Mayor details plans in State of the City address

Protecting natural resources, promoting solar energy are among goals

DAVID BECKER/VIEWHenderson Mayor James Gibson gives the State of the City address Feb. 7 at the Green Valley Ranch Resort. Advertisement

Hundreds of Henderson residents and business owners gathered Feb. 7 in the Grand Events Center at Green Valley Ranch Resort to hear Mayor Jim Gibson give the annual State of the City address.

"The state of our city is strong," Gibson began. "We find ourselves in one of the premiere cities to live, work and play."

Gibson spoke of the city's priorities, including economic development and opportunities. He said the city is doing an audit of available land to determine what the best uses will be. It also is encouraging businesses to relocate to Henderson to diversify the economy.

Financial planning is another priority for the city.

Gibson said the property tax rate has remained steady for the past 18 years and continues to be one of the lowest rates in the valley and the state.

"We've been good financial stewards to our taxpayer dollars," he said.

Natural resource management was another topic the mayor talked about during the 40-minute speech.

"As we move into the future, we want to ensure we are protecting our natural resources," Gibson said.

The city is conducting an in-depth study of West Henderson, the area south and west of Anthem. Gibson said he hopes to work with the Bureau of Land Management to protect natural elements and to take land that is difficult to develop out of the equation, saving it as open space.

"This will allow generations to discover the beauty of the Mohave Desert," Gibson said.

Henderson also will develop Desert Edge, which Gibson called a hallmark piece of land. The 700 acres leading into the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area will have a visitors center and pay honor to the desert environment.

The city also wants to conserve energy.

Gibson said he wants to bring affordable solar energy to Henderson residents. The city is looking at a program used in California that would allow homeowners to use city funds to put solar energy in their houses and pay it back over 20 years. The details for this program should be rolled out during this year, Gibson said.

Gibson also shared information about numerous roadway projects that will begin over the next year, including a Galleria Drive interchange near the Galleria at Sunset mall, improvements at Auto Show Drive and Lake Mead Parkway, and repaving along Eastern Avenue.

The city will break ground on the Satellite Water Reclamation Facility on St. Rose Parkway near Eastern Avenue this spring. Gibson said that although that might not sound exciting, it is.

"We will have the cleanest, safest water possible," he said.

The State of the City event was presented by the Henderson Chamber of Commerce. Many city employees attended, and several residents said they liked to hear firsthand what to expect in the upcoming year.

"I always want to know what's going on with the city," said Julie Proctor, executive director of Safe House and a Henderson resident since 1976.

Proctor said she attends the speech every year to hear what the mayor has to say and to meet up with old friends.

"As you can see, I'm never in my seat," she said.

Lanie Isgrig, owner of Henderson-based RIM Solutions, said she attends the address because "the mayor mentions a lot of projects we wouldn't know about if we didn't come. I like to hear where the city is going to help my business grow, and as a resident, I want to make sure they're going to keep our water and our air clean. I love that they're saving us some room to run around in."

To view the State of the City address, visit www.cityofhenderson.com or watch the rebroadcast at 1:30 p.m. today on Cox Cable Channel 4, at 6 p.m. on Cox Cable Channel 96, and at 11 p.m. on Cox Cable Channel 2. Broadcasts also are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday on Cox Cable Channel 96, 10 a.m. Monday on Cox Cable Channel 96, or at noon Feb. 20 on Cox Cable Channel 96.