CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 28, 2025
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Kong called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:00 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 Schwartz. 4)
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Freundt
Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz
Mayor Kong
ABSENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
OTHERS PRESENT: Deston Dishion, City Administrator; Robin Picken, City Clerk; Russell Hildebrand, Deputy City Attorney; Adam Marcellin, Fire Department Volunteer Battalion Chief; Bret Russell, Fire Chief; Nate Derr, Police Chief; and Nora Gamino, Public Works Director 5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments were made by:
Pastor Tim Homan, of the Grace Lutheran Church in Bishop, invited all to attend their National Prayer Day on May 1, 2025, and a free mariachi concert on May 31, 2025. He then recited a prayer.
No further public comments were made.
Mayor Kong announced that City staff has alerted the Council of a need to add an additional urgency item to the Council agenda tonight. The item requested to be added is the consideration of reappointment of Andrew Gaidus to the Planning Commission. Pursuant to the rules of procedure staff has represented that the need to add the item requested came to the attention of staff after the agenda was posted and published and that there is an urgent need to add the item, namely of the Planning Commission to conduct its required business. City Attorney Pucci has advised that to add the item requires a 4/5ths vote of the Council, so tonight that means a unanimous vote since there are only four Council Members present.
Mayor Kong asked for a motion and second to add the emergency item.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to free form to add the urgency item [Council consideration to reappoint Andrew Gaidus to the Planning Commission] to the agenda.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
Mayor Kong announced that this item will now be added to the agenda under New Business as Item C
and will be handled as any new business item would.
6)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Reports from the Fire, Police, Public Works, and Administration Departments were given on each of their department's activities including upcoming and ongoing projects. 7)
BISHOP AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INFORMATION CENTER UPDATE
7.A)
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Update Report - April 28, 2025 BACCIC April 28 2025 City Council Report
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Executive Director Tawni Thomson reviewed her report with Council and provided some additional information to Council on the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center activities. 8)
PRESENTATIONS
8.A)
PRESENTATION - Eastern Sierra Council of Governments Semi-Annual Update ESCOG Overview - April 28 2025
California Jobs First - 40 Projects Awarded Catalyst Funding by Governing Council - Dated March 24, 2025 Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) Executive Director Elaine Kabala provided Council with a report on ESCOG's current activities as well as their upcoming and ongoing projects. 9)
PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION
9.A)
Public Hearing and First Reading and Introduction of an Ordinance to Amend Section 2.24.020 of the Bishop Code of Ordinances, Relating to the Planning Commission; and Adoption of a Resolution Making Corresponding Changes to Council Standards and Procedures.
Cover Page
Ordinance - Relating to the Planning Commission
Resolution - Relating to the Planning Commission
City Administrator Dishion reviewed this item with Council.
Mayor Kong opened the public hearing.
No public comments were made.
Mayor Kong closed the public hearing.
Motion/Councilmember Freundt
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Freundt made a motion to approve the first reading and introduction of the proposed ordinance by title only and a resolution, to become effective on the effective date of the ordinance.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2.24 OF THE CITY OF BISHOP CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE CITY OF BISHOP CITY COUNCIL STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, PERTAINING TO THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Kong announced that Item 10.F is being pulled from the consent calendar.
10.A)
City Council Meeting Minutes
Minutes 2025 03 06 Special
Minutes 2025 03 10
10.B)
Part-time IT Specialist Job Description
PT - IT Specialist DRAFT 04 28 2025
10.C)
Part-time Pool Cashier Job Description
PT Pool Cashier DRAFT 4 08 2025
10.D)
Full-time Administrative Support Assistant Job Description FT Admin Support Assistant DRAFT 04 28 2025
10.E)
Full-time Salary Schedule July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 and Part-time Salary Schedule July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 2024-2025 Full-time Salary Schedule - 2025 4 28
2024-2025 Part-time Wage Scale - 2025 4 28
10.F)
Resolution - Relating to Opposing the Local Social and Economic Impacts That Will Result From Federal Funding Cuts Resolution - Related to Opposing Social and Economic Impacts That Result From Federal Funding Cuts No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Councilmember Freundt
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of Item F.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
11)
NEW BUSINESS
11.A)
Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Lechowicz & Tseng for a Water and Sewer Rate Study Cover Page
L&T Proposal for Bishop Rate Study
Water_Sewer Rate Study PSA
Public Works Director Gamino reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz
Seconded/Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve Staff recommends approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants in the not to exceed amount of $58,600 for the completion of a Water and Sewer Rate Study, including Proposition 218 compliance support.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
11.B)
Approval of Procurement for Variable Frequency Drive and Transformer Installation at the City Wastewater Treatment Plant Cover Page
2025 Sewer VFD Purchase Order 4.25
Eldridge Estimate
Backup documentation on quotes
Public Works Director Gamino reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to approve the procurement and installation of a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and transformer by Eldridge Electric and Son, Inc. in the amount of $29,518.37; and approve the corresponding budget adjustment; and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the necessary purchase agreement.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
11C) Reappointment of Andrew Gaidus to the Planning Commission City Administrator Dishion reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz
Seconded/Mayor Kong
Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve the reappointment of Andrew Gaidus (for a four-year term) to the Planning Commission.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Freundt, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Kong Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Muchovej
City Administrator Dishion also advised Council that he spoke to Planning Commissioner Robert Lowthorp, who resides outside the city limits, and Commissioner Lowthorp expressed an interest to retire from the Planning Commission and is in agreement with this change in the ordinance. 12)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Schwartz, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back a discussion to adopt "California’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation & Wildfire Resilience" by resolution at their next meeting. 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 7:22 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, May 12, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Karen Kong, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk