CEDD Director Anne Laurent describes her typical day on the job including meetings, project review and customer service activities. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

CEDD Director Anne Laurent addresses Council. County Deputy Manager Steve Lynne is sitting next to her. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Staff Report

County Councilor Rick Reiss, a former commercial developer, began this evening’s budget hearing by asking Community & Economic Development Department (CEDD) Director Anne Laurent to describe her typical day on the job.

Reiss expressed concern that only 7.3 percent of the CEDD’s $13.4 million budget targets housing, building safety and planning. He suggests the County add a second building inspector to the department.

The Community & Economic Development Department was formed in May 2012 by merging the former Community Development Department, Capital Projects & Facilities Department, and transferring Economic Development staff from the County Manager’s Office.

This Department has 47 full time employees in eight Divisions including:

• Administration includes the Department Director and administrative support for all department divisions except Planning & Building Safety who have their own administrative support within their divisions.

• Building Safety issues Building Permits, provides Plan Reviews (residential & commercial), conducts Inspections, and provides Code Enforcement of the Nuisance Code (Municipal Code Chapter 18) with support from the Fire, Police, and Public Works & Utilities Departments.  

• Capital Projects manages Major Facility Maintenance (MFM) and Capital Projects from the study phase through construction completion. Staff is liaison to the Fuller Lodge Historic Districts Advisory Board.

• Custodial provides building cleaning services for all County owned facilities, heating/cooling systems support, and support for all special events held at County buildings in collaboration with Community Services. They support Public Works in snow removal operations. 

• Economic Development manages the County’s Self-Sufficiency fund to invest in the future sustainability of Los Alamos County’s GRT through opportunities to re-develop DOE land transferred to the County, the LEDA grants and loan program, managing contracts with the LACDC, and the marketing/branding of our community. Staff acts as liaison to the Creative District Advisory Committee and the Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board.

• Facilities Maintenance maintains all County buildings with heating/cooling systems including preventive/routine maintenance, repair maintenance and response to work orders submitted by building occupants. They support Public Works in snow removal operations. 

• Housing supports the Economic Development and Planning Divisions in all housing related initiatives and expands the current affordable housing plan to address all types of housing needs. They implement programs to improve and increase the housing stock in the County to attract and retain more people to live here – especially students and a workforce for our local businesses. More senior housing and short term/high quality housing is also in demand. Staff is liaison to the Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board and the White Rock Master Plan Implementation Committee.

• Planning acts in an advisory role to appointed and elected officials in providing professional review, analysis, and recommendations regarding all land use related matters including the following applications: residential and commercial site plans, re-zoning, waivers, special use permits, subdivisions, Comprehensive Plan changes, and Development Code (Municipal Code Chapter 16) changes.

With support from the Inter Departmental Review Committee (IDRC), Planning staff acts as case managers for most land use and placement permit applications. The IDRC is comprised of representatives from many County departments. Staff acts as liaison to the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment and issues local business licenses.

Los Alamos County Economic Vitality Administrator Greg Fisher answers economic development questions from Council. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com