County of Inyo

Public Comment

County Dept. Reports

Forest/Sierra Nevada Framework

Representatives of the Inyo National Forest discussed the Sierra Nevada Framework SEIS Amendment in detail and at length.  The Board directed Staff to bring back an Agenda Item regarding this item for Board discussion during the September 9, 2003, meeting.

Post Agenda/

CA Desert District Advisory Board Nominee

The County Administrator explained that Supervisor Arcularius became aware of the possibility of having an Inyo County Board Member nominated to serve on the BLM’s California Desert District Advisory Council on Monday, August 25, 2003 and the nominations have to be submitted by August 29, 2003, which is prior to the Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting, thereby meeting the post agenda test.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to find that the need to consider a nomination of a Board Member to the California Desert District Advisory Council arose after the Agenda for the August 26, 2003, Board of Supervisors Meeting was posted and there is a need to make the nomination prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting, therefore this item is added as Agenda Item No. 14A.  Motion carried unanimously.

Post Agenda/ Tax Rate Resolution

The County Administrator explained that the request to consider setting the FY 2003/04 tax rates met the test for post agenda because the Auditor had just become aware of the Board’s cancellation of the September 2, 2003, meeting and because that State statute requires the tax rates to be set on or before the first business day in September, which because of the Labor Day Holiday would have been Tuesday, September 2, 2003.  Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to find that the need to set the FY 2003/04 Tax Rates arose after the Agenda for the August 26, 2003, Board of Supervisors Meeting was posted, and there is a need for the Board to take action on this item prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting, and therefore this item is added as Agenda Item No. 14B.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motor Pool/Utility Body P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to award the bid for and approve the purchase and installation of a new utility body for the Sheriff’s Office Investigator’s Unit from California Truck Equipment Company in an amount not to exceed $5,840.09.  Motion carried unanimously.

Integ. Waste/ Roll-Off Bins P.O.

Supervisor Dorame congratulated the Integrated Waste Staff on the placement of recycle bins at the Lone Pine Landfill and asked Staff if they would take appropriate steps to see that notice of the bins is properly advertised.  Supervisor Williams suggested that the notice be posted on the County’s Web Page.  Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to  award the bid for and authorize the purchase of five 20-yard roll-off bins from Dragon/ESP in an amount not to exceed $13,318.  Motion carried unanimously.

H&H-HIV/State Contract Amendment

Supervisor Arcularius queried Staff on the scope of work for the AIDS Contract asking if Inyo County was one of the providers who charge for services under Page 5, GG?  Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health & Human services responded that Inyo County does not charge for services.  Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve Amendment Number 2 to the Contract between the County of Inyo and the State of California Department of Health Services AIDS Consortium-Ryan White CARES Program, decreasing the FY 03-04 grant amount by $1,038 for a total of $124,993 for the period of April 1, 2001 through March 31, 2004; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

H&H-Health Serv./Disaster Shelter Tent P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to declare FERNO MIR as a sole-source provider of tents and authorize the purchase of one Disaster Shelter Tent from FERNO MIR in an amount not to exceed $3,672.62 plus tax.  Motion carried unanimously.

Sheriff/Inmate Telephone Service Contract

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to declare Evercom Systems, Inc., as a sole-source provider of inmate telephone services and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Evercom Systems, Inc., for jail inmate telephone services for a three-year period; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

Sheriff/Fire & Safety Equipment Maintenance Contract

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Siemens for the provision of services for the maintenance of fire and safety equipment for the period of July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, in an amount not to exceed $23,565, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2003-04 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 11:05 a.m., reconvening in open session, at 11:15 a.m., with all Board Members present.

P.W.-Bishop Airport/FAA Bishop Airport Improvement Grant

The Board and Staff discussed the proposed grant application for FAA Funds for the 2003 Bishop Airport Improvement Project.  Mr. Jewett highlighted the matching requirements explaining that he did not think the entire match of approximately $217,000 could be absorbed through engineering efforts.  He indicated that perhaps $150,000 could be soft match, with the difference requiring a hard match from the County.  The Board asked if State match funding was still available with Mr. Jewett, explaining that Staff continues to pursue this alternative.  Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the Agreement between the County of Inyo and the Federal Aviation Administration for the 2003 Bishop Airport Improvement Project for grant funding in the amount of $1,953,553; authorize the Public Works Director to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and authorize the use of engineering for the County’s portion of the project match (10%).  Motion carried unanimously.

P.W.-Indy and L.P. Airport Master Plans

Mr. Jewett explained that the matching requirements for these two grants could be absorbed through engineering efforts and there would be no hard match required.  He also explained that Staff would be consolidating the efforts of the Consultants and develop these two plans on a parallel path.  Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to approve the Agreement between the County of Inyo and the Federal Aviation Administration for 2003 Independence Airport Master Plan and Lone Pine Airport Master Plan grant funding in the amount of $150,000 per plan, for a total amount of $300,000; authorize the Public Works Director to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and authorize the use of engineering for the County’s portion  of the projects match (10% for each project).  Motion carried unanimously.

Grand Jury/2002- 2003 County Response

The County Administrator provided additional information and further clarification on the proposed County response to the 2002-2003 Grand Jury Final Report.  Supervisor Arcularius asked about providing further clarification on Page 3, Item #4, regarding the representation of the union.  Mr. Mendez confirmed that he would make the appropriate clarifying remarks prior to forwarding the response to the Judge. 

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to approve the report to Presiding Superior Court Judge Dean Stout, responding to the findings and recommendations of the 2002-2003 Grand Jury Final Report, as amended; and authorize the County Administrator to sign the transmittal letter.  Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to approve the minutes of the August 5, 2003, Board of Supervisors Meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2003, Board of Supervisors Meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/CA Desert District Advisory Council

Supervisor Arcularius provided additional information regarding her suggestion that the County nominate Supervisor Dorame to serve on the California Desert District Advisory Council.  The County Administrator presented for Board consideration a nomination letter and explained that requests were being made of several local agencies for support letters for Supervisor Dorame’s nomination.  Supervisor Dorame indicated his acceptance of the Board’s nomination, expressing his gratitude and honor in representing Inyo County on this Council should he be selected. 

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to nominate Supervisor Michael A. Dorame to the California Desert District Advisory Council for the 2004-2006 term in the category of an elected official representing local/county government and authorize the Vice Chairperson to sign the nomination letter. Motion carried unanimously.

Resol. #2003-52/ FY 2003-04 Tax Rates

On a motion by Supervisor Bear and a second by Supervisor Williams, Resolution No. 2003-52, entitled “A Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, California Adopting Tax Rates for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Pursuant to Government Code Section 29100” was adopted:  motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:05 p.m., reconvening at 1:30 p.m., in open session, with all Board Members present. 

CAO-Budget/ Final Budget Adoption

The County Administrator recapped the recommendations regarding the Final Budget Adoption, including discussing the impending actions at the State which may result in a loss of VLF revenue, the loss of STC and Post requirements funding, the reserve balances and the use of economic stabilization to pay the COP obligation. 

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to adopt the FY 2003/04 Final Budget, as recommended by the County Administrator including (a) those changes which were directed by the Board to be included in the final budget; (b) those changes which have been included by the County Administrator; and (c) to direct that the COP obligation be paid from Geothermal revenues, Motor Pool Replacement reserves, through the proportionate reduction of up to $50,000 in the travel and $50,000 in the general operating object codes of General Fund Budgets, and with a reduction in Contingencies as necessary.  Motion carried unanimously.

District/Bishop Rural Fire District Appointment

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to appoint Mr. Kenneth Birmingham to the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District to complete an unexpired four-year term ending July 1, 2006.  Motion carried unanimously.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including an RCRC Board Meeting, an LTC Meeting, meetings with Caltrans regarding the Independence 4-laning project, an Inyo-Mono Fish and Game Advisory Commission Meeting, an Arts Council Meeting, an Inyo First 5 Commission Meeting, and a recapped of the oral testimony presented by Supervisor Michael Dorame during a Subcommittee hearing last week.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed open session at 3:45 p.m., to convene in closed session, with all Board Members present to discuss Agenda Item No. 16.  PERSONNEL (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957) - Public Employee Appointment - Title - Director of Environmental Health.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 5:25 p.m., to convene 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 5:25 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., September 9, 2003, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center in Independence.