CITY OF BISHOP
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
JUNE 8, 2026
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Muchovej 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 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
Mayor Pro Tem Freundt
Mayor Muchovej
ABSENT:
Councilmember Schwartz
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 5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Liane Herrick, a local resident and owner of a local food truck, spoke in support of the Night Markets being held in Bishop and asked Council for their oversite to encouraging participation by all food vendors, not to limit the number of vendors. Liane Herrick expressed her opinion that allowing more vendors to participate will help to make these events a more lively and attractive event for the city, and that this event should not be managed as a private event.
Josh Nichololson, a Bishop resident, directed his comments to Mayor Muchovej about his lack of decorum at the May 14, 2026 Bishop Unified School District meeting and asked Mayor Muchovej to join their future meetings with the same decorum that he is asking for people to show while attending the City Council meetings.
Allen Berrey, owner and operator of La Cueva de Luz Museum of Desert Lights in Bishop, spoke against the public comment three minute rule and feels it is unconstitutional; shared information on his museum and invited Council to visit his establishment; and suggested that the City should make available a map with a QR code at the Tesla station on Warren Street that identifies the locations of public restrooms in the area.
No further public comments were made or received.
6)
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Reports from the Fire, Police, Community Services, and Administration Departments were given on each department’s activities including upcoming and ongoing projects.
6.A)
Fire Department Report - Fire Chief Bret Russell
Fire Department Report - May 2026
6.B)
Police Department Report - Police Chief Nate Derr
Police Department Report - May 2026
6.C)
Community Services Department Report - Community Services Manager Daniel McElroy Community Services Department Report - May 2026
6.D)
Planning Department Report - Principal Planner Ana Budnyk Planning Department Report - May 2026
6.E)
City Administrator Report - City Administrator Pam Foster City Administrator Report - May 2026
7)
COUNTY OF INYO UPDATE
Second District Supervisor Griffiths provided an update on Inyo County business, activities, and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) contract. 8)
CONSENT CALENDAR
8.A)
RESOLUTIONS: November 2026 General Municipal Election
Cover Page
Resolution - Call for Election for City Offices
Resolution - Request Consolidation with County Election Resolution - Regulations for Candidate’s Statements
8.B)
RESOLUTION: Establish the FY 2026-27 Appropriations Limit Pursuant to Article XIIIB of the California Constitution (Proposition 4) Cover Page
RESOLUTION: Establishing the FY 2026-27 Appropriation Limit Pursuant to Article XIIIB of the California Constitution (Proposition 4) PUBLIC NOTICE: Proposition 4
8.C)
Audit Engagement Letter with Larry Bain, CPA
Cover Page
Audit Engagement Letter with Larry Bain, CPA
8.D)
Salary Schedules - July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
2026-2027 Full Time Salary Schedule
City Council & Treasurer - 2026-2027
2026-2027 Part Time Salary Schedule
8.E)
Approval of Memorandum of Understanding for Ladder Truck Purchase Cover Page
Bishop Ladder Truck MOU
8.F)
2026 Destruction Derby Agreement with the Tri-County Fairgrounds Cover Page
Bishop Fire Department Destruction Derby Agreement 2026
8.G)
Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Section 9.12.010 of the Bishop Municipal Code Relating to the Juvenile Curfew Cover Page
Ordinance - Amending Section 9.12.010 - Juvenile Curfew
8.H)
A Resolution to Adopt a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Funded by SB 1: The Road Maintenance and Accountability Act Cover Page
Resolution 2026-XX SB1 FY 2026-27 Project List
8.I)
Task Order Amendment - Wood Rodgers 25-TO-09 Park Master Plan Cover Page
Amendment Proposal Task Order 25-TO-09
25-TO-09 Amendment 1 - signed
8.J)
Request to Waive Specific Bishop Park Pool Fees for 2026.
Cover Page
8.K)
Planning Commission - Cancellation Notice
Meeting Cancellation Notice - 05 27 2026
8.L)
Approval of Amended and Restated Lease Agreement with the Judicial Council of California Cover Page
Lease with Judicial Council of California 2025-2028.
No public comments were made.
Motion/Mayor Pro Tem Freundt
Seconded/Councilmember Garcia
Mayor Pro Tem Freundt made a motion to approve the consent calendar.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Councilmember Schwartz
9)
PUBLIC HEARING
9.A)
Compliance with Assembly Bill 2561/Government Code Section 3502.3 regarding Vacancies, Recruitment and Retention Efforts Cover Page
Mayor Muchovej opened the public hearing.
City Administrator Foster reviewed this item with Council.
Public comments were made by:
Jeff Griffiths, a Bishop resident, expressed his objection to this law.
No further public comments were made or received.
Mayor Muchovej closed the public hearing. No action was taken. 10)
NEW BUSINESS
10.A)
Adoption of the FY 2026-27 Budget
Cover Page
City of Bishop FY 2026-27 Budget
Resolution No. 2026-XX approving a short-term interfund cash advance to support the purchase of the Fire Department ladder truck Resolution No. 2026-XX approving a short-term interfund cash advance to support the South Warren Street Improvement Project Finance Director Aukee reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made or received.
After answering all of Council's questions, a motion was made.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Mayor Pro Tem Freundt
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to adopt the proposed City of Bishop FY 2026-27 Budget as presented, and adopt the following resolutions by title only:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A GENERAL FUND CASH ADVANCE TO THE GENERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF A LADDER TRUCK PENDING RECEIPT OF FEDERAL EARMARK REIMBURSEMENT AND PARTNER AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BISHOP, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A TEMPORARY GENERAL FUND CASH ADVANCE TO THE APPLICABLE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR THE SOUTH WARREN STREET CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PENDING RECEIPT OF FEDERAL EARMARK REIMBURSEMENT Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Councilmember Schwartz
10.B)
Consideration and Review of Draft Joint Powers Agreement with Bishop Fire Protection District Cover Page
Agreement for Shared Management of Fire Services - DRAFT City Administrator Foster reviewed this item with Council.
After addressing all of Council's questions, City Administrator Foster went over the next steps in finalizing this document with the Bishop Fire Protection District (BFPD) Board of Commissioners. Once City Administrator Foster receives the red-lined edits to this document from the BFPD Board of Commissioners, and the red-lined comments from Council, the City will work on negotiating a final document with the BFPD.
No public comments were made or received.
10.C)
Planning Commission - City Council Screening Committee Appointments Cover Page
Public Notice_Planning Commission Vacancy
City Clerk Picken reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made or received.
Motion/Councilmember Garcia
Seconded/Mayor Muchovej
Councilmember Garcia made a motion to approve the two council members, Councilmember Garcia and Councilmember Schwartz with alternate Councilmember Kong, appointed by the Mayor to sit on the screening committee to fill the scheduled vacancy on the Planning Commission with a term ending on July 10, 2030.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Councilmember Schwartz
10.D)
Annual League of California Cities/Cal Cities Conference - Attendance and Confirmation of Voting Delegate and Alternate(s) Cover Page
2026 Voting Delegate and General Assembly Meeting Information City Clerk Picken reviewed this item with Council.
No public comments were made or received.
Motion/Mayor Muchovej
Seconded/Councilmember Garcia
Mayor Muchovej made a motion to approve the appointment of Councilmember Garcia as the City's voting delegate, and Councilmember Kong and Mayor Pro Tem Freundt as the City's alternate voting delegates to vote on behalf of the City at the League of California Cities/Cal Cities General Assembly Meeting scheduled on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Motion passed 4-0
Ayes: Councilmember Kong, Councilmember Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, Mayor Muchovej Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Councilmember Schwartz
11)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Kong, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back a discussion regarding how we determine who to charge to utilize our park at a future meeting.
Mayor Muchovej, with consensus from Council, asked to bring back a discussion at a future meeting on what options are available to the City in regards to deed restrictions to help address our housing needs.
Councilmember Garcia, with consensus from Council, asked staff to invite Mule Days to an upcoming meeting to provide Council with a report on how Mule Days did this year.
No further requests were made for future agendas items. 12)
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Members reported on meetings and community events that they attended. 13)
ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:29 p.m. to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers. ______________________________________
Stephen Muchovej, Mayor
Attest: ______________________________
Alison Bishop, City Clerk