Fred Aubrey

The board meeting agenda includes closed session items regarding labor negotiations, existing litigation, and a public employee performance evaluation. Open session topics feature appointments to the Mt. Whitney Cemetery District Board of Trustees and the role of Local Governmental Agency Coordinator, along with several contract amendments for professional consulting, hydrological services, and airport equipment storage building design. Further business involves the declaration of surplus vehicles, a report on the 2026 Mule Days Celebration, a funding agreement with the DEA for cannabis eradication, approval of utility easements for telecommunications infrastructure, various budget amendments for fuel reduction programs, and the authorization of letters of support for state legislative bills.

The board meeting agenda included several key items such as closed session discussions regarding labor negotiations, litigation, and various department head performance evaluations. Open session items featured introductions of new county employees, approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant application, and the renewal of memorandums of understanding for master crime, cyber liability, pollution liability, and excess liability insurance programs. Additionally, the Board considered modifications to the groundwater transfer ordinance, a contract amendment for inpatient psychiatric services, the appointment of an interim county surveyor, approval of a free green waste weekend, adoption of a high-wind operations policy for landfills, the auction of surplus vehicles, and the purchase of asphalt for road repairs. The agenda also included updates on Southern Inyo Healthcare District operations, a state of the arts report, and the upcoming 2026 Mule Days Celebration, alongside the approval of multiple leases with the Department of Water and Power of the City of Los Angeles.

The Board of Supervisors discussed and approved proposed ordinances to implement Senate Bill 9 (SB9) requirements regarding Two-Unit Development and Urban Lot Splits within the county. These actions involve amending the Inyo County Code to establish objective zoning and design review standards, deed restrictions, and utility connection requirements for ministerial housing development projects. The Board also addressed CEQA exemptions for these ordinances and reviewed recommendations from the Planning Commission.

The Board of Supervisors discussed and approved a zone text amendment to align the Inyo County Code with state housing laws and the county's General Plan Housing Element update. The discussion included amendments to various zoning sections, such as defining terms like 'Tiny Home', 'Low Barrier Navigation Center', and 'Supportive Housing', and updating permitted uses in residential and commercial zones. The board also formally adopted Ordinance 1290, which implements these changes, following a public hearing and a recommendation from the Planning Commission.

This background report details the rationale and criteria for the Inyo County Renewable Energy General Plan Amendment (REGPA). It addresses the county's interest and commitment to renewable energy, its economic potential, and the necessity for the amendment. The report outlines criteria for Renewable Energy Development Areas (REDAs), evaluating solar and wind potential, transmission infrastructure, and considerations from the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. It also identifies areas for exclusion based on critical environmental concerns, sensitive species, military interests, tribal lands, and cultural resources. The document aims to guide the strategic development of renewable energy within Inyo County.