Local golfer Connor Cook advocates for golf course improvements at Tuesday’s council meeting. Screenshot/LADP
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Golf Course’s irrigation system was given a major upgrade and completed in 2021 but there is still work to be done.
During the Tuesday night regular council meeting, Parks and Recreation Board Member Jaime Aslin said the course’s tee boxes, turf, sand traps, etc., need improvements.
Plus, gophers and ravens are wreaking havoc on the greens. Also, the driving range needs to be improved and restrooms on the course need to be erected, he said.
After lengthy public input and discussion, council approved 4-2, with Councilors Sean Williams and David Reagor opposed, to do the following:
Direct staff to develop bid ready documents using existing documentation to make improvements to holes 4 through 18 and install two new restrooms, one on the front nine and one on the back nine with a goal of work completion in 2022.
Support securing services of a golf course design professional to, in parallel, develop design concept options for improving holes 1-3 and the driving range/practice tee areas including cost estimates. This will include public comment in coordination with the Parks and Recreation Board and returning to council with recommendations for phased implementation.
Concept design options will consider permanent improvements for addressing safety, without impacting teaching and learning quality of the facilities, as well as evaluate expanding the course to accommodate one or two new holes to not shorten course length and minimize any impacts to existing trails and open space.
Expand the driving range to minimize or eliminate safety netting and include driving and short game practice improvements. Other improvements that should be identified include the practice area, cart paths, etc.
The approved budget for this work is $2.5 million. The motion council passed is slightly different than the Parks and Recreation Board’s recommendation that received unanimous support during public comment.
The main difference was the timeline for getting the improvements done. The Parks and Recreation Board recommended using the remaining golf course Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds, which is about $1.9 million, to immediately rehabilitate/add bunkers, greens, tees and areas in disrepair on holes four through 18 as well as install new restrooms. Additionally, continue to restrict flight balls to address safety concerns at the driving range.
Furthermore, the board recommended hiring a design consultant to complete revised design concepts as a future budget revision.
Reagor opposed the motion Council approved, arguing they should follow the Parks and Recreation Board’s recommendation. Williams disagreed with increasing the budget; without design plans he said he wasn’t sure what the correct dollar amount should be but added he was fine with sticking with the budget set by the 2017 council regarding the golf course improvements.
In other business, council:
Re-elected Randall Ryti chair and elected Denise Derkacs vice chair.
“It is truly an honor to be elected again for a second year as Council Chair,” Ryti told the Los Alamos Daily Post. “We do have quite a few things on our agenda for the year. I think one thing is infrastructure. I think that is going to be pretty exciting.”
He noted there is a lot of opportunities to secure federal funds and grants. Plus, Rati said he is excited to work with the County’s regional neighbors.
“I am honored to be elected as vice chair and I look forward to working collaboratively with my fellow councilors to get things done for the people of the county,” Derkacs said.
Unanimously passed an ordinance to extend the option of redirecting Department of Public Utilities profit transfers by council action to the joint utility system fund for purposes designated by the council.
Passed 5-1, with Williams opposed, a resolution establishing minimum standards of reasonable notice to the public for all meetings for council, County Indigent Hospital, County Care Board and County boards and commissions.
Unanimously approved the FY2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
Approved 4-2, with Williams and Reagor opposed, the approximately $2 million contract for the Los Alamos Commerce Development Corporation to manage the visitor centers.
Unanimously approved a budget revision of approximately $1.1 million for the Barranca Tank No. 2 repainting project.
Unanimously approved to hire Juan Rael as the new Public Works Director.
Approved 5-1, with Reagor opposed, the County’s agenda for the next state legislative session. Council agreed to give a higher priority to broadband and add an item for support for energy sustainability initiatives.
Discussed the process for filling former Vice Chair James Robinson’s seat. The County will advertise for two weeks letters of interest and then Jan. 25 will conduct interviews with candidates. A council committee will develop questions for the applicants and the whole council will vote on the questions.
