[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6483178,"mediaKeyId","5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5","parentId",5605803,"title","Council working group urges faster review, clearer business guidance and more transit advertising to support small businesses","audioSeconds",398,"startMs",5033000,"endMs",5431000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5&start=5033&end=5431","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5/thumbnail_5033000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483178/Los-Alamos-County/New-Mexico/Council-working-group-urges-faster-review-clearer-business-guidance-and-more-transit-advertising-to-support-small-businesses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483178-6a57a596894db9cdddb990096396215d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773576409&Signature=ZPSuIHXDADYgaygQ-9Sj9ibRB-bXQdk~D2L8Wq7jE6L1wncMdhm0VRVogU21b35OTo6Uy7Fj~T1UUNicc7Isr-Nph0yby3LCAUWXOnBpKEsM0XaPpTLdYIIcbZrDOX6k0lOQzbO3fXU53OZFHnHTDiPCTeWLahJ~DSjWrZ1hohzbfC1kU9QBbqDLBQJ4wWQPJ-H6N6rBbg-D8DamxsdGNU1HBh80LD2AZOiI7SLkb3yi-AdF3tD9vyGW2eOB8JntWIiNW62MUmfX6d3wVZ2v0ktKRk06fOKnKJ~mqQholeySh72~ERtoQgydbTgtxEBg4Ta9fhWr66ZovO9HeaA46Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Alamos County","date","2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","article","A County Council small‑business working group presented findings and recommendations at the Aug. 19 work session after months of stakeholder interviews, site visits and comparison research.

The working group’s observations and near‑term suggestions included:
- Faster, more transparent review timelines for LEDA/LIDA and MRA (economic incentive and redevelopment) applications. The group recommended the county consider publishing or otherwise making available all applications — not only staff‑recommended items — to increase transparency.
- Clear “how to start a business” guidance and a single point of contact that lists roles and contacts for county economic‑development functions and permitting, so startups know where to turn.
- Low‑cost local promotion: add interior transit‑bus ads or printed notice inserts on Bandelier shuttle buses and local routes to reach visitors and nearby markets (the group said this is low‑cost and has been effective in past local pilots).
- Trackable market data: the group recommended the county regularly publish vacancy and developable land inventories; the working group reported a net reduction of roughly 200,000 square feet of commercial space over several years in county assessor records, and about 13 acres of commercially zoned vacant land.
- Procurement engagement: hold supplier “meet‑and‑greet” events and expand local outreach to increase the pool of local vendors participating in county procurement.
- Review building‑inspection and permitting workflows and consider whether local plumbing and electrical inspection capacity could reduce delays for businesses seeking occupancy permits.
- Coordinate further with private developers who have expressed interest; the working group noted a Columbus Capital representative said their project concept could seek a grant or incentive package in the tens of millions of dollars and include an extended‑stay/hotel component (representatives discussed a potential request figure of about $55,000,000).

Public comment: Residents and local stakeholders in the meeting supported the group’s transparency suggestion. Elizabeth Burr of White Rock urged the council to permit visibility of all business applications for public review; Maura O’Neil praised the group’s outreach and urged stronger public information materials from the county PIO on large projects.

Next steps the group proposed: a review meeting between the working group and the Local Business Coalition to provide joint feedback on the coalition’s draft report, and a follow‑up county council agenda item proposed for late September so staff can report progress. The working group did not ask the council to approve funding at the Aug. 19 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Los Alamos County - County Council - Work Session on 2025-08-19 6:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","A County Council working group reported Aug. 19 that supporting small businesses requires faster application review, clearer guidance, more local promotion and better procurement outreach.","taxTitle","Los Alamos County, New Mexico","taxId",83667,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483183,"Staff outline Canyon Rim Trail extension options; Trinity Drive multiuse path seen as lower‑cost alternative",785,10246000,11031000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5&start=10246&end=11031","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5/thumbnail_10246000.jpg","/articles/6483183/Los-Alamos-County/New-Mexico/Staff-outline-Canyon-Rim-Trail-extension-options-Trinity-Drive-multiuse-path-seen-as-lowercost-alternative","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483183-8a0bc662a7e04957a1d84fd227edccc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773576409&Signature=INFC6m0CCeUVL5h6MY73fOKmkmNWPo1k2-6A79UegfsF5gMlFcW6qn-LDJ~GOPNe7VaqTHON3RY97g2tVUsJ30-4CX~GGN8XxjNyTqholf2t5F3wKWj-7SdC7-rtUeTg-sn3K-aBpp0TCle~qzU8rg1EvOjHQcl5M3ISiSzu~aJ6LCQU39DEmOPMpARCDKtv0RlHmVuHmgKG3VK9NsOUnuvUGz1S0Q-kNv63VCklCHbXXuj8kzkQXQ25M8KfFGihQZTfrNe-fftRnJ1WPR8l~mt7VLCgylbmNeEHU9S4QsrHNDaqkp5NfKac1tx1p4q5vpKQ12oB60n8koD6lHUhnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County engineering staff presented background and options Aug. 19 for extending the Canyon Rim Trail from its current western terminus toward the Los Alamos Medical Center and Diamond Drive.

History and constraints: The Canyon Rim Trail appears in the county’s 2011 master plan and was the subject of a 2016 feasibility study. Staff said the traditional canyon‑edge alignments would cross large amounts of land owned by the U.S. Department of Energy and run into steep grades, cliffs, cultural and biological resource areas and extensive existing fill. Those constraints increase construction complexity and cost and add additional requirements such as DOE coordination and possible access controls near sensitive parcels.

Alternative presented: As a lower‑cost, more constructible option, staff proposed creating a 10‑foot multiuse path along the south side of Trinity Drive that would continue the trail function while reducing the need for canyon‑edge retaining walls, bridges and extensive easements. A planning‑level estimate presented for the Trinity Drive segment was roughly $8.5 million; an alternate approach that reconfigures curb and eliminates an existing bike lane was estimated at about $9.5 million. Staff emphasized these were planning estimates and that the 2016 figures would need updating for current prices.

Why it matters: The canyon‑edge alignments would achieve a scenic route along the rim but are technically and politically more complex because they require DOE agreements and have potential environmental, archaeological and security constraints. A Trinity Drive alignment would reduce DOE coordination needs and lower initial construction cost, but it carries local tradeoffs: on‑street parking and driveway access in residential stretches and potential tree impacts. The corridor also intersects SR‑502 (a state facility), so coordination with New Mexico Department of Transportation would be necessary.

Staff next steps recommended by presenters: further feasibility and right‑of‑way work, public engagement, evaluation of additional alternatives and early coordination with DOE and NMDOT if council wishes to pursue design beyond the currently funded Canyon Rim Trail Phase 3 work. No funding for a new feasibility study or construction beyond Phase 3 was included in the county’s current CIP as of the briefing.","County staff presented options for extending the Canyon Rim Trail west toward the Los Alamos Medical Center on Aug. 19, citing steep terrain, Department of Energy land and cultural/resource constraints along the canyon edge; a Trinity Drive south‑side multiuse path was offered as a lower‑cost alternative requiring fewer easements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483188,"Utility study: electrification could more than triple load; county urged to plan substations, rates and staffing",277,2256000,2533000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5&start=2256&end=2533","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5/thumbnail_2256000.jpg","/articles/6483188/Los-Alamos-County/New-Mexico/Utility-study-electrification-could-more-than-triple-load-county-urged-to-plan-substations-rates-and-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483188-c231ef10627156cc860a6892245ea78e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773576409&Signature=kCY0OnvQyqCFxXBXmVDC6mTa5gP2iVFOK0eMeOalszyBtInrQG8-MG-CYibOwpr5p79kZpHXPJ0YePgBba-3214CbK~FeoWR~aVTIl8mRezlOKa73ca6YF~ypid6s3DRdvMQVb7oux5qlT1x~ui7ikNUqVNSnBL2wDMcsOdQTfSeBVOURIFfbLp7HcKz0fCUKxYsKKfLf8WDw8vMYchm872GdwPrP8WtL8eJlMo5HpSNMFc64qZvTK718Sl2xnuhwuIdSXO~nn32j0QN6B~6QZiqRXIakhynZ4nyh5d8lgRjpFrAJR9~UfF0cwrMn9~AitjCW3WG1HWC-BKX1WZoHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County utility staff briefed the County Council on Aug. 19 about an electrification study prepared under contract with Burns & McDonnell that examined the impact of increasing electric vehicles, all‑electric homes and other electrification on Los Alamos County’s distribution system.

The study modeled three adoption scenarios and identified a range of technical, operational and financial implications. Under the study’s fastest-adoption scenario, electric load could rise by roughly 44 megawatts — more than triple current peak native load — creating near‑term needs for major infrastructure upgrades.

Highlights and implications:
- Delivery cap from Los Alamos National Laboratory: County staff said the county takes delivery of bulk power from a LANL substation under a 20 MVA contract and that available allocation is approaching that 20 MVA limit. That constraint increases the likelihood of needing a new county substation or expanded allocation from LANL.
- Aging infrastructure: Staff said much of the White Rock underground distribution cable is older than its expected 30‑year life; many components will need replacement for age-related reliability rather than simply for load growth. A recent pad‑mounted switch failure underscored near‑term urgency.
- Customer impacts: Many older homes have service panels under 200 amps; moving to electric appliances and vehicle chargers may require household electrical upgrades costing in some cases an estimated $20,000 per property.
- Capacity and cost: Substation construction and transformer upgrades are major cost drivers. New transformers can have long lead times — staff estimated new transformers may take 95–100 weeks to deliver — and used transformers are an interim option but carry risk of earlier failure.
- Recommended actions: Burns & McDonnell recommended improving the county’s MillSoft electrical model; pursuing volt‑var controls and interconnection standards for rooftop solar; planning an Eastgate Substation design (a budget line for design exists); investigating battery energy storage to reduce peaks; and advancing time‑of‑use and demand rates and demand‑side programs to shift load off peak. Staff also recommended staffing changes and workforce transition planning because key utility expertise will retire soon.

Direct quote from the briefing: “Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities currently owns a substation here in White Rock. But in Los Alamos, we take delivery from a Los Alamos National Labs substation with a contract amount of 20 MVA. And we are approaching that 20 MVA limit,” said Dennis Asley, electric engineering manager.

Councilors asked about timeline and costs. Staff said design for a new substation could take a year and that a new substation could cost multiple millions; staff also said time‑of‑use billing software will not be available until the county’s customer information/advanced metering systems support it, with a planned slow rollout no sooner than July 1 (next implementation window discussed in the presentation). No formal council vote or policy decision was taken at the Aug. 19 briefing; staff said the study’s findings will inform future rate and capital planning discussions.","County utility staff and consultant Burns & McDonnell presented an electrification study showing possible load growth up to about 44 MW under a high-adoption scenario, urged substation planning and recommended time-of-use rates, battery storage consideration and staffing changes to manage aging infrastructure.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483193,"Lodgers tax board reports steady visitor counts, seeks updated hotel data and one board vacancy",368,201000,569000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5&start=201&end=569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5605803-cea086ed035c8fa796a27f0efe08a1e5/thumbnail_201000.jpg","/articles/6483193/Los-Alamos-County/New-Mexico/Lodgers-tax-board-reports-steady-visitor-counts-seeks-updated-hotel-data-and-one-board-vacancy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483193-8e80c0889d6f1f3ee9a0ce90a0795826/orig.mp4?Expires=1773576409&Signature=Us6qO23dcs8hdpIpRasYG0cT587JFnYDAkLnUIuUdoj-sM4EUDaJnu4VTBYt6OqW370yIEcwcVXfHw58J~rNbSoQ7cdPpjBH8963pWGdyl5T8owD4QSyY~pEO1Cq2dRkKyloxFDnhUxIix1rwDzlcYyCaCKvxraZFjVV9HHNOO3BOfcGNPRmtPiUNx0FXs9-pz6gkxuK-T0r52F22HQcmkdsDRBU6J7BL6jWwxK1xo3M1wbBg9462igXuX7YjpgxGjHuIoYoP1jX20CfADmLMyZPaL6nrew9HVvzuozC0F8EvyetrZLrSDMzEIf8Y-bvIGchzXypmmZlrSDHpqWyLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Connor Tharpe, vice chair of the Lodgers Tax Advisory Board, told the County Council on Aug. 19 that the board’s work centers on promoting tourism and overseeing spending of the county’s 5% lodgers tax on overnight stays.

The board reported that, from Jan. 1, 2024, through July 19, 2025, the county saw more than 800,000 trips and more than 2,000,000 visitor days, with an average length of stay just under two and a half days. Bandelier National Park accounted for the highest number of visits in 2024 and continued to show increased monthly visitation in 2025, the board said.

Why it matters: Lodgers tax revenues fund advertising, visitor services and visitor-center operations. County leaders use those funds to support marketing contracts and infrastructure at visitor facilities; changes in visitation or lodging supply can affect future budgeting and requests for proposals for services.

Key details reported by the board included:
- The lodgers tax is a 5% tax on base room rates, collected by lodging establishments and remitted to the county under state statute and county code.
- The county’s tourism contract is currently with Sunny505, which provides advertising, media buys and analytics to inform spending decisions.
- Visitor demographics for Jan. 1, 2024–July 19, 2025: the largest age group was 45–64 (about 34.8%); most visitors came from Santa Fe and Albuquerque (roughly 36.7%); average party size was one to two people; and the most common length of stay was about 2–2.5 days.
- Bandelier National Park remained the single largest attraction; other frequent destinations include the Valles Caldera and the Bradbury Science Museum.
- The board reported roughly 220 hotel rooms countywide and said two hotels report that about half their rooms are regularly occupied by laboratory contractors and other lab-related workers.
- The board completed work on the White Rock Visitor Center outdoor restroom and pavilion, collaborated on an activity guide with Community Services, and refreshed several brochures.

Councilors pressed the board for more-detailed data. Councilor Regor asked whether the age distribution indicated commuters rather than tourists; staff explained the third-party analytics tool (DataFi) can exclude frequent visitors and contractors by looking at visitation frequency and a radius around lab facilities. The board said it plans to request more up-to-date market data on hotel inventory and utilization.

No formal county action was taken at the meeting on lodgers tax policy or funding.

What’s next: The board said one member term expires in December and the board will solicit applicants for that opening. Board members and staff also said they will continue to review RFP length and contract terms used for tourism services and to seek updated hotel market information.","At an Aug. 19 County Council work session, the Lodgers Tax Advisory Board reported roughly steady visitation since 2023, highlighted Bandelier National Park as the top draw and said the county has about 220 hotel rooms; the board asked for updated market data and noted one upcoming board vacancy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council working group urges faster review, clearer business guidance and more transit advertising to support small businesses

Staff outline Canyon Rim Trail extension options; Trinity Drive multiuse path seen as lower‑cost alternative

Utility study: electrification could more than triple load; county urged to plan substations, rates and staffing

Lodgers tax board reports steady visitor counts, seeks updated hotel data and one board vacancy