Town Council - July 15, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The Mayor called th meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 437 Old Mammoth Road, Suite Z, Mammoth Lakes.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
District Representative Valerie Spake from Senator Alvarado-Gil’s Office 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.
District Representative Valerie Spake from Senator Alvarado-Gil’s Office presented a Resolution from Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil recognizing Access Mammoth Adaptive Sports as Mono County's Nonprofit of the Year.
Betsy Truax, Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT) Vice President of Community Engagement, gave an update regarding current MLT events and activities.
Brianna Goico, Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, gave an update regarding current Chamber events and activities.
4. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Opportunity to add urgency items pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2(b)2, if necessary.
Town Manager Rob Patterson announced that there was a need to add the following closed session item:
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) This item will be placed as Closed Session Agenda Item 12.1 on the agenda Moved by
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Seconded by
Councilmember John Wentworth
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:
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) For (5)
Councilmember Chris Bubser, Councilmember Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax, and Mayor Amanda Rice Carried (5 to 0)
5. INTRODUCTIONS
5.1 Introduce new Finance Director Lauren Warrem.
Town Manager Rob Patterson introduced the Ms. Warrem to the Council and the community.
6. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND/OR DEPARTMENTS (AS NEEDED)
6.1 Town of Mammoth Lakes Social Media Report for June 2026.
1. TOML Social Media Report June 2026.pdf
6.2 July 2026 Public Works Engineering CIP Update.
1. July 2026 PW Engineering CIP Update.pdf
7. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
7.1 Emergency Management Update.
1. Emergency Management Update July 2026.pdf
2. Emergency_Management_Update_7-15-26.pdf
Town Manager Rob Patterson and Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District Fire Chieff Ales Tomaier outlined the information in the staff report and Emergency Management Update. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Paul McFarland, Mono County Supervisor, thanked the Town for putting time into this effort and the overall increase in capacity in the region. Mr. McFarland spoke about the length of time recovery takes and the need to work on that piece.
8. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem Truax requested that Agenda Item 8.2 be removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion.
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 July 1, 2026.
1. July 1, 2026 Minutes.pdf
8.2 Adopt the resolution establishing the middle-income housing policy statements.
1. Action Sheet - Middle Income Housing Policy Statements.pdf
2. Attachment 1 - Resolution for Middle Income Housing Policy Statements.pdf
3. Attachment 2 - Resolution with Track Changes.pdf
This item was removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion.
Mayor Pro Tem Truax suggested that "current or future" be added to Item 13 of the resolution.
Moved by
Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax
Seconded by
Councilmember John Wentworth
Adopt the resolution establishing the middle-income housing policy statements, as amended to include "current or future" to #13.
For (5)
Councilmember Chris Bubser, Councilmember Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax, and Mayor Amanda Rice Carried (5 to 0)
8.3 Update and Approval to Continue Airport Office Emergency Contract Work.
1. Update and Request Approval to Continue Airport Office Emergency Contract Work.pdf
2. R26-31.pdf
3. Mammoth Lakes Station Press Release.pdf
8.4 Accept Check Register 6/25/26 in the amount of $279,352.94. Accept Check Register 7/1/26 in the amount of $49,903.43. Accept Check Register 7/9/26 in the amount of $1,070,199.14.
1. Check Register 06252006.pdf
2. Check Register 07012026.pdf
3. Check Register 07092026.pdf
9. POLICY MATTERS
9.1 Ordinance to Renew Town’s Military Use Policy.
1. Ordinance to Renew Town's Military Use Policy 2026 (2nd Discussion).pdf
2. Ordinance 2026 Military Equipment.pdf
3. Annual Report of Military Equipment Use and Inventory 2026.pdf
4. MLPD UAV Program Update.pdf
5. DJI Matrice 4TD Drone Package Quote.pdf
6. Pepperball Launcher and Munitions Quote.pdf
7. MLPD Military Equipment Policy 706.pdf
Town Manager Rob Patterson and Sergeant Jason Heilman outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.
Moved by
Mayor Pro Tem Brent Truax
Seconded by
Councilmember Bill Sauser
Waive the reading and introduce by title only the ordinance renewing the Town’s Military Equipment Use Policy pursuant to Government Code Section 7071 (AB 48).
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 Sauser attended the Fourth of July Parade, the fireworks at Crowley Lake, and the Public Works Yard BBQ.
Mayor Pro Tem Truax attended the Public Works Yard BBQ and fireworks at Crowley Lake. He spoke about the number of people we had lost in Town recently.
Councilmember Bubser attended the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) CO-LAB meetings last week. She thanked Mayor Pro Tem Truax for remembering those we had lost. She met with the new Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) Executive Director.
Councilmember Wentworth attended the Fourth of July Parade. He spoke about the passing of many community members. He attended the ESCOG CO-LAB meetings last week and the Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT) Board meeting. Councilmember Wentworth announced that he would not be running for re-election.
Mayor Rice attended the Eastern Sierra Community Housing Board meeting.
11. REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Bubser reminded staff to talk with the community members who spoke about mobile home park rent control.
12. CLOSED SESSION
12.1 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) At 5:13 p.m. the Mayor announced that the Council would be entering into closed session for the purposes as stated in the agenda.
The Council reconvened from closed session at 5:32 p.m. and announced that no reportable action was taken.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The Town Council will adjourn to a regular meeting to be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council adjourned the meeting at 5:32 p.m.