Costco, roads, land dot board agenda

A ranch that may be purchased for open space and the next step in the Costco land deal are among a potpourri of issues for city supervisors on Thursday.

Items for discussion at their meeting include:

- A resolution offering Carson City's support to the Bureau of Land Management's possible purchase of the Buzzy Andersen Ranch. The ranch is in southeast Carson between the Carson River and Prison Hill. The city wants to see the historic ranch protected from development, possibly as an open space acquisition. Ranch owners say no one has asked if the ranch is for sale.

The land is being considered for purchase under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. The bureau is auctioning land in the Las Vegas valley and the revenue, estimated around $35 million, will be used in part to purchase environmentally sensitive lands throughout the state.

- Carson City 's deal with Costco is almost done.

Formal negotiations between Costco and the city began in January. City Manager John Berkich said he hopes to have the details on the transaction firmed up by the end of the month.

City supervisors will turn the extra three acres of U.S. Forest Service land in south Carson over to the redevelopment authority this Thursday. Supervisors and Redevelopment Authority have the same membership and will put a condition on the entire project that the proceeds from the land's sale be returned from the authority to the city's general fund.

Proceeds are estimated around $3 million. How the proceeds will be spent has generated much discussion, but city supervisors have the discretion to spend the money how they wish.

In a meeting with Fuji Park users last week, three city supervisors said they were committed to spending the sale money on Fuji Park.

The school district and Carson City library and parks and recreation commission have said they'd like to see some of the proceeds go to them.

Costco plans to build a 148,000-square-foot warehouse on a roughly 18-acre site north of Fuji Park. Costco would like to have the $6 million project finished by September.

The deal has sped through city channels with the land being added to the city's redevelopment district. The move allowed the city to deal with one entity rather than go through a public bid process.

Costco will come to the planning commission for a special use permit Feb. 23. The entire transaction should be wrapped up by the end of April.

Wal-Mart had shown interest in the Costco site for a potential Sam's Club warehouse. Wal-Mart Spokesperson Amy Hill said the company isn't giving up on the Carson market, but no other sites interest the retail giant.

Northern Nevada "is clearly an area we've been looking at," Hill said. "We're not closing the door on it, but we are going back to the drawing board. When you're the largest retailer in America, you're always looking for opportunities."

- The Nevada Department of Transportation pledged an extra $50,000 of support to Carson City's transit system. Marc Reynolds, system general manager, said the money would allow the service to increase its driver hours.

"Right now the service is so popular we have a lot of unmet rides," Reynolds said. "We have more demand than driver hours. It's a good problem to have because it means you have a very successful transit system."

The extra money from NDOT comes from matching money set aside in the Jacobsen Bill, passed in the 1999 legislative session.

Supervisors will also receive an update on the city's transit system.

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

Where: the Community Center's Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.