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, April 4 , 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 Bilyeu led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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.   Ms. Jan Larsen, Senior Planner, updated the Board on the activities of the Housing Task Force Action Committee.   The District Attorney, Mr. Art Maillet, presented Letters of Commendation to District Attorney Investigator Brian Dressler and Sheriff’s Deputy Kelvin Johnston, commending them for their roles in a significant methamphetamine drug bust in February.   Mr. Chuck Hamilton, Deputy County Administrator, announced that a Household Hazardous Waste Event was being held on Saturday, April 8, 2006, at the Bishop-Sunland Landfill from 9:00 a.m., to 12:00 p.m.   He went on to provide the Board with information from California Land Management (CLM) the concessionaire for the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground, regarding the upgrades completed in the past year, as well as identifying the yearly payment amount for 2005.   Supervisor Arcularius asked for a breakdown of the costs incurred for the upgrades.   Supervisor Cervantes expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of percentage for the yearly fee.   Supervisor Cash expressed her concern with CLM making $3,000 on the disposal of waste and the County only getting $30 of that along with being responsible for the actual disposal of the waste.   Mr. Hamilton reviewed the lease agreement explaining that there is potential for the County to receive in year three, $20,000 should the gross receipts reach $200,000.

Introduction

Ms. Jan Larsen, Senior Planner, introduced Mr. Matt Gaffney an Assistant Planner in the Planning Department to the Board.

Integ. Waste/ Waste Tire Amnesty

The Deputy County Administrator, Mr. Chuck Hamilton, confirmed that advertising of the waste tire event was being conducted.   Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) authorize Integrated Waste Management (IWM) to conduct a two-day Waste Tire Amnesty Even on Friday April 21, 2006 and Saturday April 22, 2006 and B) authorize IWM to waive all fees associated with the disposal/recycling waste automotive tires for the two-day event.   Motion carried unanimously.

Parks/Fish Planting P.O.

The Deputy County Administrator, Mr. Chuck Hamilton, confirmed that the fish being purchased would be planted in the County Campgrounds.   Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the purchase of trout for the 2005/06 fish planting season from Tim ALPERS Trout in an amount not to exceed $5,550.   Motion carried unanimously.

Resol. #2006-25/ Update of Endangered Species Act

The Board offered their thanks to Supervisor Arcularius for bringing the request to adopt a resolution supporting the updating of the Endangered Species Act to the Board for consideration.   The Board discussed the specifics identified in the resolution in detail and at length.   On a motion by Supervisor Bilyeu and a second by Supervisor Cervantes Resolution No. 2005-25 was adopted, supporting the updating of the Endangered Species Act: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Sheriff’s Dept./ Snow Cat P.O.

Sgt. Randy Nixon responded to questions regarding the purchase of a new snow cat, confirming that the warranty was for one year.   Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to A) amend the FY 2005-06 Sheriff General Budget Unit 022700 as follows:   increase estimated revenue in Federal Forest Reserve (Revenue Code #4521) by $23,744, and AB443 Sheriff (Revenue Code #4486) by $15,046 and increase appropriations in Heavy Equipment (Object Code #5668) by $38,790 ($23,744 + $15,046);   B) declare as surplus one 1970 Thiokol Snow Cat (ID524) and one Thiokol Trailer TR1400 (Inyo County Asset #7843); accept $8,000 as a fair market value for the equipment; and authorize the disposal of this equipment as a trade-in to Remote Access Service in the amount of $8,000, contingent upon County’s Counsel’s approve; and C) declare Remote Access Service of Elk Grove, California as a sole-source provider of snow cats and trailers and authorize the purchase of one LMC Snow Cat #L6U-049 and one LMC Tilt deck Snow Cat trailer #L43-300 from Remote Access Service in an amount not to exceed $38,790, contingent upon County Counsel’s approval.   Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/ Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 10:03 a.m., reconvening at 10:10 a.m., with all Board Members present.

HHS-Workshop/ Compensation for Nurses

The Chairperson recessed open session at 10:10 a.m., to convene in a workshop with  representatives of the Health and Human Services Department on Compensation for Nurses in the Health and Human Services Department’s Health Programs.   The chairperson recessed the workshop at 11:30 a.m., to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present.

BofS/Minute Approval

The Clerk noted two corrections on the minutes of the March 14, 2006 meeting, correcting the spelling of Johnston on page three and changing the person who noted the Medicare scam from Supervisor Cash to Health and Human Services Director, Ms. Jean Dickinson.   Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the minutes of the Board of Supervisors Meetings as follows: A) March 14, 2006 regular meeting as corrected; B) March 21, 2006 regular meeting and C) March 22, 2006 special meeting.   Motion carried unanimously.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including constituent meetings, a tour of the facility at the Dry Lake, the pump back station and the Durability Quarry, a land tenure meeting, with Supervisor Cash providing a detailed report on the CSAC Legislative Conference.   Supervisor Bilyeu requested that two additional discussions on TOT Ballot Measure be scheduled for Independence and Big Pine.   The Board reviewed their calendars and schedules the meetings as follows:   April 11, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., in the Board of Supervisors Room at the County Administrative Center, in Independence and April 26, 2006 at the Big Pine Town Hall, at 7:00 p.m.

Recess/ Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:05 p.m., reconvening in closed session at 1:10 p.m., with all Board Members present.

Closed Session

The Chairperson convened in closed session to discuss Agenda Items 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 §54956.9(a)]-  Inyo County Employees Association/AFSCME Local 315 vs. County of Inyo.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 1:50 p.m., to reconvene in open session to receive a report on closed session.   County Counsel reported that with regard to Agenda Item No. 11 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION [Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(a)]-  Inyo County Employees Association/AFSCME Local 315 vs. County of Inyo, which is a complaint to the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) by ICEA/AFSCME against the County of Inyo claiming a failure to comply with policy concerning the grievance process, the Board in a unanimous vote, with Supervisors Arcularius, Cash, Williams, Bilyeu and Cervantes voting yes, directed the Law Office of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rudd and Romo to represent the County in this matter.

Adjournment

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 1:51 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2006 in the Board of Supervisors Room at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.