Weekly News & Updates From Los Alamos County |
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Published August 19, 2022 |
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August 23 Council meeting to be a work session
The next Los Alamos County Council meeting is a work session and will take place on August 23rd, at 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos. This will be an in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting.
View the complete agenda packet for this meeting here. |
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Mark your calendars for PEEC's annual Bear Festival! This event will happen on Saturday, August 27th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Enjoy a fun day full of booths, games, and resources on living with black bears and other wildlife in northern New Mexico.
Come learn what we can do to keep both human and bear populations safe. Learn about wildlife in our area and managing human-wildlife interactions from local, regional, and state-wide organizations. Plus, we'll have crafts, games, food, a scavenger hunt, and more!
The parking lot at the Los Alamos Nature Center will be closed to vehicle traffic for this event and the majority of activities will be hosted outdoors. Park across the street at the United Church, walk, or ride your bike to the festival!
Admission: Free.
Pajarito Environmental Education Center
Los Alamos Nature Center
2600 Canyon Road
Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
(505) 662-0460
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Internet safety class for seniors
September 13th
7-8:00 p.m.
Mesa Public Library
FREE
Are you a senior trying to keep up with the digital age and the game of internet scammers? This program will cover common techniques used to separate you from your money and information. Learn to recognize “phishing” attempts, better protect yourself, and feel more confident while browsing the world wide web.
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Adult English language classes are being offered
The Adult Learning Center at the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNMLA) and Mesa Public Library are working together to offer another round of English language learning classes for adults! All learning materials, including books, will be provided at no cost to participants. Student skill assessments will be provided, and coursework will be tailored to meet individual needs. Classes may include board games, a book club, and other language practice activities.
• Wednesdays through December 21
• Beginning Classes from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Intermediate/Advanced from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Drop-ins are welcome! Please consider registering, though, so we can contact you with information about the classes. Beginning and Intermediate/Advanced students, register here.
Adult learners may bring children to class, but UNM-LA instructors and library staff will not provide supervision. Mesa Public Library offers a program for children ages 6+ on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. During the school year, the youth section of the library has space with board games and art supplies that is open to all from 12:30 to 5 p.m. During the summer months, board games and coloring are available to anyone in the library during regular business hours. Library rules allow ages 6+ to be on their own in library spaces, but library staff is not acting in loco parentis. They cannot compel children to attend specific programs or play in designated areas.
Downstairs at Mesa Public Library
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COVID-19 Rapid PCR testing now available
Curative and Pathology Consultants testing sites change locations and hours
Curative will move on Tuesday, Aug. 23 from the Los Alamos townsite to White Rock to begin offering Rapid PCR COVID-19 tests with results in two to three hours. Pathology Consultants of New Mexico (PCNM) COVID-19 standard PCR testing site will relocate Monday, Aug. 22 from White Rock to the Los Alamos townsite.
On Monday, PCNM new testing location will be sited at the Mari Mac Village shopping center parking lot located at 759 Central Avenue, Los Alamos. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No appointments are necessary, but individuals are asked to bring their insurance cards. For those who are uninsured, PCNM does charge $99 per test. PCR test results are provided within 48-72 hours. For more information, visit https://PCNM.com.
Curative will now be located at the White Rock Town Hall near the Senior Center at 139 Longview Drive, White Rock. Testing hours will be expanded to Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Curative will now be offering Rapid PCR (R-PCR) tests with results available in two to three hours. Visit the Curative website at https://curative.com to schedule a date and time.
For more information regarding testing options for Los Alamos County, visit the County website at www.lacnm.com/covid
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Drive Less Los Alamos
Now that the Los Alamos Public Schools are back in session and construction is underway on Canyon Road, Los Alamos County officials suggest that commuters consider taking advantage of other options to get to and from work or school.
Carpooling, riding the Atomic City Transit, biking, or walking even just one day a week reduces the number of cars on the road during peak hours which can alleviate traffic congestion. Commuters who drive less save money, improve the environment and make new friends. Additionally, those who choose to bike or walk can expect better health.
Another solution may be as simple as adjusting travel times by as little as 15 minutes to occur before or after the peak commuting times. Those peaks generally occur in the morning from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., in the afternoon from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., and in the evening from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
While these solutions may not work for everyone, those who are able to drive less or can adjust commuting times can positively affect travel for everyone. To learn more, visit lacnm.com/DriveLess
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Recorded meeting of the Chapter 16 – Mod. 3 development code now available online
For those who were unable to attend the August 2 virtual open house on the proposed changes to Chapter 16, Module 3 development code, the meeting was recorded and is online, according to Los Alamos County Development Department (CDD) staff. Individuals can view the presentation materials and watch the video of the meeting held by CDD and its consultant Dekker/Perich/Sabatini (DPS) on the https://losalamosconnect.org website.
CDD and DPS released the draft Chapter 16, Module 3 development code on July 18. While the development code defines how property in specific geographic zones within the county can be used and developed, Module 3 focuses explicitly on reorganizing and streamlining administration, enforcement, and procedures.
The next scheduled public presentation on this project is to Councilors at the August 23 hybrid Council Work Session held at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos. Members of the public may attend either in person or via Zoom link.
Comments on Module 3 will be accepted through August 23 and can be emailed to jessical@dpsdesign.org or Sobia Sayeda at Sobia.Sayeda@lacnm.us.
CDD and DPS representatives will incorporate pertinent input from councilors, Planning and Zoning commissioners, and community members into a final ordinance. The final ordinance is anticipated to be released for public review mid-September and will return to Council in November to be considered for adoption.
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Chapter 18 Draft Nuisance Code
Los Alamos County residents are encouraged to read the July 2022 Draft Chapter 18 Nuisance Code at www.lacchp18update.org
Residents are also encouraged to attend a hybrid County Council meeting on Tuesday, August 30, 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Avenue. The Zoom link to the meeting is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87145977840
Comments may be emailed by September 2 to:
Sobia.Sayeda@lacnm.com
JessicaL@dpsdesign.com
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DPU water rate hearings postponed
The public hearings for water rate changes have been postponed by a month. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is proposing water rate adjustments spanning the next four years. Two public hearings for adjustments to the existing tiered water rates are planned.
The first public hearing has been moved to the September 21 Board of Public Utilities (BPU) meeting on Zoom. If the BPU approves the proposed rate ordinance, a second hearing will occur on October 18 at the Los Alamos County Council meeting. The rates must be adopted by the County Council before they can be put into place.
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Sign up for the Hilltopper 5K Run this Sunday
There’s still time to register for the Hilltopper 5K Run! The race starts at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 21st at Canyon and Trinity (next to the Canyon Complex parking lot) and ends at the Los Alamos Co-op Park. A one-mile fun run/walk is included so bring the whole family.
Packet pick-up will be on Saturday between noon and 6 p.m. at the LAPS Foundation office at 101 Central Avenue, or beginning at 6 a.m. on Sunday before the race. Register for the race at: https://register.chronotrack.com/r/68560
The Hilltopper Run is hosted by TCR Productions of Albuquerque, owned by Tom Rojas, a Los Alamos High School alum from the class of 1972. All proceeds from the race will go to LAPS Foundation to benefit the schools. Click here for more details.
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