County of Inyo

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period.  Mr. Baxter, Independence Resident, requested the Board consider enacting the Williamson Act in Inyo County.  The Board asked the County Administrator to bring an agenda item back for Board discussion regarding this request. 

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.  Mr. Jeff Jewett, Public Works Director, announced that the County has been awarded a TEA grant for Dehy Park.    He also updated the Board on the State’s positioning regarding the future of STIP projects, explaining that the State is asking local jurisdictions to cut $8 billion in STIP funding by either rescheduling (delaying) projects; reducing (cutting-back) projects; and removing (deleting) projects.  He indicated that he and his staff were formulating a plan of action which would be discussed with the Board in the future.

Workshop/

Avalanche Policy

The Chairperson recessed open session at 9:20 a.m., to convene in a workshop on Inyo County OES Avalanche Policy with Bob Hurd, Director of Environmental Health.  The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 10:30 a.m., to reconvene in open session at 10:35 a.m., with all Board Members present.

Planning/P.H. 2002-04/Jellison

The Chairperson opened the public hearing at 10:35 a.m., to consider an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, Approving Zone Reclassification No. 2002-04/Jellison and Amending Ordinance No. 943, the Inyo County Zoning Ordinance, by Reclassifying a 1,500 Square Foot Portion of a 15,349 Square Foot Parcel Located at 2476 Dixon Lane From RMH-7,200 (Single Residence or Mobilehome Combined - 7,200 Square Feet Minimum) to R-2-14,000 (Multiple Residential - 14,000 Square Feet Minimum).”  Mr. Courtney Smith, Planner, reviewed the Staff Report and recommendations.  There was no one wishing to address the issue.  Staff requested the Staff Report be accepted into the record.  The Chairperson accepted the report and closed the public hearing at 10:39 a.m.

Resol. #2003-02/ 2002-04/Jellison CEQA Cert.

On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Bear, Resolution No. 2003-02 was adopted, finding the Certificate of Compliance No. 220/Jellison and Zone Reclassification No. 2002-04/Jellison to be exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act; and certifying that the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act have been satisfied with respect to those matters and approving the Certificate of Compliance No. 220/Jellison: motion unanimously passed and adopted. 

Planning/2002-04/ Jellison Ordinance

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bear to waive the first reading of the proposed ordinance approving Zone Reclassification No. 2002-04/Jellison and schedule 10:05 a.m., January 21, 2003, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center in Independence, as the time, date, and place for the enactment.  Motion carried unanimously.

Planning/P.H. 2002-05/Brunetti

The Chairperson opened the public hearing at 10:40 a.m., to consider an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, Approving Zone Reclassification No. 2002-05/Brunetti and Amending Ordinance No. 943, the Inyo County Zoning Ordinance, by Reclassifying a 0.45 Acre Property Located at 33 Elias Road in the Community of Tecopa Hot Springs From C-2-1.0-MH (Highway Services and Tourist Commercial - 1.0 Acre Minimum - Mobilehome Overlay) to RR-1.0-MH (Rural Residential - 1.0 Acre Minimum - Mobilehome Overlay).” 

Ms. Adena Fansler, Planner, reviewed the Staff Report and recommendations.  There was no one wishing to address this issue.  Staff requested that the Staff Report be included in the record.  The Chairperson accepted the Staff Report and closed the public hearing at 10:45 a.m.

Resol. #2003-03/ 2002-05/Brunetti CEQA Cert.

On a motion by Supervisor Bear and a second by Supervisor Williams, Resolution No. 2003-03 was adopted approving the Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact for General Plan Amendment No. 2002-05/Brunetti and Zone Reclassification No. 2002-05/Brunetti certifying that the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act have been satisfied with respect to those actions and amending the Land Use Element of the 2001 Inyo County General Plan by redesignating a 0.45 acre parcel located at 33 Elias Road in the Tecopa Hot Springs area from “Retail Commercial” to “Residential Rural-High Density:” motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Planning/2002-05/ Brunetti Ordin.

Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Williams to waive the first reading of the proposed ordinance approving Zone Reclassification No. 2002-05/Brunetti and schedule 10:05 a.m., January 21, 2003, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center in Independence, as the time, date, and place for the enactment.  Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Committee Appointments

Supervisor Bear, requested that Supervisor Williams be appointed as the Board’s Alternate on the Northern Inyo Aviation Advisory Committee.  Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the 2003 Board of Supervisors committee assignments as recommended by the Chairperson, and amended to include Supervisor Williams as an Alternate on the Northern Inyo Airport Advisory Commission.  Motion carried unanimously.

Planning/ Commission Appointments

Supervisor Arcularius thanked the applicants from her district who had expressed an interest in serving on the Planning Commission and thanked Mr. Gayle Holbrook for his two-term service.  She went on to explain in an effort to provide the opportunity for someone else to participate in the government process she was nominating Mr. Rich Tucker as the First District Planning Commissioner.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to appoint Mr. Rich Tucker as the First District Planning Commissioner to complete a four-year term ending December 31, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously.

Supervisor Williams thanked the many applicants from his district for their interest in serving on the Planning Commission.  He went on to say that he was nominating Mr. Sam Wasson, who had a possible conflict and who had confirmed that he would be immediately stepping down from his position on the Service District Board should he be appointed to the Planning Commission.  Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to appoint Mr. Sam Wasson as the Third District Planning Commissioner to a complete a four-year term ending December 31, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the County Administrator, Mr. René Mendez, confirmed that the appointees and the applicants would be notified of the Board’s decision per the Board’s Appointment Policy. 

CAO-Personnel/ DA/Vacancy

The Board and Staff discussed the status of the Victim Witness Advocate/Legal Secretary position, including the probability of grant funding continuing to offset a portion of the salary.  Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Williams to authorize filling a vacant budgeted full-time Victim Witness Advocate/Legal Secretary.  Motion carried unanimously.

Assessor/Bertholf Contract

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Harold W. Bertholf, Inc., for assessment appeal assistance services, for the period of January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003, in an amount not to exceed $50,000 and contingent upon the adoption of a FY 2003-04 Budget; authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

E. Health/New Domestic Well

Mr. Bob Hurd, Director of Environmental Health, responded to questions from the Board, explaining that the old well is old and deteriorated and will only be utilized as a back-up well.  Mr. Hurd also explained the difference between a community well and a domestic well, indicating that in essence this is a community well and the requirements of a community well will be met and enforced.  In response to a question from Supervisor Hambleton concerning replacing the well at the Big Pine Convalescent Hospital property, similar to replacing this well, Mr. Hurd explained that not only is the well bad at that location the distribution system to the facility is also dilapidated and not sufficient to meet the water quality requirements for the facility. 

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Williams to approve a new well for the domestic uses of the Sunland Village Trailer Park located on property owned by the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.  Motion carried unanimously.

Planning/Crystal Geyser & Quad Knopf Contracts

Ms. Jan Larsen, Planner, provided additional information, further justification and responded to questions from the Board regarding the Crystal Geyser Roxane Beverage Bottling Plant Project.  She confirmed that the proponent has indicated that 90% of the recruitment for employees for the new facility will be done locally.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to A) ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Crystal Geyser Roxane for provision of environmental review, for the period of August 1, 2002, through August 1, 2004, in an amount not to exceed $124,735; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; B) ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Quad Knopf Consultants for the provision of environmental review and processing services for the proposed Crystal Geyser Roxane Beverage Bottling Plant Project, for the period of October 19, 2002, through August 1, 2004, in an amount not to exceed $99,788; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and C) amend the FY 2002/03 Planning and Zoning Budget Unit 023800 by increasing estimated revenue in Services and Fees (Revenue Code #4819) by $124,735 and increasing appropriations in Professional and Special Services (Object Code #5265) by $99,788.  Motion carried unanimously.

Probation/ Delinquency Prev. Program

The Chief Probation Officer, Mr. Toby Dickinson, provided additional information and further justification for the request to contract for delinquency prevention program services through the Healthy Communities grant.  He explained that the delay was as a result of the Board of Corrections tardiness in notifying the County of receipt of this grant and their continuing review of the contract.  He also indicated that he did not believe the funding for this program would be available next year and should it be available he would probably make the recommendation to utilize the funds to fund services and programs within the Juvenile Facility.  Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Williams to ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and the Healthy Communities for a Delinquency Prevention Program, for the period of July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003, in an amount not to exceed $32,414; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

Probation/ Extended Day Program

Mr. Dickinson echoed his remarks regarding the previous item as to why the Contract is being ratified.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and the Inyo County Office of Education for an Extended Day Program, for the period of July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003, in an amount not to exceed $32,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

P.W./No. Inyo Airport Advisory Board Appts.

Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to appoint Gary Bailey and Joy Melgard to the Northern Inyo Airport Advisory Committee to complete unexpired terms ending December 1, 2006 and Lewis McConnell to a four-year term beginning February 1, 2003, through January 31, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:15 p.m., reconvening in a workshop at 1:30 p.m., with all Board Members present.

Transit Program Workshop

The Board met in a workshop with the Inyo Mono Transit Program Director, Monika Watterson, to receive an update on the program.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 3:30 p.m., to convene in closed session with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Dorame who had left the meeting just prior to the conclusion of the workshop, to discuss Agenda Item No. 16.  CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b) – Claim dated December 24, 2002, by Northern Inyo Hospital District.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 4:50 p.m., to reconvene in open session to receive a report on closed session.  County Counsel reported there were no items discussed in closed session which were required by law to be reported on in open session. 

Adjournment

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 4:50 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., January 21, 2003, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.