North Las Vegas advances hospital search, parks funding and public safety grants

The North Las Vegas City Council moved forward on plans for the city’s first acute care hospital, repurposed more than $11 million in capital improvement funds toward park enhancements, and accepted millions in federal and state public safety grants during its Oct. 7 meeting.

Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown presided over the meeting, which opened with an invocation by Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Jesse D. Scott Elementary School students.

During council reports, Black announced that the city has narrowed its search for an operator for its first-ever acute care hospital to two finalists. Municipal leaders expect to finalize a development agreement within the next 90 days, clearing the way for project construction to begin. Black framed the hospital as a vital milestone for local healthcare access, fulfilling a long-standing community priority.

Black also highlighted the expansion of regional recreation trails, pointing to the Sept. 23 groundbreaking on the 215 Beltway Trail, which will extend eastward from Decatur Boulevard in two phases to provide safe, non-motorized connectivity.

“People love to be able to navigate the city and do so in a safe manner without driving an automobile, and that’s a great way to do that,” Black said.

In addition, Black recapped community recreation events, including a ride with the Neighborhood Recreation Center bike club at Craig Ranch Park and the Glowtober Fest on Oct. 2, which drew 200 participants riding bikes decorated with glow sticks. Black also invited the public to an employee appreciation event scheduled for Oct. 10 at Liberty Park.

Councilman Isaac Barron, whose term concludes Nov. 30 following his campaign for the Nevada State Senate earlier this year, reflected on neighborhood revitalization across Ward 1. Barron praised the Sept. 24 ribbon-cutting for Hope Christian Health Center’s City Impact facility, which delivers essential medical care to underserved residents, and celebrated the grand opening of rebuilt Fire Station 51, thanking Fire Chief Joseph Calhoun for modernizing the facility while preserving historic brass fire poles. Barron remarked that ongoing public and private investments will make the downtown core unrecognizable within a decade. Mayor Goynes-Brown commended Calhoun for honoring Barron’s civic service at the station opening. Barron also highlighted the Neighborhood Recreation Center fishing club, inviting residents to an Oct. 17 youth excursion at Sunset Park.

Councilwoman Ruth Garcia-Anderson commended municipal staff for organizing celebrations throughout the city’s Sixth Annual Hispanic Heritage Month, which commenced Sept. 16. Garcia-Anderson also celebrated the Sept. 30 launch of the final phase of Hylo Park, a major mixed-use development slated to include a Hilton Hotel, a 250,000-square-foot indoor athletic field, a renovated multi-sport arena, commercial retail space and a sports academy.

In civic presentations, the council viewed a video from Councilman Richard Cherchio, who was absent, honoring Doug King’s Pup Star Pet Salon as the October 2026 Business of the Month. Located across from Craig Ranch Regional Park, the pet business was founded in memory of Police Sgt. Douglas King, who died in 2021, and continues to be operated by his family. Cherchio also promoted the annual Paws in the Park pet wellness fair set for Oct. 24 at Aliante Nature Discovery Park. Mayor Goynes-Brown invited the public to the city’s Fourth Annual Forklift Rodeo on Oct. 8, showcasing skills competitions between municipal water district equipment operators.

The council approved a proclamation designating October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The measure cited Nevada Department of Public Safety data revealing that law enforcement investigated 27,707 domestic and elder violence incidents statewide in 2025, during which 14,237 children were present at crime scenes and 4,283 survivors required medical treatment. The proclamation commended victim advocates, officers and judicial personnel while urging continued community support.

Recessing into the North Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency under the chairmanship of Garcia-Anderson, members considered a commercial façade improvement application for AAA Discount Storage. Redevelopment Manager Scott Carter presented the project, which proposes more than $270,000 in exterior renovations, including parking lot resurfacing, monument sign upgrades, landscaping, lighting and enhanced security. The board approved a maximum grant of $75,000 for the project. Property representative Victor Gonzalez commended the municipal program, and the agency approved its Sept. 2 minutes before adjourning.

Reconvening in regular session, the council approved an extensive series of capital allocations and contracts. To fund neighborhood park enhancements under Project Sparkle, commissioners reallocated $11,279,101.23, transferring $10,043,046.25 from general fund capital reserves and $1,236,054.98 from the Parks Tax Override Fund to support recreational improvements in Wards 1 and 2.

The council accepted several federal and state public safety grants, led by a $1,018,919 formula allocation under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program to support local criminal justice initiatives across Clark County, North Las Vegas, Las Vegas and Henderson. Other federal awards included $259,638 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance for crisis response training and $220,547 from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for officer wellness. State grants included $185,200 for hazardous materials transportation training, $54,600 for tactical casualty care instruction, $30,000 for election facility security and $82,798 in Victims of Crime Act formula funding requiring a $20,699.50 city match.

Emergency communications and utility purchases received formal approval. The council authorized $431,378.82 in annual operating assessments to the Southern Nevada Area Communications Council for shared radio maintenance and approved a $403,708.80 agreement with Motorola Solutions for portable radios. Utility contracts included $83,418.48 to City Electric Supply Company for streetlight poles and $158,426.50 to Codale Electric Supply for LED fixtures. The council also approved a $63,475 amendment with Vertosoft LLC for software services and amended a citywide tree trimming contract with Par-3 Landscape and Maintenance, increasing the total not-to-exceed amount from $625,000 to $925,000.

To support public works operations, the council approved three-year heavy equipment rental agreements across four vendors under Bid B-1787. The contracts include annual allocations of up to $590,000 with Arnold Machinery Company, $490,000 each with Coastline Equipment and Empire Southwest, and $180,000 with APCO Equipment Corporation. In property matters, the council vacated a 40-foot right-of-way on Harvey Avenue near Valley Drive and approved City Hall lease agreements to Workforce Connections and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

During the administrative report, City Manager Micaela Moore commended emergency personnel on the ribbon-cutting of rebuilt Fire Station 51, noting the facility had served the neighborhood for 50 years prior to its complete modernization. Acknowledging the dedication of the fire department’s leadership and crew, Moore said, “North Las Vegas is safer and stronger because of you.”

Moore also highlighted upcoming community recreation events, including the Pumpkin Palooza trunk-or-treat scheduled for Oct. 16 at Silver Mesa, and commended the city’s grants division, reporting that staff secured nearly $2 million on the evening’s agenda alone and brought in over $21 million during the first half of 2026 to support law enforcement, housing and municipal services.

During the general public forum, Pastor Leo Rios of Victory Outreach announced the launch of a community youth outreach center at 3925 North Martin Luther King Blvd. Rios cited recent youth gun violence across the valley, including an Oct. 2 shooting during First Friday in downtown Las Vegas that left one teenager dead and two injured, and a separate incident where a 15-year-old girl was shot while walking home.

“Enough is enough,” the Pastor said. “At Victory Outreach, we are willing to do our part [to] help young people build relationships and find guidance.”

Rios shared his personal experience overcoming homelessness and addiction in Las Vegas and requested municipal collaboration to support center programs. Mayor Goynes-Brown directed staff to confer with Rios following the meeting. In addition, resident Terry Maria urged the council to increase traffic enforcement against persistent street drag racing in residential neighborhoods to protect schoolchildren.