there for veterans and veterans housing and some affordable housing. Thank you very much.

Hi. My name is Curtis Jill Walker, Photo Bang Bang. I was a tenant at Commercial Center at New Orleans Square 900 Liberace B108 for the past five or six years. I tried to hold on tooth and nail to, support this new arts district that the McMenemies were trying to support and that the county is paying lip service to. But what I've witnessed in the past couple of years of the county managing this commercial center project is that they're strangling the small businesses that are trying to survive.

They don't pay respect to the small businesses. The first example would be the big concert that happened. That was a big insult to all the businesses Orleans Square because they fenced off our business from being a part of the big event that's happening in our parking lot. I tried to support the event. I had an after party. I championed the event. I went to the event. I was the only neighbor in the building that really was enthusiastic about it. But in the retrospect, I see now that it damaged the other businesses. And that was a that's something that's ongoing.

And so when the county took over the building, they wouldn't allow anyone else to move in. That's a code thing. And so they told us they were going to re rehabilitate the building so that we could all come back and have our arts district and do our thing. And we're that's all we're trying to do as a bunch of small business owners. That's been taken away from us one by one to where now we're just a small fraction of people who are even left, and I'm not even one of them. I'm out. I'm out of the game. And my business is done. I'm broke. I can't open another business.

I can't sign another lease. I can't come up with all of that money. I've been doing what I could to hold on and be part of this revitalization, and now I've been, you know, thrown to the to the wolves. Okay. So the county just is not doing a good job of protecting the small businesses. We've lost a lot of art businesses, art galleries. Now they're paying lip service to a community center, cultural center in the future. Okay? But what happens all of us? That concludes my statements. Thank you.

If there's anybody else, oh. If there's anybody else wishing to provide public comment, if you could please line up now.

Good morning chair and commissioners. My name is Paula Sadler, 953 well, 711 Otto Moon Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89123, and I'm owner of A Harmony Nail Spa and Commercial Center since 2004. And good morning chair and commissioners. I'm here as a thirty four year resident of Las Vegas and a customer of Commercial Center since I was 16 years old. Commercial Center isn't an abstract redevelopment area to me.

It's where my life unfolded. I went to beauty school in 1996 there. I attended my first 12 step meeting there. I opened my beauty salon in 2004 and my business has been in Commercial Center for twenty two years. I helped start a business association in 2006 and I'm the current president of Lambda Ilano Clubhouse at 900 Liberace Avenue, Suite A 202, and we're a 12 step recovery community that has served Las Vegas since 1984 and have been a part of the group for twenty three years.

And we've been located in Commercial Center for over thirty years, helping thousands of people to recover in the LGBTQ community. Last March, I also founded and opened a new church in Commercial Center, the Universal Rainbow Faith, a spiritual community rooted in inclusion, recovery and healing. I chose to open it there intentionally because Commercial Center has always been a place where people come to rebuild their lives. So when I speak about redevelopment, I'm not speaking from theory. I'm speaking from lived experience, from a teenager to a young adult and now into my fifties.

Having served thousands of local residents and worked alongside hundreds of business owners and all that are here today for over three decades. My feelings about redevelopment are complicated. An incredible amount of harm has come to hundreds of businesses over many years. That harm came from a few bad players and proper a few bad property owners and also from a lack of consistent care and oversight in the past. If this neighborhood had simply been supported and maintained all along, we would have over a 100 more open businesses today.

Instead, many perish financially and businesses close as we just heard. Livelihoods disrupted, employees displaced, and families affected. And I wanna be clear, this is not about what I personally want. This is not about winning or losing. It's about what's best for everyone and what is best for the community as a whole.

What concerns me most is that there are still business owners like myself and workers hanging in the balance. Their lives matter now. My request is simple. Use resources to help the people who are still there, protect them, stabilize them, make sure they are truly okay no matter what direction redevelopment takes. And regarding New Orleans Square, the agenda item that was set aside, I understand the commission will ultimately decide. So I'm not here to I'm not here to make friends May I finish this one? Yes, please. Okay. I'm not here to make friends or win a popularity contest. I'm here to tell the truth as someone who has watched this area evolve over three decades.

I've always supported redevelopment as long as it is fair, equitable, and takes care of people. That must be the priority moving forward. I ask each of you to look deeply within and seek guidance on what is truly best for this neighborhood, and especially how you'll protect and care for the businesses and families who are there now. In regards to New Orleans Square, I vote yes to renovate and to protect the legacy of the heirs and the Norcotts, the original builders, from Carriage House to New Orleans Square, and then to Ron McMenemy who actually Okay. Built it for his you. So protect the legacy and the family businesses. Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Carol Carter, 3167 Bel Air Drive. I have no skin in this game, but I'm a lover of Commercial Center. I've lived in Las Vegas since I was three. I was born in Utah, but as soon as I found out about it, moved to Las Vegas. Commercial Center and I grew up together. I lived on Okie, and I went to J. C. Fremont's middle school and Las Vegas high school right about the time Commercial Center was born, so that was my stomping grounds. But more important, when I was a young wife with a little girl that lived paycheck to paycheck, I loved Bon Tobols.

The jot Christmas trees, they were 99¢, I think. That's a miracle at Christmas. I've eaten at restaurants there over the years. I remember a seafood place that you could eat the lobster on the red and white check tablecloth. My daughter, Ronnie Council, learned ice skating at the ice palace.

My kids and I went to workshops to improve ourselves in the Orleans Building, whatever the name was. I bought my pink wedding hat at a boutique, and now it's come full circle. I had just moved three and a half years ago, a few blocks south of Commercial Center. I'm there once a week at least, getting my nails done, getting entertained at the composer's room, eating at the restaurants, and I am so excited to see what you're doing. That was from my heart, but now what's my brain say?

I love that you tore down that ugly, scary, creepy, yellow building. I mean, that was awesome. I can't wait to hear what you're going to do with it. I wish you would concentrate on it first before we start tearing down or moving people out of the Orleans Building because there's a lot of businesses in there that really need to stay there like that gentleman. Where do they go? So I would love to hear what you're going to do with the empty lot before you make another empty lot. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker.

I'll be the short boring one. My name is William Powell, 900 Liberace Avenue. I've been in the commercial center for the better part of twenty years. In my current space, eight years in the Orleans Square, total of twelve years. Since 2023, the security and environment has improved. I've been in there all states the last twenty years and all manners of the hours and things like that. So, the twenty four hour security does help. As far as the potential of any of the buildings there, the one I'm in, it's not really just a theory. I've been in that square for a long time. We've done all manner of events.

When we were full, we've had things go on there. It does lend itself structurally to those type of events that you guys are talking about. My vote would be, like I said, know that's not on the agenda of day, to keep it there. But I am happy with the current progress. I just wish there was more clarity and a little bit more certainty. But I'm pretty sure that situation will those wrinkles will undo themselves. But that is where I'm at. Like I said, I started out on State Street in 2006, when Ram and me owned that under NAI Horizon. Then he purchased the, New Orleans Square and invited us over there. And things were going well until obviously COVID happened and then those two passed away.

So I think the biggest enemy right now would be the uncertainty as you've probably heard, but the potential is there. And like I said, I have plenty of data, plenty of videos, but if anything you guys need to, if there's ever that part of the decision making process to where you're wondering whether those type of things can be done and they can excel there, just I'll email anyone who needs it. Alright. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Next speaker.

Hello. I'm Tracy Jones. I own Get A Haircut Barbershop with my husband JJ at New Orleans Square. I'm gonna read today. I have some family emotional stuff going on. Apologize. Due to circumstances beyond our control involving property ownership, we were forced to move from our original downtown location, which placed a significant financial burden on us. When we found this incredible spot, we instantly fell in love with the uniqueness and charm of New Orleans Square. As it turns out, being here has actually worked out better for us. However, if we are forced to move again, we will have to close permanently as we simply cannot afford another relocation.

We have built a great reputation in this location of many loyal regulars from the Hunt Ridge, Paradise Palms, Turnberry Towers, and Country Club neighborhoods. Additionally, we are roughly two miles from both the Las Vegas Strip and downtown, meaning we bring tourists to this area on a daily basis. We chose this location over all others because of the rich history of the commercial center and New Orleans Square and because of its unique aesthetic compared to modern shopping centers. Get a Haircut has won best barbershop four years in a row and brings hundreds of tourists to New Orleans Square monthly. While they are here, they frequently ask about local restaurants and surrounding businesses.

When New Orleans Square was at full capacity, our customers would visit and shop at neighboring stores, and everyone commented on how great the area is. We believe it can be even better once it's remodeled and filled with other unique thriving businesses. Please consider keeping New Orleans Square and revitalizing Commercial Center. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Next speaker, please.

Good afternoon, good morning, good morning, good afternoon. It's good seeing you all. It's been a while. My name is Margaret Ann Coleman and I'm the Chief Recovery Trustee of Margaret Ann Coleman's estate. This all started in 1980 when I won the court order 8204984 in order to receive a lump sum of money.

I'm still being discriminated against and receiving and I've been working on it continuously and I'm worn out. I'm 73 now. And I think it's time that you will all give me the proper respect I may do in supporting you all. I have problems with finding my children since this episode of homelessness being placed into the street by the neighborhood committee community throwing me into the streets to be in courtyard. An incident happened of being raped, and I haven't dissolved that.

And no one the district of attorney that is up against me is not trying to represent me. I'm to be compensated for that. I'm dying from that and I can't get them to accommodate me with the pill. I moved to a resident and they broke into my home and stole the medicine. I'm needing the respect of the new policy.

I can't go back on Humana because Sheridan Will Hughes is representing that and I can't get the respect the receiving my work must come from her. So what I'm saying to you, I'm going blind with syphilis or something And all they're trying to do is give me credit for that. I need my money to go forward, to go to places that I'm needed to get assistance that I don't feel danger. So if I need your representation, I'm asking for you to call me, please. I need to talk to you direct.

I know each and last one of you and I have incidents experience with you. So my daughter's missing. I mean, I'm going through a lot of changes because of this. Trying to be a group team player with the board of commissioners. I did work for you.

I cleaned the water. I got cat them out of the park. I let the people know that arsenic layer poison is killing the state of representation of the people playing gambling establishments. Even though it had to be told, we all had to find a cure. And that is all I've been trying to do is represent myself. So please help me. I'm glad to see you and happy Black History Day. I came to get an award, but no one called me. I know I'm a imposer. Anyway, have a nice day.

Thank you, Coleman.

And thank you, I need your representation.

Thank you. If there are no other speakers, we'll go ahead and conclude the second public comment period, and we are adjourned.