RECAP: Twentynine Palms City Council Meeting, August 14, 2024
Honors for those who stepped up during the flood, but the city and victims disagree on the city's response
In an attempt at clarity, we’ve divided our coverage of this week’s City Council meeting into a look at the community’s response to the July 13 monsoon flooding and regular business. We will cover storm-related City Council items first, followed by Development Code amendments and other Council business.
Before each City Council meeting, the Desert Trumpet publishes agenda highlights. Video of the two-hour meeting can be found here.
STORM IMPACT
City Manager Stone James debriefed the Council on the July 14 monsoon storm and recovery efforts from the storm. He gave a timeline for the flooding and said,
Why was this storm different? There are a lot of reasons that include how it came into the city, where it came into the city, and how long it hung out in the city, and then its path of travel. And then, of course, the severity of the incident, just in general, the volume of water that was dumped. I had talked to one resident who had been here 63 years, and his experience was that this was the worst flood in 63 years.
James included photographs of the flooding, including the Adobe Punchbowl, an area on Adobe Road that tends to flood. Flooding was aggravated by a water main that was broken not once but twice when people drove illegally around a barrier and hit a fire hydrant.
And so that took five days of intense work by the crews from the City public works department and the water district.
In recovering from the flooding, the focus was on key arteries through the City so emergency services could get through and people could get to and from their homes. Two Red Cross staffers along with two dozen volunteers assessed damage to homes. Team Rubicon had 15 people who helped muck out homes and collect debris to be picked up later. They also provided training to local volunteers to continue the work after Team Rubicon left. We reported on the training here.
City Manager James commended:
Community service organizations that pitched in included the Yucca Valley boosters club. Robin Schlosser of the Senior Center pulled together a local assistance center, a one-stop shop with food and other supplies for people affected by the flood. The Morongo Basin healthcare district provided assistance for people who were injured or lost their medications in the flood. Other organizations that helped included Department of Aging, United Way, county supervisors office, county assessor's office, VOAD Marjorie and Sonny are here. They did an amazing job throughout this whole thing, desert beacon and Salvation Army.
Councilmember Scott thanked the individuals and agencies that volunteered and also gave a shout out to the City Manager: “you really helped piece this together. Thank you, sir.”
Recognitions
City Manager James and Mayor Steve Bilderain noted that it was an honor to recognize the efforts of organizations and individuals who pitched in to help during and after the flood. The City honored1
Matt Schragg, General Manager, Twentynine Palms Water District
Mike Minatrea, Treatment Production Superintendent, Twentynine Palms Water District
Captain Robert Warrick, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
Lieutenant Al Huff, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
Fire Chief Bill Villarino, San Bernardino County Fire Department
Robin Schlosser, Reach Out Morongo Basin
Sunny Evans
Erica Fox
Superintendent Jane Rodgers accepted an honor for Joshua Tree National Park rangers Anna Marini, Phil Murray, Miles Landry, and Sarah Dover
Representatives from the American Red Cross
Team Rubicon
Staff from San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services
Craig Stacey, Twentynine Palms Public Works Superintendent
Elijah Marshall, Twentynine Palms Director of Information Services
Wingin’ It
Eric Menendez
Yucca Valley Booster Club
Lance Cpl Kentavis Marbuary
Corporal Kentavis Marbuary, a Marine stationed at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, was recognized for his valor. Marbuary put his own life in danger and used his military training to conduct traffic control to make sure drivers were safe on the road.
"There was debris everywhere,” said Marbury. “But boot camp prepares us for stuff like this. We get trained to deal with anything, anywhere at any given time.”
Public Comment
In public comment, several residents countered the congratulatory tone of the City Manager’s report, while acknowledging help they had received. Comments on storm damage took place after the City Manager’s report as well as following City business.
After the City Manager turned the floor over to questions, hotelier Veno Natharaj was the first to speak:
My properties are on the south side of Highway 62. I've been in the city for 25 years, and the hotel is standing there for almost 23 years. My problems were actually caused by the properties on the north side. I showed Councilman Scott and the mayor the trench that was 40 feet wide, almost 35 feet deep, maybe 200 feet long—when the rain came, it washed out, and flooded my properties. What precautions are your departments taking with those properties in the north? I went there two days ago and they have still not cleaned up. It has been a month and you, the City Manager, have not even visited my property.
The City Manager responded that he had visited the property the day after the flood. He said:
The hotel is next to a regional retention basin, so your properties at a natural low point, a natural drainage point for the water. And so I've met with Caltrans out there. I've met with the folks from the Grocery Outlet, and one of the things that I realized is the fact that there is a regional drainage issue there, and so I'm happy to follow up with you offline.
Tom Ingram, who has spoken at several past meetings, commented:
First of all, Rubicon did a great job. They came and cleared out two of our rooms and got rid of the dry muck on the floor. They put everything on the road and said someone would collect it, but it’s still sitting there. Our neighbors too. We had a surge of water from Sunnyslope and it brought all the rattlesnakes from that piece of land. We have one in the house, and we don’t know where it is right now.
We as residents expect the city to do what is needed to keep us and our homes safe. Not only did that fail during the storm, but the lack of help that we got after the storm failed, and there appears to be no action to make sure the outcome of the future storm will not be the same.
A resident who identified herself as “Jennifer” and who lives near high school said:
I've seen the community come together, and it’s been really good…however, I'm missing 10 feet of my road. I can't get my mail. I haven't seen anyone there. I've tried to call several times. I'd like this addressed for me and my neighbors, who are flooded worse than I was. It's a funnel behind the high school, and it needs water control. It keeps happening over and over. The tractor hasn't been there, and I'm pooped. I only got one shovel.
Stone James asked Jennifer to stay after the meeting to speak to him.
In public comment following the bulk of the meeting, Nicole Parks noted that she lives on Noel’s Knoll, which had been in poor condition before the monsoon storm but suffered significant damage making it nearly impassable for most vehicles, and she is concerned that emergency vehicles may not be able to navigate the road if needed. Another speaker on Laurel Lane noted a similar problem and that they had not received any response from emails and phone calls.
Douglas Walters, who has spoken up in Council in the past, said
I'm part of this group that is having difficulty with the flood….California Government Code, Section 65 302 states that it is required the cities and counties located within the state of California review the land use and conservation and safety elements of the general plan for the consideration of flood hazards…and to address the flood risks of any of the amendments to the land use….The code also requires the cities and the counties of the state to annually review the land use elements within those areas covered by the plan that are subject to flooding, identified both by FEMA and the Department of Water Resources…. You need to be looking at this and making a plan.
CITY BUSINESS
Consent Calendar. The Consent Calendar passed 4-0-1 with Daniel Mintz abstaining because his wife owns a business in the Project Phoenix area.
Item 11. Development Code Amendment Article 4 Part 2. Communnity Development Director Keith Gardner introduced the discussion of proposed amendments to the development code concerning lighting, noise, and trash enclosures. The updates aim to reflect measurable standards, such as changing lighting requirements from foot candles, which are outdated and difficult to measure, to what the City claims is a more practical 40-watt standard. The noise regulations were reorganized into appropriate tables without introducing new rules, and trash enclosures were updated to align with state law.
During public comments, Susan Peplow raised concerns about the lighting standards, particularly the shift from foot candles to 40-watt bulbs, which she argued could lead to excessive lighting and counterproductive outcomes for maintaining the area's aesthetic and "night sky" objectives. She also questioned the removal of a helpful lighting standards table from the ordinance, which provided citizens with a clear understanding of lighting requirements. Peplow noted that this removal could cause confusion, especially since similar tables were retained for noise regulations. She also expressed frustration with the Planning Commission's practice of consolidating multiple development code items into a single agenda item, limiting the time for public discussion and comment.
In response, Gardner explained that the lighting standards table was recommended for deletion because it referenced outdated standards that are no longer applicable. He emphasized the need for flexibility to accommodate new lighting technologies and styles. The council voted 5-0 to postpone the decision to provide more time for review and discussion.
Item 12. 2024-2025 Community Event Grants. City Parks and Recreation Community Events Coordinator member Clinkscales presented recommendations for the 2024-2025 Community Event Grant Program, as proposed by the Event Ad Hoc Committee, which includes Council Members Mintz and Scott.
He noted that the Community Event Grant Program aims to support events that highlight the unique character, diversity, and history of Twentynine Palms. Applications were accepted from May 10 to June 30, 2024. Applicants needed to submit a detailed event plan, including a budget and marketing strategy. We covered the proposed grantees in our agenda preview here.
Kary Minatrea, Parks and Recreation Division Manager, had earlier announced that the Pioneer Days carnival provider had to cancel their participation. She said,
The cancelation is due to a significant shortage of drivers and laborers working under H-2B work visas,2 which are overseen by the U.S. State Department. The shortage has critically impacted their ability to operate and fulfill their commitment to our event and others, workers are to return to their country of origin by October 1.
To address the loss of the carnival, the Ad Hoc committee proposed reallocating funds to bolster Pioneer Days, with a focus on enhancing its community appeal, including the potential addition of marching bands to improve the event’s atmosphere.
Public comments included support for the grant recommendations and suggestions for additional improvements. Susan Peplow expressed full support for the ad hoc committee’s recommendations and praised the work of Parks and Recreation and Scott. She suggested considering an event coordinator role, funded through a collaborative effort between TBID and the City, to enhance cross-promotion and coordination among city events.
Patrick Wallace, Board President of Mil-Tree spoke in support of their proposed art exhibition. He emphasized the event’s role in reducing veteran isolation and fostering community connections.
Charles McHenry, President of the 29 Palms Art Gallery, appreciated the presentation and the work of the committee. He highlighted the gallery’s role in attracting visitors, including those from distant locations, and its potential positive impact on local businesses.
Anna Stump, Chair of the Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC), clarified the committee’s budgetary situation. Historically, PAAC has allocated $15,000 annually, with $8,000 designated for small arts and culture grants. Due to increased grant applications and administrative costs, PAAC requested an additional $2,000 to maintain their grant levels, explaining the necessity due to rising grant management costs and ongoing efforts to secure additional funding.
The City Council moved 5-0 to approve the ad hoc committee’s funding recommendations, totaling $26,050 for the selected events, and to approve the additional $12,000 reallocation to support Pioneer Days and PAAC’s community arts grants.
Public Comment
Benjamin Alley spoke about a sign he erected on the grounds of the Oasis Cave Market in Indian Cove. The sign has generated much heat on social media but no community support when a protest was held before the City Council meeting.
Alley said that the sign was intended as a fun, community-engaging project. However, he complained that code enforcement acted swiftly to address the sign that did not have a City permit just hours after the city was flooded, leading to its potential removal. He believes that the response to the sign feels emblematic of a broader issue where important problems are overshadowed by less critical matters and that some community members have outsized influence with the City.
Susan Peplow commented on the TBID:
I want to stress the importance of thoroughly reviewing the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) marketing plan before its reauthorization. The plan often recycles old strategies without addressing existing problems, such as $200,000 in unadvertised events. Effective marketing is crucial since TBID funds require substantial revenue from hotel stays to be effective. I recommend holding the TBID board accountable for their budget and ensuring better marketing strategies are implemented. Consider using some of the unspent funds to hire a dedicated marketer to improve event promotion and drive more visitors to Twentynine Palms, which is essential for infrastructure funding.
Veno Nathraj urged limits of two terms for councilmembers. He said, “As a small business owner contributing to job creation and the local tax base, I expect fair treatment. However, my attempts to reach the city manager about issues have gone unanswered.”
Eric Menendez echoed Susan Peplow’s remarks about TBID and said that he has been
…working on an initiative to address challenges with Airbnb and vacation rentals, which has been in development for two years. We hope to present our progress at the next council meeting. Special thanks to Octavious, Stone, and everyone who worked tirelessly during the storm.
City Manager Stone wrapped up the meeting with these comments:
We applied for an Active Transportation grant, aimed at creating a multi-modal path along the wash, and will update the council once we hear back. The preliminary design for a new animal shelter is in progress, expected to be completed by the fourth quarter, with community support needed for funding. The 29 Palms Beer Company had a successful soft opening, and Mr. Gardner from Community Development is working on a live entertainment permit process to ensure safety and compliance for venues hosting events.
James expressed gratitude to Mayor Bilderain for his efforts during a recent storm event, highlighting his accessibility and dedication.
We have requested a list of names from the City and will make corrections as we receive them—please do help us out if there are errors.
The H-2B program under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a part of the Department of Homeland Security and not the Department of State, allows U.S. employers or U.S. agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs.
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That’s some serious reporting of the sort every local community needs. Thank you for being of service, Kat!