Town Council - September 03, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Councilmember Wentworth attended the meeting remotely from Home2 Suites by Hilton Redlands Loma Linda, 1342 Industrial Park Ave, Room 402, Redlands, CA 92374.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 437 Old Mammoth Road, Suite Z, Mammoth Lakes.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Office of Outdoor Recreation Manager Lawson Reif led the flag salute.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The Public Comment portion of the agenda provides the public with an opportunity to address the Town Council on matters not otherwise listed on the agenda. Under California law the Town Council is prohibited from generally discussing or taking action on items not included in the agenda; however, the Town Council may briefly respond to comments or questions from members of the public. Therefore, the Town Council will listen to all public comment, but will not generally discuss the matter or take action on it. Requests for service from the Town may also be made at the Town offices during regular business hours. Members of the public desiring to speak on a matter appearing on the agenda should ask the Mayor for the opportunity to be heard when the item comes up for Council consideration.
Brianna Goico, President & CEO of the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce, gave an update regarding current Chamber activities.
4. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Opportunity to add urgency items pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2(b)2, if necessary.
There were no additions to the agenda.
5. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND/OR DEPARTMENTS (AS NEEDED) Police Chief Dan Casabian gave an update regarding Mammoth Lakes Police Department (MLPD) bear statistics. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
Office of Outdoor Recreation Manager Lawson Reif gave an update regarding current outdoor recreation activities. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
Parks and Recreation Director Stuart Brown gave an update regarding current parks and recreation activities.
Town Manager Rob Patterson gave an update regarding information received from Southern California Edison regarding the recent power outages. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
6. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
6.1 Flock Safety Update 2025.
1. Flock Safety Update 2025.pdf
2. Automated License Plate Readers – Annual Update 2025.pdf Police Chief Dan Casabian and Police Sergeant Jason Heilman gave a presentation regarding the Flock Safety Update. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
Councilmember Wentworth requested that Agenda Item 7.4 be removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion.
Moved by
Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice
Seconded by
Councilmember Brent Truax
Approve the Consent Agenda.
For (4)
Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Chris Bubser, Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice, and Councilmember Brent Truax Absent (1)
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Carried (4 to 0)
7.1 Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 20, 2025.
1. August 20, 2025 Minutes.pdf
7.2 Update and End Emergency Work Authorization Provided for in Resolution 25-47 for the Replacement of the the Whitmore Pool Roof.
1. Update and End Emergency Work Authorization for the Whitmore Pool Roof Replacement.pdf
2. R25-47.pdf
7.3 Approve findings to continue the authorized emergency installation of an aboveground waste oil tank as provided for in Resolution No. 25-48.
1. Update and Approval to Continue Emergency Work for Waste Oil Tank Install.pdf
2. R25-48.pdf
7.4 Approve the resolution authorizing the Town Manager to accept the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant award for development of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
1. Approve Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant.pdf
2. Resolution - Approve Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant.pdf This item was removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion.
Councilmember Wentworth spoke about previous reports related to this effort.
Assistant to the Town Manager Pam Kobylarz responded to Councilmember Wentworth's suggestions.
Moved by
Councilmember John Wentworth
Seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice
Approve the resolution authorizing the Town Manager to accept the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Award for development of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
For (4)
Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Chris Bubser, Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice, and Councilmember Brent Truax Absent (1)
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Carried (4 to 0)
7.5 Waive the Reading and Adopt by Title Only the Ordinance Renewing the Town’s Military Equipment Use Policy for 2025.
1. Ordinance Adoption.pdf
2. ORDINANCE Military Equipment 2025.pdf
3. Annual Report of Military Equipment Use and Inventory 2025.pdf
4. MLPD Military Equipment Policy 706.pdf
7.6 Accept Check Register 8/14/25 in the amount of $383,031.07. Accept Check Register 8/15/25 in the amount of $251,106.37. Accept Check Register 8/21/25 in the amount of $2,222,191.09.
1. Check Register 08142025.pdf
2. Check Register 08152025.pdf
3. Check Register 08212025.pdf
8. POLICY MATTERS
8.1 Comprehensive Town-wide planning effort and Parks and Recreation Master Planning Process Update.
1. Staff Report.pdf
2. Parks, Open Space and Recreation Element DRAFT REVISION.pdf
3. DRAFT Professional Services Agreement.pdf
4. PP_Planning Process and PRMP Update_9-3-2025.pdf
Parks and Recreation Director Stuart Brown and Public Works Director Haislip Hayes outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
Moved by
Councilmember Brent Truax
Seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice
Authorize the Town Manager to finalize and execute a Professional Services Agreement with the selected consultant to develop a Parks and Recreation Master Plan in the amount of $299,981 and authorize the Town Manager to permit extra work by the consultant with a not to exceed amount of $60,000.
For (4)
Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Chris Bubser, Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice, and Councilmember Brent Truax Absent (1)
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Carried (4 to 0)
8.2 Approve the Town of Mammoth Lakes Fiscal Year 2025-26 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
1. Approve the Town of Mammoth Lakes FY25-26 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan.pdf
2. Table 1 - CIP Budget Outlook for 24-25 Carry Over.pdf
3. Table 2 - CIP Budget Outlook for 25-26.pdf
4. Table 3 - CIP Budget Outlook for 26-27.pdf
5. Table 4 – 25-26 5-year CIP.pdf
Public Works Director Haislip Hayes outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
The Town Council had consensus to direct staff to move forward with the Davison Gate and Signage project and the Real Time Transit Information project.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
John Urdi, President & CEO of Mammoth Lakes Tourism, spoke in support of the Real Time Transit Information project.
The Town Council directed that Restrooms would not be a new CIP project added at this time.
Mr. Urdi spoke in support of renovating the restrooms at the Welcome Center. There was discussion among members of Council and Mr. Urdi.
Soibian Spring said that more public bathrooms would help the community.
There was discussion among members of Council and staff regarding potential infrastructure projects.
The Town Council had consensus that Safety Projects were the highest priority, followed by Bus Shelters, and then the South Main MUP.
The Mayor called a recess at 7:16 p.m. and the Council reconvened at p.m. 7:23 p.m.
Moved by
Councilmember Brent Truax
Seconded by
Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice
Approve the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan.
For (4)
Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Chris Bubser, Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice, and Councilmember Brent Truax Absent (1)
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Carried (4 to 0)
8.3 Town of Mammoth Lakes priorities for the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Inyo National Forest Program of Work.
1. Town of Mammoth Lakes priorities for the FY25-26 Inyo National Forest Program of Work.pdf
2. FY2526_InyoPOW.pdf
Office of Outdoor Recreation Manager Lawson Reif outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
Moved by
Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice
Seconded by
Councilmember Brent Truax
Approve the Town of Mammoth Lakes (TOML) priorities for the FY25/26 Inyo National Forest Program of Work.
For (4)
Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Chris Bubser, Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Rice, and Councilmember Brent Truax Absent (1)
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Carried (4 to 0)
9. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
1. Councilmember Reports.pdf
Informational reports from Councilmember representatives on committees, commissions, and organizations; general reports on Councilmember activities.
Councilmember Truax spoke about Denna Kastor.
Councilmember Wentworth attended the Integrated Climate Adaptation Resiliency Program (ICARP) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting in Sacramento and the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Rice attended the Whitmore Pool Party for season passholders.
Mayor Bubser attended the ESCOG meeting, the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) Board meeting, Eastern Sierra Wildfire Alliance subcommittee meetings, and the Wildfire Task Force community barbeque held in Old Mammoth.
10. CLOSED SESSION
10.1 Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6.(a), Conference with Labor Negotiators, the Town Council will meet with its representatives, Town Manager Rob Patterson, Community and Economic Development Director Nolan Bobroff, Human Resources Manager Amanda Pelham, and Jack Hughes, Partner with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, with respect to the following Employee Organizations: Mammoth Lakes Police Officers Association.
At 7:39 p.m. the Mayor announced that the Council would be entering into closed session for the purposes as stated in the agenda.
10.2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph 1 of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9) Name of case: Successors to Jesus Uribe Corona v. Mammoth Lakes Police Department (Case No: 25UCM62)
11. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION TAKEN AFTER CLOSED SESSION
The Council reconvened from closed session at 8:35 p.m. and announced that there was no reportable action taken.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The Town Council will adjourn to a regular meeting to be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.