CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 9, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Garcia 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.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Garcia announced a moment of silence.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Ellis. 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; Bret Russell, Fire Chief; Nate Derr, Police Chief; Nora Gamino, Public Works Director; Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager; and Jessica Ortiz, Administrative/Accounting Assistant
5) PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments were made by Chris Costello, of the Eastern Sierra Pastors Association, who recited a prayer. No further public comments were made.
PRESENTATIONS
6.A) 2024 Employee Service Awards - Council will recognize eight city. employees this year for their years of service. James Moffett for 20 years of service; Karey Poole, Daniel McElroy, and Waylon Cleland for 15 years of service;_Cody Lawson and Jana Currie for 10 years of service; and David Scobie and Grant Zemel for 5 years of service. 2024 Service Awardees
December 9, 2025 Page 1
Council and Police Chief Derr recognized Police Officer Cody Lawson for 10 years of service; Police Officer Grant Zemel for 5 years of service; and Police Sergeant David Scobie for 5 years of Service.
Council and City Administrator Dishion recognized Personnel/Payroll and Benefits Specialist Jana Currie for 10 years of service; and Community Services Manager Daniel McElroy for 15 years of service.
Council and Community Services Manager McElroy recognized Parks Supervisor Waylon Cleland for 15 years of service; and Community Services Administrative Assistant Karey Poole for 15 years of service.
Council and Public Works Director Gamino recognized Public Works Maintenance Worker James Moffett for 20 years of service.
7) DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Reports from the Fire, Police, Public Works, Community Services, Planning, and Administration Departments were given on each department's activities including upcoming and ongoing projects.
7.A) Fire Department Report - Fire Chief Bret Russell
Fire Department Report - November 2024
7.B) Police Department Report - Police Chief Nate Derr
Police Department Report - November 2024
7.C) Public Works Department Report - Public Works Director Nora Gamino Public Works Department Report - November 2024
7.D) Community Services Department Report - Community Services Manager Daniel McElroy.
Community Services Department Report - November 2024
7.E) Planning Department Report - Assistant Planner Ana Budnyk Planning Department - November 2024
City Administrator Report - City Administrator Deston Dishion City Administrator Report - November 2024
COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities.
11) PRESENTATIONS AND SHORT RECESS
December 9, 2025
Mayor Garcia announced that before Council addresses Item 9 - Consent Calendar, Council will now go to Item 11A. - COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS TO JIM ELLIS and invited everyone to join the Council for some cake and coffee at the end of tonight's meeting to celebrate outgoing Councilmember Ellis for his years of service and our newly elected officials.
Council expressed their appreciation to Jim Ellis for his years of service and leadership and to his wife Cami Ellis for her unwaivering support to her husband throughout his years of service. Mayor Garcia presented Jim Ellis with a City plaque and gavel, Councilmember Muchovej presented Jim Ellis with a City Coin and City Tile, Councilmember Schwartz presented Jim Ellis' wife Cami Ellis with a bouquet of flowers, and Mayor Pro Tem Kong presented Jim Ellis with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from U.S. Representative Kevin Kiley and announced that all are invited to join a special recognition being made to Jim Ellis from California State Senator (District 4) Marie Alvarado-Gil here in the Council Chambers on December 10, 2025 at 3:15 p.m.
Jim Ellis expressed his appreciation and thanked everyone for their support and recognition.
9) CONSENT CALENDAR
9.A) 2025 City of Bishop City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission Meetings
2025 COUNCIL & COMMISSION MEETINGS
9.B) Grant in Support Awards for Review/Approval
Cover Page
2024-2025 Ad Hoc Committee Recommended Award List
9.C) Budget Adjustment Request - Community_Services_(Building_and Grounds)
Cover Page
Bishop Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Proposal
Sole Source Justification Finance Director
Quality Inyo Concrete Quote
9.D) Fire Captain Job Description, Fire Captain Job Analysis, and Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Monthly Salary Schedule
ET Fire Captain Job Description 12 09 2024
FT Fire Captain JDEFA 12 09 2024
EY 2024-2025 Full Time Monthly Salary Schedule 12 09 2024 December 9, 2025 Page 3
9.E) Services Agreement Between the City of Bishop and the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Cover Page
City and Chamber Draft Agreement FY 24-25
9.F) Professional Service Agreement with Mammoth Lakes Housing Cover Page
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH MAMMOTH LAKES
HOUSING
Archive_MLH Agreement_Long Term Monitoring Willow Plaza Apts Archive_MLH Agreement_CDBG Grant 09-STBG-6407
9.G) Building Permits Issued Report
Permit Issued Report - November 2024
9.H) Planning Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice
November 26, 2024 - Cancellation Notice
City Attorney Pucci reviewed this item with Council.
Prior to addressing Item 9-Consent Calendar, both Mayor Garcia and Councilmember Muchovej recused themselves from taking action on the entire Consent Calendar- Agenda Item 9 based upon their membership and positions on the boards of grantees listed under Item 9B on the Consent Calendar. Since there were no discussion items on the Consent Calendar, Mayor Garcia and Councilmember Muchovej were not asked to excuse themselves from the room. Mayor Pro Tem Kong lead the meeting for Agenda Item 9 - Consent Calendar, and Mayor Garcia proceeded to lead the meeting again starting with Agenda Item 10 - General Municipal Election - Oath of Office and Reorganization.
Mayor Pro Tem Kong asked for any public comment. No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Ellis Seconded/Gouncilmember Schwartz Councilmember Ellis made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion passed 3-0
Ayes: Councilmember Ellis, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Recused: Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Garcia
10) GERA ANCIPAL ELECTION - OATH OF OFFICE AND
REORGANIZATION
December 9, 2025
10.A) City of Bishop General Municipal Election Results November 52024 General Election City of Bishop - Statement of Votes Cast Inyo County Clerk-Recorder Danielle Sexton reviewed this item with Council and presented the results of the City of Bishop Municipal Election to Council.
Clerk Recorder Sexton also took the opportunity to express her gratitude to the City of Bishop for hosting an additional in-person voting place for Inyo County this year located in the City Auditorium and mentioned that she received many positive comments from the poll workers and the public for the additional voting location in There were no questions from Council and no public comments were made.
Council received the results of the City of Bishop General Municipal Election held on November 5, 2024.
10.B) A Resolution Reciting the Fact of the General Municipal Election Held on November 5, 2024 and Declaring the Result and Such Other Matters as Provided by Law
Resolution No. 2024-XX Declaring Results of Elections
City Clerk Picken reviewed this item with Council. No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Muchovej Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to approve Council consideration to adopt the proposed resolution as presented.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, RECITING THE FACT OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024 DECLARING THE RESULT AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS PROVIDED BY LAW.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Ellis, Councilmember Schwartz, Councilmember Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Kong, Mayor Garcia
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
10.C) Oath of Office and Delivery of Certificates of Election City Clerk Picken administered the oath of office and delivered the Certificates of Election to Dennis Freundt, Jose Garcia, and Karen Kong for the three four-year term City Council seats, and to Cheryl Underhill for the one four-year term City Treasurer seat who were all elected on November 5, 2024.
Outgoing Councilmember Ellis left the dais and newly elected Councilmember Freundt took his seat at the dais.
10.D) Call for Selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem
December 9, 2025 Page 5
Cover Page
City Administrator Dishion opened the nominations for Mayor.
Councilmember Schwartz nominated Mayor Pro Tem Karen Kong for Mayor.
No further nominations were made.
No public comments were made.
Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to close the nominations. Councilmember Schwartz seconded the motion.
Motion passed 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmembers Freundt, Schwartz, Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Kong, and Mayor Garcia
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Councilmember Muchovej made a motion to elect Karen Kong for Mayor of the City of Bishop. Councilmember Schwartz seconded the motion.
Motion passed 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmembers Freundt, Schwartz, Muchovej, Mayor Pro Tem Kong, and Mayor Garcia
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
No public comments were made.
Newly elected Mayor Kong presented outgoing Mayor Garcia with a personalized gavel for serving as Mayor from 12/11/2023 - 12/9/2024.
Mayor Kong opened the nominations for Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Kong nominated Councilmember Muchovej for Mayor Pro Tem.
No further nominations were made.
No public comments were made.
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to close the nominations. Councilmember Schwartz seconded the motion.
Motion passed 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmembers Freundt, Schwartz, Muchovej, Garcia, and Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to elect Stephen Muchovej for Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Bishop. Mayor Kong seconded the motion.
Motion passed 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmembers Freundt, Schwartz, Muchovej, Garcia, and Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
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No public comments were made.
10.E) Discuss Mayoral Committee and Agency Appointments For Council Review - 2024 Council Committee & Agency Appointments it diministrator Panion renewed the fee to court coroner.
Agency Appointments list.
After a review by Council, and adding two committees to the list as advised by City staff, the following appointments were made:
Bishop Area Wastewater Authority (BAWA) - Members: Muchovej and Schwartz; Alternate: Freundt
Add: BISHOP FIRE DEPARTMENT AD HOC COMMITTEE - Members: Muchovej and Garcia; Alternate: Freundt
California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA) - Member: Freundt; Alternate:
Schwartz
City/County Liaison Committee Bishop City Council and Inyo Board of Supervisors - Members: Kong and Garcia; Alternate: Muchovej
Desert Mountain Division and League of California Cities Voting Delegate - Member:
Garcia; Alternate: Kong
Eastern Sierra Council of Governments Joint Powers Authority (ESCOG JPA) - Members: Muchovej and Schwartz; Alternate: Kong
Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) - Members: Freundt and Schwartz Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC) - Member: Kong; Alternate: Fire Chief Add: GRANTS IN SUPPORT AD HOC COMMITTEE - Members: Freundt and Kong; Alternate: Garcia
Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee (IGLCBC) - Member: Muchovej; Alternate: Freundt
Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) - Members: Muchovej and Kong; Alternate: Garcia
Local Transportation Commission (LTC) - Members: Muchovej and Garcia; Alternate:
Kong; Non-Council Rep: Celeste Berg - No term limit
Owens Valley Groundwater Authority (OVGA) - Member: Kong; Alternate: Garcia Remote Access Network (RAN) - Member: Schwartz
Public comments were made by Inyo County Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths who asked to repeat all appointments made. City Clerk Picken read the above list of appointments made. No further public comments were made.
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to approve the requested modifications (noted above) to the 2024 Council Committee and Agency Appointments to become effective immediately. Councilmember Freundt seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmembers Freundt, Garcia, Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej, and Mayor Kong
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
12) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
December 9, 2025 Page 7
Mayor Kong, with consensus from Council, asked staff to invite Eastern Sierra Tri- County Fairgrounds Interim Fairgrounds Manager Mike Francesconi to present Council with an update on their recent activities and on the two newly appointed Board Members made by the State for the Fairgrounds at a future meeting.
No further requests were made for future agendas items. 13) COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings, community and employee events that they attended.
14) ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:22 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled Pinea
Attest:
Robin Picken, City Clerk
December 9, 2025 Page 8