BoomGov - Council agenda 10-22-24
Road safety takes center stage at the Oct. 22 County Council meeting
Welcome to our BoomGov agenda preview for Tuesday’s Los Alamos County Council meeting. We’re excited to keep you informed with a quick and easy way to see what’s on the docket.
Here’s what’s coming up: The Los Alamos County Council will hold its work session on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, at 6 p.m. Note the location: Fire Station No. 3 in White Rock. (Location changed due to early voting.) If you can’t make it in person, the meeting will also be available via Zoom.
What is a work session?
A work session is typically a less formal Council meeting focused on in-depth discussions and information sharing without formal votes or actions. However, this work session is unusual. It includes a “presentation and possible action” item on road safety, meaning the Council could vote on recommendations immediately after the presentation. This hybrid approach is sometimes used for time-sensitive issues.
Agenda overview:
Here’s a quick look at what’s on the agenda:
Presentations:
Joseph Chandler, chair of the Environmental Sustainability Board, will give an annual presentation to the Council. This presentation will cover ESB’s recent accomplishments, current projects, and future challenges and opportunities. This is part of a broader initiative where all board and commission chairs provide yearly updates to the Council.
Business items:
Overview of Council strategic goal: environmental stewardship
Presentation and possible action on road and traffic safety
Update on Elk Ridge natural gas system transition planning
Discussion and possible action on the donation of two pieces of artwork
More details:
Environmental stewardship: Deputy County Manager Linda Matteson will present an overview of the County’s environmental stewardship goals. The presentation covers five key areas: natural resource protection, greenhouse gas reduction, carbon-neutral energy supply, water conservation, and waste management. Recent achievements include becoming a Bee City USA Affiliate, implementing bear-resistant trash carts, expanding EV charging, contracting for solar power and battery storage, improving wastewater treatment, and developing a Zero Waste Strategy. Matteson’s presentation will get into progress on the Open Space and Trails Management Plan, updating the community on recent community engagement sessions.
Road and traffic safety: Following in the wake of two fatal crashes in Los Alamos in 2024, including one that killed former Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Charles McMillan in September, County Council has requested an in-depth look into road safety conditions in Los Alamos. Police Chief Dino Sgambellone and Public Works Director Juan Rael will present options to make roads safer. They’ll also talk about current safety strategies like enforcement, education, and prevention.
A key topic will be the potential implementation of an automated camera enforcement program, similar to the one used in Albuquerque. The presenters will explain how such a system works, its infrastructure requirements, and reported success rates. Importantly, if Council approves this item, it would require passing a local ordinance at a future meeting.
Another significant proposal is a ban on using handheld phones while driving. The presenters will outline this measure’s rationale and potential impact on road safety.
The public will have a chance to weigh in at the meeting,
either in person or by Zoom. You can also email countycouncil@lacnm.us
Council will also receive an update on wildlife-vehicle collisions, with data showing 62 such incidents in 2023 and 48 through September 2024. The presentation will also touch on this county's complex jurisdictional tangle, involving entities like the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), the Department of Energy (DOE), San Ildefonso Pueblo, and Santa Fe County.
At the end of the presentation, staff will recommend several next steps for Council consideration. These include drafting ordinances for speed cameras and phone use while driving, studying road improvements for NM 502, coordinating with regional partners, and developing related budget proposals for FY26.
The public will have a chance to weigh in at the meeting, either in person or by Zoom. The County’s new e-comment feature allows you to add public comment asynchronously before noon on the meeting day. You can also email countycouncil@lacnm.us to make known your feelings on this or any topic.
While this is a work session, the agenda allows for “possible action,” meaning the Council could vote on these recommendations immediately. However, they may also choose to delay action for further study or public input. Residents are encouraged to attend this important meeting to stay informed about potential changes to local traffic safety measures. Any new ordinances required to implement the recommendations would be voted on at a future meeting.
Artwork donation: The Council will consider accepting two paintings donated by artist Stephanie West to appreciate the Police and Fire Departments’ quick response to an incident at Fuller Lodge when the artist’s friend was hit by a car on the nearby crosswalk.
Elk Ridge natural-gas update: Los Alamos County Utilities Manager Philo Shelton will update Council about the Elk Ridge transition from natural gas to propane, following multiple requests from residents for this item to be discussed by Council. No presentation is attached to this item in the agenda, so we don’t know much about what to expect. See Boomtown’s coverage of this story here.
See the full County Council agenda here.
Mark your calendars for 6 p.m. Tues., Oct. 22, and stay informed!