We have this report from reporter Deb Murphy on the Tuesday’s May 11^th Bishop City Council Meeting.

Kevin Bigham, Mule Days president, reported in on this year’s Mule Days preparation. It’s a go, with limitations: no parade, concert, dance or opening supper—all events with close contact and/or indoors. Under the current state restrictions under the Orange Tier, there will be an occupancy limit of 33-percent. If the County drops even lower on the tier system to the Yellow Tier, the least restrictive category, it will allow for a higher occupancy percentage. If that happens, additional tickets will go on sale the week of the event which begins on May 25. All Public Health mandates will be in place.

Inyo County Supervisor Jeff Griffiths touched on the closure of the Sterling Heights Assisted Living facility during his report to the city council, which is very upsetting to many city and county residents. Griffiths said, “There’s a lot of money available for low-income and senior housing. There is an opportunity (if the facility is for sale) for a coalition to put something together.” Let’s hope so.

Public comments at both the City Council and Board of Supervisors meetings aren’t letting IMACA’s safe parking for the homeless project die. Bishop staff gave a thumbs down on a potential site in east Bishop. County staff squashed another site on County-owned land north of Bishop. Bishop resident Fran Hunt brought the topic up at Monday’s Council meeting asking Bishop to push the Supervisors for a resolution, perhaps at a joint meeting of the two bodies. Bishop City Administrator has reached out to IMACA’s Larry Emerson to look into available locations.

Federal Funding: Following a discussion with Rep. Jay Obernolte’s office, Mayor Stephen Muchovej told the Council two local projects, one from Bishop and one from Inyo, will go forward for approval: Warren Street improvements from Bishop and the new Police/Fire/County Administration building in Bishop from the County. The projects aren’t guaranteed approval under the “American Rescue Plan Act,” but they are still in consideration.

[Bishop City Council Meetings can be watched live on YouTube. Visit the City of Bishop’s Virtual City Council Meetings website for more information. They can also be reviewed online after the fact by visiting Past Virtual City Council Meetings from their website.