CITY OF BISHOP
City Council Meeting Minutes
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023
5:30
P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER – 5:30 P.M. Monday, January 9, 2023
Mayor Ellis called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Mayor Ellis ABSENT:
None.
ALSO PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, City Administrator
Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney via video conference
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.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – INITIATION OF LITIGATION – pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(c): 1 Potential Case Closed Session began at 5:32 p.m. Closed Session ended at 6:09 p.m.
5. OPEN SESSION – 6:00 P.M. Monday, January 9, 2023
Mayor Ellis called the open session of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:09 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California.
6. INVOCATION
The invocation was given by Pastor Eddie Davis of the Church of the Nazarene.
7. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Kong.
8. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Mayor Ellis ABSENT:
None.
ALSO PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, City Administrator
Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney via video conference
Joe Dell, Fire Chief
Richard Standridge, Police Chief
Elaine Kabala, Associate Planner/Economic Development Coordinator Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager
9. 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.
10. REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION AS REQUIRED BY LAW To report on actions taken in Closed Session as required by law, Mayor Ellis announced that direction was given to staff.
11. NORTHERN INYO HOSPITAL QUARTERLY UPDATE – Prepared and presented by Northern Inyo Hospital Interim Chief Executive Officer Chad Chadwick.
Item 11
A report of Northern Inyo Healthcare District’s current programs and activities was presented to Council by Northern Inyo Hospital Interim Chief Executive Officer Chad Chadwick.
12. COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE REPORT – Prepared and presented by Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths.
Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities.
13. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Updates on department activities will be given by the Department Heads and/or their staff.
Reports from the Fire, Police, Public Works, Community Services, Planning, and Administration Departments were given on each department’s activities including upcoming and ongoing projects.
A.
Fire Chief Joe Dell
Fire Chief Dell reported to Council that the volume of calls they receive have increased year after year, sandbags are being made available to the public for them to fill themselves with sand available at Fire Stations 2 and 3, and there has been a number of calls due to flooding and traffic accidents.
B.
Police Chief Richard Standridge
Police Chief Standridge reported to Council on current traffic issues due to flooding, a meeting with Lexipol, implementation of a new employee assistance program called Cortico for police staff, working on improving the police department press releases, an update on the delivery of new police vehicles in the next few weeks, and will plan to announce Officer Lopez's graduation date from the Academy once known.
C.
Public Works Director Nora Gamino
Public Works Director Gamino was absent and excused from this meeting.
D.
Community Services Manager Dan McElroy
Community Services McElroy reported to Council on staff's work during adverse weather conditions, an update on the ballfield dirt delivery, pool maintenance work, future summer camp programs and pool operations, and ballfield maintenance.
E.
Associate Planner/Economic Development Coordinator Elaine Kabala Associate Planner and Economic Development Coordinator Elaine Kabala reported to Council on a kick-off meeting relating to an economic development strategy, and provided an update for Public Works Director Gamino that the City has closed the Request for Proposals (RFP) submissions for the design and construction documents for Whitney Alley.
F.
City Administrator Deston Dishion
City Administrator Dishion reported to Council on the current conditions of roads and infrastructure in the City of Bishop, a high rain day for the City, a meeting with Associate Planner Kabala and County Administrative Officer Nate Greenberg relating to the continued search for a Planner, Associate Planner Kabala will start to work for the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) as their Executive Director and work from the City offices, and a meeting with the "Airport Meeting Group" to discuss a summer schedule with United Airlines. City Administrator Dishion thanked staff for all their work dealing with the amount of water today, and provided Council with an update on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) land purchase for housing.
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. Second Reading/Adoption of a Proposed Ordinance Adopting and Enacting a Recodified Version of the City of Bishop Municipal Code Item 14A.1
2. Second Reading/Adoption of a Proposed Ordinance Related to Adopting a Mixed Use Overlay Item 14A.2
3. A Resolution Relating to the CalRecycle City/County Payment Programs and Related Authorizations Item 14A.3
4. Recreation Coordinator Job Description
Item 14A.4
5. Aquatics Coordinator Job Description
Item 14A.5
6. Assistant Aquatics Coordinator Job Description
Item 14A.6
7. Part-Time Employees Wage Scale – July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 Item 14A.7
8. A Resolution Adopting Personnel Rules, Code of Ethics/Conflicts of Interest Policy, Family and Medical Leave Act and California Family Rights Act Leave Policy, Reasonable Accommodations Policy, and Workplace Violence Prevention Policy Item 14A.8
9. Personnel Status Change Report – January 9, 2023
Item 14A.9
B.
FOR INFORMATION/FILING
1. Fire Department Report – November 2022
Item 14B.1
2. Police Department Report – December 2022
Item 14B.2
3. Public Works Department Report – December 2022
Item 14B.3
4. Community Services Department Report – December 2022 Item 14B.4
5. Planning Department Report – December 2022
Item 14B.5
6. Administration Department Report – December 2022
Item 14B.6
7. Planning Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice – December 28, 2022 Item 14B.7
8. Public Works Building Permits Report – December 2022 Item 14B.8
No public comments were made.
Moved by: Councilmember Schwartz, seconded by Councilmember Muchovej to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
AYES:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis NOES:
None
ABSENTS:
None
ABSTAINS:
None
RECUSALS:
None
SUMMARY:
5 Yeas; 0 Nays; 0 Abstains; 0 Absent.
Motion passed 5-0.
15. NEW BUSINESS
A.
A RESOLUTION DISCONTINUING ITS POLICY AND PRACTICE OF HAVING INVOCATIONS AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS - Council consideration to approve the proposed resolution to discontinue its policy of having invocations at City Council meetings – Administration.
Item 15A
Item 15A - Public Comments Received For This Item Prior to 3:30 p.m.
Item 15A - Handout to City Council from Mark Vincent at 1/9/2023 Council Meeting Item 15A - Handout to City Council from Brad Orr at 1/9/2023 Council Meeting City Administrator Dishion reported to Council on this item.
Public Comments were made by:
Greg Smith, spoke to continue invocations.
Laura Smith, spoke to continue invocations.
Tiffany Lau, a local resident, spoke to discontinue invocations.
Rick Klug, a local resident, spoke to continue invocations.
Mark T. Vincent, spoke to continue invocations and gave a handout to Council.
Kent Schlick, spoke to continue invocations.
Father Gracey, spoke to continue invocations.
Cami Ellis, spoke to continue invocations.
Leslie Sasuga, spoke to continue invocations.
Cori Stearns, a resident of Bishop, spoke to continue invocations.
John F. Harris Sr., spoke to continue invocations.
Gayla Wolf, spoke to continue invocations.
Michelle Mulligan, a local resident, spoke to continue invocations.
Karen Whinnery, not a resident in the City of Bishop city limits, spoke to continue invocations.
Al Sasuga, lives in Bishop, spoke to continue invocations.
Howard Lehwald, spoke to continue invocations.
Pastor Tony Unger, spoke to continue invocations.
Pastor Kent Pulst, Emeritus Pastor of the Grace Lutheran Church in Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, spoke to continue invocations.
Brad Orr, a local resident, spoke to continue invocations and gave a handout to Council.
Peter Thomson, a local resident, spoke to continue invocations.
Emily Lanphear, a resident of Big Pine and a public servant that serves the community of Bishop, spoke to continue invocations.
Indigo Ganoung, spoke to continue invocations.
Riley Bruner, a local resident, spoke to continue invocations.
No further public comments were made.
Council discussed this item and thanked everyone who came to the meeting.
Moved by: Councilmember Muchovej, seconded by Councilmember Kong to approve the adoption of the proposed resolution to discontinue its policy of having invocations at City Council meetings by title only.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DISCONTINUING ITS POLICY AND PRACTICE OF HAVING INVOCATIONS AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AYES:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej NOES:
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis
ABSENTS:
None
ABSTAINS:
None
RECUSALS:
None
SUMMARY:
3 Yeas; 2 Nays; 0 Abstains; 0 Absent.
Motion passed 3-2.
A brief discussion ensued between the City Council, City Attorney, and members of the public clarifying that action was taken by City Council on this item.
Mayor Ellis asked that Council discuss Item 16 "Future Agenda Items" out of order on the agenda and will return back to Item 15B thereafter.
16. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Schwartz asked to bring back a discussion on placing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at the City Park at a future meeting.
Councilmember Kong and Mayor Ellis asked to bring back a discussion on looking at language and to revisit an alternative for opening Council Meetings.
No further requests were made for future agendas items.
Mayor Ellis announced that Council will return to Item 15B on the agenda.
Mayor Ellis asked for a brief break (three minutes) in the meeting to allow some members of the public to leave the Council Chambers.
B.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION – Council consideration to reappoint John Weatherford to the Parks and Recreation Commission with a term ending January 11, 2027 – Administration.
Item 15B
City Clerk Picken reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Moved by: Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, seconded by Councilmember Schwartz to approve the reappointment of John Weatherford to the Parks and Recreation Commission with a term ending January 11, 2027.
AYES:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis NOES:
None
ABSENTS:
None
ABSTAINS:
None
RECUSALS:
None
SUMMARY:
5 Yeas; 0 Nays; 0 Abstains; 0 Absent.
Motion passed 5-0.
C.
PLANNING COMMISSION – Council consideration to reappoint Hank Truxillo to the Planning Commission with a term ending January 27, 2027 – Administration.
Item 15C
City Clerk Picken reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Moved by: Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, seconded by Councilmember Kong to approve the reappointment of Hank Truxillo to the Planning Commission with a term ending January 27, 2027.
AYES:
Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis NOES:
None
ABSENTS:
None
ABSTAINS:
None
RECUSALS:
None
SUMMARY:
5 Yeas; 0 Nays; 0 Abstains; 0 Absent.
Motion passed 5-0.
Hank Truxillo thanked Council for his reappointment.
D.
DISCUSS COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES – Council to discuss the Community Services Department Programs and Services – Community Services.
Item 15D
Community Services Manager McElroy reviewed this item with Council.
Council thanked Community Services Manager McElroy for addressing all of their questions and for his presentation.
17. COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended.
18. ADJOURNMENT Monday, January 23, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:53 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Jim Ellis, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk