CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 27, 2023
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ellis called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:02 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 2)
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.
3)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Councilmember Muchovej will lead the pledge of allegiance.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Muchovej. 4)
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
Ethan Aukee, Assistant Finance Director
Bret Russell, Fire Chief
Nate Derr, Police Chief
Nora Gamino, Public Works Director
Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager
5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments were made by:
Dustin del Giudice, a local resident, spoke on behalf of this region's very large soccer community and announced that they would like to present the Murphy family with a memorial bench, tree, and plaque in memory of their daughter Quinn who loved the game of soccer. The memorial bench, tree, and plaque will be placed where Quinn and many others have enjoyed playing soccer at the City Park.
Cam Lemons, a local resident, recited a prayer.
No further public comments were made.
6)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Fire Chief Russell reported to Council on the preparations for the December 2, 2023 Christmas Parade, participated in a statewide medical and health training exercise along with Chief Derr, registered for the December 12-14, 2023 Cal Cities Fire Chiefs Leadership Seminar, reviewed calls and responses by the Bishop Fire Department, met with Bishop Rural Fire Protection District (BRFPD) Chair Mike Holland and Bishop Paiute Tribal officials relating to the contract with the BRFPD and the Bishop Paiute Tribe and the potential purchase of a ladder truck, and a Burton Fire representative will be coming out to give a presentation on what ladder trucks they have available for purchase tomorrow at 4:00 PM.
Police Chief Derr reported to Council on the year's call volume, meetings with Chief Russell preparing for the upcoming Christmas Parade and the statewide medical and health training exercise, the upcoming Operation Santa event and route, the Shop with a Cop event, a public service announcement to be mindful that this is the time of year that criminals are going through unlocked vehicles and taking packages off front porches, and working collaboratively with the schools and Inyo County Office of Education for a rotational School Resource Officer (SRO) program.
Public Works Director Gamino reported to Council that there will be two updates later in tonight's agenda relating to a purchase of a new vacuum truck and the purchase of permit software. Director Gamino reminded Council and the public of the street sweeping schedule, reported on preparations for the upcoming Christmas Parade set up and the Friday Night Market on this coming Saturday, a public service announcement reminding people of Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) in the sewer system - never pour FOG into the wastewater system.
Community Services Manager Dan McElroy reported to Council on their staff's work on putting up Christmas decorations and preparing for the upcoming Christmas Parade, his appreciation given to Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Information Center's Executive Director Tawni Thomson for all the work they do to work together to get the whole town decorated, the Park staff is working hard to clean up leaves in our parks and at the Sunrise Mobile Home Park, scheduled two Kids Nights Out for December, a gymnastics camp in early January, an adult co-ed volleyball program at the end of January, and during winter break will be working on scheduling summer camp and summer hiring needs.
City Administrator Deston Dishion reported to Council that the Parking Study/Strategic Planning of City Properties will kick off on December 13, 2023, attended a meeting last week with Inyo and Mono County Administrators and the Town Manager from the Town of Mammoth Lakes to discuss air service, CERF Planning Grants, and regional police dispatch, announced that there will be new artwork placed in the Clark Wing hallway by C5 Arts Studio, and a Planning Commission Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 6:00 PM. 7)
PROCLAMATIONS
7.A)
Proclamation - Home Health and Hospice Care Week December 4, 2023 – December 8, 2023 – Requested by Pioneer Home Health Care, Inc./Hospice of the Owens Valley Administrator Ruby Allen, RN.
Proclamation Home Health Hospice Week 2023 11 27.pdf
Council read and presented the Proclamation to Pioneer Home Health Care, Inc./Hospice of the Owens Valley Administrator Ruby Allen, RN. Administrator Allen thanked the Council for the proclamation and announced the Light Up A Life Hospice Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 30, 2023 which the Council and the public are invited to attend. 8)
BISHOP AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INFORMATION CENTER UPDATE
8.A)
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Update Report BACC&IC Report - November 27 2023
Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Executive Director Tawni Thomson reviewed her report submitted to Council. Council thanked Tawni Thomson for her report. 9)
COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities.
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. 10)
CONSENT CALENDAR FOR APPROVAL/FILING
10.A)
Monthly Budget Report for the Month of October 2023
Monthly Budget Report for the Month of October 2023
10.B)
Financial Reports for the Month of October 2023
Cover Page
Bank Reconciliation Report - October 2023
Combined Cash Report - October 2023
Investment Portfolio Report - October 2023
Warrant Register Report - October 2023
10.C)
Capital Equipment Replacement, Vacuum Truck
Cover Page
Vactor Impact Brochure
Vactor Impact Quote
11)
CONSENT CALENDAR FOR INFORMATION/FILING
11.A)
Planning Commission Meeting Agenda
November 28, 2023 - Cancelled
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
12)
NEW BUSINESS
12.A)
Recommended List of Grant in Support Awards
Cover Page
Recommended List of Awards for Grants in Support 2023-2024 Assistant Finance Director Aukee reviewed this item with Council.
Out of the 9 total applications received, Council discussed the six recommended list of awards for Grants in Support 2023-2024.
Altrusa International of the Eastern Sierra
to redo of the Bishop Police Department Mural Police Department at 207 W. Line St. Amount requested: $10,000.00 Recommended Award: $10,000.00 Bishop Area Bike Association
for the Bishop Bike Park at the City of Bishop Park
Amount requested: $4,000.00 Recommended Award: $4,000.00 Bishop Museum and Historical Society
for the Wells Fargo Timelines Through History at the Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site - Wells Fargo Building Amount requested: $8,000.00 Recommended Award: $8,000.00 Eastern Sierra Artists DBA: C5
for Art in Storefronts at various locations in downtown Bishop Amount requested: $7,110.00 Recommended Award: $6,000.00 Eastside Student Center
for a Patio Project & Kitchen Update at 162 W Line St.
Amount requested: $8,000.00 Recommended Award: $8,000.00 Helping Hands 4 Housing Inc.
for the Housing Liaison Program based in Bishop, Remote Services Amount requested: $11,100.00 Recommended Award: $11,100.00 Total requested amount: $48,210.00; Total recommended award amount: 47,100.00 No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Kong
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Kong made a motion to approve the recommended list of awards for grants in support for 2023-2024.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
12.B)
Front Playground Replacement Project
Cover Page
City of Bishop GameTime Construction Agreement
Front Playground Scope of Service
Proof of Insurance GameTime
Community Services Manager McElroy reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Kong
Seconded/Councilmember Muchovej
Councilmember Kong made a motion to approve waiving the formal bidding procedures pursuant to Municipal Code Section 3.24.16 (A); approve the purchase and installation of the front playground in an amount not to exceed $115,218.48; and to execute the Construction Agreement with PlayCore Wisconsin Inc. dba GameTime for the Front Playground Replacement Project.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
12.C)
Building Permitting and Inspection Memorandum of Understanding with Inyo County, Amendment 3 Cover Page
Amendment 3_Inyo Co MOU Building Permitting and Inspection Inyo Co MOU Building Permitting and Inspection
OpenGov Permitting Proposal
OpenGov Quote for Inyo County
OpenGov Master Service Agreement
Public Works Director Gamino made one more public service announcement related to newly pre-approved additional dwelling unit (ADU) designs. Although these new ADU designs are pre-approved, the public still needs to know that you still need to go through the building and safety permitting process.
Public Works Director Nora Gamino and Senior Building Inspector Tyson Sparrow reviewed this item with Council.
Public comments were made by:
Jeff Griffiths, Second District Supervisor and Bishop resident, asked if this software will connect to Inyo County Environmental Health. Senior Building Inspector Sparrow confirmed that this software will be inter-connected with the County and the City and all departments as Director Gamino specified in her report.
No further public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej
Seconded/Mayor Pro Tem Garcia
Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to approve Amendment 3 to the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Bishop and Inyo County for Building Permitting and Inspection.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Mayor Ellis Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
13)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Muchovej, with consensus from Council, asked that Mayor Ellis sign a letter to the Inyo County Board of Supervisors expressing Council's support in using the South Street property for the Surplus Land Act.
Councilmember Kong, with consensus from Council, asked that a joint meeting with the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District be scheduled in January.
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, with consensus from Council, asked that a joint meeting be scheduled with the Bishop Paiute Tribal Council.
No further requests were made for future agendas items. 14)
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended or will be attending. 15)
ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, December 11, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Jim Ellis, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk