Supervisors to hear ambitious redevelopment plan

Carson City's Office of Business Development on Thursday will present the Board of Supervisors with a development project by the Carson Nugget which, if adopted, could result in massive changes downtown.

The Nugget proposes to allocate eight acres of vacant Nugget property to the city to develop a "Knowledge and Discovery Library" and to put in motion the Hop and Mae Adams Trust support funding for a business and technology incubator, said Tammy Westergard, deputy manager for the OBD.

Possible key pieces of the project include:

• An anchor civic institution, proposed as a state-of-the-art Carson City Knowledge and Discovery Library

• A Business and Technology Incubator Center offering support for emerging companies

• Sierra Digital Media Lab that specializes in new technologies for digital production, educational applications, software development, gaming, animation and other digital multimedia

• A plaza that may feature year-round recreational and cultural activities, a pocket park with seating to support recreation such as a permanent ice skating rink or amphitheater

• Office and retail space

• Residential housing

• An IMAX theater

• Public transit platform

In a report to supervisors, Westergard said that the proposal will eventually lead to solutions for the city's ailing economy.

She said it is staff's opinion that the proposal "may be the most important catalytic project to date to boost local employment, nurture local small businesses, build a sufficiently large cluster of competitive industries and link regional networks that will create wealth, sustainable growth and income."

The OBD is asking for direction on developing a work plan for the project.

Other items for board consideration on Thursday's agenda include:

• A resolution calling for a special election to fill the vacancy of Justice of the Peace Robey Willis, or appoint a replacement.

Willis gave notice that the Department 1 position would be vacant Jan. 4, 2011, giving the city time to add the position to the 2010 election process, avoiding the cost of a separate special election.

The board has the choice of appointing a replacement or having the position filled through a special election.

• Approving a $56,325 grant to fund a case manager position for the Department of Alternate Sentencing for oversight and coordination of third-time DUI offenders.

• Approving a $329,032 grant for a Western Regional DUI court.

• Hearing a presentation from the city treasurer regarding the investment of surplus money.

• Reviewing the character and professional competence of City Manager Larry Werner for the period of Feb. 7, 2008, through Nov. 5, 2009.

Following the review, the board may take administrative action relating to his employment.

The board meets at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

The agenda with all supporting material is available online at www.carson-city.nv.us/ by clicking on the Board of Supervisors link.