Los Alamos County Council Regular Session – January 27, 2026

The Los Alamos County Council met in regular session on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Avenue, in hybrid format. All seven councilors were present, with Councilor Havemann participating online. The council approved the agenda and the consent calendar unanimously, conducted one public hearing, accepted the North Mesa Recreation Master Plan and the FY2025 financial reports, approved a HAWK signal on NM4, declined to establish a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Commission, and approved a 10-year Axon public safety video systems agreement. A closed session was held earlier beginning at 4:00 p.m.; Councilor Cull read the required statement that the closed session was limited to posted topics and that no action was taken.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 7-0 with the motions in staff reports included for the record.
• Items included: approval of the January 6, 2026 Regular Session and January 13, 2026 Work Session minutes; a $1,000,000 seven-year services agreement with Armystick, LLC for water systems mechanical devices rehabilitation; a Cintas Corporation uniform rental agreement not to exceed $310,000 plus gross receipts tax; Amendment No. 4 with Unum Life Insurance Company for long-term disability benefits not to exceed $1,250,000; Amendment No. 1 with Dearborn Life Insurance Company for life, AD&D, and voluntary life insurance benefits in the amount of $950,000; an increase to the Stryker Sales, LLC contract to $804,173.33 for six additional LifePak 35 cardiac monitors; award of IFB 26-24 to TSI Tower, Inc. in the amount of $559,395 plus contingency and gross receipts tax for fiber optic line installation; Budget Revision 2026-34 for Souder Miller & Associates potable water storage tank inspection services; a capital outlay grant agreement for Betty Ehart Senior Center HVAC, window, and renovation work; and board appointments for Jack Grow to the Environmental Sustainability Board and Celeste Raffin to the Los Alamos County Health Council.

Public Hearings

• The council held a public hearing on Resolution No. 26-03, authorizing the county to apply to the Department of Finance and Administration Local Government Division for the Local DWI Grant and Distribution Program. Court Program Coordinator Lauren Tomko requested $40,531 for treatment, prevention, checkpoints, sober community events, driver education, and the Arrive Alive Tour. She noted last year’s grant was just under $32,000. The resolution passed 7-0, and the council chair was authorized to sign the MOU and Statement of Assurances.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda public comment: Leslie Linke described hitting a deer on Diamond Drive on January 15, 2026, reported 68 deer accidents countywide from August 2024 through November 2025, and urged installation of street lights along the golf-course stretch. She also criticized proposed spending on field reconfiguration and AstroTurf.
• North Mesa Recreation Master Plan: Many residents and organizational representatives spoke. Supporters included Greg Weist of the Los Alamos Tough Riders Mountain Biking Club, Warren Hurley, Grant Fox, Nathan Mayer, and others who supported the bike park and pump track as valuable, safe, family-friendly infrastructure. Roller derby and volleyball advocates, including Daniel Jackson, Ashley Connell, Lauren Cooper, Jordan Dugan, Michelle Carlson, Stacey Buck, Phoebe Sanderbeck, Drew Hall, Michelle, Anna Alves, Stacy Myers, Eli Cahill, Brittany St. Jacques, Elizabeth Zhomek, and Hannah Wilcox, strongly supported the proposed multi-use pavilion, citing a lack of adequate indoor practice and competition space, the need for space for junior and adult roller derby, and potential tournament tourism. Equestrians Krista Sauchuk and Carol Braunis raised concerns about horse-bike conflicts, trail access, and phasing; they asked for education, signage, and safety measures. Lisa Reeder questioned the phasing, urged that existing facilities and trails be prioritized before new amenities, and asked how competing capital projects would be prioritized. Ashley Pryor recommended integrating the existing underutilized gymnasium into the North Mesa planning effort.
• HAWK signal on NM4: Richard Gaddis and Jessica Robinson of the Mirador subdivision spoke about the need for a safer crossing for children, with Gaddis asking council to revisit prior mixed-use development provisions for ADA and pedestrian connections. Greg Weiss supported the project but suggested a 40 mph speed limit rather than 35 mph.
• MRA Commission discussion: Lisa Shin expressed concern that the current internal county staff review committee would be too fast and insufficiently transparent, and requested that the public be invited to review-committee meetings, that Zoom meetings be recorded, and that residents and property owners in the MRA be notified. Jeff Branch and Greg Gonzalez of Columbus Capital opposed creating a new commission, saying it would add delay and bureaucracy, and Branch disputed claims that a formal funding request had been made, noting the company had already committed over $16 million to the community. Phil Gersky also opposed a separate commission and recommended using the county’s public application portal and an extra public meeting before ordinance introduction instead.
• Axon agreement: Brittany St. Jacques asked about restrictions on redacting videos and transcriptions. Staff responded that redactions are governed by IPRA and state law, the original recordings are always preserved, and releases are subject to privacy protections.

Discussion Items

North Mesa Recreation Master Plan

• Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker, Community Services Director Cory Styron, and Sites Southwest consultants Corinne Rogers and Bob Oberdorfer presented the final plan. Engagement included over 250 participants, two listening sessions, a community workshop, an open house, and more than 190 survey responses.
• The plan is phased, with no current funding commitment. Phase 1, estimated at about $3.5 million, includes a bike park and pump track, path rehabilitation, bike shed, parking, and asphalt improvements. Later phases include west-side habitat improvements, sand volleyball courts and dog park improvements estimated at $1.3 million, community garden improvements estimated at $800,000, a multi-use pavilion and food truck plaza estimated at $4 million, and about $1.3 million in miscellaneous improvements. The grand total was estimated at $12.9 million in current dollars including a 15% contingency.
• Staff emphasized that the plan can be adjusted and phased according to future budget decisions and council priorities. Councilor Cull asked whether the earlier community survey was used; consultants said they relied primarily on the project-specific outreach.
• The council accepted the plan 7-0.

HAWK Signal on NM4

• Deputy Public Works Director Keith Wilson presented a proposal for a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk signal on NM4 approximately 550 feet east of La Vista Drive, tied to the NM4 multi-use trail improvement and Piñon School trail projects.
• The project originates from Mirador subdivision growth and efforts to connect Mirador and White Rock. Federal funding was awarded in May 2022. The design includes a westbound lane reduction from two lanes to one, placing the trail within the roadway, a two-stage mid-block crossing with a median, and a proposed speed limit reduction to 35 mph.
• Staff evaluated placing the crossing at La Vista Drive and rejected it because of higher vehicle-pedestrian conflict points, a 67-foot crossing distance, and reduced safety. The mid-block location has about a 20-foot crossing segment. A trail in the off-road buffer area was estimated to cost roughly five times more due to utilities and shallow basalt.
• Traffic data showed 95–98% of westbound morning traffic uses the right lane, supporting the lane reduction. Police and fire officials raised no concerns. Transportation Board reviewed the project in December 2024, February 2025, and November 2025. A future signal at Sherwood Boulevard remains tied to the mixed-use development and is not replaced by this project.
• The council approved installation of the HAWK signal 7-0. Staff indicated the DOT maintenance agreement will come back to council in February, bids are expected in March, a contract award could come in April–May, construction could begin around June 2026, and completion is anticipated in spring/summer 2027.

FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Single Audit

• CFO Melissa Dadzie presented the FY2025 ACFR and Single Audit Report. Total ending net position was $660.3 million, an increase of $26.8 million from the prior year. Governmental funds ended the year with an $855,000 surplus, reflecting an $18 million decrease in total revenues, primarily gross receipts tax, and a $17 million increase in expenditures, primarily capital assets.
• GRT revenue decreased by $18.3 million year over year; LANL funding accounts for approximately 80% of GRT revenue. The county issued two separate reports because the federal government shutdown delayed the 2025 OMB compliance supplement.
• Auditor Farley Venier of Hinkle + Landers reported unmodified, or clean, opinions on both the financial statements and major federal programs, with no findings. The county has received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 34 consecutive years.
• The council accepted both reports 7-0.

Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Commission Discussion

• Council discussed whether to establish an MRA commission. Councilor Hand supported a new commission to provide relevant expertise and improve transparency. Councilor Reagor supported an economic advisory board to advise on MRA and LEDA projects, citing past difficulty with complex business projects. Councilor Cull, Councilor Herrmann, Councilor Neal-Clinton, Councilor Havemann, and Council Chair Ryti expressed concerns that another commission would add delay, bureaucracy, and recruitment challenges without enough additional benefit, and that council should retain decision-making authority.
• Public comment was split, with Columbus Capital representatives and other speakers urging council not to create a new commission. Councilor Cull requested that potential applicants be encouraged, where possible, to present proposals at open council meetings to allow public comment; the county manager agreed to carry that forward.
• The council passed a motion 5-2 to take no further action and maintain council as the governing decision-making body for MRA funding requests. Councilor Reagor and Councilor Hand voted against.

Axon Public Safety Video Systems Agreement

• Police Chief Dino Sgambellone presented Agreement No. AGR26-858 with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for a 10-year public safety technology bundle not to exceed $6,826,839.59.
• The bundle includes body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, license plate readers, interview room recording, digital evidence management, AI tools including search, redaction, transcription, and translation, training, warranties, support, and scheduled equipment refreshes. The county estimated nearly $1.5 million in savings from bundling and up to $1.8 million in offsetting savings from replacing current platforms.
• Staff clarified that the contract maximum includes potential cancellation penalties and that the anticipated spend is about $1 million less than the maximum if the contract is not cancelled. The agreement includes automatic activation features for officer safety and translation into over 100 languages.
• The council approved the agreement 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda and consent calendar approved 7-0.
• Resolution 26-03 for the Local DWI Grant Program approved 7-0.
• North Mesa Recreation Master Plan accepted 7-0; future funding and phasing will go through the county budget process.
• HAWK signal on NM4 approved 7-0; next steps include the DOT maintenance agreement, advertising in March, contract award in April–May, and construction expected around June 2026.
• FY2025 ACFR and Single Audit accepted 7-0.
• Motion to not establish an MRA commission passed 5-2, with Councilor Reagor and Councilor Hand voting no.
• Axon Agreement AGR26-858 approved 7-0.
• Council business included adjustments to board/commission liaison and working group assignments, including continuing attendance at New Mexico Counties events; the county manager’s December 2025 report noted MRA applications being posted online, ongoing hexavalent chromium plume discussions, LEDA retail applications, a tourism debrief on January 29, 2026, and the aquatic center closing February 22, 2026, for maintenance.