County of Inyo

The Chairperson announced the County Department report period.  Sheriff Dan Lucas reported on the Search and Rescue Program and provided statistical results of this year’s activities.  The County Administrator introduced the Interim Environmental Health Director, Dave Oldenberg to the Board. 

BofS/Committee Assignments

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to approve the 2004 Board of Supervisors committee assignments as recommended by the Chairperson.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Bear and Dorame absent.

CAO-Purchasing/ Photo & Video P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to award Bid No. 2003-11 for and approve the purchase of camcorders, cameras, and accessories from B&H Photo Video in an amount not to exceed $8,692.84, plus tax.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Bear and Dorame absent.

CAO-Purchasing/ Two-Way Radio P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to declare Motorola the sole-source provider of two-way in-suit radio communication systems and approve the purchase of eight (8) in-suit radio systems with required accessories from Motorola in an amount not to exceed $16,115.74, plus tax.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Bear and Dorame absent.

CAO-Purchasing/ Trailer P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to award Bid No. 2003-10 for and approve the purchase of equipment trailers from Beachcomber Trailers, in an amount not to exceed $31,451.25, plus tax.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Bear and Dorame absent.

Parks/Diaz Lake Buoy P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to approve a purchase order to Trumbull Recreation Supply, for the purchase of lake buoys for Diaz Lake, in an amount not to exceed $2,581.23.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Bear and Dorame absent.

HHS/Children Serv. Council Appointments

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to appoint the following to serve on the Children’s Services Council to complete unexpired terms ending June 30, 2004: Leann Williams Fields representing the Chambers of Commerce; Margaret Bruce, member and Verna Sisk alternate, representing a Childcare Coordinating Group; Dwaine Breazeale, member and Chris Castello alternate, as Ministerial Representative; Jon Himelhoch, member and Sally Schliecher alternate, representing Victims of Family Violence; and Melanie Bridges, member and Linda Middleton alternate, representing a Nonprofit Corporation.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Bear and Dorame absent.

Clerk/Election Material Discount

HHS-Misc./ Bishop Plaza Lease

Supervisor Hambleton queried Staff on the possibility of using the Big Pine Care facility as office space for the programs whose offices are currently located at the Bishop Plaza.  The County Administrator explained that the relocation of the offices was not currently feasible.  He also indicated that he would add a spot on the agenda request, which would require a cost analysis of leases and the alternative of using the Big Pine Care Facility when office space leases are placed on the Agenda.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to approve the Lease Agreement between the County of Inyo and Richard Maudsley (RL Management) for office space located at the Bishop Plaza, for the period of July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2006, at the rate of $4,118.40 per month, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, and direct that future requests for office space leases include a cost comparison between the lease recommendation and utilizing the Big Pine Care facility.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Bear and Dorame absent.  Supervisor Bear joined the meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Public Works- ESRA/Fuel and Ramp Charges

The Chairperson opened the public hearing at 10:15 a.m., with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Dorame, to consider an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, Establishing a Formula for Setting the Price of Aviation Fuel Sold at the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport, Establishing Transient Commercial Operator Ramp Fees to be charged at the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport, and Repealing Inyo County Ordinance No. 1029.”  Mr. Jeff Jewett, Public Works Director reviewed the Staff Report and recommendations regarding the price to be charged for aviation fuel and for ramp fees at the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (ESRA).  Ms. Alice Lloyd, provided additional information regarding the proposed fees and highlighted several areas of concern regarding the proposed ordinance.  The Airport Manager, Mr. Mike Barnes, also addressed the proposed charges and, along with Mr. Jewett, responded to questions regarding airport operations, costs and the proposed fees.  Mr. Ken Lloyd questioned the A87 charges, with the County Administrator explaining that for several years the A87 charges for the ESRA have been kept artificially low.  Mr. Mendez explained that in order to ascertain what rates needed to be charged at the airport in order to ensure that it is self-sufficient was the reason this year’s budget reflected the actual A87 charges.  The Board, Staff and members of the audience continued to identify areas in the language of the ordinance which should be changed.  The County Administrator clarified that changes to the ordinance would require that the ordinance process begin again which would allow a new ordinance to be considered during the February 10, 2004, Board Meeting.  The Chairperson closed the public hearing at 11:35 a.m.  Supervisor Williams requested that once the new ordinance is completed and prior to the Board’s consideration, that it be posted at the airport for information purposes.  Mr. Jewett and Mr. Barnes revisited the proposed changes to the language in the ordinance which were

a) add after Public Works Director or his designee in section Four;
b) in section Four D 2 a.) include 100 low lead aviation fuel for purchases of 750    
    gallons or more for the $.10 discount rate;
c) in section Four D substitute the word may for shall;
d) in section Five include the word commercial in relation to non-transport;
e)  in section Five 3.) change the purchase minimum from thirty gallons to twenty 
     gallons; 
 f)  add language which will give the County the ability to enter into separate fuel 
     sales contracts; and
g)  add the word Jet A in section Four D 2. b) c) and d).

At the conclusion of Mr. Jewett’s remarks, the Board directed staff to make the changes to the ordinance, to begin the ordinance process for the new ordinance, and bring it back for consideration in February.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to A) approve the County’s proposed uses for HR 2389 Forest Service Special Project Funds as follows: 1)  $34,759 for forest related education opportunities by the Inyo County Office of Education for their Outdoor Science Education Program at the Bernasconi Education Center in Big Pine; 2)  $9,759 for search and rescue activities on federal lands paid for by the County; and 3) $25,000 for a grant program for fire prevention and County planning for fire safe councils throughout the County, approving the recommended grant program evaluation application and process, and directing Staff to advertise for Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) for fire prevention and County planning activities for fire safe councils; and B) amend the FY 2003/04 Disaster Services Budget Unit 023700 as follows: increase estimated revenue in Federal Forest Reserves (Revenue Code #4521) by $34,759 and increase appropriations in Professional Services (Object Code #5265) by $34,759.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bear to A) amend the FY 2003/04 IMAAA Budget Unit #612500 by increasing estimated revenue in Donations (Revenue Code #4951) by $31,500 and increasing appropriations in Vehicles (Object Code #5674) by $31,500; and B) award the bid for and authorize the purchase of two Ford Focus SE wagons from Eastern Sierra Motors in an amount not to exceed $31,295.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

HHS-Behavioral Hlth./AV Hospital Placement Contract

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bear to ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Antelope Valley Hospital for the provision of inpatient mental health services, including professional services, in an amount not to exceed $10,000, for the period of November 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to A) approve Inyo County’s continuing participation in the multi-year Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) as part of twelve counties Mental Health Data System Microcomputer Users Association; B) ratify the expenditure of $25,099.85 as Inyo County’s share under the JPA for finance data processing consulting services for the 2003/04 fiscal year; and C) authorize future expenditures of Inyo County’s share under the JPA for finance data processing consulting services in an amount not to exceed $35,000, each year, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

Planning-Yucca Mnt./Technical Review Brd.

Board Member and Staff Reports

Adjournment