BoomGov - Council Agenda 12-03-24
Highlights from the upcoming Los Alamos County Council meeting agenda
Welcome to our BoomGov agenda preview for the upcoming Los Alamos County Council meeting. Here’s what’s coming up:
The Los Alamos County Council will hold its regular session on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1000 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM. If you can’t make it in person, the meeting will also be available via Zoom: Zoom link.
The full agenda is at the county’s website here.
Agenda Overview
Here’s a quick look at what’s on the agenda:
Public comment
The public has a chance to weigh in on items not otherwise on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, either in person or by Zoom. You can email CountyCouncil@lacnm.us to let them know your feelings on any topic.
E-comment is available for meetings of the Los Alamos County Council, so you can provide public comment on agenda items even if you are not able to attend. Submit comments online by 11:45am on the day of the meeting, using this link for Dec. 3, 2024.
Presentations, Proclamations & Recognitions
This opening portion is the ceremonial part of the meeting where the Council celebrates community members and learns about important initiatives.
Valles Caldera Day: Proclamation honoring the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Health Council Update: Annual briefing from the Los Alamos County Health Council.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda is a group of routine items that Council can approve all at once without discussion, unless a Councilor requests to talk about a specific item. For this meeting, it includes:
Approval of minutes from the November 12, 15, and 19, 2024, Council meetings.
Business Items
These are key topics the Council will discuss in more detail and may take action on. In this session, they’ll review:
Diamond Drive Property Purchase: Consideration of a $9.85M purchase of three properties (continuation from Nov. 19).
Affordable Housing Contract: Approval of a $2.03M agreement for housing rehabilitation and homebuyer assistance programs.
Regional Landfill Study: Approval of a memorandum of agreement with Española and Rio Arriba County for a feasibility study.
Council Business
This section covers actions the Council needs to take or discussions on various issues. This time, they include:
Review and possible approval of the 2025 Strategic Leadership Plan.
Appointments to fill several vacancies on the Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board
Preview of upcoming agenda items, also known as the “tickler.”
More Details
Diamond Drive Property Purchase
This is a continuation of the discussion started at the Nov. 19 meeting, details of which are covered here. The agenda packets contain additional slides emphasizing the needs of the Social Services Department (Attachment D) and a list of county-owned land annotated with current status of sales or development plans (Attachment E). If the purchase goes forward, the staff report anticipates community engagement through 2025, with construction to begin between 2027 and 2029. If it does not go forward, staff seeks input from Council regarding where to develop the Social Services Hub.
Affordable Housing Programs
After operating the County’s affordable housing programs for homebuyer assistance and rehabilitation since 1994, the Los Alamos Housing Partnership completed its contracts without renewal in summer 2024. Council will consider a $2.03M service contract with the Santa Fe Community Housing Trust — an established nonprofit — to continue those programs as well as “innovative alternatives” in accordance with New Mexico Affordable Housing Act and the Los Alamos County affordable housing ordinances.
Mark your calendars and stay informed!