City hall hearing postponed

There was supposed to be a public hearing Wednesday on Las Vegas' plans for a new city hall, but problems with the proposal spotted by critics of the project meant the hearing had to be delayed.

"We're going to have to start the process over in January," said Mark Vincent, the city's finance director.

He said the delay probably would not affect the project's timeline. However, an effort by the Culinary union to stop the project might.

The union is gathering signatures to put funding for a new city hall up for voter approval. Construction would cost an estimated $150 million, although city documents say the project's financing could go as high as $266 million.

If a ballot question was pending, Vincent said, "I don't think anyone would buy the notes until after the votes were taken."

The union has until the end of January to gather signatures. In the meantime, union officials challenged the hearing process by pointing to technical issues in the proposal.

Las Vegas' submission to the Clark County Debt Management Commission didn't include a study listing revenues that will repay the construction debt, union attorneys said in a letter. They also contended the city hasn't justified using a financing option known as "certificates of participation," which can be more expensive than bond financing.

The revenue study has been completed and will be submitted to the debt management commission, a city spokesman said, although Vincent said there's some doubt that it's actually required. The city also produced a letter from Nevada State Bank's public finance division advising that the city's approach is preferable to general obligation bonds because approval of those could take too long.

General obligation bonds also require voter consent.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said the union's push, which includes overturning the city's redevelopment plan for downtown, won't end up on the ballot next year.

"It'll either be resolved, or there'll be court challenges," he said.