County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

The Chairperson announced the public comment period.  Representatives of the employee’s union ICEA addressed the Board to welcome the new Board members and express their optimism about future relations between the union and the Board.  Ms. Betty Denton, Bishop Resident, addressed the Board to rebut remarks made by Jerry Gewe, last week regarding the Long Term Water Agreement and ground water recovery and the LORP.  Mr. Brad Goans, Tecopa Resident, addressed the Board to welcome the new County Administrator and to confirm that he and others concerned about the operations of the Tecopa Hot Springs would be returning in the near future to address the Board regarding their concerns.  Mr. Butch Hambleton, Big Pine Resident, addressed the Board to support his right as a member of the public to address the Board regarding any subject of concern, explaining that he would not be intimidated by one of the local newscaster’s efforts to  silence him.  Ms. Freda Lindsay of Cebridge Communications introduced Bishop High School students participating in the program where they are shadowing Freda for the day, to the Board. 

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.  Ms. Leslie Chapman, Auditor-Controller, informed the Board and the public that she would be working with the AARP Tax Preparation Program and for the next couple of months would be spending her Wednesday mornings in Lone Pine doing pro-bono tax preparation for the seniors. 

The workshop with representatives from the Health and Human Services Department regarding Medi-Cal billing for health services, was rescheduled by the Department and pulled from the Agenda at the request of the Clerk of the Board. 

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to appoint Shelley D. Magnan to the In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Board representing the provider of services category to serve at the Pleasure of the Board.  Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and the Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action (IMACA) for the provision of interim Workforce Investment Act services, for the period of January 1, 2005, through June 30, 2005, in an amount not to exceed $75,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

Contract

The County Administrator requested that the amount of the Contract be corrected from $6,200 per month to $6,500.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) approve the contract between the County of Inyo and Ronald W. Chegwidden for personal services as the Acting Public Works Director, at a monthly salary of $6,500, effective January 26, 2005 and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon appropriate signatures being obtained.  Motion carried unanimously.

On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Bilyeu, Resolution No. 2005-05 entitled “A Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, County of Inyo, State of California, Rescinding Resolution 2005-02 and Setting Salary and/or Terms and Conditions of Employment for Appointed Officials Employed in the Several Offices or Institutions of the County of Inyo,” was adopted: motion unanimously passed and adopted. 

Supervisor Williams requested a change to the proposed resolution condemning hate crimes and promoting respect for community members, asking that the second paragraph, first sentence be changed to read      “we have all worked long and hard for many years…”  On a motion by Supervisor Cash and a second by Supervisor Arcularius Resolution No. 2005-06 was adopted, supporting the joint statement condemning hate crimes and promoting respect for all our community members, as amended: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Mr. Brandon Shults, Director of Information Technology, reviewed the recommendations for the proposed technical infrastructure project, indicating that the project will now be referred to as the “networking project.”  The Board and Staff discussed the various aspects of the proposed project.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) authorize the RFP process for the networking project and B) schedule a FAC meeting to discuss financing options for the project and to bring back options for Board’s consideration by the first meeting in April.  Motion carried unanimously.

The Board and the Planning Dept. discussed the recommendations for appointments to the Housing Task Force with the Board requesting the additional appointments of Karen Christensen, David Miller and Dwight McNaughton.  Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cash to  make the appointments to the Inyo County Valley Housing Task Force as recommended by Staff and including the additional appointments as recommended.  Motion carried unanimously.

The Board and representatives of the Citizens In Support Of Southern Inyo Hospital discussed options available for County funding of Southern Inyo Hospital (SIH) including the possible use of the Maddy funds.  Representatives of the Southern Inyo Hospital reviewed the steps SIH is taking to maximize the current funding and the consequences to the County and its citizens should SIH fail.  Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to direct Inyo County Health and Human Services Director, Ms. Jean Dickinson, to work with the representatives of the Hospital and the Citizen’s in Support of the Hospital to bring back recommendations for the establishment of a Task Force to address the issues identified by the group as well as recommendations for appointment to the Task Force.  Motion carried unanimously.

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 11:10 a.m., reconvening at 11:15 a.m., with all Board Members present.

The Chairperson opened the public hearing at 11:20 a.m., on General Plan Amendment - Definitions of “Gross Acreage” or “Gross Parcel Size” and “Net Acreage” or “Net Parcel Size.”  Ms. Leslie Klusmire, Planning Director, reviewed the Staff Report, which she requested be accepted and the report along with the attachments was marked Exhibit A.  Ms. Klusmire presented the following requesting they be entered into the record: the minutes of the 8-27-03 and 9-24-03 Planning Commission meetings which were marked Exhibit B and C and copies of three different Resolutions, one of which would be used depending upon the Board’s decision regarding the definitions, which were marked Exhibit D, E and F respectively.  Ms. Klusmire reviewed the alternatives, providing justification for Staff’s recommendation to only deduct public roads in the definition and explaining why the deduction of private driveways, while addressing the McClaren issue, would detrimentally affect other areas including the determination of floor area ratio, which would limit development possibilities.  Mr. Jim Core and Mr. Andy Holmes addressed the Board to support Staff’s recommendation for the definitions.  The Chairperson closed the public hearing at 11:45 a.m.   

On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Cash, Resolution No. 2005-07, was adopted establishing that only public roads will be deducted when determining “Gross Acreage” or “Gross Parcel Size” and “Net Acreage” or “Net Parcel Size;”  motion unanimously passed and adopted.  

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:00 p.m., reconvening at 1:00 p.m., with all Board Members present.

The Auditor-Controller and the Information Technology Director provided additional information regarding the recommendation to replace the County’s Financial System (IFAS).  Mr. Shults explained that the support of the system software would end in December 2006.  He also explained that because of the crucial nature of the system on all facets of the County’s operations, it is imperative that the replacement project begin as soon as possible to ensure no lapse in coverage.    

Mr. Shults went on to recommend the Board take the same action as previously taken with regard to the networking project to send the “financial system” replacement project to the FAC Committee for recommendations on project financing. Mr. Shults also reviewed additional recommendations justifying the need to appoint a project sponsor, to use an outside contractor for project management and to establish a project team.   Moved Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cash to A) direct that the Auditor and the IT Director serve as co-sponsors of the project; B) direct that a project team be established; C) utilize an external project manager; D) utilize the RFP process for project proposals; and E) agendize this project for discussion at the FAC meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 1:28 p.m., to convene as the Board of Equalization.  At the conclusion of the Board of Equalization Meeting, at 1:40 p.m., the Chairperson reconvened in open session, with all Board Members present.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cash to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Mactec Engineering and Consulting for hydrologic/hydro-geologic services for a Starlite groundwater cumulative impacts analysis in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, in an amount not to exceed $35,500; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

The Treasurer-Tax Collector provided additional information and further justification for reinstating the Account Technician position deleted as a result of the SIP.  He showed that by reinstating the position there would be sufficient additional revenues generated from work which is not currently being done to off-set the cost of the position, thus maintaining the integrity of the SIP savings.  The Board thanked Mr. Treacy for the justification.  Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to change the authorized strength in the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Department, by adding one Account Technician position and lift the modified hiring freeze and authorize the recruitment and filling of an Account Technician I or II position at Range 55 ($2,308 - $2,806) or Range 59 ($2,532 - $3,078) and further direct that a list of all positions, including the savings, effected by the SIP be provided when SIP positions are being considered and to include an accounting of the salary increases which have been given since the SIP was implemented.  Motion carried unanimously.

Supervisor Cash requested that the reference on page one to RS2577 be corrected to RS2477.  Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2005, Board of Supervisors Meeting, as corrected.  Motion carried unanimously.

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including a pending school closure in Olancha, a BLM Steering Committee Meeting, an RCRC Meeting, a Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control Board Meeting; a Meeting with Congressman McKeon on the Wilderness proposal; an upcoming meeting in Bishop on the Furnace Creek Road closure, a meeting regarding the Big Pine Care Facility, the release of the Bishop Access Circulation Study, which denotes that the traffic City’s traffic congestion is as a result of local traffic and not truck traffic, a meeting regarding the OV Railroad and an upcoming CSAC Board Meeting in Sacramento.

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 4:15 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., February 15, 2005, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.