Town Council of Mammoth Lakes

Minutes of Regular Meeting

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 4:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

437 Old Mammoth Road, Suite Z, Mammoth Lakes

Members Present:

• Mayor Bill Sauser, 
• Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bubser, 
• Councilmember Sarah Rea, 
• Councilmember Amanda Rice, 
• and Councilmember John Wentworth 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 4:07 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 437 Old Mammoth Road, Suite Z, Mammoth Lakes.

2.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Parks and Recreation Director Stuart Brown 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.

There were no public comments given at this time.

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.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

5.1

Elections Update presented by Mono County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar Queenie Barnard.

Ms. Barnard gave a presentation regarding the upcoming election. There was discussion among members of Council and Ms. Barnard.

Councilmember Bubser arrived at 4:12 p.m. 

6.

REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND/OR DEPARTMENTS (AS NEEDED)

Fred Wong, District Ranger of the Mammoth Ranger District, gave an update regarding current Forest Service activities. There was discussion among members of Council and Mr. Wong. 

Administrative Services/Finance Director Rob Patterson gave an update regarding the STR Advisory Committee. 

Parks and Recreation Director Stuart Brown gave an update regarding the Town's new website and the Community Recreation Center. 

6.1

Did you Know? Short-term Rentals – Taxable Items.

6.2

Receive the monthly Parcel Affordable Housing Project Construction Update.

Engineering Manager Amy Callanan gave a presentation regarding the construction update for The Parcel. There was discussion among members of Council and staff. Shellan Rodriguez, SMR Development representing the Pacific Companies, gave an update regarding Phase 2 and Phase 3 of The Parcel. 

6.3

Mammoth Main Base Redevelopment Project Update (“Evolving Main”) (Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge Area).

Jen Murillo, Lisa Wise Consulting, gave an update regarding the Mammoth Main Base Redevelopment Project. There was discussion among members of Council, Ms. Murillo, and staff. 

7.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Moved by Councilmember John Wentworth
  Seconded by Councilmember Amanda Rice

  Approve the Consent Agenda.

  For (5)

  Mayor Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Councilmember Sarah Rea, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bubser, and Councilmember Amanda Rice

  Carried (5 to 0)

7.1

Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 3, 2024.

7.2

Approve the minutes of the special meeting of January 10, 2024.

7.3

Authorize the Contract for the Design of the Airport Parking Lot Reconstruction Project to Brandley Engineering Inc.

7.4

Authorize the Contract for Construction Management During the AWOS Relocation and Upgrade Project to Brandley Engineering Inc.

7.5

Accept Check Register 11/11/24 in the amount of $683,535.57.

8.

POLICY MATTERS

8.1

Consider Adoption of the Second Amendment to the Solid Waste Services Agreement between the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Disposal Company related to rate adjustments.

Town Manager Daniel C. Holler outlined the information in the staff report. 

Mike Smith, Mammoth Disposal, spoke about the need for the contract amendment. There was discussion among members of Council and Mr. Smith. 

• Moved by Councilmember John Wentworth
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bubser

  Adopt the Second Amendment to the Solid Waste Services Agreement between the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Disposal Company related to rate adjustments.

  For (5)

  Mayor Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Councilmember Sarah Rea, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bubser, and Councilmember Amanda Rice

  Carried (5 to 0)

9.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Public Hearing Procedure.
The Mayor will open the public hearing and then: Statement and presentation by staff. Statement and presentation by property owner or appellant. Questions from the Town Council. Call for testimony. Rebuttal to previous testimony by property owner or appellant. Close the public hearing, terminating public testimony. The Town Council will deliberate the matter and arrive at a decision.

9.1

Consider Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Solid Waste Disposal Charges and Rates for January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.

The Mayor opened the public hearing at 5:31 p.m.

Assistant to the Town Manager Pam Kobylarz outlined the information in the staff report.  There was discussion among members of Council and staff.

Mike Smith, Mammoth Disposal, spoke about the fuels surcharge. There was discussion among members of Council and Mammoth Disposal staff.  

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Tom Cage, Main Street commercial property owner, said that there were a lot of dumpsters in the area and asked if we could consolidate and reduce the number of dumpsters. There was discussion among members of Council and Mr. Cage. 

Diana Hawkins asked about short term rentals.  

The Mayor closed the public hearing at 5:49 p.m.

There was discussion among members of Council and staff. 

• Moved by Councilmember John Wentworth
  Seconded by Councilmember Amanda Rice

  Adopt a Resolution Approving the Solid Waste Disposal Charges and Rates for January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.

  For (5)

  Mayor Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Councilmember Sarah Rea, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bubser, and Councilmember Amanda Rice

  Carried (5 to 0)

10.

COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS

Informational reports from Councilmember representatives on committees, commissions, and organizations; general reports on Councilmember activities.

Councilmember Rea attended the Mammoth Lakes Recreation Board meeting. 

Councilmember Wentworth attended the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District Board meeting, the STR Advisory Committee meeting, and the State Conference on Climate Change. 

Councilmember Rice attended the Eastern Sierra Community Housing meeting and the STR Advisory Committee meeting. 

Mayor Pro Tem Bubser attended the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) Board meeting

Mayor Sauser gave the "puck drop" to start the hockey season at the Community Recreation Center. He attended the ESTA Board meeting. 

There was discussion among members of Council. 

11.

CLOSED SESSION

At 6:08 p.m. the Mayor announced that the Council would be entering into closed session for the purposes as stated in the agenda. 

11.1

Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957, the Council will hold a conference to consider evaluation of a public employee: Town Manager.

12.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION TAKEN AFTER CLOSED SESSION

The Council reconvened from closed session at 6:45 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, February 7, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

The Council adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.