County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, met in regular session at the hour of 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, November 15, 2005, in the Board of Supervisors Room, County Administrative Center, Independence, with the following Supervisors present:   Chairperson Ted Williams presiding, Linda Arcularius, Susan Cash, Jim Bilyeu, and Richard Cervantes. Supervisor Cervantes provided the Invocation, and Supervisor Cash led the Pledge of Allegiance

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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.   Mr. Tom Brooks, Water Director, informed the Board that an update on the green book revision efforts and the Water Department’s web page would be agendized on December 13, 2005.   Ms. Leslie Chapman, Auditor-Controller, reported on the status of the current audit, explaining that there were three areas identified in the Yucca Mountain Budget as audit exceptions, which needed to be addressed.   She informed the Board that she would be working with the Planning Director to correct the items.   Mr. Chuck Hamilton, Deputy County Administrator, responded to a letter from a Tecopa citizen regarding the use of County solid waste bins by visitors to Dumont Dunes.   Mr. Hamilton explained that at the County’s request BLM has added a second trash bin and both the County and the BLM will continue to monitor the use of the bins in order to address future concerns.   The Board requested that Mr. Hamilton invite BLM to conduct a workshop with the Board on this issue.     Mr. Hamilton also confirmed that the Concessionaire for the Tecopa Campground, CLM, is allowing sewage dumping into the Campground’s pond for a fee.   The Board expressed a concern with allowing outside dumping and the impact this may cause on the costs for the cleanup of the sewage pond.   The Board requested Staff to schedule a workshop on this and other sewage pond issues for January, 2006.   Mr. George Milovich, Agricultural Commissioner, reported on the Agricultural Commissioner’s Winter Conference.  

HHS-WIC/ Nutrition Program Contract

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and California Department of Health Services for the Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) for the period October 1, 2005 through September 20, 2008 in an amount not to exceed $981,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.    Motion carried unanimously.

P.W.-CSA #2/Dr. Drain Contract

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Doctor Drain, Inc., for maintenance to the sanitary sewer system in the Community of Aspendell for the County Service Area #2, for the period of November 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006, in an amount not to exceed $19,900 per year; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously.

Water Dept./ Herbicide P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to award the bid for and approve the purchase of 215 gallons of Garlon 4 herbicide and 495 gallons of Improved JLB Oil Plus, with dye and light pine scent, from Silverado Ranch Supply in an amount not to exceed $23,885.60 plus tax.    Motion carried unanimously.

Water Dept./ Bishop Office Space Lease

Supervisor Cervantes questioned the renewal of the Lease for Water Department Offices in Bishop, suggesting that the vacant old Office of Education Building in Independence be used for the Water Department.    Supervisor Bilyeu reviewed the savings, which could be realized by utilizing the Office of Education Building instead of paying the lease payments.   Supervisor Arcularius indicated her reluctance in supporting this suggestion because of alternative priorities for the building as well as the costs for such a move and the impact on personnel.   Supervisor Williams indicated that he too was not supporting the recommendations because of the report received last year which detailed the variety of issues associated with relocating the Water Department to Independence, highlighting that a major portion of the Water Department’s activities are conducted in the Bishop area which would require excessive travel for staff if the office were relocated.   The Board requested Staff to schedule a workshop in January to discuss the use of the Office of Education Building. Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the one year extension to the Lease between the County of Inyo and Harry and Brenda Wilson, for Water Department Offices located at 163 May Street, Bishop, CA, for the period of January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006, at a rate of $5,000 per month; and authorize the Chairperson to sign the extension agreement, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously.

Ag. Comm./ATV P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to declare Mammoth Polaris as a sole-source provider of replacement equipment and ratify and approve the emergency purchase order to Mammoth Polaris for the purchase of 3 replacement ATV’s in an amount not to exceed $22,500.    Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Soc. Serv./ Social Worker Supervisor

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cash to waive the hiring freeze and authorize the filling of one Social Worker Supervisor position at Range 72 ($3,438 - $4,178 + 5% Forensic) to fill an existing, budgeted vacancy.   Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Williamson Act

The Board and Staff discussed the impact of adopting the Williamson Act in Inyo County.   County Counsel explained that other Boards of Supervisors have in the past contemplated implementing the Williamson Act.   He went on to explain that because of the uncertainties associated with how this Act would effect Inyo County properties owned by DWP and the taxes paid for that property that it had not been implemented.   The Board and Staff continued to discuss the impacts of adopting the Williamson Act.   There was no action taken regarding the Owens Valley Grange #808’s   request that the Supervisors of the County of Inyo immediately adopt the Williamson Act.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board members briefly reported on their activities during the preceding week, including a Big Pine Civic Club Meeting and information to be provided regarding the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed open session at 10:12 a.m., to convene in closed session, with all Board Members present to discuss Agenda Items No. 10.   PERSONNEL – [Pursuant to Government Code § 54957] Public Employee Performance Evaluation, Title:   Planning Director; No. 11. PERSONNEL – [Pursuant to Government Code § 54957] Public Employee Performance Evaluation, Title:   County Administrative Officer;   No. 12. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR [Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6] Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits, Title: County Administrator   - Negotiators:   Members of the Board of Supervisors as designated; and No. 13.    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.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 11:55 a.m., to reconvene in closed session at 1:00 p.m., with all Board Members present.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 3:00 p.m., to reconvene 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 3:00 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 13, 2005, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center in Independence.