Weekly Update

July 24, 2024

From left front: Chief Financial Officer Susan Heltsley, IT Director Michael Sherwood and City Manager Mike Janssen expressed their appreciation to the IT staff for their weekend work to restore city computer operations after the corrupted CrowdStrike update.

Our entire IT department did an incredible job over last weekend to overcome the computer disruptions caused by a corrupted global software update from the CrowdStrike company. A breakfast was held on Tuesday in the NOW Cafe for the IT team to show our appreciation for their efforts. They worked around the clock on the weekend to restore all city systems in a matter of hours. All computers should be operating normally now, but if yours is still having issues, call the support center at 702.229.2479 for assistance.

Our thanks and appreciation to the IT team!

In Case You Missed It - Message From The City Manager

Message Was First Emailed Last Thursday

Hello City Team. I want to provide you all with an update on the Badland’s lawsuits as there has been much said and written by the media in recent months. Over eight years ago, on December 22, 2015, to be exact, the City was served with the first of ten lawsuits associated with the redevelopment of the shuttered Badland’s golf course. These cases have now spanned across the tenures of dozens of Planning Commissioners and City Council members, four City Managers, and three City Attorneys. And now, finality of the remaining four, inverse condemnation cases is within sight. One of the four cases has already been decided by the Nevada Supreme Court earlier this year against the City. At least two of the other three cases are very likely to be decided by the Nevada Supreme Court before the end of FY26 and the final case sometime in FY27 at the latest. To be clear - we are facing some significant challenges particularly if all three of the remaining cases are decided against us.

Last week I briefed the City Council, all Department Directors, and the leadership of all of our bargaining units on the status of the Badland’s lawsuits and the fiscal impact we could be facing very soon. I want to share with you the key pieces of information that you should all be aware of:

First and foremost, the City Attorney and I have met multiple times with the Badlands developer’s representatives to try to negotiate a settlement, but so far the terms they have requested have not been in the best interests of the City and were unlikely to be approved by our City Council. With this being said, we continue to discuss potential settlement agreements with the developer’s reps and we remain steadfast in our efforts to try to see one become a reality. At the same time, the four cases have continued to move forward in the court process. On July 11^th, we were informed by the court that we must pay $64M for the court’s ruling against us on the first case. Earlier this year our City Council approved an amendment to our FY24 Liability Fund to allocate $60M towards paying the judgement in this first case. The next three cases, based on potential valuations along with fees and interest charges estimated by the City Attorney’s Office through the end of FY26 are expected to reach a staggering sum of over $490M that the City could be required to pay. 

The City Manager’s Office is evaluating various ways to address the potential for $490+M in judgements against us. One of the first actions will be freezing some vacant positions.  If you separate out the portion of our FY25 General Fund budget that goes towards our share of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s budget, 69% of the remaining balance is for city employee salaries and benefits.  As a result of the Court ruling against us in the first case we have implemented the “position justification committee” (PJC) to determine which of the current 310 vacant positions need to be frozen so that we can build up our reserve funds to better navigate the issues we are facing. Consider that, the budget value of 310 vacant positons amounts to about $30M per fiscal year, and many of the positions are not funded by the General Fund so freezing them all would only help us address a small portion of the potential amount of these judgements. The PJC will remain in effect until all cases are finalized and be tasked with evaluating each new vacancy that may occur going forward. Next, we will begin an effort to evaluate all CIP projects to see which ones could be placed on hold to further shore up our General Fund reserves and have a discussion with our City Council on the impacts of taking such an action. Additionally, we are evaluating all of our city-owned land assets/properties to see if any could be sold to further help us in addressing the situation and we will share our findings with City Council so that this option can be further evaluated.

Folks, we have a very tough road ahead of us but as I’ve seen in my 27+ years at the city, the City Team has a way of coming together during tough times and finding a way to persevere. I’m confident that by working together we’ll do it again.

I’ll continue to keep you updated as we move through the remaining steps in the Badlands legal process. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support.

Service Anniversary Photos Available To Download

Photos taken at the July 18 service anniversary ceremonies held in Council Chambers are available now for free download at https://cityoflasvegas.smugmug.com/EE/2024-Employee-Service-Awards-July. Just click the download arrow on the lower right of each photo you want.

City Hall Elevator Testing This Week

Required elevator testing will happen this week at City Hall.  Each elevator will be tested individually and will be down for about 2.5-3.5 hours at a time. There should be little disruption to employees or the public.

Safekey Registration Is Open – School Begins Aug. 12

Up-To-Date Vaccinations Are Required For School

Registration for before- and after-school Safekey and ReInvent enrichment programs is open now. For details on the programs and online registration, visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov/safekey. The first day of school for the Clark County School District is Monday, Aug. 12. For information on required vaccinations for school-age children, visit https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/community-health-center/immunization-clinic/clinic-locations/back-to-school-vaccine-clinics/. 

Safekey Employee Training At City Hall July 24-26

The city is hosting the annual Safekey/ReInvent After-School Program in-service training July 24-26 at City Hall. Approximately 150 Safekey employees are expected each day at any given time, with a total of up to 350 staff to be trained. This may cause the 500 S. Main St. parking garage to be full. The trainees are all being asked to park in the City Parkway garage, but some may try to park closer.  

Available July Employee Training Sessions

The Organization Development Team will be hosting educational and well-being sessions this month including:

• Wednesday, July 24, 1 p.m., City Hall first-floor Training Room 1 - "True Colors"
• Wednesday, July 31, 8 a.m., City Hall first-floor Training Room 3 - "Inside Out Coaching."

Sign up for these classes in Oracle with your supervisor's permission, or email orgdevelopment@lasvegasnevada.gov for more information.

The Individual Career Development Plan program is available to all employees to enhance opportunities for career development and personal growth. Get help to learn new skills, improve your resume, interview preparation and mentorship. Book a one-on-one meeting to discuss your goals and how the program can help your career path at the city. Email icdp@lasvegasnevda.gov to get started.

Upcoming Events

Stacey Campbell Retirement Gathering July 31

After more than 25 years of service, Chief Deputy City Clerk Stacey Campbell Kowalski is retiring. With your supervisor's permission, please come say farewell to her Wednesday, July 31, between 2 and 4 p.m. in the NOW Cafe on the second floor of City Hall. Light refreshments will be served.

The city’s thematic goal this year is focused on the well-being of our employees — physically, emotionally and financially. This week our focus is on emotional wellness.   Celebrate National Junk Food Day With Healthier Alternatives    Did you know that July 21 is National Junk Food Day? National Junk Food Day celebrates the irresistible allure of snacks typically high in calories, sugars and fats. From chips and candy to soda and fast food, these treats are beloved for their convenience, taste and pure nostalgia. While enjoying junk food can be a delightful treat, many are seeking healthier options to satisfy their cravings without compromising on the taste and indulgence that we love so much with our beloved and nostalgic “junk” foods. However, the rise in health consciousness has led to the development of healthier versions that offer the same satisfaction with better nutritional profiles. Here’s how to celebrate National Junk Food Day with nutritious alternatives to our favorite foods.     Healthier Alternatives to Popular Junk Foods    Chips and Dips:  Traditional option: Potato chips with sour cream dip. Healthier swap: Baked sweet potato chips with Greek yogurt dip. Baked chips are lower in fat, and sweet potatoes provide fiber and vitamins. Greek yogurt offers a creamy texture with added protein and probiotics. Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt tastes just like sour cream! Soda:  Traditional option: Regular soda. Healthier swap: Sparkling water with a splash of 100 percent fruit juice. This alternative provides the fizz and flavor of soda without the excess sugar and calories. And no, “diet” or “low-calorie” options are not any healthier. Diet sodas simply contain a different type of artificial sweetener. Go for pure ingredients! Candy:  Traditional option: Gummy bears and other sugary candies. Healthier swap: Dried fruit or dark chocolate-covered nuts. Dried fruit satisfies sweet cravings with natural sugars and added fiber, while dark chocolate and nuts provide antioxidants and healthy fats. Ice Cream:  Traditional option: Full-fat ice cream. Healthier swap: Frozen Greek yogurt or banana "nice" cream. Simply blend fruit (or frozen fruit, like a frozen banana) with ice and your favorite non-dairy, such as coconut milk or almond milk, to create a creamy ice cream alternative. These options are lower in fat and calories and can be customized with various flavors and toppings. Fast Food Burgers:  Traditional option: Fast food cheeseburger. Healthier swap: Homemade turkey or veggie burgers. These alternatives are lower in saturated fat and can be loaded with fresh vegetables and whole-grain buns for added nutrition. Just be careful with additives in “veggie” or meat-alternative patties that may contain a lot of processed ingredients. A pure protein is sometimes healthier than a meat alternative. Fries:  Traditional option: French fries. Healthier swap: Baked zucchini or carrot fries. Baking or air frying reduces the fat content, and using vegetables like zucchini or carrots boosts the fiber and vitamin intake. Use a light breaded coating with flour or panko for added crunch.     National Junk Food Day reminds us that we can challenge ourselves to enjoy our favorite foods while giving it a healthy twist. By making mindful substitutions, you can indulge in delicious treats that align with your nutritional goals. By incorporating these healthier options, you can enjoy the essence of National Junk Food Day while maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet. There are plenty of ways to celebrate without compromising on flavor...and those core memories!     Want to learn more? Reach out to the Organization Development Team at orgdevelopment@lasvegasnevada.gov.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Las Vegas is breaking records, but not necessarily ones we want to break. In this historic weather event, Las Vegas broke its all-time-high temperature record.

The National Weather Service helps us answer questions, such as why is the official temperature taken at Harry Reid International Airport, how that temperature is taken, and what factors, such as climate change and the urban heat island effect, play a role.

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