RECAP: Twentynine Palms City Council, June 25, 2024
Juneteenth and July 4 festivities, more on the green waste bins, a new Tourism Business Improvement District board member, and a $15 million grant for a bike path.
Thanks to everyone who attended the Town Hall on Saturday, June 29. Fifty people participated in a lively and respectful conversation, and it was wonderful to hear your voices. We’ll be publishing our takeways and the full transcript this week.
This was another swift summer meeting, clocking in at just under an hour; here’s the agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Joel Klink ran Tuesday night’s meeting; Mayor Steven Bilderain had an excused absence. Councilmember Daniel Mintz presented a check to Boy Scout Troop 77 for their participation in the Cash for Trash and Recycling program, and Mayor Pro Tem Klink announced that nonprofits can sign up for Cash for Trash program for the coming year this August by contacting City Clerk Cindy Villescas.
All four councilmembers reported that they attended the Juneteenth flag-raising at City Hall, organized by the City, and events at Knott Sky Park, organized by Women of Color Global 29.
CONSENT CALENDAR
4-United States Geological Survey (USGS) Evaluation of Geohydrologic Conditions and Geochemical Conditions within the City
As the Desert Trumpet noted in its agenda preview for this City Council meeting, a USGS study was proposed more than two years ago to assess water quality and potential septic contamination as well as the necessity of a sewer and wastewater system. The Consent Calendar item was accepted without discussion, which means that the City Manager may finally execute the agreements necessary to begin this project. Doing so is contingent on the City’s staff confirming the EPA Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2023 grant funds may be applied to USGS study costs.
PUBLIC HEARING
5-Burrtec Rate Adjustment
City Manager Stone James explained that as part of the City’s contract with trash and recycling service Burrtec, the company evaluates labor and equipment costs and the costs of recycling. The agenda item was intended to let the Council and the community know about the contract and the rate adjustments. These adjustments are:
a Consumer Price Index adjustment of 4.26% equalling $7.44 annually
an increase to the rate for Net-Recycling for residential service of $4.08 annually
a graduated assessment for SB 1383 organic waste recycling starting at $25.20 per year increasing until it reaches $100.80 annually in 2028.
Mayor Pro Tem Klink observed that many City residents have big properties and have the potential to generate a large amount of yard waste. He received one of the smaller bins; Mike Peters from Burrtec responded that he and any resident could get a larger bin on request from customer service.
Councilmember Octavious Scott asked about why commercial fees are charged for multifamily homes such as fourplexes, and City Manager James explained that arrangements can be worked out so that trash and recycling are picked up every other week to reduce costs.
In public comment Mary Kay Sherry said that when she asked Burrtec about the larger green bins, she was told they were not yet available to Twentynine Palms residents. Burrtec’s representative said he’d look into it.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
6-Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) Advisory Board Appointment: Ben Uyeda
Mayor Pro Tem Klink nominated architect, designer and Reset Hotel owner Ben Uyeda to the TBID, and this nomination was seconded by Councilmember Scott and approved 4-0-1 in short order. Uyeda, who lists his residence as Joshua Tree, briefly said, “[TBID] heard seemed like a place where me and my team can probably be of service. So I had a great meeting with Joel and yeah, kind of discussed the needs and looking forward to helping out where I can.”
7-Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) Grant Application
City staff is seeking direction on whether to apply for a federal Department of Transportation grant, which has a deadline of July 17. The maximum grant amount is $15 million and Twentynine Palms has an appropriate project — the Channel Trail bike path — with a budget of $9 million. The City has to come up with $3 million in funding if awarded the grant, and it’s not clear where that would come from.
City Manager James said of the grant, “this is an opportunity to promote public health, to promote multimodal transportation, so walking, running, rollerblading, bicycling.”
James went on to say,
“There's a provision within the grant that says if you are a disadvantaged community, then you have the opportunity to apply for up to 100% of the $15 million now. The threshold to be determined a disadvantaged community is reasonably high: 40% of of your community must be disadvantaged. One of the other things that we can do as staff is to identify if there could be additional funding sources. And then, of course, what we also can do is identify, is there some flexibility in the time of us providing the $3 million in the event that we were given this $15 million transportation grant?”
Councilmember Scott asked who would be writing the grant. Funds for a grantwriter or allocating staff time to write a grant have been stumbling blocks in the past, notably with a $10 million grant to fund construction of a new, solar-powered Climate Emergency Resiliency Center on a City-owned vacant parcel at Freedom Plaza and Tumbleweed, as the Desert Trumpet reported here. James said that funding and time could be found to produce this grant. Councilmember Scott then questioned why the grant wasn’t being used for the proposed Split Rock Bridge, where vehicles often get struck crossing a wash.
A discussion ensued on which districts the bike path would serve and whether the neighborhoods were disadvantaged—and if “disadvantaged” applied to distinct neighborhoods or the City itself.
In public comment, Joseph Carder gave his support for the plan as well as tying in funding for the bridge. Carder noted, “People get stuck there every day, they drive in and get trapped like it’s a glue trap.”
As a discussion/action item, a vote should have been taken, as it was with the Women of Color Global’s proposal for a resiliency center in May (reported here)—or tabled for further study. No vote was taken or direction clearly given; presumably City staff will move forward with pursuing the grant for the bike path.
8-Purchase of a new Code Enforcement Vehicle
City Manager James presented on the purchase of a new code enforcement vehicle in the place of City Development Director Keith Gardner, who is, as James said, “on a well-deserved vacation.” He said, “As the community may be aware, we have two people in our code enforcement department, and there's certainly a lot of opportunity for them to go out into the community and help the community become a better place. Unfortunately, we have a situation where we have only one small code enforcement truck—with 100,000 miles on it.”
Several bids were obtained for a 2024 Ford F150, and code enforcement would like authorization to purchase it. Council voted 4-0-1 to buy the vehicle.
FUTURE COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Klink proposed that an item be added to a future agenda that a staff member be assigned to verify that event grant monies are being spent per the proposals submitted and ensure that all paperwork is done. “We give a lot of money out,” Klink said, “and we need to make sure that they're all doing what they're supposed to be doing.” City Manager James suggested this be on the July Council agenda to make certain that checks and balances are in place.
Councilmember Scott pointed out that the end of the fiscal year is coming up and that monies allocated for portable showers and a navigation center are going to go back to the general fund. City Manager James said he would look into options for these funds.
PUBLIC COMMENT
James Carder congratulated Mayor Pro Tem Klink on his retirement, although it wasn’t clear whether the Mayor Pro Tem intends to retire from the City Council. “I retired from all that other stuff,” he said. Carder continued, “I just came by to say thank you every day that the sun rises over the mountains and and there's no sewage plant in the field over there. We were grateful that we were listened to.”
Klink summarized a letter from Susan Peplow that emphasized how essential education is for ensuring that the green waste bins are used properly and that trash and recycling streams aren’t contaminated.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager James reported that the Palms-N-Paws animal shelter has partnered with the San Diego Humane Society to develop an isolation space for sick animals. The shelter’s board has approved the isolation center, and the Humane Society will donate $150,000 to $200,00 for it to be built.
He noted that a licensed hauler has been contracted to haul dumped tires. “That guy was only able to come out yesterday, so they loaded about 500 tires in 111 degree heat in order to be able to capitalize on a 50% cost savings.”
James applauded the success of the City’s Juneteenth events, and he and Councilmember Scott will explore ways to make a “bigger and better event next year.”
James announced July 4 celebrations from 6 to 9 pm in Knott’s Sky Park, sponsored by Rocky’s Pizza, with firework sponsored by Tortoise Rock Casino starting at 8:30 pm. He also mentioned the Freedom Daze Festival on July 5, 6, and 7 taking place on Freedom Plaza. He urged everyone attend: “This is an event for our community and for our visitors. And so really, our events get better when our community attends. And of course, as our events get bigger, more tourists attend, and it's just a it's a mutually beneficial relationship.”
Last, and certainly not least, James passed along an announcement from the City Clerk that the next municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Council members for districts 1 and 2 will be elected.
James noted that to be eligible for run for city council, candidates must reside within the city of Twentynine Palms’ incorporated boundaries and within the corresponding districts and be registered voter.
Residents must make an appointment with the City Clerk to receive and submit campaign documents during the nomination period, which is July 15 through August 8.1 The Desert Trumpet outlined how to run for City Council here.
Note that the City Hall summer schedule continues: the July 2 Planning Commission meeting and the July 9 City Council meeting are cancelled. The next Planning Commission meeting is Tuesday, July 16 and the next City Council meeting is Tuesday, July 23.
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The filing deadline is August 9, but City Hall is closed on Friday, August 9, so filing with the Cit Clerk must be done by Thursday, August 8. Aspiring candidates have the option of driving to San Bernardino and filing on August 9 at the Registrar for Voters at 777 East Rialto Avenue.