County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

The Chairperson announced the public comment period.  Mr. Michael Strassman, of the Friends of the Alabama Hills, commented on a BLM road closure in the Alabama Hills, expressing his concern with access and requesting the Board ask BLM for prior notification and a public input process prior to denying or limiting access to public lands.  Ms. Pam Mitchell, Mono County, requested the Board consider having their regular meetings on a different day of the week, than the Mono County Board of Supervisors, to provide those interested in both jurisdictions to participate in the respective Board Meetings.   

The Chairperson announced that Item No. 16. from the Big Pine Paiute Tribe for consideration of development of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Big Pine Paiute Tribe for animal control services, had been pulled at the request of the Tribal Administrator and would be rescheduled in the future.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.  Ms. Leslie Klusmire, Planning Director, updated the Board on the Housing Task Force’s schedule of meetings, explaining that they are working diligently to formulate recommendations for regional affordable housing.  Supervisor Arcularius announced that the first outreach meeting of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy was scheduled for June 28, 2005, at 6:00 p.m., at the Methodist Church in Bishop. 

Mr. Brent Harrington, Executive Director, and Ms. Mary Pitto, Regulatory Program Director, of the Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC) updated the Board on RCRC Programs and activities.  The Board thanked Mr. Harrington and Ms. Pitto for their presentations and commended RCRC for their successful legislative advocacy on behalf of the rural California counties, and most especially for their support of those issues important to Inyo County and the Eastern Sierra. 

P.W./Eastern Sierra Mini Storage Lease

HHS-Calworks/ IMACA Contract

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action, Inc., (IMACA) for client services for the period of July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, in an amount not to exceed $24,000, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2005/06 budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Soc. Serv./ County Supt. of Schools Child Care Contract

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Inyo County Superintendent of Schools for the provision of child care services in an amount not to exceed $220,000 for the period of July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2005-06 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Behavioral Hlth./Gonzalez Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve Amendment No. One to the Contract between the County of Inyo and Maria Lourdes Gonzalez, LMFT, increasing the contract by $5,000 for a total not to exceed $15,000 for the period of September 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Soc. Serv./ D.V. School Summer Program Contract

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and the Death Valley Unified School District for providing a Summer Enrichment Program, in an amount not to exceed $2,036, for the period of May 1, 2005, through September 30, 2005, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2005-06 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Behavioral Hlth./Canyon Acres Contract

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Canyon Acres Children & Family Services for the provision of mental health services in an amount not to exceed $50,000, for the period of July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2005-06 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

Emergency Serv./Generator P. O.

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to award the bid for and authorize the purchase of a 15kW, Generac Liquid Petroleum emergency backup generator to Americas Generators, Inc., of Miami, Florida, in an amount not to exceed $4,928.92.  Motion carried unanimously.

CAO-Purchasing/ All-in-One Comp. P. O. GovConn.

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to award the quote for and authorize the purchase of three (3) All-in-One computers from GovConnection, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $4,229 plus tax.  Motion carried unanimously.

CAO-Purchasing/ All-in-One Comp. P. O. Tangent

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to award the quote for and authorize the purchase of two (2) All-in-One computers from Tangent in an amount not to exceed $2,513.96 plus tax.  Motion carried unanimously.

CAO-Purchasing/ Notebook Comp. P. O. GovConn.

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) approve the purchase of four (4) standard notebook microcomputers through Bid #2004-06 from GovConnection, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $6,820.25 plus shipping and handling; and B) award the quotes for and approve the purchase of computer related equipment from GovConnection, Inc., as recommended by Staff.  Motion carried unanimously.

Forest Serv./FY 2003-04 Title III Funding Authority Change

The County Administrator, Mr. Ron Juliff, provided further explanation on the request to change two of the Contractors for the FY 2003-04 Title III Funding, explaining that limitations on the County’s ability to enter into contracts with local Indian Tribes facilitated the need to find alternative groups to manage the funding for the Lone Pine Fire Safe Council and the Independence Tribe Projects.  Mr. Juliff took the opportunity to thank the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department, the Independence Chamber of Commerce, the Lone Pine Fire Safe Council and the Independence Tribe for their willingness to help the County successfully resolve this matter.  Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to rescind portions (a) and (d) of the March 16, 2004 Board Order approving Fire Prevention and County Planning Grants and:  (1) approve the contract between the County of Inyo and the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $13,000, and authorize the County Administrator to sign contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained and (2) approve the contract between the County of Inyo and the Independence Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $4,480 and authorize the County Administrator to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.  Motion carried unanimously.

Forest Serv./FY 2004-05 Title III Funding Projects

The County Administrator briefly reviewed the recommendation to award contracts for this year’s 2004-05 Title III projects, asking that the amount of $20,000 for the Lone Pine Fire Safe Council Project be changed on the agenda and associated documentation to $10,000.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) award and approve the contracts for the 2004-05 Fire Prevention and County Planning Grants totaling $23,500 as follows:  $7,500 to the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department; $6,000 to the Bishop Chamber of Commerce to subcontract for Range of Light Productions project; and $10,000 to the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department to subcontract for Lone Pine Fire Safe Council project; and B) authorize the County Administrator to sign contracts contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously.

P.W./Facility Security

Interim Public Works Director, Mr. Ron Chegwidden, addressed the Board to review the report regarding County facility security monitoring.  The Board concurred with Staff’s assessment of the proposed contracts with Sierra Security for security monitoring and directed Staff to further analyze and return with recommendations on security options, including (a) issuing another RFP for this service, with the company monitoring the Jail and Juvenile facilities to receive a copy; (b) survey other counties including Mono on how they provide security for their facilities; (c) internet search of possible companies who might be willing to provide the service; (d) an evaluation of having the monitoring conducted in-house; and (e) direction to Staff to work with the Sheriff’s Department in the interim to provide some level of coverage for those areas most vulnerable.  In response to a question from the Board, Ms. Marlena Baker, Risk Management, confirmed that the County’s coverage rates are not affected one way or the other by this service.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 10:35 a.m., to reconvene at 10:45 a.m., with all Board Members present.

Integ. Waste/ Franchise Fee Ordinance

The Chairperson opened the public hearing at 10:46 a.m., on a proposed ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors, County of Inyo, State of California, Amending Inyo County Code Section 7.08.080(B) to increase the solid waste collection and disposal permit fee” (franchise fee).  The County Administrator reviewed the Staff Report and recommendations, explaining that the recommended 5% increase was based on Board direction.  Mr. Dale Comontofski, of Preferred Septic, addressed the Board to talk about the proposed franchise fee increase.  The items discussed by Mr. Comontofski included the following: (a) discussed the proposed increase as it relates to his business, (b) requested that the Board consider only raising the franchise fee 4%; and (c) asked the Board to consider placing the ½% sales tax increase before the voters once again,   suggesting that this time the County garner support, similar to how the City of Bishop handled their recent TOT increase.  The Board and Mr. Comontofski discussed his suggestion with the Board encouraging Mr. Comontofski to work towards garnering local support for this increase should it be considered by the voters in the future.    The Chairperson closed the public hearing at 11:25 a.m.  The Board and staff discussed possibly only raising the franchise fee initially 4% effective October 1, 2005 and raising it to 5% effective January 1, 2006.  The County Administrator and County Counsel briefly reviewed the ordinance adoption process concurring that the Board could begin the ordinance process again and still have it effective by October 1, 2005.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cash to direct staff to begin the ordinance adoption process amending the Inyo County Code Section 7.08.080(B) to increase solid waste collection and disposal permit fees (franchise fees) by 4% effective October 1, 2005 and another 1% for a total of a 5% increase effective January 1, 2006.  Motion carried unanimously.

The Board and Staff reviewed the revised Workplan.  Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Cash to approve the revised FY 2005 Yucca Mountain Assessment Office Workplan.  Motion carried unanimously.

Supervisor Cash requested that the word “Supervisor” be inserted in front of the name “Bilyeu” on page 8, paragraph 3, of the June 7, 2005, minutes.  Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the minutes of the June 7, 2005 Board of Supervisors Meeting, as amended.  Motion carried unanimously.

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:20 p.m., to reconvene as the Board of Equalization (see separate minutes) at 1:15 p.m., with all Board Members present.  The Chairperson reconvened the regular meeting at 1:20 p.m., with all Board Members present.

The Board met in closed session to discuss Agenda Items No. 24.  PERSONNEL   [Pursuant to Government Code § 54957] - Public Employee Appointment - Title:  Director of Water Department.  No. 25.  CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR  [Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6] - Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits - Title:  Director of Water Department – Negotiators: Members of the Board of Supervisors as designated; No. 26.  CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR  [Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6] - Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits - Employee Organization:  ICEA - Negotiators:  CAO Ron Juliff; No. 27. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR [Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6] - Instructions to Negotiators re:  wages, salaries and benefits - Employee Organization:  Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA) - Negotiators:  CAO Ron Juliff;  No. 28.   CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR [Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6] - Instructions to Negotiators re:  wages, salaries and benefits - Employee Organization:  Elected Officials Assistant Association (EOAA) - Negotiators:  CAO Ron Juliff; No. 29. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR [Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6] - Instructions to Negotiators re:  wages, salaries and benefits - Employee Organization:  Law Enforcement Administrators’  (LEAA) - Negotiators:  CAO Ron Juliff; and No. 30.  REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8) – Conference with Real Property Negotiator – Property – APN18-090-01, County Road, Big Pine, California (Big Pine Convalescent Facility) – Negotiating Parties – County of Inyo and Quality of Life Association – Under Negotiation – Terms and Conditions of Lease.   

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. 

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., June 28, 2005, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.