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

Los Alamos County Council approved the sale of a lot on 20th Street during its regular meeting Tuesday night.

Council unanimously approved the sale of 375 20th St. to Pet Pangaea. The sale price is $420,000. Pet Pangaea owner Cyndi Wells previously had purchased another parcel on County-owned land at 3661 and 3689 Trinity Dr. but the new sale terminates the past land purchase and will transfer the $20,000 earnest money given for the Trinity Drive property to the 20th Street lot.

It’s a different location but the plan remains essentially the same. According to agenda documents, Wells will construct a two-story building. On the bottom floor, there will be a 7,500 square foot retail space for Pet Pangaea and on the second floor there will be four apartments.

Economic Development Administrator Dan Ungerleider added that there will be a timeline for creating this building.

This timeline includes:

• A due diligence period of 120 days with one 60-day extension for $10,000 escrow deposit;
• A site plan approval period of 120 days with one 60-day extension for $10,000 escrow deposit;
• A permit approval period of 120 days with one 60-day extension for $10,000 escrow deposit; and
• Closing within 30 days.

While the sale ultimately received unanimous support from council, Councilor Melanee Hand wondered if the approval should be delayed until the survey and development plan for the 20th Street property was completed to ensure that Wells’ plans and the overall development plan were coordinated together.

Additionally, Councilor Suzie Havemann wondered if the periods for due diligence, the site plan approval, permit approval and closing date should be shortened in order to protect the County’s interests.

In an unrelated matter, the ordinance to increase the gross receipt tax (GRT) by a half percent effective July 1, 2024 was defeated. The second ordinance, which proposed to raise the GRT by a half percent effective Jan. 1, 2024, was removed from the agenda.

The ordinance to approve the half percent increase in GRT with the effective date of July 1, 2024 failed to pass 3-4. Councilors David Reagor, Randall Ryti, Hand and Vice Chair Theresa Cull voted against the ordinance while Council Chair Denise Derkacs and Councilors Havemann and Keith Lepsch voted in favor.

Councilors who voted against the measures argued that the projected $15 million GRT shortfall from Los Alamos National Laboratory due to its increase in pit production, which is not taxable, is not for certain. Additionally, the County’s reserves could be used to cover the shortfall.

Those who voted in favor of the GRT increase noted that when the laboratory is eligible for a manufacturing deduction for pit production to decrease the amount of GRT it pays, it seems a certainty that the laboratory would claim that deduction, and raising the GRT ensures the County would not face significant reductions in revenues for its operations, maintenance and capital plans.

In other business, council:

• Recognized Pediatrician Michael Nichols. Nichols retired this year after practicing in Los Alamos for 40 years. Nichols explained during the meeting that he retired due to a neck injury.
• Issued a proclamation, which declares July as Parks and Recreation Month.
• Unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2024 boards and commissions work plans.
• Unanimously approved a 5.5 percent salary adjustment increase for County contract employees, which includes County Manager Steven Lynne, Department of Public Utilities Manager Philo Shelton and County Attorney Alvin Leaphart.