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Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown called the regular meeting of the North Las Vegas City Council to order on Aug. 5, leading a moment of silence for Metropolitan Police Department Officer Austin Abdelnabi, who was fatally shot in the line of duty the previous day. “On behalf of the City of North Las Vegas, he’s in our thoughts and prayers and also every man and woman in this entire state who is called to protect and serve our community,” Goynes-Brown said. Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black followed with an invocation honoring Abdelnabi’s sacrifice before welcoming children of North Las Vegas police officers to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
During council reports, elected officials detailed recent civic engagements and public health programs. Councilman Richard Cherchio highlighted a municipal blood drive held July 22 at Aliante Casino. Cherchio also detailed a joint tour of the Animal Foundation conducted with Councilwoman Ruth Garcia-Anderson. Addressing past operational difficulties, Cherchio reported that the organization has “turned the tide around” by adopting “up to date good practices” that “were really needed over here for many years.” Cherchio added that the city is collaborating with the City Attorney’s office to draft animal welfare ordinances focused on breeding regulations and mandatory microchipping, while urging pet owners to protect domestic animals from severe asphalt heat.
Black reported on a July 25 Neighborhood Recreation Center bike club session where young participants learned how to repair flat bicycle tires. Black also detailed the recent Ride the Wave Back to School Pool Party held at Silver Mesa Recreation Center, co-hosted with Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick. The community event served approximately 900 attendees, providing 1,000 snow cones, 900 hot dogs, 400 donated backpacks and raffled BMX bicycles. Garcia-Anderson shared updates from Ward 2, highlighting her July 21 visit to the Las Vegas Gymnastics Academy and a July 23 senior health distribution event at the Soran Health Community Center, organized with Helping Hands to provide free food supplies and health screenings. Garcia-Anderson also commended 23 municipal summer interns who completed volunteer work across various city departments.
Concluding the presentation segment, the City Council recognized Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, located at 6180 North Decatur Boulevard, as the August 2026 Business of the Month. Black presented a video profile highlighting owner Mandy Trotter and her 32-person workforce, who prepare fresh ice cream daily across 47 rotating flavors. “With temperatures doing what they do in the desert in August,” Black said he could “not think of a better business to recognize,” thanking Trotter “for making this North Las Vegas summer a little sweeter.”
Legislative approvals and redevelopment agency decisions
The City Council recessed its regular meeting to convene as the Redevelopment Agency, chaired by Garcia-Anderson. Agency members unanimously approved the meeting agenda, previous minutes from July 1, 2026 and Resolution No. 39. The resolution authorizes the City Manager to execute and modify agency contracts, reimbursement agreements and operational instruments capped at $50,000, subject to statutory procurement rules and budget appropriations.
Reconvening in regular session, the City Council unanimously approved its agenda and consent agenda, passing municipal procurement agreements, public safety grants and capital infrastructure adjustments. In correctional health actions, the council approved a $3,004,600 amendment to the NaphCare Nevada LLC contract for expanded medical services at the Community Correctional Center, bringing total funding to $10,741,982.49. The city also authorized a $90,000 one-year agreement with Restorative Behavioral Health LLC to conduct Moral Reconciliation Therapy classes for incarcerated individuals, alongside accepting a $120,000 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment grant from the Nevada Department of Public Safety with a required municipal match of $40,714.
Facilities and technology approvals featured a $69,400 contract with Rescue Simulation Products LLC to purchase and install a classroom ambulance simulator at the Fire Department Training Center. The council approved a $156,726.50 license expansion with Insight Public Sector, Inc. for Microsoft 365 software services, increasing the total agreement value to $1,497,986.70. Additionally, the city entered into a three-year workforce management software contract with Deputy Corporation capped at $113,160 and authorized a $41,859.25 amendment with the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas to extend the Meals 2 You social services agreement through December 31, 2026, raising total program funding to $141,859.25.
Infrastructure approvals included a $1,500,000 chemical supply contract with Neo Water Treatment LLC for lanthanide chloride ($500,000 annually). The council awarded a three-year citywide generator maintenance agreement to Central Power Systems & Services, LLC for $312,332.70. Road improvements advanced through a $300,000 interlocal contract with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada for citywide school safety improvements, as well as an amendment to a cooperative agreement with the Nevada Department of Transportation for the Civic Center Drive and Alexander Road project, increasing municipal matching funds to $327,384. Furthermore, the council accepted multi-jurisdictional trail maintenance agreements, approved $78,500 in fire repair services for the Safekey Building with Logistical Solutions, LLC and granted final maintenance acceptances for both the Sloan Channel box culvert repair project and the North 5th Street and Cheyenne Avenue intersection improvement project.
Administrative achievements and economic growth metrics
City Manager Micaela Moore delivered the administrative report, recognizing Maria Austad, Finance Special Assistant to the Director, as the August Team Member of the Month, calling her a “stabilizing force in the Finance Department” during her 29 years of service. Moore also congratulated Parks and Recreation Director Doug Guild on his national election as a Fellow of the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration, noting his formal induction ceremony in Philadelphia on September 30. Furthermore, Moore commended four municipal parks employees—Amando Galvez, Oscar Mendez, Juan Dominguez and Josafath Rivas-Sandoval—who successfully passed the Southern Nevada Irrigation Association exam to earn Class 1 Irrigation Technician certifications.
Moore urged the community to attend the inaugural November 1 Dia De Las Muertas 5K and procession benefiting Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory School. Turning to economic performance, Moore reported that the Economic Development Team secured nine commercial project wins in 2026 through May, with 12 active prospects in the pipeline, reflecting a “city that is open for business and actively competing for investment that creates jobs and strengthens our local economy.”
Teamsters union members advocate for fair labor contract
The final public comment segment was dominated by municipal employees and representatives from Teamsters Local 14, who gathered in the chambers to call on city leadership to negotiate and approve a fair collective bargaining agreement for the union’s approximately 700 municipal workers.
Angel Washington, a 25-year city employee, addressed the council as “a proud Teamster” and recalled how union members accepted wage and benefit concessions during the 2008 national economic collapse to “help keep North Las Vegas afloat.” Washington emphasized that while workers went years without meaningful pay raises because “we believed in the future of North Las Vegas,” the municipality has transformed into a thriving community that must now support its workforce.
Zachary Fisher, a facilities technician with five years of service, reinforced Washington’s statements, noting that “North Las Vegas is no longer a city on the brink” but is now home to more than 290,000 residents amid massive economic expansion. Fisher stated that municipal employees are taking on increased operational workloads as housing and infrastructure grow, arguing that the city “cannot celebrate growth while leaving behind the workers who made that growth possible” and urging leaders “to do the right thing by approving a fair and just contract.”
Kim Spurlock, a 23-year municipal employee and chief shop steward, added that union members showed up when the city was in crisis, stating, “A fair contract is not a reward; it’s recognition” and “is what we deserve.” Jason Gately, Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 14, concluded public testimony by declaring that “this town would not function without us here” and demanding that leadership “not leave behind the people that make it happen.” Gately’s remarks drew enthusiastic applause and chants of “Who are we? Teamsters!” from workers before Goynes-Brown closed the public forum and adjourned the meeting.