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, September 5 , 20066, 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 Cash led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period.   Ms. Arlene Grider representing an ad hoc committee formed to address land exchange issues, formally introduced the group as the Citizens Advocates for Land Exchange (CAL-X).   She presented the groups position statement, indicating that they would be requesting a workshop with the Board in the future to discuss land exchange issues.   Ms. Selma Calnan, Petition Chairman for the Seniors Petition to have the County retain the “lunch bunch” bus, thanked the Board and their Assistant Clerk for their quick response to this request. Mr. Chris Langley, Lone Pine Film Festival and Film Commission, presented the Board with passes to the Lone Pine Film Festival and briefly reviewed some of the activities planned for this year.   He also commented on the work of the Film Commission and why he had requested more funding this year.   Supervisor Richard Cervantes solicited donations for the Boy Scouts of America, reviewing some of the programs offered through scouting.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period.   Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services, informed the Board that the County had received an additional $100,000 in State Child Welfare funds which has some strings attached.   She explained that on-going vacancies and a hiring freeze may negatively impact how and if this funding is claimed.   Mr. Kevin Carunchio updated the Board on the Lincoln Land Use Institutes workshop.   Ms. Monicka Watterson, Transit Program Director, updated the Board on the Transit Program.   She explained that while some of the cuts approved by the Board had been implemented as a result of not having sufficient drivers, several of the proposed cuts had been averted.   She confirmed that the service affected had been special event buses and that the “lunch bunch” bus service has been continued as well as the Round Valley School service.   Lt. Bill Lutz invited the Board to attend a Unified Command Meeting scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m., this Thursday at the Posse Hut.

BofS/Lunch Bunch Bus Service

Ms. Dolores Garcia Wright addressed the Board to provide additional information regarding the petition asking that the “lunch bunch” bus service and other special event bus services for seniors not be eliminated.   Mr. Frank Williams of Independence addressed the Board to support the continuation of the Transit Services and expressed a desire to see another bus added to the Bishop to Lone Pine route.   The Chairperson noted an email received from Mr. Charles Broten, IMAAA Program Director, in which he concurs that the “lunch bunch” service may be the most efficient, safe and ethical way to provide this service.   The Board thanked the seniors who were in the audience as well as those who signed the petition for their concern.   They noted that their decision regarding the reductions in bus services were made as a result of not having enough drivers and not, as might have been suggested because the Board was afraid of the union.   The Board also indicated that they felt the reductions to the Program were temporary and would be reinstated as soon as possible.   They also discussed the possibility of the Joint Powers Authority to provide autonomy for this program in order to better facilitate services, which is currently being explored.   The Board acknowledged the previous remarks by the Transit Program Director in which Ms. Watterson reported that the “lunch bunch” bus service had not been suspended, and as a result took no action on the request to retain the current Bishop bus scheduled for the “lunch bunch” bus and for the occasional senior bus tours that includes seniors from all other communities.

CAO-Purchasing/ FY 2006-07 Printing Bid Award

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to award Bid No. 2006-01, Printing for FY 2006-07 to the Hannigan Company and authorize purchase orders to be approved for various County Departments from this bid.   Motion carried unanimously.

Integ. Waste/DWP Letter re Sierra Conservation Project

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Letter of Permission from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power allowing Sierra Conservation Project to set up the necessary infrastructure for a recycling material processing area at the Bishop-Sunland Landfill and authorize the Deputy County Administrator to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Parks/Rural Counties Environmental   Services JPA

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Agreement between the County of Inyo and the Rural Counties Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority to assist the County with grant preparation, receipt and distribution of grant funding received from the State Department of Conservation in the amount of $10,000 for the period of July 1, 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.

CAO-Personnel/ Employee MOU Amendment #1

Supervisor Williams acknowledge and thanked the members of ICEA for their actions with regard to the Amendment to the current MOU.   Supervisor Cash echoed his sentiments.   Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve Amendment #1 to the Comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding between the County of Inyo and the Inyo County Employee’s Association (ICEA) and authorize the County Administrator to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Health Services/ Immunization Outreach Contract

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and the California Department of Health Services for the provision of Immunization Outreach in the amount of $23,268 for the period of July 1, 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.

HHS-Behavioral Hlth. Serv./NNA Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the FY 2005-06 Final Amendment to the Standard Negotiated Net Amount (NNA) Contract between the County of Inyo and the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs in the amount of $488,197; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Inyo First Five/Appointments

The Board took action on the following as part of the Consent Agenda: Request Board make appointments to the Commission as follows:   (a) one member to complete an unexpired term ending February 1, 2009, representing the recipient of services category and (b) one member to complete a three-year term ending October 1, 2009 representing the local medical, pediatric or obstetric associations or societies. (Notice of vacancy resulted in requests for appointment being received from Dr. Charlotte Helvie, Ms. Andrea Tordoff and Ms. Doris Santiago, LMFT.)   However, since the item did not take action to make the specific appointments this item is being Agendized on September 11, 2006 for the Board to make the actual appointments.

HHS-Soc. Serv./ Dr. Fox Contract

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Dr. Lorraine Fox for the provision of training services targeting foster parents, relatives and other children’s caregivers, child welfare juvenile probation staff and department employees for the period of September 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, in an amount not to exceed $6,000, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Hlth Serv./ MCH Funding

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Maternal Child Health (MCH) allocation funding between the County of Inyo and the California Department of Health Services for FY 2006-07 in the amount of $56,684, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of a FY 2006-07 Budget; and authorize the Chairperson to sign the Policy Compliance and Certification.   Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Mental Hlth. Serv./Ernst Consulting Contract

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Gary Ernst for fiscal consulting services in an amount not to exceed $20,000, for the period of July 1, 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.

Planning-Yucca Mt./Plans & Specs D.V. Aquifer Monitoring

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Plans and Specifications for the drilling of deep wells for the Death Valley Lower Carbonate Aquifer Monitoring Program and authorize the Project Analyst to advertise for bids for the project.   Motion carried unanimously.

P.W./Plans & Specs Dehy Park Improvement

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the Plans and Specifications for Phase I of the Dehy Park Improvement Project and authorize the Public Works Director to advertise for bids for the project.    Motion carried unanimously.

Rd. Dept./Round Up P.O.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve the purchase of 75 gals of Round Up Pro for weed control on County roads and along road shoulders from Target Specialty Products in an amount not to exceed $3,006.23, including sales tax.   Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Hlth Serv./ Mask P.O.

Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services and Ms. Tamara Cohn, Director of Clinical Services, added their thanks to the union and other Staff for their help in addressing the nursing staffing issues which had resulted in the Amendment to the current MOU addressed previously.   Ms. Cohn informed the Board of a health emergency concerning a very virulent form of food poisoning, which had resulted in the evacuation of a newborn infant, as well as identifying other potential victims.   She went on to update the Board on flu epidemic and pandemic preparedness efforts.   She discussed the emergency services survey, which is being coordinated throughout the County to identify and map locations of those people who may need special assistance in the event of an emergency.   Dr. Johnson, Interim Health Officer, addressed the Board to provide additional information and an update on “avian flu.”   Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to declare 3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety as a sole-source provider of N95 model #9210 masks and approve the purchase of 10,080 model #9210 masks from 3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety in an amount not to exceed $6,471.36 plus tax and shipping.   Motion carried unanimously.

Ord. #1120 Gen. Relief Standards

Supervisor Cervantes briefly left the meeting.   On a motion by Supervisor Bilyeu and a second by Supervisor Williams, Ordinance 1120, repealing Ordinance 967 setting the standards and regulations for General Assistance and creating and defining new standards and regulations that implement additions and changes to the standards and regulations for General Assistance, was enacted:   m otion unanimously passed and adopted, with Supervisor Cervantes absent .

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 10:11 a.m., to reconvene at 10:20 a.m., with all Board Members present.

Transit/Out of State Travel

Ms. Monicka Watterson, Transit Program Director, explained that the conference she is wishing to travel to is an annual conference, which is only held in the west every six years.   She informed the Board that the CREST Route is the subject of a presentation at this conference, which is being conducted by one of the Consultants who helped develop the concept of the CREST Route when Greyhound stopped providing service to the area. She explained that she had provided the Consultant with the information to prepare the presentation and she felt it was important that the County be represented to ensure that the presentation is accurate and to respond to questions.   Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to authorize out-of-state travel for the Transit Program Director to attend the 17 th Annual Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation Conference to be held October 22-25 in Stevenson, Washington.   Motion carried unanimously.

Planning/Clark, Beach, Brown, Klingler and Dosch Contracts

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to ratify and approve the Contracts between County of Inyo and John and Margaret Clark, Robert and Gretchen Beach, Stacey Brown and Ceale Klingler, and Howard and Linda Dosch for the provision of hydrologic and hydro-geologic services, in amounts not to exceed proportionate amounts of $21,390 based on the number of new lots proposed, for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, and authorize the Chairperson to sign.   Motion carried unanimously.

Planning/Applied Remedial Technologies Contract

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Williams to ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Applied Remedial Technologies for the provision of hydrologic/hydro-geologic services and other tasks relative to the groundwater pump tests for two Starlite-area development projects in an amount not to exceed $17,825, for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, 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.

Sheriff/DGS Contract Amendment

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve Amendment #1 to the Contract between the California Department of General Services (DGS) for increasing the amount of the Contract from $7,500 to an amount not to exceed $15,000 for the period of July 1, 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.

Sheriff’s/DGS 2005 Payment

Lt. Bill Lutz explained that because of weather conditions last year the communication antennae located throughout the County had sustained greater damage than expected.   Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to authorize the payment from FY 2006-07 funds of $4,839 to the California Department of General Services for radio maintenance services provided in FY 2005-06.   Motion carried unanimously.

P.W./Tecopa Hot Springs Sewage Pond Relocation Contract

The Public Works Director, Mr. Ron Chegwidden, provided additional information and responded to questions from the Board regarding the recommendation to relocate the Tecopa Hot Springs and Campground sewage lagoon to an adjacent sewage lagoon on property owned by Ms. Amy Noel.   He explained that the installation of a sewage lift station, pressure main and the appropriate appurtenances will provide for the County’s operations and maintenance of the relocated sewage pond.   He went on to explain that the request to hire a consultant to prepare the plans and specifications for a development plan for the sewage lagoon was needed because of his Department’s current staffing shortage.  

Mr. Chegwidden explained that the current recommendation was before the Board for consideration because Staff felt it was the most cost effective and most timely method to address the on-going sewage lagoon issues at the Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground.   Mr. Chegwidden indicated that the total project to reclaim the current lagoon and relocate the sewage to an adjacent property would cost approximately $800,000.   The Board expressed concern with the fact that the County is going to pay to use an adjacent private sewage pond as well as pay for its operations and maintenance.   The Board also discussed the Concessionaire’s policy of charging $5.00 per dump for outside sewage, expressing a concern that (a) this may be expediting the failure of the sewage lagoon and (b) the County is incurring the costs of mitigating for the sewage and not receiving any of the revenue.     They discussed the viability of raising the sewage dump fees and asked that a discussion of these fees be agendized in the near future.  

Ms. Amy Noel of the Tecopa Hot Springs Resort addressed the Board to support the recommendation to relocate the sewage lagoon to her property and to support increasing the sewage dump fees.    Ms. Noel submitted into the record an email from Ms. Jennifer Viereck, an area resident, also supporting the recommendation to relocate the sewage lagoon operations.  

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Williams to A) approve of the installation of a sewage lift station, pressure main and the appropriate appurtenances at the Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground; B) authorize the preparation and advertisement of a Request for Proposals for engineering services to prepare the plans and specifications to accomplish the work and prepare a plan of development regarding the Tecopa Parks and Campground sewage lagoon; C) authorize a long-term lease agreement between the County of Inyo and the owner of the Tecopa Hot Springs Resort, Ms. Amy Noel, for use of the adjacent sewage lagoon and easement across private property in the amount of $12,000 annually; and authorize the Deputy County Administrator to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and further direct Staff to schedule a workshop in the near future to discuss the fees for dumping sewage in the County’s sewage lagoon and to continue to identify alternative funding to pay for this project to free up the County’s Prop 40 funding.   Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the minutes of the Board of Supervisors Meetings as follows: A) Special Meetings of August, 2, 2006, corrected to reflect a starting time of 9:00 a.m., instead of 8:00 a.m.; August 9, 2006 and August 14, 2006; B) the Regular Meeting of August 8, 2006; and C) the Regular Meeting of August 15, 2006.   Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Gov Joint Land Use Advisory Committee

The Board discussed the request from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research for the Board to appoint a representative to the R-2508 Joint Land Use Study Advisory Committee.   Supervisor Bilyeu offered to serve.   The Board discussed the budget to cover the cost to travel to the Advisory Committee meetings, with the Board directing that this item be discussed during upcoming Budget Hearings.  

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including notification of the upcoming Millpond Music Festival, a Sierra Nevada Conservancy Meeting being held in Inyo County in October, a LAFCO Meeting, a Yucca Mountain Community Outreach Meeting, the Technical Group Meeting, an update on CSAC’s position on upcoming legislation, a request to have a letter sent to Senator Ashburn, thanking him for his efforts to get SB1634, for reimbursement of Special Election Costs, through the Senate and a Land Tenure Meeting.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed open session at 11:25 a.m., to convene in closed session, with all Board Members present, to discuss Agenda Item No. 27.   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 12:00 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 12:00 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 12, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.