Park projects win Henderson City Council approval

The Henderson City Council approved a series of big-ticket contracts Tuesday to build two more parks in the city.

The council unanimously approved a $3.5 million construction contract for the six-acre McCullough Vista Park planned for the northwest corner of Greenway Road and East Mission Drive.

Reno-based West Coast Contractors of Nevada will build the park designed to include multiuse activity fields, open play areas, basketball court, pathways and restrooms.

While the majority of the funding will come through the Bureau of Land Management’s Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, the city will contribute $75,000 from its city gas tax fund for a new storm drain inlet on Greenway.

The act, which became law in 1998, allows the Bureau of Land Management to sell public land within a specific boundary around Las Vegas. Some of the revenue derived from land sales is set aside for parks, trails and other natural areas.

The project has been a slow crawl for people living in the area. The council approved the $6.1 million development of McCullough Vista Park in March 2008. In June 2010, a $452,000 engineering contract was awarded, with another $149,000 added to the contract in September last year.

The project design began in 2010, but put on hold in late 2012.

The council rejected a bid protest by Las Vegas-based Pace Contracting, which claimed, in part, that West Coast and two other bidders did not submit a full list of subcontractors under state law. The city attorney’s office told the council that West Coast’s bid was in “substantial compliance” with state law.

West Coast submitted the lowest of six bids Jan. 30, while Pace submitted the third highest.

Henry McCubbin, vice president of Pace, told the council the company will review the decision and may file legal action, which could delay the project.

“We have to discuss this with our legal counsel to make a decision on the best way forward,” McCubbin said after the meeting.

While the city is using federal funds to build one park, it is having to reach into its own pockets to make sure another one gets built.

The council approved a $1.6 million construction contract for North Las Vegas-based Tand Construction for the Boulder Creek Park near Boulder Highway and Equestrian Drive.

The city is providing $2 million to design and build the Boulder Creek Park after the developer of the adjacent neighborhood failed to fund the project.

“The city agreed to step in and construct a park for the residents of the area,” city spokesman Keith Paul said.

Another $450,000 is being provided by federal capital grants to build the park.

The park will be a scaled-back version of the $6 million park Woodside Homes had planned for 10 acres in the Boulder Creek housing development. The city acquired the land in 2010. Construction of the park is expected to take nine months.

TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES

The City Council awarded a $1.8 million contract to replace the city’s permitting, licensing and land management software system. Tyler Technologies will replace the old, obsolete Kiva system. The Texas-based Tyler, a software solutions company that specializes in working with local governments, will also receive $150,000 for annual support and maintenance.

“The land management software system provides the ability to manage parcels, addresses, zoning codes and geographic areas by maintaining historical permit and related data during parcel splits and combines,” Paul said.

POLICE LEAVING GALLERIA

In public safety, the council agreed to terminate a lease agreement for the city police substation at the Galleria at Sunset mall. The 2,400-square-foot- storefront has been used by the Henderson Police Department’s Community Relations Unit since 2008 to interact with residents and mall visitors. It was not staffed with officers that would respond to police calls. The termination will save the city $28,800 per year.

The city will not have to pay any early termination fees under the agreement amended April 2012. The city vacated the space in August. The contract was scheduled to expire April 30, 2015.

Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3882. Follow on Twitter @KnightlyGrind.