Clark County councilors agree to serve on regional parks funding task team as residents voice concern over urbanization

Clark County councilors on Wednesday agreed to place a county representative on a newly proposed Regional Parks Funding Task Team after staff described a six-month effort to study sustainable funding for parks across the county. Two members of the public used the meeting’s agenda-only comment period to object to perceived county priorities, including concerns about urbanization and use of tax dollars for parks.

Deputy Director of Public Works Jennifer Coker introduced the item and said the county was seeking a council representative for the task team. "We first brought this topic to you in March… and returned in May, where we received direction to begin conversations and presentations to city councils across the county to talk about a sustainable future, a regional parks funding mechanism," she said.

Ross Hoover, division manager in Public Works, told the council the task team would pursue four steps: inventorying needs and gaps across park systems, benchmarking local data against national standards, exploring national park funding models, and recommending a long-term sustainable funding pathway. He said staff had already presented to several city councils and expected an initial six-month schedule with roughly eight meetings.

The Council expressed interest in serving. One councilor volunteered to serve as the county representative and Councilor Little offered to serve as an alternate. Chair Marshall and staff said they would provide periodic reports back to the full council as the task team proceeds.

Public commenters tied into the parks conversation during the meeting’s public-comment period. Carmen De Leon criticized what she called a push to "urbanize all of Clark County," saying elected officials were prioritizing housing development and raised concerns about clearing farmland: "You can go up or down with parking. You can go up and down with living in apartments. You do not have to clear cut this beautiful land we have." Her remarks were recorded during the agenda-only public-comment segment.

A caller, Kimberly Goheen Elvin, said citizens should "audit everything you do" and urged scrutiny of how tax dollars are allocated to parks and other agencies. "You do not put public safety first," she said, criticizing what she described as county financial priorities.

Why it matters: The task team's work could shape long-term funding for parks and trails countywide and influence how Clark County balances growth, conservation and capital investment. Public commenters framed parks funding as part of a broader debate over development and county spending priorities.

The council did not take a formal, roll-call vote to appoint a named representative during the meeting; staff will follow up on membership and scheduling.