CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 13, 2023
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ellis called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 5:31 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 PRIOR TO CLOSED SESSION
No public comments were made.
4)
CLOSED SESSION
4.A)
Conference with Legal Counsel - Initiation of Litigation pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(c): 1 Potential Case
4.B)
Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9: City of Bishop vs. Schat: Case No: SI CV CV2368971 Closed Session began at 5:32 p.m. Closed Session ended at 6:06 p.m. 5)
OPEN SESSION - 6:00 P.M. Monday, November 13, 2023
Mayor Ellis called the open session of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:10 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 6)
MOMENT OF SILENCE - As we begin another meeting tonight, let us pause for a brief moment of silence to individually reflect, meditate, pray, or engage in other silent activity.
Mayor Ellis announced a moment of silence.
7)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Councilmember Schwartz will lead the pledge of allegiance. 8)
ROLL CALL
ABSENT:
None.
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong
Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Muchovej
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia
Mayor Ellis OTHERS PRESENT:
Deston Dishion, City Administrator
Robin Picken, City Clerk
Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney
Bret Russell, Fire Chief
Nate Derr, Police Chief
Nora Gamino, Public Works Director
Anastasiia Budnyk, Assistant Planner
Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager
9)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comments were made by:
Crystal Lopez, of Bishop, California, reported that both of her daughters were hit in front of the Police Station on West Line Street (State Route 168), and spoke to her concern that the next day another student was hit on their way to school while crossing Main Street (Highway 395). Crystal Lopez recommended, when considering improvements on Main Street, that flags be made available at crosswalks for people to carry across the street to not only signal drivers to slow down for pedestrians, but for pedestrians to be cautious as well when crossing the street in order to help minimize accidents.
Rick Klug, a local resident, recited a prayer.
No further 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 no action was taken in closed session. 11)
INTRODUCTION AND SWEARING IN CEREMONY OF NEWLY HIRED FIRE CHIEF Mayor Ellis performed the swearing in ceremony for newly hired Fire Chief Bret Russell. 12)
PRESENTATIONS
12.A)
City of Bishop Specific Plan Receives State Award of Excellence - Presented by Assistant Planner Ana Budnyk.
Assistant Planner Budnyk proudly presented the Council with the "2023 Award of Excellence - Comprehensive Plan-Small Jurisdiction" received from the American Planning Association recognizing the City of Bishop's Specific Plan.
12.B)
National Healthcare and Housing Advisors (NHHA) Rural Healthcare Strategy for Inyo and Mono Counties - Presented by NHHA Business Development Manager Brennan Campbell.
NHHA Rural Healthcare Strategy - Updated Presentation 11/13/2023 Council received a presentation from NHHA Business Development Manager Brennan Campbell, Chief Executive Officer Paul Leon, Senior Advisor Karin Kalk, and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Dr. Clayton Chau on their rural healthcare pilot program for Inyo and Mono Counties. After answering all of Council's questions, Council thanked NHHA for their presentation and expressed their interest in seeing how things progress for them.
12.C)
Caltrans Bishop Pavements Project - Presented by Caltrans District 9 Project Manager Jill Tognazzini.
CALTRANS Bishop Pavements Project - Presentation 11/13/2023 Council received a presentation on the upcoming California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Bishop Pavements Project from Caltrans District 9 Project Manager Jill Tognazzini, Traffic Safety Engineer Lianne Talbot, and Design Manager Brad Rockwell. After answering all of Council's questions, the Council thanked them for their presentation, information, and feedback.
12.D)
Sierra Business Council (SBC) Update on Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) Funding and the Business Resource Center - Presented by Stacy Corless and Allan Pietrasanta.
Sierra Business Council - Presentation 11/13/2023
Council received an update from Sierra Business Council Board Chair Allan Pietrasanta on the current status of the Business Resource Center in Bishop.
Sierra Business Council Government and Community Affairs Director Stacy Corless and CERF Eastside Project Navigator Magnolia Barra shared their presentation with Council on CERF, soon to be known as California Jobs First, program objectives, design, and available funding.
After answering all of Council's questions, the Council thanked them for their presentation and updates. 13)
COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE
Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths was not available to join this meeting. 14)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
14.A)
Fire Department - Fire Chief Bret Russell
Fire Department Report - October 2023
Fire Chief Russell first thanked everyone for the warm welcome and reported to Council on the top items he is currently working on 1. Morale, 2. Training, and 3. Professionalism; learning who is who in his department, work associates, and agencies; thanked council again for the opportunity and expressed his excitement to see what the future will bring; and recognized the Bishop Fire Department volunteer firefighters for all they do.
14.B)
Police Department - Police Chief Nate Derr
Police Department Report - October 2023
Police Chief Derr reported to Council on the number of calls received, community outreach, updated department social media, provided an update on staff training, and researching funding sources and grants available to address police department projects.
14.C)
Public Works Department - Public Works Director Nora Gamino Public Works Department Report - October 2023
Public Works Director Gamino reported to Council on building permit software with Inyo County with OpenGov (80-20 split county/city); working with Jill Tognazzini from Caltrans to incorporate the West Line Main Waterline Project with scheduled Caltrans projects, announced the Bishop Area Wastewater Authority meeting on November 14, 2023 at 8:00 A.M.; announced the Fall Street Sweeping Schedule and asked everyone to please move your vehicles on the designated days in order to sweep and inspect roads.
14.D)
Community Services Department - Community Services Manager Dan McElroy Community Services Department Report - October 2023
Community Services Manager McElroy reported to Council on holiday decorations going up on Main Street and garland on Warren Street, announced the upcoming Street of Lights event on December 2nd, bringing the City Park Front Playground Replacement Project to Council at their regular meeting on November 27th for their approval, provided a gymnastics and programs update, announced that the city will be hosting two "Kids Night Out" in December, provided a bike park update, and an update on the Urban Greening Grant.
14.E)
Planning Department - Assistant Planner Ana Budnyk
Planning Department Report - October 2023
Assistant Planner Budnyk reported to Council on a number of applications for large projects that include zoning updates, and a hotel applying for a conditional use permit just south of Vons.
14.F)
Administration - City Administrator Deston Dishion
City Administrator Report - October 2023
City Administrator Dishion reported to Council on discussions relating to a regional dispatch center study, and will bring to Council an agreement to work with a lobbyist over the next year relating to obtaining earmarked funds for the City of Bishop.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent calendar items are considered routine matters which may be enacted by one motion and roll call vote. Any item may be removed from the consent calendar and considered separately by City Council. 15)
CONSENT CALENDAR FOR APPROVAL/FILING
15.A)
City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES 09 11 2023
City Council Meetings Cancellation Notice - 09 25 2023 AND 10 10 2023 MINUTES 10 23 2023
15.B)
Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Approving One-Way Access For Delivery Vehicles Only In The Alley.
Cover Page
Attachment_A_An_Ordinance_One-Way_Access_for_Delivery_Vehicles_Only_in_the_Alley.pdf Attachment_B_Site_Map.pdf
15.C)
Bishop Fire Deputy Fire Chief Job Description
Deputy Fire Chief Job Description
16)
CONSENT CALENDAR FOR INFORMATION/FILING
16.A)
Services Agreement Between the City of Bishop and Inyo Council for the Arts Cover Page
Inyo Council for the Arts Services Agreement
16.B)
Building Permit Issued Report
October 2023 - Building Permit Issued Report
16.C)
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice - October 25, 2023 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice - 10/25/2023
16.D)
Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting Agenda - November 1, 2023 Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting Agenda - 11/01/2023 No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz
Seconded/Councilmember Kong
Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
17)
NEW BUSINESS
17.A)
City of Bishop Parking Demand and Land Use Study
Cover Page
TO_2_Parking Demand and Land Use Study Draft
Assistant Planner Budnyk reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej
Seconded/Mayor Pro Tem Garcia
Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to approve the Planning Department to execute the City of Bishop Parking Demand and Land Use Study under the provisions of the As Needed, On-Call Civil Engineering Service Agreement between the City of Bishop and Wood Rogers Inc. that was executed on July 1, 2023 with a not-to-exceed amount of $154,140.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
18)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Muchovej requested that Council brainstorm on what we can do and what we would want to do on deed restrictions of new development.
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia requested an update on the sidewalk study.
Mayor Ellis requested that staff bring back for Council consideration the purchase of traffic crossing devices to be placed in school zones when Caltrans completes their street work.
No Council Member objected to any of the items requested above. 19)
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended. 20)
ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, November 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Jim Ellis, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk