County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period. Mr. James Wilson of Wilson’s Eastside Sports, invited the Board to attend the Banff Film Festival, which will be held on March 30 and 31, 2007 at the Tri County Fairgrounds, and is a fundraiser for the Inyo Council for the Arts. Mr. Frank Stewart representing the Friends of the Inyo and Mr. Paul McFarland, Executive Director of the Friends of the Inyo, updated the Board on the organization’s activities and to provide a copy of their newsletter.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period. Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services, updated the Board on the Governor’s Health Care proposal. Mr. Kevin Carunchio, Deputy County Administrator, reported on the opening of the Gulag Exhibit at the Eastern California Museum and to inform the Board that a Museum Administrator had been hired. Mr. Ron Chegwidden, Public Works Director, informed the Board that he had written letters to our legislators supporting the reauthorization of the Secured Rural Schools Act and that he had learned that Senator Boxer has sponsored legislation for reauthorization in 2008 and for 6 to 7 years into the future.

Introduction

Ms. Mary Roper, Clerk/Recorder, introduced Ms. Teresa Elliott, a Recorder/Elections Clerk in her office, to the Board.

CAO/Budget

The County Administrator, Mr. Ron Juliff, provided introductory remarks regarding the mid-year budget review presentation. Mr. Kevin Carunchio, Deputy County Administrator, submitted an addendum to the mid-year budget review and action request. He went on to make a detailed power point presentation regarding the mid-year budget. The Board and Staff went on to discuss those items contained in the mid-year budget document, with Staff responding to questions from the Board regarding the status of interest earned on the Economic Stabilization and General Reserves funds, as well as requesting if possible an early estimate on year-end fund balance. Ms. Leslie Chapman, Auditor-Controller, explained that early predictions are not an indicator of the actual fund balance because of the unpredictability of revenues and expenditures this early in the process. The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 9:55 a.m., to reconvene at 10:05 a.m., with all Board Members present to continue their consideration of the mid-year budget review action requests. Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to A) accept the FY 2006-07 County Mid-Year Financial Report as presented; B) approve the specific budget action items and recommendations contained in the report, including those items contained in the Addendum presented at the beginning of the discussion; C) stress savings in order to maximize year-end Fund Balance by continuing to take a critical and careful look before filling position vacancies and approving use of contingency funds; and D) direct a detailed report and corrective action plan be provided by the IMAAA and the District Attorney, Victim Witness Programs. Motion carried unanimously.

CAO/Advertising County Resources Special Projects Funding

The Board considered and discussed the requests by the Independence Chamber of Commerce for Cal Expo Funding, the Bishop Chamber of Commerce for funding to assist with the upcoming Outdoor Writers Association Conference and the Eastern Sierra Cultural Heritage Alliance (ESCHA) for the development of a map and description of museums and interpretive centers in the Eastern Sierra. Mr. Kevin Carunchio, Deputy County Administrator, provided a review of the Contingencies fund balance and discussed the potential utilization of unbudgeted Geothermal Royalty revenues to fund the special projects requests.

Ms. Mary Canada, Eastern Sierra Field Representative for the Sierra Business Council and the Eastern Sierra Cultural and Heritage Alliance (ESCHA), Ms. Tawni Thompson, Executive Director of the Bishop Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Rich White representing the Independence Chamber of Commerce, addressed the Board to support funding of their special projects and to respond to questions from the Board regarding those projects. The Board Members expressed their support of one-time funding for these projects, explaining that future funding for promotion of the County will be via a grant program and an RFP process. The Board and Staff discussed identifying funding sources for these projects, with the County Administrator, County Counsel and the Deputy County Administrator providing details on the actions, which would be required to utilize Geothermal Royalties and/or General Fund Contingencies. Supervisor Arcularius indicated her desire to utilize unanticipated revenue in Geothermal Royalties to provide one time funding for these special projects, leaving General Fund Contingencies at the current amount. The Board went on to discuss the importance of the special projects in promoting the County.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cash to A) amend the 2006-07 County Budget by (a) increasing revenues in Geothermal Budget Unit 010406, Royalties (Revenue Code #4381)by $35,000 and increasing appropriations in Operating Transfers Out (Object Code #5801)by $35,000; and (b) increasing revenues in Advertising County Resources Budget 011400, Operating Transfer In (Revenue Code #4998)by $35,000 and increasing appropriations in, Cal Expo Exhibit (Object Code #5527) by $10,000; Outdoor Writers Association Conference (New Object Code #5536) by $20,000; and Professional and Other Services (Object Code #5265) by $5,000;

B) provide one-time Special Projects Funding as follows: (a) up to $5,000 for the Eastern Sierra Cultural and Heritage Alliance (ESCHA) cultural and heritage sites map and brochure project; (b) $20,000 to the Bishop Chamber of Commerce for the Outdoor Writers Association Conference; and (c) $10,000 to the Independence Chamber of Commerce for the 2007 Cal Expo Exhibit; and

C) approve and authorize the County Administrator to sign contracts and/or contract amendments with those organizations to facilitate the special projects funding in the amounts specified, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained. Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 11:05 a.m., to reconvene at 11:15 a.m., with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Brown, who rejoined the Meeting shortly after the following presentation began.

Forest Service Update

Mr. Gary Oye, U.S. Forest Service, updated the Board on several Forest Service Projects, including: (a) inviting the Board to the upcoming June 23, 2007, dedication of the new Interagency Visitors Center; (b) a project to identify processes for efficiencies and economies of scale for Forest Service facilities; and (c) the most recent EIS on the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wildernesses concerning Packing Operations and permitting processes. The Board discussed the EIS in some detail, querying Mr. Oye on how the Forest Services proposals will affect the local Packing Operations and on the adaptive management process identified in the document.

BofS/Quad State Coalition Presentation

Supervisor Cash provided opening remarks and introduced Mr. Gerry Hillier, Executive Director of Quad State County Government Coalition (membership of San Bernardino, Imperial and Kern counties in California, Lincoln and Nye counties in Nevada, Mohave County in Arizona and Washington County in Utah) , who made a presentation on the organization and encouraged Inyo County to join the Coalition. Mr. Hillier provided the Board with copies of the following Coalition documents: (a) the Agenda for the March 9, 2007 Coalition Meeting; (b) the Work Plan and Budget for FY 2007 (October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007); (c) The Joint Powers Agreement; (d) an activities sheet; (e) the Objectives Statement and (f) the Mission Statement. The Board and Mr. Hillier discussed the Coalition including the membership criteria, with Mr. Hillier confirming that the membership is based on 1% of the proposed budget. He explained that Inyo County’s membership dues for this year would have been approximately $1,800 for a full year’s membership, with an expectation that should the County join it would be prorated for the remainder of this year. Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to direct County Counsel to review the documents presented concerning the Quad State County Government Coalition, including a request that Mr. Hillier provide County Counsel will all other JPA documents and amendments and bring back an analysis of the County joining the Coalition; and further direct that future discussions include an update on the status of the West Mojave Plan. Motion carried unanimously.

Water Dept./ County’s Standing Committee Direction Process

The Board and Staff discussed the process currently being used to provide direction from the Board to the County’s representatives on the Standing Committee. County Counsel provided information regarding the process utilized by the City of Los Angeles Board of Water Commissioners with regard to the Interim Management Plan, noting that their process paralleled the County’s in this instance and that recent criticism from the Commissioners regarding the County’s process was unwarranted. The Board and Staff continued to discuss the process, with Supervisor Arcularius noting that the policy was sound and there is a need to develop a more structured and formalized agenda process. County Counsel provided clarification on the differences between the delegation of authority and discretion of authority. The Board Members conveyed their support of the current policy for the Board to instruct the County’s representatives on the Inyo County/Los Angeles Standing Committee which was established as a part of the Long-Term Water Agreement between Inyo County and the City of Los Angeles, and their unwillingness to alter it at this time.

BofS/Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the minutes of the February 6, 2007, Board of Supervisors Meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

District/Bishop Fire Protection District Appointment

Moved by Supervisor Brown and seconded by Supervisor Cash to appoint Mr. Ted Metz to the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners to complete an unexpired four-year term ending July 1, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including providing copies of Senator Boxer’s latest version of the Wilderness Legislation, the Gulag Exhibit Opening, an ESTA Meeting, concern with increased truck traffic through the community of Darwin and the impact on the local roads, a Boy Scout Ceremony honoring Joe Crimi; a tour of the Laws Turntable and Brill Car exhibits, a First Five Commission Meeting, an upcoming New Supervisors Institute Session in Sacramento, a tour of Phase I of Dehy Park Project, and an Inyo Associates Dinner.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 1:05 p.m., to reconvene in closed session at 2:05 p.m., with all Board Members present to discuss Agenda Items No. 11. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION [Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(a) - County of Inyo v. Department of the Interior, et al. - United States District Court for the Eastern District Case No. 1:06-CV-1502-AWI-DLB; and No. 12. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION [Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9 (c)]: Decision Whether to Initiate Litigation (one case)

.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 3:40 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 3:40 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2007, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.