CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
City Council Chambers - 301 West Line Street - Bishop, CaliforniaMONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2026 - 6:00 PM
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: Please be advised this meeting is accessible to the public in person, on the City of Bishop website, or on the local government cable channel 12. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 760-873-5863 Extension 124. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102.35.104 ADA Title II].
The public is encouraged to participate or observe this meeting by:
- Attending this meeting in person at the City of Bishop City Council Chambers located at 301 West Line Street in Bishop, California.
- Observing this meeting live from the City of Bishop website at: https://www.cityofbishop.com/government/city_council/index.php
- Observe this meeting live from the local government cable channel 12.
Public comments may be made:
- In person: 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 (or complete a speaker card prior to the meeting). Comments for all agenda items are limited to a speaking time of three minutes unless modified by the Mayor.
- In writing: Go to http://bishop-ca.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=8 to submit an "eComment" for the corresponding meeting. Please note that eComment submissions closes at 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. You may also hand deliver public comments to the City drop/payment box located at the Church Street entrance to City Hall on or before the deadline noted above. All written public comments received prior to the above noted time will be distributed to the Council for their review and consideration prior to the meeting. All written public comments received after that time will be provided to the Council at the earliest possibility. Please note written public comments received will not be read aloud at the meeting.
Any writing that is a public record that relates to an agenda item for open session distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be available for public inspection at City Hall, 377 West Line Street, Bishop, California during normal business hours. Government Code 54957.5(b)(1). Copies will also be provided at the appropriate meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER - 6:00 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2026
2. MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Mayor Pro Tem Freundt will lead the pledge of allegiance.
4. ROLL CALL
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: This time is set aside to receive public comment on matters not calendared on the agenda. When recognized by the Mayor, please state your name and address for the record and please limit your comments to three minutes. Under California law the City Council is prohibited from generally discussing or taking action on items not included in the agenda; however, the City Council will listen to all public comment but will not generally discuss the matter or take action on it.
6. PRESENTATIONS
A. A Presentation on the "Not Another Kid" Project - Presented by Penni Brown.
7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Updates on department activities will be given by the Department Heads and/or their staff.
A. Fire Department - Fire Chief Bret Russell
B. Police Department - Police Chief Nate Derr
C. Public Works Department - Public Works Director Nora Gamino
D. Community Services Department - Community Services Manager Daniel McElroy
E. Planning Department - Principal Planner Ana Budnyk
F. Administration - City Administrator Pam Foster
8. BISHOP AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INFORMATION CENTER UPDATE
Prepared and presented by Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Executive Director Tawni Thomson.
A. Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Information Center Update Report - February 23, 2026
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: All matters under the Consent Calendar are considered routine by the City and will be acted on by one motion.
A. December 2025 Budget Report
City Council to review and accept the December 2025 Budget Report.
B. December 2025 Financial Reports
City Council to review and accept the December 2025 Financial Reports.
C. Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 25-PW-01 with Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants for the 2025 Water and Sewer Rate Study, Increasing the Not-to-Exceed Amount
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 25-PW-01 with Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants, increasing the City budget and not-to-exceed contract amount by $4,296.00, for a revised total not-to-exceed amount of $62,896.00, and authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute the amendment.
D. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Administrator to Execute Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program Documents for the Silver Peaks Project.
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Administrator to execute all required AHSC Program documents and accept program funds for the Silver Peaks Project.
10. PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION
A. Public Hearing and Adoption of Water and Sewer Rates (Proposition 218)
City Council consideration to conduct the Proposition 218 public hearing on the proposed water and sewer rates; receive and consider any written protests; and, if there is no majority protest, adopt the resolution establishing the new water and sewer rates effective July 1, 2026.
11. NEW BUSINESS
A. Direction on Updates to the City's Water and Sewer Utility Rate Assistance Program
City Council to provide direction to staff regarding:
- Revising Title 13 of the Bishop Municipal Code to remove the "senior citizen" requirement and transition the program to a low-income, income-qualified assistance program;
- Identifying which existing income qualified assistance programs shall be used to verify eligibility, to be established by resolution; and
- Determining the structure and amount of the utility rate assistance benefit (currently 25% for qualifying low-income seniors).
B. Consideration of an Ad Hoc Committee to Meet with the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center
Staff recommends the City Council consider whether to create a two-member ad hoc committee, as requested by Mayor Pro Tem Freundt, to meet with the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center. If the Council approves the ad hoc committee, Council should also appoint who should serve on that committee.
C. Council Discussion on Six-Court Pickleball Layout for the Lower Courts
Provide staff direction on the striping of the Upper and Lower courts.
D. Consideration of Draft Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement for the Bishop Area Wastewater Authority
Provide direction and comments on the draft Amended and Restated BAWA Joint Powers Agreement for return to the ad-hoc committee.
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
14. ADJOURNMENT
Monday, March 9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting in the City Council Chambers