The Los Alamos County Council held a regular session on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 6:00 PM to approximately 10:15 PM. The meeting featured public hearings, presentations, and votes on a range of topics including water rate adjustments, creation of an Inclusivity Board, expansion of dog bite ordinances, a presentation on camera and data collection practices, approval of an automated speed enforcement contract, purchase of the Los Alamos School of Gymnastics building, selection of a design concept for the Ashley Pond Safety Improvement Project, approval of the Betty Ehart Senior Center HVAC replacement task order, and salary adjustments for contract employees.
Chief Sgambellone presented an overview of current systems: ALPR cameras (introduced 2023, transitioning from Motorola to Axon), speed enforcement cameras (proposed), body worn cameras, in-vehicle cameras, security cameras (180-day retention), traffic operation cameras (28-day retention), and MyDrive cameras (28-day retention). He emphasized data ownership, strict access controls, quarterly unannounced audits, and compliance with New Mexico Senate Bill 40 (effective July 2026) which restricts ALPR data use and prohibits sharing for certain purposes. Council discussed privacy, audit ratios, cost, and potential federal access. No action was taken on this item.
Senior Engineer Jennifer Morrow presented three concepts (Piers, Rustic Planters, Natural Rocks). Public survey results (592 responses) showed 70% preferred Concept 3 (Natural Rocks), 17% planters, 13% piers. The Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Board, and Transportation Board all recommended Concept 3. Cost estimates: Piers ~$75,000, Planters ~$100,000, Boulders/plantings ~$120,000 (potential cost reduction if boulders sourced locally in White Rock). Council approved Concept 3 unanimously (7-0).
Senior Project Manager Miguel Jimenez presented the $3,673,522.86 task order (with $5 million project budget) to replace the 28-year-old gas/evaporative cooling system with an all-electric Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system. Scope includes electrical upgrades, lighting/ceiling finishes, and forthcoming general renovations (windows, doors, ADA upgrades). LARSO programs will relocate to Fuller Lodge from August 2026 through May 2027. Council approved the task order unanimously (7-0).
Council approved 4% for the County Manager, 3.5% for the Utilities Manager, and 3% for the County Attorney, effective first full pay period in July 2026. Motion passed 6-1 (Councilor Reagor opposed).
Uh welcome everybody to the uh June 30th uh 2026 uh county council regular session. Uh so tonight's meeting will be in uh hybrid format. So we'll have uh counselors, presenters, and other attendees either here in person in council chambers or on Zoom. And uh just as a reminder, we'll be taking uh public comment at the beginning of the meeting for items that are not on the agenda. Um during uh public comment. Um I believe it's Mr. Royale over there. Uh we'll be taking um looking on Zoom for people uh that like to make comments. Um also would ask that people limit their comments to three minutes or as otherwise directed, and make sure that you state your name if you're on Zoom. If you could have your name so you can be properly addressed on Zoom, that'd be uh appreciated. Um, and also ask that comments be addressed to the chair and uh be uh regarding the topics being considered. Our goal is to end the meeting uh no later than 10 p.m. We'll be checking our progress at 9 p.m. if we're still meeting at that time. Uh so um we're on to item number one, which is the role opening roll call. So um we're gonna have two counselors uh on Zoom. So uh can the clerk please call the roll. Councillor Hand. Here. Councilor Reddy. Here. Councilor Call. Here. Councilor Neil Clinton. Here. Councilor Ragar. Here. Councilor Habiman. Here. Councillor Herman. Here. We have seven counselors present total with two remote councilor Neil Clinton and Councillor Cole. Okay, let the record show all counselors present. Uh counselors call and Neil Clinton are on Zoom. Uh so next item is the Pledge of Allegiance. Uh so if you're willing and able, please uh join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Under this call. Okay, so now we're on to item number three at public comment, which is already mentioned. This is for items that are not on the agenda. So I think we might have some people that would like to make public comment tonight. So if you could uh just come up to the podium and just state your name and we'll have get the timer up for you. Thank you. Um Chairman Righty and members of the council. My name is Greg Mello. I live in Albuquerque and am a frequent um visitor here in Los Alamos. Uh I respectfully request on behalf of the Los Alamos Study Group, whom I rec represent that we be provided with actual agenda time to present to you some background information and questions regarding the new and rapidly growing Los Alamos National Laboratory plutonium pit production mission and some concerns we have about it, and we think that you might want to have about it. We began discussions about the future of the lab in the fall of 1989 up here 37 years ago, and have been extensively involved with nuclear weapons policy issues and with landlisses ever since then, in both local, national, and international settings. We maintained an office here in Los Alamos and were members of the Chamber of Commerce. We are hearing that despite some initial and perhaps naive support for the new LANL Pitt mission, perhaps not fully understanding quite where it was leading. There are now considerable doubts in the community about the proposed scale and intensity of that mission.