CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Garcia called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:01 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 2)
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Garcia announced a moment of silence.
3)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Kong. 4)
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Ellis
Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Muchovej
Mayor Pro Tem Kong
Mayor Garcia
ABSENT:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT: Deston Dishion, City Administrator; Robin Picken, City Clerk; Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney; Nate Derr, Police Chief; Nora Gamino, Public Works Director; Anastasiia Budnyk, Assistant Planner; and Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager 5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comments:
John Camphouse, a local resident and a Board Member of the Sierra Highlands Community Services District, made public comments related to the District wanting to pursue proceedings for consolidating their water district with the Bishop City water and will be working with the contracted consulting engineers for the State of California.
Rick Klug, recited a prayer.
No further public comments were made.
6)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Reports from the Police, Public Works, Community Services, Planning, and Administration Departments were given on each department’s activities including upcoming and ongoing projects. 7)
COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities. 8)
BISHOP AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INFORMATION CENTER UPDATE
8.A)
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Update Report - February 26, 2024 Bishop Chamber of Commerce Report for 022624
Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Executive Director Tawni Thomson reviewed her report submitted to Council and updated Council with their recent activites. 9)
NORTHERN INYO HOSPITAL QUARTERLY UPDATE
9.A)
Northern Inyo Hospital Quarterly Update Report – February 26, 2024 Bishop City Council Update from NIHD 2024 02 26
A report of Northern Inyo Healthcare District’s current programs, finances, and activities was presented to Council by Northern Inyo Hospital Chief Executive Officer Stephen DelRossi. 10)
PRESENTATIONS
10.A)
Food Recycling Program / Bishop Community Composting at the Community Garden - Presented by Community Garden Assistant Manager Laura Mogg and Composting Site Manager Paula Salguero.
Video Presentation Link - Bishop Community Garden & Composting 2024 02 26 Community Garden Assistant Manager Laura Mogg and Composting Site Manager Paula Salguero shared a video with Council on the Community Garden's Composting Program, and reported to Council on their recent activities to engage people to bring their food scraps to their compost program. 11)
PUBLIC HEARING
11.A)
Public Hearing – City Fees and Charges for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Cover Page
Notice of Public Hearing
Staff Memorandums on Proposed Changes
Proposed Resolution Amending and Restating Certain Fees and Charges Mayor Garcia announced this item and opened the public hearing. No public comments were made. Mayor Garcia closed the public hearing.
After a brief discussion by Council, Council asked staff to clarify all fees as either one time fees or annual fees on Exhibit A of the proposed resolution related to City Fees and Charges for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
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. 12)
CONSENT CALENDAR FOR APPROVAL/FILING
12.A)
Monthly Budget Report for the Month of January 2024
Monthly Budget Report for the Month of January 2024
12.B)
Financial Reports for the Month of January 2024
Bank Reconciliation Report for January 2024
Combined Cash Report for January 2024
Investment Portfolio Report for January 2024
Warrant Register Report for January 2024
12.C)
Approval for Refunding of $388.00 in Erroneously Assessed Business License Tax Cover Page
12.D)
Vendor Agreement between the City of Bishop and Sportsites Inc.
Cover Page
Sportsites Agreement 2024
12.E)
Approve Proposed Resolution that Amends the Retirement Medical Benefit for Newly Elected City Councilmembers.
Cover Page
Resolution No. 2024-(xx) Regarding City Council Benefits 2024 02 26.pdf 13)
CONSENT CALENDAR FOR INFORMATION/FILING
13.A)
Alcoholic Beverage License Application for 621 W. Line Street Ste 101, Bishop, California 93514 (Owner: GRANDMA’S SEASONING RESTAURANT LLC) ABC Application - 621 W. Line Street Ste 101 received 2024 02 15
13.B)
Alcoholic Beverage License Application for 112 N. Main Street, Bishop, California 93514 (Owner: SCHAT, ERICK FRANKLIN) ABC Application - 112 N. Main St. received 2024 02 15
13.C)
Planning Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice - February 27, 2024 2024-02-27 Cancellation Notice
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej
Seconded/Councilmember Ellis
Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Ellis, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Kong, Mayor Garcia Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
14)
NEW BUSINESS
14.A)
A Resolution Relating to Designating an Authorized Representative for a Financial Assistance Application with the State Water Resources Control Board Cover Page
No. 2024-(xx) Authorizing Resolution for CWSRF
Public Works Director Gamino reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz
Seconded/Mayor Pro Tem Kong
Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve a resolution relating to designating an authorized representative for a financial assistance application with the State Water Resources Control Board by title only.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF BISHOP AS THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR THE BISHOP AREA WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECT.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Ellis, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Kong, Mayor Garcia Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
City Attorney Pucci requested that the Council reopen Item 11 - Public Hearing. Not for the public hearing which was already held but to address the resolution relating to the fees.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej Seconded/Mayor Garcia Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to reopen Item 11.
Motion passed 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmember Ellis, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Kong, Mayor Garcia Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Item 11. Public Hearing
11.A) Public Hearing - City Fees and Charges for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 - Reopened for Council discussion.
City Attorney Pucci reported that Item 11 Public Hearing was conducted and as a procedural correction, asked that Council consider making a motion to approve the direction given to staff.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej Seconded/Councilmember Ellis Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to pass the fee structure with the comments Council made earlier.
Motion passed 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmember Ellis, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Kong, Mayor Garcia Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
14.B)
A Resolution Authorizing Application to and Participation in the Prohousing Designation Program Cover Page
City of Bishop Preliminary Prohousing Score Sheet Project ProposaL Resolution Prohousing Designation Program
Assistant Planner Budnyk reviewed this item with Council.
Public comments were made by:
Tony Perkins, a Bishop resident, spoke in support of the Prohousing Designation. However, he asked that if the City were to be awarded this designation or anything in relation to this issue, he encouraged the City Council not to use Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) for Short Term Rentals (STR); Instead ADUs should be used for personal reasons and long-term rentals not for STRs in order to not exacerbate the housing problem we already have.
No further public comments were made.
Council and staff spoke in support of Tony Perkin's comments.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to adopt the Resolution, by title only, authorizing the Planning Departments to submit a Prohousing Designation Program application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and if the application is approved by HCD, to execute all documents deemed necessary or appropriate to participate in the Prohousing Designation Program.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO AND PARTICIPATION IN THE PROHOUSING DESIGNATION PROGRAM Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Ellis, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Kong, Mayor Garcia Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
15)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Muchovej, with consensus from Council, asked for a presentation on water districts in order to educate the public on what they are responsible for and to look at the feasibility of consolidations in favor of our rate payers such as the Brookside consolidation.
Councilmember Schwartz, with consensus from Council, asked that staff bring back a discussion on ballfield use fees and field access.
No further requests were made for future agendas items. 16)
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended. 17)
ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Jose Garcia, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk