ON THE AGENDA: Twentynine Palms City Council, July 28, 2026
More fees and permits for restaurants, a community resilience center discussion, and Ofland Resort gets a formal rescission.
The Twentynine Palms City Council meets at 6 pm this upcoming Tuesday, July 28, at City Hall for a regularly scheduled session. Attendees can likely anticipate a long meeting.
A packed agenda includes rescission of the zoning that was changed for the Ofland Resort development project, new permitting requirements for food establishments, proposed sewer regulations, and discussion of a potential million dollar grant opportunity with significant up-front application costs. For the sake of brevity, potentially significant discussion items are covered in this article.
The entire 301-page agenda packet for the meeting is linked here; coverage of the previous Council meeting is available here.
PUBLIC COMMENT
You can 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, while comments on non-agenda items take place near the end of the meeting. The Brown Act prevents Council from commenting on non-agenda items. To comment, just pick up a form at the entry desk, fill it out, and hand it to the Clerk, who usually sits just in front of the Council dais toward the right.
Council email addresses and public comment information can be found on our resources page. Be sure to email prior to 2 pm on the day 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.
Individuals can now comment remotely using the City’s WebEx system, a video conferencing application, with a unique meeting link at the top of each agenda. The City implemented this for the first time at its last council meeting, though there were some technical issues.
The unique WebEx link to participate in public comment remotely is available here.
CONSENT CALENDAR
The Consent Calendar consists of items usually approved with a single vote. The public can comment on these beforehand. Fill out a comment form at the meeting, or send an email in advance.
This meeting’s Consent Calendar includes a Warrant Register totaling $2,424,928.05. Noteworthy payments include a $1,677.78 City payment to San Bernardino County LAFCO, the Local Agency Formation Commission, $557,000 for law enforcement services, and a payment of $64,810.37 to Rutan & Tucker LLP, the City Attorney’s office.
Other consent calendar items include a routine Treasurer’s Report that summarizes the final quarter of the ‘25-26 fiscal year. The report states that the City currently has $22,118,033 total funds in the Treasurer’s custody, a well-diversified portfolio, and sufficient funds to meet its expenditure requirements for the next six months.
Wrapping the consent calendar is an item confirming a $200,000 contribution from the Twentynine Palms Water District toward funding of a crucial U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on potential groundwater and nitrate contamination from septic discharges. The item notes that the City and Water District are:
collaborating to develop a Wastewater Management Plan that will provide a blueprint for a centralized sewer-collection system and wastewater treatment plant to replace aging septic systems.1
We’re kicking off our summer subscription drive! Help the Desert Trumpet reach 1600 subscribers by spreading the word!
PUBLIC HEARING
Intent to Levy Fees for Twentynine Palms Lighting and Landscaping Assessment District #1 for FY ‘26-’27
This is a routine agenda item Council addresses annually prior to the start of each fiscal year. Because it involves City finances, a public hearing must be conducted prior to the resolution’s approval.
Lighting and Landscaping Assessment District #1 covers the Historic Plaza and areas north of El Paseo Road, West of Encelia Avenue, south of Sunnyslope and east of Panorama Avenue. The new fiscal year started July 1. Per the resolution, the City engineer does not anticipate any fee increases for the continued landscaping, lighting, and irrigation upkeep for these areas. Though shops at Historic Plaza are privately owned, the plaza itself is owned by the City.
Coverage on this item from prior years and a map of the assessment district is linked here.
Vote to Rescind Special Zoning Created for Ofland
The council will hold a public hearing and vote on whether to reverse the entitlements given to the Ofland Resort development project and return the area back to residential zoning. As reported by Desert Trumpet, in a public court hearing on April 29, 2026, Ofland’s lawyers requested a temporary stay of litigation in response to a lawsuit filed in August of 2025 by the Center for Biological Diversity and Indian Cove Neighbors. The suit followed the City Council’s approval of the project in July 2025 of the resort without a full environmental review and despite strong public opposition.
The luxury resort project, which was proposed on an undeveloped 152-acre parcel in Indian Cove, would have consisted of multiple new structures including 100 freestanding guest cabins, 25 staff housing units, a restaurant, event space, and wastewater treatment facility. The property was taken off the market on November 19, 2025, and is not currently listed for sale.
To comply with the stay, and as requested by the developer, the City of Twentynine Palms must rescind all project entitlements within 90 days of the stay, or July 28, 2026. The City must certify they have done so in the public record, for example a consent item or a vote at a meeting, by August 31, 2026. These rescissions include:
The amendment to the City General Plan Amendment to create a new zoning type for City land use, Open Space Conservation (OS-C), and corresponding development standards .
The conversion of the 152-acre parcel from Single Family Residential - Estate (RS-E) to Commercial Tourist (CT) and the new OS-C zoning.
Approval of the Mitigated Negative Declaration, which contained mitigation measures that must be met before development started to curtail significant environmental, traffic, noise pollution, light pollution, and archaeological impacts.
A Conditional Use Permit to grant Ofland permission for the project in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
A follow-up hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for August 27, 2026. If the City votes to rescind the entitlements the lawsuit may be dismissed. However, if they are not rescinded, the lawsuit may continue. A notice for this public hearing was mailed to area residents and a notice was printed in the Hi-Desert Star. You can read previous reporting on the Ofland project here.
Ordinance for Sewer Regulations, Establishing a FOG Program, and Related Topics.
While the USGS survey on water quality and septic seepage bought Twentynine Palms more time on the citywide sewer question, the never-ending sewer saga continues.
Desert Trumpet took a deep-dive on sewers back in 2022- The WHO, WHAT, HOW and WHY of Sewer In Twentynine Palms.
In October 2021, the City received a $1,675,680 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to build the package wastewater treatment plant within the Project Phoenix/Freedom Plaza footprint.
This new ordinance proposes a number of regulations aimed at protecting the Project Phoenix package treatment plant from damage and also seeks to incorporate State of California requirements for sewage/wastewater. Though the ordinance is currently aimed at Project Phoenix, it proposes far-reaching policy implementations with potential of a Citywide sewer system in mind. Some of those changes include:
Mandatory sewer connection for all new developments within 200 feet of the downtown wastewater line
A citywide FOG (fats, oils, and grease) permitting and inspection program
A citywide ban on industrial food waste grinders/liquefiers
Any new residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional project must connect to a public sewer if located within 200 feet of it — no new septic is allowed in that zone.
Private septic systems will now have to comply with state requirements, governed through the use of the State Water Resources Control Board Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Policy (‘OWTS Policy’).
If passed, the ordinance would require food service establishments in Twentynine Palms, regardless of whether they are connected to septic, a private package plant, or a future city sewer, to obtain a FOG discharge permit, install grease interceptors, and submit to city inspections. The staff report does not list a specific cost for the proposed permits but suggests they would be valid for one year.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
Community Resilience Center Grant
In 2024, Women of Color Global 29, a nonprofit organization, along with Councilmember Octavious Scott, brought a proposal to Council for a climate resilience center funded through a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant program. Their concept for a center and the grant was presented at an April 2024 Council meeting. The organization later withdrew from participating in the proposal, but the grant required partnership with a nonprofit.
Former City Manager Stone James then selected the Community Learning & Equipping Project (CLEP), a nonprofit associated with the Sanctuary Church, without issuing a formal request for proposals (RFP) and began the grant writing process without a formal Council approval of his choice.
In November of that year, with the federal grant application deadline fast approaching, a memorandum of understanding and a completed grant was presented to Council, who then formally voted to partner with CLEP. While the EPA grant program lost funding last year after Donald Trump became president, the idea of a resilience center for Twentynine Palms has remained.
This agenda item, introduced by Councilmember April Ramirez, revives that discussion with an opportunity for the City to pursue resilience center funding through a California Strategic Growth Council grant2 program. Per the staff report:
The Community Resilience Center Grant provides funding ranging from $1 million to $10 million for the development of a resilience center in Twentynine Palms. The grant does not require a local funding match, making it a highly competitive funding opportunity. Grant funds may only be used for the construction of a new facility or the renovation of an existing building.
While the grant itself may have changed, many of the key players involved are still present. On their IRS 990N form below, CLEP has listed “Hope Project 29 Palms, Inc” as the organization’s website URL. Per the 37-page staff report:
The Hope Center has expressed interest in partnering with the City and utilizing its recently acquired property, the former Rite Aid building, as the proposed Resilience Center. It should be noted that the partnership with nonprofit organizations, such as the Hope Center, are viewed favorably under the grant criteria and would likely strengthen the City’s application.
The staff report outlines grant details, city application requirements, and an optimistic timeline. The grant application deadline is September 25, 2026. Before the City can apply, the staff report says the following must be completed:
Conducting community outreach and stakeholder engagement
Evaluate site and land use considerations
Complete the necessary environmental review
Negotiate a long-term agreement with the Hope Center.
The City currently has $25,000 in its budget dedicated toward grant writing. The staff report estimates grant writing consultant costs for this fast-approaching deadline will be between $15,000 and $18,000. Though a request for proposals for qualified nonprofit partners was not listed on the City website prior to the agenda publication, the staff report specifically lists the Hope Center as a potential partner for this grant.
Despite what the staff report and Hope Center website claim, the Desert Trumpet is unable to verify whether the Hope Center (or Hope Project) is an independent 501c3 nonprofit — it is not listed in the California State DOJ Charitable Trust Registry or with the IRS. Whether the Hope Center has a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, such as CLEP, is not specified in the staff report.
A search of the IRS website for CLEP revealed the matrix of relationships surrounding the Hope Center, with Perry Ford, the Bishop of the Sanctuary Church listed as the Principal Officer of CLEP, “The Hope Project 29 Palms, Inc.”, listed as the website url (sic) and a PO Box for CLEP that appears to be shared with the Hope Center. The IRS allows organizations with less than $50,000 in revenue to file postcards, circumventing the more thorough financial transparency of a full 990 tax return.
The Hope Center, run by Executive Director Terrance Sandifer, provides a number of community services ranging from financial literacy, youth activities, to health and wellbeing. Per the Hope Center website:
Founded in December 2023, The Hope Center is a nonprofit organization recognized by the state of California. Our mission is to foster hope, connection, and inspiration within the community. We serve as a sanctuary where individuals can find support, discover their purpose, and reach their full potential. Through a variety of services and programs, we strive to address social, economic, and health challenges while building stronger community ties.
An expired DOJ registration shows “the Hope Project, The Hope Center” as a DBA of CLEP. However, the current registration has dropped that DBA.
The Desert Trumpet took a deep-dive into the City’s nonprofit partnerships in 2025, available here. Since then, Finance Director Abigail Hernandez-Conde and City staff have tightened requirements for organizations that seek City grant money, recently issuing termination letters that banned some nonprofits and individuals from future City funding for perceived flaws in required financial reports.
The policy requires that before nonprofits can meet eligibility requirements for grant funding, the City checks whether the recipient is in good standing with the state’s nonprofit requirements; if not, no funds are awarded. Yet it appears that no current policy exists regarding grant applications that the City applies for and who it chooses to partner with.
Other local nonprofits that participate in community resilience services include the Hi Desert Emergency Action Alliance and Morongo Basin Unity Home.
Though the City’s current grant budget is capped at $25,000, a future council initiated agenda item acknowledges a potential reallocation of homeless and housing funds to pursuit grants.
An ambitious September 25 deadline may prove to be the proposal's biggest obstacle, regardless of how the partnership question shakes out.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Shade Structures around Freedom Plaza and a possible art fixture with “Freedom Plaza” announcing the location.
Discussion on the use of City funds for grants and the potential reallocation of housing and homeless funds to grants.
Discussion on the next steps of reallocating $1.3 million for housing.
Review and revision to Municipal Code 5.08 related to Cannabis uses to bring the City up to par with new legislation and State Law.
Discussion regarding a Moratorium on Data Centers.
Discussion on reallocating funds that were set aside for City Hall shade structures to grant writing.
The meeting takes place July 28, 6136 Adobe Road at 6pm. See you there!
NOTE: Desert Trumpet staff members Cindy Bernard, Kat Talley-Jones, and Heidi Heard live in the Indian Cove neighborhood, adjacent to this proposed development project, and are on the executive committees of Indian Cove Neighbors and Say No to Ofland.
Run for City Council! Districts 3 (Mintz), 4 (Scott), and 5 (Wright) are up for election. The nomination period for candidates began July 13, 2026 and ends on August 6, 2026. Contact City Clerk Cindy Villescas for details and check out our article on How to Run for City and Town Council for general guidelines.
Hi, new subscribers! The Desert Trumpet understands you might not be interested in all of our coverage. That’s why it’s divided into separate newsletters allowing you to opt out of reporting that’s not important to you. For instance, you may want our County news but not City Hall 29.
Here’s how to opt out: go to your Substack settings, scroll down to “subscriptions,” and select “Edit” for the Desert Trumpet. Simply uncheck the box next to the newsletters you don’t want to receive in your email inbox. You’ll still be able to access all coverage online or read them later if you change your mind.
Become a paid subscriber!
Subscribing to the Desert Trumpet will always be free. That said, did you know that paid subscribers receive discounts on our DT Social events and invites to DT Front Porch, intimate discussions featuring local officials and notable residents?
Upgrade to a $50+ paid subscription for a 10% discount.
Upgrade to $100+ for a 25% discount.
Sustaining subscribers at the $250+ level and above receive complimentary tickets
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Please note that we do not allow anonymous comments. Please be sure your first and last name is on your profile prior to commenting. Anonymous comments will be deleted.
Share this post—it’s free!
Source: City Staff Report, Page 8
Link updated on July 26 to link to specific grant program.
It might be helpful in reports like this to provide a link to the CA SGC's CRC program web page so that folks ignorant about this program can be fully informed about it: https://sgc.ca.gov/grant-programs/crc/. It would also help broaden community dialog regarding issues such as (a) are faith-based organizations really what we want running emergency service resource centers and (b) is CRC going to be treated at as some sort of boondoggle for non-profits?