February 28, 2022 Page 1
CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Schwartz called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 5:03 p.m. via video conference coordinated from the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong
Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Muchovej
Mayor Pro Tem Ellis
Mayor Schwartz
ABSENT:
None
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, Interim City Administrator and Public Works Director Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney
Jenny Rodricks, Assistant Finance Director
3. PUBLIC COMMENT – NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: This time is set aside to receive public comment on matters agendized for closed session only. When recognized by the Mayor, please state your name, and address for the record and please limit your comments to three minutes. Under California law the City Council is prohibited from generally discussing or taking action on items not included in the agenda; however, the City Council may briefly respond to comments or questions from members of the public. Therefore, the City Council will listen to all public comment but will not generally discuss the matter or take action on it.
No public comments were made.
4. CLOSED SESSION
A. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION pursuant to
Government Code § 54957 – Title: Interim City Administrator Closed Session began at 5:04 p.m. Closed Session ended at 5:35 p.m.
February 28, 2022 Page 2
5. OPEN SESSION
Mayor Schwartz called the open session of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:01 p.m. via video conference coordinated from the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California.
6. INVOCATION
The invocation was given by Father Cam Lemons of the St. Timothy’s Anglican Church.
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Garcia.
7. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong
Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Muchovej
Mayor Pro Tem Ellis
Mayor Schwartz
ABSENT:
None
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, Interim City Administrator and Public Works Director Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney
Jenny Rodricks, Assistant Finance Director
Joe Dell, Fire Chief
Richard Standridge, Police Chief
Elaine Kabala, Associate Planner/Economic Development Coordinator Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager
8. PUBLIC COMMENT – NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: This time is set aside to receive public comment on matters not calendared on the agenda. When recognized by the Mayor, please state your name and address for the record and please limit your comments to three minutes. Under California law the City Council is prohibited from generally discussing or taking action on items not included in the agenda; however, the City Council may briefly respond to comments or questions from members of the public. Therefore, the City Council will listen to all public comment but will not generally discuss the matter or take action on it.
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Mayor Schwartz announced to the public that Item 15B – DISCUSS DRAFT BISHOP DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN - SIGNAGE AND DESIGN GUIDELINES is being pulled from the agenda.
Public comments were made by:
Fred Carleton stating “Time to meet in person again, or, if you choose to meet online, the public should know the identity of everyone on the call - not just the handful of Councilors and staffers and those promoted to speak - and those people attending should be allowed to communicate with one another, as they would be able to do in a live setting. Thank you, Fred Carleton
Public Comment made by Fred Carleton
No further public comments were made.
9. REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION AS REQUIRED BY LAW To report on actions taken in Closed Session as required by law, Mayor Schwartz announced that there was nothing to report out.
10. PROCLAMATIONS
A. VALUES STATEMENT PROCLAMATION – Council will read the City of Bishop’s Values Statement Proclamation.
Item 10A
Council read the City of Bishop’s Values Statement Proclamation.
11. PRESENTATIONS
A. RETIREMENT OF POLICE OFFICER – Presentations will be made to Bishop Police Officer Bryan Rossy for his many years of public service to the City of Bishop.
Item 11A
Council made presentations to Retired Police Officer Bryan Rossy. Bryan Rossy thanked Council for the presentations made and enjoyed his years of service with the City.
B. EASTERN SIERRA TRANSIT AUTHORITY (ESTA) ANNUAL
REPORT – Presented by ESTA Executive Director Phil Moores.
Item 11B
February 28, 2022 Page 4
ESTA Executive Director Phil Moores summarized ESTA’s Annual Report for Council and answered all of Council’s questions. Council thanked Mr. Moores for his report.
C. INPUT ON COMMUNITY RESILIENCE FOR CRITICAL ELECTRIC
INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE THREAT OF WILDFIRE DUE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE – Presented by High Sierra Energy Foundation (HSEF) Executive Director Pam Bold.
Item 11C
HSEF Executive Director Pam Bold made a presentation to Council on their current outreach to the community relating to the resilience for critical electric infrastructure from the threat of wildfire due to climate change. Council thanked Ms. Bold for her presentation.
12. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISTORS BUREAU UPDATE – Executive Director Tawni Thomson.
Item 12
Executive Director Tawni Thomson reviewed her report with Council and provided additional information to Council on the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau activities.
13. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - The following department reports have been submitted for Council review.
A. Fire Chief Joe Dell
Item 13A
Instead of a written report to Council, Fire Chief Dell gave an oral report to Council on the recent Airport Fire. Council thanked the Fire Department and their volunteers for their work on the Airport Fire.
B. Police Chief Richard Standridge
Item 13B
C. Community Services Manager Dan McElroy
Item 13C
D. Associate Planner/Economic Development Coordinator Elaine Kabala Item 13D
E. Interim City Administrator and Public Works Director Deston Dishion
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Item 13E
Council made positive comments noting the new format for Departments to start submitting a written report to Council at their Council meetings.
Interim City Administrator and Public Works Director Dishion also reported to Council on the status of the Trunk Line Project and the new audio-video install in the Council Chambers.
Councilmember Garcia made comments that he would like to see the new Values Statement and the Police Department’s Mission Statement be translated into Spanish and Paiute. Councilmember Garcia also asked that all three be placed on the wall as you enter the Police Department and City Hall and that he would be happy to translate these documents into Spanish.
14. CONSENT CALENDAR – NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: All matters under the Consent Calendar are considered routine by the City and will be acted on by one motion.
A. FOR APPROVAL/FILING
1. Monthly Budget Reports – January 2022
Item 14A.1
2. Warrant Registers – January 2022
Item 14A.2
3. Combined Cash Report – January 2022
Item 14A.3
4. Bank Reconciliation Report – January 2022
Item 14A.4
5. Investment Portfolio – January 2022
Item 14A.5
6. Ratify City of Bishop Employee COVID-19 Prevention Plan dated 2/24/2022 Item 14A.6
7. Personnel Status Change Report – February 28, 2022
Item 14A.7
8. Second Reading/Adoption of an Ordinance Updating Chapter 3.24 Purchasing System of the Bishop Municipal Code
Item 14A.8
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9. A Resolution Making the Legally Required Findings to Continue to Authorize the Conduct of Remote “Telephonic” Meetings During the State of Emergency Item 14A.9
10. A Resolution Amending and Restating Certain Fees and Charges for City Services
Item 14A.10
11. A Resolution Authorizing Destruction of Certain Citywide Records Item 14A.11
12. Well 3 Pasture Lease Agreement
Item 14A.12
13. Sewer Pond Pasture and Effluent Lease Agreement
Item 14A.13
B. FOR INFORMATION/FILING
1. Public Works Building Permits Report – January 2022
Item 14B.1
2. Planning Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice – February 22, 2022 Item 14B.2
3. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice – February 23, 2022
Item 14B.3
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej Seconded/Councilmember Garcia Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion passed 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmembers Kong, Garcia, Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, and Mayor Schwartz
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
15. NEW BUSINESS
A. LICENSE AGREEMENT NO. 889 LAGOON STREET MATERIALS PIT
WITH LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER
(LADWP) - Council consideration to approve License Agreement No.
February 28, 2022 Page 7
889 with LADWP and the annual expenditure of $618.00 including an annual increase not to exceed 103% of the annual fee for a period of 5 years – Public Works.
Item 15A
Mayor Pro Tem Ellis announced that he is an employee of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and is recusing himself from discussion on this item and left the meeting at approximately 6:44 p.m.
Interim City Administrator and Public Works Director Dishion reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej Seconded/Councilmember Kong Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to approve License Agreement No. 889 with LADWP and the annual expenditure of $618.00 including an annual increase not to exceed 103% (modify from 103% to 3% per year) of the annual fee for a period of 5 years. Motion passed 4-0.
Ayes: Councilmembers Kong, Garcia, Muchovej, and Mayor Schwartz Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Recused: Mayor Pro Tem Ellis
Mayor Pro Tem Ellis rejoined the meeting after action was taken on the above item at approximately 6:51 p.m.
Mayor Schwartz reminded everyone that she had announced earlier in tonight’s meeting that Item 15B is pulled from the agenda.
B. DISCUSS DRAFT BISHOP DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN –
SIGNAGE AND DESIGN GUIDELINES – Council to hold a discussion on the Draft Downtown Specific Plan Signage and Design Guidelines - Planning.
Item 15B
Item 15B was pulled from the agenda.
16. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Garcia asked Interim City Administrator Dishion to bring back the requested item on partnering with homeowners to build sidewalks. Interim City
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Administrator Dishion confirmed that this item would be discussed at the upcoming Strategic Planning meeting.
Interim City Administrator announced that Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action (IMACA) is reaching out to the City for funding and asked if Council would like to have a discussion on this item at a future meeting. Council came to a consensus to bring this item back to a future meeting for discussion.
No further requests were made for future agendas items.
17. COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and events that they attended.
18. ADJOURNMENT - Monday, March 14, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers.
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 14, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. via video conference coordinated from the City Council Chambers.
____________________________________________________
Karen Schwartz, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk