Carson City Supervisors this week will get a look at what some of their $400K-plus payment to the Carson Nugget will get them in planning for the future of downtown Carson City. The plan includes transforming a part of the Carson Nugget’s parking lots into a large downtown library renamed the “Carson City Knowledge and Discovery Library” driven by a new trust fund set up by Nugget founders Hop and Mae Adams. Within this facility/institution would be the intellectual and high tech machinery to crank out new visions for 21st century jobs in the Carson area and surrounding counties. Such an economic “incubator” would mirror other such “incubators” springing up across the country and around the world as a new model for generating 21st century jobs and economic initiatives with emphasis on new job start-ups. Federal and state grants are usually involved for some of the more promising ideas.
Other ingredients to the plan include a digital media lab that specializes in industrial applications for gaming, education and software development. Also an area devoted to cultural and recreational activities which may include a permanent ice skating rink and amphitheater. Along with that, more office and retail space with residential additions in a classic “mixed-land use” setting. Retail on the ground floor, offices above that, and condos above that.
Redevelopment staff will tell the Supervisors that the proposal will provide an important economic jump start for Carson City employment and “economic sustainability.” Carson City is blessed with lightning speed fiber optic connections to the world, making it possible to be the hub of any number of international data based industries, a description of which was recently rolled out in Governor-candidate Rory Reid’s white paper vision for Nevada.
Supervisors will also ponder how to find a new Justice of the Peace to replace the retiring Judge Robey Willis. Willis announced he will be retiring before the end of his current term and Supervisors will be faced with a choice. Should they call for a special election to fill the slot or should they appoint someone to fill the unexpired term (2 years worth) and allow that person to file for election in their own right in 2012? The legal community has grown accustomed to judges leaving office early so that elected officials, who are usually well connected to the legal/judicial community, appoint “appropriate replacements” who gain political as well as public acceptance before they run for “confirmation” at the polls. Sort of a back-door approach to what’s commonly called the “Missouri Plan” strategy of selecting judges. The idea being, judicial candidates should not be subjected to the “usual, if not crass” electoral approach to other elective offices.
The Supervisors meet Thursday, 8:30am, in Sierra Room of the Community Center.
Recent Comments