Latest Update On Boards & Commissions Meetings

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on October 1, 2021
- 10:59 am

COUNTY News:

In July, the County Council discussed and then decided to return to in-person meetings in Council Chambers, with the option for members of the public to continue to join meetings via the Zoom online video platform remaining in place.

Zoom had been added during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. The Council asked their various boards, commissions and committees (BCCs) to have a similar discussion at their meetings over August and September and decide how to proceed – in-person only, Zoom only, or a “hybrid” using both options.

Several of the BCCs have made the decision to use the hybrid option for their meeting formats. The Board of Public Utilities returned to the Zoom only model in September, and the Planning and Zoning Commission has continued to use the hybrid option.

As of Sept. 30, most of the BCCs have concluded to either use the Zoom only option or offer the hybrid option for attendance; however, some BCCs are determining the meeting format on a month-by-month basis.

Hybrid meetings will be held in either Council Chambers or the Boards & Commissions room (Room 110 in the Municipal Building) to accommodate dual use of the Zoom and streaming option.

BCC Meeting Formats For October:

Oct. 4 & 25 – Hybrid Board of Adjustment
Oct. 6 – Historic Preservation Advisory Board (Canceled due to lack of quorum)
Oct. 6 – Hybrid Tourism Implementation Task Force
Oct. 7 – Hybrid Transportation Board
Oct. 7 – Zoom Only Los Alamos Community Health Council
Oct. 8 – Zoom Only North Mesa Housing Project Committee
Oct. 11 – Zoom Only Library Board
Oct. 13 & 27 – Hybrid Planning & Zoning Commission
Oct. 14 – Zoom Only County DWI Planning Council
Oct. 14 – Zoom Only Parks & Recreation Board
Oct. 15 & 29 – Hybrid / Resiliency, Energy & Sustainability Task Force
Oct. 18 – Hybrid / Community Development Advisory Board
Oct. 19 – Hybrid / Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board
Oct. 20 – Zoom Only In October – then Hybrid / Board of Public Utilities
Oct. 21 – Hybrid / Environmental Services Board
Oct. 26 – In-Person Only / Personnel Board
Oct. 28. – Zoom Only / Racial Equity and Inclusivity Task Force
Oct. 28 – Hybrid / Arts in Public Places Board

Streaming a meeting for the public to view proceedings of the County Council or any other BCC continued to be unchanged during the pandemic and is still an option for those who only wish to watch a meeting online. PAC-8 has also continued to broadcast regular Council meetings on Channel 8 through Comcast television.

Some of the positive impacts voiced by the community and BCC members over the last few months have been that use of Zoom makes it easier for members of the public to participate from home when they might not otherwise be able to attend in-person, as well as Zoom’s video platform making it more convenient for BCC members to be at meetings when they are on travel or unable to attend in person for a variety of reasons.

Council work sessions formerly held in White Rock at Fire Station 3 have not resumed at this time, because of the technical challenges using Zoom and streaming simultaneously from that location.

The County Manager’s office will continue to keep the community informed of these important changes about various ways to participate in all meetings as more information becomes available.

The public should check the County’s online meeting calendar for the most current meeting format, as well as agendas and Zoom links for meetings: https://losalamos.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx