County Council weighed $35M bond and $2.5M software deal; boards eyed plastic bag ban and playground relocation
Los Alamos County's advisory boards and council held a busy stretch of meetings in early July, with agendas touching on a potential $35,000,000 infrastructure bond, a $2,500,000 software agreement, and a possible single-use plastic bag ban. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of these sessions, outcomes — including whether items were approved, tabled, or rejected — are not yet available in the public record.
County Council — Regular Session (July 7)
The council's regular session agenda included a public hearing on issuing up to $35,000,000 in gross receipts tax improvement revenue bonds for Fire Station 4, fire safety facilities, and other public infrastructure. Also on the agenda were public hearings on two charter amendments — one changing standing boards and commissions, another prioritizing budgeted expenditures — and a resolution to apply for $7,271,004 in federal transit funds for Atomic City Transit. The council was also scheduled to introduce a code ordinance amending Development Code review procedures and to discuss expanding recycling services. No vote tallies or outcomes are available yet.
County Council — Work Session and Closed Session (July 14)
The work session agenda listed possible approval of a three-year Microsoft Enterprise Enrollment Agreement through SHI International Corporation for up to $2,500,000. Consent agenda items included a $550,000 contract with BIGBYTE.cc for a remote disaster recovery data center site and a cooperative use agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation for the NM4 Crossing and Multi-Use Trail Improvement Project in White Rock. Presentations were scheduled on the Historic Preservation Advisory Board's 2026 work plan, the Board of Public Utilities, a community performance dashboard, the Comprehensive Plan update, and operational excellence.
A separate closed session was scheduled to discuss the purchase, acquisition, or disposal of real property (Item 21927-26) and threatened or pending litigation (Item 21928-26), pursuant to state statutes on confidential discussions.
Environmental Sustainability Board (July 16)
The board's agenda included discussion and possible action on a recommendation for a single-use plastic bag ban ordinance. Members were also scheduled to receive a quarterly update on Climate Action Plan implementation and a preview of a biosolids composting update.
Parks and Recreation Board (July 9)
The board was set to approve minutes from its June 11 meeting and discuss the relocation and rezoning of Grand Canyon Playground. The agenda also included a presentation on the Los Alamos Mesa Trail Rehabilitation Project, work group and task force updates, and a communication from Councilor Cull.
Library Board (July 6)
The Library Board's agenda consisted of electing officers and approving minutes from the June 1, 2026, meeting, along with reports from the chair, the manager, and the Friends of Los Alamos County Library liaison.
Coming up
- **Board of Public Utilities — July 22:** Public hearings on gas service rate ordinance (No. 02-385) and water service rate schedules (No. 02-387). Also on the agenda: a proposed power purchase agreement not to exceed $9,195,750.00 for August and September 2026, a $1,000,000.00 contract with Southwest Fire Defense, LLC for seven-year power line tree trimming, a bid award to AUI, Inc. for $849,570.00 for LASS Cured in Place Piping, and proposed changes to the Utilities Assistance Program (DPU Rule GR-18).
- **Planning and Zoning Commission — July 22:** Public hearings on a site-plan adoption for 1735 Central Avenue, a mixed-use project in the Downtown Los Alamos district, and a site-plan adoption for a commercial parking lot at 1377 and 1399 Diamond Drive, plus a variance request (VAR-2026-0019) to modify buffer-zone planting requirements. No dollar amounts are listed for the applications.
- **Arts in Public Places Advisory Board — July 23:** Selection of a revised lion sculpture design by artist Daniel Borup for the Police Station project, with a not-to-exceed budget of $75,000, plus discussion of Fire Station #4 artwork and adoption of a deaccession and relocation priority list.
- **Personnel Board — July 28:** This meeting has been cancelled.