County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, met in special session at the hour of 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 5 , 2006, in the City of Bishop Council Chambers, 377 West Line Street, Bishop, California, with the following Supervisors present:   Chairperson Susan Cash presiding, Linda Arcularius, Ted Williams, and Jim Bilyeu.   Supervisor Richard Cervantes was absent.   Supervisor Bilyeu provided the Invocation, and Supervisor Susan Cash 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.

TOT Ballot Measure

The Board Members offered their collective and individual remarks regarding the Ballot Measure and Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the County of Inyo, State of California Adding Section 3.202.200 to the Inyo County Code, to Impose an Additional Transient Occupancy Tax at the Rate of Three Percent (3%) for the Purpose of Funding Law Enforcement Services Provided by the County of Inyo.”   The Board Members commented on: (a) the increases in County costs for law enforcement operations over the past several years; (b) the importance of law enforcement to the constituents; (c) the forthrightness of the Board’s actions with regard to placing this Measure before the voters; (d) the recent crises at the Jail wherein the need to transport female detainees almost became a reality because of lack of jail staffing; (e) how the crises was averted by the Board increasing the wages for law enforcement in order to compete with other local agencies which were raiding County law enforcement staff by offering higher wages; (f) how the Coalition of Chambers was responsible for the initial proposal for a TOT increase, which included that the funds generated from the increase be dedicated to the Chambers; (g) the fact that the County has continued to fund the Chambers in spite of dwindling discretionary dollars; and h) that the Chambers need to step up to the plate and become a partner with the County by supporting this Measure.   Sheriff Dan Lucas, and Mr. Art Maillet, District Attorney, addressed the Board to support the Measure.   Ms. Lynn Cooper, Executive Director for the Inyo Council for the Arts, as a Grants-in-Support recipient, supported past allocations by the Board and expressed her confidence in the Board’s ability to make the right decisions.  

Adjournment

The Chairperson adjourned the special meeting at 7:30 p.m.