County of Inyo

Public Comment

CAO-Purchasing/ Paper P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to award the quotation for, and authorize the purchase of, 160 cartons of 8-/2 x 11” copier paper from Sierra Office Supply in the amount of $22.98 per carton, plus tax.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Dorame and Lent absent.

Road Dept./ Asphalt Surfacing Materials

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to award and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Granite Construction for asphalt surfacing materials in an amount not to exceed $48,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign the Contract.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Dorame and Lent absent.

P.W./Old Jail Demolition Project

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to award and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Viking Equipment – J-G Industries, Inc., for the Old Inyo County Jail Demolition Project in an amount not to exceed $58,000; authorize the Chairperson to sign the Contract contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained, and authorize the Public Works Director to sign all other contract documents, including change orders, to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 20142 of the Public Contract Code and other applicable law.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Dorame and Lent absent.

P.W./DBEP Project Funds

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Inyo County Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program for the 2001/2002 Federal Fiscal Year; and authorize the Public Works Director to sign on behalf of the County.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Dorame and Lent absent.

Grand Jury/Ord. Increasing Meeting Fees

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to waive the first reading of an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors, County of Inyo, State of California, Amending Section 2.92.040 of the Inyo County Code, Increasing the Fees, and Clarifying Travel and Mileage Reimbursement for Members of the Inyo County Grand Jury” and schedule December 11, 2001, 10:05 a.m., in the Board of Supervisors Room – County Administrative Center, Independence, as the date, time and place of the enactment.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Dorame and Lent absent.

Treasurer/Rescind Tax Sale of Assessors Parcel 046-200-16A

The Treasurer-Tax Collector provided additional information and further justification for the request to rescind the sale of property sold at the recent tax-defaulted public auction.  Mr. Treacy asked that the Parcel Number reflected in the Agenda be corrected from 045-200-16A to 046-200-16A.  Mr. Treacy also provided the Board with a letter from the buyers, Ms. Alice Keefer and Charles Sorrells, agreeing to the rescission of the sale.  Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve rescinding Tax Sale of Assessor’s Parcel Number 046-200-16A sold at the tax-defaulted public auction on November 17, 2001, pursuant to Section 3731 et seq. of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and refund to the purchaser (high bidder) the total amount of his bid, together with the recording fees and documentary transfer taxes that he previously remitted to the County to cover the recordation of the Tax Deed.  (Total amount to be refunded is $2,152.75).  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame absent.

BofS/Support of Visitor Center TEA Grant Application

Ms. K.C. Wylie, of the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center, provided additional information and further justification for the request for the Board to send letters of support to the Inyo and Mono Local Transportation Commissions for the Visitor Center’s TEA Grant Application.  Ms. Wylie indicated that the amount of the Grant was $450,000.  Mr. Jeff Jewett, Executive Director of the Inyo County LTC, responded to questions from the Board indicating that the balance of the TEA Funds is approximately $1.58-million and discussed the projects which are being evaluated for possible use of these funds.  The County Administrator provided additional information, explaining that the InterAgency Visitor Center is vying for the same pot of TEA funding as the County with the Dehy Park Project, the Laws Railway Restoration Project and the Carson and Colorado Railroad Project.  He indicated that he would be bringing forward a discussion on the County establishing criteria for TEA projects so that the Board can rate the projects as they come forward.   Mr. Mendez went on to explain that the Visitor Center expansion project is a ongoing project which the Board has supported in the past and that since the County is a participant in the multi-agency backed Visitor Center, it would be appropriate for the Board to take action on the request.  He went on to suggest that the Board postpone taking action on this request for a week in order to provide staff the opportunity to draft the support letters and provide additional information on the TEA projects.  The Chairperson directed that the request for letters of support for the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center TEA application be continued to the December 11, 2001, Board of Supervisors Meeting. 

Org./L.P. CofC Christmas Parade

The Public Works Director explained that the request by the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce for permission to hold the Annual Lone Pine Christmas Parade is a yearly request.  He asked the Board, in order to facilitate the yearly request, to consider approving this request for future years.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to authorize this year’s Annual Lone Pine Christmas Parade on December 8, 2001, at 1:00 p.m., direct the Public Works Department (Road) to provide road closure(s) as necessary and grant authority for future Annual Christmas parades in order to facilitate the activity.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Dorame and Lent absent.

District – O.V. School District/ Consolidation of Election

With regard to the request from the Owens Valley Unified School District for the consolidation of their School District Election with the March, 2002, Primary, County Counsel asked that the Board consider making their approval contingent upon the Districts adoption of a Resolution requesting the consolidation.  Mr. Bruce explained that Election Code requires the district make their request for consolidation through a resolution and in speaking with the Superintendent of the District, they were going to call a special meeting on Friday in order to adopt the necessary resolution.  Mr. Bruce also suggested the Board require the School District to provide copies of the resolution to the Board of Supervisors, the County Clerk, Ms. Beverly Harry and to his office.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to order the consolidation of the Owens Valley Unified School District Election with the March 5, 2002, Primary Election, as authorized under Education Code Section 10403, contingent upon the District’s adoption of a resolution requesting the consolidation and contingent upon the District providing a copy of the resolution to the Assistant Clerk of the Board, to the Clerk-Recorder, Beverly Harry, and to County Counsel’s office on or before 5:00 p.m., Friday, December 7, 2001.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame absent.

Recess/

Reconvene 

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 10:05 a.m., reconvening at 10:15 a.m., with all Board Members present except Supervisors Lent and Dorame.

Planning Depart./ General Plan Update Public Hearing

The Chairperson re-opened the public hearing to consider the Final Program Environmental Impact Report and Final Inyo County General Plan, announcing that due to the absence of two Board Members, this public hearing was being continued to the December 11, 2001, Board of Supervisors Meeting, at 10:05 a.m.   She asked the audience to hold their comments until next week, and invited audience members who are unable to attend next week’s meeting to make their comments.  Mr. Mark Bagley of the Owens Valley Committee and the Sierra Club, presented and read into the record a letter from the Committee reiterating the comments made by Committee representatives last week about the need for consistent land use designations for EEM Projects identified in the Long Term Water Agreement.  Mr. Bob Mannatt and Mr. Chris Riesen, addressed the Board to ask that the designations for lands which may be available for the ball fields in Independence and Big Pine not prohibit the ball fields.  Mr. Andrew Remus, Planning Department representing the Southeast Area Advisory Committee, presented and read into the record a letter from the Committee regarding the land use designations in the Charleston View area.  Mr. Jack Pound, Independence Resident, addressed the Board to question the need for new ball fields in Independence and Big Pine.  Mr. Greg James, Water Director, responded to questions from the Board regarding the relationship between the Long Term Water Agreement and land use designations assigned to EEM Projects in the General Plan.  Mr. Chuck Thistlethwaite reviewed the changes to the General Plan which were identified in the Staff Report and which more clearly define the relationship between the EEM Project General Plan land use designations and the Long Term Water Agreement.  Ms. Arlene Grider, Independence Resident, asked the Board to be very specific in their decision regarding the General Plan and asked that the Board’s intent be clearly defined to prevent confusion in the future.  The Chairperson continued the Public Hearing to 10:05 a.m., December 11, 2001, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center in Independence.

Adjournment

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 11:20 a.m., to 8:00 a.m., December 11, 2001, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.