SEPTEMBER 2005: MORE CITY MEETINGS
Among many meetings, another NW Open Space Plan meeting took place to further discuss property issues for the future railroad park for the Tule Springs areas...
The meeting was attended by:
1] Officers of the Las Vegas Railroad Society
2] Real Estate and Assets Division
3] Government Office of Administrative Services
4] City Planning Department
5] Liaison of the Las Vegas City Council
JANUARY 2006: MORE CITY MEETINGS
Dialog continued over the phone between the City government and officers of the LVRRS on a by-weekly basis for the last 7 years now.
2 more meetings took place middle of January 2006 to further discuss property issues and final planning stages, for the railroad park to be included into Tule Springs areas as planned for a long time now.
The first meeting was attended by:
1] Officers of the Las Vegas Railroad Society
2] Real Estate and Assets Division
3] Government Office of Administrative Services
4] City of Las Vegas Planning Department
5] Liaison of the Las Vegas City Council
The second meeting was attended by:
1] Officers of the Las Vegas Railroad Society
2] Real Estate and Assets Division
3] 2 City Councilman (Steve Ross & Larry Brown)
4] 2 Las Vegas City Council Liaisons
5] Las Vegas Planning Department
After a formal introduction of LVRRS officers and the LVRRS project to the now 3rd new Councilman, Steven Ross (Ward 6), discussions focused as always on placing the Las Vegas Railroad Society into the Tule Springs area next to Floyd Lamb Park. At first Councilman Ross expressed himself to the Founders & everyone at the meeting that children in Las Vegas do not like trains. An hour later during the discussion of incorporating the museum into Tule Springs vicinity, Councilman Ross changed his mind and ordered City Planning (present during the meeting) to include the LVRRS into the Tule Springs Master Plan, which was going to start in 4-5 weeks. LVRRS officers left the meeting with some very, very serious concerns, which finally revealed itself to be due and 7-8 months later!
SPRING/ SUMMER 2006:
The LVRRS was invited to be part of the Tule Springs Committee meetings for the final planning stages of the NW Open Space Plan and Master Plan, and the Las Vegas Railroad Society project was once again publicly posted and featured by the government during NW Open Space Plan neighborhood meetings, just like before during the NW Open Space Plan neighborhood meetings in 2004.
CITY WIDE SURVEY - MID 2006
The city conducted a city-wide survey asking the community what kind of activities they would like to see at Tule Springs areas. Uncountable local families, church groups and business folks urgently voted 'YES' for the 'miniature railroad' during the city wide survey. Aggressive and positively expressed community support in favor of the railroad museum and extremely successful voting results did not impress or influence certain decision makers in ward 6.
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER 2006
WARD 6 TURNING IT'S BACK....
Before the 3rd NW Open Space Plan meeting autumn of 2006 it was quite obvious to everyone involved that Councilman Ross' Ward #6 DID NOT stand behind LAS VEGAS' BIGGEST CHILDREN'S PROJECT IN HISTORY after all!
The extremely important fact, that Mayor Oscar Goodman and the entire City Council voted with an unanimous 'yes' vote at the January 2005 City Council meeting, to include the Las Vegas Railroad Society project into the NW Open Space Plan/Tule Springs areas, had been completely ignored.
After 6-7 years this was indeed devastating news for Las Vegas Railroad Society, after negotiating steadily, and positive City Council decisions to include the LVRRS into the NW Open Space Plan at Tule Springs, and then a careless closure of a long-prepared and carefully nurtured property opportunity.
Other City Council staff and media was extremely surprised about such strong decisions, especially since the LV City Council & City Consultant had the Las Vegas Railroad Society project on their website for over a year with the announcement that the Las Vegas Railroad Society would be part of the Tule Springs Cultural Center along with the Archeological Museum and Equestrians' activities. Many cities in the United States also incorporate Equestrian activities with Railroad Museum activities to this day.
(The Las Vegas Railroad Society story with photo can still be seen in the Las Vegas Open Space Plan/ Chapter 3 Design Program (3-11) Floyd Lamb Master plan/ Miniature Railroad Park/ Alternative 'C' #16/ 3.5.2.)
JANUARY 2007
While this unbelievable and news worthy story continued throughout 2007, the Las Vegas Railroad Society began to make history in the Las Vegas valley, receiving a lot of attention from the media, and receiving ongoing applause from the Las Vegas community!
Councilman Brown absolutely cares about Las Vegas' children, and luckily at this point his ward had just expanded; therefore, he immediately stepped in January 2007 and came to the rescue to save the Las Vegas' biggest children's project once and for all!
SPRING 2007
SPRINGS PRESERVE
Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilman Larry Brown both agreed that another good location for the railroad museum & train park would be the 'SPRINGS PRESERVE'. One gentleman at the Springs Preserve was really excited about the government's proposal, but it looked like he was alone with his opinion and had no support from others at the Springs Preserve. The LVRRS was open to suggestions, but 'no cigar'.......
SUMMERLIN
On behalf of the LVRRS, Councilman Brown tried for 8 long years to collaborate with other City Council folks, county officials and even with the state to incorporate the railroad museum/park into various areas within our valley. At the end, his final decision was to place the museum project into his now expanded ward 4, which is part of Summerlin. Councilman Larry Brown is a role model government official, he says what he means and does what he says.....
DECEMBER 2007
FRONT PAGE NEWS - NV SECTION
After another long year, October 2007, the entire City Council voted 'YES' to begin with the property contract. December 2007 the entire LV City Council voted unanimously "YES" to include the LVRRS project into the decided property! The story hit FRONT PAGE NEWS in the RJ, Nevada section! Mayor Oscar Goodman, who knew the entire story of the difficult 8 year long path was indeed very, very pleased to say the least!
2008- Councilman Larry Brown & Trudy Platzer
8-year long by-weekly negotiation & dialog
between the Councilman and the LVRRS Founders.
Both are no strangers anymore.
What a great team - What a historical outcome!
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN BROWN!
MESSAGE TO DONORS
Now we are looking forward to hear that more local foundations & private donors share the Mayor's and the City Council's opinion about this very important community project!
'COUPLE UP' WITH THE LAS VEGAS RAILROAD SOCIETY
We are a non-profit organization with a one-tracked mind, we are looking for foundations who really care to be kind!
