County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

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.  The Auditor-Controller updated the Board on recent TEETER activity and on the recent Auditor-Controller Conference she attended.  County Counsel reported on a County Counsel’s Conference he had attended. 

BLM/Fuel  Re-duction Program

Representatives of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reviewed BLM’s Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program and updated the Board on the development of their Fire Management Plan.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 10:10 a.m., reconvening at 10:20 a.m., with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Dorame.

Ag. Comm./Use of Weight Truck

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the use of the weight truck for the Mule Pulling Contest, Sunday, May 30, 2004, during the Mule Days events at the Tri-County Fairgrounds.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

HHS-WIC/ Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve Amendment No. A1 to the Contract between the County of Inyo and the California Department of Health Services, Women, Infants, and Children Program increasing the grant by $5,894 for a total not to exceed $964,316 for the period of October 1, 2002, through September 30, 2005; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

Water Dept./ Water Logger P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the purchase of three In-Situ Mini-Troll Water Level Loggers for the monitoring of Owens Valley wells, from In-Situ, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $5,815.50 plus shipping, tax and insurance.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

Water Dept./ Herbicide and JLB Oil P.O.s

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the purchase of 250 gallons of Garlon 4 herbicide from Target Specialty Products, in an amount not to exceed $21,072.50, plus tax and 480 gallons of improved JLB Oil Plus, with dye from Silverado Ranch Supply in an amount not to exceed $3,936 plus tax.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

HHS-First 5 Comm./Health Reach Assoc. Contract

In response to a question the Health and Human Services Director explained the IMAAA Program’s role in the MAA Claiming process, explaining that IMAAA is the lead agency, has been participating in this program for several years and is not required to participate in the training.  Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and HealthReach Associates, Inc., for technical assistance for MAA Claim Plan, for the period of April 20, 2004, through December 1, 2004, in an amount not to exceed $10,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

Planning/SECOR and Desert Aggregates Contract Amendments

The Planning Director provided additional information and further explanation on the request to amend the SECOR and Desert Aggregates contracts.  County Counsel requested that the Board consider including in their motion the following language:  “contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets” and authorize the Chairperson to sign “contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.”  The County Administrator provided further clarification by explaining that the contracts have imbedded in them a waiver of costs, which equates to a loss of revenue for the County and confirmed that while these waiver of costs may be acceptable in this situation, the County will not consider waiver of fees as a standard practice.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bear to A) approve Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement between the County of Inyo and SECOR International, Inc., increasing the Contract by $90,045 to an amount not to exceed $279,129, and extending the ending date of the Contract to December 31, 2004, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budget and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and B) approve Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement between the County of Inyo and Intermountain Slurry Seal, Inc., DBA Desert Aggregates, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets, extending the ending date of the Contract to December 31, 2004, and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

BofS/Letter to McKeon re: Full Funding of PILT

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the letter to Congressman Buck McKeon requesting he support the House Budget Committee resolution for fully funding the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program and request that the Congressman co-sponsor and support any future legislation to facilitate full funding of PILT.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

BofS/CSAC Update

The County Administrator reviewed CSAC’s topic of discussion for this week, explaining that there is no action required, CSAC was simply updating the counties on the Child Support Services penalty payment.  The Board and the County Administrator also discussed the status of efforts to correct the “poison pill” which has virtually halted payment of vehicle license fees and sales tax payments to counties. 

HHS-First 5 Comm./

Appointment

Supervisor Bear thanked both Ms. Huff and Mr. Griffiths for their interest in serving on the Inyo First Five Commission.  Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to appoint Mr. Jeff Griffiths to the Inyo First Five Commission to complete an unexpired three-year term ending February 1, 2006.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

Planning-Yucca Mtn./Six Year Plan

Mr. Andrew Remus reviewed the Staff report and recommendations regarding the proposed six-year plan for the County’s Yucca Mountain Assessment Office.  The County Administrator added that Board approval of this plan should be contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets.  The Planning Director and the Board discussed the ramifications to having County personnel from other departments perform some of the work.  Ms. Klusmire and the County Administrator explained that during the budget hearings, the Board would see the revenue reflected from the Planning Department to the appropriate budgets, such as the Water Department, or the Public Works Department.  He explained that the budget information would include an explanation of the impact to the Department as a result of maximizing the use of existing County responses.  Mr. Remus clarified further that the Yucca Mountain projects, which will be performed by other County Departments, are flexible and can be managed to facilitate the Departments other project priorities.  The County Administrator concurred with the Staff’s recommendation, explaining that this was the Department Heads response to the directive from the Board of Supervisors for “no lay offs” and “keeping people employed.”  The Board requested that abbreviated Department Head evaluations be scheduled in order for the Board to convey to the Department Heads the Board’s shifts in priorities as a result of these additional projects.  Supervisor Hambleton recognized Supervisor Dorame for his commitment to address Inyo County’s issues relative to Yucca Mountain.  Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the six-year program for the Inyo County Yucca Mountain Assessment Office, including specific goals and tasks, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets and direct the Planning Department to implement the program, maximizing use of existing County resources and reporting quarterly to the Board on the progress of the program, beginning September 2004.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Dorame absent.

BofS/Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Williams to approve the minutes of the April 13, 2004, Board of Supervisors Meeting.  Motion carried unanimously on a three-to-zero vote, with Supervisor Hambleton abstaining and with Supervisor Dorame absent.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including an RCRC Meeting, the Water tour, the dedication of the Lone Pine Tribe Gymnasium, the dedication of the Manzanar Interpretive Center, the Opening of Fishing Season Press Reception sponsored by the Bishop Chamber of Commerce, an IMAAA Meeting, and an LTC Meeting.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:05 p.m., reconvening at 1:15 p.m., with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Dorame.

Closed Session

The Chairperson convened in closed session at 12:05 p.m., with all Board Members present except Supervisor Dorame, to discuss Agenda Items No. 15.  CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING LITIGATION (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) - Sierra Club v. City of Los Angeles, Department of Water and Power and County of Inyo, Inyo County Superior Court Case No. SICVCV01-29768; No. 16.  PERSONNEL (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957)– Public Employee Performance Evaluation – Title:  County Administrator; No. 17.  CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) - Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits - Employee Organization - ICEA - Negotiators - County Administrator and Personnel Analyst; No. 18.  CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) - Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits - Employee Organization - Elected Officials Assistant Association (EOAA) - Negotiators - County Administrator and Personnel Analyst; No. 19. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) - Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits - Employee Organization - Law Enforcement Administrators’ Association (LEAA) - Negotiators - County Administrator and Personnel Analyst; and No. 20.  CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) - Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits - Employee Organization - Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA) - Negotiators - County Administrator and Personnel Analyst.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 6:00 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 6:00 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., May 4, 2004, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.