CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 9, 2026
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Muchovej called the meeting of the Bishop City Council to order at 5:01 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 2)
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Councilmember Kong
Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz
Mayor Pro Tem Freundt
Mayor Muchovej
ABSENT:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT: Pam Foster, 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)
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(c): 1 Potential Case
4.B)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION pursuant to Government Code § 54957 – Title: City Administrator Closed Session began at 5:02 p.m. Closed Session ended at 5:59 p.m. 5)
OPEN SESSION
Mayor Muchovej called the open session of the Bishop City Council to order at 6:02 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 301 West Line Street, Bishop, California. 6)
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Muchovej announced a moment of silence.
7)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Schwartz. 8)
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Freundt
Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz
Mayor Muchovej
Councilmember Kong
ABSENT:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT: Pam Foster, City Administrator; Robin Picken, City Clerk; Dean J. Pucci, City Attorney; Ethan Aukee, Finance Director; Bret Russell, Fire Chief; Nate Derr, Police Chief; and Daniel McElroy, Community Services Manager. 9)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments were made by: Cam Lemons, a local resident, recited a prayer.
No further public comments were made.
10)
REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION AS REQUIRED BY LAW Mayor Muchovej announced that there was no reportable action taken in closed session today. 11)
PRESENTATIONS
11.A)
A Presentation on Air Service - Presented by Mammoth Lakes Tourism Interim Chief Executive Officer Sarah Winters.
Mammoth Lakes Tourism Air Service Presentation - February 9, 2026 Mammoth Lakes Tourism Chairman of the Board Pat Foster introduced Sarah Winters.
Mammoth Lakes Tourism Vice President and Interim Chief Executive Officer Sarah Winters reviewed her presentation with Council. After answering all of Council's questions, Council thanked Sarah Winters for her presentation. 12)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Written reports from the Fire, Police, Public Works, Community Services, Planning, and Administration Departments were submitted on each department's activities including upcoming and ongoing projects. Verbal reports were also given by the Fire, Police, Community Services, and Administration Departments.
12.A)
Fire Department Report - Fire Chief Bret Russell
Fire Department Report - January 2026
12.B)
Police Department Report - Police Chief Nate Derr
Police Department Report - January 2026
12.C)
Public Works Department Report - Public Works Director Nora Gamino Public Works Department Report - January 2026
12.D)
Community Services Department Report - Community Services Manager Daniel McElroy Community Services Department Report - January 2026
12.E)
Planning Department Report - Principal Planner Ana Budnyk Planning Department Report - January 2026
12.F)
City Administrator Report - City Administrator Pam Foster City Administrator Report - January 2026
13)
COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business, activities, and introduced their new Chief Administrative Officer Jay David Frazier. Jay David Frazier greeted Council and Council welcomed Jay David Frazier to the County of Inyo. 14)
CONSENT CALENDAR
14.A)
A Resolution Renewing the City of Bishop’s Military Equipment Policy; AB 481-Military Equipment Annual Inventory and Report Cover Page
Resolution - Renewing AB 481 Military Equipment Policy 2026 02 09 AB 481 inventory 2026
AB 481 report 2026
14.B)
Selection of LED Streetlight Color Temperatures for LS-1 Conversion Cover Page
LED Streetlight Color Temperature Selection Visual Aid
14.C)
Approval of Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Planning Agreement No. D2501005 for the Bishop Area Wastewater Authority Regional Treatment Plant Cover Page
City of Bishop Agreement No. D2501005
BAWA Resolution No. 2024-01
City Resolution No. 2024-05
14.D)
Approval of USDA Rural Development Disaster Grant Agreement for Wastewater Collection System Rehabilitation Cover Page
City of Bishop_USDA RD Agreement
Bishop Letter of Conditions
Bishop CY2022 Disaster Water Grant PER
Resolution No. 2024-16
14.E)
West Line Street Water Main Replacement Project – Approval of Bid Documents and Authorization to Advertise Cover Page
West Line Street Water Main Key Plans
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz
Seconded/Councilmember Garcia
Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve the consent calendar.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
15)
PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION
15.A)
Public Hearing and Adoption of a Resolution Amending and Restating Certain Fees and Charges for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 City Services Cover Page
Notice of Public Hearing
Staff Memorandum on Potential Changes
Proposed Resolution Amending and Restating Certain Fees and Charges Mayor Muchovej opened the public hearing. No public comments were made. Mayor Muchovej closed the public hearing. Council discussed this item and asked that City staff further define "Youth" as "Youth is 4-17 years of age" to their proposed list of fees.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to approve the adoption of the proposed resolution by title only with the requested changes.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AMENDING AND RESTATING CERTAIN FEES AND CHARGES FOR CITY SERVICES Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
16)
NEW BUSINESS
16.A)
Regional Air Service at the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (Bishop) and Potential City Participation in Air Service Subsidy Cover Page
City Administrator Foster reviewed this item with Council. After a full discussion between City Administrator Foster, the Council, and Mammoth Lakes Tourism Chairman of the Board Pat Foster on Air Service, Council directed staff to bring this item back to be addressed at their upcoming strategic planning meeting. Council then thanked Mammoth Lakes Tourism for all of the work they have been doing.
Public comments were made by Joe Pollini, Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce Guest Host Supervisor, spoke to the benefits air service provides for Bishop. No further public comments were made.
16.B)
Citywide Mid-Year Budget Adjustment Proposal
Cover Page
Citywide Mid-Year Budget Adjustment Proposal
Finance Director Aukee reviewed this item with Council. After answering all of Council's questions, Council thanked Finance Director Aukee for all of his work. No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to approve and adopt the Citywide Mid-Year Budget Adjustment Proposal as presented.
Motion passed 5-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
16.C)
Grants in Support Process and Potential Allocation of Unused Funds Cover Page
List of Grants in Support Awards for FY 2025-26
City Administrator Pam Foster reviewed this item with Council. After a full discussion by Council, Mayor Muchovej summarized direction to staff to: Not reopen the Grants in Support funding; Adjust the process next time to include a more robust ranking and scoring rubric tool; and determine later on the amount of funds to be allocated to the Grants in Support program.
Public comments were made by: Eastern Sierra Land Trust Director Mark Drew who asked Council for their consideration for additional allocation of funds; and Eastern Sierra Land Trust Community Connections Program Director Gena Wood thanked the Council for their two years of support and advised the Council that if they were to receive further funds it would go to a mural that would benefit and beautify the city. They both thanked the Council for their consideration. No further public comments were made. 17)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back a discussion at a future meeting on creating a standing subcommittee that meets with the Chamber of Commerce to discuss all topics.
Councilmember Garcia, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back a discussion at a future meeting on building sidewalks and to develop a program to start addressing the City's sidewalks.
Mayor Muchovej, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back a discussion at a future meeting on the status of Short-Term Rentals and their impacts on the city's normal housing rates.
No further requests were made for future agendas items. 18)
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended. 19)
ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Stephen Muchovej, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Alison Bishop, City Clerk