By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

After lengthy discussion, Los Alamos County Council hit pause on deciding whether to approve the purchase of a piece of art for the Leisure Lagoon as recommended by the Arts and Public Places Board. This would be the largest art acquisition since the solar tree was purchased for the Municipal Building about 5 years ago.

Council voted 4-3 during its regular meeting Tuesday night to delay the decision. Councilors Sara Scott, Denise Derkacs, David Reagor and David Izraelevitz voted to postpone while Chair Randall Ryti, Vice Chair James Robinson and Councilor Sean Williams opposed the measure.

Scott motioned to postpone the decision; she suggested that staff and the board work together and discuss the best ways to move forward with the Leisure Lagoon art acquisition, including consideration of a call for artists. The issue would return to council at an unspecified date. The solar tree work was chosen after public comment on three different options were presented to the community.

“I really support and appreciate the hard work of the board and their important role in the acquisition of art for the community, … this proposed acquisition is a large one … and it is for a very large space … not all types of art are going to be appropriate for a pool environment … and it is clear that the board took these and other considerations into account as a part of their work,” Scott said.

She added that there is time before a decision needs to be made.

Not everyone agreed.

Robinson said the Art and Public Places Board did great public outreach on the art of the new pool. He added that council has moved quickly, based on little information, on projects that are more expensive than the recommended art piece.

The proposed art piece is by Las Cruces artist Amanda Jaffee. It is five ceramic mosaic pieces (totaling about 200 sq. ft.) that would represent water in its many forms including snow, ice and rain. The budget for the art at the Leisure Lagoon, which is being constructed as part of the Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center, is not the exceed $115,000.

Other Council action:

• Proclaimed Nov. 27 as Small Business Saturday and Nov. 30 as Giving Tuesday;
• Introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 16 to adopt local regulations for cannabis retail sales and address home occupations. A public hearing is scheduled 7);
• Introduced an ordinance that would call for the registration of vacant commercial buildings, establish registration requirements and fees, fix penalties for violations and enforcement of the ordinance. A public hearing is scheduled Jan. 25, 2022.;
• Discussed how to best determine possible uses for the settlement funds received from the state regarding disputed administrative handling of gross receipt tax adjustments. The discussion focused on the general fund portion, which is almost $10 million. Many on Council felt it would be a good idea to take the question to the public via the Open Forum; and
• Learned that the developers for the Marriott hotel and conference room on 20th Street had submitted a request to extend the developers agreement. Staff are currently reviewing the request.