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Los Alamos County Council approves DOE legacy‑site easement, fleet software contract and several procedural motions; two zoning appeals remanded for rehearing
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Summary
At its March 3 meeting the council unanimously approved granting an easement to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management for the Bio Canyon FUSRAP site, awarded a five‑year AssetWorks fleet‑management contract, and approved a package of routine items; the council also remanded two Planning & Zoning variance appeals for rehearing as joint motions were agreed by the parties.
Los Alamos County Council approved a series of motions and contracts at its March 3 regular meeting, taking unanimous votes on several substantive items and moving two procedural appeals back to the Planning & Zoning Commission for rehearing.
Votes at a glance
- Granting an easement to the United States (Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management) for the Bio Canyon FUSRAP parcel: motion passed 7–0. DOE representatives described the parcel’s history and long‑term oversight responsibilities; the easement records DOE’s liability and preserves DOE access for monitoring and notifications. The easement document preserves county rights for roads and utilities and restricts excavation below a specified elevation in order to protect known radiological conditions.
- Approval of services agreement AGR25‑991 with AssetWorks (fleet‑management and GPS software): motion passed 7–0. The five‑year agreement not to exceed $1,215,609.32 plus gross receipts tax adds GPS and analytics to improve dispatch, reduce fuel/idle time and support emergency response for approximately 350–370 vehicles (county supports about 675 total fleet assets).
- Remand of two Planning & Zoning Commission variance denials: the council granted joint motions to remand VAR‑2025‑0015 (appeal APL‑2025‑0023) and VAR‑2025‑0014 (appeal APL‑2025‑0024) to the Planning & Zoning Commission for rehearing and decision without a full council hearing. Counsel explained both prior hearings lacked the required four affirmative votes; both joint motions were approved 7–0.
- Approval of 2026 federal priorities and board/commission work plans (as amended): both passed by roll call 7–0.
- Introduction of ordinance 7‑53 (lease of golf‑course restaurant space to Nineteenth Hole Sports Pub LLC): ordinance introduced; public hearing scheduled at the end of the month.
What councilors and staff said
Councillor Hand moved to approve the DOE easement after DOE’s Allison Koolman and Catherine Chester reviewed site history and the proposed deed‑recorded restrictions; councilors asked technical questions about inspection schedules and the county’s retained rights. Fleet division staff explained the AssetWorks system will provide GPS location history, idle‑time reporting and route optimization; Fleet Division Manager Pete Mondragon said the county supports roughly 675 assets and about 350–370 vehicles.
Counsel for the Community Development Department asked the council to grant the joint remand motions, explaining past precedent where rehearing before a fuller commission was the appropriate remedy when a quorum procedure left the prior decision as a de jure denial. Both remands were uncontested in the hearing and were approved.
Next steps
The easement will be recorded and the county manager authorized to sign. The AssetWorks contract will be implemented under the stated budget and procurement terms. The remanded variance applications will return to the Planning & Zoning Commission for rehearing and decision.
Provenance: remand motions introduced at SEG 1520 and acted on through SEG 1778 and SEG 1784–SEG 1868; DOE LM easement presentation and council vote at SEG 1869–SEG 2181; AssetWorks presentation and vote at SEG 2196–SEG 2364; federal priorities and work plans at SEG 2384–SEG 2702.
