Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Preservation Program topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board pushes county inventory and recommends dedicated preservation staff role
Summary
The Los Alamos County Historic Preservation Board discussed a planned county inventory RFP, the need for a cultural‑resources staff position, outreach materials and project updates including Baker House, Rose Garden and a homesteaders exhibit.
The Los Alamos County Historic Preservation Board reviewed progress on a county‑sponsored survey of cultural resources and discussed recommending a dedicated county staff position to manage preservation work and follow up on projects.
County staff present described a draft procurement process for an inventory of county‑owned historic and cultural resources. Community Development staff said they have prepared an RFP draft and expect the procurement process to move through purchase procedures with a goal of awarding a consultant contract in the early fall, after FY‑year rollover and procurement review.
Board members argued the inventory is the highest near‑term priority because it will guide which county properties require preservation work and which projects should be prioritized. The board emphasized that the county’s inventory should include not only county‑owned assets but also a broader county‑wide listing to provide context for future development review and project planning.
Members also renewed a long‑standing request for a designated cultural‑resources staff person within county government. Board members said a specialist (archaeologist or preservation professional) would help the county act more quickly when preservation issues arise in public‑works or development projects, to ensure compliance and reduce delays. Board members agreed to begin preparing a formal recommendation and job description for future budget cycles and to bring the request forward during the next budget planning window.
The board approved outreach steps and materials. Members discussed a draft brochure about the board’s role and agreed staff from Community Development would help format the content and request historical images from the Los Alamos Historical Society. Staff cautioned that brochures using county branding must go through county communications and that historical‑society images require a formal request to the society’s archives.
Board members reviewed several ongoing project updates reported by staff: the Baker House (status: site visit/tour completed; staff will request a narrative update), the Rose Garden fence installation (reported complete by staff), and a homesteaders exhibit at the Bradbury Science Museum as part of Science Fest scheduled for June 25. Staff noted the county’s CLG (Certified Local Government) relationship requires that the consultant also assess alignment between the county’s development code and preservation policy; that scope item is included in the planned inventory contract.
Board members agreed to keep the inventory, staffing request, clock‑tower follow‑up and a short list of active projects on future agendas so items do not lapse between meetings. They asked staff to place a progress update on the next agenda and to provide an implementation timeline for the RFP and expected consultant start date.
