Bill to strike term limits for Las Vegas planning commissioners advances

A proposal to end term limits for city planning commissioners in Las Vegas took another step forward Tuesday.

The city manager's recommending committee approved the proposal, which means it will go to the City Council today for a possible vote.

Ward 3 Councilman Bob Coffin and Ward 5 Councilman Ricki Barlow, who serve on the recommending committee, both supported the measure.

"I was disappointed that I couldn't reappoint my planning commissioner," said Coffin, referring to Steve Evans, who was prohibited by term limits from continuing.

"He was good, damn good," Coffin said later of Evans, who opposed him in the primary election for council. "It is hard to find people that good."

Coffin himself is a former legislator who was prohibited by term limits from seeking another term in the state Senate in 2010. Instead, he ran for City Council.

Council members appoint planning commissioners, and Coffin said that the job requires a high level of expertise and that the institutional knowledge that comes with experience is valuable.

"It is not a political office, even though some people might consider it to be powerful," Coffin said.

The proposal comes from Barlow, who introduced it after learning term limits could mean the loss of longtime Planning Commissioners Byron Goynes and Evans.

Goynes wishes to continue as a commissioner.

Currently, a planning commissioner who serves two consecutive four-year terms must step aside for at least two years before returning.

No one spoke against the proposal Tuesday, but June Ingram, president of the Charleston Neighborhood Preservation board, submitted a letter of opposition.

The letter said term limits are an important check against government officials becoming entrenched in office.

"We have a citizen representative Planning Commission due to the wisdom of providing an ordinance with term limits specified," the letter said.

There are seven planning commissioners, each appointed by a different council member.

The commission members are paid $80 per meeting and are required to live in the city.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.