Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period and there was no one from the public wishing to address the Board.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County department report period. Ms. Leslie Chapman, Auditor-Controller updated the Board on the Network Project, and introduced and thanked her Staff, the Network Team, the Information Services Director, and the representatives of Bi-Tech for help and assistance during this project. Mr. Ron Chegwidden, Public Works Director, informed the Board that the Secured Rural Schools has been refunded for the next five years. He explained that the funding levels would decrease over the five-year period and that PILT was fully funded for the five years of the legislation. Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services, updated the Board on State Healthcare Reform efforts, she reported that she is in preliminary discussions and the conceptual stage of developing with University of California at Berkley, a local educational opportunity to establish a Master’s Program. Ms. Dickinson also reviewed in detail the services her Department provides to the citizens and residents of the southeastern portion of the County. At the conclusion of her remarks, the Chairperson requested that her report be provided in writing to the Board Members. Sheriff Bill Lutze reported that a resident deputy has been hired for the southeastern portion of the County.

Workshop/OV Interagency Committee Sierra Nevada Conservancy Grant

The Chairperson recessed open session at 9:20 a.m., to convene in a workshop with representatives of the Owens Valley Interagency Committee who presented the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Strategic Opportunity Grant Proposal. The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 10:00 a.m., to convene at 10:10 a.m., with all Board members present, except Supervisor Cash, as the Capital Asset Leasing Corporation Board to conduct the Annual Meeting. (See Corporation minutes.) The Chairperson reconvened the regular meeting in open session at 10:17 a.m., with all Board members present, except Supervisor Cash.

HHS-Soc. Serv./ IHSS Comm. Bylaws

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the bylaws for the legally mandated In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee. Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cash absent.

HHS-First 5 Comm./Supt. Of Schools Oral Health Contract

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to ratify and approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and the Inyo County Superintendent of Schools for the continuing provision of oral health services for the period of July 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008, in an amount not to exceed $61,423, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign. Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cash absent.

P.W/PV Dam Rd. Improvement

The Public Works Director, Mr. Ron Chegwidden, provided the Board with Staff’s recommendations concerning the Pleasant Valley Dam Road Improvement Project, explaining that it recommended that the Board award and approve a contract for the work with the low bidder Granite Construction in the amount of $700,187, authorize the Chairperson to sign, authorize the Public Works Director to execute all other Contract documents, including contract change orders, to the extent permitted by Public Contract Code §20142 and other applicable law , and to fund the amount of the contract which exceeds the allocated project funds from the Congestion Relief reserves. Mr. Chegwidden explained the STIP process, including how funding is allocated for projects.

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to A) award and approve the Contract for the Pleasant Valley Dam Road Improvement Project to Granite Construction Company in the amount of $700,187; authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and authorize the Public Works Director to execute all other Contract documents, including contract change orders, to the extent permitted by Public Contract Code §20142 and other applicable law , and B) amend the FY 2007-08 Congestion Relief Budget #034602 by increasing appropriations in Professional and Special Services (Object Code #5265) by $130,000. Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cash absent.

Workshop/Water Dept. LORP Rapid Ass. Survey

The Chairperson recessed open session at 10:40 a.m., to convene in a workshop, with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Cash, to receive a presentation from representatives of the Inyo County Water Department on the progress of the LORP Rapid Assessment Survey of 2007, which is a cooperative effort between ICWD, DWP and Ecosystem Sciences. The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 11:15 a.m., to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Cash.

Fish & Game/ CalTip Donation

Moved by Supervisor Brown and seconded by Supervisor Arcularius to approve an expenditure from the Fish and Game Fine Fund in the amount of $1000 as a donation to CalTIP to support its new Canine Program and authorize the Auditor to issue the warrant for these funds. Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Cash absent.

BofS/Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve the minutes of the Board of Supervisors Meeting of September 25, 2007. Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Brown abstaining and with Supervisor Cash absent.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including the meeting at Stovepipe Wells, the Lone Pine Film Festival, a Land Tenure Meeting, an Arts Council Meeting, an ESTA Subcommittee Meeting, Boys and Girls State Reception, and various constituent meetings.

Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed open session at 11:30 a.m., to convene in closed session, with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Cash to discuss and take action as appropriate on Agenda Items No. 11. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING LITIGATION (Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(a) – Sierra Club v. City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Inyo County Superior Court Case No. SICVCV01-29768(1); No. 12. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING LITIGATION (Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(a) – Sierra Club v. City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Inyo County Superior Court Case No. CVPT-05-347969 (III); No. 13. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6) – Instructions to Negotiators re: wages, salaries and benefits – Employee Organization – Inyo County Probation Peace Officers Association (ICPPOA); Negotiators – CAO Ron Juliff, Labor Relations Administrator Sue Dishion, Chief Probation Officer Jim Moffett, Deputy County Administrator Kevin Carunchio; and No. 14. PERSONNEL (Pursuant to Government Code §54957) – Public Employee Appointment – Title County Administrative Officer.

Recess/ Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 1:15 p.m. to reconvene at 2:15 p.m., with all Board Members present except Supervisor Cash.

Closed Session

The Board convened in closed session to continue discussions on previously noted closed session items. Supervisor Cervantes left the meeting at 2:45 p.m.

Report on Closed Session

The Chairperson recessed closed session at 4:00 p.m., to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present, except Supervisor Cash and Supervisor Cervantes, to receive a report on closed session. The Chairperson made the following verbatim announcement out with regard to Agenda Item No. 14. PERSONNEL (Pursuant to Government Code §54957) – Public Employee Appointment – Title County Administrative Officer – “After thorough and careful consideration by the Board of Supervisors of all of its options to fill the position of County Administrative Officer being vacated by the retirement of Ron Juliff, the Board of Supervisors has determined that it would best serve the County and its citizens to conduct an internal recruitment to find a candidate who will be highly qualified to carry out all of the duties and responsibilities of CAO in a successful and efficient manner. If, such a candidate cannot be recruited from within the ranks of current County employees, the Board of Supervisors will then expand the recruitment to seek such a highly qualified candidate from other sources.”

Adjournment

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 4:02 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2007 in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center in Independence.