County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

Public Comment

Prior to opening the Public Comment period, Supervisor Arcularius, Vice-Chairperson of the Board, announced that although the Chairperson was present for the meeting, he was ill and asked the Vice-Chairperson to take over the duties of running the meeting. The Chairperson opened the public comment period and there was no one from the public wishing to address the Board.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson opened the County Department Report period and there were no reports forthcoming.

HHS-CalWorks Program Workshop

The Chairperson recessed open session at 9:02 a.m., to convene in a workshop with all Board Members present. The Board met in a workshop with representatives of the Health and Human Services Department on the CalWorks Program. The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 10:40 p.m., to reconvene in open session with all Board Members present.

Public Comment

The Chairperson reopened the public comment period and Ms. Kathleen New, Executive Director of the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, updated the Board on the progress of their efforts to make recommendations regarding the redesign of the County’s State Capital Window Display.

CAO/Interagency Visitors Center Funding Request

The Deputy County Administrator, Mr. Kevin Carunchio, provided additional information regarding the request to seek funding for the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors Center from our Federal Legislators. He reminded the Board that the official opening ceremonies would be held at the facility on June 23, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.. Mr. Carunchio went on to explain that the funds being requested would be used to complete the Visitors Center remodeling project. Supervisor Cash asked that the installation of the flagpole be reprioritized to the top of the list, explaining that because the Visitors Center is a multi-jurisdictional effort by several governmental agencies, the flagpole should have a significant importance, which may enhance the request for funding. Additionally the Board discussed getting letters of support from other agencies and organizations, i.e., LTC and the Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Carunchio explained that the request for funding deadline is this Friday and said that he would pursue the support letters and send them under separate cover in order to not delay the actual funding request. Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the letters to Congressional Representatives requesting Federal funding for the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors Center and authorize the Chairperson to sign. Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 9:55 a.m., to reconvene in a workshop at 10:05 a.m., with all Board Members present.

BofS/Audubon Owens Lake W/S

The Board met in a workshop with Mr. Mike Prather of the Eastern Sierra Audubon, who made a presentation on Wildlife at the Owens Lake – past, present and future. The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 10:50 a.m., to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present.

Integ. Waste/ Budget Amendment and Loader Repair

The Deputy County Administrator, Mr. Chuck Hamilton, responded to questions from the Board regarding the condition of the 950 CAT loader, explaining that it was relatively new in the world of solid waste equipment and worth repairing because the costs to replace it would be very high.

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to A) amend the FY 2006/07 Budget by increasing appropriations in Solid Waste Budget Unit 045700, Maintenance of Equipment (Object Code #5171) by $13,000 and reducing appropriations in Solid Waste Contingencies Budget Unit 087123, Contingencies (Object Code #5901) by $13,000; and B) authorize a purchase order to Dale’s Mobile Welding and Line Boring for the repair of a 950 CAT loader in the amount of $21,842.79. Motion carried unanimously.

HHS-Mental Hlth. Serv./MHSA Program Plan

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to ratify the Contract between the County of Inyo and the State of California Department of Mental Health for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Integrated Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan for the period of October 1, 2006 through June 30, 2008, in the amount of $843,643, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign. Motion carried unanimously.

Planning-Yucca Mt./Drilling Contract Amendment

Ms. Rennie Holland, Yucca Mountain Project Analyst, updated the Board on the status of the various drilling projects in the southeastern portion of the County. Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to approve Amendment No. One to the Contract between the County of Inyo and Lang Exploratory Drilling Company, Inc., for well drilling and construction services, increasing the Contract amount by $265,000 to an amount not to exceed $995,095, contingent upon continued funding by the U.S. Department of Energy funding of the Death Valley Lower Carbonate Aquifer Monitoring Program; and authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained. Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the minutes of the Board of Supervisors Meeting of February 27, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 11:00 a.m., to reconvene in a workshop at 11:10 a.m., with all Board Members present.

BofS/Cal-X Workshop

The Board met in a workshop with representatives of Advocates for Land Exchange (Cal-X) to discuss viable solutions involving land exchanges. The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 11:50 a.m.

P.W./Dehy Park Ribbon Cutting

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 11:50 a.m., announcing that the Board would be attending the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony sponsored by the Independence Chamber of Commerce to recognize the improvement program completed in Dehy Park. The Chairperson reconvened in open session at 1:00 p.m., with all Board Members present.

Water Dept./Interim Management Plan

Mr. Tom Brooks, Water Director, reviewed in detail the proposed Interim Management Plan (IMP), which is being recommended by Staff. He explained that the County and DWP Staff were recommending their respective Boards approve the Plan. The Board and Mr. Brooks discussed the Plan in great detail, with the Board noting that the Plan, as recommended, provides the County and DWP with the time needed to readdress the Green Book, while maintaining the protections needed by both entities to ensure they are fulfilling their respective obligations under the Long Term Water Agreement. Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the Interim Management Plan as presented and recommended by Staff, and authorize the Chairperson to sign on behalf of the County. Motion carried unanimously.

Water Dept./ Direction to Standing Committee Reps

Mr. Tom Brooks, Water Director, provided the Board with a revised Agenda for the March 19, 2007 Standing Committee Meeting, noting that the meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., at the Department of Water and Power facilities in Los Angeles. Mr. Brooks noted that directions from the Standing Committee had resulted in this Agenda being relatively short. The Board and Mr. Brooks discussed Item No. 2, with Mr. Brooks indicating that the protocols which were included with the Agenda were draft protocols and that there are more details that need to be worked out. The Board asked that this item, which is a yearly requirement to be addressed by the Standing Committee, be considered earlier in future years. The conversation regarding Item No. 2, which was the consideration and approval of flooded acreage in the Blackrock Waterfowl Habitat Area, segued into the discussion on scheduling future Standing Committee meetings. Supervisor Arcularius suggested that future meeting dates of the Standing Committee be developed around its responsibilities and decision making obligations as determined by the Water Agreement and the MOU and requested that this be added to the Standing Committee Agenda for discussion.

Recess/

Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 2:30 p.m., to convene in closed session at 2:40 p.m., with all Board Members present.

Closed Session

The Board met in closed session to discuss Agenda Items No. 13. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) – Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits – Employee Organization: Inyo County Employees Association (ICEA) – Negotiators – CAO Ron Juliff, Personnel Analyst Sue Dishion, Chief Probation Officer Jim Moffett and Deputy County Administrator Kevin Carunchio; No. 14. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) – Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits – Employee Organization: Elected Officials Assistant Association (EOAA) – Negotiators – CAO Ron Juliff, Personnel Analyst Sue Dishion, Chief Probation Officer Jim Moffett and Deputy County Administrator Kevin Carunchio; No. 15. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING LITIGATION [Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) ] Benjamin Leeds v. Inyo County Board of Equalization, Inyo County Assessor Thomas Lanshaw , Inyo County Superior Court Case No. (Not Yet Assigned); and No. 15A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION [Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (a)] – Sierra Club v. City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power , Inyo County Superior Court Case No. SICVCV01-29768(1). Supervisor Cervantes left the meeting at 3:30 p.m.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 5:25 p.m., to reconvene in open session, to receive a report on closed session. County Counsel reported that with regard to Agenda Item No. 15. , CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING LITIGATION [Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) ] Benjamin Leeds v. Inyo County Board of Equalization, Inyo County Assessor Thomas Lanshaw , Inyo County Superior Court Case No. (Not Yet Assigned), which is an action seeking to challenge the assessed valuation of Plaintiff’s property, the Board in a unanimous vote, with Supervisors Arcularius, Cash, Brown, Bilyeu and Cervantes voting yes, directed County Counsel to defend the Inyo County Board of Equalization and the Assessor in this matter.

Adjourned

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 5:25 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 20, 2007, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.