BoomGov — Council agenda 11-12-24

Two big decisions on Tuesday: Where should Fire Station 4 go, and how will Los Alamos tackle climate change?

Welcome to our BoomGov agenda preview for the upcoming Los Alamos County Council meeting. Here's what's coming up:

Image from Los Alamos County, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050

The Los Alamos County Council will hold its regular session on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. at Council Chambers — 1000 Central Avenue. If you can’t make it in person, the meeting will also be available via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84587518059

Agenda overview:

Public comment: The public has a chance to weigh in at the meeting, either in person or by Zoom. The County’s e-comment feature allows you to add public comment asynchronously before noon on the meeting day. You can also also email countycouncil@lacnm.us to let them know your feelings on any topic.

Presentations, proclamations & recognitions:

• Recognition of Community Services Department accreditation by Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) - making Los Alamos the first County in New Mexico to achieve this distinction

Consent agenda: These routine items will be approved in a single motion unless a councilor requests discussion:

• County Council meeting minutes approval

• Contract for electric golf carts ($819,239)

• Agreement for on-call roofing services ($2 million)

• Agreement for electronic bidding software ($1.24 million)

• Jail conditions report approval

• Transportation Board appointment

Public hearings: Two ordinances are up for public comment and consideration:

• Development Code: minor zone map amendments

• Ordinance terminating the economic development project with Pebble Labs

Business items: These are key policy matters requiring detailed Council discussion and decisions:

• Cemetery fee schedule revisions

• Fire Station 4 replacement project site selection

• Climate Action Plan adoption and carbon neutrality target for 2050

Council business: This section covers internal Council operations and administrative matters:

• Planning and Zoning Commission appointment

• Board and Commission vacancy report

• Board, Commission and Working Group reports

• County Manager’s report

• Council Chair report

• Approval of Councilor expenses

• Preview of upcoming agenda items

More details:

Appointments: Readers may wonder why the two board and commission appointments are in different sections of this agenda: The Transportation Board appointment is routine and uncontested (appropriate for the consent agenda), while the Planning & Zoning Commission* appointment requires Council deliberation and voting between multiple candidates (requiring discussion under Council business).

Fire Station 4 site selection: Built in 1964, the current Fire Station 4 has outlived its practical lifespan: officials say it wasn’t designed for today’s heavier fire apparatus, lacks proper facilities for female firefighters, and suffers from drainage problems that cause water intrusion. Most critically, the station’s outdated design allows contaminants from emergency calls to reach living quarters due to inadequate separation between truck bays and living spaces. The County will decide where to place the new $13-14 million facility, which will include proper decontamination rooms, gender-specific facilities, and modern HVAC systems.

Three locations are under consideration:

• Site A: The current Diamond Drive location, tucked into the north side of the Golf Course

• Site B: The Golf Course maintenance yard site off San Ildefonso Road

• Site C: A site near the Loma Linda play lot on North Mesa

Image from the County’s page on the fire station project

A strong majority of the 251 survey respondents favored keeping the station at its current location (Site A). While rebuilding it on-site would require significant fill and retaining walls, it would disturb the least area (1.52 acres). Site B would affect approximately 40 trees and multiple popular trails, disturbing 3.7 acres. Site C would disturb 2.37 acres, and some residents worried about winter road access conditions. 

A few representative written citizen comments on where to put a new Fire Station 4: read more comments here

Climate Action Plan: The Council will consider adopting Los Alamos County’s first comprehensive climate action plan, which sets an ambitious target of carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan has generated both support and concern from community members — while many back its environmental goals, others worry about costs, practicality, and implementation challenges. Points of discussion include the plan's alignment with the Board of Public Utilities’ goal to phase out natural gas by 2070 (the climate plan accelerates this for County facilities to 2050), the costs of transitioning to electric vehicles and appliances, and impacts on local businesses. The plan recommends voluntary measures and education over mandates, responding to community feedback against requirements. It also details available federal and state funding to help offset costs to residents and businesses. 

Image from the final draft of the 2024 Climate Action Plan

Hundreds of public comments were captured and are available, with the other documents in the presentation, here. In short, supporters believe the CAP will make Los Alamos more sustainable and livable through improved transportation options, environmental protection, and waste reduction. Detractors question whether a small community like Los Alamos can meaningfully impact climate change.

Pebble Labs agreement termination: Following a review by the state, it was determined that Pebble Labs did not meet job requirements under their economic development agreement. While they provided some fiscal impact to the state ($1.25M) and county ($1M), they have agreed to pay back $750k in state funds.

Cemetery fee updates: Proposed changes to cemetery fees include minimal increases for local residents ($100-500) and reinstatement of a $1,000 non-resident fee for those living outside New Mexico.

Mark your calendars and stay informed!

*Note that the author of this piece, Stephanie Nakhleh, is a Planning and Zoning Commission member, though she does not represent the Commission in this piece or anywhere in Boomtown.