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Record of Proceedings

Los Alamos Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meeting – September 2, 2026

County Council & Boards — Thursday, September 3, 2026
BodyLos Alamos County, New Mexico
SessionCounty Council & Boards
DateThursday, September 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 33:28

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

So this has been a meeting for the historic preservation advisory board September 2nd.

0:06

I guess we can should do introductions.

0:10

I'm the chair for the board.

0:12

Hi.

0:13

Oh.

0:15

Carrie Gregory, member.

0:18

Um looking at the agenda, just a question.

0:24

The uh the section that asked for comments for public on items that are not otherwise included.

0:30

Is that also repeated between A and D?

0:33

I thought we had that fixed.

0:35

I thought we did too.

0:36

It's returned.

0:38

Um and it might have returned because Jackie or Granicus Jeannie has retired.

0:43

Oh no.

0:44

So that might be what we just need to come back to.

0:49

But um it should not be on the second portion.

0:52

So there shouldn't be us the at the latter part of the meeting.

0:56

There should not be a public comment.

0:57

It should all be saved for the beginning, and then any public comments through items that people should be discussed during those items.

1:04

Okay, so I should I should consider section A or probably okay.

1:09

So uh do we have any public comment on items?

1:12

Um Patrick May I may I recommend that we amend the agenda to strike the second public comment on item uh five.

1:21

I move that we amend the agenda to strike the public comment on item five.

1:32

Are there any uh items not on the list for the public interested in?

1:40

Do we have any one we have only ourselves?

1:45

Danielle, while we're talking about that one, it looks like it's also replicated between A and D.

1:51

The little subtext came back.

1:54

Um so which one is correct, A or D.

1:58

Well, that's the question I had.

2:03

I'm sorry, Carrie.

2:04

I'm I'm not sure.

2:05

That's okay.

2:06

Um the subtext IA and I D.

2:11

The section is reserved.

2:13

Yeah, that should be struck.

2:14

Okay.

2:19

Okay, I've not seen any items not on the agenda from the interest of the public.

2:26

Okay.

2:27

I wish to move to B, which is the approval of today's agenda.

2:32

I move that we approve today's agenda.

2:35

Second.

2:37

I'm gonna excuse myself.

2:39

I'm feeling a little under the weather, so I thought I'd be here if we didn't have a quorum, but with you we do.

2:44

So if you don't mind, I apologize to you all.

2:47

Um have a good meeting.

2:48

I'm gonna go take care of myself.

2:50

That's a ginger tea.

2:52

I would pass your tea just for you.

2:56

What was that?

2:59

Not Danielle.

3:00

She has very importantly to it.

3:02

Yeah, she wouldn't be it was lovely to see you all.

3:06

I hope to see you next time.

3:08

Sure.

3:09

I will.

3:09

I'm not gonna take Carrie.

3:11

Thank you for your notes.

3:12

Oh, you're welcome.

3:13

Thank you, Danielle.

3:14

Appreciate it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Procedural████████████████19%
Staffing█████████████15%
Waste Management██████7%
Electric Distribution████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Los Alamos Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meeting – September 2, 2026

The Los Alamos Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) met on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Room 110 of the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Avenue. The meeting was held in person with a Zoom option. After a quorum was established, the board addressed agenda amendments, approved prior meeting minutes, and discussed its 2026 Work Plan, including potential grant funding and consultant roles. A chair election was postponed due to absent members. Council Liaison Theresa Cull provided updates on county council actions, including a failed plastic bag ban, regional landfill talks, and ballot measures.

Consent Calendar

  • The board voted to amend the agenda by striking the duplicate public comment section (Item V) that had inadvertently appeared due to a change in meeting software management after Granicus/Jeannie retired.
  • The minutes from the August 5, 2026 meeting were approved by a unanimous voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public offered comments on items not on the agenda.
  • A brief off‑record discussion occurred regarding the privately‑owned Oppenheimer House, which is not a county asset but is listed on the historic registry. Members noted it had raised private funds for renovation and would not require HPAB review since it is not receiving federal or county funding.

Discussion Items

  • Chair Election (Item II-A): The board postponed the election of a permanent chair due to the absence of Chair Cruz (who was ill) and Member Carrie Gregory (who departed before the item). Members agreed to hold the election at the next meeting when all members could be present. Interim Chair Patrick Cruz presided until that time.
  • 2026 Work Plan (Item II-B): Planning Manager Danyelle Valdez presented the work plan status. Key discussion points included:
    • Need for a defined work plan for the remainder of the year and priorities for 2027.
    • The board’s role as county experts in historic preservation—not as the primary on‑call consultants for individual projects.
    • Options for grant funding: possible use for hiring an on‑call historic consultant, conducting surveys, or other activities. The board continued reviewing the New Mexico Certified Local Government (CLG) requirements.
    • Response to Member Gregory’s inquiry about staffing: Valdez explained that for capital improvement projects, contractors hire historic consultants; the county does not have a dedicated historic preservation staff member. An expert list is being compiled. A consultant will present a framework for the historic master plan in October.
  • Council Liaison Report (Item III-A): Councilor Theresa Cull updated the board on recent council actions:
    • Proposed plastic bag ban failed on a 3‑3 vote (needed 4 to pass).
    • Regional landfill feasibility study continues on 31 Mile Road (former pumice mine); talks with Española and Rio Arriba County are positive.
    • Approved: electric vehicle cooperation agreement; Friday concert contract for seven years with Small Grade Productions; gas rate ordinance; LEDA/MRA project in White Rock (former Pizza Hut/McDonald’s site).
    • Ballot measures for November: (1) remove political makeup requirements for most boards/commissions (except Personnel, Planning & Zoning, Board of Public Utilities); (2) allow a third term for commission members. Information will be provided to the public.
    • August 18 work session included quarterly Climate Action Plan update and discussion of plastic bag ban.
  • Informational Items (Item IV): None.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda amendment to remove duplicate public comment period was passed unanimously.
  • Minutes of August 5, 2026 were approved unanimously.
  • Chair election was postponed until the next meeting (October 7, 2026).
  • Work Plan discussion continues; board expects a consultant presentation on the historic master plan outline in October.
  • Next meeting scheduled for October 7, 2026 (note: originally stated as October 4th, but corrected to October 7th). Agenda items will include the historic master plan presentation and the chair election.
  • Staff will provide the county’s list of approved historic preservation experts and research archive management at county facilities.

Meeting Transcript

So this has been a meeting for the historic preservation advisory board September 2nd. I guess we can should do introductions. I'm the chair for the board. Hi. Oh. Carrie Gregory, member. Um looking at the agenda, just a question. The uh the section that asked for comments for public on items that are not otherwise included. Is that also repeated between A and D? I thought we had that fixed. I thought we did too. It's returned. Um and it might have returned because Jackie or Granicus Jeannie has retired. Oh no. So that might be what we just need to come back to. But um it should not be on the second portion. So there shouldn't be us the at the latter part of the meeting. There should not be a public comment. It should all be saved for the beginning, and then any public comments through items that people should be discussed during those items. Okay, so I should I should consider section A or probably okay. So uh do we have any public comment on items? Um Patrick May I may I recommend that we amend the agenda to strike the second public comment on item uh five. I move that we amend the agenda to strike the public comment on item five. Are there any uh items not on the list for the public interested in? Do we have any one we have only ourselves? Danielle, while we're talking about that one, it looks like it's also replicated between A and D. The little subtext came back. Um so which one is correct, A or D. Well, that's the question I had. I'm sorry, Carrie. I'm I'm not sure. That's okay. Um the subtext IA and I D. The section is reserved. Yeah, that should be struck. Okay. Okay, I've not seen any items not on the agenda from the interest of the public. Okay. I wish to move to B, which is the approval of today's agenda. I move that we approve today's agenda. Second. I'm gonna excuse myself. I'm feeling a little under the weather, so I thought I'd be here if we didn't have a quorum, but with you we do. So if you don't mind, I apologize to you all. Um have a good meeting. I'm gonna go take care of myself. That's a ginger tea. I would pass your tea just for you. What was that? Not Danielle.

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