Senate committee approves resolution allowing legislative council to buy 515 S. Carson St. parcel

Carson City — The Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections voted to advance Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 on a 4-0 voice vote, authorizing the director of the Legislative Council Bureau to acquire a vacant parcel at 515 South Carson Street that is contiguous to the legislative campus.

Diane Thornton, director of the Legislative Council Bureau, told the committee the parcel is approximately 17,340 square feet — roughly 0.4 acre — and has not been offered separately from an adjacent property historically known as Capitol Apartments. "We're respectfully requesting the committee's approval to acquire some vacant land that's at 515 South Carson Street," Thornton said.

Asher Killian, legislative counsel, said the resolution provides the legislative authorization that would normally come from the Legislative Commission under Nevada Revised Statutes and cited the legal context for the request. "This concurrent resolution authorizes the director to acquire certain real property in Carson City," Killian said, noting the purchase negotiations have been underway for several months.

Committee members asked how the acquisition would be funded. Thornton said the purchase would come from the legislative fund and that the bureau requests a one-shot appropriation of $475,000 to pay for the property. She told senators the appropriation is included in the one-shot appropriations bill and remains in committee with the finance process still pending.

Sen. Steinbeck asked whether the money was already available; Thornton replied it would be covered by the legislative fund through a one-shot appropriation of $475,000. Senators also discussed how the parcel might improve public access and parking during sessions. Sen. Krasner said the purchase could help people "find a place to park and come in and be active and involved in their legislature and their government." Thornton said Carson City is already working on a Fifth Street redesign and the bureau has been coordinating with the city manager on pedestrian and traffic issues.

No members of the public spoke for, against or neutral on SCR 6 during the committee proceeding; the chair invited public comment and reported none were present in the hearing room or on the available phone line. Vice Chair Daley moved to adopt SCR 6; Sen. Steinbeck seconded. The committee passed the resolution and assigned a floor statement to Vice Chair Daley. The committee clerk recorded the motion as passing with four votes in favor; Majority Leader Catanzaro was excused.

The resolution advances authority for the Legislative Council Bureau director to complete the purchase, but final acquisition is contingent on the appropriation process and any further approvals required by law or governing budget procedures. The committee did not have a work-session document on the item at the meeting and senators signaled they were reserving certain rights while voting to move the measure out of committee.