Mono County's Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a Yosemite Gateway Communities charter developed by the National Park Service under Secretarial Order 3434 and to appoint three representatives to the new gateway coordination group.

The board adopted the charter and appointed Supervisor McFarland, Supervisor Peters and Emily Bridal, Mono County Economic Development Manager, as the county's three initial representatives. The motion passed on a 5-0 roll call vote.

The charter formalizes a quarterly coordination process between Yosemite National Park, the four surrounding counties (Mono, Tuolumne, Madera and Mariposa) and Yosemite Gateway Partners, a nonprofit described in the staff report as a 501(c)(3) dedicated to public communication and partnership with the park. County staff and supervisors said the charter is intended to institutionalize a working relationship that previously had been largely informal.

Supervisor McFarland, who presented the item, said the park requested that each gateway county adopt the charter and appoint three representatives: two members of the governing body and one member of the public or staff with demonstrated experience in recreation and tourism. McFarland recommended appointing two supervisors and the county Economic Development Manager for the initial year so the county would have continuity while the new group begins meeting.

Superintendent McPadden of Yosemite National Park was described in the staff report and by board members as the park's on-site coordinator and as the park representative expected to take a central role in organizing meetings. Board members said the charter allows the superintendent to serve as the gateway communities coordinator, per the secretarial order.

Board members discussed options for the third seat that is intended to rotate among a chamber or tourism representative, with several supervisors saying the county should reassess the third appointment after a year of meetings. Emily Bridal was appointed as the initial third seat in part because she is on Yosemite Gateway Partners and can relay information countywide, the board said.

Board members and staff noted limits to the charter's authority: the group is advisory and not a decisional body. County Counsel and presenters said the group cannot reach binding consensus that would circumvent federal procurement or other law; it can make recommendations and coordinate, but it cannot impose decisions on the park or the counties.

The board directed staff to finalize appointments and notified the clerk to transmit the county's adoption and appointee names to the park and to Yosemite Gateway Partners.

The newly appointed representatives will take part in the gateway community meetings when convened by the park service; the park service superintendent was described as responsible for agendas and meeting facilitation under the charter.

The board took the action during the morning session after public and board discussion about membership, the pilot approach for the third seat, and the plan to revisit appointments during the board's regular December appointment cycle.

Ending: The motion to adopt the charter and appoint Supervisor McFarland, Supervisor Peters and Emily Bridal passed on a 5-0 roll call. The board said it would revisit the scope and rotation of the third seat after at least one gateway meeting had taken place.