Staff Report

In response to a recommendation made by local golfers as well as Los Alamos Golf Association (LAGA) members, County Council unanimously agreed Tuesday night to add a fifth option, Option E, to the list of possible design concepts for the County golf course project.

The motion to add the fifth option was passed 6-0. Councilor David Izraelevitz was absent.

Council is scheduled to decide on which design concept option to proceed with during its Nov. 15 meeting.

According to the presentation made by resident golfer Kurt Anast, Option E proposes to: 

• Install a 15-foot-high fence on the driving range.
• Relocate hole #2, which would require removing 35 trees in a forested area.
• Use the current hole #3.
• Extend hole #1.
• Improve the short game area.

Anast pointed out that Option E is the least expensive option, with an approximate $2.4 million price tag.

He added that the consensus among many LAGA members and golfers is that they want all deferred maintenance improvements addressed throughout the golf course and if the range is extended, then they would like to only adjust holes 1-3. What is not supported, Anast said, is for council to be asked at a future day to approve deferred maintenance on items that went unfunded.

Additionally, if the driving range is extended, council was asked to not approve impacting holes 4-9 and shortening the course.

In other business:

• Council approved 5-1 with Councilor David Reagor in opposition, to adopt a resolution to make changes to the Department of Public Utilities’ water rate schedule. This includes a series of rate increases over several years.
• Unanimously approved the sale of an easement to UbiQD. This will allow the company to expand its laboratory facilities on the lower level of its building.
• Unanimously approved a resolution to support New Mexico Constitutional Amendment No. 2, which would allow the state to spend money to assist in utilities’ infrastructure.
• Unanimously approved to adopt the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) Plan in White Rock. By adopting the plan, according to the presentation, the County is allowed to correct conditions in areas that need improvement by incentivizing private investment to redevelop vacant and under-utilize properties in the designated MRA.