RECAP: Twentynine Palms City Council, June 23, 2026
A budget with an expiration date, a tax measure moving forward, and City Hall going dark
The Twentynine Palms City Council met on the evening of June 23 for a wide-ranging session covering City finances, the sales tax ballot measure, and an inspiring overview of the future tile mural slated for Freedom Plaza. Mayor Daniel Mintz presided. All council members were present: Councilmember Steven Bilderain, Councilmember McArthur Wright, Councilmember April Ramirez, and Mayor Pro Tem Octavious Scott.
City Manager Kevin Cole gave a heads-up that council chambers at City Hall are about to undergo renovation in July, which will lead to the possible cancellations of the Planning Commission meeting on July 7 as well as other meetings; “we’ll make those announcements as they come up,” Cole said. The first meeting slated will be the July 14 City Council meeting.
The City will be installing new two-way audiovisual systems to comply with California Senate Bill 707, which requires extensive rewiring of Council chambers. (The Desert Trumpet reported on the details in our preview of the April 14, 2026, City Council meeting.)
Our agenda preview is here.
The meeting’s agenda packet is linked here.
Here is the video link.
“We are stronger together..we are limitless…we are innovators:” The Groundwork Arts Tile Mural Project
Rhonda Coleman, Director and Lead Artist of Groundwork Arts, updated Council on the Freedom Plaza tile mural, a permanent ceramic installation driven by hundreds of student and community contributors. (See our initial report from February 24, 2026, here.) Input included inspirational phrases that students came up with, including,
we are stronger together, we are grounded, we are the future, we are limitless, we are dreamers, we are innovators, we are resilient, we are resourceful, we are definitely resourceful, we are persistent, we are tradition, and tomorrow we are future leaders, we are full of possibility.
A survey that brought in 1,563 responses from students and community members is shaping the design around themes of desert landscape, community belonging, and future generations. Residents said they want viewers to feel welcome, inspired, and connected.
Students are creating Individual hand-made tiles, guided by professional artists, which will be unified through color into a single organic image. Workshops began June 15 in Morongo Unified schools. Community residents voted to place the mural on the north wall of the National Park Visitor Center at Freedom Plaza, with a September 30 California Arts Council grant deadline driving the timeline.
REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED AND CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Although intended as a means of accountability so residents could understand how City funds were being used to underwrite necessary travel for Council members, this agenda item has evolved to be a way for some Council members to communicate on initiatives of interest to them and to the community. As the Desert Trumpet noted in its report on the May 26, 2026, Council meeting, when the segment expands to include high school sporting events, community barbecues, and personal commitments alongside City-funded travel and policy claims, that transparency purpose gets lost.
Councilmember Bilderain attended the Juneteenth flag-raising at City Hall and all-star baseball games in Banning featuring local teams. Councilmember Ramirez met with transitional and temporary housing organizations and the San Bernardino Office of Homeless Services to discuss options for the community:
keeping in mind the direction that the state is pushing us with Prop 36 and also being mindful of the new funding sources that are going to come out through the Encampment Resolution Fund, which will also cover rapid rehousing and wraparound services for homelessness in our community.
She announced a town hall with SoCal Edison on grid upgrades and appliance swap programs, which was held on June 24 and reported on by Z1077 (“SCE Town Hall draws few, blames outages on sensitive protective equipment”).
Although it’s not clear that Councilmember Ramirez attended meetings about state cuts to regional funding of the federal Victims of Crime Act, she has advocated for Partners Against Violence at past City Council meetings:
I got into this because Partners Against Violence, which is a victim advocate organization that we have here, let me know that they were slated—our region was slated to receive a 43% budget cut from the state funding….The California State Senate did approve a one-time $25 million increase for VOCA funding instead of the proposed cuts.
The reality with VOCA funding is a little more complex and has a long history. That funding has dropped nearly 80% since the first Trump administration in 2018. California temporarily filled the gap, but Governor Newsom's 2026 budget didn't include replacement funds. The Trump administration then withheld even the remaining federal funds, tying access to immigration enforcement cooperation. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued for the funds and won. The California state legislature added $50 million in state backfill funding to the current budget.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott attended the Juneteenth flag raising at City Hall and the event at Luckie Park sponsored by Women of Color Global 29. He met with a builder of tiny houses and had a fruitful discussion, he said. Councilmember Wright apologized for not attending the Juneteenth flag raising because of personal travel.
Mayor Mintz highlighted representing Twentynine Palms at the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District that featured a $4 billion rail facility in Barstow. Funded entirely by the BNSF railroad, the transfer station is designed to streamline the national supply chain, it allows for direct cargo transfers between Port of LA/Long Beach ships and cross-country trains, significantly easing highway congestion and emissions. The transfer station is projected to eliminate 800,000 truck trips. Although few of these trucks pass through the Morongo Basin, the station is intended to improve air quality throughout the region.
The City Manager has moved his report closer to the beginning of the meeting. In addition to renovations to Council chambers, Kevin Cole had several updates:
Cooling center at the Senior Center (6539 Adobe Road) will open when the heat index reaches 110°F (lowered from the previous 115° threshold). National Weather Service data will be used to make that call.
City Council nomination period runs July 13–August 6. Contact City Clerk Cindy Villescas at City Hall to make an appointment. We have more information on this process here.
Hemmings Great Race: a 9-day, 2,300-mile classic car rally with 120 antique automobiles stopped in 29 Palms this Saturday, June 27, 11:30am–3pm at Luckie Park.
Fourth of July celebration at Knott Sky Park, July 4, 6–10pm. Free event with a special Declaration of Independence reading by the Kiwanis Club (250th anniversary), water slides, food vendors, and fireworks over Tortoise Rock Casino.
Code enforcement shoutout: the team completed a major cleanup at a property on Sherman Hoyt Avenue, removing more than 1,000 tires and several tons of trash.
USGS Hydrology Study: The City met recently with the U.S. Geological Survey and the 29 Palms Water District and is making progress on the multi-year sewer study. (More here about the saga of a sewer in Twentynine Palms.)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
FY 2026-27 budget revisions
Proposed Budget Revisions to Special Revenue Funds, Capital Projects Funds, and Successor Agency Fund
After passing the Consent Calendar 5-0 without discussion, the Council turned to a report by Finance Director Abigail Hernandez-Conde to present the final piece of the City’s FY 2026-27 budget: $14.2 million in planned spending across the special revenue funds, capital project funds, and successor agency fund.
Major projects include $4.2 million for the Split Rock Bridge, $3.7 million for the Hatch Road bike path, $1.2 million for street repaving, and $501,000 for Hwy 62 improvements. The Finance Director said:
For other projects, we have the design for the new animal shelter for $589,000 and also $178,000 and for the animal control building upgrades, those fundings have been approved in prior years, but we haven’t utilized all the funding, so we continue to carry over those funds until the project gets completed.
Councilmember April Ramirez raised concerns about long-term financial stability, questioning whether Measure I, a San Bernardino County sales tax that funds many projects, was a reliable source. Hernandez-Conde said the picture was complex and that none of the City’s special revenue funds are guaranteed permanently, pointing to Article 8 funding as an example. That program once covered 50% of public employee salaries before the state eliminated it in 2021-22, forcing the City to absorb those costs.
City Manager Cole added a reality check that:
it doesn’t even have to be something catastrophic that stops the funding, but simply the rising cost of these projects affects how much “project” we can get. Price of oil goes up, which we’re all seeing right now. $6 a gallon for gasoline, well, that affects the price of asphalt. And so, as these prices go up, these funding mechanisms generally don’t.
Hernandez-Conde said the City evaluates each project individually and may seek additional funding sources or abandon projects if necessary.
The budget revision was approved unanimously.
Proposed Budget Revisions for Project Phoenix Funds and Enterprise Fund for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
Because of family business interests in the Freedom Plaza area, Mayor Mintz recused himself from this discussion and vote.
Finance Director Hernandez-Conde presented budget revisions for two specialized City funds: the Project Phoenix fund and the sewer fund.
Hernandez-Conde reported that Project Phoenix, the City’s downtown Freedom Plaza revitalization effort, has $204,000 remaining from an original $2.3 million commitment, plus $1.1 million in housing bond funds for local housing activities. Active projects include a business loan program, storefront improvements, public art, and street furniture. A newly approved tile mural, discussed earlier in the meeting, will receive $18,000 from a California Arts Council grant.
The sewer fund covers services for Freedom Plaza businesses. The City is currently conducting a five-year study funded primarily by $1.9 million in state grants and a $200,000 contribution from the 29 Palms Water District. However, the project faces a $99,000 shortfall that the City plans to address in partnership with the water district.
The council voted 4-0-1 (recusal) to approve $70,000 to subsidize the sewer fund and $25,000 for a separate sewer study.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
Sales tax on the ballot for residents to decide
Item 16 was a return visit for the proposed 1% local sales tax ballot measure, which the Council is aiming to place before voters in the November 3, 2026 general election. No vote was taken, but City Manager Cole and the Council used the discussion to make the case for the sales tax.
Cole was direct about the stakes: road maintenance, public safety contracts, animal control, park upkeep, all are areas where costs are climbing while revenues stay flat. A 1% general tax on retail sales in Twentynine Palms would, if approved by voters, generate an estimated $2 million or more annually. (Although how this was calculated is unclear.) Cole emphasized that this would not be a tax imposed by the Council. It goes on the ballot, and residents decide.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott pointed out that tourists, not just residents, would also pay the tax. With a significant number of visitors passing through the City each year, a sales tax spreads the burden across a wider group. “A lot of our visitors — they’re driving on our roads, they stop at the gas station, they grab some food,” Scott said. He pointed out that this makes difference when online shopping has cut into the sales tax revenue that smaller cities like Twentynine Palms used to count on.1
Resident Mary Alice Amsler questioned the language in the flyer the City sent out in April. She said she supported the tax but wanted sharper language:
I’m okay with the 1% tax increases. However, in reading this possible ballot question, it’s very vague and is not specific about services so it says basic necessities like groceries and prescription medications are not going to be taxed, so what is going to be taxed?
City Manger Cole explained that “approximately” is necessary because revenue will fluctuate with tourism, a point Councilmember Ramirez echoed, noting that the previous city manager had told her the same thing. Cole evaded the question of what will be taxed and who will be paying the taxes. We took a deep dive when a proposed sales tax appeared in a survey conducted in fall of 2023. The Desert Trumpet pointed out:
A sales tax is considered a regressive tax, especially in a disadvantaged community like 29. People who earn less, such as those who support the tourism industry, pay a larger share of their salary in sales tax when compared to those with higher earnings.
These items are taxable in Twentynine Palms:
Clothing
Newspapers, books, magazines, and periodicals
Over-the-counter medicines (like aspirin or cough syrup) unless prescribed by a physician and purchased from a pharmacist.
Hot prepared foods, items sold for immediate consumption (like a deli sandwich eaten in the store), and food sold through restaurants
Most groceries (excluding hot prepared food), cold prepared food sold to-go, certain medical devices, and purchases made with CalFresh benefits
Prescription medications
Diapers and menstrual hygiene products
Wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and walkers under the direction of a physician
Professional services (legal, accounting, consulting), educational services, and healthcare services
Cole also clarified that the full resolution, with more specific language, would come before Council on July 14, and he encouraged Amsler to attend.
In discussing accountability, Cole pointed to the City’s track record: Twentynine Palms has maintained a balanced budget every year going back to 1987, built up reserves through lean years, and holds regular public hearings on budget priorities. “We’ve always been prudent when it comes to using the funds that we are able to secure,” he said, “and I want to assure the public that it won’t change.”
The measure is expected to appear on the November ballot after the formal vote at the July 23 meeting.
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
Possibly because this agenda item comes late in City Council meetings, it is largely given short shrift. City Manager Cole took the time to give a status update on the running list of nearly a dozen initiatives the Council has flagged for further action.2
On shade structures, Cole said staff is actively looking for grant funding. The city doesn’t have enough general fund money to pay for these outright, but he acknowledged that shade in the desert is a real and valuable need. (Our research shows that Councilmember Scott proposed these shade structure for future agenda consideration at the October 14, 2024, meeting. The item has languished on the list ever since.)
On regulating the city attorney’s resources, Cole said he is putting in place an internal administrative policy: staff and councilmembers who want to use city attorney time should come to him first. He pointed out that legal services are in high demand across code enforcement, policy development, and major projects. Being deliberate about how that time is used is a matter of responsible management.
On a recognized neighborhood program, Cole said he hopes to bring something concrete back to Council in late August or early September.
Items related to homelessness, housing, and Proposition 36 were noted as connected and ongoing. Cole said that one persistent challenge is that some unhoused individuals decline offers of housing, which complicates how the City can respond.
On the annexation of two parcels associated with Set Free Ranch in Wonder Valley, Cole reported that legal counsel has flagged a significant obstacle: the parcels are not contiguous with City limits. Under the rules of LAFCO (the Local Agency Formation Commission), annexing a non-contiguous “island” requires going through surrounding property first. Councilmember Ramirez had proposed this annexation as a future agenda item at the April 14, 2026, meeting.
On the Donnell Hill pedestrian safety issue, Cole said Caltrans has already cleared a path on the south side, and a graded dirt path exists on the north side. He nonetheless advised residents not to be on that road after dark.
Cole also told Council he had distributed information on Flock surveillance cameras and would bring the issue back at a future meeting, noting that Mayor Pro Tem Scott has a town hall planned on the topic on July 9.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Although Flock surveillance devices have been the primary focus of public comments in the last months, no advocates for removing these cameras spoke at this week’s meeting. Carlos Blandon addressed development in the Hi Desert.
FUTURE MEETINGS
The next City Council meeting will take place on July 14 at 6 pm in City Hall and will feature new technology to make meetings more accessible to those who cannot attend. Check the City website and social media to find out if other meetings have been cancelled.
Hi, new subscribers! 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 Education 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 if you change your mind.
Thanks to you, Desert Trumpet exceeded our $10,000 paid subscription goal!!!
Not a paid subscriber yet? 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 complementary tickets.
Leave 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.
This coverage is free - please share!
In California, of sales tax on online sales, which Amazon collects, for example, 1% goes to the County and .25% goes to local transportation funds.
Shade Structures around Freedom Plaza and a possible art fixture with “Freedom Plaza” announcing the location.
Discussion of a policy regulating the use of City Attorney resources.
Discussion on creating a “Recognized Neighborhood Program.”
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.
Discussion of Code Enforcement and compliance with Proposition 36 and find a pathway to meeting the new guidance issued by Governor Gavin Newson.
Discussion about annexing parcels: APN 0634-05-124 and 0634-05-109, also known as Set Free Ranch.
Discussion of a possible safe passage with CalTrans around Donnell Hill.
Discussion on a collaboration with Liberty Military Housing to update our RHNA numbers.
Study Session regarding the FLOCK cameras.
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.