County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

The Chairperson announced the public comment period.  Mr. Frank Hayes, Superintendent of Manzanar Historical Site, announced that he had accepted a promotion and had been reassigned to Hawaii as the Director of the Pacific Region.   He introduced his interim replacement Ms. Ann Houston and the Managing Superintendent Ms. Cicely Muldoon, who will be conducting the recruitment for a new Superintendent.  The Board congratulated Mr. Hayes and wished him and his family the best in their future endeavors.  Supervisor Arcularius complimented the City of Bishop on their Yellow Ribbon Campaign which not only recognizes our troops but also highlights the “Mom’s Club” for their outstanding efforts. 

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.  Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services, updated the Board on the following items.  

A) A whooping cough cluster, which has been identified in the County.  She informed the Board of public information and notification efforts, which are taking place and identified infants who have not been vaccinated as those most at risk.   The Auditor-Controller, Ms. Leslie Chapman, addressed the Board to acknowledge and thank Ms. Dickinson and the Health and Human Services Staff for their diligence in making the public aware of this potential danger, highlighting a personal incident where an HHS representative made contact with a person who had been exposed to this virus. 

B) The emergency in the Tecopa/Shoshone area where the communities were without power or telephone service for 48 hours.  She thanked her local staff in the area, as well as Paul Postle, of the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District, for their coordination and help during the emergency.  She explained that efforts were being made to have an OES generator transported to the area, when the power was restored.  Ms. Dickinson indicated that there would be a debriefing meeting on the incident.  Supervisor Cervantes added his thanks to Mr. Postle for his help. 

C)  The Legislation, which will cap reimbursement for foster care costs.  She explained that there is a recent phenomenon in the program, which is the placement of newborns and young children as a result of methamphetamine use throughout the nation.  She explained that this is a serious situation and reductions in federal reimbursement will have a negative impact on program services.  She requested that the Board Members keep this on the front burner when dealing with their associations. 

Ms. Leslie Klusmire, Planning Director, updated the Board on the Yucca Mountain Project.  She informed the Board that Paul Golan has been named the new Program Director and that he comes to Yucca Mountain from WHIPP in New Mexico.  She informed the Board that Mr. Golan has indicated his desire to no longer fund scientific studies, that he is going to focus on getting the permitting process completed.  Ms. Klusmire expressed concern with the on-going hydrology studies, which are being conducted in the Death Valley area, indicating that she felt it was important for the County to go to Washington, D.C. to meet with the Director to support the continuation of funding for scientific studies.   She also informed the Board that at a recent AULG meeting in Nevada, it appeared that there are already stirrings to reduce next year’s funding to the smaller member counties in an effort to provide more funding to the larger jurisdictions.  She indicated to the Board that she felt Inyo County would once again have to fight with the AULGs for its rightful share, similar to last year, including having the full Board attend an AULG meeting. 

Ms. Linda Anisman, Director of Child Support Services, informed the Board that Inyo County is in the Phase 2 group for the federally mandated conversion of California’s disbursement program converting the program to a statewide central disbursement process.  She explained that initially the result of the conversion will be the delay of payments, but explained that future benefits will be the ability to have electronic deposits and to consolidate payments from different counties to make one disbursement.   

Mr. Chuck Hamilton, Deputy County Administrator, informed the Board that a Household Hazardous Waste Event was being conducted this Saturday, August 6, 2005, at the Big Pine Transfer Station from 9 to noon and that there is no cost to dispose of household hazardous waste during this event.

Child Support Serv./Print N Mail Contract

HHS-Hlth. Serv./ Dwayne’s Pharmacy Contract

Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services, provided additional information on the request to contract for pharmaceutical services.  She explained that the County is required by law to dispense medication as prescribed to individuals incarcerated in the County.  She explained that since we are unable to provide a pharmacist at the jail, she was thankful that Dwayne’s Pharmacy has been willing to prepackage the dosages for distribution.  Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to ratify the Contract between the County of Inyo and Dwayne’s Friendly Pharmacy for the provision of pharmaceutical services, in an amount not to exceed $75,000 per year for the period of August 1, 2005, through June 30, 2010, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

County Counsel/ Schain, Core & Laverty Contracts

Mr. Paul Bruce, County Counsel, explained that recent decisions by the Board regarding lot splits are being litigated and the County’s code requires that the individuals requesting the lot splits reimburse the County for a portion of the litigation costs.  He also explained that the Amendments to the Schain and Core contracts adjust the costs to reflect the addition of the Laverty lot splits in the litigation and highlighted that instead of the County covering one/third of the costs it will now be covering one/quarter of the costs for the litigation.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the Amendments to the Agreements between the County of Inyo and Charles and Eileen Schain and James and Mary Core and the Agreement between the County of Inyo and David and Ellen Laverty for reimbursement of Inyo County for defense litigation costs, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2005-06 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.  Motion carried unanimously.

CAO-Personnel/ County Counsel Step E Offer

The County Administrator, Mr. Ron Juliff, explained that the most recent recruitment for Deputy County Counsel had resulted in an offer being made to a qualified candidate who upon reflection was unable to accept the offer as a result of the salary amount.  Mr. Juliff explained that it is hoped that the County might entice this individual to accept the offer if the pay rate is increased, thus the request to hire at the E Step.  Mr. Juliff reminded the Board that the authority to hire at the E Step of any range remains with the Board of Supervisors.  Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the appointment of a Deputy County Counsel IV at Range 85E, ($5,706), pursuant to Personnel Rule 313, “Board Authority to Specify Salary.”  Motion carried unanimously.

Ord. 1102/Solid Waste Permit Fee

On a motion by Supervisor Cash and a second by Supervisor Bilyeu, Ordinance 1102 was adopted, 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):  motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Planning/ Charleston View Dev. Update

Ms. Leslie Klusmire, Planning Director, introduced Mr. Walter Keiser, Managing Principle of Economic Planning Systems, Inc., who updated the Board on a variety of the Charleston View planning issues which may impact the County.  The Board, Mr. Keiser and Staff discussed the County management of development requests in that area.

Board Members and Staff Reports

Supervisor Arcularius reported on a Sierra Nevada Conservancy Forum which was held in Sonora, explaining that she found it interesting that a lot of the issues identified in this latest forum were the same as identified in the Bishop Forum. 

The Chairperson recessed open session at 11:00 a.m., to convene in closed session, with all Board Members present to discuss Agenda Items No. 9.  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, Inyo County Superior Court Case No. SICVPT04-37217 (Write of Mandate); No. 10.  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;  and No. 11. 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, Inyo County Superior Court Case No. SICVCV01-29768.  The Chairperson recessed closed session at 12:45 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 12:45 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., August 9, 2005, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.