BY LWV OBSERVER CORPS

Editor’s note: Members of the League of Woman Voters of Los Alamos Observer Corps have been providing LWV members with reports on certain meetings in the County for many years. These reports have been included in the LWV’s monthly newsletter and now, at the invitation of the Los Alamos Reporter, will also be submitted to the Reporter for publication. The video of the full meeting may be seen at https://losalamos.granicus.com/player/clip/4614?view_id=2&redirect=true

Wildfire Preparedness; Potential Changes to County Charter, Brewer Arena Improvements 

The session was attended by Councilors Randall Ryti (Chair), Theresa Cull, Melanee Hand, Suzie Havemann, Ryn Herrmann, Beverly Neal-Clinton, and David Reagor. 

Wildfire Preparedness

Council was briefed on wildfire preparedness in Los Alamos County. They took no action.

The meeting centered on wildfire preparedness in Los Alamos County. Presenters from the Fire Department discussed the Ready, Set, Go program, highlighted recent mitigation efforts, and stressed the importance of home assessments, defensible space, evacuation plans, and emergency kits. 

Mitigation Efforts

Fire Battalion Chief Van Leimer summarized the mitigation efforts taken by the Fire Department on County-owned land. Mitigation is a primary factor for being in a ready state for wildfire. “The County has to set an example, so that’s why we’ve done all the mitigation that we’ve done. I think ultimately, in the last three to five years, we’ve done about 200 acres, with a grant that we got in 2020.”

One treated area was situated on steep canyon slopes below the stables. Stable members and other people with livestock there expressed concern about the potential for fire to come up out of the canyon. Leimer said, “speaking with the people at the stables, they’re very happy with the work that was done. The work needs to continue because we have a lot more areas that we can cover, especially around the stables.”  He cited the Sheriff’s Lodge (Posse Shack) as an example.

More recently, the Fire Department mitigated about 32 acres in open space in Cañada del Buey in White Rock and between NM 4 and the Canyon Rim Trail in Los Alamos across from the airport, in part because the latter road is a critical evacuation route. 

Areas under consideration for mitigation in the future include County-owned open space behind homes on the western edge of town. The Fire Department is also considering a partnership with Santa Fe National Forest to treat places where Forest Service property lies directly behind homes in Los Alamos County.

Councilor Ryti asked how the fire risk in White Rock differs from that in Los Alamos and why the entire County is classified as high fire risk. Leimer answered that the pinon-juniper fuel that characterizes vegetation in White Rock spreads fast and burns like firecrackers, making it more dangerous than the ponderosa fuel in Los Alamos.

Low-Income Residents 

Local resident James Wernicke brought up the issue of potential funding for low-income residents and others who lack the financial means to undertake some of the expensive modifications mentioned by Leimer for fireproofing a home. Noting that the County has some assistance for low-income individuals doing home efficiency upgrades, Wernicke asked whether there are any programs for helping individuals do fire mitigation.

Fire Chief Erik Litzenberg answered that, although he wasn’t aware of State grants available for individuals, the State Fire Marshal is trying to coordinate a grant that would allocate funding to communities that are both high risk and low income.

Laurent added that some energy-efficiency projects, such as a new roof with insulation or double-paned windows, could harden buildings. So, there is some overlap in benefits if one is income-qualified for the County’s energy-efficiency program.

Potential Changes to County Charter

Council discussed potential charter changes, focusing on clarifying the roles of the County Manager and Utilities Managers, updating non-discrimination policies to align with the New Mexico Human Rights Act, and considering term limits for board and commission members. Other potential changes could address minor inconsistencies and wording.

Council agreed to form a working group to review and prioritize changes, with public outreach and a resolution to propose potential changes that would be put on the ballot for the November election. The working group will provide a status update on its progress at a Council meeting in March.

During public comment, Los Alamos resident Phil Gursky suggested that the charter review process should be handled by a public group, not the Council, to ensure public decision-making and transparency.

Brewer Arena Improvements

Voting unanimously, Council approved the task order with All-Rite Construction Inc. in the amount of $2.1M for Brewer Arena Improvements. 

Russell Naranjo, Project Manager, said that the purposes of the project were to improve these community facilities to meet ADA requirements and to address safety issues at the grandstand, pavilion, and announcer’s box (crow’s nest). 

Naranjo said that construction on the new grandstand is scheduled to begin in May 2026. The site work and restroom renovations are expected to be completed in time for the 2026 County Fair and Rodeo. However, due to long lead times for the metal work associated with the facilities, substantial completion for the project is not anticipated until July 2027, in time for the 2027 County Fair and Rodeo. For the 2026 Rodeo, temporary bleachers will be installed.

Councilor Cull noted that, because Council had not approved the project at its October 2025 meeting, the four-month delay ultimately resulted in roughly a year-and-a-half difference in completion time. Public Works Director Martinez agreed with that assessment.

Linda Matteson stressed that the redesign process significantly improved the final plan despite the extended timeline. She credited both the Equestrian and Livestock Working Group and the Los Alamos Stable Owners Association for their persistence and constructive input, saying their collaboration strengthened the project. Although the timeline was lengthened, Matteson concluded that the additional time and effort ultimately produced a better outcome for the community.

For more information about activities and membership in the League of Women Voters in Los Alamos, go to https://my.lwv.org/new-mexico/los-alamos