Hello friends and neighbors from District B. I hope all of you are having a safe and fun summer.

This is a great time to relax and visit with friends and family and I hope you are making a point to do so.

First, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the very fine men and women who were just recently sworn in after winning in the spring city elections, especially North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck, North Las Vegas Councilwoman Anita Wood, North Las Vegas Councilman Robert Eliason, North Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge Sean Hoeffgen, Mesquite Councilman W. G. Geno Withelder, Las Vegas Councilman Steve Ross, Las Vegas City Councilman Stavros Anthony and Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Leung.

These folks deserve our thanks for choosing to give their time and effort to serve the public in elected office. Public service is an awesome responsibility that I know they all take as seriously as I do. So again, congratulations, good luck and don’t hesitate to call me if I may be able to help you better serve our constituents in any way.

As usual, things are very busy in District B. Below are a few notices and articles that I hope you will find useful.

As always, if you have any issues or concerns that I may be able to help you with, contact me by e-mail at or by calling my office at 455-3504. 

Thank you and have a great and safe summer.

Sincerely,

Tom Collins

Nellis Training Exercises July, August and September
Nellis Air Force Base will see increased air traffic during three upcoming training exercises. A Green Flag exercise will be held from July 10 to 24. Red Flag exercises will be held from July 13 to 24, and from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7.


Metro Hosting National Night Out on August 4
Northeast Area Command will host National Night Out from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Walnut Recreation Center at 3075 N. Walnut Ave., Las Vegas. Food, drinks, music and games will be provided. Come join us or we encourage neighborhoods to take back their neighborhood, meet their neighbors and bring down crime rates by hosting their own National Night Out block party, cookout, or flashlight walks. For more information about National Night Out in the Northeast Area Command please contact Bella Scholes at (702) 828-3340 or by e-mail at B7845Y@LVMPD.com.


Get Informed – Metro’s First Tuesday Program
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's 1st Tuesday program is an excellent opportunity for citizens to get involved with their police department.
On the first Tuesday of every month, police open the doors to local substations from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the community to have an open forum of communication with the police officers who patrol their neighborhoods.
Each month a different area of the police department is highlighted so the community can get a better idea of what goes on "behind the scenes" throughout the different sections of the department. 
First Tuesday meetings are held at the Northeast Area Command Station at 831 N. Mojave, 7 p.m., first Tuesday of each month. Contact Bella Scholes at (702) 828-3340 or by e-mail at B7845Y@LVMPD.com with any questions.


Pool Safety – Keep An Eye On The Kids
Always supervise children in and around pools. Sadly, during the few seconds it can take to grab a towel, answer the phone or answer the door a child can get into the pool and drown. And make sure there are secure fences around pools so children can’t get into them on their own. According to the Southern Nevada Pool Code, pools, spas and hot tubs must be completely enclosed by fences that are at least 5-feet-tall, and gates must be self-closing and self-latching.
The Clark County Fire and Development Services departments 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. For more information visit the Fire Department Web page.


Heat Safety – Keep An Eye On The Pets
Exposure to excessive heat can cause heat exhaustion and more serious health problems for anyone, especially children, the elderly, pets and people with heart disease, poor circulation and weight problems. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps and dizziness. Prevention is the key to dealing with this danger, and the best prevention is to drink plenty of fluids. Also, do not leave children or pets in the car for any reason.


Stagnant, Unused Pool in Your Neighborhood?
Unused and dirty pools are not only a danger because a person could fall in, those pools can also be a breeding area for mosquitoes and other pests.
The Southern Nevada Health District will respond to all citizen-generated complaints of stagnant swimming pools. Code Enforcement agencies are available to assist, however they do not have chemicals to prevent mosquito breeding. Each code group has different pool response protocols; therefore, we will tailor our referral methods to match their response. 
Contact numbers for various agencies: Clark County Code Enforcement (702) 455-4191; Las Vegas (702) 229-4915, or (702) 229-5103; North Las Vegas (702) 633-1581.


Flash Flood Season is Here
The National Weather Service will declare a Flash Flood Watch when a flood is possible in your area, and a Flash Flood Warning if a flood is already occurring or will occur very soon.
If you are caught in a sudden, major storm, which may cause flooding, it is usually safer for you to stay where you are and wait out the storm rather than trying to drive through it. So if you are driving when a major storm hits, think about finding some ground higher than the street to pull onto until the storm passes.
Remember to never drive through a flooded road or around barricades. It can be difficult to determine how deep floodwaters are and floodwaters can rise dramatically in minutes. If you do get stuck in a stalled car, remember that it might be safer to stay with your vehicle. Fast moving water, even only a few inches deep can quickly sweep you off your feet.
Never let children or pets play in or near floodwaters, which are fast moving and can contain dangerous debris and chemicals. For more information go to the Regional Flood Control District’s Web site at www.regionalflood.org.


Foster Families Needed
Clark County has more than 2,000 children in its foster care system and is always looking for prospective foster families and adoptive parents. Potential adoptive parents are encouraged to enroll in the Adoption Program, which is designed to match families with a waiting child or children who need a permanent home. This process involves education, training and an adoption home study, which assists the review team to find the best possible match for your home. 

Anyone 21 or older who meets the licensing and other minimum requirements can become a foster or adoptive parent. For information about the Clark County Foster and Adoption Program, please contact us at (702) 455-0181 or e-mail us at fosterclarkcounty@co.clark.nv.us.

County Celebrates 100th Birthday
On July 1, 1909, Clark County was carved out of Lincoln County and 100 years later we are celebrating this birth of our county. Clark County’s centennial celebration is well underway and more events are coming. Information about the centennial is available at www.AccessClarkCounty.com/100. 


DMV – Testing Fees, Diesel Emissions Changes
The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles now charges $25 for driver’s permit and license tests; requires annual emissions inspections on diesel vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating up to 14,000 pounds in Clark and Washoe counties (the previous cutoff was 10,000 pounds); and investigates complaints against auto repair garages.
The changes, which were adopted by the state Legislature, went into effect on July 1. Additional information is available at the DMV’s Web site at www.dmvnv.com.

Clark County Commission, Zoning Meetings
County Commission meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday or every month. County zoning meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Both meetings begin at 9 a.m. in Commission Chambers at the County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway in downtown Las Vegas.
Planning Commission meetings, held four times a month, are typically on the first and third Tuesdays and Thursdays every month. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are also held in Commission Chambers.


North Las Vegas Government Meetings
The North Las Vegas City Council meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month in the Council Chambers at North Las Vegas City Hall, 2200 Civic Center Drive. Regular council meetings begin at 6 p.m. Redevelopment Agency meetings (the council also sits as the Redevelopment Agency board) are held immediately before the first monthly meeting. For more information, please call the City Clerk's office at (702) 633-1030. The North Las Vegas Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month in the Council Chambers. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. For more information, please call the Planning and Zoning Division at (702) 633-1537. Additional information about the city is also available online at www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com.



Mesquite City Council Meetings
The Mesquite City Council meets regularly on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month. The meetings begin at 5 p.m. and are held at City Hall at 10 E. Mesquite Blvd. For more information call (702) 346-5295 or go to the city’s Web site at http://www.mesquitenv.com.

Friends of Gold Butte

The Friends of Gold Butte, partnering with the BLM, will celebrate Public Lands Day September 23 with volunteer projects, prizes and education of the area.  The organization also meets monthly for presentations about the Gold Butte area.  For more information and to receive the Friends newsletter email friendsofgoldbutte@gmail.com.

Mesquite Summer Activities
Mesquite is a busy place during the next few months with a golf tournament, Golden Gloves boxing tournament, and Mesa View Regional Hospital’s 5th birthday celebration. For more information about specific events visit the City of Mesquite’s events calendar at http://www.mesquitenv.com/calendar.

Las Vegas Government Meetings
The Las Vegas City Council regular meetings are on the first and third Wednesdays of every month beginning at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers at Las Vegas City Hall, 400 Stewart Avenue in downtown Las Vegas. The council meets as the city Redevelopment Agency before each regular council meeting at 8 a.m. The city Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month beginning at 6 p.m. Those meetings are also held in Council Chambers.


District B Town Board Meetings – Moapa, Moapa Valley, Sunrise Manor
The Moapa Town Advisory Board typically meets on the Thursday before the third Tuesday of every month. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held at the Marley P. Robinson Justice Court and Community Center, 1340 E. Highway, Moapa, (702) 864-2427.
The Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board typically meets Wednesdays before the first and third Tuesdays of every month. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held at the Moapa Valley Community Center, 320 N. Moapa Valley Boulevard, Overton.
The Sunrise Manor Town Advisory Board typically meets on the Thursday before the first and third Tuesdays of every month. The meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held at the Hollywood Recreation and Community Services Center, 1650 S. Hollywood Boulevard, Las Vegas, (702) 455-0560. For more information on town advisory boards call 1-702-397-6475 for Moapa and Moapa Valley issues and (702) 455-3452 or (702) 455-0560 for Sunrise Manor issues, or go online to Administrative Services and look under Town and Liaison Services.