County of Inyo

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period and there was no one from the public wishing to address the Board.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report Period.  Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services, introduced and commended Health and Human Services Department employees, Ms. Kathy Rose and Ms. Debra Dorame.  Ms. Dickinson highlighted a recent state audit in which these two employees were recognized by the State for the job they have done in licensing Foster Home Providers in Inyo County.  The Board recognized the two individuals and thanked them for a job well done.  Ms. Linda Anisman, Director of Child Support Services, acknowledged and commended her staff for working through the adversity of having their offices temporarily closed.   The Board thanked Ms. Anisman and her staff for their diligence and also for their successful completion of several State mandated automation changes.

BofS/Starlite Road Closure

Supervisor Arcularius briefly explained that she had requested this discussion in order to clarify some of the issues relative to the Starlite Community and the road closure.  She explained that with regard to the County’s facilitation of communications between the parties that there were two very specific issues which she would like to see kept separate, that of the road closure and the water availability for the development.  Additionally, Supervisor Arcularius expressed her desire to see whatever solutions are forthcoming from the facilitation be permanent.  She said that she did not expect the County’s participation to be on-going if permanent resolution could not be reached.  Supervisor Williams asked how staff was going to keep the two issues separate.  County Counsel indicated that the facilitation would begin with the water issues and move towards the road closure.  Supervisor Arcularius thanked the Board and Staff for their indulgence of her desire to have this issue clarified one last time.

Workshop/ Affordable Housing

The Chairperson recessed open session at 9:30 a.m., to convene in a workshop with Ms. Andrea Clark, Executive Director of Mammoth Lakes Housing, Inc., who introduced the non-profit to the Board and went on to discuss the programs, projects and priorities of the newly formed private non-profit Corporation.  The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 10:40 a.m., to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present.

Motor Pool/ Transmission Fluid Exchanger

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to award the bid for and approve the purchase of a Transmission Fluid Exchanger from Dave’s Auto Parts of Lone Pine, in an amount not to exceed $3,015.92.  Motion carried unanimously.

Child Support Serv./Print N Mail Contract

Ms. Linda Anisman, Director of Child Support Services, responded to questions from the Board providing additional justification for transferring duties currently performed within the Department to an outside contractor.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to  declare Print N Mail, Inc., as a sole-source provider of print, mail and credit card payment services and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Print N Mail, Inc. for the provision of printing, mailing and credit card payment services for the period of November 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, in an amount not to exceed $10,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed open session at 10:45 a.m. to convene in closed session with all Board Members present to discuss Agenda Item No. 17.  PERSONNEL (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957) - Public Employee Performance Evaluation - Title:  County Administrative Officer.  The Chairperson recessed closed session at 11:45 a.m., to reconvene in a second workshop on the reorganization of Environmental Health.

Workshop/ Reorganization of E. Health.

The Board and the County Administrator discussed the possible reorganization of the Environmental Health Department.  The Board and Staff discussed the various alternatives with the County Administrator indicating that he would bring back formal discussion at a future date. 

Capital Asset Leasing Corp. Meeting

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:20 p.m., to convene in a Capital Asset Leasing Corporation Meeting.  (See separate minutes.)  At the conclusion of the meeting the Chairperson reconvened the regular meeting at 1:30 p.m.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson, immediately recessed the regular meeting, reconvening at 2:15 p.m., with all Board Members present.

Water Dept./ Well Protocol

Mr. Greg James, Inyo County Water Director, provided additional information and explanation on the request for direction to the County’s representatives to the Technical Group regarding the protocol for the testing of deep wells 380 and 381.  The Water Director, explained that the tests were being proposed because the wells were currently pumping under the Long Term Water Agreement on/off provisions and that DWP is providing the high-tech instrumentation, equipment and monitoring devices in order to facilitate the tests.  Mr. James went on to explain that the protocol establishes 5 shallow monitoring wells in the vicinity of wells 380 and 381, will be 18 months in duration, provides for the test to be discontinued should adverse effect be detected, and agrees to a third party arbitrator in settling disputes regarding the test.  Mr. Bob Harrington, Inyo County Hydrologist, provided hydrological and technical information regarding the test, the monitoring wells, triggers, etc.  During the lengthy and detailed discussion the Board received comment from Mr. Daniel Pritchett, and Mr. Mike Prather, who opposed the test, and from Mr. Paul Lamos, Inyo County Water Commissioner, who supported the test.  Mr. Gene Coufal from the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Mr. Randy Jackson of the Inyo County Water Department responded to questions from the Board regarding the test equipment, the protocol and the possibility of adding monitoring wells.  Ms. Sally Manning of the Inyo County Water Department, provided personal commentary regarding the proposed tests.  Supervisor Williams queried Staff regarding the possibility of identifying additional monitoring wells to provide more information on the impacts.  At the conclusion of the discussion the Board indicated their desire to continue to have the decision regarding test wells and protocols be made at the Board level and the following motion was made.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to direct the County’s representatives to the Technical Group to support the proposed test of deep wells 380 and 381, to authorize the establishment of additional monitoring wells to be determined by the Technical Group and in the absence of agreement on the additional monitoring wells direct the test to proceed with the original 5 wells.  Motion carried unanimously.

Planning-Yucca Mnt./Latir Contract

Mr. Andrew Remus, Yucca Mountain Coordinator, provided additional information regarding the Latir Energy Consultants Contracts.  Supervisor Arcularius expressed concern with the new Contract’s scope of work, which identifies Sacramento Trips.  She explained that she felt Latir’s assistance on a Federal level is needed but not on a State level, because of the relationship Inyo County has with our State representatives.  The County Administrator explained that the Board of Supervisors could approve the Contract amending it to exclude the trips to Sacramento and reducing the “not-to-exceed” amount to reflect the change.  Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Williams to A) terminate the existing Contract between the County of Inyo and Latir Energy Consultants, effective June 30, 2003; and B) ratify and approve a new Contract between the County of Inyo and Latir Energy Consultants for the period of July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, with the trips to Sacramento deleted from the scope of work, in an amended amount not to exceed $36,250; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

Planning-Yucca Mnt./Hydrody- namics Contract

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bear to A) terminate the existing Contract between the County of Inyo and Hydrodynamics Group for current technical oversight, effective June 30, 2003; and B) ratify and approve a new Contract between the County of Inyo and Hydrodynamics Group, L.L.C., for the period of July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, in an amount not to exceed $260,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

E. Health/Well Permit

Representatives of the Water Department and the Environmental Health Department responded to questions from the Board concerning the well permit application from the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the Well Permit Application to construct a new ground water well to replace the existing surface water source and treatment facilities located on City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power land at the South Haiwee employee housing.  Motion carried unanimously.

E. Health/Budget Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Williams to amend the FY 2003/04 Solid Waste Enforcement Grant budget 640403 by increasing estimated revenues in State Grants (Revenue Code #4498) by $324 and increasing appropriations in General Operating (Object Code #5311) by $324.  Motion carried unanimously.

Probation/Bar-O- Boys Ranch Contract

The Chief Probation Officer, Mr. Jim Moffett, provided additional information regarding the Bar-O-Boys Ranch Contract.  Mr. Moffett informed the Board that this will probably be the last year for this contract, in that the Probation Department will be exploring other alternatives for probationary placements in the future.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to  ratify and approve the Placement Agreement between the County of Inyo and Bar-O-Boys Ranch for the supervision of juvenile commitments in the amount of $2,600 per month per minor, for a total not to exceed $19,600, for the period of July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

District/Indy Cemetery District

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Bear to reappoint Ms. Sandy Sepsey to the Independence Cemetery District Board of Trustees to complete a four-year term ending on October 8, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously.

Fish & Game/ Advisory Comm. Appointment

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bear to appoint Mr. Joe DeAguero to the voting alternate position on the Inyo-Mono Fish and Game Advisory Commission to complete an unexpired term ending July 1, 2004. Motion carried unanimously.

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 6:05 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center in Independence.