RECAP: Twentynine Palms City Council Meeting, June 24, 2025
Long summer days bring long summer meetings, as the Council gathered before a full house to discuss and act on a wide range of topics.
A nearly three-hour long meeting covered a broad range of topics including a workshop on the proposed E-Group Solar Farm project, and Council oversight of the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) Board. Video of the full workshop and meeting can be viewed here.
On the dais for the meeting were Mayor Steven Bilderain and Councilmembers Daniel Mintz, Octavious Scott, and April Ramirez. Councilmember McArthur Wright was absent, excused.
E-Group Solar Project Update and Workshop on Community Benefit Package
The Council began with a workshop regarding the benefits to the City from a proposed solar farm project. Because Mayor Bilderain recused himself due to the proximity of his residence to the proposed project, Mayor Pro Tem Mintz led the workshop.
State law has superseded local regulation on large-scale solar farm development since the passage of AB 205 in 2022. A summary of the changes and how they affect the Twentynine Palms regulation was presented to Council in workshop materials, made public in the agenda packet.
Specifically, AB 205 allows an applicant for a solar farm project meeting certain criteria to have the State approve the proposed solar farm, in which case the City’s ban would not apply. Indeed, the express reason AB 205 was adopted was to allow renewable energy projects to be approved by the State in areas where local opposition exists. Should the State take land use jurisdiction over solar energy projects, the applicant would not be required to provide any public benefit to the City. Although AB 205 requires some public benefit package to exist, the City would have no control over who receives the benefits and what it would be.
The Staff Report that accompanied the meeting’s agenda states that on May 23, 2023, the City Council directed Staff to see if “an acceptable project and public benefit package could be negotiated” for a proposed Solar Farm Project just south of the City limits.
Robert Smith, a partner with the K&L Gates law firm in Seattle and representing E Group, spoke regarding the current benefit package offered, presenting numbers that represent a year of negotiation.
In response to an inquiry from Councilmember Scott regarding how the benefits package was developed, City Attorney Patrick Muñoz reported that the City arrived at the proposed package after working with a consultant, Kosmont, to negotiate annual financial benefits that exceed those secured by comparable localities. Benefits packages can vary widely in terms of resources that cities can earn. Some examples of benefit packages can be found here.
Mayor Pro Tem Mintz asked about State regulation regarding local bans on solar farms, City Attorney Muñoz recognized that we are “picking our poison” as this may not be something the community would have actively sought, but it is no longer something that the city can actively prevent.
Public comment on the matter represented divided opinion.
Supporters included the owner of the property the proposed project is leased from, George Mulopulos, and Twentynine Palms residents Dwayne Austin and Jeremiah and Elizabeth Schuler who saw opportunities to stay ahead of state intervention in City affairs and the chance to develop cleaner energy sources.
Those opposed cited environmental concerns, particularly regarding dust mitigation. Kurt Kepler who owns a home adjacent to the proposed facility stated that the location is unsuitably uneven and rocky, and environmental concerns outweigh the proposed benefits. Representing the Monongo Basin Conservation Association, Steve Bardwell and David Fick both mentioned that the project may be under the 50 megawatt threshold that would qualify the project to fall under the purview of AB 205.
Robert Smith clarified that the project is a 50 megawatt project, stating that the financial feasibility of the project depended on hitting that output goal.
Susan Peplow thanked the City for working with consultants to develop the benefits package, but added, “if you're looking at the $150,000 a year, give or take, that pays for one week of our Sheriff's Department contract….If you look at 150 grand a year, what's it really doing for us? And so that's the question to you as it relates to the public benefit package, is this dollar amount enough?”
Following public comment, Councilwoman April Ramirez inquired about the benefits package and if further benefits could be negotiated. Smith stated that we have likely arrived at the ceiling in terms of dollar amount, but that improvements to roads surrounding the site and the substation that the project would utilize would be part of project costs, not passed on to the City.
Council concluded the workshop by offering the direction to staff that the benefits package as negotiated is satisfactory.
This workshop is just one stop on a long road toward this project’s development. The conversation regarding this solar farm will continue as the project proposal falls under review.
At the conclusion of the workshop, Mayor Bilderain re-joined councilmembers at the dais and called the regular meeting to order.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Following an invocation from Patrick Jauron James from the Sanctuary Church, the agenda was changed to make the Consent Calendar the first order of business.
Approved by a 4-0-1 vote were the following items: the recommendation to approve payment for the Cholla Avenue Widening Project; re-approval of lease agreement with Family Service Association, which currently manages the the Nutrition for Seniors Program; the approval of a five-year plan for improvements on transportation services funded by Measure I revenue; and the recommended approval of the inclusion of costs charged for solid waste handling services. More detail on each of those items can be found in the Desert Trumpet’s agenda preview.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND PROCLAMATIONS
The Council then heard a presentation from Robin Schlosser, Executive Director of Reach Out Morongo Basin, regarding the scope of work they provide, which includes operating the only Senior Center in Morongo Basin open 5 days a week, serving 50-70 people per day. They also aid an additional 1,026 residents via other programs, including a collaboration with the Twentynine Palms Community Food Pantry and the Find Food Bank to distribute 240 boxes of fresh food, with delivery to folks who cannot physically come to the senior center.
The service and care provided were commended by the Council and in public comment.
City Manager Stone James introduced a presentation from Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services, Inc. (NPHS). Chief Business Officer Jesse Ibarra and Director of Housing Rehabilitation April De Leon represented NPHS, a non-profit affordable home ownership provider and community developer, covering most of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Their services are tailored toward getting people on the path to home ownership, providing education and aiding access to financial assistance. An NPHS affordable housing project in the Desert Highland neighborhood in Palm Spring was presented a close-to-home example of what could yield from a potential collaboration between the City and NPHS.
Mayor Pro Tem Mintz inquired about administrative costs, which would be 20% of funds secured in return for managing every step of the buyer’s participation. As NPHS assists in securing grant funding for the City, this does not represent direct costs from the City budget.
Council elected by consensus to continue conversation about collaboration with NPHS. In listed Future Council Initiated Items, there is a planned “discussion on exploring a partnership with Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services (NPHS) for an owner-occupied rehab program.” This topic was not covered in their presentation.
Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) City Council Subcommittee
After the TBID moved to pause their conversion from 1989 regulations that require annual renewal to move toward 1994 regulations that allows for five-year renewal in their most recent meeting, Council discussed providing oversight and guidance with a two-member subcommittee. City Manager Stone James spoke to the proposal saying:
We’re not a one stoplight city. We’re really growing. We’re changing. We’re dynamic. And this creation of this subcommittee tonight and the efforts that TBID is doing is really geared toward being responsive and doing our best to grow the TBID along with our growing community.
As the TBID seeks to plan farther into the future with five-year renewals, guidance from the city and stakeholders will be essential. As Councilmember Scott put it:
I think that this is just common sense, smart policy to be honest. We've had issues with oversight of with the TBID, and I think that this is moving in the right direction.
Public comment was supportive of the formation of this subcommittee. Sentiment was well summarized by Cindy Bernard, who stated that the subcommittee would help Council “learn a lot about what’s working and what’s not working within TBID, and that’s very hard to see from the outside.” Susan Peplow also noted that the attendance of five direct stakeholders in the audience, who favored forming the subcommittee.
Following a motion from Scott and a second from Mintz, the subcommittee was formed, with Councilmembers Ramirez and Bilderain appointed.
Housing and Homeless Committee Reorganization
The Council then took up the topic of the Housing and Homelessness Committee and its structure. At its formation in April 2023, the Committee was comprised of the members of the Planning Commission and at-large community members Andrea Keller and Veno Nathraj. The Committee had not met since November 2024, leaving issues unresolved and partnerships undeveloped.
Though the official count of unsheltered people has been trending downward, as reflected by the most recent data available from Point In Time counts conducted annually by San Bernardino County, securing housing for those who do not have it and maintaining affordable housing are still key city priorities. As the current Committee was relatively inactive, the Council decided to replace it with a two-member Council sub-committee, with members Octavious Scott and April Ramirez given the assignment.
Future Council Initiated Items
Councilmember Octavious Scott put forward a request to develop a recognized neighborhood program, with the intention to develop stronger community organization. City Manager James sought clarity on what the structure of the program would be, citing examples from Palm Springs, which facilitates an Office of Neighborhoods, covering 52 recognized Organized Neighborhoods. Councilmember Scott, noting that this was not yet an agenda item and hearing no further questions from Council, proposed holding the conversation until the item was on a public agenda. The motion made by Councilmember Scott was then seconded by Mayor Bilderain and the development of a recognized neighborhood program was added as a Future Council Initiated Item.
Public Comment
Cindy Bernard spoke about the important goals that can be achieved by neighborhood organizations, citing her own participation in Indian Cove Neighbors. Bernard spoke “to how important it is in a town that is as large as this one is and is as sparsely populated as this one is to organize your neighborhoods so you can get things done.” She expressed her support for Councilmember Scott’s suggestion for the City to explore how to help neighborhoods organize and work together to improve the City.
City Manager Report
Along with several Councilmembers, City Manager James attended the BBQ event at Historic Plaza on June 22. This reporter also attended and can confirm the event was well attended, well organized community fun. City Manager James made note that the pricing of the BBQ items available to attendees was very considerate, and made the event affordable to attend. Dr. James also provided an update on the five-year City’s Strategic Planning process, a draft was received by staff the night prior to the meeting, it will be under review by Staff and a consultant before Council review on July 22. After Council consideration and public comment, a final version will tentatively be presented to Council on August 26.
City Manager James also presented a date for a Coachella Valley Housing Coalition assessment clinic, seeking qualified applicants for a self-built home project. The meeting will be held July 12, 10 am-1 pm at the Luckie Park Activity Center. Detailed coverage on the development of the City’s partnership with CVHC can be found here.
In addition, a open house discussion session has been booked for August 21 with State Senator Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh, scheduled for 6:30-8:30 pm in Freedom Plaza. Such sessions are a key opportunity for residents to interact directly with their elected representatives, and can be full of civic fireworks.
Speaking of fireworks, before adjournment, Mayor Bilderain highlighted upcoming Fourth of July Celebrations sponsored by the City and the Bowladium including firework viewing at Knott’s Sky Park and live music at Tortoise Rock Casino. The council will not meet July 8, reconvening on July 22.
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