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Hybrids Help County Cut Gasoline Costs
One of the key technologies Clark County is pursing to reduce fuel costs is the use of hybrid vehicles.
The county operates the largest hybrid fleet in the state of Nevada, and is expected to have 400 hybrid vehicles by the end of July. The inventory includes such makes as the Toyota Prius and Camary, Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord and Civic and Ford Escape.
“We are downsizing the vehicles in our fleet whenever possible by replacing full-size sedans and SUVs, for example, with smaller and more fuel-efficient hybrids,” explained County Automotive Manager David Johnson. “We also do regular maintenance on our vehicles to increase fuel efficiency and longevity.”
Commissioner Rory Reid bought a Toyota Prius in 2006 as a family vehicle, and has no regrets. “With gas prices topping $4 a gallon, every mile counts and I won’t be trading in the keys anytime soon,” Reid said. “It’s also nice to drive something that’s more friendly to the environment, especially given our air quality concerns in Southern Nevada.”
Clark County has the third largest fleet in the state of Nevada with 2,939 vehicles, including fire trucks and emergency vehicles. To date, 81 percent of the county’s fleet operates on some type of alternative fuel, including compressed natural gas, bio-diesel and reformulated gas.
County Adopts Cost-Containment Measures
Just as families are feeling the strain from higher gas and food prices, governments also are grappling to live within their economic means. State and local governments alike in Nevada are facing significant impacts from a shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars in state sales tax revenue. Clark County implemented new cost-containment measures May 29 after the state’s third-quarter sales tax revenues showed continued decline. The measures include:
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Restricting overtime pay to emergency situations and mission-critical activities.
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Limits on department purchases to supplies and equipment essential for day-to-day operations.
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Deferring new hires for vacant full-time positions as much as possible. The county has 350 vacant positions now open.
“Clark County swims in the same revenue stream as the state and other local governments,” said Commission Chairman Rory Reid. “This is particularly difficult for the county because, even though we are subject to the same economic downturns as everyone else, we are mandated by the state to provide a number of important services to the public, including courts and child protective services.”
Almost 40 percent of the county’s $1.4 billion operating budget is comprised of consolidated tax collections, which are primarily made up of sales tax. The rest is comprised of property taxes, which are capped at 3 percent on owner/occupied homes and 8 percent on commercial property, and revenue from licenses, permits and fees for some services. The bulk of the county’s operating budget is spent on public safety, including police and the county detention center, followed by the judicial and the health functions to include the municipal and district courts, as well as social services. "During economic downturns, government experiences a growing demand for service,” Reid said.
Clark County’s Department of Social Services, for example, has experienced a 35 percent increase in the client traffic from January through April of this year. More than 11,000 people are homeless in Southern Nevada. Also, one out of five county residents does not have health insurance, which means increased demands for services at University Medical Center, the community’s only public hospital. While some local governments are facing layoffs and reductions in operational hours at parks and community services, Clark County is trying to offset growing demands for services through a combination of cost-containment measures and reduced spending on capital projects. County staff requested $553 million in capital projects for Fiscal Year 2008/2009. Capital projects include items like computers replacements, office equipment, vehicle replacements, repair and maintenance of existing buildings and facilities. The $1.4 billion general fund budget approved in May includes only $40 million for capital expenses.
“Clark County budgets in a way that is very fiscally prudent,” Reid explained. “We have one of the highest bond ratings in the state, in part, because we have a pay-as-you-go capital plan for most projects, especially new facilities. We don’t incur a lot of debt because we wait until we have the money in the bank to pay for capital projects.”
County Department of Finance staff also formulate the annual budget based on a rolling 5-year average of revenues received, instead of one year. “We look over five years and take an average,” Reid said. “This tends to smooth out peaks and valleys that we may experience in revenue.”
During the economic boom in past years, there were times the county’s revenues grew double digits over previous years, yet finance staff projections would have show half that growth or less. The difference would go into a reserve to pay for capital projects. The Clark County Commission also reaffirmed the county’s Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights in 2007, which requires a prudent reserve policy and limits growth on the county’s operating budget. These measures also contribute to the county’s high bond rating.
Fire, Building Officials Offer Safe-Summer Advice
With summer here, Clark County Building and Fire officials are reminding residents to stay safe in the desert heat and around backyard swimming pools.
Two child safety issues are especially critical in hot weather: pool drownings and leaving children unattended in hot cars. Temperatures inside a car can rise to 120 degrees when outdoor temperatures are in the 90s. “Under no circumstances should you ever leave a child in a car or near a pool without adult supervision,” said Fire Chief Steven Smith. “If you have a pool, make sure it’s secure when not in use, and when it is in use make sure you provide adult supervision at all times.”
Clark County Development Services and the Fire Department are co-sponsors with the Southern Nevada Health District of the “ABC&D's of Drowning Prevention” campaign, which emphasizes the need for adult supervision and barriers around pools to prevent drownings. Most drowning victims are 4 years old or younger. There are more than 101,000 swimming pools in Clark County. To date in 2008 there have been 19 near-drownings and 3 drownings, according to the Health District.
“Because pools are very attractive – and dangerous – to young children, they should be surrounded by a fence or other barrier,” said Ron Lynn, Building Official for Clark County and Director of Development Services. The Southern Nevada Pool code states that pools, spas and hot tubs must be completely enclosed with access barriers of at least 60 inches in height, or five feet. Gates in the fence must be self-closing and self-latching. When installing pools, patios and backyard amenities such as porches, decks and balconies, Lynn also recommends that homeowners consider all appropriate building permit requirements, zoning requirements, electrical clearances and easements and insurance policies. Building codes ensure minimum safety standards are met in the design and construction of structures.
Desert Heat
Exposure to excessive heat can cause serious health risks to anyone in the Mojave Desert, especially children, the elderly and people with heart disease, poor circulation and obesity. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps and dizziness. Officials say the best way to avoid heat exhaustion is to drink plenty of fluids at regular intervals, and more fluid with increased activity levels. Some other reminders to keep you safe during the hot summer months include:
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Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty. Limit intake of alcoholic beverages, which contribute to dehydration.
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Always carry plenty of water with you and a mobile phone. You never know what might happen during the day that could keep you outdoors longer than anticipated.
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Dress for summer. Clothing that is loose, lightweight and light-colored reflects heat and sunlight.
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Use sunscreen with a high SPF to protect against sunburn and skin cancer.
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Look in on friends and family, especially the elderly who may need help adjusting to the heat.
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Limit errands and outdoor activities to before noon or in the evening to avoid being out during the hottest part of the day.
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Always assign a designated child watcher when children are near any pool or body of water.
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Close and lock all doors, windows and gates leading to pools when not in use.
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Keep a phone near the pool to ensure children are not left unattended if the phone rings.
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Never swim when thunder or lightening are present. Never dive into unfamiliar or shallow bodies of water.
Ozone Advisory Issued Due to New Standard
Due to new health-based standards for ground-level ozone, an air quality advisory for ozone is in effect for June and July in Clark County.
During the hottest months of the year, ground-level ozone builds up in the afternoon as a result of several factors, including hot temperatures, strong sunlight and pollutants from automobiles and other sources. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) significantly strengthened national air quality standards for ground-level ozone. Air Quality officials say under the new standards, ozone concentrations are likely to build up to levels now classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups of people in Clark County and other communities across the country. Under the old standard, the same concentrations would have been considered moderate.
Local residents can find out daily forecast information about ozone and dust –the two main air pollutants of concern in our area – in two ways:
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Monitor the air quality forecast via accessclarkcounty.com. A link to the Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management’ s forecast page is posted on the county’s home page. If unhealthy levels of either pollutant occur, alerts are posted on the forecast page.
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You also can receive air quality news release updates via your pager or email through the county’s free Direct Connect service. Subscription information is available on the Public Communications pages of the county’s Web site. Tightly cap all solvents (paint thinners and strippers, degreasers, and some cleaning products). Solvents contain ozone-causing vapors.
Ozone is a gas that occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere and protects the earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. In the earth’s lower atmosphere, ground-level ozone is considered “bad.” Unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone can reduce lung function and worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma or bronchitis. Exposure to ozone also can induce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath even in healthy people. When ozone levels are elevated, everyone should limit strenuous outdoor activity, especially people with respiratory disease. Officials suggest these tips to help reduce the formation of ground-level ozone:
County Reaffirms Stance Against Yucca Mountain
The County Commission formally renewed its opposition to the Yucca Mountain Project on June 3, the same day the Department of Energy submitted its application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to begin building the dump.
Clark County has opposed the project, intended to store the nation’s high-level nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain, for more than 20 years. The site is located approximately 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
“The Commission’s staunch opposition to the repository has been steadfast,” said Commission Chairman Rory Reid. “We have two decade’s worth of scientific, technical and socioeconomic study with which to provide meaningful input to the licensing process.”
Clark County intends to actively participate in the upcoming DOE licensing proceeding. “We believe that participation in the upcoming Yucca Mountain licensing proceeding as an active party is a critical activity to be undertaken by this Commission,” Reid said.
McCarran's New C-Gates to Open This Summer
A new C Gate checkpoint annex will bring 12 more security lanes to McCarran International Airport this summer.
The two-level, 65,000-sq-feet security screening building has security and ticketing check points, offices, concession areas on the second level, with storage, mechanical and airline spaces underneath. The new security checkpoint for the C gates will also include a connector bridge between the B and C gates to allow passengers to make secure connections, without passing through more than one security checkpoint. The 64-feet-long, 35-feet-wide and 17-feet-high elevated sky bridge is an enclosed steel-and-glass structure with moving walkways and retail areas.
According to current estimates, McCarran International Airport's capacity is about 53 million passengers this year. In 2007, more than 48 million passengers came through our airport. You will be glad to hear that our Department of Aviation is a few steps ahead, and has created a capital plan that includes $3.7 billion dollars in construction projects, which can start to be used by McCarran visitors this summer.
Other ongoing construction projects include enlarging carousels in baggage claim to expand their capacity; improvements to escalators and moving walkways, and a fourth leg to the D gates. The single largest project in McCarran's history will also be put out to bid later this year. The $1.8 billion Terminal 3 will have its own ticketing, baggage claim and parking. Renovation to an underground train that will connect the D gates with the new terminal is scheduled to open in mid-2012.
Neighborhood Grant Program to Resume This Summer
The 2008/2009 Neighborhood Small Project Grant Program is scheduled to open later this summer. Neighborhood Small Project grants are available to neighborhood groups interested in strengthening the their social network while dealing creatively with important concerns. Grants are intended to spur small grass roots efforts in both urban and rural communities.
The Neighborhood Grants Program supports partnerships between Clark County and neighborhood organizations to produce neighborhood initiated improvement, organizing and community building projects. Through a competitive process, qualifying community/neighborhood organizations are awarded funds for specific projects to benefit one or more neighborhoods in Clark County.
For more information, please call Clark County Town and Liaison Services at 455-8531.
Commission Honors Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholars
The Clark County Commission recently recognized the achievements of six young men as participants of Boys Hope Girls Hope, an organization that provides at-risk children with a stable home, positive parenting, high-quality education, and the support needed to reach their full potential.
The participants received a proclamation to recognize their scholastic achievements and encourage their continued success. Some program participants come from home environments marked by drug abuse, poverty or neglect. Others come from caring families unable to meet the child’s needs. Boys Hope Girls Hope is a non-institutional, family-like home staffed with live-in residential counselors, and it supports children financially and emotionally through college and beyond.
Admission into the Boys Hope Girls Hope program is very competitive. Applicants must have the academic drive to succeed in a college-preparatory program. They also must be open to living in a long-term, value-centered, nurturing residential setting; not use drugs and/or alcohol; and have the ability to relate positively to others in a group setting.
Currently Boys Hope Girls Hope in Las Vegas houses 6 scholars: Adrian, 13; Josh, 13; Tony, 14; Christyn, 15; Robert, 16; and Jamil, 17.
Each of the scholars has proven to meet every aspect of program goals, and are expected to continue to excel in this extremely positive environment to undoubtedly become our leaders of tomorrow.
For more information on Boys Hope Girls Hope, please call Jane Jensen Saint, Executive Director, Boys Hope Girls Hope at 839-9455 or visit their Web site at BHGHNevada.org. |