By THERESA CULL
Democratic Candidate
Los Alamos County Council
I was told about the Oct. 17, article by the Pajarito Conservation Alliance (PCA) and was embarrassed to find that I was the only Democrat to have not replied to the questions posed by the PCA.
Unfortunately, their email never got to me, so I’m providing my answers to their questions below. For future reference, I can be contacted at theresa4council@gmail.com. That appears to be a more reliable email address.
What do you believe makes Los Alamos County special?
There are a number of things that I believe make Los Alamos County special: (1) the history, including how this area was formed, Bandelier National Monument, the Manhattan Project, and the Laboratory; (2) the environment, including County Open Spaces, Forest Service Land, and Valles Caldera National Park; and (3) the elevation and isolation. When relatives from outside New Mexico ask why I live here, the first thing I tell them is that I can walk out my back gate and hike for miles in a canyon, seldom seeing anyone.
How should we grow while keeping Los Alamos County special?
We should give priority to developing areas that have been previously developed and building up, not out. Development should prioritize walking and biking. We need to enhance (extend to weekends and weeknights) and encourage public transportation to minimize vehicles on the roads and maintain our air quality.
How do you think we should balance making Los Alamos County appeal to tourists vs. serving the outdoor recreation interests of local citizens?
I don’t think tourism will necessarily hurt the recreation interests of local citizens. Most tourists come here for the things that are advertised — the history (Manhattan Project), the culture (Bandelier National Monument), and the Valles Caldera National Park. On a lesser scale, tourists come here for recreational opportunities, such as skiing, mountain biking, the indoor high-altitude pool, and hiking. We should promote the history through the Manhattan Project National Park and provide other opportunities to learn about the area through museums and places like PEEC.
What is the appropriate level of public spending on restoration and conservation of county natural areas and open space?
Spending should be commensurate with what we value.
There has been little to no progress on implementing the conservation parts of the Open Space Plan approved in 2015. Can you comment on this situation? What do you plan to do?
When I read the Open Space Plan, the first thing I wondered was how much progress we had made implementing the recommendations in the plan. I am especially interested in knowing if we have formally designated many open areas as Open Space. There are several plans that have been written with significant public input that are intended to guide the county activities. As a County Counselor, I intend to refer to these plans prior to making any decisions. I would also expect regular updates from County staff on the status of implementation of the recommendations in these plans.
In addition to our open space, Los Alamos County also has various urban greenery within the town sites, such as Ashley Pond, the trees planted along Central Avenue, and private yards. How should we promote and manage these resources?
County parks need to be appropriately funded to ensure they are maintained. The parks are promoted when they are used for recreation and special events (e.g., summer concerts at Ashley Pond and fireworks at Overlook Park). For private yards, the local gardening groups are a great resource for promoting sustainable gardening and encouraging the use of local, non-invasive plants in landscaping.
What should the county do when it damages/removes trees during construction projects?
Construction activities should be planned and carried out so that damage and removal of trees is minimized to the extent practicable. This could be incentivized by requiring that any trees removed be replaced 2 to 1 in the construction area or elsewhere in the County.
How should we manage wildfire danger while maximizing access to local outdoor recreation opportunities?
I do think we need to work with the Fire Marshall to reconsider the closure of local trails and open spaces during the dry season, even if the National Forest is closed. Certain activities that might result in increased fire risk should be restricted and other requirements may need to be in place, but we need to reconsider general access.
How should we balance the water needs of local citizens with the water needs of wildlife and ecosystems?
Water conservation by local citizens is currently voluntary, although it is incentivized through tiered rates and the County has set a per capita water reduction goal. This will help achieve some of the balance needed. We should also consider the recommendations in the Open Space Management Plan for managing our open spaces in the six ecologically-based management units described.
Do you believe that climate change is real? If yes, what is the cause of climate change and how should we respond at the local level?
Yes, climate change is real. It is caused by human activities that have produced the atmospheric gases that have trapped more of the Sun’s energy in the Earth’s system. At the local level, the Council should direct the Sustainability Coordinator to develop a Climate Action Plan based on the LARES report and provide regular status reports to the Council to monitor progress on implementation.
What distinguishes you from the other candidate(s) on conservation issues and natural resource management?
Much of my 37-year career at LANL included environmental compliance in addition to worker and public health and safety. I know that we need to do whatever we can to address climate change and we should have started a long time ago. I have two adult children who will have to deal with the worsening effects of climate change. One of my children is currently studying environmental science. I have always felt a strong connection to nature and I value the solitude provided by our open spaces (although I can occasionally be seen having conversations with the deer).
