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, March 28, 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 Bilyeu provided the Invocation, and Supervisor Arcularius led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period and there was no one wishing to address the Board.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.   Ms. Rennie Holland, Yucca Mountain Office, updated the Board on the application for the cooperative agreement with DOE for drilling in the southeastern portion of the County.   She explained that the agreement is still working through the DOE process and because it has not been completed by the DOE, the County has lost its opportunity for the springtime drilling schedule, which now means the project is delayed, which makes the upcoming Washington, D.C. trip that much more important.   The County Administrator reported on his recent trip to the southeast portion of the County.  

Org./Wild Iris/ Sexual Assault Month

Representatives of Wild Iris addressed the Board to read the proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month into the record.   They passed out support ribbons and buttons, and reviewed some of the activities, which will be conducted during the month of April.   Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to pro claim the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.   Motion carried unanimously.

Integ. Waste/ Support Letter for Recycling Legislation

The Deputy County Administrator presented the Board with an amended letter supporting amendments to AB 3056 for the Board’s consideration.   Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve a letter, as amended, supporting the efforts of the Regional Council of Rural Counties to put forth amendments to AB 3056 benefiting recycling efforts in Inyo County; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Auditor/Print to Mail Document System

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to declare Print to Mail Document Systems as a sole-source provider of Print to Mail pressure seal equipment and approve the purchase of one HP 453n Printer and Print to Mail Attachment in an amount not to exceed $6,949.37.   Motion carried unanimously.

P.W./Parcel Map 365 Approval

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve Parcel Map No. 365 and reject the Offer of Dedication for drainage purposes as reflected on the map.   Motion carried unanimously.

Resol. #2006-22/FTJ Retire-ment Choice

The County Administrator explained that FTJ Fund Choice would offer the employees another alternative in handling their retirement dollars.   He confirmed that there was no cost to the County associated with this item.   On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Cervantes, Resolution No. 2006-22 “Resolution of the Inyo County Board of Supervisors Authorizing Adoption of Retirement Plan with FTJ Fund Choice” was adopted: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed open session at 9:17 a.m., to convene in closed session, with all Board Members present to discuss Agenda Items No. 16.   CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION [Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(a)] - Sierra Club v. City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Inyo County Superior Court Case No. SICVCV01-29768 (1); No. 17. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION [Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(a)] – Robert and Gretchen Beach, John and Margaret Clark v. The Planning Department and The Environmental Health Services Department of the

County of Inyo, a political subdivision of the State of California, Inyo County Superior Court Case No. ICSICVUG 06-40785; and No. 18.    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.   The Chairperson recessed closed session at 10:05 a.m., to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present.

Integ. Waste/ Waiver of Fees

Mr. Chuck Hamilton reviewed the request by Mr. Jerry Proud to have the landfill waste disposal fees waived for the clean up of property Mr. Proud recently inherited in Olancha.   Mr. Hamilton provided a review of alternatives available to Mr. Proud, including chipping the wood debris which would then be accepted at the landfill free of charge, and recycling the metal debris.  Mr. Proud submitted a letter to the Board from Mr. Ken Toy, Battalion Chief for the Owens Valley Conservation Camp, wherein it was noted that there was a recent fire at Mr. Proud’s property in Olancha and that the accumulation of debris is a fire hazard.  Supervisor Cervantes informed Mr. Proud that the U.S. Forest Service has an industrial wood chipper, which they provide to communities free of charge and suggested that Mr. Proud get in contact with him to get the contact information on the chipper.   The Board requested that Mr. Proud work with Mr. Hamilton to identify alternatives that would help keep the costs of disposal down, while mitigating the debris.   In response to a question from Mr. Proud regarding his ability to return to make his request for waiver again should the alternatives not be sufficient, the Chairperson confirmed that Mr. Proud had the ability to return with his request.  

Transit Program/ FTA Grant App. Public Hearing

The Chairperson opened the public hearing at 10:15 a.m. on a Transit Program application for Federal Transportation Act (FTA) grant funds to purchase a replacement bus.   Ms. Jill Ellis, Transit Program reviewed the Staff Report and recommendations.   Supervisor Cervantes questioned the CREST route schedule, explaining that those from Lone Pine wishing to ride CREST to Reno have to spend the night in Bishop.   He asked that a workshop be conducted in order to explore alternatives to coordinating the route schedule so that the Lone Pine riders do not require overnight stays in Bishop.   The Chairperson called for any non-profit organizations that might be readily available to provide the transportation currently provided by the Inyo Mono Transit Program and there was no one coming forward to address the Board.   Ms. Ellis did confirm, in response to a question from Supervisor Arcularius that the Inyo Mono Area for the Handicapped was applying for the same pot of funds for the purchase of a bus to provide service to their clients.   The Chairperson closed the public hearing at 10:20 a.m.   Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to certify that there are no non-profit organizations readily available in Inyo County to provide transportation currently provided by Inyo Mono Transit.    Motion carried unanimously.

Resol. #2006-23/ FTA Grant App.

On a motion by Supervisor Bilyeu and a second by Supervisor Arcularius, Resolution No. 2006-23 was adopted authorizing the submission of the grant and authorizing Monicka Watterson, Inyo County Transit Program Director to sign: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

CAO-Personnel/ ICEA Job Descriptions

The County Administrator confirmed that the Board has been provided with a copy of a letter from the ICEA regarding the job descriptions.   Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve those job descriptions for classifications represented by ICEA as established by the Casey Study, in compliance with the ICEA MOU for inclusion in the Inyo County classification system.   Motion carried unanimously.

Planning/Latir Energy Consultants Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Williams to A) approve Amendment One to the Contract between the County of Inyo and Latir Energy Consultants to amend the Scope of Work by adding Task 4 – Administrative and Policy Support and increasing the monthly invoice amount beginning January 1, 2006 from $5,100 to $6,700, increasing the contract by $9,600 to an amount not to exceed $70,800; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and B) amend the FY 2005-06 Yucca Mountain Oversight Budget 620695 by increasing appropriations in Professional Services (Object Code #5265) by $9,300 and decreasing appropriations in Contingencies (Object Code #5901) by $9,300.   Motion carried unanimously.

Planning/Hydro- dynamics Group Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Williams to approve the Amendment to the Contract between the County of Inyo and the Hydrodynamics Group, L.L.C. to amend the scope of work add covering administrative assistance and eliminating work which will not be completed; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously.

Resol. #2006-24/ EPA Changes on Air Quality Standards

Mr. Ted Shady, Air Pollution Control Officer for the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, addressed the Board to provide additional information and further concerns with the proposed changes by EPA in the National Air Quality Standards that affect Owens Lake. Mr. Shady provided the Board with statistical data accumulated by the District reflecting the magnitude of the pollution created by the Owens Dry Lake.   Supervisor Bilyeu offered to take the resolution to Ridgecrest to garner their support. On a motion by Supervisor Bilyeu and a second by Supervisor Cervantes Resolution No. 2006-24 was adopted urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to not adopt proposed revisions to the National Air Quality Standards that affect Owens Lake: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

P.W./Indy Airport Ground Lease

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to ratify the Lease Agreement between the County of Inyo and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research for a ground lease at the Independence Airport in an amount not to exceed $140 per month for the period of February 10, 2006 through June 9, 2006; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously.

P.W./Salas O’Brien Contract

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the Contract between Salas O’Brien Engineers, Inc., for electrical design services to accommodate the Network Project, in an amount not to exceed $42,700, for the period of January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members briefly reported on their activities during the preceding week, including efforts to seek reimbursement for the State Mandated Special Election last year, an Eagle Scout ceremony, the Deep Springs College solar project dedication; the Playhouse 395 performance of the Sound of Music; and the Big Pine Library dedication.

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 11:00 a.m., to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 4, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.