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 11, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, County Administrative Center, Independence, with the following Supervisors present:   Chairperson Susan Cash presiding, Linda Arcularius, Ted Williams, and Jim Bilyeu.   Supervisor Cervantes was absent.   Supervisor Bilyeu provided the Invocation, and Supervisor Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period and noted that today’s meeting would be adjourned in memory of Mono County Supervisor John Cecil, who passed away yesterday.   There was no one from the public wishing to address the Board.    

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.   Supervisor Arcularius provided the Board with information concerning ongoing efforts to address the proposed insurance rule change, which would negatively impact the auto rates in Inyo County.   She requested that an item be agendized for next week, so the Board could take a position on AB 2840 which is bipartisan legislation to require a study be performed before changes to auto rating factors can go into effect.  

Ms. Jean Dickinson, Health and Human Services Director, updated the Board on a number of pieces legislation, which could impact the Department’s programs and delivery of services.   With regard to SB 1811 concerning EMT certification, she noted that because EMTs in small rural areas are usually comprised of volunteers, adding excessive certification requirements could seriously impact delivery of service.   She informed the Board that AB 2469 has been introduced to increase in-home support services wages and the State proposes to tamper with discretionary local realignment dollars to achieve this.   Ms. Dickinson explained that the concern is having local discretionary realignment dollars subject to a State mandate for a very small program.   She asked the Board to watch AB 3803, because it is legislation regarding Prop 36 that allows for the funding to sunset but requires the services remain on-going.   Ms. Dickinson also informed the Board that Dr. Richard Johnson of Mono County has agreed to take on the duties as the acting County Health Officer in the interim to fill the gap in service while the County recruits for a new Health Officer.   She also informed the Board that she has had several local doctors interested in a contract to provide this service.   Ms. Dickinson went on to announce that the Department would be conducting a workshop at 10:00 a.m. on May 16, 2006 to update the Board on an “avian flu” preparedness plan.  

The County Administrator updated the Board on the agenda for the upcoming Special Joint Meeting with the Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners.    Mr. Tom Brooks, Water Director, informed the Board that the DWP had delivered the 2006-2007 Pumping Plan to the Water Department yesterday at about 4:30 p.m.   He said he would provide copies to the Board and agendize a discussion for next week’s meeting because the County’s response would have to be back to DWP by next Thursday.

Transit Program Crest Rte. Workshop

The County Administrator reminded the Board that the request for a workshop with the Transit Program on the Crest Route was placed on the Agenda at the request of Supervisor Cervantes, and suggested that the Board postpone the workshop until Supervisor Cervantes was able to participate.   The Board agreed and directed that this workshop be rescheduled.  

CAO-Admin. Serv./Maudsley Ent. Cottonwood Plaza Lease

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the second amendment to the Lease Agreement between Maudsley Enterprises, Inc., and the County of Inyo for office space in Cottonwood Plaza for the office of Integrated Waste Management, Parks and Recreation, Risk Management, Personnel and Board/CAO for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 at an increase of $82 per month in an amount not to exceed $1,720 per month, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.    Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Ag. Comm./Wt. Truck for Mule Days

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the use of the weight truck for the Mule Pulling Contest, Sunday, May 28, 2006, during the Mule Days events at the Tri-County Fairgrounds.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Ag. Comm./
Dis- posal of Mosq. Abatement Equipment

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to A) waive the County of Inyo’s fixed asset policy; B) declare Owens Valley Mosquito Abatement Program equipment and/or part as recommended by Staff as surplus; and C) authorize Motor Pool to move the listed items to the Inyo County Solid Waste Site and to sell them as a single unit by the usual sealed bid process to the highest bidder.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Resol. #2006-26/ JABG Application

On a motion by Supervisor Bilyeu and a second by Supervisor Arcularius, Resolution No. 2006-26 was adopted, authorizing the Chief Probation Officer to submit the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) application and sign the grant agreement between the County of Inyo and the Corrections Standards Authority: motion unanimously passed and adopted with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Ag. Comm./ Support for
AB 2479

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the letter to Assemblymember Fran Pavley, Chairperson, Budget Subcommittee #3, supporting AB 2479 for funds to be designated for the State’s existing network of Weed Management Areas; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

HHS-EMS/ Emergency Ambulance Service RFP

Ms. Jean Dickinson, Health and Human Services Director, introduced the item regarding Emergency Ambulance Service Requests for Proposal.   She explained that a notification glitch in her office had resulted in one of the applicants not learning of this item until yesterday and in order to provide all applicants the ability to address the Board if they wanted, she was suggesting that the Board take comment from those in the audience wishing to address this issue today and then continue this item to next week.   She introduced a representative of the Regional EMS office, as well as Lone Pine Fire Chief LeRoy Kritz, Olancha Fire Chief Steve Davies, and Judd Symons of Symons Ambulance Service.   The Board thanked those in attendance and requested that the request from Health and Human Services for the Board to A) accept recommendations from the Emergency Ambulance Service (EMS) Request for Proposals (RFP) review panel; B) direct Health and Human Services to move forward with contract negotiations as follows:   Operating Area 1 (Bishop) to Symons Emergency Specialties, Inc., Operating Area 4 (Lone Pine) to Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department; and Operating Area 5 (Olancha) to Olancha Cartago Fire Department; C) find that the proposals for Operating Area 6 (Little Lake) were nonresponsive; and D) authorize the Director of Health and Human Services to negotiate with Progressive Ambulance, Inc., dba Liberty Ambulance, as a sole-source provider for ambulance service for Operating Area 6 (Little Lake), be continued to next week.

P.W./Tri-State Surveying Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) approve Amendment No. 2 to the Contract between the County of Inyo and Tri-State Surveying, Ltd., for the provision of County Surveyor services, increasing the amount of the Contract from $10,000 to $20,000; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and B) amend the FY 2005-06 Public Works Budget Unit 011500 by decreasing appropriations in Sick Leave Buyback (Object Code #5042) by $5,900 and increasing appropriations in Professional and Special Services (Object Code #5265) by $5,900.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Rd. Dept./Tree Removal Policy

The Public Works Director, Mr. Ron Chegwidden, informed the Board of several trees which had been removed in the County’s right of way in Big Pine and Independence per the County Tree Removal Policy.   He also informed the Board that a request had been made by a property owner for the removal of a healthy tree.   He explained that since it was not the policy of the County to remove healthy trees that the property owner would have to remove the tree himself.   The Board and Staff continued to discuss the Tree Removal Policy.   Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) authorize the Road Department to remove trees in the towns of Big Pine, Lone Pine and Olancha; B) authorize the Public Works Director to implement the Tree Removal Policy as written without bringing back specific tree removals for the Boards authorization and C) further direct that the District Supervisor be notified of potential tree removals prior to them being removed.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

BofS/Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the minutes of the March 28, 2006, Board of Supervisors Meeting.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

District-Indy Cemetery/White Appointment

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to appoint Mr. Perry White to the Independence Cemetery District to complete an unexpired four-year term ending January 31, 2010.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Fish and Game/ Wildlife Care Expenditure

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to authorize a $1,500 expenditure from the Inyo Fine Fund to the Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care for the temporary emergency treatment and care of injured or orphaned wildlife for FY2006-07.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Fish and Game/ Special Reg. Printing Expenditure

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to authorize a $3,075 expenditure from the Inyo Fine Fund to the Department of Fish and Game for the printing of Special Regulations Booklet for fishing in the Eastern Sierra.    Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Recess/ Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 9:40 a.m., to reconvene at 10:35 a.m., with all Board Members present except Supervisor Cervantes.

Planning/Bishop Fire Dept. Training Facility Zone Change

The Chairperson opened the public hearing at 10:35 a.m., on the following for a 2.6-acre site located immediately north of the Bishop Sewage Treatment Plant and south of Poleta Road (East Line Street) between Johnson Avenue and Airport Road, East Bishop (within APN 08-010-14):   (1) a General Plan Amendment to Change the General Plan designation from “Agriculture (A)” to “Public Service Facility (PF)”; and (2) a proposed Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, Approving Zone Reclassification No. 2004-05/bishop Fire District and Amending the Zoning Map of the County of Inyo by Reclassifying a 2.6-acre Site Located Immediately North of the Bishop Sewage Treatment Plant from Open Space, 40-acre minimum (OS-40) to Public (P).   Ms. Tanda Gretz, Associate Planner, reviewed the Staff Report and recommendations.   At the conclusion of her remarks, Ms. Gretz requested that the Staff Report and all attachments be entered into the record and it was marked Exhibit A.   Chief Ray Seguine, Bishop Fire Chief, made a presentation on the proposed Training Facility, which will be located on the property being rezoned.   At the conclusion of the presentation the Chief requested that a paper copy of his presentation be entered into the record and it was marked Exhibit B.   The Board thanked the volunteers of the Bishop Volunteer Fire Department for all of their efforts and commitment to the district.   There being no one further wishing to address this item, the Chairperson closed the public hearing at 11:00 a.m.

Resol. #2006-27/ GPA 2004-05/ Bishop Fire Dist.

On a motion by Supervisor Arcularius and a second by Supervisor Williams, Resolution No. 2006-27 was adopted, approving General Plan Amendment #2004-05/Bishop Fire District and certifying that the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) have been met: motion unanimously passed and adopted, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Planning/Bishop Fire District Zone Change

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to waive the first reading of the ordinance approving Zone Reclassification #2004-05/Bishop Fire District and schedule the enactment for 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 18, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cervantes absent.

Water Dept./ LORP

Mr. Tom Brooks, Water Director, presented a progress report on the Lower Owens River Project (LORP).

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including receiving the schedule of Sierra Nevada Conservancy Strategic Workshops, information concerning the PILT Fly-in, a request to have letters of congratulations sent from the Board to past Inyo County Administrator Brent Wallace on his appointment as the Executive Director to the CAOAC and the new Chief Deputy of Fish and Game John McCann, an Economic Development meeting, a Big Pine Civic Club meeting, a Friends of the Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery meeting, the fly-in of the T-Rex jet to the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop and information regarding a potential traffic flow problem on Mummy Lane and Riata Road.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed open session at 11:30 a.m., to convene in closed session, with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Cervantes, to discuss Agenda Item No. 18.   CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (c) – Decision Whether to Initiate Litigation (one case).   The Chairperson recessed closed session at 1:20 p.m., to reconvene at 2:00 p.m., with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Cervantes to continue closed session discussions.   The Chairperson recessed closed session at 2:35 p.m., to reconvene in open session.

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 2:35 p.m., in memory of Mono County Supervisor Mr. John Cecil, to 9:00 a.m., April 18, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.