CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 14, 2025
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Kong called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 5:18 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 2)
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Freundt
Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz
Mayor Kong
ABSENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
OTHERS PRESENT: Deston Dishion, City Administrator; Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney; and Karey Poole, Community Services Administrative Assistant 3)
PUBLIC COMMENT PRIOR TO CLOSED SESSION
No public comments were made.
4)
CLOSED SESSION
4.A)
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9 - Name of Case: Waasdorp vs. City of Bishop, Case No: 24UC71599 Closed Session started at 5:19 p.m. Closed Session ended: 5:59 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej joined the meeting's Closed Session at 5:26 p.m. 5)
OPEN SESSION
Mayor Kong called the open session of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 6)
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Kong announced a moment of silence.
7)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Garcia. 8)
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Freundt
Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz
Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
Mayor Kong
ABSENT:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT: Deston Dishion, City Administrator; Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney; Bret Russell, Fire Chief; Nate Derr, Police Chief; Nora Gamino, Public Works Director; Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager; and Karey Poole, Community Services Administrative Assistant 9)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments were made by:
Donna Bird of Bishop Mule Days thanked the City Council and the City of Bishop for their generous support and requested that the City Council consider declaring the week of Mule Days (May 19-25, 2025) as Bishop Mule Days Week as the Mayor once did back in the 1970's.
Officer Torey Michener of the Bishop California Highway Patrol (CHP) introduced their new command staff, Captain Cameron Broyles, Sergeant Tyler Cockrell, and Sergeant Vince Roeber to Council. Two other command staff members, Sergeant Ryan Reeder and Sergeant EJ Murphy, were announced but were not present.
No further public comments were made.
10)
REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION AS REQUIRED BY LAW Mayor Kong announced that no reportable action was taken. 11)
PROCLAMATIONS
11.A)
Proclamation - Declaring April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Bishop - Requested by Wild Iris Family Counseling and Crisis Center and CASA of the Eastern Sierra Executive Director Dominic Hays, MSW.
Proclamation - Child Abuse Prevention Month - April 2025 Council read the proclamation. Court Appointed Special Advocated (CASA) of Eastern Sierra Program Manager Brandy Taylor accepted the proclamation on behalf of Wild Iris.
Brandy Taylor also took the opportunity to share further information about CASA, a Wild Iris program, and informed Council of several community events they have planned that are all open to the public.
11.B)
Proclamation - Declaring April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the City of Bishop - Requested by Wild Iris Family Counseling and Crisis Center and CASA of the Eastern Sierra Executive Director Dominic Hays, MSW.
Proclamation - Sexual Assault Awareness Month - April 2025 Council read the proclamation. Wild Iris Domestic Violence Sexual Assault (DVSA) Programs Director Kyle Osland accepted the proclamation on behalf of Wild Iris.
Kyle Osland also took the opportunity to explain the importance of this proclamation in order to bring public awareness to the topic of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Kyle Osland then thanked their community partners, Police Department, Fire Department, and City Council; and shared information on their hotline program, and Denim Day in April. 12)
PRESENTATIONS
12.A)
PRESENTATION - 2025 Air Service Update
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Inyo County 2025 Air Service Update - April 14 2025
Inyo County Deputy Public Works Director-Airports Ashley Helms and County Administrative Officer Nate Greenberg provided Council with an update on Bishop Airport Air Service. 13)
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.
13.A)
Fire Department Report - Fire Chief Bret Russell
Fire Department Report - March 2025
13.B)
Police Department Report - Police Chief Nate Derr
Police Department Report - March 2025
Police Chief Derr had Officer Lawson in attendance to address some questions from Council regarding the School Resource Officer program.
13.C)
Public Works Department Report - Public Works Director Nora Gamino Public Works Department Report - March 2025
13.D)
Community Services Department Report - Community Services Manager Daniel McElroy Community Services Department Report - March 2025
13.E)
Planning Department Report - Principal Planner Ana Budnyk Planning Department Report - February 2025
13.F)
City Administrator Report - City Administrator Deston Dishion City Administrator Report - March 2025
14)
COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business and activities. 15)
NORTHERN INYO HOSPITAL QUARTERLY UPDATE REPORT
15.A)
Northern Inyo Hospital Quarterly Update Report
Northern Inyo Healthcare District Report - April 14 2025 A report of Northern Inyo Healthcare District’s current programs, finances, and activities was presented to Council by Northern Inyo Healthcare District Chief Business Development & Human Resources Officer Alison Murray and Chief Financial Officer Andrea Mossman. 16)
CONSENT CALENDAR
16.A)
February 2025 Budget Report
February 2025 Budget Report
16.B)
February 2025 Financial Reports
February 2025 Bank Reconciliation Report
February 2025 Combined Cash Report
February 2025 Investment Portfolio Report
February 2025 Warrant Register Report
16.C)
COPS Fund Budget Adjustment Request
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16.D)
Public Works Budget Adjustment Request
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16.E)
Refund of Business License Credit Balance to Licensee
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16.F)
Resolution - Conflict of Interest Code
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Resolution No. 2024-19 - The City’s Current Conflict of Interest Code A Proposed Resolution Pertaining to the Local Conflict of Interest Code and Repealing Resolution No. 2024-19
16.G)
Propane Services Letter of Extension
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Propane Services Letter of Extension 3/18/2025
16.H)
City Council Special Meeting and Regular Meeting Cancellation Notice March 11, 2025 Special Meeting and March 24, 2025 Regular Meeting - Cancellation Notice
16.I)
Planning Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice
March 25, 2025 - Cancellation Notice
16.J)
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Cancellation Notice March 26, 2025 - Cancellation Notice
16.K)
Building Permits Issued Report
Building Permits Issued Report - March 2025
No public comments were made.
Motion/Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej made a motion to approve the consent calendar.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
17)
NEW BUSINESS
17.A)
Purchase of a Used Type 3 Fire Engine
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Fire Chief Russell reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to approve and authorize the City Administrator to purchase a used Type 3 Fire Engine for a total cost not to exceed $150,000.00.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
18)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej asked when our current insurance contract expires and when is it renewed? City Administrator Dishion responded that he would find out and report back.
Councilmember Schwartz, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back for Council consideration a proposed resolution relating to opposing the local impacts to forest health and wildfire mitigation that will result from federal funding and staffing cuts to our public lands at a future meeting.
No further requests were made for future agendas items. 19)
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended. 20)
ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Karen Kong, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk