It’s all about first impressions

When I was younger, my parents instilled in me the importance of making a good first impression. Look people in the eye. Make sure you give a firm handshake. Focus on what they are saying and don’t be distracted.

Today’s technology makes it so easy to write emails or post comments that the average person would not say in person. There is something to be said with meeting someone face-to-face.

I believe that personable contact can enhance relationships, build a better rapport, and open trust in one another.

On a warm, sunny day last month, I joined our council, the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) and U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus in celebrating the fruits of such relationships.

We stood outside the World Famous Coffee Cup - one of the many businesses impacted by the project - and learned about the upcoming Phase II, made possible by an $850,000 federal grant.

Businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy. City staff took time last year to meet with impacted business owners – one-on-one and in small groups - seeking common ground for the best outcomes. Town hall meetings were also held to discuss plans and hear ideas from the community - before work started - to ensure a successful project.

Local businesses remained open throughout construction. It was, at times, a bumpy road. We regularly asked the community for continued support of our local businesses. To ease parking concerns, we mapped out public parking lots, clearly identified available street parking, and designated oversized vehicle parking for RVs and boaters.

The public works staff even mapped out and posted special signage to identify how many steps it would take to get to Nevada Way from other public parking lots.

In 12 weeks, the project was complete, and residents and business owners alike expressed positive feedback.

Boulder City receives a great deal of support from our city, county, state, and federal partners. We’ve invested grant funding in water conservation projects, park irrigation replacements, improvements to our streets and parks for safety and accessibility, City Hall accessibility projects for ADA compliance, wastewater management improvements, and more.

Having a positive rapport with these partners can sometimes ensure Boulder City is in the running for these competitive grants.

Often, there is competition for major projects or grant funding, and the smaller communities sometimes get left in the dust. But not Boulder City. Our focus on building relationships helps us make certain we hit our stride. While Boulder City is small by population in Southern Nevada, we are strong, proud, and in my opinion, quite impressive.

Phase II Nevada Way Reconstruction Project will include additional upgrades to streets and sidewalks and safety improvements. We will see rehabilitation of Nevada Way through the historic downtown area, from Colorado Street to Park Street. Crews will reconstruct Colorado Street from Nevada Way to Utah Street, and Park Street from Nevada Way to Utah Street.

The project will repave, restripe, and replace deteriorating asphalt on the roadway. The improvements include raised crosswalks with pedestrian-activated flashing beacons. The project also includes upgrades to ADA and pedestrian access.