County of Inyo

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, met in regular session at the hour of 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, September 26, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, County Administrative Center, Independence, with the following Supervisors present:   Chairperson Susan Cash presiding, Ted Williams, Jim Bilyeu, and Richard Cervantes. Supervisor Arcularius was absent.   Supervisor Bilyeu provided the Invocation, and Supervisor Cash led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment period and there was no wishing to address the Board.

County Dept. Reports

The Chairperson announced the County Department Report Period.   Ms. Jean Dickinson, Director of Health and Human Services, updated the Board on a meeting being co-sponsored by the HHS Dept. and the Bishop Union High School, to address underage drinking and other teen trials, which will be held on Thursday September 28, 2006 beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Patio Building at the Tri-County Fairgrounds.   She went on to update the Board on local efforts to have the state identify an EMT training sight in the Eastern Sierra.  

Ms. Leslie Chapman, Auditor-Controller, advised the Board that with regard to last week’s remarks concerning using the Economic Stabilization Fund to finance the TEETER loan, she has learned that there is a resolution of the Board of Supervisors granting the Auditor-Controller the authority to utilize the fund and as a result of this information she would be reporting back to the Board rather than seeking the Board’s authorization on the utilization of this fund.  

The County Administrator informed the Board that the County has been informed that the Coso Geothermal operations will be appealing this year’s tax value and as stated in the agreement an outside independent appraisal will be sought to determine the value.   He went on to explain the importance of this notification is that the difference between the Assessor’s value and the Company’s value is $120,000,000 on a $480,000,000 County assessment, which could equate to a tax difference of $500,000 to the County.   The Auditor-Controller informed the Board that as a result of the potential change in the tax on this assessment and to protect the special districts, she would withhold a portion of the special district tax allocations rather than have to take it back at a later date.   Mr. Paul Bruce, County Counsel, confirmed the Auditor’s authority to impound a portion of the tax distribution because of pending assessment appeals.  

Mr. Kevin Carunchio, Deputy County Administrator, reminded the Board of the 2006 Small Business Financial Expo presented by the Mojave Desert Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Council and sponsored by Southern California Edison, Alta One Federal Credit Union, Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce and Bishop Chamber of Commerce, which will be held tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at Whiskey Creek in Bishop.  

BofS/Emma Courtney Certificate

Fourth District Supervisor, Jim Bilyeu, took great pleasure in honoring Independence Resident, Emma Lee Courtney, on her 100 th Birthday, with a commemorative certificate from the Board of Supervisors.   Supervisor Bilyeu recognized Ms. Courtney and her family who were in attendance and shared a bit of Emma’s life’s history with the audience, concluding his remarks by noting that Emma has been honored with congratulatory certificates from President Bush and Governor Schwarzenegger, as well as being the recipient of a bouquet of flowers from TV Channel 4 Weatherman Fritz Coleman.   In response to a question from Supervisor Bilyeu on her secret, Emma shared her thoughts that you should “work hard and be happy.” The Board noted that this was sage advise from a lovely lady and thanked Ms. Courtney and her family for giving the County the opportunity to share her 100 th birthday with them.

Resol. #2006-46/ Property Tax Rate

On a motion by Supervisor Bilyeu and a second by Supervisor Cervantes, Resolution No. 2006-46 was adopted, setting the property tax rates for 2006-07, per California Government Code Section 29100: motion unanimously passed and adopted, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.

Resol. #2006-47/ Appropriation Limit

On a motion by Supervisor Williams and a second by Supervisor Cervantes, Resolution No. 2006-47 was adopted, accepting the calculations of the appropriation limitation for the County of Inyo for Fiscal Year 2006-07: motion unanimously passed and adopted, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.  

Clerk/Recorder Asst. Position

Ms. Beverly Harry, Clerk-Recorder, provided additional information and further justification to fill the Assistant Clerk-Recorder position in advance of her retirement.   The County Administrator and County Counsel responded to questions from the Board regarding how this request could be facilitated.   Supervisor Cash, noted that originally this request was not approved because of the financing and since now there are salary savings to cover the costs of this position, she was supporting the recommendation.   Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to A) change the authorized strength in the Clerk-Recorder’s Department by adding one Assistant Clerk-Recorder position, effective immediately and effective January 8, 2007, delete one Assistant Clerk-Recorder position; and B) authorize the recruitment and filling of the new Assistant Clerk Recorder position.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.

Emerg. Ser./ Generator Installation Tecopa Community Center

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to declare Shoshone Propane of Pahrump a sole-source provider to install a generator and gas/propane system and authorize a purchase order to Shoshone Propane for the installation of a generator and gas/propane system at the Hurlbut Rook Community Center in Tecopa in an amount not to exceed $3,331.75 including material costs, tax and labor.    Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.

Integ. Waste/ Compactor Engine Replacement

Moved by Supervisor Cervantes and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to ratify the purchase of a remanufactured engine for an 826c Caterpillar compactor utilized by Integrated Waste Management in the amount of $13,220.41 and approve a purchase order to American Heavy Equipment Services, Inc. for the engine in an amount not to exceed $13,220.41.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.

CAO-Budget/ FY 2006-07 Final Budget Adoption

Resol. #2006-48

The Board and Staff discussed the Fiscal Year 2006-07 Final Board Approved Budget, including but not limited to: 1) those changes to the CAO Recommended Budget that were directed by the Board to be included in the Final Budget and 2) subsequent changes which have been included by the County Administrator.   The Board thanked the budget team for their success in this year’s budget preparation.   The County Administrator presented the Board with an additional change in the budget explaining that there was a transfer of internal workmen’s compensation charges in the Road Dept. and Road Congestion Relief budgets, which did not affect the final budget numbers.   Supervisor Cervantes said that he did not agree with the Board’s position to reduce funding for the Chambers of Commerce and advocated for reinstating the amounts to that which was originally recommended by the County Administrator.   He explained that he felt the action to reduce Chambers funding was punitive and vindictive as evidenced by the remarks made during the Advertising County Resources budget discussions during Budget Hearings.   Supervisor Cash took umbrage with the remarks that the Board was being vindictive explaining that all Chambers received equal funding reductions, including those that had supported the TOT Ballot measure.   She reminded him that the Board Members had commended the Chambers of Commerce for the work they did to advertise the County.    Mr. Kevin Carunchio informed the Board that he was having a meeting with Chambers of Commerce representatives in preparation for the October 17, 2006 workshop, scheduled by the Board to discuss maximizing County advertising dollars.   County Counsel, Mr. Paul Bruce, provided an explanation on the recommendations which were being requested to adopt the final budget, identifying those actions requiring 3/5’s vote, which were the actions that were taken by the Board during budget hearings; and those actions   requiring 4/5’s vote, which were subsequent actions, including the changes to the Road Department budgets presented during today’s discussion.    The Auditor-Controller, Ms. Leslie Chapman, addressed the Board to report that the certified fund balance was $3,644,449.

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Williams to adopt the FY 2006-07 Final Budget as recommend by the County Administrator and as amended during the Budget Hearings.   Motion carried on a three-to-one vote, with Supervisors Cash, Williams and Bilyeu voting yes, with Supervisor Cervantes voting no and with Supervisor Arcularius absent.  

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Williams to adopt those changes to the FY 2006-07 Final Budget as recommended by Staff as reflected in Attachment C and amended to include the changes in the Road Department and Road Congestion Relief budgets internal charges.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.   

On a motion by Supervisor Williams and a second by Supervisor Bilyeu, Resolution No. 2006-48 was approved adopting the Final FY 2006-07 County Budget: motion unanimously passed and adopted, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.

Moved by Supervisor Williams and seconded by Supervisor Bilyeu to authorize the County Administrator to sign contracts with the FY 2006-07 Advertising County Resources Program and Grants-in-Support Program recipients, without deviation with regard to funding amount, in the amounts provided for in the FY 2006-07 Final Board Approved County Budget, contingent upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.

BofS/Minute Approval

Moved by Supervisor Bilyeu and seconded by Supervisor Williams to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2006 Board of Supervisors Meeting.   Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisor Arcularius absent.  

Resol. #2006-49/ Title III Funding Allocation

On a motion by Supervisor Bilyeu and a second by Supervisor Williams, Resolution #2006-49 entitled “A Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, County of Inyo, State of California for the designation of 15% to 20% of the Safety Net Full Payment Amount to be Allocated to Local Projects,” was adopted: motion unanimously passed and adopted.

Board Members and Staff Reports

The Board Members reported on their activities for the preceding week, including a review of a complaint regarding the conditions of the facilities at Diaz Lake, a report on the RCRC Annual Conference, with special note being made of implementation in June 2007, of a State Prisons ruling that the State Prison System will no longer accept inmate populations from the counties, due to overcrowding.   The County Administrator reported that the County had received the keys to the new fire truck donated by the Town of Mammoth Lakes, which will be stationed at the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport.  

Adjournment

The Chairperson adjourned the regular meeting at 10:00 a.m., to 9:00 a.m., October 5, 2006, in the Board of Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.