CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 23, 2026
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Muchovej 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 Muchovej announced a moment of silence.
3)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Freundt. 4)
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; Keith F. Collins, Deputy City Attorney; Ethan Aukee, Finance Director; Bret Russell, Fire Chief; Nate Derr, Police Chief; and Daniel McElroy, Community Services Manager. 5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comments were made by:
Sasha Hashemipour, a local resident, spoke against artificial intelligence (AI) integrated surveillance systems and asked the City to cancel their agreement with Flock Safety.
Lamonica Lacey, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Public Affairs Specialist, introduced herself and provided information to the Council on the various financial assistance programs they have available to assist small businesses in Inyo County that may have been effected by the Pack Fire in Mono County.
Noel Gabriel-Guacheno, spoke in support of keeping the A-Frame and shared a message board filled with many messages expressing their support to keep the A-Frame.
Jennifer Beaudean, a small business owner in Bishop, asked that Council place the environmental report on the A-Frame on their future agenda; and asked Council to address the issue of parking for large trucks coming through town and can no longer park along Highway 6 close to town anymore due to the recent fencing along Highway 6 Caltrans right of way. Worried about safety and to allow trucks to continue to deliver goods to Bishop businesses.
John Bowen, a local resident, voiced his opposition to the Council against Flock and asked that the Council terminate their agreement with Flock.
Rick Klug, a local resident, recited a prayer.
Jon Weissman, a local resident, spoke against Flock security and asked Council to cancel the City's agreement with Flock.
Tom Williams, a local resident, spoke about Flock camera footage, and the rights to record all traffic without a warrant if we know they are present. Therefore, he requested that signs be posted where there are cameras as they do with all traffic cameras and recommended a moratorium be placed on the use of Flock cameras until there can be further public discourse on this matter.
No further public comments were made.
6)
PRESENTATIONS
6.A)
A Presentation on the "Not Another Kid" Project - Presented by Penni Brown.
The Mayor announced that there will be no Presentations on this meeting's agenda. Item 6.A was pulled from the agenda. 7)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Fire Chief Russell reported on the number of calls they received during the recent storm, their recent interviews for their Deputy Fire Chief position, provided an update on the purchased pumper tender they hope to receive in the next month, invited Council to their Fire Department Volunteer Awards Dinner on March 7 at 6:00 PM, and thanked all of their volunteers.
Police Chief Derr reported to Council on the Police Department's assistance during the past storm, but wanted to recognize both the Fire Department and the Public Works Department for all the work they did to address all the critical issues that were going on in the city during the past storm, that included addressing the water shut down at the hospital, fixing leaks, and dealing with broken branches. Police Chief Derr spoke to concerns over the Flock contract, educating the public, and invited the public to meet with him. Police Chief Derr also announced several departmental items.
Public Works Director Gamino joined via video conference and reported to Council on the Public Works Department's snow and storm clean up, clean up of down tree branches, fixed the power outage at the sewer plant, addressed lift station operations, fixed 12 inch water main leak on Main Street, and thanked acknowledgements made by Council and other departments. Public Works Director Gamino also announced that the Water Main Replacement Project is currently advertised, a pre-bid meeting is scheduled for interested contractors tomorrow, and the bid opening is scheduled for March 12, 2026.
Community Services Manager McElroy thanked the other departments and especially the Community Services staff for their work on cleaning up the City Park and addressing all city facilities during and after the storm. Community Services Manager McElroy reported to Council on the impacts of snow on the ballfields, the large tree fall next to City Hall, announced the start of several upcoming programs, an update on the bid opening for the Courts Resurfacing Project, and continued work on the Park Master Plan and Field 6 plans.
City Administrator Foster reported on attending the League of California Cities City Managers Conference, and expressed her appreciation for all of our City staff's and volunteers' work during the past storm. 8)
BISHOP AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INFORMATION CENTER UPDATE
8.A)
Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Update Report - February 23, 2026 BACCIC Report - February 23, 2026
Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Executive Director Tawni Thomson also thanked City staff and volunteers for all of their work during and after the recent storm.
Tawni Thomson reviewed her report with Council. After addressing all of Council's questions, Council thanked Tawni Thomson for her report. 9)
CONSENT CALENDAR
9.A)
December 2025 Budget Report
December 2025 Budget Report
9.B)
December 2025 Financial Reports
December 2025 Bank Reconciliation Report
December 2025 Combined Cash Report
December 2025 Investment Portfolio Report
December 2025 Warrant Register Report
9.C)
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 25-PW-01 with Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants for the 2025 Water and Sewer Rate Study, Increasing the Not-to-Exceed Amount Cover Page
25-PW-01 L&T Municipal Consultants Agreement
25-PW-01 L&T Municipal Consultants Amendment No. 1
9.D)
Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Administrator to Execute Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program Documents for the Silver Peaks Project.
Cover Page
Silver_Peaks_City_Award_Resolution
No public comments were made.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Councilmember Schwartz
Councilmember Garcia 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
10)
PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION
10.A)
Public Hearing and Adoption of Water and Sewer Rates (Proposition 218) Cover Page
Prop 218 Hearing Presentation
Reso No. 2026-XX Adoption of Rates
Bishop Rate Study Report AMENDED FINAL 1.29.26
Mayor Muchovej opened the public hearing.
Public Works Director Gamino introduced the City's utility rate consultant, LT Municipal Consultants Financial Analyst Sophia Mills, to review this item with Council.
Sophia Mills reviewed her presentation with Council on the proposed water and sewer rates and the Proposition 218 Public Hearing.
Mayor Muchovej asked for public testimony.
Public testimony was made by:
Todd Bradlee asked for clarification on the proposed residential water rates. He stated that he was not well informed on how hard it is to meter water. However, he had two questions with regards to residential water rates: 1) How hard is it to meter it? and 2) Was the number of people living in each house taken into consideration with the rate increases? Sophia Mills addressed Todd Bradlee's questions regarding meters. Yes, the City is considering and planning to have meters installed in the future, and to consider metered rates in the future.
Sophia Mills addressed Todd Bradlee's question regarding occupancy. Yes, the number of people living in each house was considered in the proposed water rates. Because the City does not have meters, rates are designed based on an average across the whole city. Occupancy is based on the census and estimated water use. The average water use for a single-family is assumed to be higher than a multi-family dwelling such as apartments. So the rate is based on an average.
There were no further public comments or public testimonies made.
There were no additional written protests received.
Mayor Muchovej closed the public hearing.
Mayor Muchovej asked City Clerk Picken to provide a count of all protests received.
City Clerk Picken reported that the City has received a total of 5 written protests.
Mayor Muchovej announced that since the City has received 5 written protests, which is under the majority threshold of 831 protests, the Council may now consider and discuss the proposed water and sewer rate adjustments that would take effect on July 1, 2026, with annual adjustments through July 1, 2030.
After a full discussion on the proposed water and sewer rates, a motion was made.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz
Seconded/Councilmember Kong
Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to adopt the resolution establishing the new water and sewer rates effective July 1, 2026.
Motion passed 4-1
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: Councilmember Garcia
Abstain: None
Absent: None
11)
NEW BUSINESS
11.A)
Direction on Updates to the City’s Water and Sewer Utility Rate Assistance Program Cover Page
Finance Director Aukee, Public Works Director Gamino, and City Administrator Foster reviewed this item with Council.
After a full discussion on how to update the City's Water and Sewer Utility Rate Assistance Program, Council provided direction to staff on the following items:
1. Revising Title 13 of the Bishop Municipal Code to remove the "senior citizen" requirement and transition the program to a low-income, income-qualified assistance program;
2. Identifying which existing income qualified assistance programs shall be used to verify eligibility, to be established by resolution; and
3. Determining the structure and amount of the utility rate assistance benefit (currently 25% for qualifying low-income seniors).
Public comments were made by:
Lynette McIntosh, a local resident, spoke to the ease of applying for low-income discounts herself in the past and people should not have a problem applying; and also asked if the adopted water and sewer rates will be published in the local paper.
No further public comments were made.
Councilmember Garcia left the Council Chambers at 7:57 p.m. Councilmember Garcia returned to the Council Chambers at 8:00 p.m.
11.B)
Consideration of an Ad Hoc Committee to Meet with the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center Cover Page
City Administrator Foster reviewed this item with Council.
Public comments were made by:
Jennifer Beaudean offered her participation to meet with Council to be a part of the discussions regarding the A-Frame and Park Master Plan.
Noel Gabriel-Guacheno spoke to her appreciation of Mayor Pro Tem Freundt's request to establish a joint committee to meet with the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and that everyone acknowledges that communication has been lacking between the Council and the Chamber. A committee is a great step forward to function as a team working for the good of our community.
Lynette McIntosh, a local resident, agreed with Noel Gabriel-Guacheno's comments and encouraged everyone to check out Tyler Beadle's videos on Facebook for historic information about Bishop.
Gayla Wolf, a local resident, spoke in support for the formation of this committee and expressed that the Chamber of Commerce is what is best for Bishop, wants the building back, and restored.
No further public comments were made.
After a discussion by Council on the formation of an ad hoc committee to meet with the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center, Mayor Muchovej asked if Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center Executive Director Tawni Thomson is agreeable to forming such a committee being discussed. Tawni Thomson confirmed, yes, she and the Chamber Board are agreeable to meeting with the Council via the proposed ad hoc committee.
Motion/Councilmember Schwartz
Seconded/Mayor Pro Tem Freundt
Councilmember Schwartz made a motion to approve the creation of a two-member ad hoc committee, as requested by Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, to meet with the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: Councilmember Garcia
Absent: None
Motion/Councilmember Kong
Seconded/Mayor Pro Tem Freundt
Councilmember Kong made a motion to approve the appointment of Mayor Muchovej and Councilmember Schwartz to the two-member ad hoc committee, as requested by Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, to meet with the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Schwartz, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: Councilmember Garcia
Absent: None
11.C)
Council Discussion on Six-Court Pickleball Layout for the Lower Courts Cover Page
Bishop Pickleball Layout
Community Services Manager McElroy reviewed this item with Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Freundt wanted to publicly thank Ron Borne from the Pickleball Club for his assistance in this matter.
Public comments were made by:
Hans Engle, spoke on behalf of the tennis players, wanted to confirm that there would not be any restriping of the upper courts used for tennis. Council and staff confirmed that there would not be any restriping of the upper courts. No further public comments were made.
Council directed staff to move forward on the staff's proposed striping of the upper and lower courts.
11.D)
Consideration of Draft Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement for the Bishop Area Wastewater Authority Cover Page
Current BAWA JPA
Draft Amended and Restated BAWA JPA
Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting Minutes
Public Works Director Gamino reviewed this item with Council.
After a discussion by Council, direction was given to staff that they are in agreement with the draft Amended and Restated Bishop Area Wastewater Authority (BAWA) Joint Powers Agreement as presented, but would like further consideration of the feedback comments made by Mayor Muchovej and the other members of Council relating to property purchased by BAWA versus the City and the related property tax for return to the ad hoc committee to discuss. 12)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Kong and Councilmember Garcia, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back a discussion on Flock pending future discussions with Police Chief Derr.
Mayor Muchovej, with consensus from Council, asked for another update from Caltrans on big trucks, parking of big trucks, and any other items.
No further requests were made for future agenda 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 9:00 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Stephen Muchovej, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Alison Bishop, City Clerk