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, August 8 , 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 Cash led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Post Agenda/ Resource Conservation District   Consolidated Election

The County Administrator requested the Board consider a Post Agenda item, to call for the Inyo-Mono Resource Conservation District to consolidate their election with the Statewide General Election to be held November 7, 2006.   He explained that the District was just made aware that they needed to request the consolidation of their election and the deadline for requesting this action is prior to the Board’s next meeting.   Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Williams to find that the request to consolidate the Inyo-Mono Resource Conservation District election with the statewide General Election to be held on November 7, 2006, arose after the Agenda for the August 8, 2006 Board of Supervisors Meeting was posted and there is a need for the Board to take action on this item prior to the next regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors Meeting, therefore, this item is added as Agenda Item No. 17A.   Motion carried unanimously.

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period and Supervisor Jim Bilyeu announced that the County has received word via Assemblyman Bill Maze that the Department of Fish and Game has funded the Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery.   Mr. Bilyeu took the opportunity to thank all of those who helped in this effort.   Supervisor Richard Cervantes took the opportunity to read into the record a letter from Mr. Jim Walters, of the Whitney Portal Development, clarifying the misrepresentations he felt were being made by the Save Round Valley Alliance in their efforts to raise funds to appeal the recent decision in the Save Round Valley Alliance vs. County of Inyo, Inyo County Board of Supervisors matter.   

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.   Ms. Monika Watterson, Inyo-Mono Transit Program Director, informed the Board that the applications for the Crest Route grant funds had been approved.   She explained that this would provide another year of operating funds and additional funds to purchase another bus.   Mr. Kevin Carunchio, Acting Library/Museum Director, informed the Board that there was a change in the dates for the Gulag Exhibit to facilitate the relocation of the Exhibit.   He explained that the exhibit would now run through October 21, 2007 instead of through the end of November 2007.

Recess/ Reconvene

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

Org./Coalition of Chambers Website

Mr. David Blacker of the Death Valley Chamber of Commerce and Chairperson of the Coalition of Chambers of Commerce talked about the countywide tourism website and the countywide branding projects.   He presented the “brand” which had been accepted by the group.   The Board thanked the Coalition for their commitment to the branding project, acknowledging that the concept had been in the development stages for many years, with the full support of the Board of Supervisors.   There was a presentation and a demonstration of the new tourism webpage.   Several Board Members noted possible areas in the webpage that might be expanded and/or changed, with Supervisor Arcularius requesting that the Coalition of Chambers report to Mr. Carunchio regarding the exact launch date.

Transit/Gen. Serv. Invoice for Procurement Fee

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to authorize the payment of an invoice from the State of California Department of General Services in the amount of $2,955.46, representing the procurement fee for the purchase of two public transit buses.   Motion carried unanimously.  

Parks/DWP Lease Mendenhall Park

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Lease between the County of Inyo and the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for property utilized as Mendenhall Park for the period of October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2010 at the annual rate of $500, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 and future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.    Motion carried unanimously.

Parks/DWP Lease Portagee Joe Campground

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Lease between the County of Inyo and the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for property utilized as Portagee Joe Campground for the period of December 1, 2005 through November 30, 2010 at the annual rate of $500, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 and future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Parks/DWP Lease Laws Railroad Museum

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Lease between the County of Inyo and the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for property utilized as Laws Railroad Museum for the period of January 31, 2006 through December 31, 2010 at the annual rate of $500, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 and future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Planning/Plans & Specs for D.V. Drilling

The request by the Planning Department for approval of the plans and specifications for the drilling of deep wells for the Death Valley Lower Carbonate Aquifer Monitoring Program was pulled from consideration at the request of the Department.

HHS-Hlth. Serv./ Dr. Johnson Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Contract between the County of Inyo and Richard Johnson, M.D., MPH, for Interim Health Officer services, increasing the Contact amount by $66,856 to an amount not to exceed $97,585 for the period of April 7, 2006 through June 30, 2007, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Emergency Serv./ Emergency Medical Trust Fund Allocations

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the contracts between the County of Inyo and the following, for Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund projects, in the amounts specified, for the period of June 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006, for a total combined amount not to exceed $39,880, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign:

Motion carried unanimously.

E. Health/IDEXX Labs P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to declare IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., as a sole-source provider of certain water testing laboratory supplies for FY 2006-07 and approve the purchase of water testing supplies as recommended by Staff from IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., through a blanket purchase order in an amount not to exceed $17,346.49 for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.   Motion carried unanimously.

Rd. Dept./Vehicle Repair and Parts Blanket P. O.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve a blanket purchase orders to vendors and in amounts as recommended by Staff for vehicle and equipment repair parts and tires, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 Budget.   Motion carried unanimously.

Rd. Dept./Annual Road Audit Contract

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and the Controller of the State of California for the preparation of the annual Road Report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2006, in an amount not to exceed $4,000, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 10:20 a.m., to reconvene at 10:30 a.m., with all Board Members present.

Water Dept./ Green Book Revisions

The Water Director, Mr. Tom Brooks, reviewed Staff’s recommendations regarding the County’s position on the Green Book revisions. The discussions included (a) the concept of a Draft Pumping Management Protocol to meet the overall goals of the Long Term Water Agreement, (b) avoiding impacts to the environment by maintain baseline conditions, (c)   providing a reliable water supply based on predictable long-term viability while providing flexibility, and (d) attempting to define the meaning of co-managing the water resource.   The discussion also included implementation principles and management requirements.   The Board agreed with Staff’s recommendations on proceeding with the amendment to the Green Book, with Supervisor Cash asking Staff to include recovery from natural stresses as part of the goals, i.e., you can’t say the drought is causing the problem, you have to identify the drought as a stress factor and mitigate for it.   The Board requested that they be kept informed as the process proceeds.

Water/LORP Workshop

The Chairperson recessed open session to convene in a workshop, with all Board Members present.   The Board conducted a workshop with Water Department Staff to review the Post-Implementation Costs of the Lower Owens River Project (LORP).   The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:05 p.m. to reconvene in open session at 1:00 p.m., with all Board Members present.

BofS/Stop signals in Big Pine and Independence

Supervisor Bilyeu briefly explained the situation, which led up to him requesting the Board send a letter to Assemblyman Bill Maze seeking his assistance to have traffic signals installed on U.S. Highway 395 in the communities of Big Pine and Independence.   He explained that Caltrans does not support the placement of these lights and he feels that public safety is at issue and he is willing to ask the Assemblyman to pursue carrying legislation if necessary.   Supervisor Arcularius thanked Supervisor Bilyeu for brining this item forward, explaining that she has been dealing with the same issue in her District at the entrance of Highlands Mobilehome Park.   She said that she would include a letter to Assemblyman Maze with the Board’s letter including the need for the signal at the entrance of Highlands.   Supervisor Arcularius also said that she would bring RCRC up to date on this issue.   Supervisor Cash indicated that she would also make CSAC aware of this concern and asked to have the word “routinely” inserted before the words “ignore the posted speed limit.”   She said that would explain that this is an on-going problem.   Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the letter to Assemblyman Bill Maze requesting his help in getting traffic signals installed on U.S. Highway 395 in the communities of Big Pine and Independence, with the addition of the word “routinely” as noted and the inclusion of a letter from Supervisor Arcularius regarding the need for a signal at the Highlands Mobilehome Park entrance, and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Minute Order

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve the minutes of the July 25, 2006 Board of Supervisors Meeting.   Motion carried unanimously.

Dist./Res. Conserv. District Consolidate Election

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Williams to consolidate the Inyo-Mono Resource Conservation District election with the Statewide General Election to be held November 7, 2006.   Motion carried unanimously.

Fish & Game/ATV P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve a $5,262.86 expenditure from the Inyo County Fine Fund to cover one-half of the cost to purchase an All Terrain Vehicle for the Department of Fish and Game Central Enforcement Program and authorize payment via a warrant upon certification by Lt. Marty Markham of the purchase and delivery of the vehicle.   Motion carried unanimously.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week including a tour of the LORP, various constituent meetings, and an Eastern Sierra Council of Governments meeting.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed open session at 1:35 p.m., to convene in closed session, with all Board Members present, to discuss Agenda Items 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. SICVPT04-37217 (Writ of Mandate); and No. 20. 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 Personnel Analyst Sue Dishion .

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 3:10 p.m. to reconvene in open session to receive a 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 3:10 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., August 15, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.