“This amendment pertains to pet stores,” Councilwoman Cindi Delaney said at the city council meeting Tuesday, May 10 when she introduced a measure amending city ordinances to regulate pet store sales in Mesquite. “Since we don’t have any pet stores now this is a preemptive measure.”

The amendment is designed to prevent pet stores from selling animals born and bred through so-called puppy mills. Delaney said only animals that come from non-profit animal care organizations or animal shelters will be allowed for sale. After mentioning that Las Vegas and Clark County were passing similar bills she said “we don’t want to be the last place people can sell puppy mill puppies.”

Delaney said concerns had been voiced regarding animal control issues not related to the proposed ordinance. She added that the current language in city ordinances pertain not just to cat and dog breeders but all animal breeders. According to the animal control officer, backyard breeders (those not properly licensed) are typically caught through Facebook posts or advertising and shut down.

When Dave Ballweg, council candidate, challenged the authority of animal control officers to inspect backyard breeders under current licensing authority, Delaney said the officers now have the authority to shut down any unlicensed, illegal breeders. She said that was a separate issue from her request to license pet shops.

The proposed amendment will be the subject of a public hearing on May 24.

The council approved a direct-sale method for selling 14 acres of city-owned land in the Mesquite Technology and Commerce Center. Aaron Baker, city liaison officer, said an unsolicited interested buyer originally asked for 34 acres but trimmed it down.

Baker identified the potential buyer as Metro Fresh who wants to build an indoor agriculture farm for high intensity cultivation of fresh vegetables that will be served in Las Vegas restaurants. The company said the facility will employ approximately 20 people with a capital investment of over $1.5 million.

“You are not selecting Metro Fresh as the buyer tonight. You are simply deciding whether to use a public auction process or a direct sale process to sell the land,” Baker said. “The buyer prefers a direct sale process and is willing to pay for both appraisals that are necessary under city ordinances.”

Baker said no other entity had shown interest in the land under consideration and in fact the land had been given back to the city by a previous buyer.

The council unanimously agreed to use a direct sale method to sell the land located on Isaac Newton Drive.

While Metro Fresh estimated the cost of the land between $100,000 and $140,000, no price was set. The higher of the two appraisals will do that. Seventy-five percent of the sale proceeds will go into the city’s general fund with the other 25 percent going to the economic development incentives fund.

The council also approved a tentative map request from Pulte Del Webb for an 82-lot, single family subdivision in Sun City Mesquite located at Flat Top Mesa Drive and Prominence Lane. No timeline was set for the new construction.