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, February 14 , 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, County Administrative Center, Independence, with the following Supervisors present:   Chairperson Susan Cash presiding, Linda Arcularius, Ted Williams, Jim Bilyeu, and Richard Cervantes.   Supervisor Cervantes provided the Invocation, and Supervisor Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period.   Mr. Mike Johnston of the Housing Task Force Committee updated the Board on the Committee’s activities, explaining that the Committee would be coming before the Board in the near future to make recommendations on facilitating affordable housing in the County.   Supervisor Bilyeu commended the City of Ridgecrest on their new banner, which reads “In God We Trust.”

County Dept. Reports

Mr. Tom Brooks, Water Director, gave the Board a brief report on the recent Hines Springs Meeting.   Mr. Brandon Shults, Information Services Director, updated the Board on the status of the Financial System and Network Upgrade Projects.  

Transit/Blanket P. O.

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve blanket purchase orders as follows:   Britt’s Diesel & Automotive in an amount not to exceed $10,000; Hi Sierra Truck & Equipment in an amount not to exceed $10,000; and Symons Tire in an amount not to exceed $5,000.    Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Misc./ Training Services Contract

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Fred Pryor Seminar/Career Track to provide training services for the period of February 22, 2006 through June 30, 2006, in an amount not to exceed $7,220; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Change in Insurance Rule Opposition

Supervisor Arcularius provided a brief history on the County’s actions regarding the rule change proposed by the State Insurance Commissioner, which could result in a 35% increase in auto insurance premiums paid in Inyo County.   Supervisor Arcularius explained that she would be traveling to the Sacramento area for a Sierra Nevada Conservancy meeting the week of February 20 th and offered to continue on to San Francisco to represent the County at the hearing scheduled on this matter for February 24, 2006.   The Board continued to discuss this issue, with Supervisor Williams noting a minor correction and with Supervisor Arcularius requesting that the letter be amended to reflect the range of 28% - 35%.   Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to (a) join the RCRC Coalition “Californians AGAINST Higher Insurance Rates” by authorizing the completion and submittal of the “sign-in” sheet; (b) approve the letter to California Insurance Commissioner Garamendi opposing his proposal (RH03029826) to eliminate location as a rating factor for establishing automobile insurance rates, as corrected and amended to include the range of 28% to 35%; and (c) authorize Supervisor Arcularius to represent Inyo County at the hearing scheduled by the Commissioner on this matter in San Francisco on February 24, 2006.   Motion carried unanimously.

Water Dept./ Green Book

Mr. Tom Brooks, Water Director, provided a progress report on the preparation of revisions to the Long Term Water Agreement technical attachment titled “Green Book.”

Recess/ Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 9:55 a.m., to reconvene at 10:05 a.m., with all Board Members present.

Sheriff/Budget Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to A) amend the FY 2005-06 County Budget as follows: (i) decrease estimated revenue in Sheriff General Budget Unit 022700, State Other (Revenue Code #4499) by $3,448; and (ii) in the Jail, CADS, RMS Budget Unit 022950, increase estimated revenue in State Other (Revenue Code #4499) by $3,448; and increase appropriations in Other Professional Services (Object Code #5265) by $3,448; and B) approve the purchase of computer aided dispatch interface unit from Verizon in an amount not to exceed $3,448.   Motion carried unanimously.

Resol. #2006-13/ Laws Grant Support

Ms. Diane Doonan of the Laws Museum addressed the Board to support the grant.   On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Williams, Resolution No. 2006-13 was adopted supporting the grant application submitted to the California Cultural and Historical Endowment by the Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Society for the preservation of existing artifacts at the Laws Railroad Museum: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

CAO-Forest Serv./Title III Funding

The County Administrator reviewed the Staff Report regarding the County’s proposed use of the Title III funding.   The Board and Staff discussed the recommendations with Supervisors Arcularius and Bilyeu expressing a desire to notice the request for projects one more time, explaining that those interested in forming a fire district in Mustang Mesa and the Wilkerson Fire Council may be interested at this point in time.   Mr. Leroy Kritz, Lone Pine Fire Chief, provided additional information regarding the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department’s project, explaining that the project being proposed will be a teaching tool to be used countywide.   Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to  

A) recognize that a total of $72,042.58 was received from Forest Reserve Funds – Title III for FY 2005-06 and distribute as follows:

         (a) $24,014.20 for Fire Prevention and County Planning grants;

         (b) $12,007.09 for Search and Rescue; and

         (c) $36,021.29 for Inyo County Office of Education;

B) award $14,331 of $24,014.50 Fire Prevention and County Planning grant monies to the following grant applicants:

         (a)   $11,175 to Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department; and

         (b)   $   3,156 to the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce to subcontract for the
                 Whitney Portal Cabin Owners’ Association;

C) authorize the noticing of a 45-day Public Comment period for Requests for Projects for the balance of $9,683.20 remaining in the Fire Prevention and County Planning grant monies beginning February 21, 2006 and ending April 6, 2006; and

(D)   approve Contacts with the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department and the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce in the amounts specified; and authorize the County Administrator to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously.

CAO/Workshop Officials Salaries

The Chairperson recessed open session at 10:35 a.m., to convene in a workshop, with all Board Members present to conduct a workshop with the County Administrator regarding   several methods of providing a salary program for officials.   The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 12:00 p.m. to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present.  

Rd. Dept./Maint. Crew Supv. Position

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Williams to waive the hiring freeze and authorize the filling of a Road Maintenance Crew Supervisor position at Range 66 ($3,256 - $3,964) to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of the current Road Maintenance Crew Supervisor in District 5 of the Road Department.   Motion carried unanimously.

Rd. Dept./ Mechanic Shop Supv. Position

During the discussion regarding the Mechanic Shop Supervisor position in the Road Department, Supervisor Arcularius asked that the Board receive a report on the status of the new State regulations on diesel emission and its effect on the Road Department fleet.   Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to waive the hiring freeze and authorize the filling of a Mechanic Shop Supervisor position at Range 66 ($3,256 - $3,964), plus 2.5% tool allowance) to fill a vacant Mechanic Shop Supervisor position at the Bishop Road Shop.   Motion carried unanimously.

Rd. Dept./Acct. Tech. Position

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to waive the hiring freeze and authorize the filling of an Account Technician I position at Range 55 ($2,522 - $3,066) to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of a current Account Technician II in the Public Works Department, contingent upon the incumbent’s resignation becoming final.   Motion carried unanimously.

Probation/Juvenile Facility Fire Alarm Testing Contract

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to ratify the Contract between the County of Inyo and Siemens Fire Safety Division to provide quarterly inspections and testing of the fire alarm system for the Juvenile Center for the period of January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006 in an amount not to exceed $7,450, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Ord. 1109/Elected Officials Salary Amended

On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Williams Ordinance 1109 entitled “ An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors, County of Inyo, State of California, Amending Section 2.88.040 of the Inyo County Code to Increase the Salary for Certain Elected County Officials, Excluding the Members of the Board of Supervisors” was enacted: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Planning-Yucca Mtn./Project Analyst Position

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) create a new position titled Yucca Mountain Project Analyst, Range 70 ($3,586 - $4,359); B) amend the authorized strength by deleting one Planning Technician II position, Range 62 ($2,969 - $3,611) and adding one Yucca Mountain Project Analyst, Range 70 ($3,586 - $4,359); and C) waive the hiring freeze and authorize the filling of the Yucca Mountain Project Analyst position.   Motion carried unanimously.

CAO-Risk Mng./ Excess Ins. Auth. Alternate

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to designate Ron Juliff, County Administrator, as the alternate representative to the CSAC Excess Insurance Authority Board of Directors.   Motion carried unanimously.

CAO-Risk Mng./ Excess Ins. Auth. Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the amendment to the CSAC Excess Insurance Authority Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/ Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:20 p.m., and announced that the Board would convene as the Board of Equalization at 1:15 p.m. and upon conclusion of that meeting reconvene as the Board of Supervisors.  The Chairperson reconvened the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m., to immediately recess to closed session, with all Board Members present.   

Closed Session

The Board convened in closed session to discuss agenda Item No. 19.   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 (1), with County Counsel announcing that Agenda Item No. 20.   PERSONNEL (Pursuant to Government Code § 54957) – Public Employee Performance Evaluation - Title – Director of Water Department was being pulled.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 6:45 p.m., to reconvene in open session to receive a report on closed session.   County Counsel reported that 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 6:45 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., February 21, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center in Independence.