CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 11, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ellis called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California.
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Ellis announced a moment of silence.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Kong.
4. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong
Councilmember Schwartz
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia
Mayor Ellis
ABSENT:
Councilmember Muchovej
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, City Administrator
Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney
Nate Derr, Police Chief
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.
Rick Klug, a local resident, recited a prayer.
No further public comments were made.
6. PROCLAMATIONS
September 11, 2023 Page 1
A. PROCLAMATION – CONSTITUTION WEEK – SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2023 – Requested by the Daughters of the American Revolution Palisade Glacier Chapter Constitution Week Chairman Linda Weier.
Item 6A
Council read the proclamation. Daughters of the American Revolution Palisade Glacier Chapter Historian and American History Committee Member Nita Talbot accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Daughters of the American Revolution Palisade Glacier Chapter.
B. PROCLAMATION – HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH – SEPTEMBER
2023 – Presented by the Bishop City Council.
Item 6B
Council read the proclamation and announced that this proclamation will be posted in City Hall for all to view, and that the community is invited to join a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month hosted by the City on Saturday, October 7th. The details for this celebration will be announced soon and everyone is invited to attend.
C. PROCLAMATION – CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN DAY –
SEPTEMBER 22, 2023 – Presented by the Bishop City Council.
Item 6C
Council read the proclamation. Bishop Paiute Tribe Chief Programs Officer Kody Jaeger and Tribal Council Member Joyce White accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Bishop Paiute Tribe.
7. PRESENTATIONS
Copy of REVISED Presentation - to be presented by Executive Director Tawni Thomson
A. BISHOP TOURISM IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BTID) ANNUAL
REPORT – Presented by Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tawni Thomson.
Item 7A - BTID Report
Item 7A - Attachment 1
Item 7A - Attachment 2
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau (BACCVB) Executive Director Tawni Thomson and BACCVB marketing consultant Julie Faber reviewed this item with Council.
B. BISHOP AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INFORMATION
CENTER ANNUAL REPORT ON MARKETING SERVICES – Presented
by Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tawni Thomson.
September 11, 2023 Page 2
Item 7B
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau (BACCVB) Executive Director Tawni Thomson and BACCVB marketing consultant Julie Faber reviewed this item with Council.
After answering all of Council's questions, Council thanked them both for their presentation and report.
8. COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE – Presented by Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths.
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities.
9. 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 was excused from this meeting.
B. Police Chief Nate Derr
Police Chief Derr reported to Council on the 9/11 Stair Climb today at the Tri-County Fairgrounds, an update on the past Labor Day festivities, a dispatch department upgrade, a record retention project update, the arrival of two new replacement vehicles, dispatch academy training for Communications Operator Jahn, a lightning strike near the Police Department tower this past Saturday night which shut down their dispatch center for a few hours but was successfully brought back on line with minimum damage to the system and breaker system, and a Police Department Strategic Plan for the next five years will be presented at a future meeting for Council's consideration.
C. Public Works Director Nora Gamino
Public Works Director Gamino was excused from this meeting.
D. Community Services Manager Dan McElroy
Community Services Manager McElroy reported to Council on the well attended Art in the Park event held during Labor Day weekend, the upcoming fall colors car show in October, soccer at the City Park, received a grant from Game Time/California Parks and Recreation Society to help pay for a portion of a new playground, update on activities at the City Pool and Park, getting ready for irrigation reductions, and placement of a concrete path by the playground at the rear of the park from the main path to the gazebo. Council acknowledged a letter of appreciation received for Recreation Supervisor Waylon Cleland to thank him for all of his good work at the Park and specifically for the management of the City's Dog Park.
E. City Administrator Deston Dishion
September 11, 2023 Page 3
City Administrator Dishion reported to Council on an upcoming meeting with County Administrative Officer Greenberg regarding a cost split for emergency medical services, working with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) on a lease for the possibility of relocating the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau offices to a new building funded by the Chamber on the empty lot next to Holy Smoke BBQ since LADWP can only lease to a government agency like the City of Bishop, working with Assistant Planner Budnyk on work with approved consultants to do a parking study and a study on city owned property for housing, a meeting with LADWP relating to moving their power operations to Wye Road behind the County of Inyo building, the LADWP move to Wye Road may open up land for housing, staff is investigating the short-term rental that was brought up at the Council's last meeting, and thanked Tawni Thomson for the idea to start looking at fractional home ownership.
10. 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. Expense Account Budget Reallocation, C.O.P.S. Fund
Item 10A.1
2. Letter of Intent to Allow Brookside Estates Mutual Water Company to Consolidate with the City of Bishop
Item 10A.2
B. FOR INFORMATION/FILING
1. Planning Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice – August 29, 2023
Item 10B.1
2. Fire Department Report – August 2023
Item 10B.2
3. Police Department Report – August 2023
Item 10B.3
4. Public Works Department Report – August 2023
Item 10B.4
5. Community Services Department Report – August 2023
Item 10B.5
6. Planning Department Report – August 2023
September 11, 2023 Page 4
Item 10B.6
7. Administration Department Report – August 2023
Item 10B.7
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz Seconded/Councilmember Kong Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Councilmember Muchovej
Motion passed 4-0.
11. NEW BUSINESS
A. RESOLUTION – A PROPOSED RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS)
RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES: HIGHWAYS TO BOULEVARD
GRANT – Council consideration to adopt a proposed resolution authorizing the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) to submit an application for the California Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities: Highways to Boulevards grant and to provide a letter of support as a co-applicant – Public Works.
Item 11A
City Administrator Dishon reviewed this item with Council.
Public comments were made by:
Caltrans Andrew Besold - spoke in support of this item.
Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) Executive Director Elaine Kabala - spoke in support of this item.
No further public comments were made.
Motion/Mayor Pro Tem Garcia Seconded/Councilmember Kong Mayor Pro Tem Garcia made a motion to adopt the resolution authorizing the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) to submit an application for the California Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities: Highways to Boulevards grant and to provide a letter of support as a co-applicant by title only.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE EASTERN SIERRA COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENTS TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES:
HIGHWAYS TO BOULEVARDS GRANT
September 11, 2023 Page 5
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Councilmember Muchovej
Motion passed 4-0.
B. CITY HALL SECURITY AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEM UPGRADES –
Council consideration to find that the City of Bishop Purchasing Policy
3.24 (F) Emergency Purchases exists, approve the purchase of the security and fire alarm upgrades, and to approve the adjustment amount of $6,377.38 to be allocated to the Community Services Department 2023-2024 016 56029 budget – Community Services.
Item 11B
Community Services Manager McElroy reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz Seconded/Councilmember Kong Councilmember Schwartz made a motion that Council finds that the City of Bishop Purchasing Policy 3.24 (F) Emergency Purchases exists, approve the purchase of the security and fire alarm upgrades, and to approve the adjustment amount of $6,377.38 to be allocated to the Community Services Department 2023-2024 016 56029 budget.
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Councilmember Muchovej
Motion passed 4-0.
C. FIRE CHIEF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT – Council consideration to appoint Bret Russell as Fire Chief and authorize Mayor Ellis to execute the proposed Fire Chief agreement – Administration.
Item 11C
City Administrator Dishion reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Mayor Pro Tem Garcia Seconded/Mayor Ellis
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia made a motion to appoint Bret Russell as Fire Chief and authorize Mayor Ellis to execute the proposed Fire Chief employment agreement.
September 11, 2023 Page 6
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Councilmember Muchovej
Motion passed 4-0.
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
No requests for future agenda items were made by Council.
13. COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended.
14. ADJOURNMENT Monday, September 25, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, September 25, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Jim Ellis, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk
September 11, 2023 Page 7