OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Art in Public Places Advisory Board Meeting - August 27, 2026

County Council & Boards — Thursday, August 27, 2026
BodyLos Alamos County, New Mexico
SessionCounty Council & Boards
DateThursday, August 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:11:54

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay.

0:00

According to the clock on the wall, it's 5 30, so I'm going to bring this meeting to open.

0:08

First order of business is the introduction of a new board member.

0:13

Would you like to introduce yourself?

0:16

Just got approved two nights ago, something like that.

0:23

In the community for 15 seconds late, 30 seconds late.

0:27

Almost almost 40 years.

0:32

Scientist, continue work part time.

0:35

I'm a musician.

0:38

That's part of why I'm having to leave it a little early.

0:47

Somewhere between five and six different groups.

0:50

My wife is an artist and also a scientist, but uh never worked well.

0:57

It's iconography.

0:59

I can talk more about it, should you be interested.

1:03

That's sort of it in a nutshell.

1:05

Maybe the next item on the agenda is the approval of minutes from July 2026.

1:15

Oh public comment.

1:16

We have to just do it so I can mark wherever you're going to be able to do that.

1:19

Yeah, yeah.

1:20

You have to ask for public comment.

1:28

All right, moving on.

1:29

Uh approval of minutes for the July 23rd, 2026 meeting.

1:33

I move that the board approve the minutes from the July 2026 meeting, 2023 meeting, uh, as published.

1:40

I second that motion.

1:41

Okay.

1:41

All in favor?

1:43

Aye.

1:43

All right.

1:44

Opposed.

1:45

Oh.

1:45

I think that might be.

1:48

On to the next meeting.

1:50

On to the next item.

1:54

Approval of minutes from the August 10th, 2026 meeting.

1:57

I move that the board approve the minutes from the August 10th, 2026 meeting.

2:02

Uh I'll second again.

2:04

Okay.

2:04

All those in favor?

2:06

Aye.

2:07

Okay.

2:07

Motion passes by unanimous move.

2:10

All right.

2:11

Now, uh according to the agenda, we have uh a person, uh Meredith, who is here to discuss uh the state's art program.

2:19

Is that right, Meredith?

2:21

I'll I'll introduce you and now the floor is yours.

2:23

Yeah.

2:24

Hi.

2:24

I'm Meredith Doborsky.

2:26

I'm the public art director for the Department of Cultural Affairs at the state.

2:30

Um and yeah, I want to talk to you guys about your current art in public places funding that you have for the fire station and then talk about that project.

2:39

I don't know, Chelsea, if you want me to go right into it or like whatever you want to share.

2:46

That's yeah, that would be a good idea.

2:47

Okay, let me just let uh counselor reader know this.

2:49

So Brian has to leave early, as you said, and and when he leaves, we'll be we won't have quorum.

2:55

Oh, there's no one online at all.

2:57

Not yet.

2:57

And so that tried that's why we just did a speed run through everything so that we could give Meredith as much time as possible before Brian has to go.

3:03

She came up special from Santa Fe.

3:05

But I can maintain it for a while.

3:08

Yeah.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████64%
Public Engagement█████████████19%
Procedural████6%
Budget Equity Analysis███4%
Fiscal Sustainability███4%
Strategic Planning██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Art in Public Places Advisory Board Meeting - August 27, 2026

The Los Alamos County Art in Public Places Advisory Board (APP) met on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers at 1000 Central Avenue, with a Zoom option. Chair Tim Foley presided. The board welcomed a new member, introduced a guest from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, discussed the Fire Station #4 artwork acquisition process, received working group updates, and reviewed pending items. A key outcome was postponing a vote on the Fire Station #4 artwork recommendation to allow further budget discussions.

Consent Calendar

  • Introduction of New Board Member: The board introduced a new member who described themselves as a long-time community member, scientist, and musician. No formal vote was taken.
  • Approval of Minutes – July 23, 2026: A motion to approve the minutes as published passed unanimously.
  • Approval of Minutes – August 10, 2026 Special Meeting: A motion to approve the minutes passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made. The chair called for public comment but received none.

Discussion Items

  • Fire Station #4 Artwork Acquisition Process: Meredith Doborsky, Public Art Director for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, presented two pathways for spending the county’s $20,000 in state-administered public art funds: a purchase program (catalog-based, timeline 3–12 months) and a site-specific commission (budget typically ≥$100,000, timeline 2–3 years). The board discussed combining county and state funds to meet the commission threshold, with the county contributing at least $80,000 plus $20,000 from the state. Doborsky explained the state’s selection process, which involves a committee of at least five members (artist, architect, owner agency, etc.) and three required public meetings. The board considered delegating artist-selection authority to a local selection committee to streamline approval. Chair Foley and members expressed caution about committing to a new process and requested time to review budget implications. The board agreed to revisit the item in September with a proposed budget number.
  • Working Group Updates:
    • Strategic Plan/De-accession Policy: A draft policy with updated templates is nearing completion; staff liaison Chelsea Ashcraft expects to present it to the full board in September. The policy will include a flowchart for next steps.
    • Fire Station Working Group: No new updates beyond the main discussion.
    • Dino World Working Group: Efforts to contact the original artist (located in Flagstaff, Arizona) continue but have been unsuccessful. The board discussed potential next steps and noted that the new de-accession policy may provide a framework. Members agreed to meet with staff before the next meeting to determine if a formal vote on de-accession is ready.
  • Pending Items List:
    • White Rock pottery relocation: Awaiting contractor action (project starts in October).
    • Los Alamos Heritage Gate plaque: Installation pending (plaque ready).
    • Justice Center wall mosaic plaque: Ordered.
    • Police station art project (lion sculpture): Approved by County Council on August 4, 2026; contract procurement underway.

Key Outcomes

  • Fire Station #4 Recommendation Deferred: The board postponed a vote on the motion to recommend the state’s artist-selection process and authorize expenditure. The item will be brought back at the September 24, 2026 meeting with a proposed budget figure. Members were asked to come prepared to discuss a minimum $80,000 contribution.
  • De-accession Policy: A final draft of the updated de-accession policy is expected to be presented for board review in September.
  • Dino World: Staff will meet with the working group before the next meeting to review the draft policy and determine readiness for a formal vote.
  • Staff Actions: Chelsea Ashcraft reported that a contract error with Creative West has been corrected, with council approval obtained on August 18. The board and commission luncheon is scheduled for September 10, 2026.
  • Council Communication: Councilor Reader noted the completion of the lion sculpture project and provided an update on ongoing efforts to clarify the county’s art funding ordinance. No immediate action required.

Next Meeting

  • The next regular meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2026. Agenda items will include a continued discussion on Fire Station #4 artwork, review of the de-accession policy, and possibly a vote on Dino World.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. According to the clock on the wall, it's 5 30, so I'm going to bring this meeting to open. First order of business is the introduction of a new board member. Would you like to introduce yourself? Just got approved two nights ago, something like that. In the community for 15 seconds late, 30 seconds late. Almost almost 40 years. Scientist, continue work part time. I'm a musician. That's part of why I'm having to leave it a little early. Somewhere between five and six different groups. My wife is an artist and also a scientist, but uh never worked well. It's iconography. I can talk more about it, should you be interested. That's sort of it in a nutshell. Maybe the next item on the agenda is the approval of minutes from July 2026. Oh public comment. We have to just do it so I can mark wherever you're going to be able to do that. Yeah, yeah. You have to ask for public comment. All right, moving on. Uh approval of minutes for the July 23rd, 2026 meeting. I move that the board approve the minutes from the July 2026 meeting, 2023 meeting, uh, as published. I second that motion. Okay. All in favor? Aye. All right. Opposed. Oh. I think that might be. On to the next meeting. On to the next item. Approval of minutes from the August 10th, 2026 meeting. I move that the board approve the minutes from the August 10th, 2026 meeting. Uh I'll second again. Okay. All those in favor? Aye. Okay. Motion passes by unanimous move. All right. Now, uh according to the agenda, we have uh a person, uh Meredith, who is here to discuss uh the state's art program. Is that right, Meredith? I'll I'll introduce you and now the floor is yours. Yeah. Hi. I'm Meredith Doborsky. I'm the public art director for the Department of Cultural Affairs at the state. Um and yeah, I want to talk to you guys about your current art in public places funding that you have for the fire station and then talk about that project.

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