County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

Public Comment

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

County Department Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report period. Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services, reported that per a recent Appellate Court decision, notification has been given to the local hospitals that the County will no longer be responsible for prebooking medical costs. Ms. Dickinson also briefly reported on State Health Reform issues, including CMSP and realignment funds and a federal penalty regarding California’s CalWorks Program deficiencies.

HHS-Workshop Tobacco Plan

The Chairperson recessed open session at 9:05 a.m., to convene in a workshop, with all Board Members present. The Board met with representatives of the Health and Human Services Department to receive an update on the 3-year Tobacco Plan. The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 9:15 a.m., to reconvene in open session.

BofS/Carson & Colorado RR Project

Mr. Ron Chegwidden provided an update on the status of the County’s efforts regarding the Carson and Colorado Railroad Project. He explained that while the project has been approved by the CTC, he was waiting to proceed with the environmental review process until he receives confirmation of federal authority for reimbursement. He identified the three items he will be pursuing which are, first the environmental document, second the negotiations with DWP regarding lease of the property and third an evaluation of the long-term sustainability of the project, including the impact to the County. The Board and Mr. Chegwidden discussed the project and its impact to the County in depth and at length. Mr. John Klusmire, Museum Director, also addressed the Board to note concerns he has with the proposal, which included (a) that once it was established it was going to be a part of the Eastern California Museum, which would require that it be operated at the museum level, (b) staffing, (c) continued funding and (d) the impact to the current museum operations and priorities. Mr. Bob Ennis, of the Carson and Colorado, addressed the Board. He explained that the supporters of this project are envisioning that this would be operated similar to the Laws Railroad Museum in Bishop via a contract with the group, saying that he believes this Railroad Museum will enhance visitation and tourism in the County. The Board supported the project at this juncture and looked forward to receiving the information regarding County impacts as the project moves through the environmental process.

Recess/ Reconvene

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

District/Pioneer Cemetery District Appointment

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to reappoint Diane Corsaro to the Pioneer Cemetery District Board of Trustees, to complete a four-year term ending December 27, 2011. Motion carried unanimously.

Motor Pool/Surplus Vehicles and Equipment Disposal

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to A) declare vehicles and heavy equipment identified by Staff as surplus; B) authorize Motor Pool to utilize a sealed bid process and Ken Porter Auctions Services located in North Hollywood, CA, for the removal and sale of County owned surplus vehicles and heavy equipment; and C) authorize the Motor Pool Manager to sign the consignment agreement for the sale of the vehicles and equipment through the auction process, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained. Motion carried unanimously.

Child Support Serv./Office Closure

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to approve closing the office of the Department of Child Support Services to the public from December 31, 2007 through January 4, 2008 because of conversion to the new statewide child support computer system. Motion carried unanimously.

P.W./Mendenhall Park Restroom Project Contract Approval

Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to award the bid and approve the Contract for the Mendenhall Park Restroom Improvement Project to Golden Land Building, Inc., in the amount of $149,750; authorize the Chairperson to sign, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained; and authorize the Public Works Director to sign all other contract documents, including contract change orders, to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 20142 of the Public Contract Code and other applicable law. Motion carried unanimously.

Forest Serv/Rt. Designation Response

The Board discussed how best to move forward with preserving and protecting the County’s and the public’s rights to comment on the road’s identified in the Forest Service’s Proposed Action for Motorized Travel Management Plan, in light of the fact that the Forest Service has changed the rules. The Board noted that the Forest Service and the public had been pursuing a course of action regarding the roads proposed for closure for the past two years, which allowed for consensus on many of the roads. Then just before the public comment period began, the Forest Service changed the rule for the responses by requiring comment on every road that is to be considered.

The Board also noted that there were over 60 pages listing the roads identified for possible closure. They discussed the enormity of this review and the need to ensure that the public has sufficient time in which to appropriately research and analysis impact a closure would have on the roads they are concerned with. Mr. Dick Noles, Bishop Resident and a member of AAPL, addressed the Board to provide additional information on this issue, agreeing with the Board that the change made by the Forest Service, along with the short period of time to make comment, was unfair because of the magnitude of the number of roads identified for closure. The Board briefly talked about a concept that is new to the County which was brought to their attention by the Deputy County Administrator that involves Federally mandated requirements that allow local jurisdictions to call for “coordination” with federal agencies in order to ensure that federal proposals meet local jurisdictions General Plan goals. The Board, Staff and Mr. Noles continued to discuss this issue. With regard to the County’s comments to the National Forest Service’s Proposed Action for Motorized Travel Management (Route Designation), the Board directed Staff to agendize for next week’s Board Meeting an action, which includes the Board requesting a 6 month extension for the comment deadline, notification that the County is preserving its and the public’s rights to comment during the NEPA process on each and every road identified for closure, and introducing the concept of the local jurisdiction raising the issue of its rights for “coordination.”

Planning/MHA/ RMT Contract and Coso Contract Amendments

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Cash to approve the following contract amendments, contingent upon the Board’s adoption of future budgets; and authorize the Chairperson to sign; A) Amendment No. 1 to the Contract between the County of Inyo and MHA/RMT, Inc., for the provision of environmental review and processing services for Conditional Use Permit No. 2007-03/Coso Operating Company, LLC (Water Extraction and Delivery System), increasing the contract by $19,984 to an amount not to exceed $330,638; and B) Amendment No. 2 to the Contract between the County of Inyo and Coso Operating Company, LLC, to increase the deposit/payment amount by $23,981 to a total of $489,963. Motion carried unanimously.

Recess/ Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 11:10 a.m., to reconvene at 11:50 a.m., in open session, with all Board Members present.

BofS/AAPL Removal of Firewood

Mr. Dick Noles, representing Advocates for Access to Public Lands (APPL) explained that while performing annual maintenance on the water “guzzlers” located in the White Mountains, he identified several places where there was an excessive number of down and dead pinion trees that he felt could be a fire hazard and removed by local residents for firewood. He gave the Board a map showing the specific areas he was talking about. Mr. Noles said that AAPL intends to make the request of the U.S. Forest Service to allow the public to remove dead and downed firewood on West Guard Pass (168), south to the narrows and asked the Board to send a letter to the Forest Service supporting their request. The Board thanked Mr. Noles for his efforts in this matter. Moved by Supervisor Arcularius and seconded by Supervisor Cervantes to fully support APPL’s request that the public be allowed to remove, for firewood, down and dead trees in the areas identified on the Map provided by Mr. Noles. Motion carried unanimously.

BofS/Minute Approval

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

Recess/ Reconvene

The Chairperson recessed the regular meeting at 12:00 p.m., to reconvene in closed session at 1:00 p.m., with all Board Members present.

Closed Session

The Board met in closed session to consider and take action as required on Agenda Item No. 15. PERSONNEL (Pursuant to Government Code §54957) – Public Employee Appointment – Title - Acting Director Water Department. The Chairperson recessed closed session at 1:30 p.m., to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present.

Water Dept./Acting Water Dir. Appt.

Moved by Supervisor Cash and seconded by Supervisor Brown to appoint Inyo County Water Department Employee, Mr. Robert Harrington, as the Acting Water Director, effective December 4, 2007, at the monthly salary of $8,641, in accordance with Inyo County Personnel Policies and Procedures, Section 4.7. Motion carried unanimously.

CAO-Personnel/ Dept. Head Eval and Compensation Plan

The Chairperson recessed open session at 1:35 p.m., to convene in a workshop with the County Administrator who presented information regarding a new evaluation and compensation process for appointed Department Heads. At the conclusion of the workshop, the Board requested that this process be agendized for the first meeting in January, for formal Board action. The Chairperson recessed the workshop at 2:40 p.m., to reconvene in open session, with all Board Members present.

Board Member and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities during the preceding week, including the Yucca Mountain Meeting and a Stewardship meeting.

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 2:45 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 11, 2007, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.