Los Alamos County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Los Alamos County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Budget Revision 2026-73
The utility's year-end numbers came in higher than budgeted: an extra $1.6 million for power, $750,000 for water production, and $540,175 in interdepartmental charges, cutting the fund balance accordingly.
Extended Day-Ahead Market participation
UAMPS leaders warned that Los Alamos will be pulled into the Energy Day-Ahead Market when PNM joins in October 2027, and that members without dispatchable capacity saw bills jump 36-70%. They urged the county to get involved in PNM's tariff comment process now and model its portfolio.
North Mesa Recreation Area
Council moved an extra $1 million from a contingency into the North Mesa bike park phase one on top of $500K in the FY 27 budget, to speed progress. Councilor Cull voted against it, worried about dedicating money before design is done.
WWII Heritage City designation
Design Local, the county's consultants, will present a Historic Preservation Master Plan that could guide how Los Alamos protects and celebrates its historic sites for years to come. This is a first look — no decisions are being made yet.
Residential energy-efficiency loan program
The county is exploring letting homeowners pay for heat pumps, insulation, and electrical panel upgrades through a line on their utility bill instead of a personal loan. It could help households that can't front $15,000-$20,000 for electrification, but board members flagged serious questions: liens on homes, collections, contractor participation, and whether the Climate Investment Center is the right partner.
Electric distribution undergrounding
August's outage review showed mysterious short underground faults in White Rock, aging 1970s cable nearing failure, and concerns that SAIDI will hover around the 60-minute target until old cable is replaced.
Library Community Assessment Survey
The library's community assessment survey has 172 responses since launching about two weeks ago; staff want at least double that before it closes at the end of July. Board members are helping promote it at summer events.
Homelessness and social services data
Council discussion revealed the county helps 8-12 unhoused residents directly, but estimates 50-60 people lack stable housing. Section 8 waitlists are closed and regional housing staff have been cut, making placements harder.
Rising vacancy rate and transit operator turnover
The county's vacancy rate climbed to 7.95% after a wave of retirements, and transit operator positions have turned over constantly for a decade — partly because the Lab and trucking jobs pay more. HR is planning a targeted market study for transit and recruitment policy changes, with any pay fixes landing in FY 2029.
Fix Our Forests Act support
With red flag warnings, PNM has disabled automatic reclosers on transmission lines, raising outage risk. Staff also explained the May 8 townwide outage stemmed from unprogrammed relay settings, with a fix expected within two weeks.
Anti-harassment training rollout
A new mandatory anti-harassment training was rolled out — all employees take it every two years, supervisors annually.
Canyon Road median redesign
The county is weighing design options for the Canyon Median, landscaping many residents drive past daily. Superintendent Wendy Parker presented options but no decision was made yet.
CB Fox downtown redevelopment (LEDA project)
The vacant CB Fox department store at 1735 Central Ave will become a boutique hotel, food court, rooftop restaurant and live-music venue. It's the kind of catalyst project the downtown master plan has been waiting for — but it still needs building permits and current code compliance.
Los Alamos Medical Center services and recruitment
The hospital's maternity ward closes June 30, 2026, forcing expectant mothers into hour-plus drives to Santa Fe or Española. Speakers told the council the county has options to pressure LifePoint Health or support a competitor, and warned of safety risks and workforce impacts for LANL recruiting.
Hexavalent Chromium Groundwater Cleanup
County staff and San Ildefonso Pueblo leaders jointly urged congressional delegation support for continued chromium plume cleanup, DOE infrastructure funding for energy communities, and new well substitution; DOE's EM office signaled support for a replacement well — a first.
Personnel Rules revision
HR plans to start revising the county's Personnel Rules in July — a lengthy process that will come before this board and require County Council approval. A required compensation market study (done every four years) is also on the way, with an RFP expected in FY2027.
Public Art Conservation and Maintenance
The August visit from Pacific Coast Conservation found the outdoor collection in good shape, but fixing Corky, the Ashley Pond pony painted black by a prior conservator, got pushed so the new senior center artwork could get its required UV coating — leaving a budget shortfall for the contract's final year.
Police Station Lion Sculpture Progress
The board picked the sphinx-pose lion design and will ask Council to commission artist Daniel Borup for up to $75,000. A radial wall and possible benches are planned behind the sculpture at the memorial site.
Dino World Project Pending
A status update on the dinosaur-themed playground project. No action taken — the project is still moving through its current phase.
Fire Station #4 Art Project
The county has $20,000 set aside for art at the new fire station, but a bigger commissioned piece could be done by pooling funds with the state — costing the county at least $80,000 and taking two to three years. The board wants a month to think before recommending anything to Council.
Environmental Sustainability Board vacancy
Two applicants interviewed for the open seat left by Anna Buckthorpe, and a recommendation goes to council on October 27 — meaning the seat should be filled by the November meeting.
Snowmaking project delays at the ice rink
Pump skid deliveries, SCADA integration, fiber work, and tank disinfection are delaying the snowmaking system, though the project manager says the December 15 contractual obligation will be met — assuming snow conditions cooperate.
APPA benchmarking ratios and underlying financial health
The board was scheduled to discuss its budget, which funds public art projects and maintenance across the county.
Gas Service Rates Amendment
Gas bills rise about 16-17% on average starting September 1: the per-therm charge jumps 41% and the service charge 9%, driven by a projected $760,000 gas fund loss after a warm year with low usage.
Time-of-use billing transition problems
Since the new time-of-use rates launched July 1, bill production has been rocky — delayed cycles and corrected bills — though staff expect September to improve and credit the customer care team for absorbing the pain.
Natural gas phase-out and electric future
The county has a goal to phase out natural gas (10% reduction by 2030) but usage hasn't budged in 25 years. Councilor Havemann urged nudging the development code toward all-electric new construction; Foxdale Flats power comes online next spring and the carbon-neutral-by-2040 goal has seen little progress.
Construction dust and tree protection on private development
Councilor Cull raised complaints about dust from the North Mesa construction site during a drought. Staff said code requires dust mitigation on larger projects but doesn't specify methods like barrier fencing, and the tree mitigation policy currently applies only to county projects — a countywide version may come next year.
Guest House Project — LEDA and MRA Agreements
A 60-room hotel is proposed for the vacant former Hilltop House site at 400 Trinity Drive, the gateway to downtown. The developer wants nearly $4 million in county LEDA and redevelopment funds for a $30 million-plus project, and councilors and residents grilled them on jobs, taxpayer protections, and clawbacks before any money is committed.
County communication and fiscal stewardship
The county website got a major overhaul, the Rept videos have saved ~400 staff hours, and the community survey drew 620 responses. Financially: clean audit, a $40M broadband bond and a fresh $35M bond for Fire Station 4.
Bear-resistant cart shortage and wildlife conflict
A resident reported bears destroying trash can lids and asked for more funding for bear-proof carts; the manager said more carts arrive October 14.
Los Alamos Airport site plan changes (hangar demolition and road relocation)
The airport hangar redevelopment — demolishing 13 hangars, moving Airport Road, and building new aprons and taxi lanes — won't be decided until December 9.
Temporary sign regulations amendment
Council is revising the temporary sign code after court limits on restricting sign content; options would open more right-of-way locations during election season, and public input will be sought.
Myrtle Street Pickleball Court
The Board heard where the Myrtle Street pickleball court project stands. Pickleball players in town are watching this one closely.
NRPA Gold Medal Finalist Recognition
Los Alamos's parks department was one of four national finalists for the NRPA Gold Medal Award in its population category. It didn't win, but the recognition is a big deal for local recreation services.
DPU FY2027 Budget Preview
The board reviewed draft financial guidelines and debated how much money the utilities manager can spend without board approval. This affects how quickly the utility can respond to needs — and how tightly the board keeps watch on the checkbook.
Coyote Mesa workforce housing bonds
Council issued a $230 million revenue bond to support the Coyote Mesa workforce housing project on DP Road.
Workforce housing on DP Road parcel 8A
The county signed an MOU to develop workforce housing on Parcel 8A off DP Road — a few hundred new units — backed by $3 million in state grant funding. A new website now tracks all county housing projects.
Housing affordability metrics and inclusionary zoning
Commissioners pressed staff on how much land is actually available to build on: 118 vacant, developable lots are currently zoned for housing, and roughly 250 more could come with duplexes, plus ADUs are allowed nearly everywhere. An estimated housing deficit of about 2,500 units is being rechecked.
Integrated Resource Plan implementation
The IRP is the utility's long-term plan for meeting the community's power needs. This update showed where implementation stands — it shapes future rates, reliability, and energy choices.
Draft Comprehensive Plan Update
The county's draft Comprehensive Plan is being revised in response to public feedback. The biggest changes: dropping the controversial 'conservation residential' recommendation so identified open space won't be developed, and pushing stronger zoning reforms to allow more housing types. A revised draft comes back November 18, when the commission will recommend to Council.
Piñon Pool reopening under county operation
The county leased the Piñon Pool property for a nominal $1 and spent months cleaning, repairing and inspecting it. It reopens May 23 with daily hours, but repairs come at county expense since the lease is essentially free.
Olympic Pool Mechanical System Improvements
The aquatic center's 38-year-old Olympic Pool pumps are being replaced with a redundant pump-and-filter setup so one failure won't shut down the pool. Work happens during the current closure, with swimmers expected back by November.
LEDA loan for The Rock Redevelopment in White Rock
The county's first MRA project grant in White Rock gives the Pig & Fig Café up to $106,000 in reimbursed costs for accessibility, drainage, and infrastructure upgrades, expected to add six jobs and six dining tables in the White Rock downtown district.
Comcast Cable Franchise
The new cable franchise with Comcast goes back before council June 9. Comcast has kept operating and paying franchise fees under its expired agreement while the new one is negotiated.
Walkup Aquatic Center Closure and East Park Pool Partnership
The Aquatic Center's $3.3 million rehab hit a pump manufacturing delay, keeping the pool closed into January 2027. Twelve residents urged the county to help keep East Park Pool open with lifeguards or support, but staff said procurement rules, staffing shortages, and lifeguards' unwillingness to work outdoors block a quick deal; an Española MOU is being finalized.
Atomic Fiber broadband buildout begins
A road grader cut the county's single Lumen fiber line in September, cutting cell and internet service for about 20 hours. The county's second fiber line via San Ildefonso Pueblo is built but not yet connected pending an MOU, and no internet providers have committed to redundancy yet. Residents who lost connectivity couldn't call 911 or reach family.
Hexavalent chromium groundwater plume
A state Environment Department update reported the chromium plume is not contained within LANL property, state and LANL disagree on whether injections should continue, and the pump-and-treat system needs improvements and is at a standstill.
Denver Steels Waterline Replacement and Easement Vacations
After severely corroded service lines were found, the county replaced water lines for about 126 Denver Steels homes using a state loan, moving meters to the property line. The easement vacation formally shifts future maintenance responsibility — and cost — from the county to homeowners.
IPRA/eDiscovery Software Modernization
The county pulled over 4.2 million records and spent over $800,000 on outside IPRA help in three years. A new five-year, $3.4 million AI-assisted contract with CDS aims to speed up records requests, cut outside consultant costs, and reduce legal risk — with human review still required before release.
Youth programming gap for sixth graders
A parent flagged that sixth graders, kept on elementary campuses but considered middle schoolers, can't access middle-school library programs like anime and manga clubs.