News Briefs from March 3 Board of Supervisors Meeting
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The Inyo County Board of Supervisors welcomed a very special guest to its meeting on Tuesday: Coco, an approximately 1-year-old mixed breed female canine that has been residing at the Inyo County Animal Shelter for the last month.
Coco’s appearance is part of an effort in conjunction with Inyo County Animal Services to highlight the importance of animal adoption and the need for forever homes for the dogs and cats who wind up at the Big Pine facility.
Sheriff Stephanie Rennie thanked Supervisor Jeff Griffiths for bringing the idea forward to Animal Services a couple of months ago and said adoptable pets will be introduced quarterly to start, with the eventual goal of monthly visits contingent upon staffing.
Coco was well received at the meeting, and, according to Animal Services Supervisor Katie Bird, is already somewhat of a star at the shelter.
“She very quickly has become a favorite with staff and volunteers,” Bird said. “She just started her training lessons with the Palisades (High School) student dog training class that comes to the shelter every week. She’s a good girl and available for adoption along with the rest of the critters down there.”
Bird noted the shelter currently has a full house with 30 dogs and 19 cats available for adoption. She also said volunteers and foster families are welcome and much-needed. For more information, call (760) 938-2715.
JOINING THE TEAM
The Board was introduced to the following new employees on Tuesday:
- Administration: County Administrative Officer David Fraser
- Clerk-Recorder: Office Technician Shyann Harvey
- Health & Human Services: Food Cook Andrea Herrmann, Residential Caregiver Kerrie Michele Bohunovsky, Social Worker James Piper, and Registered Nurse Anita Richardson
- Personnel: Office Technician Deisy Linares
Sheriff: Deputy Richard Marchant and Food Cook Tamra Riesen
Richardson and Marchant are former county employees who have returned to the organization.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS
During Board member reports on Tuesday, Supervisor Will Wadelton provided updates about new traffic-related legislation affecting motorists and government agencies statewide.
Supervisor Wadelton reported on AB 390, which expands California’s Move Over Law to require motorists as of January 1 to move over one lane when approaching any stopped vehicle displaying hazard lights or warning devices. If changing lanes isn’t safe, drivers must slow to a safe speed. The law originally applied only to emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and Caltrans crews but now applies to all stopped vehicles, including stranded motorists.
The expansion is in response to a 25% increase in stopped‑vehicle crashes since 2014 in California and a 60% increase in fatalities involving people outside disabled vehicles between 2013 and 2023.
He also reported on AB 382 and AB 2583. AB 382 allows jurisdictions to lower the speed limit in school zones from 25 mph to 20 mph. It also overrides the usual requirement for an engineering and traffic survey. AB 2583, which goes into effect January 1, 2027, makes the speed limit reduction mandatory across the state.
Planning Director Cathreen Richards presented the General Plan Annual Progress Report (APR) to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, ultimately receiving direction to submit it as is to the State Department of Housing and Community Development and the Office of Planning and Research.
The General Plan is a vision, goals, and policy document that provides a sort of “roadmap” to land use and development within Inyo County. Included in the APR, which is required by state law, were snapshots of various projects undertaken by the County in 2025 and facts and figures related to residential and commercial development – which Richards indicated increased from 2024.
According to Richards, 574 building permits were received by the Building and Safety Department in 2025 for projects in Inyo County. That’s 80 more than were submitted in 2024. Twenty-three of the permits were for new housing units – 7 more than in 2024.
Of the housing permits, 11 were for new, single-family homes (6 more than in 2024), 3 new manufactured homes (1 less than 2024), and 9 accessory dwelling units, or ADUs (2 more than 2024). Seven of the ADU applications were for conversions or additions to garages to create housing and 2 applications were created using the County’s pre-approved ADU building plans.
As far as completed housing projects, the Building and Safety Department issued 9 certificates of occupancy in 2025: 6 for single-family homes, 1 for a manufactured home, and 2 for ADUs.
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