CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
MAY 8, 2025
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Kong called the special meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 8:05 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 2)
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; and Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney 3)
PUBLIC COMMENT PRIOR TO CLOSED SESSION
No public comments were made.
4)
CLOSED SESSION
4.A)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION pursuant to Government Code § 54957 – Title: City Administrator Closed Session began at 8:06 a.m. Closed Session ended at 8:59 a.m. 5)
OPEN SESSION
Mayor Kong called the open session of the Bishop City Council Special Meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 6)
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; Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney; Ethan Aukee, Finance Director; Bret Russell, Fire Chief; Nate Derr, Police Chief; Nora Gamino, Public Works Director; Anastasiia Budnyk, Principal Planner; Dan McElroy, Community Services Manager; and Jessica Ortiz, Administrative Support Assistant 7)
REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION AS REQUIRED BY LAW To report on actions taken in Closed Session as required by law, Mayor Kong announced that direction was given to staff. 8)
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS
Public comments were made by:
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Executive Director Tawni Thomson spoke in support of the City's proposed strategic plan posted for today's meeting and thanked the Council for their continued support.
No further public comments were made.
9)
STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP
City Administrator Dishion, Public Works Director Gamino, and Principal Planner Budnyk introduced this item to Council.
9.A)
Strategic Planning Workshop Outline and Related Documents
1. Reaffirm Priorities, Budget, Next Steps
Strategic Plan 2023-2028 - Updated May 2025
Administration Department Projects
Finance Department Projects
Community Services Department Projects
Fire Department Projects
Planning Department Projects
Police Department Projects
Public Works Department Projects
Field 6 Enhancement Project Life Cycle Cost Analysis
FY 25-26 Strategic Plan Financial Commitment Proposal
FY 25-26 Strategic Plan Financial Overview
Fire Chief Russell, City Administrator Dishion, Finance Director Aukee, Community Services Manager McElroy, Principal Planner Budnyk, Police Chief Derr, and Public Works Director Gamino each reviewed their respective department documents listed above with Council.
Mayor Kong announced a recess for lunch at approximately 12:05 p.m. Mayor Kong reconvened the meeting at 12:53 p.m.
Council directed staff to continue work on the following projects: Whitney Alley and Main St. Infrastructure Design, Proposal/Master Plan for City-Owned Properties to be Developed for Housing, City Brand Design, Streets & Sidewalks, Pavement Preservation, Police Department Camera System, City Park Field 6 Resurfacing and Lights Original Assessment, Resurfacing of the Park Pool, and Wayfinding Master Plan.
Council also directed staff to work on each of their Fiscal Year 2025-2026 proposed department projects as discussed.
Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposed Department Project Titles:
City Park Field 6 Resurfacing and Lights DECISION POINT, Tennis & Pickleball Court Resurfacing, Fields 1 and 2 Parking Lot Drainage, Fire Department/Police Department Station Improvement, Replace F550 with Flat Bed and Plow Equipment, Police Department Tru-Narc, Police Department Crime Scene Scanner, New Municipal Well, S. Warren St. Construction: CITY CONTRIBUTION, S. Warren St. Construction: CASH FLOW NEEDED FOR REIMBURSABLE EARMARK, Addition of a Part-Time Assistant Fire Chief, Addition of a Part-Time Parking/Code Enforcement Employee, Update the Open Space and Safety Elements of General Plan, Cross-connection Control Plan & Specialist, Streets Sign Replacement & Inventory, Water Fund Infrastructure Upgrades, Disaster Funds - CIPP, W. Line Water Main Replacement: ESTIMATED DEBT AND DEBT SERVICE, W. Line Water Main Replacement: CITY CASH CONTRIBUTION, W. Line Water Main Replacement: GENERAL FUND INTERFUND LOAN FOR INTERIM FINANCING OF CONSTRUCTION, BAWA Planning and Design, Used Type 3 Fire Engine: CONTINGENCY, Water and Sewer Rate Study, Pylon Sign Replacement Program, and Increased Staffing and Service at City Pool. 10)
ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 3:55 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, May 12, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Karen Kong, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Robin Picken, City Clerk