City Council approves foreclosure ordinance

The North Las Vegas City Council approved an ordinance aimed to combat blight in foreclosed properties Dec. 19. All council members voted in favor, except Wade Wagner, who was not present.

The ordinance adopted a registration and maintenance program for properties in foreclosure. Registration will include contact information for the mortgagee with the city to provide North Las Vegas someone to reach in cases of property neglect. The ordinance also details required maintenance, including landscaping, pool upkeep, repairing broken doors and windows, among other items.

Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross appeared at the meeting to speak in favor of the ordinance before the vote. Since Las Vegas' similar ordinance began in January 2012, the city registered more than 2,200 homes in the foreclosure program, he said, and received revenue of more than $450,000.

"But that's not the important thing," Ross said. "The important thing is opening that line of communication with the lending institution or the folks that own these properties because without that line of communication, we can't say 'go out there and take care of these properties,' " Ross said.

North Las Vegas was initially scheduled to vote on a similar ordinance in October but was delayed, first at the request of Mayor Shari Buck so she could consult residents on the issue and later by City Attorney Jeffrey Barr to revise the language.

"One home in disrepair in one neighborhood ruins the property value across the board, so that's why it's so significant for us in the city of Las Vegas," Ross said. "Our residents don't know what city they live in and don't know where the line of jurisdictions are drawn, and it doesn't matter as long as your council and certainly the city of Las Vegas is focused on trying to maintain the integrity of these neighborhoods. Keeping property values up is a great service to the constituents we represent."

Buck thanked Ross for leading the way on the foreclosure ordinance movement in the valley and said she and the council waited to see how Las Vegas moved forward with it before taking action in North Las Vegas.

"I think this is a wonderful move for the city of North Las Vegas," Councilwoman Anita Wood said. "I know it's taken us a few runs to get there, but I know I met with the Board of Realtors this morning, and they're very pleased with the way that we have this worded and have their support as well, so I think that this is a move that will do wonders for the city of North Las Vegas and helping us to ensure that we keep our neighborhoods as nice as possible."

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Laura Phelps at lphelps@viewnews.com or 702-477-3839.