The Committee on Ways and Means was called to order at 8:43 a.m., on Saturday, March 27, 1999, in Room 4401 of the Sawyer Building, 555 East Washington, Las Vegas, Nevada. Vice Chair Jan Evans announced that Chairman Morse Arberry had been delayed, and she would preside over the meeting until his arrival. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Guest List.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Morse Arberry Jr., Chairman

Mrs. Jan Evans, Vice Chair

Mr. Bob Beers

Mrs. Vonne Chowning

Mrs. Marcia de Braga

Ms. Chris Giunchigliani

Mr. David Goldwater

Mr. Lynn Hettrick

Mr. David Parks

Mr. Richard Perkins

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

Mrs. Barbara Cegavske (Excused)

Mr. Joseph E. Dini, Jr. (Excused)

Mr. John Marvel (Excused)

Mr. Bob Price (Excused)

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Vice Chair Evans recognized Eric Dabney, Parks and Recreation Director, City of North Las Vegas, who appeared before the committee to speak in support of A.B. 149. Mr. Dabney provided the following verbatim testimony:

Mrs. Chowning pointed out that both she and the entire legislative body had been very supportive of youth programs throughout the state. She realized how critically important it was for Nevada’s youth to have positive activities to enrich their lives and prevent negative influences from taking control.

Referring to Mr. Dabney’s testimony, Mrs. Chowning said he had mentioned two issues. First, the City of Las Vegas was appropriating funds for a separate building to provide activities for senior citizens, adults, and physically-challenged persons. Second, Mr. Dabney had mentioned a separate youth center. She wondered if these were two separate projects and, if so, what the city’s projected input in terms of dollars would be on the second project. She asked if the $1 million request in A.B. 149 represented matching funds, or if the total request was $1 million. Mr. Dabney replied he hoped there would be one center to incorporate the needs addressed in A.B. 149. He said the city had appropriated $3.5 million for a neighborhood recreation center. The parks and recreation department had become aware of the proposed legislation, and now coordinated efforts were being made to incorporate all functions under one roof.

In an attempt to clarify the project, Mrs. Chowning asked if a total of $3.5 million was being appropriated by the City of North Las Vegas for one center that would provide activities for seniors, youth, and physically-challenged individuals. Mr. Dabney replied she was correct, and added that activities would also be provided for adults.

Ms. Giunchigliani asked if the $1 million identified in A.B. 149 represented funding for a second center. Mr. Dabney said it was his understanding the $1 million was being requested for a separate youth center. The City of North Las Vegas was asking for a coordinated effort to build a larger center. Ms. Giunchigliani asked if the $3.5 million was for construction purposes only, and Mr. Dabney answered affirmatively. She also asked for confirmation that there had been no purchase of land or property dedicated for the project at this time, and Mr. Dabney indicated she was correct. Ms. Giunchigliani asked if the Parks and Recreation Department felt the $3.5 million was sufficient to build a center. Mr. Dabney reiterated that the center would be phased-in over time, beginning with the neighborhood recreation center. Ms. Giunchigliani asked if the City of North Las Vegas would perceive the appropriation of $1 million from the state General Fund as a loan, and Mr. Dabney said the city council would make that decision. Ms. Giunchigliani remarked the legislature received many requests for construction dollars that were more appropriately the responsibility of local government.

Mr. Perkins commented that the committee struggled to discern state responsibility versus local responsibility since both had the ability to receive taxpayer revenues. He asked if Mr. Dabney was aware of any other youth center or parks and recreation-type facility the state had ever participated in building. Mr. Dabney replied that he was. The Doolittle Center in the City of Las Vegas had received assistance from the state on a least one occasion.

Vice Chair Evans asked if there was further testimony in opposition to, or in favor of, the legislation. There being none, she declared the hearing on A.B. 149 closed.

Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom, Assembly District #22, explained A.B. 191 asked for an appropriation from the General Fund to Boulder City in the amount of $400,000 to assist in the design, construction and installation of the exhibits at the Boulder City Museum. She explained the museum had been moved into the Boulder Dam Hotel. The project had received funding from her cultural affairs bill from three legislative sessions prior, but those dollars could only be used for the restoration of historic landmarks. However, in order to draw more tourism to the historic downtown area, it was still necessary to install the exhibits and open the museum.

Ms. Segerblom introduced Bob Ferraro, Boulder City resident and President of the Boulder City Museum and Historical Association. Mr. Ferraro explained the museum had been moved into the Boulder Dam Hotel approximately one year ago. There had been many visitors wanting to know more about its history. He said the museum still required the four permanent displays to be constructed through a museum group known as Formations. Formations had provided the association with a quote of $400,000-plus to construct the four permanent displays.

Mr. Ferraro continued, saying the association had received money from the Cultural Affairs Committee for use in the development of the museum. The association had raised in excess of $439,000 to re-establish the museum from its antiquated facilities to the Boulder Dam Hotel. He said the project was quite an undertaking, and there had been a great deal of structural work to not only bring the building up to city code, but also to the standards for a public building.

The first of the four Formations displays would be entitled "To Make the Desert Bloom," the Bureau of Reclamation’s mission in the early years of this century to convert wasteland to agricultural production through the use of water. As everyone was aware, Mr. Ferraro continued, the bureau had achieved a good portion of that mission. The association wanted to recognize the achievement by dedicating one of the four displays to those efforts.

The second display would be "Taming of the Red Bull." Mr. Ferraro said that while the name appeared unusual, "Red Bull" was the name given to the Colorado River up until the early 1930’s when it was actually tamed by the placement of the Hoover Dam across the river. Until that time, the river flow had been totally unpredictable, and the results caused great havoc with the agricultural areas in existence at that time.

The third display would be "4,000 Men in a 5,000 Foot Canyon." Mr. Ferraro explained those were the words of Frank Crow, the superintendent of construction at Hoover Dam. Mr. Crow had exactly that number of men working on Hoover Dam during the early 1930’s.

The final exhibit would be entitled "Eden in the Midst of Hell." That display would focus on Boulder City itself as it was in its beginning years and the circumstances under which many people had to live during the construction of the dam. Construction of the dam had occurred during the height of the depression when people were without jobs, money, or worldly goods. Construction of the dam presented a means of salvation for a good number of those people. Mr. Ferraro said it was probably the first time in the Bureau of Reclamation’s history that a major town had been created for workers and their families on a project. The "Eden in the Midst of Hell" display would portray the feelings, senses, and undertakings the workers and their families had to deal with in order to survive in the very harsh desert climate.

Mr. Ferraro felt the four major exhibits would offer the traveling public, as well as visitors and local residents, an opportunity to become far more acquainted with the construction of the Hoover Dam. A film on the construction of the dam would be shown at the conclusion of the museum tour, which would provide viewers with a realization of the hardship those workers endured in order to build the dam with the limited amount of machinery available at that time. He pointed out the temperatures in the canyon would reach 120 to 125 degrees during the summer months.

Mr. Ferraro requested the committee members’ favorable consideration of Assemblywoman Segerblom’s bill, A.B. 191.

Ms. Giunchigliani asked if any of the displays would reflect contributions made by minorities during the construction period. She recalled there was a black gentleman who had recruited other minorities to work on the project at $10 a head. Unfortunately, the minorities were given the worst and most dangerous jobs and many lost their lives. Mr. Ferraro said the simple answer was "yes." He said the "high-scalers" who had been employed to remove the loose rock on the walls of the canyon at the time the dam was under construction were being portrayed as the heroes of that construction period. Ms. Giunchigliani told Mr. Ferraro family members of that recruiter, the Hughes family, still lived in Boulder City, and she suggested the association contact them for their historical input.

John Sullard, City Manager, City of Boulder City, explained that the $400,000 appropriation request would not come to the city. Rather, the city would hold the money and perform necessary accounting functions. The museum was a private organization. Of the $100,000 that had been appropriated by the 1997 Legislature, the fund was down to $10,000. He told committee members the association had done a great deal of fundraising within the community and had recently received private pledges in excess of $100,000.

Mr. Sullard said PBS had aired a documentary on the construction of the dam, and the Discovery Channel had recently been filming at the Boulder Dam Museum. He felt there was international interest in the dam, and the Boulder City Museum basically focused on the human side of the project rather than the engineering side, noting that"31ers" still lived in Boulder City. The museum was not only trying to provide a physical display of the city’s history, but develop an oral history as well.

Mrs. Chowning noted that approximately $1.2 million had already been raised, and the bill was requesting an additional $400,000. She wanted to know whether $750,000 had been raised to refurbish the hotel for the museum space, $439,000 had been raised strictly for the museum, and the appropriations request of $400,000 was, effectively, a match. Mr. Ferraro replied that the museum had received $100,000 from the Cultural Affairs Committee during the 1997 Legislative Session. He said the monies collected to date represented far less than had been mentioned by Mrs. Chowning. The $439,000 amount included the $100,000 from the 1997 Legislative Session. He said the association hoped to receive the committee’s full consideration of the requested appropriation of $400,000 to complete the permanent exhibits and to ultimately fund the completion of the entire museum. Even though the museum was currently in operation, it lacked the four major exhibits.

Ms. Segerblom verified to the committee that the $100,000 the association had received from the 1997 Cultural Affairs bill was to restore the hotel to house the museum, and the entire amount had gone toward that endeavor. While the museum had been able to move some display cases into the hotel, the large exhibit cases remained incomplete.

Ms. Segerblom introduced Senator Jon Porter, the co-sponsor of A.B. 191. Senator Porter reiterated that the project represented a public/private partnership that had been a part of Nevada for many years. He encouraged the committee’s support of A.B. 191. Senator Porter said he appreciated what Boulder City had accomplished and thanked those individuals who had donated hours and hours of their time to the project.

Vice Chair Evans asked if there was further testimony in opposition to, or in favor of, the bill. There being none, the hearing on A.B. 191 was closed.

Chairman Morse Arberry recognized Judi Steele, Executive Director, Clark County Public Education Foundation. Ms. Steele provided the following verbatim testimony:

Ms. Steele introduced Bruce Daley, Administrative Specialist for Technology in the Development and Educational Improvement office of the Clark County School District. Mr. Daley was before the committee on behalf of Commissioner Myrna Williams, who was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. He provided the following verbatim testimony on her behalf:

Mrs. Evans asked if the foundation had a development officer, and Ms. Steele responded it did. Mrs. Evans asked if the position was full-time. Ms. Steele explained the Clark County School District had in-kind contributions, and a half-time person from the school district served as the development officer. Mrs. Evans asked Ms. Steele to outline the duties of the development officer. Ms. Steele explained that person looked at different programs and needs within the community and worked to identify how additional dollars might be generated from the private sector to support those needs. Mrs. Evans asked for an explanation of the foundation’s fundraising program. Ms. Steele explained that since 1991 the foundation had raised almost $13 million. Various fundraising methods had been used, including:

• Annual education dinner awards,

• A program called "Gold for Kids,"
• An annual "Take Stock in Children" event,
• Private individual and corporation solicitation,
• Written grants from other foundations, and
• Land donations.

Mrs. Evans asked if the $150,000 had much meaning in view of the $13 million already raised. Ms. Steele replied it did, and added that the foundation expected to put those dollars directly into classrooms for the teachers. The teacher grant program would be enhanced. She explained much of the $13 million the foundation had received had been identified by the donor to be applied for a specific purpose.

Mrs. Evans said committee members would be interested in seeing a breakout of the foundation’s fundraising and list of expenditures. Ms. Steele said she would provide that information to the committee.

Ms. Giunchigliani asked that the report identify those individuals who wore two hats, i.e., an employee of the school district versus an employee of the foundation. Ms. Steele replied there were five people who were funded by the Clark County Public Education Foundation. Ms. Giunchigliani asked the total amount of the salaries, benefits, etc. for those positions. Ms. Steele said that amount would be approximately $120,000 annually. Those positions included an accountant, three people who served the foundation’s InterAct on-line project, and one executive assistant. Ms. Giunchigliani said her concern was the foundation group was supposed to have been formed to raise money, and now to have that fund-raising foundation come to the state for appropriations seemed to be a reversal of the original intent.

Ms. Giunchigliani remarked the request for $150,000 was a miniscule amount compared to what the foundation had raised. She wondered if the request was just the proverbial camel’s nose, because once the legislature allocated some funding to a foundation, it would set a precedent for other groups to follow. She said many of the bills before the committee were actually local obligations. It would be nice, she continued, if schools were funded properly in the first place to eliminate the need for foundations and PTA fund-raisers that send kids door-to-door selling candles, paper, cookies, etc. It was her hope that as the issue was debated, the real point would be to properly fund Nevada’s schools in the first place to eliminate the need for ancillary fund-raising groups.

Mr. Daley explained the foundation hoped to very highly leverage the appropriation of $150,000. Some examples of the manner in which initiatives could be leveraged to the state level would be in the development of the on-line learning community. Using the same technologies that existed in the committee room, the foundation would take a portable unit and broadcast concerts, such as the state band concert, to different schools throughout Nevada, as far distant as the Elko area. He said another program was the "This is Nevada Program" that brought in information and resources from the various counties within the state. Another example was a resource bank. Mr. Daley explained that with the help of the foundation, a group had gone across the nation and videotaped experts in professional development and related resources. The foundation wanted to take the videotapes of those national experts and press them to CD’s. Those CD's could then be diffused throughout the state. He said the foundation did not have the resources to complete those types of programs.

Ms. Giunchigliani asked if the foundation had ever been audited, and both Mr. Daley and Ms. Steele responded that it had. Ms. Steele told committee members the foundation was audited independently every year by an independent audit company that the foundation hired through a bid process.

Candace Thompson appeared before committee members in support of A.B. 399 and provided the following verbatim testimony:

• Provide professional development in science for teachers, administrators and parents in order to enhance programs based on the recently revised State Science Standards, the Clark County School District K-5 Curriculum Essentials Framework, and grades 6-12 science syllabi.

• Plan, organize and coordinate activities that will make science resources accessible to all Clark County students and community members.

• Promote science education and hands-on exploration in the Clark County School District.

• Coordinate the individual efforts of schools in order to leverage resources and create a richer science program.

• Improving student achievement in science while developing a deeper knowledge and appreciation for science.

• Encouraging more students to enter science careers and vocations.

• Integrating instructional activities to support individual student inquiry and investigation.

Linda J. Thompson also appeared before committee members in support of A.B. 399 and provided the following verbatim testimony:

Ms. Giunchigliani asked the meaning of the term "teachers on special assignment." She said she had taught in the district for 20 years and had never heard the term before. Ms. Thompson explained the term referred to teachers who had been taken from the classroom due to their areas of expertise and made available as assistants. Ms. Giunchigliani asked who filled those vacant positions, and Ms. Thompson replied that she would have to defer that question. Ms. Giunchigliani then asked how many teachers were on special assignment in the Clark County School District. Ms. Steele said she could not answer that question, but as an example, she said the Clark County School District made special assignments to its West 9^th Street location, e.g., teachers who were specialists in reading, science, and math. Ms. Giunchigliani asked that committee members be provided with the total number of staff on "special assignment." She had understood there were alleged vacancies in the areas of special education and others, and she was concerned that certified teachers had been pulled out of the classroom to be placed on special assignment. That scenario would then cause an unlicensed teacher or substitute to be placed in the vacant position, which was absolutely inappropriate. Ms. Steele agreed to provide that information.

Mr. Stan Fuke, who worked for the Clark County School District in Library Services, said he represented 240-plus school librarians. He was before the committee to ask for support for A.B. 399. Mr. Fuke said the foundation had been wonderful to the school libraries. He said many libraries within the district contained books whose copyright dates ranged from between the 1950’s and 1970’s, and they were totally inappropriate for student use. Mr. Fuke said the foundation had entirely updated the library collection at Sunrise Acres, Harley Harmon, and Cashman schools, thereby providing equal access to the students. The foundation had provided the district with the InterAct Program, which provided access to electronic information through the web, as well as a wonderful web communicator among librarians. Mr. Fuke urged the committee’s support of A.B. 399.

Ken Lange, Executive Director, Nevada State Education Association (NSEA), and Sue Strand, President, Clark County Education Association, appeared before the committee in opposition to A.B. 399. Mr. Lange commented there were many foundations doing a great service in the public interest, and he was sure the Clark County Education Foundation was one of those entities. However, he was concerned where the line would be drawn if the legislature provided funding to the foundation. Mr. Lange felt it was legitimate to question how the legislature would ultimately account for the expenditure of public monies through a private organization and report that back to the public. He wondered if the legislature would want to entertain a non-stop line of requests for funding of what were probably very just and noble causes in a biennium when the state was facing a reduction in the per-pupil expenditure to school districts. NSEA questioned whether money should go to private enterprises when there were very legitimate public needs for the children of Nevada and for basic programs that had already been articulated as legislative priorities (e.g., student testing, remediation, professional development). Even assuming that the legislature met that threshold, Mr. Lange questioned whether money should go to private enterprises when there were very legitimate public needs.

Mr. Lange said foundations existed independently of the government for some very good reasons—so they can have their independence and can leverage their money. NSEA believed the Clark County Public Education Foundation should probably tread very lightly, both in terms of entanglement with government interests and the potential jeopardy of a 501(c)3 status. Mr. Lange said NSEA would certainly want to pursue clearance from legal counsel before submitting a request to the legislature. Consequently, Mr. Lange said NSEA opposed A.B. 399 and urged committee members to encourage the foundation to keep up the good work and do its fundraising elsewhere.

Chairman Arberry asked if there was further testimony in opposition to, or in favor of, A.B. 399. There being none, the hearing on A.B. 399 was declared closed.

Assemblyman Roy Neighbors, District #36, Nye, Mineral, Esmeralda, and Lincoln Counties, introduced Senator Mike McGinness, a co-sponsor of A.B. 205. Both were appearing before the committee in support of the bill. Mr. Neighbors thanked committee members for their support during the 1997 Legislative Session for funding of the design portion of the project.

Mr. Neighbors referred committee members to Exhibit C, a resolution by the Nye County Board of Commissioners supporting a legislative appropriation for operation of a rural high-tech center in Pahrump. Two of the five county commissioners were present in the audience. Mr. Neighbors then introduced Exhibit D, a resolution by the Pahrump Town Board supporting the siting in Pahrump of the Community College of Southern Nevada’s proposed high-tech educational center. Two of the five town board members were present in the audience. Mr. Neighbors said former Assemblyman Tom Hafen had provided a letter (Exhibit E), in strong support of A.B. 205.

Senator Mike McGinness, Central Nevada Senate District, said he had represented Pahrump since 1992, and the community’s growth, which had been both exciting and challenging, rivaled that of Clark County. He noted Clark County is fifth on the list of the nation’s ten fastest-growing counties in terms of real numbers, but by annual rate, Nye County was number 10 at 6.1%. Senator McGinness said although the growth rate was part of the challenge in representing all of Nye County, he could candidly say the growth was not happening in Gabbs or in Reese River Valley—it was happening in Pahrump. The advent of the new four-lane highway between Las Vegas and Pahrump would encourage more growth in the Pahrump area. Senator McGinness said he was before the committee as a representative of eight counties and wanted to be able to secure a high-tech center for each one. He felt it was important for a high-tech center to be close to a community college willing to support its activities, and the Community College of Southern Nevada and Pahrump was such a location.

Ms. de Braga asked how the $75,000 the 1997 Legislature had granted had been used. She also wanted to know if the land had been acquired. Mr. Neighbors said the $75,000 had been used for advance planning, and that upcoming testimony would answer her questions.

Senator McGinness said one of the most important parts of the project was that the county was not before the committee totally asking for a handout. As evidenced by Exhibit F, the county was also working to secure a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

Mr. Neighbors told committee members the Nye County Superintendent of Schools would testify regarding a $1 million in-kind match, in addition to Nevada’s $5 million investment.

Dr. Richard Moore, President of the Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN), told committee members it was the responsibility of the college to provide community college instruction to the four counties located in southern Nevada. He said the college had not done a very good job in Nye County because there was no space to teach from; Pahrump was a community of 30,000 people with no educational facility. Dr. Moore did not feel it was incumbent on people in education to always ask for money. He said there needed to be partnerships and development of the best ways to use state dollars. Accordingly, the college was asking for a high-tech center that could be used in the mornings by Pahrump High School and in the afternoons and evenings by the community college. The college did not feel it was incumbent to build stand-alone community college centers in rural areas. Rather, the high-tech centers should be coupled directly with the high schools.

It was Dr. Moore’s observation, as the result of surveys over the past 5 years, that the people in Nevada wanted most to learn computing. He said the number of students attending computing classes had increased from 2,000 to 5,000 per semester. It was very clear to the college that the complex in Pahrump should be a computing complex. CCSN was recommending the construction of a high-tech center in Pahrump that had computing instruction at its core. He pointed out the legislature had been very gracious in funding a high-tech center at both the Palo Verde High School and Western High School locations in Las Vegas. From those two experiences the college had learned that there was an exceptional ability to transform a high school. He explained high schools did not need to purchase computers because the colleges bought computers, i.e., only one set of computers needed to be purchased. CCSN had engaged the finest people in America sharing networking ideas, which allowed students to perform Internet review of material throughout the world by coming into the high-tech center. The high schools associated with the high-tech center had also been changed. Rather than students leaving school when regular classes were finished, the high-tech centers were filled with high school students in the afternoons and evenings because they wanted to continue to learn.

In response to an earlier question from Mrs. de Braga, Mr. Neighbors told committee members the 1997 Legislature had appropriated $75,000 to advance plan the project, which would permit the project to start immediately upon passage of A.B. 205. Dr. Moore added that while the Nye County School District would provide $1 million in funding toward the project, it was also important to involve other groups interested in development of the area, including the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The EDA was viewing the region including Pahrump as a high-tech corridor that would run technology out to the Nevada Test Site. Accordingly, the proposed project funding of $5 million requested from the State of Nevada would be matched by non General-Fund commitments equal to $2.4 million. Those types of partnerships would be both helpful and valuable to the state.

Dr. Moore said the core problem was the lack of teaching space. He said Pahrump had an extremely crowded high school that was designed for 500 students; enrollment was projected to be 1,000 students in the fall of 1999. The existing space was also being used to teach college classes. The Pahrump high-tech center would be specialized, in that it would reflect the interests of the region. At the suggestion of the Nye County School District Superintendent, several of the general purpose classrooms had been changed to science classrooms to be used by the high school as well.

Chairman Arberry asked how long it would take for the high-tech center at Pahrump to come on line if A.B. 205 was approved by the legislature. Mr. Neighbors said he had the fastest builder in Nevada sitting next to him, Mr. Orlando Sandoval. All of Mr. Sandoval’s projects had come in under state bid numbers and had all been completed on or before scheduled completion dates. Orlando Sandoval, Community College of Southern Nevada, said the project would be completed by the fall of 2000. Dr. Moore noted that particular building had already been constructed twice; the same architect would be used and the deadline would be met.

Ms. Giunchigliani, recalling her construction bill from the previous session, A.B. 353 (1997), said the rurals had re-amended the legislation on the senate side to provide the ability to raise sales or room taxes to pay for school construction. She wondered if anyone had availed themselves of that legislation.

Mr. Perkins said the proposal to fund the University System enrollment growth for the upcoming budget cycle projected 2 percent growth, and he asked how the costs of a high-tech center in a rural area would be absorbed. Dr. Moore replied his job was to find a way to accomplish each challenge of the legislature with limited resources. He felt the center would be very effective with existing resources. One of the special things about the project was the involvement of an exceptional county superintendent who was committed to making the project work. Dr. Moore said he chose to make class sizes larger when necessary rather than to deny Nevadans an education. Mr. Perkins said he was aware growth in the Pahrump area had been 10 to 12 percent and felt CCSN was being under-funded at 2 percent enrollment growth. His personal opinion was that the college was being asked to do more with less.

Geraldine Harge, Superintendent of the Nye County School District, introduced Mr. Ron Trummel, Vice President of the Nye County School Board. Ms. Harge was before the committee to speak in support of the development of the high-tech center in Pahrump. She said student enrollment in the Pahrump area alone was projected to be 4,000 by the year 2000. Through the collaboration of the Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN), the Nye County School District, and the community of Pahrump, a unique opportunity existed to make a difference in the educational lives of students and the entire Pahrump community. Ms. Harge said the creation of the high-tech center, which would be open to all members of the community as well as the state, would magnify opportunities for learning not presently available. The proposed center would offer computer training and access to students and staff in the community from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. There was currently a ratio of one computer to every 29 students. The opening of the center would provide one computer for every three students. Ms. Harge said the additional computers would be available to students as well as the community, allowing more access to the Internet as well. She added that a graphics lab would be included in the project as well as a modern geology/physics lab. The Pahrump Valley High School was striving to become an excellent comprehensive high school, and the center would make that goal a reality.

Ms. Harge went on to say the center would increase the level of education in Nye County, particularly in the Pahrump area, to a K-14 system. Students would be able to access community college courses while in high school. College counseling services would also be added. She said Nye County School District was committed to the project as evidenced by its in-kind contribution of $1 million. Ms. Harge respectfully requested the committee’s immediate support of A.B. 205.

In response to Ms. Giunchigliani's earlier question regarding A.B. 353 (1997), Ms. Harge said Nye County had taken advantage of the question for the bond, and the bond election was successful. The school district did not take advantage of the sales tax option. It was determined the sales tax would have garnered about $400,000, so the district chose to pursue the bond question with the set tax rate for 10 years instead.

Ms. Harge introduced Jerry Hill, Principal of Pahrump High School. Mr. Hill said he had come to Pahrump three years before from suburban central New York. What he found was a school that was very overcrowded and almost totally lacking in technology. To this day, he said, the high school had 23 classrooms and 9 trailers. When he addressed committee members last, the school had 820 students. There were now 950 students, with an anticipated number of 1,050 next year and 1,200 the following year. The enrollment was anticipated to grow to 2,000 within the next 5 years.

Mr. Hill said he wanted to address the committee in terms of need and hope. On the need side, the school currently had 42 working computers for its 950 students. Internet was available only through the community college. Very few students went on to further education and, as committee members were aware, almost all jobs within the next 10 years would require some kind of technical training beyond high school. He said many students at the high school had a very real lack of self-confidence and did not know if they could do college work. Many students were attending community college and were finding out that they could indeed perform at the college level and become successful. Mr. Hill said for some students the 65 miles to Las Vegas may as well be a road of 6,500 miles. If there were a true community college in the Pahrump area, students could take classes not only in the evening, but also during the daytime with community college students. What he had found in his educational experience was that when young students and older students took classes together, everyone benefited. Mr. Hill said it was the school’s hope for its students to gain a higher level of skill for a better life and a better future. Adults and students of high school age would take classes together, and they would learn from each other. He added that by merely constructing the center, the level of technology at Pahrump Valley High School would increase by 600 percent.

In response to an earlier question from Mr. Perkins regarding staffing of the center, Mr. Hill said his faculty consisted of approximately 50 teachers, including a 27-year-old lawyer who taught business courses and coached track, and three members who were currently working on doctoral dissertations. One member of the faculty was a graduate from the Peabody School at Vanderbilt University who had been working on his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin at the time he was plucked from collegiate life. Mr. Hill added that his staff consisted of very highly-skilled and dedicated people, and while the high school did not currently have the space or technology, they did have hope for its students. Mr. Hill said he hoped committee members would join with the high school in allowing it to progress and give its students equal access to what other students in Nevada had.

Vice Chair Evans said the 1997 Legislature had set aside nearly $30 million to ensure Nevada’s schools could acquire computers. She asked what the Pahrump Valley High School had received from that legislation. Ms. Harge replied the Nye County School District had received an $1.4 million allocation and was in the process of reaching level I within the district. Completion of level I would provide a dedicated computer in each classroom. Mr. Hill added there would be one computer per classroom for student use. When he referred to 42 computers, he was talking about the equipment in the two computer labs, which were busy, 8 periods a day, through lunch, and into the evening with the community college. Even though there may be a computer in each classroom, that did not mean the high school students had access to banks of computers. He said no facility existed that would accommodate, for example, a literature class using a computer room to write a paper. The high school would like to install a remedial program. There were a large number of 9^th graders who were not very literate or mathematically proficient. Mr. Hill continued, saying the high school would love to be able to provide computer-guided instruction in a lab setting. While the one computer in each classroom may help instruction, it would not help students in large numbers. The 250 computers envisioned in the high-tech center would enable that type of education to a large number of students.

Ms. Giunchigliani asked if completion of phase I included printers or just the computers. Ms. Harge responded it included the whole package. Ms. Giunchigliani asked what software would be included, and although Ms. Harge did not have the exact details on the software, she said it would follow the district’s curriculum. Ms. Giunchigliani recalled that at the school she had taught in 4 years before, each teacher had a computer in his/her classroom, but most of them sat in boxes because there was no accompanying software. She said it was fine for her as a teacher to have access, but students needed to be able to use the system as well. She hoped with the advent of technology, systems had been developed for use by the students that would reinforce instruction. If a student typed a paper on a PC but was not able to print out the document, the system was useless. Mr. Hill said he had advised his teachers they would have CD ROM and other necessary resources to present instruction to students. It was his number one priority for Pahrump Valley High School.

John Echave, a junior in the Nye County School District, appeared before committee members in support of A.B. 205 and provided the following verbatim testimony:

Abby Hudson, also a junior at Pahrump Valley High School, appeared before the committee in support of A.B. 205. Ms. Hudson provided the following verbatim testimony:

Walt Turner, a 14-year-old sophomore at Pahrump Valley High School, testified on behalf of A.B. 205:

Summer Brown, a junior at Pahrump Valley High School, said she was appearing before committee members in support of A.B. 205 and provided the following verbatim testimony:

Kindra Gripp spoke in support of A.B. 205 and provided the following verbatim testimony:

Jane Barnes provided the following verbatim testimony in support of A.B. 205:

Jeffrey Taguchi, Nye County Commissioner, appeared before the committee in support of A.B. 205 and made the following remarks:

Jerry McKnight, Nye County Manager, spoke on behalf of the other county commissioners in support of A.B. 205. He said the issue was not just a Pahrump issue—it was a countywide issue. He said there was a broad base of support across the county for the bill. The commissioners who were not able to attend the hearing wished to also convey their support. Mr. McKnight said the center, if constructed, would be linked to the entire county through the high-tech corridor project. Teaching of technical skills would not only be provided in the town of Pahrump, but also throughout Nye County. Mr. McKnight said there had been a great deal of support for the mining industry in years past that led to generations of economic development and mining families and a great deal of support for Nevada. The high-tech center in Pahrump was just a step toward the next generation, a generation of science and technology. He said the center directly tied into the science and technology corridor project, and he likened it to the movie "Field of Dreams" in that "If you build it, they will come." The Nye County Commissioners felt very strongly that if the center were built, the young people in that area would receive the education that would provide a trained workforce and businesses would come to Nye County. At that point, he said, Nye County would have the ability to become fully self-sufficient and provide a future for its youth.

Mr. Perkins expressed his appreciation for the support shown for A.B. 205 and those people who had traveled so far for the hearing. He told the audience the legislature had a very daunting task ahead of it. There was The Executive Budget that, it could be argued, had some places in it that were not yet whole, and the funds were not available to fix those holes yet. There were Assembly bills before the committee that had requests totaling over $50 million, and he was sure a like amount of bills were before the Senate. He explained the legislature prioritized those requests by determining what was important to Nevada. He wanted those testifying to know the legislature was facing difficult financial times and would look under every rock and stone it could for funding sources.

Mrs. Chowning asked if the land was already owned. Mr. McKnight replied the land was currently available. Mrs. Chowning complimented the students who had testified on their dress, their professional attitude, and their enthusiasm. She said computers were very important, but it was very refreshing to see that communication face-to-face could still be done with pen, pencil, and cardboard. She said that while PowerPoint presentations were nice, the presentations given by the students had affected her greatly and in a positive manner.

Both Don Watson, Project Manager, Nevada Science and Technology Corridor, and Dan Simmons, Director, Nevada Science and Technology Corridor, voiced their concern about the workforce. Mr. Watson referred to earlier testimony by Dr. Moore that referred to the core problem—finding a skilled workforce. The technology corridor, an area from Tonopah to Pahrump and over to Indian Springs, would involve a high-tech capacity that would probably be centered about Lathrop-Wells, with a museum complex, an industrial site and various other projects up and down, to include improvement of airports and revitalization of downtown Tonopah. He said one of the biggest problems would be lack of education in the workforce. Discussions were being held with several companies, including Lockheed’s Venture Star Program, which represented a potential ultimate dream for everyone. There were also solar technology companies making regular visits and plans to come to the corridor, as well as some California and German companies. Mr. Watson said there would be a great deal of technological capability, but a trained workforce would be lacking. He said the corridor had arranged for an EDA grant in the amount of $3 million, $1.5 million of which would go directly to the industrial park at Lathrop Wells, and $1.4 million to the high-tech center. The corridor needed to hook-up the high-tech center in Pahrump, which would have expanded capabilities with its physics lab and its communications studio, from which classes could be broadcast throughout the corridor. He told committee members Goldfield and Tonopah could have the same classes as Pahrump through interactive video. The $1.4 million that had been dedicated toward the center was to link all of the communities on the corridor, including Amargosa Valley and Beatty. Mr. Watson said the high-tech center at Pahrump was needed as the corridor’s communications hub.

Mr. Perkins asked if federal grants had been sought in the areas of high-tech, science, etc. He said the location’s proximity to the test site seemed to warrant those types of grants. Mr. Perkins also asked if communication existed within the University and Community College System that would allow the University to offer classes as well. Dr. Richard Moore, President, Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) responded, saying he had extended an offer to UNLV to go wherever CCSN went. He said UNLV would be joining CCSN at the Henderson property.

Mr. Watson explained the Pahrump high-tech center would provide the educational and workforce development leverage needed to approach the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation for some funding of one of the major programs for under-represented populations in the science and technical fields. It was a very large program taken advantage of by many other states. He said the high-tech center would provide an educational asset that could be built upon. Mr. Watson said the corridor advisory group had encouraged CCSN to talk to the rest of southern Nevada to establish the first-of-its-kind renewable technician training program. The lab practicum would be at Lathrop Wells/Amargosa Valley Science and Tech Park. Mr. Watson referred committee members to page G-10 of Exhibit G, a package of information CCSN had provided. He explained page G-10 displayed systems that could create 1,000 megawatts of power. The corridor fully intended to provide the human and capital assets to provide the main factory for those units. Mr. Watson explained the project was different from the one proposed the previous year. He said that adding the video conferencing network with the Economic Development Administration made it a two-county project, Esmeralda and Nye, and video conferencing would be delivered in real time to Amargosa Valley, Beatty, Goldfield, and Tonopah. The high-tech center would also serve the Sandy Valley area of Clark County. Mr. Watson said the high-tech center would be the next best thing to having centers located in all the rural areas. It would make it possible to offer interactive classrooms in real time across the 200-mile corridor, and consequently a workforce could be delivered to the companies wishing to come into the area.

Mr. Watson added the corridor had received letters of interest and intent from two manufacturing companies wanting to locate along the corridor. Those companies would provide approximately 200 jobs in the first 2 years and expand to 425 jobs within 5 years. The initial capital investment would be approximately $38 million in fixed assets. It was important to provide the tools to make the corridor a good place for the companies to succeed.

Mr. Simmons said an educational summit would be conducted on April 8, 1999. Directors from UNLV, UNR, CCSN, Nye County School District, and DRI would meet just to brainstorm and see how the various entities could work together to offer advanced classes in the rural communities.

Chairman Arberry said he would have to echo Mr. Perkins’ earlier sentiments regarding funding. While the legislature would do its very best to find the funding for the high-tech center, he did not want the people leaving the hearing thinking the high-tech center was a "done deal." Chairman Arberry said the 1997 Legislature had proven its commitment by providing seed money to plan the high-tech center, and he repeated that the committee would do its best to provide funding for construction if there was any possible way.

Mr. Simmons thanked Chairman Arberry, and with $4 million on the table, he hoped the committee would find a way to fund the center.

Ed Gobel spoke on behalf of the Council of Nevada Veterans’ Organizations, to include representatives in Nye County. By Resolution 99-041, the veterans expressed their support of the high-tech center in Pahrump. They felt it would not only be beneficial for the students, but also for the economic development of Nye County and the state as a whole. Mr. Gobel said the veterans organizations understood that the legislature generally followed the priority list established by the University Board of Regents, but he pointed out one of those top ten priorities was the expenditure of $7.7 million for furnishings for a law library that already existed, and $13.1 million for a new law school when the existing law school seemed to be functioning quite well. Mr. Gobel said another priority might be a high-tech center that provided dental care for the community as well.

Chairman Arberry asked if there was further testimony regarding A.B. 205. There being none, he declared the hearing on A.B. 205 closed.

Assemblyman Roy Neighbors, District #36, introduced Senator Mike McGinness. Mr. Neighbors explained A.B. 384 was the result of increased population and the advent of a new four-lane highway. While the Department of Transportation had indicated it would perform the engineering, it would not provide funding. Mr. Neighbors referred committee members to Exhibit H, an article that appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal titled "SAFETY LIGHTS PLANNED FOR DANGEROUS NORTH VIRGINIA CROSSWALK." He read a portion of that article as follows:

He said there were occasions where safety was involved and safety lights were warranted.

Senator Mike McGinness, Central Nevada Senatorial District, appeared in support of A.B. 384. He referred committee members to his previous testimony regarding the tremendous growth in Pahrump. Installation of safety lights represented one of the challenges of that growth.

Gary Hollis, Chairman of the Pahrump Town Board, referred committee members to Exhibit I (original on file at the Research Library, Legislative Counsel Bureau), a tabbed brochure that contained an introduction as well as maps and statistics regarding each intersection project. He said the Basin and Highway 160 intersection project had been funded through developers and funding from Nye County. The big concern was the next project, Wilson/Oxbow and Highway 160. A school was located on the corner of Wilson and Highway 160, and school buses had to exit via Wilson through Highway 160 or via Pahrump Valley Boulevard and Highway 372, both state highways. Both intersections were very dangerous. Exhibit I contained accident statistics, and Mr. Hollis remarked the "near misses" were causing the most concern. He said any safety expert would predict that sooner or later there would be a fatality.

Mr. Hollis went on to say that another problem intersection was Pahrump Valley Boulevard and Highway 372. The state would be doing work on a 3-mile stretch of Highway 372 and, with the school traffic along Pahrump Valley Boulevard, the situation warranted a safety light. Another section of Exhibit I (beginning on Page I-20) referenced additional problem intersections in Pahrump. Mr. Hollis was hopeful the Department of Transportation would install counters at those intersections to provide hard data to support the need for safety lights. He assured committee members he would work diligently to have the town board provide some match dollars, and he said the board would seek additional funding from the Nye County Commissioners to support the request outlined in A.B. 384.

Mr. Parks asked where the project fell on the priority list for funding of problem intersections and how much funding the state would provide. Mr. Hollis answered that he did not have that information and deferred to Mike Cosgrove, Pahrump Town Manager. Mr. Cosgrove said state funding for the intersection of Pahrump Valley Boulevard and Highway 372 was at the bottom of the list. It had taken 3 years for the safety light to be installed at Basin. Mr. Cosgrove said he was responsible for the management of the community, to include fire and ambulance protection. Pahrump experienced as many as ten accidents in one day at the intersections involving Highways 160 and 372, and many of those accidents could have been avoided with safety lights. However, Mr. Cosgrove’s major concern was the school buses that traversed those intersections; there were at least six intersections requiring protection. While he understood funding was tight, he stressed that safety lights at those two intersections were crucial to the safety of the public.

Mr. Goldwater asked if the Nye County Commissioners required developers to pay for those types of items (safety lights, etc.) in view of the increased development and associated traffic. Mr. Hollis replied the Regional Planning Commission did, but the school had been at that site for many years and development had not impacted the area until just the last 5 years. He added that the four-lane highway that would be built would greatly impact Pahrump. Mr. Hollis explained the appropriation request in A.B. 384 had resulted in large part from Tim Hafen approaching U.S. Senator Reid and acquiring $10 million from the federal government to extend the four-lane highway to its current location. While the county received 19 cents of assessed valuation and a portion of the sales tax, it could not fund all projects.

Mr. Perkins said the State Office of Traffic Safety provided pass-through grants and other federal dollars. If the legislature were not able to fund the appropriation request, he suggested the county apply to the Office of Traffic Safety for funding. Mr. Cosgrove said he would look into that option, adding that Pahrump was a community of 30,000 people, and he predicted they would be returning to the legislature because that population was projected to increase to 60,000 by the year 2005. The city had already approved the construction of thousands of new homes; the south side would see construction of 12,000 new homes alone.

Mrs. Chowning, who was also chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, said that committee had heard numerous soundwall bills because of increased problems associated with growth. The Department of Transportation was asking that no further approvals of soundwalls be granted unless the local entity had an ordinance in place that mandated developers to help with expenditures associated with growth. Mrs. Chowning suggested the Pahrump Town Board may want to adopt such an ordinance. Additionally, she apprised those testifying of two bills before the legislature, A.B. 182 and a Resolution sponsored by Assemblyman Collins, that looked at trades between local entities and the State Department of Transportation.

In view of the fact the safety light at Basin and Highway 160 was already paid for, Mr. Cosgrove said the Pahrump Town Board had approved $20,000 for a right-turn lane. Although the highway was not the responsibility of the town, it was trying to provide funds where needed to address safety issues. He said the county was accepting responsibility for two additional right-turn lanes, and he felt local government was helping as much as it could.

Ken Spears, District Engineer, Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), said that although the department took no position on A.B. 384, he wanted to offer some information. He explained the appropriation request for $120,000 would not be sufficient to fund one signal. The cost for a signal would probably be anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 depending upon what other accompanying roadway improvements would be needed. The department was willing to help with the engineering, design, and administration of the contract as it had with the signal being installed at Basin and Highway 160. Mr. Spears explained there was a project to widen a portion of Highway 372, and it was probable there would be some improvements to Pahrump Valley Boulevard. He said a study conducted on the Pahrump Valley Boulevard intersection had determined that the intersection met some of the requirements for consideration of a signal. When the improvements were completed at that intersection, it would no longer meet those requirements. Mr. Sears said NDOT would be happy to study the other locations in the future, but he could not make any recommendations as to whether or not signals were warranted at this time.

Mrs. de Braga asked if NDOT met with counties to set priorities, and if there was a chance projects could be completed through a cooperative effort with local governments. Mr. Sears replied that installation of a signal would be considered a safety improvement that would be funded through NDOT’s safety division. Those projects were prioritized on a statewide basis using a cost-benefit formula. If the projects were to fall within a range that could be funded, it was possible NDOT could assist.

Mr. Parks requested that an update be prepared on the various intersection locations to include not only preliminary costs, but anticipated participation by both the state and local entities, as well as developers. More accurate costs would then be available.

Chairman Arberry asked if there was further testimony in opposition to, or in favor of, the bill. There being none, the hearing on A.B. 384 was closed.

Chairman Arberry excused himself from the meeting and Vice Chair Jan Evans presided from this point.

Vice Chair Evans recognized Assemblywoman Genie Ohrenschall, Clark County
District #12, who explained she would be submitting an amendment to A.B. 512 to reflect that the appropriation would be provided to the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District rather than the City of Las Vegas. Ms. Ohrenschall said the $500,000 appropriation would provide for the establishment of a library and/or collection development to be located in the vicinity near Charleston and Boulder Highway. Her amendment would delete all references to "community center" to avoid any confusion as to the purpose of the contingent appropriation. She said the library district would be able to use the money appropriated by the state General Fund only if matching money were provided from other sources. The bill would allow the library district to use money from its own budget and the freedom to seek private funding. Ms. Ohrenschall said there had been significant donations of private funding for development of many different libraries within the last several years in southern Nevada. Less than 2 years before, the Boyd family had completely redone the Crestwood School library because they lived in that area, and UNLV had also received private funding to build a library. She said it was not that unusual to obtain private money to match public money. The $500,000 appropriation request was more or less seed money to start the project. Ms. Ohrenschall explained that a library in the area was closed at the time the East Charleston mall was constructed. The library was supposed to have been reopened but never was. She said the library had been the center of the neighborhood and a place for neighborhood youth to complete their homework. Those living in the area felt that the closure of the library was another instance of community services being taken away from urban neighborhoods. Ms. Ohrenschall felt it was those types of actions that caused urban blight and flight. She said the area was becoming more densely populated as more minority families moved in, and those families had cultural and educational needs that required attention. Putting a library back in the neighborhood would make a big difference. Ms. Ohrenschall had a constituent who had recently moved to Nevada from California, and she had assumed there were public libraries open on weekends and after school within walking distance for her daughter. However, when the constituent asked the school counselor, the counselor told her she would have to move to Summerlin or Green Valley for those kinds of services. Ms. Ohrenschall felt that was a tragic statement for the neighborhoods, and she asked for the committee’s serious consideration of A.B. 512.

Ms. Giunchigliani asked if there was any documentation that the closed neighborhood library was to be reopened once the mall was completed. Ms. Ohrenschall said she and many of her neighbors had received a notice at that time advising the library would be opened. Whether the notice was a part of an official plan, she did not know. Ms. Giunchigliani recalled that redevelopment dollars had been used on the project and a notice regarding the library had been published. Perhaps a request could be made to the redevelopment agency for a copy of that notice. Ms. Giunchigliani said she was curious as to the original funding source for the old storefront library. Ms. Ohrenschall deferred the question to Danny Lee, Consultant, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. Mr. Lee said at the time of the closure, the Las Vegas libraries were operated under a contract, and the storefront library was part of that contract. He recalled that funding was approximately $1.2 million. Ms. Giunchigliani assumed the $1.2 million covered the lease of the building, staffing, and books. Mr. Lee added that the $1.2 million also covered several other library locations and included computers, book collections, etc.

Ms. Giunchigliani asked the exact purpose of the requested appropriation in A.B. 512. Mr. Lee said neither he nor the library district had been aware of the bill until just recently. He said a problem existed in that a master plan was being drawn up for future development. The library district had always considered the library site as the "hole in the donut." Ms. Giunchigliani said she hoped the master plan would include restoration of those types of storefronts to many of the older neighborhoods, noting there were empty buildings in the mall that could easily be leased to avoid construction costs. She asked if the library board had bonding capacity or if other financing was available that could assist with the project. Mr. Lee replied he had been chairman of the board when the library was closed, and at that particular time, no commitment had been made to reopen the library. Ms. Giunchigliani encouraged Ms. Ohrenschall to find out if the notices she had referred to had come from the redevelopment agency or the library board.

Moses Dennis, Chair of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Board, told committee members the board had no bonding monies left over from the previous two bond issues, and there would be no bonding available in the near future. He said one problem with storefronts was that libraries included a lot of built-in technology, and it would be costly to move into an older building, or even into a new building that had not been configured correctly. The board was concerned about the large Hispanic and Filipino communities, as well as seniors who lived in the area. He said density in the older neighborhoods was a lot higher. Ms. Giunchigliani said she was aware the Filipino chamber was very interested in establishing a center, and there were a variety of schools that could potentially utilize storefront libraries as well.

Mrs. Chowning added her support for the legislation and asked what action the City of Las Vegas was taking to address the need. Moses Dennis responded the city did not have any budget for library services.

Mr. Parks said the 1985 Legislature had created the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. Prior to that time he had been the city budget director for some time, and when the East Charleston library branch was closed, the city council made a formal commitment that the closure would only be temporary and that there would be a replacement facility.

Mr. Goldwater asked what the $500,000 appropriation would accomplish. Mr. Lee responded that the appropriation, which required matching funds, had been left open-ended to allow the library district the flexibility to use it for a variety of purposes, including opening a storefront, rehabbing a building, or collection development. Mr. Goldwater asked if the money could be appropriated without a library actually being created in the East Charleston area. Mr. Lee replied that was not the case—the appropriation was dedicated to a library, which was one of the reasons the community center was taken out of the bill.

Mary Ann Romastic appeared before the committee in support of A.B. 512. She explained she lived in the area bounded by Maryland Parkway, Sahara, Eastern, and East Charleston. She had three grandchildren living with her: one in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary school. While her grandchildren had access to a computer at home, she took them to the library often because they were great readers. She hoped the community would have the legislature’s support in the passage of A.B. 512.

Kathryn Tisdale Graves voiced her support of A.B. 512. She told committee members she was a native Las Vegan, 79 years old, and had lived in the East Charleston neighborhood for 40 years. She said the residents were "sick" when the library was closed. There were many new families in the neighborhood with children, and the library was desperately needed for those children. Ms. Graves had a 7-year-old and a 12-year-old in her care whom she had to drive to a library outside the neighborhood. The local school had only a makeshift library in a small room. She recalled the neighborhood had been promised a new library at the time the new mall was built, but that had never happened.

There being no further testimony in opposition to or in favor of A.B. 512, the hearing was closed.

Eric Dabney, Director, Parks and Recreation, City of North Las Vegas, introduced Mrs. Phyllis Martin, Board Member, Friends of Kiel Ranch Historic Site. Mrs. Martin referred committee members to Exhibit J, written testimony regarding the history surrounding the Kiel Ranch Historic site.

Mrs. Martin told the committee that after 23 years, the City of North Las Vegas had broken ground to finally begin the development of the Kiel Ranch Historic Site. Funding during the past year had been from the sale of 20 acres of the original 25 acres, plus an additional $900,000 which had been raised by the city. That money had been placed in a dedicated fund for the development of the site. Mrs. Martin said the historic adobe, the only adobe building standing in southern Nevada, was being restored. She said by the time the adobe building was restored, the dedicated funds would have been expended. The City of North Las Vegas was seeking $2 million for the completion of the site. $800,000 would suffice if the city did not complete finishing work, install exhibits, open a gift shop, or finish the inside of the house.

Mrs. Martin, who was acting as an unpaid development office, said the Friends of Kiel Ranch had recently applied for three grants to help fund the Western Heritage Festival scheduled for the weekend of November 5-7, 1999, at the Community College of Southern Nevada. Mrs. Martin said Dr. Richard Moore had graciously agreed to serve as the honorary chair for the festival. She said the point of having the Western Heritage Festival was to help raise awareness of the importance of preserving the history in southern Nevada. The Kiel Ranch site was 7 acres and included standing water. Roadrunners inhabited the property. Mrs. Martin explained that UNLV had performed a biological inventory, which included ancient mesquite bosks and, further, that the site had been used by Native Americans as a farm before the European Americans came. The archeological survey at the site had determined 17 scatters, which required additional research and development. Mrs. Martin said Kiel Ranch was a jewel in the middle of urban Las Vegas, and she hoped the legislature would participate in the preservation of its history.

While she had mentioned three grants the Friends of Kiel Ranch had applied for to support the Western Heritage Festival, Mrs. Martin added two other grants were being applied for. The Harry Reid Center at UNLV held 7,000 artifacts collected from the Kiel Ranch site 25 years ago. The Friends of Kiel Ranch was applying to a private foundation to have those items cataloged and interpreted. A traveling exhibit would then be established.

Mrs. Chowning voiced concern about the history that had been lost. She asked if the buildings scheduled for replication in the master plan were those buildings destroyed by fire. She also asked how much the 20 acres had been sold for, and how much was dedicated solely to the restoration of Kiel Ranch. Finally, Mrs. Chowning asked if the Friends of Kiel Ranch would make another presentation before the Cultural Preservation Commission to receive a portion of $65,000 in available funds.

Mrs. Martin replied that the sale of the 20 acres generated $900,000, which had been placed in a dedicated fund account for development of the site. To her knowledge, only one building, the white house, had burned down in 1992. She said the Friends of Kiel Ranch had received historic preservation dollars from the commission in 1998, but there had been a mix-up in the time line, and no funds were received in 1999. Funds would again be requested for restoration of the adobe structure. Mrs. Martin pointed out historic preservation dollars could only be used for historic buildings—not for replicas, parking lots, fences, ADA accessible walkways, interpretive signage, etc.

Mr. Dabney added the city had not yet received the $63,000 from the state, and those funds would not be requested until restoration of the adobe structure had been completed.

There being no further testimony to become before the committee, the hearing on A.B. 240 was closed.

Assemblywoman Kathy Von Tobel, District #20, said she had brought this legislation forward during the 1997 Legislative Session and was pleased to announce that the Logandale School had made great strides since that time. The school had received $51,400 from the Commission for Cultural Affairs as a result of its recent designation as a historical site. She recalled that during the 1997 Session, an asbestos problem at the school had been discussed. It had been determined there was a minimal asbestos problem that could easily be rectified. Ms. Von Tobel said the building was structurally sound and, with some additional funding and cosmetic work, could be opened for use. She added the bill should be amended to reflect that the appropriation would be made to the Old Logandale School Historical and Cultural Society rather than to the Clark County School District.

Senator Jon Porter appeared before the committee in support of A.B. 394. He explained the school was not only a historic building, but also a landmark for the community and a home for many local events. He felt the school was a very worthy cause.

Mr. Parks asked if the Logandale Justice Court was still located in the building, and Senator Porter replied it was not.

Dr. Larry Moses, Project Manager, The Logandale School Restoration and Preservation Project, referred committee members to Exhibit K (original on file at the Research Library, Legislative Counsel Bureau), a packet of information containing an introduction, budget and work scope, letters of support, historic register information, and local news articles regarding the project. Page K-2 of Exhibit K was a picture of the school that had been taken in the 1940’s to 1950’s. He said the building had an interesting historical background. In 1934, the citizens of Logandale decided they needed a school. The citizens quarried the rocks and built the school themselves. Upon completion of the school, Mr. Grant Bowler, one of the citizens involved, was named its principal. Dr. Moses explained the school had been the center of the Logandale community since its opening and up until 1995 when the Justice Court moved from it to a new building. The community was now trying to develop the building so it could be used as a community center. He said there was a highly active art guild that would move into the building, as well as an arts council that would use the facility. A small auditorium would be constructed in the gym to allow for fine arts presentations to the entire community. The Moapa Valley Historical Society did not have a location to display its Indian-ware items that currently sat in boxes in closets. It was hoped the school would provide a location to display those items. Dr. Moses went on to say that according to the local chamber of commerce, 4 million tourists passed through the community and by the school each year. The intent was to turn the school into a cultural arts center for the Logandale community. He referred committee members to page K-5 of Exhibit K, a budget page that included the 1999 grant from the Commission for Cultural Affairs in the amount of $51,400 and $20,000 in matching funds that had been collected locally. He felt the local community matching funds could reach as high as $50,000, and it was hoped that level could be sustained. While he was showing committee members historical pictures of the school, Dr. Moses explained the front side of the building had been contracted and engineered by the original School District No. 1 in the State of Nevada. The back section of the building had been constructed in limestone from a nearby quarry. The general workforce for the construction came from the local community.

Dr. Moses told committee members the school would house two to three offices to be occupied by the chamber of commerce, art guilds, and administrative offices; two museum booths; a reception room with a modernized kitchen; and a dance studio. He pointed out the majority of the $51,400 would be used to renovate the restrooms and to install fire exits.

Pat Herron, Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Transportation, Clark County School District, testified that the school district owned a lovely building on a 3-acre site (the Logandale Elementary School). The building had historic value and was of real need to the community. Mr. Herron said it made sense for the school district to make the building available to the community for restoration and use. By working together, he said, the school district and community could accomplish something that neither party could do working alone. The school district agreed the money should go to the Old Logandale School Historical and Cultural Society as opposed to the school district. Mr. Herron felt the district was so consumed with running its own building program it would not have time to spend on such a project, while a community group would. He said the school district was often asked why it did not sell the property and use the money for other school district needs, and his response was, "It does take a village to educate a child." The school district was a member of that village, he added.

Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom, District #22, spoke in favor of A.B. 394. She said she had accompanied her husband on painting expeditions at the Logandale Elementary School, and she was very much in favor of the society receiving funds for the project. The Logandale School was a beautiful example of how Clark County’s history could be saved.

There was no further testimony in opposition to or in favor of A.B. 394.

Ms. Giunchigliani reported back on the activities of the subcommittee which had been appointed to consider A.B. 468. Mr. Hettrick and Mrs. Chowning had served with her on the subcommittee. Ms. Giunchigliani explained the subcommittee recommended the bill be amended and re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee so the amendment could be considered by the committee as a whole. She said the purpose of A.B. 468 was to realign the funding for payment of sick leave. Shortening the years had lessened the fiscal impact. Mr. Stevens, Assembly Fiscal Analyst, Fiscal Analysis Division, Legislative Counsel Bureau, said it was also his understanding the amendments were designed to present the bill in better form to the subcommittee, and then it would be referred back to Ways and Means. Committee members would then review the amended bill before it went to the floor with any recommendation from the committee.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Sherie Silva,

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Assemblyman Morse Arberry Jr., Chairman

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