RECAP: Twentyine Palms City Council, January 27, 2026
Flock cameras and data centers dominate public comment
The City Council faced a tough crowd at its second meeting of the year. The overflow audience included two dogs ready for adoption at the Palms-N-Paws animal shelter and audience members holding posters and signs telling Council that residents are absolutely not interested in having Flock1 cameras or data centers in Twentynine Palms.
The meeting stretched to just under two hours and, for the most part, delivered on the agenda’s promise of routine business. An unusually long 11-item consent calendar, along with two discussion-and-action items, passed with little comment from Council, despite five speakers weighing in. The real drama emerged during general Public Comment at the meeting’s end, when 13 people spoke, ten of them addressing the controversy referenced on the signs.
All five Councilmembers were in attendance. For the first time in recent memory, several audience members remained seated for the Pledge of Allegiance and for the Invocation.
For reference:
Successes at Parks and Rec and Palms-N-Paws
Presentations by Animal Control Manager Rick Boyd and Recreation Program Supervisor Amy Tessler highlighted recent successes at Animal Control and Parks and Recreation.
Boyd emphasized several partnerships that have enabled Animal Control to increase their save rate from 64% in 2024 to 92% in 2025. The Joshua Tree no-kill shelter received a $43,000 grant from Best Friends Animal Society, which is allocated to rescuing 100 “higher priority” animals with health and behavioral issues housed at the Palms-N-Paws animal shelter. He also introduced Pals of Palms-N-Paws, a 501c3 nonprofit organized to support the animal shelter through donations and grants. Other partners mentioned included the San Diego Humane Society, Wings of Rescue and Save the Meows Meows. The shelter has also instituted a new foster program, and Pals is sponsoring a low-cost spay and neuter clinic at Freedom Plaza on February 13.
Recreation Program Supervisor Tessler discussed two grants received from the National Recreation and Park Association: $2,500 to support the Walk With Ease program, designed to help older adults improve mobility and overall health, and a second $2,500 grant that funds the Girls Take the Floor basketball clinic, a partnership between Parks and Recreation, 29 Palms High School, and Copper Mountain College. The clinic takes place on February 16 from 2 to 5 pm at the Community Center Gym in Freedom Plaza and is for girls ages six to 14.
Two Consent Calendar Items Pulled by the Public
Carlos Blandon pulled Item 12, the Channel Trail Bike path, pitching an extension he called the Pilgrimage to Mecca, which would link Twentynine Palms to the town of Mecca in the low desert. Heather Drake pulled Item 14, which was a reminder on septic system maintenance to point out issues with property management companies failing to perform regular septic maintenance. Eric Menendez agreed with Drake and also discussed Item 12, encouraging Council to consider a broader linkage of bicycle trails. He also cautioned Council that Hatch Road has become dangerous for pedestrians.
All Consent Calendar items were approved 5-0. Those included: the approval of minutes; a treasurer’s report; the 2026 City Council meeting schedule; acquisition of road overlay materials; acceptance of finished work on the Elm Avenue Tenant Improvement Project; additional Channel Trail Bike path funding; a contract for ADA parking improvements at Luckie Park and allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds to the project; a reminder about septic system maintenance; development code amendments pertaining to Ancillary Activities, Businesses, and Entertainment; and the adoption of the Five Year Strategic Plan.
Discussion Items Pass with Little Discussion
Probolsky Research President Adam Probolsky reviewed the results of a survey conducted on behalf of the City to assess (or sell) a ballot measure to increase the sales tax in Twentynine Palms by 1%. The survey compiled answers from 300 high-propensity voters representing a cross-section of Twentynine Palms residents.
As Probolsky confirmed over the course of his presentation, the survey is less about assessing opinions and more a test of which marketing tactics might prove successful. For instance, it included language reassuring voters that the City is doing a good job managing taxpayer money but that additional funds are still needed:
We asked voters if they think the City needs resources, more money. And you can see 75% say that there is a need. So they recognize that that budgets are tight, and you’re spending your dollars well, and that there just need, need for more money. Next, we asked him, does the city do a good job at managing taxpayer money? A plurality say, yes, it’s a little tighter. Most people, a lot of people, just don’t know. So as you educate them on the awards you’ve gotten for finance and the austerity measures you’ve taken to cut and make sure your budget is strong, you’ll bring more people to understand that you’re making really good decisions with their tax dollars. [italics added for emphasis]
We discussed the survey in depth and did a brief analysis in our agenda preview.
In public comment, new Yucca Valley resident Eric Menendez said he would support a sales tax ballot measure and commended “a thorough presentation.”
In the only comment from Council, Councilmember April Ramirez praised Probolsky’s outreach to Spanish-speaking residents but mentioned skepticism from “some people” about the survey. She had confirmed that Probolsky’s company was well-regarded by “fellow local elected [officials]” from other cities” and asked how the 300 people receiving the survey were selected. Probolsky replied that “from a math standpoint, from an accuracy standpoint, 300 is very robust and a very typical number for a community this size and it was based on your voter role.”
The survey was accepted 5-0.
Road Lists Become Responsibility of City Council
Again, this item was reviewed in depth in our agenda preview. Community Development Director Keith Gardner provided some background:
Upon incorporation in 1987, the city inherited this road system from the County of San Bernardino. Since that time, several developments have occurred, along with upgrades to existing roads. Since incorporation, the process of adding roads to the city’s maintained road system has been relatively informal. Over the years, several informal lists were created that may have been incomplete or contradicted other lists. Examples of prior efforts included maintained paved, non-maintained paved and non-dedicated and non-maintained lists.
What we’re going to do with this effort tonight, is by formally establishing the list before you, which is a maintain paved and maintain non-paved list—those new lists will replace all prior efforts. And if the City Council approves the resolution tonight, the custodian of the maintained road list will be at the City Council level, not at a City staff level, not at City public works or not a City engineer level.
Gardner added that the 170 miles of streets cost $1 to 1.5 million to maintain—about $9,000 per mile, and that right of way dedications—which require the street being constructed and paved up to City standards, including any potential curbs, gutters, and sidewalks—run $1.3 million per mile.
In public comment, Susan Peplow commended Public Works Superintendent Craig Stacy and the Development Department on a great job and went on to point out the usefulness of the lists:
And I think that moving forward, this list is going to really help citizens have a better understanding of what their roads are, to set expectations for the city and for themselves and their own immediate community, maybe their street. And now, if they have an understanding like, “Hey, this is a unpaved, unmaintained road within the city,” that means it’s going to fall on them….
…Although these dirt roads do pull up in Title reports, more than 50% of our properties are, as we know, non-owner-occupied homes. So perhaps trying to get this information out to agents who have clients on both ends might help them to be able to set both renters as well as, you know, property owners themselves, up to success on what to expect for properties.
Councilmember Steven Bilderain seconded Peplow’s comment, while April Ramirez fact-checked Gardner’s estimated cost with the County, which estimated $1.5 to 1.7 million per mile for build out to satisfy right of way requirements.
The item to transfer custody of the maintained and unmaintained road lists to City Council passed with a 5-0 vote.
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Someone Isn’t Dressing to Please
When Mayor Daniel Mintz asked for Future Agenda Items, Councilmember Bilderain remarked that after watching videos of other meetings, he had noticed that while City Council and staff generally maintain appropriate attire, some officials serving on appointed bodies may not be observing proper decorum in their clothing.
I noticed some of our other meetings, we need some more training and a policy on proper attire when you’re conducting business up here.…I know our employees are set to a standard for their attire at work. So I thought the meetings are not kind of following that.
The suggestion follows on a recent change in policy that requires Code Enforcement to wear uniforms. Perhaps it should be noted that many City officials come to meetings directly from their work and are volunteers. Also, the only other meeting available on video is the Planning Commission whose members receive a very small stipend.
The item was seconded by Mayor Mintz.
Thirteen Residents Speak in General Public Comment
Suzanne Lyons, noting her credentials as an Earth Science and Physics teacher and textbook author, reiterated comments made at the January 20 Planning Commission meeting, objecting to the planned E-Group PS Solar Project located near Harmony Acres. LeeAnn Clarke thanked participants in the Martin Luther King march and prayer bowl attended by all five Councilmembers. Gretchen Grunt promoted a fundraiser supporting the Highway 62 Art Tours. Eric Menendez also spoke, relating an incident where an unhoused person was denied access to the Basin Transit bus and expressing concern that the unhoused “report having trouble getting from point A to point B.”
The rest of the speakers addressed the presence of Flock cameras in Twentynine Palms and the perceived threat of data centers in the City. They demanded a preemptive ban fearing that the 58 square miles of vacant land within the City might make it vulnerable to builds that can damage the environment and strain local water supplies.
It was unclear why data centers were conjoined with Flock cameras. I asked Community Development Director Gardner if there had been any inquiries on data centers and he replied “no.” I also asked one of the speakers, why address them now? They referred to “community rumblings.” Another referred to the on-going attempt to locate a 75-acre data center in Imperial County and that the company would be looking for other areas with available land should that location fail to be approved.
It’s uncertain how effective a preemptive ban would be given the City’s inclination to ignore existing bans and zoning when pressed by large landowners. For instance, solar farms are banned, yet the City is actively pursuing one on parcels owned by George Mulopolus, manager of Proactive Properties LLC.
A more immediate concern are the Flock cameras at several intersections with comments saying there are too many for the size of the community, that they have cyber security issues, and that they could be commandeered by federal agencies—an increasing concern as, per Jonathan Rauch, writing in the Atlantic, noted:
Recent events have brought Trump’s governing style into sharper focus. Fascist best describes it, and reluctance to use the term has now become perverse. That is not because of any one or two things he and his administration have done but because of the totality. Fascism is not a territory with clearly marked boundaries but a constellation of characteristics. When you view the stars together, the constellation plainly appears.
Netflix Video Engineer Elliot Balsley speaks on Flock cameras (City Meeting Video)
The original proposal was reported in our agenda preview of the December 10, 2024, City Council meeting. Council authorized the City Manager to approve a two-year contract for Phase I of the camera system with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the vendor. The system would monitor nine major City intersections using 31 cameras. San Bernardino Sheriff Department Public Information Officer Jenny L. Smith in a January 12, 2026, responded to a query from Desert Trumpet that camera installation is 70% complete. Recent social media posts by @resist_29 show the recent installation of a Flock camera at Benny’s at the corner of Highway 62 and Adobe Road.
The staff report for the December meeting noted "LPRs (or License Plate Readers) are a foundational tool used by law enforcement across the county to solve crimes, locate missing and endangered persons, and alert law enforcement of wanted individuals and/or crime-related vehicles." Also included in the agenda preview was a Flock “success story” in which the cameras were used to track the movement of a missing person who was later found murdered.
The December 2024 Council vote took place prior to the inauguration of President Donald Trump and his deployment of federal tools to persecute those who disagree with his policies, his targeting of immigrants and the recent killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, all of which contribute to residents’ concern over the potential uses of Flock cameras.
City Manager Stone James Cites Flock Court Case
In the City Manager report, James indicated that Council had asked about the cameras and whether data could be shared with ICE or federal agencies:
So our staff got some communication from Flock, and I can read just a quick sentence. This is from Flock, and it says “Flock does not have a contract with US Immigration, Customs, or any sub-agencies of the Department of Homeland Security. Flock does not share customer data with any federal agency without a local customer’s explicit choice and control.” And so I would imagine there could be a situation, if there is, let’s say, a serious crime, I don’t know that ICE would be investigating that crime, that would probably continue to fall under this jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s department.
Dr. James did not say whether the Sheriff’s Department could be compelled to share data should it be ordered to do so by a federal agency.
James also cited a new court ruling in Schmidt versus the City of Norfolk in which cameras were determined to not violate the 4th amendment guarantee against unlawful search and seizure. However, that ruling is being appealed.
City Manager James also provided updates on the Sullivan / Hatch bike path and the status of the package treatment plant that will service several downtown businesses.
The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, February 10, at 6pm.
NOTE: The only item on the agenda for the February 3 Planning Commission meeting is a closed session, therefore we will not be issuing an agenda preview for that meeting. However, there is a required public comment session should residents have issues to raise with the Commission.
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Since publishing we have learned that Flock is not an acronym, but is instead the same of the company producing the cameras — Flock Safety. Accordingly we have corrected FLOCK to Flock.
We link to that in the article, look for the December 2024 link, when the original proposal was in front of Council.
Re: Flock cameras: I don’t believe that these cameras won’t be accessible to the feds, which would be kinda sorta ok if we weren’t facing the prospect of a fascist state. Losing battle, I suspect. But no data centers! No detention facilities!