Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) Joint Powers Authority - April 22, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Chris Bubser called the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m. in the Bishop Council Chambers Council Chambers, 377 West Line Street Bishop, CA. Remote participation was also available in the Town of Mammoth Lakes Council Chambers, 437 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Allen Pietrasanta
led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Wildfire Coordinator Kristen Pfeiler introduced Whitebark Institute Environmental Planner Jackie White, spoke about the Eastern Sierra Pace and Scale Accelerator project, and thanked Ms. White for her leadership.
Ms. White spoke about her background and provided additional information about Whitebark.
There was discussion between Ms. White and members of the Board.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
Moved by
Vice Chair Trina Orrill
Seconded by
Board Member Karen Schwartz
Approve the Consent Agenda.
For (6)
Chair Chris Bubser, Vice Chair Trina Orrill, Board Member Lynda Salcido, Board Member John Wentworth, Board Member Karen Schwartz, and Board Member Paul McFarland Abstain (1)
Board Member Vice Chair Karen Kong
Absent (1)
Board Member Jeff Griffiths
Carried (6 to 0)
4.1 Approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of March 13, 2026
1. Item 4.1 - ESCOG 3.13.2026 Special Meeting DRAFT Minutes.pdf
5. POLICY MATTERS
5.1 Receive a Presentation from Meryl Picard, Executive Director, Eastern Sierra Business Resource Center on Sierra Jobs First Project Implementation
1. Item 5.1 - BRC 2025 Impact Statement (Presentation) (2).pdf This item was taken out of order.
Eastern Sierra Business Resource Center Director Meryl Picard outlined the information in the Business Resource Center (BRC) 2025 Impact Statement.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Sierra Business Council (SBC) Board Chair Allen Pietrasanta provided additional information about the SBC and BRC and spoke about the challenges local business owners had faced due to tariffs. Mr. Pietrasanta reported that the USDA had awarded $115M in grants across the country for timber production and forest management, $88M of which was allocated to California, with $43M of that was split between two projects in the Sierras, one in Sierra Valley and the other in Calaveras County. He asked members of the Board to please let the SBC know how they could help our region.
There was discussion between Ms. Picard, Mr. Pietrasanta, and members of the Board.
5.2 Receive Sierra Jobs First Project Implementation Update and Provide Direction on Board Engagement
1. Item 5.2 - Staff Report_SJF update.pdf
2. Item 5.2 - SJF Projects Update.pdf
This item was taken out of order
Executive Director Elaine Kabala outlined the information in the staff report.
Board Member Trina Orrill arrived at 9:06 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Sierra Business Council (SBC) Board Chair Allen Pietrasanta reported that the State had extended the September 30, 2026 deadline to June 30, 2027 and all participant would get an official notice. Mr. Pietrasanta clarified that the State was divided into thirteen Jobs First regions, and said that eleven of the conveners had applied to the state to continue on as conveners as did the BRC, and said that they were recently approved to continue as the convener fiscal agent for the region.
ESCOG Recreation Coordinator and Program Manager for the Chipmunk Canyon Trail Condition Analysis Ken Etzel provided additional information regarding the project.
There was discussion between staff, Mr. Pietrasanta, and members of the Board.
Staff was given direction to have one at least one member of the Recreation Subcommittee participate in the Steering Committee meetings, provide regular updates on the project at the Board meetings, review and comment on draft work products prior to finalization, and hold one workshop toward the end of the project.
5.3 Board Workshop on Strategic Priorities and Capacity Needs for Fiscal Year 2026-2027
1. Item 5.3 - Staff Report_Board Discussion.pdf
2. Item 5.3 - Budget capacity planning.pdf
Executive Director Elaine Kabala outlined the information in the staff report and Budget Capacity Planning presentation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Town of Mammoth Lakes (TOML) Town Manager Rob Patterson spoke area manager's discussions with Elaine regarding how to integrate the ESCOG into their work plans. Mr. Patterson acknowledged the value in collaboration across the region and said that we need get to a point where ESCOG is funding in such a way that it performs the work that needs to be done rather than basing projects on where the course of funds are. He said that the Town was in support of in-kind contributions and would be happy to further what the Town receives from the ESCOG for clerking down to $0, and the possibility of the member agency each upping their annual contributions to the ESCOG by $5k. He also spoke about importance of keeping organizational growth lean and getting the funding it needs to survive.
There was discussion between Ms. Kabala, Mr. Patterson, and members of the Board.
Staff was given direction to collaborate with the Counties on a workplan that reflects Option C: Assigning Wildfire Coordinator Kristen Pfeiler as the Project Manager and finding dedicated administrative support.
5.4 Provide Direction to Submit Letter of Interest for Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposition 4 Regional Biomass Accelerator Pilot
1. Item 5.4 - Staff Report 2026_04_22 Prop 4 Biomass.pdf
2. Item 5.4 - Att A_ESCOG letter of interest biomass accelerator.pdf
3. Item 5.4 - ESCOG_Biomass_Project_Summary_and_Recommendations.pdf Board Member John Wentworth let the meeting at 10:53 a.m.
Executive Director Elaine Kabala outlined the information in the staff report.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Bishop Resident and former Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employee Steve Nelson spoke in support of the project moving forward to the state and said that he would like to see language added to the proposal for exiting opportunities to use Biomass in the community and to find an applicant for energy producing possibilities.
Wildfire Coordinator Kristen Pfeiler said that she would make a few edits to the letter and would get more details from CLERE Attorney Christy Darlington based on her expertise in this area.
Sierra Business Council (SBC) Board Chair Allen Pietrasanta asked to clarify that the funds being discussed were Proposition 4 funds and provided a legislative update regarding a meeting in Sacramento on Monday with regard to funding $50M in biomass utilization across the State which passed the Committee Hearing 9 to 1 and would now move on to the Appropriations Committee.
There was discussion between staff, Mr. Pietrasanta, and members of the Board.
Staff was given direction to submit letter with edits as discussed.
5.5 Consideration of the Eastern Sierra Wildfire Alliance Memorandum of Understanding
1. Item 5.5 - Staff Report_ESWA MOU_final.pdf
2. Item 5.5 - ESWA_MOU_FOR_SIG.pdf
Executive Director Elaine Kabala outlined the information in the staff report.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Bishop Resident Steve Nelson
spoke in favor of signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Mr. Nelson said that he served on the Board of Commissioners for the Bishop Fire Protection District and the Inyo Mono Resource Conservation District (RCD) as an Associate Director and said that he would ask those entities to sign on to the MOU as well. He spoke about the great work Wildfire Coordinator Kristen Pfeiler had done and said that the members of the ESCOG should make sure their member agencies know this is a priority.
There was discussion between Ms. Kabala and members of the Board.
Moved by
Board Member Paul McFarland
Seconded by
Board Member Karen Schwartz
Approve the Memorandum of Understanding for the Eastern Sierra Wildfire Alliance as presented.
For (6)
Chair Chris Bubser, Vice Chair Trina Orrill, Board Member Lynda Salcido, Board Member Karen Schwartz, Board Member Paul McFarland, and Board Member Vice Chair Karen Kong Absent (2)
Board Member John Wentworth, and Board Member Jeff Griffiths Carried (6 to 0)
5.6 Receive ESCOG Staff Update Reports:
5.6.1 ESCOG Executive Director
1. Item 5.6.1 - Staff Report exec dir report.pdf
2. Item 5.6.1 - Producer Shareback Session_ Presentation.pdf Executive Director Elaine Kabala outlined the information in the staff report.
There was discussion between Ms. Kabala and members of the Board.
5.6.2 ESCOG Wildfire Coordinator
1. Item 5.6.2 - Staff Report _Wildfire Coordinator_KP.pdf Written report only.
5.6.3 ESCOG Recreation Coordinator
1. Item 5.6.3 - Staff Report rec coordinator report 14 Apr 2026.pdf Written report only.
6. BOARD MEMBER/AGENCY REPORTS
There were no Board Member reports given.
7. REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Board Member Lynda Salcido requested and update on the Eastern Sierra Wildfire Alliance MOU that was approved today.
There was discussion between Executive Director Elaine Kabala and members of the Board.
8. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:18 a.m. to the next regular meeting schedule to be held on June 24, 2026.