Area briefing
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE TO SPAN FROM
LAS VEGAS CITY HALL TO THE SMITH CENTER
Construction of the Symphony Park Pedestrian Bridge was scheduled to begin July 16, connecting the Las Vegas City Hall parking garage, 500 S. Main St., to the parking lot at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave.
The prefabricated steel bridge will aim to improve pedestrian access between downtown and Symphony Park, adding to the area's walkable community improvements, according to the city of Las Vegas.
Plans include a concrete deck, elevators, stairs, landscaping and irrigation. The bridge is slated to be constructed over Union Pacific Railroad tracks and right-of-way and be lifted into place by a crane.
The $4.5 million project is expected to take roughly eight months, with most work scheduled Monday through Friday, starting at 6 a.m.
The start of construction is expected to have minimal impact on the 500 S. Main St. parking garage. Toward the end of construction, parking restrictions may occur on the west end of the garage's third and top levels so crews can stage power, low-voltage and irrigation lines that will connect to the bridge from the garage. During the placement of the bridge by crane, parking and pedestrian traffic along the garage's west wall is scheduled to be blocked off. The construction activity primarily will be in The Smith Center's temporary-surface parking lot nearest to the train tracks.
Funding comes from a $500,000 Federal Highway Administration grant, $3.6 million from federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds and $400,000 from the city of Las Vegas' general fund.
The city of Las Vegas is managing the project. Whiting-Turner Contracting Company of Las Vegas is the general contractor.
COUNTY GRANTS THREE-MONTH PERMIT AMNESTY FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
The Clark County Building Department announced a 90-day amnesty program, waiving penalties on self-disclosed residential construction conducted without permits.
The amnesty began July 1 and is set to run through Sept. 30. Homeowners in unincorporated Clark County can pay regular fees for permits, inspections and plan reviews, with no penalty costs.
Fees for residential construction range from $150 to $400, depending on the project. The county building department's permit application center is at 4701 W. Russell Road.
The initiative is aimed at giving homeowners the chance to address any home repairs that require permits and inspections so that the residence is safe and abides by code.
The most common residential projects built without the necessary permits include garage conversions, room additions, patio covers and water heater installations, county officials said.
Work conducted without permits may not be covered by insurance, and residents could face costly repairs when they try to sell their homes, according to the county. In addition, faulty installations can cause fires, flood damage and other hazards, county officials said.
POLICE LAUNCH COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
TO FIGHT GRAFFITI
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has partnered with area agencies to fight graffiti, considered one of the valley's most costly property crimes.
The initiative aims to implement enforcement, abatement, prevention and education. The goal is to unite public agencies with the community to fight graffiti and protect the valley from graffiti vandalism and any related crime.
The department has teamed with the city of Las Vegas, Crime Stoppers of Nevada, the Clark County School District and other Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition partners for the initiative.
A kickoff for the effort, dubbed Graffiti-Free Las Vegas, took place June 26 at Martin Middle School, 200 N. 28th St.
For more information, call 828-3111 or visit lvmpd.com.
AARP PLANS DRIVER SAFETY CLASs
The AARP plans a driver safety class from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the H2U MountainView Office, 3150 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 114.
The cost is $12 for AARP members with an AARP membership card and a driver's license and $14 for nonmembers.
To register, bring a check payable to AARP to the H2U MountainView Office. Class size is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Light refreshments are scheduled to be served. For more information, call 255-5404.
CYBER SECURITY EXERCISE ADDRESSES COMMUNITY RESPONSE STRATEGIES
Valley officials recently participated in a cyber security exercise to enhance awareness of the issue and collaboration throughout the community.
The full-day training, which took place June 21 at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St., included about 100 participants from federal, state and local governments and the private sector.
The event was designed to enhance community leaders' understanding of cyber security so organizations are better able to address any threats that may arise. Discussions dealt with cyber security threats, policies, procedures and incident responses to determine where collaboration can occur.
Valley participants included Clark County Assessor Michele Shafe and Clark County Recorder Debbie Conway.
The event was part of a 14-month Department of Homeland Security program in which Clark and Washoe counties were selected to participate.
The cyber security program is administered by the University of Texas' Center for Infrastructure Assurance Security. Nevada is one of only two states selected to receive the grant-funded training this year.
