Town Council - February 18, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 437 Old Mammoth Road, Suite Z, Mammoth Lakes.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pat Foster, Mammoth Lakes Tourism Board Chair, Foster led the flag salute.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
1. Public Comment - RE_ US Small Business Administration (SBA) Request to Speak at Town Council.pdf 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, Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, gave an update regarding current Chamber activities.
Betsy Truax, Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT) Vice President of Community Engagement, gave an update regarding current MLT activities.
Elana Entin complimented Town staff and/or Caltrans for the great job plowing the roads.
Lamonica Lacey, Small Business Administration (SBA) Public Affairs Specialist, spoke about assistance that the SBA could provide related to winter storm disaster relief.
4. WORKSHOP
4.1 Joint workshop with the Board of Mammoth Lakes Tourism.
1. Restaurant and Retail Campaigns_MLT_Town Council FEB 2026.pdf
2. Community Engagement Marketing Town Council 2-18-26.pdf Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT) Chair Pat Foster, Vice Chair Eric Clark, Secretary John Mendel, and Board Member Kerry Peterson were in attendance. There was discussion among members of Council, the MLT Board Members, MLT staff, and Town staff.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Elana Entin said that she thought we were missing out on opportunities when things were closed and spoke about free events in The Village.
The Mayor called a recess at 5:11 p.m. and the Council reconvened at 5:18 p.m.
5. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Opportunity to add urgency items pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2(b)2, if necessary.
Town Manager Rob Patterson reported that Item 7.1 would be moved to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Town Council on March 4, 2026.
URGENCY ITEM:
Mr. Patterson reported the need for the addiiton of an urgency item .
Moved by
Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax
Seconded by
Councilmember Chris Bubser
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2b2, the Council hereby determines that there is a need to take immediate action and that the need for action came to the attention of the Town subsequent to the agenda being posted as specified in subdivision a, said item being: Approve addition of a closed session item Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, the Town Council will hold a conference with its representatives in regard to property negotiations pertaining to: Property: APN 035-100-008 Agency Negotiators: Rob Patterson, Haislip Hayes, and Nolan Bobroff Negotiating Parties: Town of Mammoth Lakes and Matthew Lehman Broker Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment.
This item is to be added as Closed Session Item 11.2
For (5)
Councilmember Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Councilmember Chris Bubser, Mayor Amanda Rice, and Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax Carried (5 to 0)
6. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND/OR DEPARTMENTS (AS NEEDED) Parks and Recreation Director Stuart Brown gave an update regarding current parks and recreation activities.
Public Works Director Haislip Hayes gave an update regarding current public works activities. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
6.1 Town of Mammoth Lakes Social Media Report for January 2026.
1. TOML Social Media Report January 2026.pdf
6.2 February 2026 Public Works Engineering CIP Update.
1. February 2026 Public Works Engineering CIP Update.pdf
7. TOWN COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS
7.1 Recognize promotion of Soibian Spring to Airport Manager.
This item was continued to the March 4, 2026 meeting.
8. CONSENT AGENDA
Moved by
Councilmember Chris Bubser
Seconded by
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Approve the Consent Agenda.
For (5)
Councilmember Chris Bubser, Councilmember Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax, and Mayor Amanda Rice Carried (5 to 0)
8.1 Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 4, 2026.
1. February 4, 2026 Minutes.pdf
8.2 Waive the reading and adopt by title only the ordinance amending Town of Mammoth Lakes Municipal Code Chapter 9.32, Tobacco and Related Products.
1. Ordinance.pdf
2. CHAPTER_9.32.___TOBACCO_AND_RELATED_PRODUCTS.pdf
8.3 Approve the resolution terminating the emergency action to install an aboveground waste oil tank at the Town Yard.
1. End emergency work authorization for replacement of Town Yard Waste Oil Tank.pdf
2. R25-48.pdf
3. R26-XX terminating contracting emergency 021026.pdf
9. POLICY MATTERS
9.1 2026 Resolution to Increase Parking Citation Penalties.
1. 2026 Resolution to Increase Parking Citation Penalties.pdf
2. Resolution - Parking Citation Penalties Increase 021826.pdf
3. Public comment - Parking fees and tickets.pdf
4. Public Comment - New parking ordinance and fines.pdf Public Works Director Haislip Hayes outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Elana Entin spoke about the lack of signage on Sierra Nevada and cars that park in the bike lane there.
Patrick Bernard spoke about community policing around parking violations and illegal parking. Mr. Bernard said that he would like a small loading zone created in front of his property due to his elderly residents and asked if there was a way to incentivize carpooling up to the Mountain.
A reporter from The Sheet asked clarification questions.
Robert Yoder asked about the fire hydrant fine.
Moved by
Councilmember John Wentworth
Seconded by
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Approve the resolution establishing
a
resort parking zone
designation
and revised citation
penalties, as amended to
go into effect as soon as staff is able to post the no parking signs in the resort areas and to make adjustments to MC 10.16.050 No Parking Zones Designated (Resort Parking Zones) reduced to $350 and MC 10.16.050 Impeding the Flow of Traffic to be reduced to $525.
For (3)
Councilmember Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, and Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax Against (2)
Councilmember Chris Bubser, and Mayor Amanda Rice
Carried (3 to 2)
9.2 Resolution to Change and Manage Parking Signage.
1. Resolution to Change and Manage Parking Signage.pdf
2. Resolution - Parking Signage.pdf
Public Works Director Haislip Hayes outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff and Mr. Clark.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Eric Clark, Mammoth Resorts, asked if this item was specific to removing sixty-two spaces on Lakeview and Rainbow. Mr. Clark outlined his concerns about the removal of parking spaces.
Patrick Bernard provided additional information about the parking spots Mr. Clark referred to, the use of Canyon Lodge, the need for access to the front of the property that he manages, and the percentage of guests who were causing the issues in the area and throughout Town.
Moved by
Councilmember John Wentworth
Seconded by
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Adopt a resolution designating parking zones
,
signage
and management authority.
For (5)
Councilmember Chris Bubser, Councilmember Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax, and Mayor Amanda Rice Carried (5 to 0)
9.3 Town of Mammoth Lakes Overnight Parking Program.
1. Town of Mammoth Lakes Overnight Parking Program .pdf
2. Resolution - Overnight Parking Program 021826.pdf
Community and Economic Development Director Nolan Bobroff outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Dawn Vereuck said that she appreciated this item being addressed and spoke about people parking on her properties overnight. Ms. Vereuck asked if there would be a fee for people using this Overnight Parking Program, and if there would be restrooms, showers, and other facilitlies.
Moved by
Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax
Seconded by
Councilmember Chris Bubser
Adopt a resolution finding a need for immediate action to address the needs of unhoused local residents
living in their
vehicles.
Authorize the Town Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with a private property owner to use their site as a temporary overnight parking site and direct staff to issue an Administrative Permit for the use. Authorize the Town Manager to consider use of Town-owned property, or property leased by the Town from Mono County, for a temporary overnight parking site should an agreement with a private property owner not be accomplished.
For (5)
Councilmember Chris Bubser, Councilmember Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax, and Mayor Amanda Rice Carried (5 to 0)
10. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
1. Councilmember Reports.pdf
Informational reports from Councilmember representatives on committees, commissions, and organizations; general reports on Councilmember activities.
Councilmember Bubser reported that the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) and Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) meetings scheduled for today were both canceled.
Mayor Pro Tem Truax attended the Local Transportation Commission (LTC) meeting.
Councilmember Sauser attended the Town County Liaison meeting, the LTC meeting, and the Mammoth Trails Committee (MTC) meeting.
Councilmember Wentworth attended the Eastern Sierra Wildfire Alliance meeting and the Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT) Board meeting.
Mayor Rice attended the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Advisory Committee meeting and reported that last night's Eastern Sierra Community Housing (ESCH) Board meeting was cancelled.
11. CLOSED SESSION
Town Manager Rob Patterson provided additional information about Closed Session Item 11.2.
At 7:21 p.m. the Mayor announced that the Council would be entering into closed session for the purpose as stated in the agenda.
11.1 Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, the Town Council will hold a conference with its representatives in regard to property negotiations pertaining to:
Property: APN: 035-010-052
Agency Negotiators: Rob Patterson, Nolan Bobroff, and Marcus Sproll Negotiating Parties: Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Lakes Foundation Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment.
URGENCY ITEM:
11.2 Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8, the Town Council will hold a conference with its representatives in regard to property negotiations pertaining to:
Property: APN 035-100-008
Agency Negotiators: Rob Patterson, Haislip Hayes, and Nolan Bobroff Negotiating Parties: Town of Mammoth Lakes and Matthew Lehman Broker Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
12. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION TAKEN AFTER CLOSED SESSION
The Council reconvened from closed session at 8:20 p.m. and announced that there was no reportable action taken.
13. ADJOURNMENT
The Town Council will adjourn to a regular meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.