From its humble beginnings as a 160-acre farming plot to a bustling municipality of nearly 300,000 residents, North Las Vegas marked its 80th anniversary during the May 5 City Council meeting.

Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown reflected on the city’s rise since she arrived in the 1960s. “To see the phenomenal growth… I would never call any other place home,” she said, after presiding over the burial of an 80th-anniversary time capsule earlier that morning.

A journey from ‘Vegas Verde’ to incorporation

The centerpiece of the evening was a historical presentation by Jeffery Alpert, the city’s “official unofficial” historian. Alpert painted a vivid picture of a town that began not with a casino, but with a well. In 1918, Tom Williams purchased 160 acres from the railroad for $8 an acre—the land where Jerry’s Nugget stands today. Originally dubbed “Vegas Verde,” the community survived the Great Depression and eventually voted to become North Las Vegas. When it finally incorporated in May 1946, the city spanned just 2.3 square miles with a population of 2,875.

Alpert’s timeline highlighted several pivotal milestones that shaped the city’s identity over the decades. During the 1950s, the city ushered in significant social progress by electing its first female mayor. Decades later, in 1973, Jerome Goynes—the father of the current Mayor—broke barriers as the first Black City Councilman. However, the journey was not without hardship; the 2010s marked a period of “great pain” characterized by a housing collapse that saw city staff plummet from 2,100 to just 800, ultimately forcing the closure of jails and some fire stations. “The city teetered on the brink of insolvency,” Alpert noted, crediting former Mayor John Lee and current leadership for a “slow turnaround” that stabilized the budget and ignited a warehouse and industrial boom.

Groundbreakings and growth

Councilman Isaac Barron, representing Ward 1, recalled his childhood in the area. “This was a trailer park,” he said, gesturing to the modern surroundings. “The dirt lot that I used to jump bikes in [has] become home to the very heart of our new reimagined area.” Barron highlighted the April 28 groundbreaking of Nevada State University as a “promise kept” for a city that had never hosted a university campus. City Manager Micaela Moore bolstered this optimism with data: in March alone, land development inspections increased by 45%, and new business licenses more than doubled.

Current development highlights further underscore this trajectory of growth and inclusion across the valley. The newly opened Pierson Pines offers a 60-unit senior affordable housing complex, while the industrial sector continues to thrive with 10 million square feet of complexes completed and another 20 million square feet in the planning stages. Additionally, Councilwoman Ruth Garcia-Anderson promoted the Redevelopment Agency’s Residential Curb Appeal and Commercial Facade programs, which provide critical financial support by covering 50% of improvement costs for eligible residents and businesses looking to revitalize their properties.

Community recognitions and ward updates

The Council took time to honor the people fueling the city’s daily operations. Lobo Auto Accessories was named the May 2026 Business of the Month. Owner Raul Hernandez, a former student of Councilman Barron, called the recognition a “dream come true.”

The meeting also featured reports on localized efforts to improve quality of life across the city’s various wards. In Ward 4, Councilman Richard Cherchio reported a cleanup effort in the Legacy Estate neighborhood, where 186 homes participated in removing 300 yards of trash and painting 11 fire hydrants. On the public safety front, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black shared his experience with the “Biking with Badges” event, noting that his report of graffiti during a 16-mile ride was remediated by city teams in less than two hours. Black also addressed social services, speaking at the Hope for Prisoners graduation to celebrate over 100 individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the workforce and their families.

Public comment

Terry Maria raised alarms regarding traffic safety, citing a recent news report of 77 arrests and 59 vehicle tows related to street takeovers, as well as a recent fatality at Simmons and Craig. “These are the things that are going on,” Maria warned, urging more focus on speeding school buses.

Elaine Jefferson, representing Sun City Aliante, brought forward a logistical grievance regarding the Aliante Golf Course. She noted that the course’s limited parking often forces golfers to overflow into the senior living community’s private lots. “At 80-something years old, most of us can’t duke it out with these golfers,” she said, requesting an expansion of the public parking lot. Finally, Gary Bouchard critiqued the city’s 80th-anniversary party, describing the Midway as “filthy” and the food prices as “sky high,” citing a $47 bill for two chicken sandwiches and sodas.

A vision for 2046

The meeting concluded with a look toward the next generation. City Manager Moore highlighted the H.o.M.E. (Homeless Outreach and Mobile) Team’s efforts and announced a Homeless Services Pop-up scheduled for May 13 at Tonopah Park. As the city enters its ninth decade, the leadership remains focused on the “Sparkle” park improvement program and the development of a new medical district.

Mayor Goynes-Brown provided the GPS coordinates for the newly buried time capsule (36.199828, -115.121.611) and issued a standing invitation to the public. “In twenty years, at our 100th birthday celebration, I will invite you all back here to open the time capsule,” the Mayor said. “Let the party continue.”

The North Las Vegas City Council approved:

[As the Redevelopment Agency] Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2026.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda of May 6, 2026.

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2026.

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of April 15, 2026.

Agreement for Purchase of Furniture and Installation Services with Creative Office Pavilion, LLC dba HB Workplaces in an Amount Not to Exceed $344,071.00 for the Fire Training Center Located at 1590 W. Brooks Ave. (Ward 2 – Garcia-Anderson).

FY 2026/2027 Annual Action Plan in the Approximate Amount of $2,168,588.00 Including $1,996,330.00 in FY 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds and $172,258.00 in FY 2026 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Authorization for the City Manager or Her Designee to Enter into Appropriate Agreements for Approved Projects and Programs and to Administratively Approve any Revised Final Funding Allocations or Contract Amendments as Required.

Agreement for Enterprise Asset Management Software (Maximo) with Total Resource Management, Inc. in a Total Amount Not to Exceed $443,902.00 for a Three-Year Term.

Purchase and Service Agreement with Frontier Technology, LLC dba MicroAge for Cybersecurity Software and Support in the Amount of $138,406.43.

Agreement for Purchase of Proofpoint Cybersecurity Software with Arctiq, Inc. in a Total Amount Not to Exceed $81,378.00 for a One-Year Term.

Restricted Gaming and Restricted Gaming Liquor Business Licenses for SCT Park Highlands, LLC dba Seventy-Six Tavern Park Highlands Located at 976 W. Dorrell Ln. (Ward 4 – Cherchio)

Non-Restricted Gaming Business License for Boomer’s Sports Book, LLC dba Boomer’s Sportsbook dbat Club Fortune Casino North Located at 2757 N. Las Vegas Blvd. (Ward 1 – Barron)

Restricted Gaming Business License for United Coin Machine Co. dba Century Gaming Technologies dbat Green Valley Grocery #67 Located at 2730 W. Centennial Pkwy. (Ward 4 – Cherchio).

Restricted Gaming Business License for United Coin Machine Co. dba Century Gaming Technologies dbat Green Valley Grocery #67 Located at 2730 W. Centennial Pkwy. (Ward 4 – Cherchio).

Beer-Wine-Spirit-Based Products On-Sale Business License for TMM Paint 2, LLC dba Pinot’s Palette Located at 2546 E. Craig Rd., Ste. 115. (Ward 2 – Garcia-Anderson).

Beer-Wine-Spirit-Based Products On-Sale Business License for LV Food Village, LLC dba Moko Sushi Located at 2760 W. Deer Springs Way, Ste. 101-102. (Ward 3 – Black).

Beer-Wine-Spirit-Based Products On-Sale Business License for Birrieria No Te Rajes Jalisco, LLC dba Birrieria No Te Rajes Jalisco Located at 2425 N. Las Vegas Blvd. (Ward 1 – Barron).

Addendum to Agreement with Track Group, Inc. for Electronic Monitoring Products and Services (Participating Addendum Number 22PSX0021) in an Amount Not to Exceed $100,000.00. (Citywide).

RFP 2025-014; Agreement for Landscaping Services for Craig Ranch Regional Park and Las Vegas Valley Wash Trails with Par-3 Landscape and Maintenance, Inc. in a Total Amount Not to Exceed $4,400,000.00 ($880,000 Annually for Three-Year Term and Two One-Year Renewal Options); and Authorization for City Manager to Exercise Renewal Options. (Citywide).

Supplemental Interlocal Contract for the North Las Vegas Detention Basin Upgrade Project with the Clark County Regional Flood Control District in the Amount of $50,000.00 for Design Labor Costs, CIP Project No. 10498. (Ward 4 – Cherchio).

Bid Number 1780; Construction Contract with Trane U.S., Inc. in the Amount of $280,620.00 from Capital Improvement Plan for the NLVPD Northwest Area Command Center HVAC Replacement Project, CIP Project No. 25021. (Ward 3 – Black).

Agreement to Purchase One 210-Ton Water Cooled Chiller for the Silver Mesa Recreation Center with Trane U.S. Inc. in the Amount of $214,955.00. (Ward 1 – Barron).

Professional Engineering Services Agreement for the Craig Ranch Regional Park Twenty-Acre Expansion Project with Wood Rodgers, Inc. for Design Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $534,280.00 Funded with SNPLMA Funds, CIP Project No. 10617. (Ward 2 – Garcia-Anderson).

Final Acceptance for Maintenance of the Justice Facility Module Relocation Project (Bid No. 1758; CIP Project No. 26023) and Authorization to File the Notice of Completion. (Ward 1 – Barron).

Additional Expenditure in the Amount of $150,000.00 for CIP Project No. S0025 from Utility Enterprise Funds; Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Engineering Services Agreement for the 2020 Wastewater Master Plan Update with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. in the Amount of $150,000.00 (Increase from $448,330.00 to $598,330.00). (Citywide).

Extension of Construction Contract with Highway Striping and Signs, LLC for the Major Corridor Pavement Markings Replacement FY23 Project in the Amount of $993,182.20 and Additional Extension of and Change Order for the Construction Contract in an Amount Not to Exceed $993,182.20.

BID B-1757; Citywide Security Services Agreement with Designated Defense Security Services for Armed Security Services at Various City Locations for a Five-Year Term in an Amount Not to Exceed $7,681,898.07.

Purchase Agreement for Well Equipment for the Playa Well with Applied Ingenuity PM, LLC in an Amount Not to Exceed $150,263.00, CIP Project No. W0061. (Ward 1 – Barron).

Ordinance No. 3275: An Ordinance of the City of North Las Vegas Amending Chapter 10.60 of the North Las Vegas Municipal Code Related to Bicycles by Adding Provisions Regulating the Use of Electric Bicycles, Electric Scooters and Electric Motorcycles and Amending Section 12.16.020 of the Municipal Code Related to Parks, Recreation Facilities and Trail Use by Adding Provisions Related to the Use of Electric Bicycles, Electric Scooters, and Electric Motorcycles in City Parks and on Trails, and Providing for Other Matters Properly Related Thereto. (Citywide).

An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.40 of the North Las Vegas Municipal Code by Repealing Provisions Related to the Records Management Committee and Providing for Other Matters Properly Related Thereto.

Reappointment of Karina Barragan to the Regional Flood Control District Citizens’ Advisory Committee for a Two-Year Term Ending on June 30, 2028.