The Los Alamos County Council met in regular session on August 4, 2026 at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Avenue, with six of seven councilors present (Councilor Hand excused). The meeting covered the Quarterly Climate Action Plan update, introduction of two ordinances, a public hearing on workforce housing bonds, a discussion on a proposed plastic bag ban, and other council business. Key actions included approval of consent agenda items, introduction of a gas rate increase ordinance and an economic development project ordinance, adoption of a resolution supporting workforce housing bonds, and rejection of a motion to advance a single-use plastic bag ordinance.
Okay. Apologize for that being a little loud, but uh someone welcome everyone to the August 4th uh 2026 County Council uh regular session. Um so tonight's meeting is going to be in uh hybrid format, meaning we'll have uh presenters and council in person and also remotely on Zoom. So we'll be taking uh public comments uh on items not on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting here shortly. Um then we'll be uh also taking public comment for each item that we're discussing tonight. And uh we just ask that uh you keep your comments focused on the issue at hands uh tonight as we go through them. Um then when we go through public comment, uh Mr. Real will be looking for commenters on Zoom. And uh we just also ask the people uh have their name on Zoom so they can be properly addressed. And uh we also ask the people uh limit their comments to three minutes or as otherwise directed. Um and also just ask the comments be directed to the chair. So I think that's all the preliminary information. So uh Ms. Rayl, is uh counselor handline. Sure, I'm not seeing her online yet. Okay, so we'll just keep an eye for her if she does able to join. So she'll let me know that she was probably not attending tonight. So um I think given that we have six, maybe we should take the roll just to confirm. Councillor Cole. Present Councilor Rigor. Here. Councilor Havaman. Here. Councilor Herman. Here. Councillor Neil Clinton here. Councillor Brady. Here. We have six counselors present in chambers with counselor hand absent. Uh yeah, let the record show we have six here present and uh counselor hand has been excused. Um so then we go on to item number two, which is pledge of allegiance. So if you're willing and able, please join us in the pledge. One individual with liberty and justice. Okay, so now we're on to the public comment item for items that are not on tonight's agenda. Do we have anyone present uh here in the council chambers that would like to make public comment for items that are not on the agenda? Please come forward and just ask that you state your name for the record. My name is Larie L A R E Mitchell, and I would like you to consider changing all the street lights to have a delayed red that prevents accidents. Also, the street lights on Trinity should all be green at the same time for 45 seconds. The side street should only be green for 20 seconds. It takes longer to get out of the town with the lights changing constantly than it does getting down the hill. Typical passenger car waste one half to one-fifth gallon of fuel for every hour it sits idling, idling burns, fueling completely, releasing high amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons directly into the air. Studies by the Department of Energy show that keeping an engine running while parked or waiting for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and creates more total emissions than the brief burst caused by turning the car off and restarting it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, do we have anyone else who wants public comment for items that are not on tonight's agenda? Not seeing anyone. Uh Mr. Real, can you uh please check on a line force? If you're online and you'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. No one online, Chair.