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

Los Alamos County Council expressed during Tuesday night’s meeting that it is unsurprising that New Mexico Innovation Triangle is behind schedule demolishing the building known as the Hilltop House Hotel. The question posed to council was what to do now.

The building was required to be demolished Wednesday, otherwise the County would have the ability to demolish the building and place a lien on the building for the cost. New Mexico Innovation Triangle requested an extension to June 30.

Ultimately, council unanimously agreed that County staff enter negotiations with New Mexico Innovation Triangle and return to council at its April 5 meeting with a proposed agreement on how the building will be demolished.

Council Vice Chair Denise Derkacs made the motion to give the company a week to produce a plan for the building.

She pointed out that the County could execute a lien on the property and demolish the building, but it wouldn’t go down any faster.

The County would need to publish a request for proposals, review bids, set a contract – all of which requires time and money, Derkacs said.

Councilor Sara Scott agreed; adding the negotiations need to include a timeline to demolish the building, the cost as well as the progress made to address health and safety issues.

Councilor David Izraelevitz said he would support this path/

“…I really hope we can find resolution in a week,” he said. “(If not) We will have to exercise a clean and lien…”

Council Chair Randall Ryti agreed.

“(This is) very discouraging that this is where we are,” he said.
Ryti pointed out that New Mexico Innovation Triangle has had ample opportunity to address the building and they have done the bare minimum.

He added he is skeptical everything will be resolved but is willing to wait one week to see if something with “some teeth” can be negotiated.

Los Alamos County Economic Development Administrator Daniel Ungerleider reported what New Mexico Innovation Triangle has done thus far on the building. He said combustibles are being removed out of the building, adding that the County approved a permit to begin asbestos remediation, but it hasn’t started yet. Innovation Triangle submitted a demolition permit, but it was denied because it was missing information on the demolition as well as plans for traffic and life safety, Ungerleider said.

In other business, council:

• Proclaimed April as “J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Month”. The proclamation was accepted by J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Chair Tom Ribe and committee members Chris Hazard and Olga Martin.
• Congratulated the Los Alamos County Finance Department on its most recent set of awards, which includes the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Triple Crown Honor, the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the FY2021 budget, GFOA Certificate in Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and GFOA Certificate of Achievement. The Finance Department also received the Audit and Accountability Award from the Office of the State Auditor.
• Unanimously approved the distribution of Business Assistance/American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds. According to the staff report, the program is designed to “bring together a set of comprehensive tools utilizing local, regional, state and federal fundings and assistance resources that support and incentivize investment in new and existing businesses in Los Alamos County.” These tools, as stated in the staff report, include grant programs that utilize funds allocated by ARPA. Derkacs motioned to approve the business assistance/ARPA Funds. “I am looking forward to getting this program going so we can help the community,” she said.
• Unanimously approved a change to council procedures regarding public comment. The changes include creating an additional mechanism, such as a web portal, to collect comment on agenda items, update County procedural rules to invite public comment on any subject not being voted on at the beginning of the meeting, limit comments to three minutes, invite comment on each business action item and invite comment on any subject at the end of the meeting.
• Approved 5-1, with Councilor David Reagor opposed, to support the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Emission Standards (the Clean Car Rule) and sign a letter of support.