Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Los Alamos County Council held a work session on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Fire Station No. 3 in White Rock, with six councilors present (Councilor Havemann excused). The meeting featured five major presentations: updates from the Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB), the Environmental Stewardship strategic focus area, the MainStreet & Creative District program, social services data-driven decision-making, and the Quality Governance focus area. Council introduced an ordinance for a proposed 60-room extended-stay hotel redevelopment at 400 Trinity Drive (The Guest House) and approved councilor expenses for future conferences.
David Hampton (ESB Chair) and Angelica Gurule (Sustainability Manager) presented the ESB's 2026 accomplishments, including endorsement of the Fleet Conversion Study and Community-Wide EV Charging Infrastructure Plan (passed by Council), contributions to the Climate Action Marketing Plan for Year 1, and formation of a working group to evaluate a single-use plastic bag ordinance (not endorsed by ESB and not passed by Council). The ESB currently has four working groups: Los Alamos Sustainability Alliance, Supporting Local Food Systems, Education and Outreach, and Commuter Trip Reduction. Future priorities include implementing Climate Action Plan (CAP) Year 1 and 2 priorities, contributing to the municipal food composting program, and continuing community education and outreach. Challenges identified include implementing CAP recommendations, increasing educational initiatives, bridging environmental quality goals with practical costs, and increasing community engagement.
Councilor Cull expressed support for lower EV charging rates to encourage adoption and suggested the ESB work with the Board of Public Utilities to explore reducing costs. Councilor Reagor noted the shrinking size of the farmers market. Chair Ryti raised concerns about backyard gardening as a potential wildlife attractant. Councilor Cull asked about tree canopy protections during private construction — staff confirmed the tree mitigation policy is currently internal for county projects only. Discussion covered bear-resistant cart distribution (2,398 distributed, 495 on waiting list, 594 ordered with 280 received), the recycling contamination audit (17.67% vs. 24% national average), and on-bill financing options for energy efficiency upgrades (still in the research and exploration phase due to anti-donation clause questions).
Angelica Gurule presented progress across four priority areas:
Councilor Cull asked about dust control at construction sites (code requires mitigation for projects of certain size). Cull also suggested making the landfill reuse area more visible, possibly with a camera system, which staff supported.
Jacquelyn Connolly (Executive Director) presented the program's performance. The FY2026 budget totals $635,590, with $278,270 (44%) from the county contract. Every county dollar is matched by $1.28 in non-county capital. There is 2.3x budget leverage ratio. District reinvestment data (January 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) shows $31.8M in private investment, 39 building rehabs, 17 net new businesses, and 1,112 volunteer hours. The Business Accelerator program had three cohorts with 36 participants: 14 opened businesses (93% still operating), 64% brick & mortar or food trucks, a 400% employment surge from 4 to 20 jobs, and $857K in private build-outs. Cost per job was $1,677, which is 5.15x more cost-efficient than state peer programs and 6.11x ahead of the state LEDA program. Direct services from New Mexico MainStreet totaled $264,476 (2021–2025).
Other programs discussed included Tuesdays @ the Square concerts (Boese Bros. reported +75% sales), ScienceFest 2026 moved to September with measurable downtown business spillover, placemaking projects under a $100K Arts and Cultural District Pilot Grant, and legislative advocacy including passage of the Independent Theater Beer & Wine Act.
Councilor Hand asked about expanding MRA boundaries and funding sources (funds come from the county's economic development fund, replenished through general revenues during budget process). Chair Ryti asked about the $31.8M investment figure — Connolly noted it comes from building permits and the vast majority represents renovations (especially roofing and ADA compliance). Ryti also inquired about vacancy data; Connolly said data collection for the White Rock district is underway and anticipated to be complete by end of Q1 2027. When asked about obstacles facing business owners, Connolly cited property and location challenges, high startup costs for food and beverage businesses, lack of move-in-ready spaces, and difficulty finding spaces that meet code requirements.
Jessica Strong (Social Services Division Manager) presented current data collection and challenges. The social services system has 1,974 total records; over the past three months, 76 individuals were seen for 118 appointments. Age breakdown: 53% (18–44), 32% (45–64), 15% (65+); 56% male, 44% female. Currently 13 active clients are experiencing homelessness; 7 individuals have been helped to secure shelter in the past 24 months. Lost services impacting homelessness include the loss of the only laundromat in the county, Housing Choice voucher shortages, SNAP benefit cuts, and changes to apartment waitlist availability. Strong discussed the difficulty of measuring outcomes such as prevented suicides, prevented overdoses, and reduced homelessness due to stigma and underreporting. She shared a quote: "Change happens at the speed of trust."
Councilor Hand asked about coordination with LANL regarding clearance-related stigma and record confidentiality — Strong confirmed records are confidential with release of information required before sharing. Councilor Reagor asked about the true number of homeless individuals; Strong estimated 70–80 people based on a 2024 back-of-the-envelope calculation with community partners. Councilor Cull noted the difficulty of measuring interventions. Chair Ryti suggested tracking resolution rates, appointment wait times, and coordination with police data on suicide and domestic violence calls. Strong expressed interest in collecting client satisfaction surveys, long-term prevention surveys, and data on time to reach goals.
Linda Matteson (Deputy County Manager) presented highlights across three objectives:
Chair Ryti suggested the county newsletter highlight items that will see council action so the public can better identify when to engage. He also raised concerns about Have Your Say pages not being consistently updated. Matteson acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve page maintenance and use tags for archiving.
Elias Isaacson (Community Development Director) and Max Khudiakov (Economic Development Administrator) presented the proposed ordinance for a redevelopment project at 400 Trinity Drive (former Hilltop House). Grand Mesa Partners proposes developing a 40,000-square-foot, 60-room extended-stay hotel targeting LANL employees and business travelers, designed to achieve LEED Gold certification. Estimated construction cost exceeds $15.5 million. Requested County fiscal participation totals $4,025,000: $2,000,000 LEDA grant, $1,025,000 MRA grant for improvements including façade work, balconies, signage, landscaping, and a downtown gateway feature (with a $150,000 allowance subject to a public engagement session), and a $1,000,000 zero-interest, 10-year loan with repayment beginning in year three. The project is expected to generate more than $360,000 in construction-related gross receipts tax revenue, $1,155,923 in new Lodgers' Tax over 10 years, $2.36 million in total salaries/wages for 4 new full-time equivalent jobs, and at least $1,627,320 in annual visitor spending. The developer commits at least $7,263,000 in private funds. Public hearing scheduled for November 10, 2026. Councilor Hand introduced the ordinance without prejudice.
If we're still meeting at that time. So we do have one counselor online, so can we do a roll call? Counselor Cole. Here. Counselor Reger? Here. Counselor Hand? Here. Councilor Habiman? Counselor Herman, here. Counselor Neil Clinton? Here. Counselor Reite. I'm here. Five present in chambers, one online and one absent. Okay, so we have uh total of six counselors for this meeting. Uh Councillor Nell Clinton is on line, and Councillor Havaman indicated that uh she would uh like to be excused for the meeting. She may or may not be able to join us later. So with that, um please, if you're able and so willing, uh please join us in pledge allegiance. I think it's a fly. And two for which it stands one lation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, so now we're on to item number three, which is public comment. Those again, this uh section of the agenda is reserved for items that are not on tonight's agenda. Do we have any members of the public here at the fire station like public make public comment for items not on the agenda? Not seeing anyone come forward. Um, can you check online? If you're online and you'd like to make a public comment now, please raise your hand. No hands, Chair. Okay, thank you. So uh now we're on to item number four, which is approval of the agenda. So is there counselor interesting in making a motion on the uh approving the agenda as presented? Councilor Cole. I mean that we approve the agenda as presented. Second. Second. Uh Counselor Herman, I think at the second. Okay, so um, since we do have some one counselor on the line, uh can we uh go ahead and call the roll. Counselor Herman. Yes. Counselor Cole? Yes. Counselor Reger?