CITY OF BISHOP
City Council Meeting Minutes
MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2023
6:00
P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ellis 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. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Kong.
3. 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
Joe Dell, Fire Chief
Richard Standridge, Police Chief
Nora Gamino, Public Works Director
Anastasiia Budnyk, Assistant Planner
Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager
4. 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.
Public Comments Received prior to 4:00 PM 3/13/2023
Public Comments were made by:
Cori Stearns, a Bishop resident, who spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings.
Teresa Blum, a Bishop resident, who spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings.
Cindy Wahrenbrock, a Bishop resident, who spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings.
Kelli Brown, a Bishop business owner, spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings; in support of Aaron Schat for buying empty buildings and to start a business; and spoke against the City for suing Aaron Schat.
Leslie Sasuga, of Bishop, spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings.
Jennifer Beaudean, a Bishop resident, spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings; asked Council to do more to support small businesses.
Douglas Cooper spoke to making shelters and blankets available to those in need.
Tiffany Lau, a local resident, spoke about those who spoke in favor of invocations at Council meetings and questioned whether they are genuinely interested in the workings of city government and stay through to the end of each council meeting to see if the invocation had an effect on city council workings; due to the severe weather we have had recently asked for a need of a refresher on how to get resources to those experiencing mental health issues and homelessness.
Lynette McIntosh, from Bishop, mentioned that many of the churches represented at the meeting tonight provide shelter and blankets to those in need; and spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings.
Scott Armstrong, Regional Broadband Coordinator for Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) and a Bishop resident, announced that there is a federal broadband map that contains service locations and service levels that he encouraged everyone to take a look at to verify their personal or business location and the current service level. If you do not see your location or if you do see your location and it states you have a certain level of service and you do not says you have service and you do not Scott Armstrong asked that you challenge that. It is located on the City of Bishop's website under the Links and Services page or go directly to broadbandmap.fcc.gov Greg Smith, a Bishop resident, spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings.
Pastor Timothy Homan, a Bishop resident, announced that he is from the Bishop Grace Lutheran Church, the Mammoth Lakes Lutheran Church, a member of the Bishop Ministerial Association, and gave a prayer to thank the Council for their service.
A person (name unconfirmed) wanted to advise Counsel that there is a lot of dirt on the sidewalks, and wanted clarification who's responsibility is it to maintain them. City Administrator Dishion advised this person that the sidewalks are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner.
Douglas Cooper stated, "after visiting many cities across the state, Bishop is the cleanest town he has ever been to." Pastor Tony Unger, from the First Southern Baptist Church in Bishop, spoke in support of invocations at Council meetings.
Councilmember Muchovej briefly responded to comments made in relation to the City's actions on such claims that the City is against development and local businesses.
No further public comments were made.
5. NORTHERN INYO HOSPITAL UPDATE REPORT – Prepared and presented by Northern Inyo Hospital Interim Chief Executive Officer Chad Chadwick.
Item 5
Northern Inyo Hospital Interim Chief Executive Officer Chad Chadwick reviewed his report on Northern Inyo Healthcare District's current programs and activities with Council. After answering all of Council's questions, Council thanked Interim Chief Executive Officer Chadwick for his report.
6. COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE – Presented by Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths.
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities. After addressing all of Council's questions, Council thanked Supervisor Griffiths for his report.
7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Updates on department activities will be given by the Department Heads and/or their staff.
A.
Fire Chief Joe Dell
Fire Chief Dell reported to Council on the rain on snow event that occurred this past week and the amount of cooperation between all agencies to address the amount of water and flooding taking place in both Inyo and Mono Counties.
B.
Police Chief Richard Standridge
Police Chief Standridge reported to Council that the 911 lines were down, and announced that the Cordico wellness application "app" will go live on March 14, 2023 and will share it with Council at a future meeting in April.
C.
Public Works Director Nora Gamino
Public Works Director Gamino reported to Council on the current condition of city streets and reminded the public that the City sidewalks are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, a kick-off meeting with the Whitney Alley project consultants, the widening of driveways at Sunrise Mobile Home Park last month, discussions with Tesla to reimburse the City for maintenance of their charging station site, and confirmed that Tesla will be replacing the signs at their charging stations that reflect that the parking space is not for Tesla vehicles only.
D.
Community Services Manager Dan McElroy
Community Services Manager McElroy reported to Council on City programs. the March 17th Kids Night Out, a budget and strategic planning meeting scheduled on March 30th, the installation of cameras at the City Park today, all fields at the City Park are wet and not available right now, a meeting on March 15th with the Parks and Recreation staff, the removal of the chairs and carpet in the City Council Chambers will begin tomorrow, and an update on the Urban Greening Grant.
E.
Associate Planner/Economic Development Coordinator Elaine Kabala Item 7E - Inyo Parcels
Assistant Planner Budnyk reported to Council on the status of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power properties for housing, and would be happy to answer any other questions from the Planning Department report submitted on the Consent Calendar.
F.
City Administrator Deston Dishion
City Administrator Dishion reported to Council on the Request for Proposals (RFPs) for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that is currently happening in order to meet our deadline in April, an update on the Silver Peaks Development, and thanked all of the Department Heads and their staff for all of their many hours of work in keeping our city running safe and in operation since Christmas with all of the snow and rain we have received. City Administrator Dishion also confirmed that he will bring back more information on the status of the Taco Bell lot.
8. 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 and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Title 16, of the City of Bishop Municipal Code Removing the Requirement for Processing and Approval of the County Surveyor and County Director of Public Works for Final Maps and Delegating Such Duties to the City Surveyor Item 8A.1
2. Deputy Fire Chief Job Description
Item 8A.2
3. Full-Time Monthly Salary Schedule July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 Item 8A.3
B.
FOR INFORMATION/FILING
1. Police Department Report – February 2023
Item 8B.1
2. Public Works Department Report – February 2023
Item 8B.2
3. Community Services Department Report – February 2023 Item 8B.3
4. Planning Department Report – February 2023
Item 8B.4
5. Administration Department Report – February 2023
Item 8B.5
6. Public Works Building Permits Report – February 2023 Item 8B.6
Mayor Ellis pulled Item 8A.3 since it will be addressed under Item 9B.1.
No public comments were made.
Moved by: Councilmember Schwartz, seconded by Councilmember Muchovej to approve and accept the Consent Calendar except for Item 8A.3 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.
9. NEW BUSINESS
A.
GENERAL PLAN 2022 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT - Council to review and consider accepting the General Plan 2022 Annual Progress Report and to direct staff to submit the report to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and to the State Department of Housing and Community Development – Planning.
Item 9A
Assistant Planner Budnyk reviewed this item with Council.
After Council reviewed and discussed the General Plan 2022 Annual Progress Report as presented, they directed staff to include the following items to the report and asked to discuss these priorities at their upcoming Strategic Planning meeting.
1. Collaboration with the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District on addressing what is an acceptable noise level for the Fire Siren in Bishop so that volunteers can hear it and not impact residents; and
2. Under Economic Development Revitalization - The City funded art installations in the City.
Council also requested that staff include, in this report and for future General Plan reports, under Fire Safety - the number of inspections done and other statistical data that the Fire Prevention Officer addresses for the City and may also include building permit statistics as well.
No public comments were made.
Moved by: Councilmember Muchovej, seconded by Councilmember Kong to approve and accept the General Plan 2022 Annual Progress Report with the edits requested and direct staff to submit the report to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and to the State Department of Housing and Community Development.
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.
B.
PROPOSED REORGANIZATION OF CITY STAFFING – Council consideration to approve the proposed City Staffing Reorganization, job descriptions, and salary schedule as presented - Administration.
Item 9B
City Administrator Dishion and Police Chief Standridge reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Moved by: Councilmember Muchovej, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Garcia to approve the proposed City Staffing Reorganization, job descriptions, and salary schedule 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.
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Ellis asked staff to bring a presentation at a future meeting to inform the Council and the public on the services available to help our community with mental health issues and homelessness, a discussion on a legislative platform for the City of Bishop, and after two months of hearing from the public he asked that staff come up with a solution or options for invocations and how best to start Council meetings.
No further requests were made for future agendas items.
11. COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ellis reminded everyone that the regular City Council meeting on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. is cancelled.
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:51 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 10, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Jim Ellis, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk