CITY OF BISHOP
City Council Meeting Minutes
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
6:00
P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Schwartz called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:03 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California.
2. INVOCATION
No one was present to conduct the invocation for this meeting.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Ellis.
4. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, and Mayor Schwartz ABSENT:
None.
ALSO PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, City Administrator and Public Works Director Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney
Richard Standridge, Police Chief
Elaine Kabala, Associate Planner/Economic Development Coordinator Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager
5. 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.
No public comments were made.
6. PROCLAMATIONS
A.
PROCLAMATION – CONSTITUTION WEEK – SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2022 – Requested by the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitutional Week Chairman Palisade Glacier Chapter NSDAR Linda Weier.
Item 6A
Council read the proclamation. Lana Johns accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Daughters of the American Revolution Regent of the Palisade Glacier Chapter NSDAR.
B.
PROCLAMATION – TO COMMEMORATE THE 212TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF MEXICO ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 - Requested by the Consul of Mexico in Fresno Adriana Gonzalez Carrillo.
Item 6B
Council read the proclamation. Councilmember Garcia accepted the proclamation on behalf on Consul of Mexico in Fresno Adriana Gonzalez Carrillo.
C.
PROCLAMATION – CALIFORNIA INDIAN DAY – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 – Requested by the Bishop Paiute Tribe Tribal Council Chairwoman Meryl Picard.
Item 6C
Council read the proclamation. Tribal Council Chairwoman Meryl Picard accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Bishop Paiute Tribe.
7. COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE REPORT – Prepared and presented by Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths.
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities.
8. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Updates on department activities will be given by the Department Heads and/or their staff.
Reports from the Police, Community Services, Planning, Administration and Public Works Departments were given on each department’s activities including upcoming and ongoing projects.
A.
Fire Chief Joe Dell
Fire Chief Dell was attending a call and was not present for his report.
B.
Police Chief Richard Standridge
Police Chief Standridge reported to Council on their department statistics, office improvements, staff training, vehicle update, and their attendance in the planning meetings for the upcoming "Walk for Life" event and the California Indian Day parade.
C.
Community Services Manager Dan McElroy
Community Services Manager McElroy reported to Council on the MLB grant to replace infield dirt at the baseball fields, working with the Bike Park Group on their required insurance per our approved agreement, working on closing up the City Pool in the next couple of weeks, Adult Soccer doing well with 10 teams and AYSO all playing at the City Park, children program updates, one more scheduled Friday Night Market, Trunk or Treat which will be held at the fairgrounds again this year with a date to be announced, the upcoming Adventure Race which will start in Mammoth Lakes and end at the City Park, and announced the status of the City Park Restroom Restoration bid.
D.
Associate Planner/Economic Development Coordinator Elaine Kabala Associate Planner and Economic Development Coordinator Kabala reported to Council on the Eastern Sierra Business Resource Center who will be hosting a meet up on Monday, September 19th at 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Bishop Country Club called "Pitch It" which is a free workshop to assist businesses and entrepreneurs on their business plans, and gave an update on the Visitor Study which closed over Labor Day.
E.
City Administrator and Public Works Director Deston Dishion City Administrator and Public Works Director Dishion reported to Council on receiving confirmation from LADWP on the City's interest in purchasing 10+ acres from them, Frontier's progress in internet connections in Bishop, his attendance at the first Joint Powers Authority ad hoc committee meeting for the Fire Department, a continued search for an Assistant Finance Director, sidewalk upgrades at the City Park and at the Senior Center, an update on the City's water use which is currently at 16% below the target for the City, continued work on sidewalks and graffiti removal, and the parking changes are completed at the Bishop Beverage Center. Councilmember Muchovej mentioned complaints coming to him about the VONS parking lot. City Administrator Dishion said he would address the matter.
9. 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. City Council Meeting Minutes – July 11, 2022
Item 9A.1
2. City Council Special Meeting Minutes – July 12, 2022 Item 9A.2
3. City Council Meeting Minutes – August 8, 2022
Item 9A.3
4. City Council Meeting Minutes – August 22, 2022
Item 9A.4
5. City Council Special Meeting Minutes – August 24, 2022 Item 9A.5
B.
FOR INFORMATION/FILING
1. Police Department Report – August 2022
Item 9B.1
2. Community Services Report – August 2022
Item 9B.2
3. City Administrator’s and Public Works Reports – August 2022 Item 9B.3
4. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – July 26, 2022
Item 9B.4
5. Planning Commission Meeting Agenda – August 23, 2022 Item 9B.5
6. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Agenda – August 24, 2022 Item 9B.6
No public comments were made.
Moved by: Councilmember Garcia, seconded by Councilmember Muchovej to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
AYES:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, Mayor Schwartz NOES:
None
ABSENTS:
None
ABSTAINS:
None
RECUSALS:
None
SUMMARY:
5 Yeas; 0 Nays; 0 Abstains; 0 Absent.
Motion passed 5-0.
10. NEW BUSINESS
A.
PLANNING COMMISSION – Council consideration to reappoint Erik Leitch to the Planning Commission with a term ending November 26, 2026 – Administration Item 10A
City Clerk Picken reviewed this item with Council. No public comments were made. Council thanked Commissioner Leitch for his service and for wanting to serve for another term on the Planning Commission.
Moved by: Councilmember Garcia, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ellis to approve the reappointment of Erik Leitch to the Planning Commission with a term ending November 26, 2026.
AYES:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, Mayor Schwartz NOES:
None
ABSENTS:
None
ABSTAINS:
None
RECUSALS:
None
SUMMARY:
5 Yeas; 0 Nays; 0 Abstains; 0 Absent.
Motion passed 5-0.
B.
UPGRADE OF POLICE DEPARTMENT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM – Council consideration to approve the project as presented and direct staff to work with Sierra Security Systems to upgrade the Bishop Police Department surveillance system not to exceed $21,756.37 including a 10% contingency – Police.
Item 10B
Police Chief Standridge reviewed this item with Council. No public comments were made.
Moved by: Councilmember Muchovej, seconded by Councilmember Kong to approve the project as presented and direct staff to work with Sierra Security Systems to upgrade the Bishop Police Department surveillance system not to exceed $21,756.37 including a 10% contingency.
AYES:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, Mayor Schwartz NOES:
None
ABSENTS:
None
ABSTAINS:
None
RECUSALS:
None
SUMMARY:
5 Yeas; 0 Nays; 0 Abstains; 0 Absent.
Motion passed 5-0.
C.
DISCUSSION ON INYO COUNTY’S REQUEST TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS ON THE POTENTIAL RENAMING OF THE BISHOP AIRPORT – Council to discuss the letter dated August 18, 2022 sent on behalf of the Inyo County Board of Supervisors requesting feedback from other airport stakeholders on a request by Randy Short to rename the Bishop Airport to “Bishop-Dave McCoy Airport” – Administration.
Item 10C
Item 10C - Public Comment by Salima Darakjy in support of renaming airport in honor of Dave McCoy Item 10C - Public Comment by Erik Leitch not in support of renaming the airport City Administrator Dishion reviewed this item with Council and announced that the City of Bishop is not the decision making body on this item. It is Inyo County that is the decision making body and they have asked for our input on the possible renaming of the airport which is being discussed tonight.
Randy Short made a short presentation on this item to the City Council.
Public comments made in support of renaming the Bishop airport to "Bishop-Dave McCoy Airport" were made by:
Randy Short, Beulah Chacon, Penny McCoy, Warren Allsup, Randy Gillespie, Midge Milici, Craig London, Robin Stater, John Atkins, Ria Atkins, and Cindy Freeman.
Public comments made to support the renaming of the Bishop airport to "The Bishop Payahuupu (where the water flows) Airport" was made by:
Fran Hunt representing two organizations: the Bishop Paiute Tribe and Inyo 350 No further public comments were made.
Council thanked everyone who came to speak on this item and a discussion ensued on the letter sent from the Inyo County Board of Supervisors requesting feedback from the Bishop City Council on the request made by Randy Short to rename the Bishop Airport to “Bishop-Dave McCoy Airport” and the public comments received at this meeting.
At the conclusion of Council's discussion on this item, further public comments were made by:
Lindsi Yates who spoke in support of renaming the Bishop airport "Bishop-Dave McCoy Airport." Joyce White who spoke in support of renaming of the Bishop airport to "The Bishop Payahuupu (where the water flows) Airport" Randy Short announced that the proponent would fund any needed costs associated in the renaming of the Bishop airport to "Bishop-Dave McCoy Airport." Council made comments acknowledging the public comments received at this meeting and gave staff direction to relay the City Council's position back to the County of Inyo Board of Supervisors.
11. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Muchovej asked, if Council is in agreement, to direct staff to schedule a meeting with the Bishop Tribal Council. Council was in agreement and direction was given to staff. No further requests were made for future agendas items.
12. COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended.
13. CLOSED SESSION
Council took a recess from 8:08 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Closed Session began at 8:15 p.m. and ended at 8:32 p.m.
A.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – INITIATION OF LITIGATION – pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(c): 1 Potential Case B.
LIABILITY CLAIMS pursuant to Government Code § 54961 – Claimant: John Hamilton vs. City of Bishop
14. REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION AS REQUIRED BY LAW Mayor Schwartz reconvened the meeting at 8:32 p.m. To report on actions taken in Closed Session as required by law, City Attorney Pucci announced that for Item 13A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – INITIATION OF LITIGATION – pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(c): 1 Potential Case, direction was provided to staff. City Attorney Pucci then announced that for Item 13B. LIABILITY CLAIMS pursuant to Government Code § 54961 – Claimant: John Hamilton vs. City of Bishop, on motion by Councilmember Muchovej and seconded by Councilmember Garcia the claim was denied by a vote of 5-0. No further report out is required.
15. ADJOURNMENT Monday, September 26, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers.
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:33 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, September 26, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Karen Schwartz, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk