BY THERESA CULL
Chair
Los Alamos County Council
A couple of weeks ago, I gave a talk at the monthly Kiwanis Club meeting. At their request, I provided a summary on what’s happening in the County. It was well-received and I thought it would be good to share an abbreviated version with a wider audience.
My talk focused on housing, business engagement/support, and other projects that the Council has been involved in recently (within the past year). Keep in mind that there are MANY activities that County staff perform every day that support our community that I will not be able to include here.
Housing
To address a lack of affordable housing, last fall Council adopted the Los Alamos Affordable Housing Plan and in January 2025, we approved a new contract with the Santa Fe Community Housing Trust for homebuyer and rehabilitation programs. We also provided budget guidance during our 2026 budget review to dedicate ¼ percent of gross receipts tax (GRT) to a “Housing Fund,” which will be discussed in more detail this October. Last year, 134 low-income units were completed on DP Road (Canyon Walk and Bluffs Apartments). We also recently approved an agreement to provide 87 deed- restricted affordable studio apartments on 9th Street.
There are also market-rate apartments in the works – the Hill Apartments (149 units behind the hospital) and 20th Street mixed use development (recently approved). Council will also be considering an additional development on DP Road that will include a mix of market rate and affordable units. This list is not exhaustive and admittedly, progress has been slow, but new housing should become available soon.
Business Engagement/Support
To support local businesses, Council recently approved the Small Business/Retail LEDA process and allocated $400K initially to support this program. This process provides grants to expand or enhance existing and new small businesses. The Council also formed a Small Business Working Group to gather information and make recommendations. Their final report will be presented in late September. The County is working with an organization called Cities Work to provide an outside perspective and recommendations for small/local business support. That report should be available later this fall. The Council approved the purchase of several buildings along Longview Drive in White Rock to allow roadway realignment and enhancement for future development.
Other Projects
Community Broadband was approved by Council last fall. The County contributed funding to San Ildefonso Pueblo to support the “middle mile” installation, and an infrastructure assessment and low-level design are underway. Some other projects underway or recently completed include: Little Theater asbestos abatement; Jemez Mountains Fire Protection Project; DP Road Phase II roadway infrastructure; pickleball courts and the East Park basketball court; Bathtub Row utilities; Urban Trail, Perimeter Trail, and Kinnikinnik Park ADA improvements; Ice Rink parking lot, refrigeration, and cover design; golf course improvements, including electric carts; Saturday Atomic City Transit pilot; and the White Rock Water Resource and Reclamation Facility.
Council also approved Road Safety ordinances (speed cameras, cellphones), the Wildlife/Urban Interface Ordinance (to enhance wildfire safety and help address insurance concerns), the Pedestrian Master Plan, and funding for regional support (Rio Arriba County Nursing Facility and Espanola Parks Projects). In addition to items already mentioned, some things that will be coming up for discussion and/or action soon include the Wildlife Feeding Ordinance, Trails and Open Space Management Plan, compensation for elected officials, the Artificial Turf Study, Social Services Hub, and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.
As I mentioned earlier, this is not an exhaustive list, but it is intended to let you know that there is a lot happening in our community. If you want additional information on any of these projects or have any questions, you can contact the County Council at countycouncil@losalamosnm.gov.