CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 14, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER
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
Mayor Ellis
ABSENT:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, City Administrator
Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney
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: City Administrator
Closed Session began at 5:31 p.m. Closed Session ended at 6:05 p.m.
5. OPEN SESSION
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Mayor Ellis called the open session of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:06 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California.
6. MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Ellis announced a moment of silence.
7. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.
8. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong
Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Muchovej
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia
Mayor Ellis
ABSENT:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, City Administrator
Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney
Pat O'Neil, Interim Fire Chief
Nate Derr, Police Chief
Nora Gamino, Public Works Director
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
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To report on actions taken in Closed Session as required by law, Mayor Ellis announced that no action was taken.
11. COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE – Presented by Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths.
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities.
12. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Updates on department activities will be given by the Department Heads and/or their staff.
A. Interim Fire Chief Pat O’Neil
Interim Fire Chief O'Neil reported to Council that in addition to his report submitted to Council tonight, there was a call received for a lift assist, and a smoke alarm response. Council thanked Interim Fire Chief O'Neil for stepping up to help run things at the Fire Department while waiting for the new Fire Chief to arrive.
B. Police Chief Nate Derr
Police Chief Derr reported to Council that the year to date totals have been added to the Police Department's statistics report as requested by Council at their last meeting, and reported briefly on several of the items that the Police Department placed on tonight's Council's agenda for clarification. Chief Derr reported on community outreach with the Sunrise Rotary, the Superintendent of Schools on traffic and school safety, and work with Public Works Director Gamino relating to parking concerns in the city. Police Derr responded to Council's questions relating to newly hired Police Officer/Investigator Ludovico who was reported as doing a good job; attended meetings with the County on creating a mental health crisis unit; and the night time dispatching with Inyo National Forest started last week and is currently up and running.
C. Public Works Director Nora Gamino
Public Works Director Gamino reviewed and highlighted several items on her written report to Council. Director Gamino reported outside the departments standard routine work, they completed a lead and copper sampling and thanked those residents who volunteered and participated in the sampling; for Council's information all samples were well below action levels and a report will be sent to all participants; a Whitney Alley Project update; cleaned problem sewers in Aspendale last month; and started the SCADA upgrade project which will take 9-12 months to complete. Director Gamino responded to Council's questions relating to children crossing the intersection of 3rd Street and East Line Street where there is currently no crosswalk or signs/marking for motorists to slow down. Director Gamino stated that a preliminary study for improvements on East Line Street has been done and needs to be further evaluated along with real data before taking action, as well as taking in consideration what work is being done through the Caltrans Bishop Pavements Project which are placing beacons at uncontrolled intersections where there is no traffic light.
D. Community Services Manager Dan McElroy
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Community Services Manager McElroy reported to Council that the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting is on August 23rd not August 30th, and highlighted items from the Community Services written report on the City Pool use, American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) use, creation of 12 soccer fields in the City Park, softball finals, After School Program now named Stay and Play (SAP), start of gymnastic classes and Kids Night Out, start of pickleball at the City Park, and ordered signage for the bike park before general construction is started E. City Administrator Deston Dishion
City Administrator Dishion thanked Supervisor Griffiths for his detail report on the current status of addressing emergency medical services in our area and added that he will be actively involved with negotiations with the Inyo County Administrative Officer and one of the Bishop Paiute Tribal Members; Administrator Dishion reported to Council that the Bishop Fire Department ambulance continues to be in service as a back up in order to support our community, thanked Interim Fire Chief O'Neil for stepping into the Interim Fire Chief position and commended Interim Fire Chief O'Neil for his leadership; announced that the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District and the City of Bishop has made a conditional offer to fill the vacant Fire Chief position; and advised Council that 275 May Street is currently boarded-up due to multiple code violations currently being addressed.
13. 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 an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bishop, State of California, Adding Chapter 8.07 of the City of Bishop Code of Ordinances, Relating to Vacant Building and Storefront Nuisances
Item 13A.1
2. Police Department Communications Operator Job Description Item 13A.2
3. Enterprise Fleet Management Open-End (equity) Lease Rate Quote for Two Leased Vehicles for the Bishop Police
Department, not to exceed $1,000 per month for 60 months per vehicle
Item 13A.3
B. FOR INFORMATION/FILING
1. Public Works Building Permits Report – July 2023
Item 13B.1
2. Planning Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice – July 25, 2023
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Item 13B.2
3. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice – July 26, 2023
Item 13B.3
4. Fire Department Report – July 2023
5. Police Department Report – July 2023
Item 13B.5
6. Public Works Department Report – July 2023
Item 13B.6
7. Community Services Department Report – July 2023
Item 13B.7
8. Planning Department Report – July 2023
Item 13B.8
9. Administration Department Report – July 2023
Item 13B.9
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz Seconded/Councilmember Muchovej Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Ayes: Councilmembers Kong, Schwartz, Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Mayor Ellis
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Motion passed 5-0.
14. NEW BUSINESS
A. FILLING A SCHEDULED VACANCY ON THE PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSION – Council consideration to start
advertising to seek applicants for the scheduled vacancy, term ending October 28, 2023, and to establish a screening committee to make a nomination to the City Council for filling the commission vacancy or to reappoint Brad Balint to another four-year term on the Parks and Recreation Commission - Administration.
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Item 14A
City Clerk Picken reviewed this item with Council. Community Services Manager McElroy made comments in support of reappointing Commissioner Brad Balint to the Parks and Recreation Commission for another four-year term. No public comments were made.
Motion/Mayor Pro Tem Garcia Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz Mayor Pro Tem Garcia made a motion to approve the reappointment of Brad Balint to another four-year term on the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Ayes: Councilmembers Kong, Schwartz, Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Mayor Ellis
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Motion passed 5-0.
B. COST SHARE AGREEMENT FOR MULTI-AGENCY EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TO 2023 WINTER STORMS - Council consideration to approve the Cost Share Agreement for Multi-Agency Emergency Response to 2023 Winter Storms – Administration.
Item 14B
City Administrator Dishion reviewed this item with Council.
Public comments were made by:
Jeff Griffiths, Inyo County Second District Supervisor, made comments in support of the cost share agreement and confirmed that the County of Inyo Board of Supervisors approved this agreement.
No further public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej Seconded/Mayor Pro Tem Garcia Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to approve the Cost Share Agreement for Multi-Agency Emergency Response to 2023 Winter Storms.
Ayes: Councilmembers Kong, Schwartz, Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Mayor Ellis
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Motion passed 5-0.
15. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
No requests for future agenda items were made by Council.
16. COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
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Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended.
17. ADJOURNMENT Monday, August 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, August 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. _______________________________________
Jim Ellis, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk
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