Los Alamos County Council Regular Session - July 7, 2026
Los Alamos County Council Regular Session - July 7, 2026
The Los Alamos County Council held a regular session on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at 1000 Central Avenue. The meeting included presentations on environmental cleanup and economic vitality, public hearings on bond issuance and charter amendments, and discussion of recycling expansion. The council approved consent agenda items, adopted four ordinances, and passed two resolutions, while a motion to expand recycling services failed.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (21915-26): Unanimously approved the minutes from the June 23, 2026, Work Session.
- Adobe License Agreement (21802-26): Approved AGR27-806 with CDW-G for FY27 purchase of Adobe licenses, not to exceed $73,400 plus GRT, with cumulative $375,628.25 for FY19–FY27.
- Health Council Appointment (21843-26): Appointed Cecile Hemez to the Los Alamos County Health Council for a term ending June 23, 2028.
- Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant (21874-26): Authorized submission of a $1,000,000 grant application for the North Mesa Bike Park, with a 1:1 match from approved capital funds.
- Historic Preservation Advisory Board Appointment (21901-26): Appointed Irene Powell to the board for a term ending April 30, 2029.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment (Non-Agenda): No speakers appeared in person or virtually.
- Public Comment on Consent Agenda: None.
- Public Hearing OR1139-26b (Charter Amendment on Boards): Councilor David Reagor spoke against the amendment, arguing it would reduce political diversity on boards and lead to unbalanced representation.
- Public Hearing OR1141-26b (Utilities Fund Profit Transfer): Robert Gibson, Chair of the Board of Public Utilities, expressed support for the amendment, noting the BPU had voted 4-0 to support it.
- Public Comment on Recycling Expansion: Jody Benson (3547 Pueblo Drive) opposed the proposal, advocating for reduction and reuse over recycling, and supported the plastic bag ban. Lisa Shin (63747th Street) supported the expansion, arguing it addresses the broader plastic problem and that a bag ban would raise costs for residents.
Presentations
- LANL Legacy Cleanup Update (21581-26): Dr. Stanley Pyram, Acting Manager of DOE Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office, and Brad Smith, President of N3B, presented an update on the hexavalent chromium plume interim measures (IM). Key points: The IM system has been shut down three times since April 2023 at NMED's direction, with only 14 months of operation since then. The plume does not pose an immediate threat to drinking water wells. The Expert Technical Review team's December 2024 report recommended restarting a partial IM. EM-LA advocates for resuming injection as soon as possible. The Ion Beam Facility decommissioning is underway, with demolition starting in August 2026. Since FY25, 64 TRU waste shipments to WIPP (49% increase) and 977 cubic meters of low-level waste shipped. 90% of above-ground legacy waste has been removed.
- Economic Vitality Update (21301-26): Elias Isaacson, Community Development Director, presented on the six focus areas: housing, local business, downtown revitalization, tourism, educational/cultural amenities, and community broadband. Housing: 503 units completed, 2,395 in active pipeline; need for ~1,300 units to maintain affordability. Local Business: 225 new business registrations, 682 renewals, 695 newsletter subscribers. Downtown: 11% commercial vacancy rate (24 empty storefronts). Tourism: FY26 visitation estimated at 510,000, with lodgers' tax revenue of $398,187 (Jan–May). Economic impact for 2024: $41.5 million direct spending. Community Broadband: $35 million project, groundbreaking May 2026, construction completion target end of 2029.
Public Hearings
- OR1133-26b – GRT Revenue Bonds, Series 2026A (Ordinance 756): Adopted 7-0. Authorizes up to $35 million in gross receipts tax revenue bonds for Fire Station 4 and other capital improvements. The bonds will be repaid from existing pledged GRT revenues; no new taxes. Construction began May 2026, expected completion November 2028. Bond sale planned for September 2026.
- OR1139-26b – Charter Amendment on Boards and Commissions (Ordinance 757): Adopted 5-2 (Councilors Neal-Clinton and Reagor opposed). Proposes to amend Article III, Section 305.3 to limit political party majority requirements to only the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Public Utilities, and Personnel Board. Will be placed on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot.
- OR1141-26b – Charter Amendment on Utilities Fund Profit Transfer (Ordinance 758): Adopted 7-0. Proposes to delete Section 509, item 6, which required all remaining operating profits from utilities to be transferred to the General Fund. Will be placed on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot.
- RE0685-26 – FTA Section 5311 Grant Application (Resolution 26-12): Adopted 7-0. Authorizes application for $7,271,004 in federal transit funding for Atomic City Transit for FY28. Local match of $2,757,768 will come from NCRTD GRT distribution and the County's Transit Operating Budget.
- RE0686-26 – NCRTD FY27 Budget and Transit Plan (Resolution 26-13): Adopted 7-0 as amended (correcting a scrivener's error in the title). Endorses the NCRTD FY2027 budget proposal (allocating $2,031,271 to Los Alamos County) and approves the FY2027 Los Alamos County Regional Transit Plan.
Discussion Items
- Statutory Amendment Discussion (21880-26): Chair Ryti reported on proposed state statutory changes from the New Mexico Counties Commissioners Affiliate. The draft includes provisions that may conflict with the Los Alamos County Charter, especially regarding elected officials and county administration. Staff recommended pursuing an exemption for incorporated home-rule counties. Council will consider formal action at the July 28 meeting.
- Expansion of Recycling Services (21913-26): Councilor Melanee Hand presented a proposal to direct the Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) to evaluate expanding single-use plastic recycling. The ESB chair and staff liaison indicated the board lacks capacity and would need a consultant. Council discussion highlighted concerns about feasibility, cost, and impact on current Climate Action Plan priorities. A motion to direct the ESB to lead the evaluation and report back by end of calendar year failed 3-4 (Councilors Hand, Ryti, Reagor in favor; Councilors Herrmann, Havemann, Cull, Neal-Clinton opposed).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 756 (GRT Bonds) adopted 7-0.
- Ordinance 757 (Charter – Boards) adopted 5-2.
- Ordinance 758 (Charter – Utilities Fund) adopted 7-0.
- Resolution 26-12 (FTA Grant) adopted 7-0.
- Resolution 26-13 (NCRTD Plan) adopted 7-0 as amended.
- Motion to expand recycling services failed 3-4.
- Statutory amendment discussion to be revisited at July 28 meeting for possible action.
- Council appointments to North Central New Mexico Economic Development District: Councilor Hand and Max Kudikoff as members, Elias Isaacson as alternate.
- Next meeting: July 14, 2026, Work Session; July 28, 2026, Regular Session with public hearing on Development Code amendments.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, I want to welcome everyone to the County Council uh July 7th regular session. So we're uh gonna be doing the meeting in hybrid format. So we'll have some counselors and some presenters in person and some remote. So we'll be taking public comment at the beginning of the meeting for items that are not on tonight's agenda. And then when uh we we ask for public comments, uh Ms. Massman look on Zoom to see if there's any uh people with their hands raised on Zoom. And if you're on the phone line, you use star nine. Uh we request that you keep your uh comments to three minutes unless otherwise directed. Um we also ask that virtual commenters uh include their uh their full name on Zoom so they can be properly addressed. We also ask that uh comments be addressed, the chair and be on uh the topic. Um okay, and so we're hoping to meet in the meeting tonight more later in 10 p.m. If we're still meeting at nine, we'll check our progress at that point. Um so now we'll have the role call. Also, since we have a counselor on Zoom, so uh please call the roll. Councillor Igor here. Councilor Cole. Here, Councillor Havaman. Here. Councilor Herman. Here. Councillor Reidy. I'm here. Councillor Neil Clinton. Here councillor Hand. Here we have six present in chambers and one remote. Okay, let the record show that all seven counselors are present. Uh Counselor Neil Clinton is a remote. And if you are so uh willing and able, uh please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Hi, just flying the United States of America Republic for which it stands. One nation undergo indivisible with liberty and justice for all. So now we're on to item number three, which is uh public comments. So, as I mentioned, this uh section of public comment is for items that are not on tonight's agenda. Is there anyone present uh in chambers that would like to make a public comment? Not seeing anyone, Ms. Mason. Can you check online? I can chair. If you'd like to make public comment, please raise your hand. Chair, I'm not seeing any hands raised. Okay, thank you. So now we're on item number four, which is approval of the agenda. Uh is there a counselor um making a motion regarding the agenda? Council. I move that we approve the agenda as second. Okay, so we have uh motion by counselor cole, second by councillor Havman. Okay, not seeing any uh discussion. There is a green sheet coming up later, but that doesn't affect the agenda. So can you please call the roll? Councillor Neil Clinton. Yes.
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