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By Mike Zapler
Review-Journal
A private-public recreational proposal was shelved indefinitely Monday by the Las Vegas City Council amid concerns that former County Commissioner Don Schlesinger was getting a special deal.
; Responding to those worries, council members said they may solicit other proposals to expand Trent Park -- something not considered until Monday, even though Schlesinger's plan was first presented to city officials almost a year ago.
&#
160; Schlesinger has proposed building a sports complex at the corner of Vegas Drive and Rampart Boulevard in the city's northwest.
Under the deal, the city would lease 18 acres of prime park land to
Schlesinger for as little as $5,000 a year to build three softball fields, an ice skating rink and a roller rink.
Councilman Arnie Adamsen, who headed the project, described it as a private-public partnership he hopes
will become a model for building parks in Las Vegas.
Cash reserves are short, Adamsen said, so the city is eager for private developers to step forward and fill a growing need for parks.
60; "This truly is win-win for the city," Adamsen said of Schlesinger's plan.
But several Las Vegas businessmen and residents told the council that leasing the land to Schlesinger for the amount proposed would not be
fair.
David Morgan's family owns three roller skating rinks in Las Vegas and is building a fourth at the corner of Fort Apache and Flamingo roads, about five miles from the rink Schlesinger wants to construct. Morgan --
who already has committed $4 million to his newest rink, including $1.2 million in land costs -- said Schlesinger's deal could threaten his entire business.
"We don't mind the competition, as long as the competition is
competing on equal ground," said Morgan, owner of Crystal Palace Skating Centers. "When (Schlesinger) doesn't have to pay for land at a reasonable cost, it gives him an unfair advantage over everyone else."
Others we
re concerned Schlesinger may be getting a sweetheart deal -- and the city cheated -- because other proposals were not considered.
"How do we decide if this is in the best interest of the city?" said Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones.
"Right now, I don't have any basis to say this is wonderful, other than the fact th
at I like and trust you, Don Schlesinger."
Schlesinger would pay $5,000 the first year for 18 acres of federally owned, but city controlled, land. His rent would increase gradually until the 25th year of his lease, when
he would pay the city $20,000, or 1.25 percent of his gross revenues, whichever is greater.
Schlesinger said he expects his gross revenues to be about $1.7 million a year.
Schlesinge
r could charge softball teams $562.50 for league play, as opposed to the city rate of $450.
Skating rates could be set at whatever amount Schlesinger decides, although the former county commissioner said they would lik
ely be about $5 a session.
Schlesinger said he is convinced his project is a fair deal for the city. He and his business partner, Las Vegas Color Graphics owner Linda Fernandez, devoted countless hours of research on th
e deal, Schlesinger said, including trips to other Western cities that have built similar private-public parks.
"This has been a long haul for us," Schlesinger said.
Eric Horn, who ow
ns a construction company that is preparing to build an ice rink near Blue Diamond Road and Interstate 15, said he appreciated Schlesinger's hard work, but questioned the fairness of his proposal.
"We're going to be pay
ing $200,000" for land, about 10 times the amount Schlesinger would pay, Horn said. "He'd be getting a real sweet deal."
After a two-hour discussion, Jones postponed the project indefinitely while city staff does more r
esearch.
The mayor also said she may recommend soliciting other proposals.
"This may end up going to public bid," she said.
Both Morgan, the rolle
r rink owner, and Horn, who is building the ice rink, said they would respond to such a request.
"I would have to," Morgan said. "I can't afford to have another rink right near the one I'm building. This is my livelihoo
d."
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