Town Council of Mammoth Lakes

Minutes of Regular Meeting

Wednesday, June 05, 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 Amanda Rice, 
• and Councilmember John Wentworth 

Members Absent:

• Councilmember Sarah Rea 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Councilmember Bubser attended the meeting remotely from the following location: 5851 Clinton St, Los Angeles, CA 90004.

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 437 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes. 

2.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Betsy Truax  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.

Kathy Cage requested a future agenda item regarding a location for a future community center. 

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.

WORKSHOP

5.1

Joint workshop with the Board of Mammoth Lakes Tourism - Budget Presentation for Fiscal Year 2024/25.

Mammoth Lakes Tourism Board Chair Pat Foster, Vice Chair Eric Clark, Treasurer John Morris, Secretary John Mendel, Board Member John Wentworth, Board Member Tom Parker, and Board Member Kirk Wallace were in attendance. Board Member Darlene Magner and Board Member Cristi Quesada-Costa were absent. 

John Urdi, Executive Director of Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT), and MLT Staff gave a presentation outlining MLT's Strategic Plan. There was discussion among members of Council, the MLT Board, and staff. 

The Mayor called a recess at 5:29 p.m. and the Council reconvened at 5:38 p.m.

6.

REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND/OR DEPARTMENTS (AS NEEDED)

Town Manager Rob Patterson gave an update regarding the proposed ballot measure. There was discussion among members of Council and staff. 

6.1

June 2024 Public Works Engineering CIP update.

Engineering Manager Amy Callanan outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff. 

6.2

June 2024 Office of Outdoor Recreation Update.

6.3

Did you Know? CRC Summer Operations.

Parks and Recreation Director Stuart Brown gave an update regarding the Community Recreation Center Mammoth RecZone. There was discussion among members of Council and staff. 

7.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

7.1

Town of Mammoth Lakes Civic Center Financing Update.

Town Manager Rob Patterson gave an update regarding the funding of the project and introduced the Town's bond consultant,  Marty Johnson of JNA Consulting Group. Mr. Johnson gave an update regarding the bond issuance. There was discussion among members of Council and staff. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Ted Carleton, The Sheet, asked about the length of the term. Mr. Johnson responded.  

8.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Moved by Councilmember Amanda Rice
  Seconded by Councilmember John Wentworth

  Approve the Consent Agenda.

  For (4)	Mayor Bill Sauser, Councilmember John Wentworth, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bubser, and Councilmember Amanda Rice
  Absent (1)	Councilmember Sarah Rea

  Carried (4 to 0)

8.1

Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 15, 2024.

8.2

Award the annual contract for publication of legal notices to The Sheet.

8.3

Award contract for the Facilities Exterior Painting Project FAC 24-001 to H.B. Restoration, Inc.

8.4

Accept the donation of real property located at 156 Lost Lane and authorize the Town Manager to sign the grant deed.

8.5

Accept the Project Closeout Report for Laurel Mountain Road Rehabilitation and Sidewalk.

8.6

Accept Check Register 5/15/24 in the amount of $1,247,609.23. Accept Check Register 5/22/24 in the amount of $2,295,797.83. Accept Check Register 5/30/24 in the amount of $663,043.79.

9.

POLICY MATTERS

9.1

Consider resolution to approve a one-year lease agreement with Flock Safety for eight Automatic License Plate Recognition Cameras for the Mammoth Lakes Police Department.

Police Chief Dan Casabian introduced the item and Sergeant Heilman. Sergeant Heilman gave a presentation regarding the flock safety system. There was discussion among members of Council and staff.

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

Ales Tomaier, Fire Chief of the Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District, spoke in support of the project.  

Chris Mokracek, Mono County Emergency Management, spoke in support of the project. 

Ulises Cabrera, Flock Safety Community Engagement Manager, spoke about data protection. 

There was discussion among members of Council, Mr. Cabrera, and staff. 

9.2

Scoping for Reds Meadow Valley Recreation Renovation Project – Public Comment.

Office of Outdoor Recreation Manager Lawson Reif outlined the information in the staff report. There was discussion among members of Council and staff. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Cleland Hoff spoke on behalf of Bobby Tanner saying offering showers would take away his shower business. Ms. Hoff spoke against the Reds Meadow Road project.

There was discussion among members of Council. 

Mr. Reif noted that he would draft a letter incorporating the comments made by the Town Council. 

9.3

Fiscal Year 24-25 – Tentative Budget (Manager Recommended).

Town Manager Rob Patterson outlined the information in the staff report.  There was discussion among members of Council and staff.

10.

COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS

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

Mayor Sauser reported that the Town Council had a joint meeting with the Mono County Board of Supervisors. 

11.

CLOSED SESSION

At 8:23 p.m. the Mayor announced that the Council would be entering into closed session for the purposes as stated in the agenda. 

11.1

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph 1 of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)

Name of case: Snowcreek VII Condominium Owner’s Association and Mammoth Lakes Coalition for Responsible Planning, LLC v. Town of Mammoth Lakes, Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District, Town of Mammoth Lakes Town Council, and Town of Mammoth Lakes Planning and Economic Development Commission (Case No: 24UCM48)

12.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION TAKEN AFTER CLOSED SESSION

The Council reconvened from closed session at 8:55 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, June 19, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

The Council adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.