County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

The Chairperson announced the public comment period.  Mr. Harold Carrasco of Lone Pine  addressed the Board to suggest that there be some way to pass along the mosquito abatement increase to the tourist and visitors rather than just the property owners.  Mr. William Wright of Big Pine informed the Board of pending legislation by Assemblyman Maze regarding mountain lion hunting which he recommended the Board support.  Mr. Wright also asked the Board to oppose the Nature Conservancy’s involvement regarding the protection of the desert tortoise.   Mr. Michael Dorame of Lone Pine and past Fifth District Supervisor addressed the Board to thank County Parks and Recreation and Public Works for their work on the Lone Pine Park improvements.  He also urged the Board to support the action proposed regarding the Rural Telecommunications Grant explaining that he had worked diligently for the previous eight years to bring telephone service to the residents in Charleston View and that he was pleased to see that the County had been selected to proceed on to Phase II of the grant process. 

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.  The Sheriff, Dan Lucas, addressed the Board to inform the them that staffing levels at the Jail had reached the crisis stage; that staff levels are currently at the dangerously low number of three-man teams; that in an effort to manage the crisis he was, per the MOU with the DSA, reassigning a total of 8 deputies to jail duty; and announced that as a result of the crisis he is forced to curtail 24-hour patrol service countywide.  Sheriff Lucas strongly urged the Board to, in light of the recent decision by the union to not open negotiations regarding the Correction Officer salaries, make the decision to improve the recruitment opportunities at the jail by implementing his recommendation to increase the salaries and offer a recruitment bonus.   Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services reminded the Board of a Mental Health Planning Meeting which was being conducted tonight at 6:30 p.m., at Statham Hall in Lone Pine.    

Parks/Desert Ag. P.O. Lone Pine Park Material

Mr. Chuck Hamilton, Deputy County Administrator, confirmed that the material being purchased for the Lone Pine Park Improvement project is to pay back the stockpiled material used for the restroom pad and to complete the parking lot project.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the purchase of parking lot and restroom pad base material for the Lone Pine Park Improvement Project through a blanket purchase order to Desert Aggregates in an amount not to exceed $9,000.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Transit/Sale of Surplus Vehicles

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) declare the vehicles identified by Staff as surplus; B) authorize Transit, Motor Pool and Parks and Recreation to utilize Ken Porter Auctions Services for the removal and sale of County owned surplus vehicles; C) waive the requirements of Sections 3.08.080 and 3.08.090 of the Inyo County Code to allow the sale of these surplus vehicles and equipment; and D) authorize the Director of the Transit Program to execute the consignment agreement for the sale.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Integ. Waste/ ShredPro Contract Amend.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve Amendment #1 to the Contract between the County of Inyo and ShredPro, Inc. for confidential and service document destruction, to increase the contract for FY 2004-05 from $8,500 to $11,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Emerg. Serv./ Vehicle P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to award the RFP for and authorize the purchase of emergency vehicle equipment from Nielsen’s Equipment Maintenance in the amount of $3,946.94.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

CAO-Info Serv./ Verizon Contract

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Agreement with Verizon for long distance voice service for a two year period from the date the Agreement is signed, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Motor Pool/Police Vehicle P. O.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to award the bid for and approve the purchase of two full sized 4-door sedans (Police Package) from the low bidder, Eastern Sierra Motors, in an amount not to exceed $46,045.88.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

HHS-Behavioral Hlth./Newhall Memorial Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve Amendment No. One to the Contract between the County of Inyo and Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, increasing the amount of the Contract by $10,000 to a total not to exceed $20,000 for the period of October 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

HHS-Behavioral Hlth./Sierra Recovery Contract

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Sierra Recovery Center for the provision of residential alcohol and drug treatment services, for the period of March 15, 2005, through June 30, 2005, in an amount not to exceed $18,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

HHS-Inyo 5 Comm./Appt.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to make the following appointments to the Inyo First Five Commission: A) Ms. Karen Harrison to complete an unexpired three year term ending December 5, 2006; B) Ms. Margaret Peterson to fill the Health and Human Services Director’s designee position for a three year period beginning April 20, 2005; and C) Ms. Jean Dickinson to fill the Health and Human Services Director position, for a three year period beginning April 20, 2005.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

HHS/Behavioral Hlth./Dogris Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve Amendment No. One to the Contract between the County of Inyo and Nicholas Dogris, Ph.D., increasing the amount of the Contract by $2,000, to a total not to exceed $12,000, for the period of July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

HHS-Mental Hlth. Serv./State Managed Care Contract Amend.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Amendments to the Contract between the State of California and the County of Inyo for managed care services for the period of July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, in the amount of $177,727; and authorize the Health and Human Services Director to sign. Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.  

Water Dept./Rain Gauges Lease

Fish & Game/ Cogdill AB7 Support Letter

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the letter of support for AB7 to ensure that long-range funding for the State of California’s Fish Hatcheries and Fish Planting Facilities Program, to Assemblyman Cogdill, as well as letters to Assemblyman Bill Maze and Senator Roy Ashburn, requesting they also support AB7; authorize the Chairperson to sign; and direct Staff to provide copies of the letters to RCRC and CSAC.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

BofS/Mule Days Welcome Letter

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the welcome letter to be placed in the 36^th Annual Mule Days Souvenir Program, to be signed by the individual Board Members.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Sheriff/Safety Dispatcher Position

The request by the Sheriff’s Department to waive the hiring freeze and authorize the filling of one vacant, budgeted Sheriff’s Public Safety Dispatcher position, was pulled from consideration to be reagenideze for the April 12, 2005 Board Meeting.    

Planning/Clark Team Bldg. Contract

Supervisor Arcularius asked that in the future these types of contracts be looked at for the overall benefit rather then categorically by department.  Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Doug Clark, DKC Associates, for team building services for the Planning Department, in an amount not to exceed $4,950, for the period of April 12, 2005, through June 30, 2005; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.  

Resol. #2005-13/ FTA Grant Inyo County Operations

On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Bilyeu, Resolution No. 2005-13 was adopted approving the grant application to the Federal Transportation Administration for Section 5311 general operating assistance funds for Inyo County in the amount of $32,336; and authorize the Transit Program Director to sign and submit the grant on behalf of the County; motion unanimously passed and adopted, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.     

Resol. #2005-14/ FTA Grant CREST Route Operations

On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Bilyeu, Resolution No. 2005-14 was adopted approving the grant application to the Federal Transportation Administration for Section 5311 general operating assistance funds for the CREST Route in the amount of $18,982.88; and authorize the Transit Program Director to sign and submit the grant on behalf of the County; motion unanimously passed and adopted, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Resol. #2005-15/ FTA Grant Mono County Operations

On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Bilyeu, Resolution No. 2005-15 was adopted, approving the grant application to the Federal Transportation Administration for Section 5311 general operating assistance funds for Mono County in the amount of $23,161; and authorize the Transit Program Director to sign and submit the grants on behalf of the County; motion unanimously passed and adopted, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.     

Transit/Mammoth Driver Position

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to waive the hiring freeze and authorize the filling of one vacant, budgeted Transit Driver III position for the Mammoth Lakes area, at Range 43 ($1,750 - $2,128).  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.  

Transit/BPAR Bishop Driver Position

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to waive the hiring freeze and authorize the filling of one vacant budgeted BPAR Transit Driver III position for the Bishop area, at Range 43 ($1,750 - $2,128).  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Senior Pgrm./ Office Space Lease

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Lease Agreement between the County of Inyo and Timothy and/or Allison Fillmore for rental of office space located at 568 W. Line Street, in Bishop, for the period of April 1, 2005, through March 31, 2007, at the rate of $1,249.13 per month, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Integ. Waste/ Waste Tire Amnesty Event

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to authorize A) Integrated Waste Management to conduct a two-day Waste Tire Amnesty Event on Friday, April 22, 2005 and Saturday, April 23, 2005; and B) authorize Integrated Waste Management to waive all fees associated with the disposal/recycling of waste automotive tires for the two-day event.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.  

Integ. Waste/ Prior Yr. Invoice Payments

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to authorize payment of FY 2003/2004 invoices to Pahrump Valley Disposal in the amount of $5,911.11 to be paid from FY 2004/2005 Integrated Waste Management Budget #045700, Professional Services, (Object Code #5265).   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.  

CAO-Admin. Serv./Admin Sec. Vacancy

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to waive the hiring freeze and authorize filling a vacant, budgeted Administrative Secretary II position at Range 60 ($2,595 - $3,151).  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 9:55 a.m., reconvening in open session at 10:00 a.m., with all Board Members present except Supervisor Williams and Cervantes who were absent.    

BofS/Baker Creek Foot Bridge Removal

The Deputy County Administrator, Mr. Chuck Hamilton, provided a brief history of the circumstances, which had led up to the removal of the middle footbridge at the Baker Creek Campground.  He confirmed that the bridge had been identified as a safety hazard.  Ms. Marlena Baker, Risk Manager, provided further clarification and information on how safety hazards are identified in order to limit the County’s exposure to liability risks.   Mr. Bill Wright, Big Pine Resident and Mr. Mike Valenzuela, Executive Director of the Big Pine Chamber of Commerce, addressed the Board to provide information regarding the importance of the bridge, which had been removed to Big Pine residents and visitors, and to request that the bridge be replaced.   Mr. Hamilton provided the parameters, which would have to be met in order for the County to reinstall the bridge because the bridge would be located on two separate DWP Leases.  Supervisor Bilyeu expressed his concern with County structures being removed or demolished without community input and Board approval and indicated his support to have the bridge replaced.  The Board and Staff discussed the formulation of a policy for removal and/or demolition of County structures.  It was moved by Supervisor Bilyeu, with no second to direct Staff to replace the footbridge at the Baker Creek Campground in Big Pine.  The motion failed on a one-to-two roll-call vote, with Supervisor Bilyeu voting yes, and with Supervisors Arcularius and Cash voting no.  At the suggestion of the County Administrator the Board directed Staff to develop a policy for Board’s consideration regarding a policy for the removal and/or demolition of County structures, to be returned and discussed during the workshop regarding the Parks and Campgrounds Improvement Project.  Supervisor Arcularius also requested that any future discussions regarding the replacement of the bridge include cost estimates for the work.    

Integ. Waste/Fee Ordinance Public Hearing

The Chairperson opened the public hearing at 10:20 a.m., on a proposed ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, Repealing Inyo County Ordinance No. 1086 and establishing Solid Waste Disposal Fees.”  The Deputy County Administrator noted a minor clerical correction on page 8, indicating that section 5.1 should be 6.1.  There was no one from the public wishing to address this issue and the Chairperson closed the public hearing at 10:21 a.m.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to waive the first reading of the ordinance and schedule the enactment for 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.    

The County Administrator briefly reviewed the Rural Telecommunications Grant history, providing further justification for the recommended action.   Mr. Juliff explained that the County had succeeded in moving to the second phase of the grant application process and that in discussions with the State, they had recommended a consultant to assist with the Phase II application.  The Board Members expressed their support with continuing the County’s efforts to seek grant funds to bring telephone service to the Charleston View area of the County.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) authorize the County Administrator to take the steps necessary, approve all contracts, and sign all documents required to submit the Phase 2 Application for the Rural Telecommunications Infrastructure Grant Program; B) authorize the County Administrator to sign a sole-source contract with a consulting firm, to perform the necessary work on the feasibility study detailing the engineering and construction costs aspects of the County’s project, in an amount not to exceed the amount to be reimbursed by the State for this work under the Phase 1 Grant award; and authorize the County Administrator to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; C) authorize the County Administrator and the Auditor-Controller to make the necessary transfer of funds from the Economic Stabilization Fund to the County Administrator’s Budget to cover the cost of a consulting contract and direct that all funds reimbursed by the State for the feasibility study be repaid to the Economic Stabilization Fund; and D) keep the Board informed as to each step of the process as it proceeds.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.

Supervisor Cash requested that the minutes of the special meeting of March 30, 2005, be amended to reflect the past tense.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings of A) February 22, 2005; B) March 1, 2005; C) March 8, 2005; D) March 15, 2005; and E) the special meeting of March 30, 2005 as amended.  Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Williams and Cervantes absent.

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including a meeting regarding the yellow-billed cuckoo, a Big Pine Ditch Meeting, a report on the collapse of the Laws water tank, and an RCRC Board Meeting.

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 11:24 a.m., to 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2005, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.