We know a little.
Two petitions seem to be circulating around Boulder City, both sponsored by the same group: the Coalition to Protect the Future of Boulder City. Both strive to address the disposition of a huge tract of land within the city limits.
The property in question occupies Eldorado Valley, 107,000 acres of open land south of town, roughly the size of San Jose, California.
One proposal, if passed, preserves Eldorado Valley, ensuring that the land be set aside for recreation, the protection of the endangered desert tortoise, and solar-power development. The other proposal compels the Boulder City Council to sell the land to the highest bidder. Part of the proceeds would be used to pay off the city debt, build a highway that bypasses town, and fund education; the rest would be distributed to city residents.
Estimates vary, but given that southern Nevada is one of the hottest real-estate markets in the country, if the acreage is sold at near the going rate, every resident of Boulder City would receive a check for upwards of $3 million -- hence, a city where every man, woman, and child is a millionaire.
But before you move to Boulder City in a panic, the likelihood of any such thing happening is slim to none (and, as the old gambling expression goes, slim's in Tahoe at the poker tournament).
In the first place, nearly 80% of Eldorado Valley is a desert conservation district to preserve the tortoise, and as such, is off-limits to development. Local, state, and federal officials would have to rework the conservation agreement for development to be permitted.
(Still, if the remaining 22,000 acres were sold off, residents could still come into a quarter- to a half-million big ones.)
Second, the City Councilors don't believe (as City Councilors are usually apt not to believe) that the citizens of Boulder City have any claim to proceeds from the sale of land that belongs to the town. One commented, "The deed that's on file in the county recorder's office says the city of Boulder City, not the people of Boulder City."
Third, and similarly, citizen petitions are disallowed from interfering with city- government administrative responsibilities, like selling land and spending the proceeds.
Fourth, the residency requirement -- only residents as of March 31, 2006, would be eligible for part of the funds distribution -- probably wouldn't survive a court challenge.
And yadda yadda.
For their part, the citizens of Boulder City seem to support the idea: It took a mere week for the Coalition to gather half the 700 signatures necessary to put the petitions on the November city ballot. The other 350 signatures must be collected, submitted, and verified by June 30, 2006.
