Las Vegas City Council approves multiple land‑use projects, ratifies deputy city manager and adopts La Madre Foothills plan

The Las Vegas City Council on Aug. 20 approved multiple land‑use entitlements across several wards, ratified Rosa Cortez as deputy city manager and adopted the La Madre Foothills special area plan, while adding site‑specific conditions to proposals that drew neighborhood concern.

The council approved general plan and zoning changes, tentative maps, and variances for several single‑family subdivisions and infill projects; it also adopted an area plan intended to guide future development along the La Madre Foothills. Council members debated traffic, drainage, neighborhood character and trash‑enclosure placement and attached conditions to some approvals to address those concerns.

Why it matters: The council’s votes change what may be built on multiple parcels in Las Vegas, set conditions for how new developments must be designed or managed, and place a new advisory plan on the city’s policy books that will guide future zoning and infrastructure decisions in the La Madre foothills area.

Rosa Cortez ratified as deputy city manager Rosa Cortez, currently the city engineer and deputy director of public works, was ratified as deputy city manager by the council. City Manager Mike Jansen introduced Cortez and described her city tenure beginning as an intern and advancing through multiple promotions. Councilmember Olivia Diaz moved to approve the ratification; the motion passed.

“I am deeply committed to continuing to serve our residents in the city of Las Vegas, working collectively with the city manager’s office, with the mayor and council, with all the city departments to focus on our strategic goals and move those forward,” Cortez told the council after her ratification.

Votes at a glance: - Rosa Cortez — Ratification as deputy city manager; salary listed on the agenda as $228,913 plus benefits from the general fund; motion to ratify carried. (Agenda item 34) - Resolution R-62-2025 — Encouraging dog‑paw…