CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2025
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Kong 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 Kong announced a moment of silence.
3)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Freundt. 4)
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Freundt
Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz
Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
Mayor Kong
ABSENT:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT: Deston Dishion, City Administrator; Robin Picken, City Clerk; Russell Hildebrand, Deputy City Attorney; Bret Russell, Fire Chief; Josh Ellsworth, Police Lieutenant; Nora Gamino, Public Works Director; and Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager 5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comments were made by:
Tim Homan, Pastor for the Grace Lutheran Church in Bishop, recited a prayer.
Doug Wiele and Nettie Oliverio, of Foothill Partners, Inc. located in El Dorado Hills, California and in Reno, Nevada, introduced themselves and invited everyone to join their public meeting on March 11, 2025 starting at 9:30 AM at C5 Studios. This public meeting is being held to reach out to the Bishop community on their proposed project located at 910 North Main Street. After trying for 25 years to purchase this property, they are finally in escrow. They plan to tear down the old KMART building, and put up two to three merchants and worker housing, along with local food, beverage, and parking. In closing, they stated that they look forward to sharing their plans with the public at their March 11th meeting.
Jess Blackwell, of High Sierra Energy Foundation, provided Council with an update on their organization and the current energy efficiency project they are working on with the Community Services Department in relation to the new City pool pump purchase. Jess Blackwell also highlighted energy efficiency projects that they have had the opportunity to work with the City of Bishop on in the past.
No further public comments were made.
6)
PROCLAMATIONS
6.A)
Proclamation - Declaring March 2025 as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in the City of Bishop - Requested by National Multiple Sclerosis Society Ambassador Melinda Livermont.
Proclamation - Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month - March 2025 Council read the proclamation. National Multiple Sclerosis Society Ambassador Melinda "Mel" Livermont thanked the Council and accepted the proclamation. 7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
PRESENTATION - 2025 Bishop Fire Department Volunteer Firefighter Awards - Presented by Fire Chief Bret Russell.
Fire Chief Bret Russell introduced this item, shared a video highlighting the Bishop Fire Department's activities in 2024, and presented the following awards:
Tabatha Ordonez – Rookie of the Year
Josh Ellsworth – Rookie of the Year
Hector Martinez – Firefighter of the Year
Hector Martinez – Recognition of Officer Excellence
Jim Reynolds - Recognition of Officer Excellence
Jason Forehand - Recognition of Officer Excellence
Adam Marcelling - Recognition of Officer Excellence
Mandi Grisham – Fire Chief’s Award
Adam Marcelling – Promoted to Battalion Chief (from Captain) Mandi Grisham – Promoted to Engineer (from Firefighter) Caleb Kile – Promoted to Firefighter (from Probationary Firefighter)
7.B)
PRESENTATION - 2024 State of the Arts Report - Presented by Inyo Council for the Arts Executive Director Sharon Freilich.
Inyo Council for the Arts - State of the Arts 2024 Report Inyo Council for the Arts Executive Director Sharon Freilich provided a presentation to Council on the Inyo Council for the Arts activities for 2024. 8)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Reports from the Fire, Police, Public Works, Community Services, and Administration Departments were given on each department’s activities including upcoming and ongoing projects.
8.A)
Fire Department Report - Fire Chief Bret Russell
Fire Department Report - February 2025
8.B)
Police Department Report - Police Chief Nate Derr
Police Department Report - February 2025
Police Lieutenant Ellsworth provided an update to Council since Police Chief Derr was attending a conference and unable to attend this meeting.
8.C)
Public Works Department Report - Public Works Director Nora Gamino Public Works Department Report - February 2025
8.D)
Community Services Department Report - Community Services Manager Daniel McElroy Community Services Department Report - February 2025
8.E)
Planning Department Report - Assistant Planner Anastasiia Budnyk Planning Department Report - February 2025
8.F)
City Administrator Report - City Administrator Deston Dishion City Administrator Report - February 2025
9)
COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE
Mayor Kong reported that Second District Supervisor Griffiths is ill and unable to attend this meeting. However, Supervisor Griffiths wanted to share with everyone that he went to Washington D.C. to advocate for federal projects and for wildfire projects. 10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
City Council Meeting Minutes
Minutes 2025 02 10
Minutes 2025 02 24
10.B)
Budget Adjustment Proposal
Cover Page
10.C)
Police Department Flock Safety Contract
Cover Page
ALPR policy
Flock contract
Master Service Agreement
10.D)
A Resolution to Extend the Term of the Existing Program of Work Known as the Community Economic Resiliency Fund Pilot Cover Page
Econ Dev Resolution_phase 2 _member agencies_FINAL (002).pdf
10.E)
Principal Planner Job Description and Full-Time Salary Schedule Cover Page
Principal Planner Job Description
2024-2025 Full Time Salary Schedule
10.F)
General Plan Annual Progress Report
Cover Page
City of Bishop General Plan Annual Progress Report 2024 City of Bishop Housing Element Tables 2024
10.G)
Building Permits Issued Report
Building Permits Issued Report - February 2025
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz
Seconded/Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
11)
NEW BUSINESS
11.A)
Award Construction Bid for the Bishop Park Pool Resurfacing Project Cover Page
Bishop Park Pool Resurfacing Project
Pool Resurfacing Addendum1
Addendum 1 Bid Items Sheet
Community Services Manager McElroy and City Administrator Dishion reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
After a brief discussion on clarifying the proposed motion to authorize the expenditure in a not-to-exceed amount of $298,921.00 including a 10% contingency of $29,892.10. A motion was made by Councilmember Freundt.
Motion/Councilmember Freundt
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Freundt made a motion to approve and award the Bishop Park Pool Resurfacing Project to Dave Gross Enterprises Inc. dba Adams Pool Specialties in the amount of $298.921.00; Authorize the construction contract with Dave Gross Enterprises Inc. dba Adams Pool Specialties; and Authorize the expenditure in a not-to-exceed amount of $298,921.00 including a 10% contingency of $29,892.10.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
12)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej and Councilmember Garcia, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back a discussion at a future meeting on options from staff and legal counsel on what the City may or may not have available to avoid issues relating to high vacancies of second homeowner properties such as deed restrictions. No further requests were made for future agendas items. 13)
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended. 14)
ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:27 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Karen Kong, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk