ON THE AGENDA: Twentynine Palms City Council, August 13, 2024
ON THE AGENDA: Twentynine Palms City Council, August 13, 2024
A council meeting that will celebrate community resilience—and give residents a chance to ask hard questions about monsoon flooding
Last month’s monsoon floods are still top of the agenda for the City, which will recognize those who have assisted with the storm and its aftermath. The Desert Trumpet has covered the monsoon rains and ways to prepare for them over the last few weeks here, here, and here. The Los Angeles Times wrote a broad-ranging article covering the community’s response; download a free PDF of the article here.
Although the agenda is light, there is likely to be much that is discussed at this meeting.
Note: Benjamin Alley has planned a 4:30 pm protest in front of City Hall about the “Welcome to 29 Palms” sign he created and erected on the grounds of the Oasis Cave Market in Indian Cove. Alley contends that his freedom of speech has been violated and that he has received inappropriate pressure from the City because of objections from prominent community members.
The City Council meeting begins at 6 pm.
PUBLIC COMMENT
You have an opportunity to comment on agenda items and issues important to you at every City Council meeting. Comments on agenda items take place during discussion of that item, whereas comments on non-agenda items take place near the end of the meeting. Comments are limited to three minutes. The Brown Act prevents Council from commenting on non-agenda items. To comment, pick up a green (or occasionally gold) form at the entry desk, fill it out, and hand it to the Clerk.
Note that the Council has stopped reading letters from the public into the record at Council meetings. Here's the list of Council email addresses to write if you can't get to the meeting — be sure to email them prior to 2 pm on the date of the meeting so they have time to read your email prior to discussion. You can also copy the clerk at cvillescas@29palms.org and ask that your letter be made part of the public record.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND PROCLAMATIONS
Item 1. Pioneer Days Update
Items 2 & 3. City Manager’s Storm Update and Community Recognition
At the start of this week’s City Council meeting, City Manager Stone James will be giving a monsoon storm situation summary during the meeting’s announcements. Following his update, the City will give recognition to people and organizations who helped the community during the storms and their aftermath.
There is precedent for City Managers to give reports during announcements (see Interim Manager Larry Bowden’s on the City’s Safe Routes to School program, reported here), but typically discussion has not taken place. However, the City Manager’s reports are agenda items and, in theory, the public and Council can comment; if you have public comment on storm damage, submit a form for agenda item 2.
Items 4-10 CONSENT CALENDAR
The Consent Calendar consists of routine items usually approved with a single vote, although a Councilmember may choose to pull an item for discussion. The public is given a chance to make public comment on these items prior to the Council motion. Fill out a comment form if you wish to address any the items from this meeting’s Consent Calendar.
Items on the consent calendar include:
Approval of the July 23 City Council meeting minutes
Approval of the warrant register of $751,821.21
Executing an updated agreement with the County Flood Control District for the construction of a bridge on Split Rock Avenue across the Twentynine Palms Flood Control Channel
Second reading of a development code amendment regulating the open storage of boats, RVs, and trailers as well as fence heights
Second reading of a development code amendment regulating cottage food operations
Project Phoenix treatment system improvements
PUBLIC HEARING
Item 11. Development Code Amendment Article 4 Part 2
The City Council will have the opportunity to discuss the Planning Commission’s recommendations for lighting standards, noise control, and trash enclosures, which we covered in our Planning Commission agenda preview and recap. At that meeting, community members had expressed some frustration that three very different topics were covered under one agenda item, which did not give adequate time to discuss concerns in the three minutes given to public comment.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
Item 12. 2024-2025 Community Event Grants
Councilmembers Daniel Mintz and Octavious Scott make up the City’s Event Ad Hoc Committee, which is recommending that the City contribute to the following events:
The Taste of the Des, September 21, 2024, Freedom Plaza, $2,000
The Hangry Bear, a local business owned and operated by Ivan Davis, is planning the first food festival in Twentynine Palms. The festival will feature 8 to 15 food vendors as well as 5 to10 crafts vendors.
Historic Plaza Seasonal Event Series, $10,000
Fall Fair w/ 1st Annual Classic Car and Motorcycle Show - October 20, 2024
Winter Fair w/ Holiday Marketplace - December 15, 2024
Spring Fair w/ Chalk Festival - March 23, 2025
Summer Fair w/ Splash Fest - June 22, 2025
Mojave Moon Apothecary and Sun of the Desert will host four events at the Historic Plaza over the course of the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. This series of seasonal community events is aimed at fostering community engagement, enhancing the sense of place, and revitalizing the Twentynine Palms Historic Plaza.
12th Annual Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo, November 1-30, 2024, 29 Palms Art Gallery, $4,000
The Joshua Tree National Park Council for the Arts will present its 12th Annual Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo at the historic 29 Palms Art Gallery. The exhibition features artwork inspired by Joshua Tree National Park and will include work by up to 60 artists.
Holiday Art Faire, November 19, 2024, 29 Palms Art Gallery, $1,950
The family-friendly Faire, sponsored by the 29 Palms Artists Guild, showcases the creative of more than two dozen artists and includes paintings, photography, pottery, fiber arts, and jewelry.
Spring Arts & Crafts Faire, March 15-16, 2025, 29 Palms Art Gallery, $3,400
The 29 Palms Artists Guild will also sponsor arts and crafts fair during spring break.
Morongo Basin Spell-A-Thon, March 22, 2025, Twentynine Palms Community Center, $1,000
The Friends of the Twentynine Palms Library teams up with other friends of the library organizations in the Morongo Basin to present the 4th Annual Morongo Basin Spell-A-Thon. This popular event raises funds to improve programs and services of local libraries.
From There to Here: Military and Veteran Expressions Art Exhibition, October 1 - December 31, 2024, Twentynine Palms Visitor Center, $3,700
The Mil-Tree Veteran Project will present its From Here to There: Military and Veteran Expressions Art Exhibition, which explores the creative expressions of the military, veterans, and their families as they share their personal journeys and the impact of military service on their lives through art.
The Committee is recommending the following reallocations of funding:
88th Annual Pioneer Days - $10,000
Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC) Community and Youth Arts Grants - $2,000
The total amount for event funding is $26,050 and the $12,000 reallocation is $38,050. The City has $50,000 available for Community Event grants—ordinarily, the PAAC grants come from the City’s general fund and not from the Community Event grants line item. The staff report notes that, “Should all events be funded, $11,950 will be available for allocation to other events or used however the City Council sees fit.”
FUTURE COUNCIL ITEMS
Once again, a discussion of the allocated funds for portable showers and a navigation center have been postponed for a future meeting.
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