Los Alamos County Council Meeting Summary: October 27, 2026

The Los Alamos County Council held a regular session on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Fire Station No. 3 in White Rock. The agenda included presentations, a public hearing on a major downtown redevelopment project, and policy discussions on wildfire legislation and environmental management. All seven councilors were present for the meeting that began at 6:00 PM.

Presentations, Proclamations and Recognitions

• Proclamation: Operation Green Light for Veterans (Nov 3-10, 2026): Councilor Cole read the proclamation. Eluterio Garcia, VFW Post 8874 Commander, accepted it and invited the community to obtain green lights from the VFW to display during the week.
• Proclamation: National Native American Heritage Month (Nov 2026): Councilor Hermann read the proclamation. Lieutenant Governor Raymond Martinez from Pueblo de San Ildefonso accepted it, noting the 24 sovereign Indigenous Nations in New Mexico and looking forward to continued engagement with the county.
• Los Alamos Medical Center CEO Presentation: CEO Michael H. Covert presented a status update. He reported a net revenue of $63 million against expenses of $46 million, resulting in $12 million in net income reinvested into the facility. The hospital has 200-220 employees, sees approximately 42,000 outpatient visits annually, and 7,200 emergency room visits annually with a current average of 650 per month. Covert identified priority growth areas including primary care (need for 4 additional physicians), cardiology, orthopedics, and gastroenterology. He discussed the closure of OBGYN services due to utilization dropping to only three births over several months, with the three OBGYN doctors leaving and care transitioning to nurse practitioners and midwives. Councilor Neil-Clinton questioned the impact on women's health. Covert cited housing costs and medical malpractice as the biggest recruitment challenges. He noted that telehealth currently provides 32 physicians in specialties like psychiatry and neurology. A new, top-tier MRI and CT scanner will be installed in December. Councilor Havemann raised community concerns about OBGYN access during emergencies.
• Canyon Road Median Sustainability Redesign Presentation: Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker presented a conceptual design for eight medians on Canyon Road. The project supports the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan by reducing maintenance needs and improving staff safety, given high traffic volumes on the road. A survey of 112 residents combined preferred elements from two design options ("Bandelier" and "Plateau") into a single proposed design featuring colored gravels, stamped concrete, encased river rock, and xeriscape/low-maintenance plants. The Opinion of Probable Construction Cost (OPCC) is $546,115, which does not include overhead, contingency, or GRT. Council discussed worker safety during maintenance and questioned whether a zero-maintenance hardscape-only design was feasible.

Public Comments & Testimony

• North Mesa Bike Park (Public Comment at Start of Meeting): Six residents spoke in opposition to the proposed location of a bike park on the east side of North Mesa Park Road. Speakers (Georgia Strickfaden, Carol Branis, Jane Northholm, Richard Hughes, Irene Powell, Sean Levy) argued the natural grassland area is heavily used by walkers, supports native pollinators and wildlife, and that community outreach for the master plan was insufficient. They urged the Council to reconsider the alternative western location near the soccer fields and dog park. Wendy Burk Ryan, representing the Los Alamos Stable Owners Association, added safety concerns for horseback riders on trails shared with bikes. Chair Ryti noted no action was on the agenda for this item.
• CB Fox/LEDA Project (During Public Hearing): Public comment was split. Supporters, including Sandy Jones (LACDC), Stephanie Knockley, and Janice Chris (SBDC Director), described the project as a catalytic opportunity to recapture retail leakage and create a vibrant downtown destination. Opponents, including Angie Gursett and Lisa Shin, argued the economic projections were inflated, that the project would cannibalize existing businesses, and that there is a severe labor shortage. They requested an outside expert review of the justification.

Consent Calendar

The Council approved eight routine agenda items by a single 7-0 vote. Items included an amendment to the Smartphone Meter Reading contract (extending through 2033, NTE $362,000); an on-call roofing services agreement with J3 Systems (NTE $2,000,000); a seven-year hanging flower basket contract with Los Alamos Landscaping and More ($390,557.04); an amendment to on-call engineering services increasing the aggregate cap from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000; a medical insurance amendment with Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico ($5,100,000, plus up to $300,000 from reserve funding); an amendment to the Unite Us platform agreement (extending to 2030, total NTE $455,344.53); acceptance of a gas utility system deed for Royal Crest Mobile Home Park; and a task order for the Tank 4A 18-inch transmission waterline repair ($460,000).

Public Hearing: Ordinance No. 761 - CB Fox Redevelopment (LEDA Project)

The public hearing was held for Ordinance 761, which would authorize a Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) project for 1735 Central Investment LLC to redevelop the vacant CB Fox building. The proposed $17.1 million project includes 28,150 square feet of mixed-use space: retail spaces, a food hall and commercial kitchen, a 20-room boutique hotel, and a rooftop bar. The developer requests $6 million in LEDA funds ($4 million grant, $2 million zero-interest loan), with funds held in escrow until the project is completed and meets performance metrics. Project partner Phil Gursky presented the plan, emphasizing community benefit including 25 full-time-equivalent jobs, increased GRT, and downtown activation. Council discussed potential impacts on local businesses and labor supply. Gursky noted plans to partner with local restaurants and train new workers. Councilor Ryti made a motion to continue the public hearing to November 17, 2026, with amendments to correct the employment figures (changing "6" to "25" FTE jobs) and extend the completion deadline from December 31, 2028, to June 30, 2029, with authority for staff to make consistent date changes. The motion passed 7-0.

Discussion Items (Council Business)

• Conflict of Interest Waiver (Strong in Nature): Judge Elizabeth Allen presented a request to waive a potential conflict of interest to contract with Strong in Nature for Juvenile SMART Recovery Program services (NTE $76,624.62). County Program Specialist Jamie Allbach is co-CEO of Strong in Nature and is married to the other co-CEO, Ryan Ramaker. The motion stated Ms. Allbach disclosed the relationship prior to the RFP, was recused from involvement, and Strong in Nature scored higher than the competitor while proposing costs 2.6 times lower. Council voted unanimously (7-0) to grant the waiver.
• Fix Our Forests Act Support: Fire Chief Erik Litzenberg presented a request for Council to support the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471 / S. 1462), federal legislation designed to accelerate forest management and reduce catastrophic wildfire risks. Chief Litzenberg emphasized the act creates "firesheds," prioritizes high-risk areas, streamlines collaboration, and coordinates grant programs. Council expressed general support. Councilor Ryti moved to approve support while also recognizing the need for adequate funding, environmental protections, and community participation. The motion passed 7-0.
• Hexavalent Chromium Plume Cleanup Letter: The Council discussed sending a letter to Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham requesting the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) regularly attend multi-stakeholder meetings regarding the hexavalent chromium plume cleanup. Councilor Ryti noted NMED's absence at the latest meeting delayed technical decisions. Councilor Rieger opposed the motion, preferring to see a finalized draft of the letter before voting. The motion to send the letter passed 6-1.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 761 Continued: The public hearing for the CB Fox LEDA project was continued to the November 17, 2026, Council meeting. Staff were directed to prepare an amended ordinance.
• Conflict Waiver Approved: A waiver was granted (7-0) allowing the County to contract with Strong in Nature for Juvenile SMART Recovery services.
• Resolution Approved: Council approved a resolution supporting the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471 / S. 1462) (7-0).
• Letter Authorized: Council authorized a letter to the Governor requesting NMED attendance at chromium plume meetings (6-1).
• Appointment: Jennifer Armstrong was appointed to the Art in Public Places Board for a partial term ending March 25, 2027, by a 7-0 roll call vote.