RECAP: Twentynine Palms City Council, September 24, 2024
TBID Reauthorization, Measure C and Pioneer Days
At a meeting heavy on presentations and light on City business, the Council Tuesday night plowed right through a short agenda.
The agenda packet and the video can be viewed here and our agenda preview is here.
AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS
Councilmember Joel Klink recognized 94 year-old Peter John Newman for over 20 years of service at the Twentynine Palms Food Pantry, Mayor Steve Bilderain recognized members of the Molding Hearts Foundation for their help with cleanup from the recent storms, then Bilderain proclaimed City recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Morongo Unified School District (MUSD) Superintendent Patricio Vargas, board member Christopher Clair and Director of Facilities David Daniels presented in favor of San Bernardino County ballot Measure C, an $88.3 million bond proposal on the November ballot to fund upgrades of local schools, including a new performing arts center. Vargas kicked off the presentation pointing out that despite MUSD's outdated infrastructure and buildings, over the last few years MUSD students made substantial gains in academic performance. He then showed a one-minute video promoting Measure C.
MUSD board member Christopher Clair, a lifelong Morongo Basin resident and the Yes on Measure C Committee Chair, observed that Twentynine Palms Junior High School "is approaching 100 years old [and] 27% of our classrooms are temporary buildings. They're portables. Those were supposed to be short-term solutions. Well, I went to school, I hate to say it, 30 years ago, and those were already old at that point." He said no bond money would go toward salaries of any kind, and all expenditures would go through an oversight committee with plenty of local input.
MUSD Director of Facilities David Daniels then spoke, arguing "Our schools need help." The bond would increase local property owners' yearly taxes by $39 per $100,000 in assessed value for a 35-year period, he said, adding that "These construction projects that will come to these schools will provide jobs to people here in our area. It'll give some of our smaller contractors a chance to participate and do some of this work." He advised that anybody interested in contributing to Yes on Measure C could email him at DavidLDaniels@outlook.com.
Amy Tessier, Recreation Programs Supervisor, announced that the Parks and Recreation Department was awarded a "Million Coaches Challenge" coach training grant by the National Recreation and Parks Association.
Kary Minatrea, Recreation Division Manager, then gave an update on preparations for Pioneer Days, happening October 17 through 20. Events include:
Mara Mixer at 29 Palms Inn 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, with tickets at $30.00 each.
Oasis Lights, a laser light show with glow in the dark painting at Luckie Park 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 18.
88th annual Pioneer Days Parade with a "Community Pride" theme, starting at Highway 62 and Adobe at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 19. Minatrea advised parade entrants to submit their entry forms up to the day of the parade.
"Frontier Fest" block party, featuring outhouse races, an arm wrestling competition, live music and food, at Freedom Plaza from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, October 19. Spots for additional vendors remain open.
Classic Car Show at Historic Plaza from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 20. The car show is still accepting entries from owners of pre-1985 vehicles
Other events held in conjunction with Pioneer Days including the Wild West Hoedown, Firefighter Pancake Breakfast, Old Timers Gathering, Elks Lodge Hoops Shoot, plus a sunrise service, pet parade and skate contest.
Minatrea said anyone with questions should reach out to Community Event Coordinator Scott Clinkscales at sclinkscales@29palms.org or (760) 367-7562 ext. 1021.
CONSENT CALENDAR
The Council voted unanimously to approve the consent calendar, which tonight included Emergency Repair of Signal Light Wiring Adobe Road and Indian Trail at a cost of $26,627.60, and a resolution to adopt the Amended and Updated Conflict of Interest Code for the City of Twentynine Palms.
PUBLIC HEARING
Item 11. Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID)
The Council unanimously approved reauthorizing the TBID for another year.
Breanne Dusastre, Director of Marketing for Visit 29, presenting on reauthorization of the TBID, said "This is the public hearing stage and the last step of our annual reauthorization, and we are here with many of the board members very much looking forward to continuing the momentum and charging ahead to our next fiscal year, which would take place October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025."
Councilmember Octavious Scott lauded the TBID's progress, saying "I think that this last past year has been a huge step moving forward. I think the events that we funded have been very successful. We can always improve, but you guys are definitely doing good work."
Eric Menendez, with Joshua Tree Gateways Communities Alliance, commented in favor of reauthorization but asked for "a little more oversight by the board, a little more involvement," and said he'd be bringing a marketing proposal to the next TBID meeting. Following this sole comment, Council moved straight to a vote without any further discussion.
The next TBID meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 17 at 3:30pm.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
In an unusual move, the Council considered no discussion or action items.
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
Councilmember Scott proposed the City add a shade structure to Freedom Plaza and Bilderain agreed the Council ought to consider it.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
LeeAnn Clarke, Secretary of 29 Palms Ministerial Association, of which Councilmember McArthur Wright is President, kicked off public comment by thanking Bilderain, City Manager Stone James and City Clerk Cindy Villescas for attending that morning's prayer breakfast and invited everyone to next month's prayer breakfast. She advised that the Ministerial Association would be offering a sunrise service at Patriotic Hall on October 20 at 6:00 a.m. in conjunction with Pioneer Days, as well as a Thanksgiving service at Freedom Plaza gym November 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Local hotelier Veno Nathraj suggested the City consider a grant program, funded by TOT revenue, to help bring local STRs into compliance with ADA requirements.1 Nathraj then opined that TBID board member Ben Uyeda of the Reset Hotel, appointed last month, "is not qualified, and we should do a recall," because "his hotel is still under construction. I do not think he even has a business license in our City. He has not contributed one dollar to the TBID," contrary to guidelines that Nathraj claimed state that TBID board members must be paying stakeholders.2
Peter Lang and Suzanne Lyons spoke against the proposed 241-acre solar project located north of Two-Mile Road west of the Harmony Acres neighborhood, due to its potential for impacting Desert Tortoise habitat, potential dust and air quality impacts, and the developer, E-Group, not being trustworthy. Lyons advised that she'd created a new "Stop The Harmony Acres Solar Farm" website.
CITY MANAGER UPDATE
James said he'd overcome the biggest hurdle toward getting EPA to repurpose $2 million of grant funding which had previously been allocated to a new City sewer system, towards funding the United States Geological Survey (USGS) water quality study the City is undertaking. James thanked City staff and Twentynine Palms Water District General Manager Matt Shragge for their assistance in this effort.
This USGS study has been under discussion in the City since at least 2022. Its results should reveal whether and to what extent septic tank discharge might be contaminating local groundwater, and once started it will take five years to complete. The absence of this study’s results was used by both sewer opponents, who argued that there was no known threat to water quality, thus no water quality justification for a sewer; as well as sewer proponents, who used potential yet unproven threats to water quality as a justification for constructing a sewer.
James went on to report that the $1.3 million Luckie Park lighting upgrade project was "a little bit behind schedule" versus its October 31 deadline, but coming along, with three out of 22 lighting poles completed and operational so far. This lighting upgrade was set as a priority during the January 2023 strategic planning session.
Finally, James informed the Council that two years after the City applied for the $18,000 FEMA grant, FEMA had finally funded City purchase of a 1,600 gallon potable water tank trailer to enhance the City's disaster preparedness.
The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m.
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Per this U.S. Department of Justice document and others like it, “The ADA does not cover owner-occupied establishments renting five or fewer rooms.” In accordance with this exemption, most STRs are commonly understood to be exempt from ADA requirements.
Although it’s true that Reset Hotel does not appear on the list of assessed businesses contained in this meeting’s agenda packet, the Desert Trumpet is unable to confirm this commenter’s assertion that TBID board members must have themselves paid TOT in order to qualify for a seat on the TBID board. Per the City website, “The City of Twentynine Palms' TBID is administered and managed by a 5-member Advisory Board made up of lodging owners and operators whose members are appointed by City Council.”
Here's the link to sign up or get more info about the Classic Car & Motorcycle Show: https://www.thehistoricplaza.org/events