Twentynine Palms City Council Candidate Forum Draws a Full House
Twentynine Palms City Council Candidate Forum Draws a Full House
No softball questions for these City Council candidates.
Election season is in full swing, and with a contentious election at the top of the ticket, voters are engaged and eager to hear from local candidates who will make key decisions that directly affect them.
Desert Trumpet’s Twentynine Palms City Council Candidate Forum, presented with the support of the Desert Trail, drew a full house on Saturday, September 14, allowing community members to ask questions about their most pressing concerns. In a panel moderated by Cindy Bernard, Editor of the Desert Trumpet, and Kurt Schauppner, Editor of the Desert Trail, the five City Council candidates had a chance to dig into their visions for the future of the City.
This is a summary of the questions and the candidates’ answers—a complete transcript of the event will be made available later this month.
District 1 Candidates:
Steven Bilderain and Carrie Williams
District 2 Candidates:
Jim Krushat, April Ramirez, and Paul Razo
After moderator Cindy Bernard set some ground rules for the forum, candidates started with opening statements. While candidates included some personal details in their statements, for purposes of brevity we refer you to the bios provided by them in our previous reporting and focus here on their plans for the community. Questions and candidate responses have also been edited for repetition and brevity. Residents have been credited for their submitted questions.
OPENING STATEMENTS: Opening statements (from left to right) and what sets you apart from your opponents?
In opening statements, Jim Krushat said his focus would be on bringing his community experience to collaborating with the other Council members on projects that boost economic growth while maintaining the City’s beauty. April Ramirez spoke about bringing skills developed in working for the Department of Health and Human Services to Twentynine Palms while Paul Razo referred to his work as a user experience designer, which taught him to listen to all stakeholders and ensure equitable representation. Carrie Williams pointed to work as a business owner within the community, while incumbent Steven Bilderain spoke to his work moving the City forward while on the City Council.
Responding to a question submitted by Tim Perez of District 1 asking, “What sets you apart from your opponents,” candidates replied:
Bilderain: I've already proven that I can do the job. I've given you eight years of proven facts that progress has been made.…If you remember what the City was like nine years ago, and if you think about the last eight years, how much we've grown and the progress has happened, you'll know that we're moving forward….The other candidates are going to tell you what they want to do, what they think they're going to do, I've already done it, and I'll continue to push forward and be better.
Williams: I will listen to the constituents on what they want. What they would like to see done. I'll have an ear to listen to what they're speaking about, and I'll be out in the community to touch base with all the constituents, not only in my district, but in all the districts.
Razo: You could talk to Rediscover 29—I'm already working with those people. Tourism Board, I'm already working with those people. Local hotel owners, Airbnb owners, I'm already talking with those people. I'm already collaborating with the Youth Council. Trying to start a rejuvenation down in Historic Plaza. I'm already covering all the bases I can, and it's just a matter of getting in the key position of Council member to keep this momentum going.
Ramirez: I have already identified a lot of the issues that I have, and even prior to becoming a candidate, I have brought those resources forward to the City to get those conversations going. I will continue to do that. I believe in metrics. I believe in measurable outcomes, and I believe in coming up with pragmatic solutions to fix these problems in real time.
Krushat: The long-term connection, my involvement, with the community, both through the volunteer organizations I belong to, and my time on the Planning Commission. I bring my age. I've got a lot of experience in a lot of different areas, in military, government and private industry, and I think that all helps us with what we're going to have to do in the future when we look at our infrastructure changes. And I think I bring those skill sets that my fellow people do not have.
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LOCALS: There have been infrastructure improvements focused on tourism. What improvements would you like to see for locals? (Jaime Zwicker, District 1, also Jack Hart and Chuck Heard)
While Krushat acknowledged some people in the community liked living in a small town with one streetlight, one hotel, and one gas station, he emphasized that change is inevitable but what’s important is how those changes are handled. Krushat and Bilderain both emphasized that new infrastructure, like a sewer system, will help the community as a whole while helping to bring in the necessary tourist dollars to fund important City projects. While all the candidates acknowledge the importance of tourism and agree dollars spent at local businesses benefit the City as a whole, Ramirez said, “Before we can focus on issues like tourism and bringing all of that stuff here, we need to focus on being able to fix our basic issues.”
Ramirez would like to see more focus on City resources for locals like a homeless shelter, domestic violence shelter, and a resource center. Razo wants to see a pivot away from “how do we make 29 Palms a nice place to visit” to “how do we make it a nice place to live” with more help for local small businesses and programs for youth career development, a concern shared by Williams, who would also like to see more focus on affordable housing and support for seniors.
ACCESSIBILITY: What would you do to improve accessibility for the disabled in Twentynine Palms? (Shaka Gray, District 5)
Bilderain opened by stating that Twentynine Palms, as a city, ensures that all new buildings meet ADA requirements, like entry ramps and accessible restrooms. Those standards come from the state, and local code enforcement ensures compliance. Krushat agreed, adding that he is working through the Planning Commission to develop a resource center that could address both homelessness and help for disabled residents. Razo said he’s open to listening to community members about the challenges they face and what’s needed to fill accessibility gaps. Williams believes more could be done to add ramps, handrails, accessible restrooms, and pushbutton entry to older buildings.
Ramirez said ensuring accessibility is one of her passions, adding,
Airbnbs are not required to be ADA compliant, and that would be one of the things that I would bring up.…If they are going to operate as an establishment where there is revenue coming in, then we need to hold them to the same accountability.
BALANCING DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT: How do we as a city balance economic development and protecting our delicate desert ecosystem, including endangered species like the desert tortoise? (Moderators, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tiner)
It’s easy to fall in love with the desert ecosystem, Razo said,
You're coming here because of this scenery …. [All the] animals and this desert environment, so if we start stomping all over that, then we've lost what we've been fighting for, so always put them first and keep development in check at all times.
Williams said better signage to educate people about potential harm to local flora and fauna would help. Razo, Ramirez, Krushat and Bilderain all endorsed various levels of wildlife protection when considering development. Krushat also emphasized the need for a balanced approach that follows state and federal law, while allowing for projects “that will help the community as a whole.” Bilderain pointed out that the City needs to consider who will benefit from any proposed development, “is this an economic goal for the City, or is this money making for someone else?”
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS: There are a couple of controversial commercial developments proposed for residential zoning in District 1 specifically— the Ofland /Yonder resort in Indian Cove and the solar farm in Harmony Acres, both in the same wildlife corridor. What's your position on these developments? (Moderators)
Razo stood firmly against both projects, indicating the need to put them in the right place and protect neighborhood quiet and dark skies. Williams felt the City could override the solar farm while indicating the need to listen to residents on the Indian Cove project. Ramirez spoke to the need to to find a healthy balance and listen to residents on both projects. Krushat and Bilderain talked about the need to carefully weigh potential benefits against the concerns of residents.
Krushat pointed out current state policy allows solar farms to
…ride right over any local ordinances we may have against it. So then the question comes back to, how do we bring the project on board? And if the project…has a community benefits package, I think it's better to negotiate that community benefits package from a position of strength.
TOURISM: What are your views on the current state of tourism and what, if anything, would you suggest to improve or change it? (Eric Menendez, District 1)
Ramirez emphasized the pivotal role tourism plays at the city level in terms of funding, saying a large chunk of tourist money gets funneled back into the City’s General Fund. Speaking in favor of promoting local events, Ramirez stated, “I think that the Tourism Business Improvement District [TBID] is currently doing a good job but it could be doing a great job.” Razo agreed with Ramirez on the need for signature events but also called for TBID to allocate more of its budget toward improvements, “not just in terms of beautification, but infrastructure.” Krushat discussed community partnerships for local events and the need to support the Marine Base and large retirement community in addition to tourists.
On District 1’s side, Williams said the Juneteenth event she hosts annually attracts friends and family from all over California, calling for consistency in key events and stressed the importance they be hosted annually.
Incumbent Bilderain called for more events that feature and promote locals:
The City does not want to turn Twentynine Palms into a tourist city. We don't want to lose our identity. We chose Twentynine Palms for what it is— the people, the atmosphere, the environment. So we don't want to turn this into a touristy city that— like Big Bear or Joshua Tree—our whole identity is lost as to who we are. So when it comes to tourism, the small business owners, they have ideas and we support them.
RECENT FLOODING: Would you support a proposed climate resiliency center? And how could the City better support residents as weather becomes more extreme? (Moderators, Tom Ingram, Jaime Zwicker)
For District 2, Planning Commissioner Krushat called for a critical re-evaluation of the City’s flood plain plan:
“We haven't looked at our floodplain plan since 1950, and I think we need to do a reevaluation of that. That could help us put up the better flood controls. And I agree that climate change is having an effect on our environment. I've been through a lot of triple-digit summers right now that we didn't used to have before. They’d occasionally come, and I remember this when I was a kid, back in the 70s and early 60s, so it's definitely happening.”
Ramirez said she could not personally vote in favor of a climate resiliency center based on the liability for the City to operate it long term, saying she would instead leverage connections at a federal, state, and county level to address flooding and other climate-related issues. Razo called for the City to have more resources in place prior to the annual monsoon season.
“It’s happening on an annual basis now and there’s no reason we should be chasing our tails and scurrying every time this happens.”
Williams said she would vote in favor of a climate resiliency center as it could be a vital community resource. Bilderain agreed that the climate resiliency center proposal contains some good ideas and said the City is currently working with the County on a flood control plan. Piggybacking on Razo’s comments, Bilderain stated, “Just like you service your AC during the summer because you know it’s going to be hot, you have to prepare your house for the monsoon season every year.”
HOUSING: In the State Housing Element, the City committed to facilitate 900 new housing units by 2029 for moderate-, low-, and very low-income residents. What steps can the City take to meet its housing obligation? (Jonathan Hume, Desert Heights, also Yashwin Nathraj and Veno Nathraj)
Williams commented that locals need housing now, and that they need to start somewhere. Speaking in favor of the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition project while also calling for more organizations that promote similar programs, Williams said:
The house is just about free for y'all. All you got to do is have a little bit of credit and a job and go and sign up and see if you qualify for it. I think that program would be really good, because it's a start for us here in the City of Twentynine Palms.
Bilderain, on the other hand, said entities that can facilitate these affordable projects are not coming to Twentynine Palms. “Twentynine Palms is not a destination people want to come to make low-income housing, put their money, and invest in that.” The Mayor elaborated:
We're trying to find ways to cut the cost to build homes in Twentynine Palms. But when it comes to low income, moderate housing, the City wants it—We will do anything we can, but people that can do it— the sponsorships and the partnerships, they are not coming to the City to do this. So that's where our dilemma is and that’s our crossroads.
Regarding affordable housing, Ramirez stressed the importance of working with cities such as Palm Desert and Yucca Valley, seeing what works for surrounding desert areas, and called for a five-year housing plan. Razo alluded to the proposed Coachella Valley Housing Coalition’s low-income housing project proposal as being the answer and in the spirit of Twentynine Palms’ homesteaders.
Krushat highlighted steps the Planning Commission has taken in recent years to make building a home in Twentynine Palms easier, such as removing a previous requirement that called for garages on new homes. The Planning Commissioner also reminded attendees of a proposed multi-family affordable housing project near City Hall with an allocated $1 million in funds that was designated as a stipulation of Project Phoenix.
SEWER: On the recent Z107.7 show, the three District 2 candidates agreed on sewer. But let's ask that question anyway, and give Steve and Carrie a chance to answer. Should our sewer be citywide or limited to the downtown area? Do you have any ideas about how we would fund it? (Moderators)
All five candidates were seemingly in agreement that a sewer system is needed in Twentynine Palms. The question was when, where, and how that plan would rollout. Bilderain pointed to the need to complete the USGS survey and assess water quality prior to beginning the funding process. Krushat and Razo are in agreement on the importance of a sewer system for local development.
Krushat’s plan for funding calls for a clear combination of state and federal funds, along with a possible general obligation bond citizens would vote on:
I know it's going to be expensive, and how we approach that, I think, is going to be the tough part. Finishing the study to find out where we are with our water table and nitrate pollution is going to tell us how long we have to deal with the issue.
Ramirez called for funding from the County and State as well, saying the City should use the implementation of a sewer system as an opportunity to create local job programs. Razo says that many new developments are created with the intention of being hooked up to a sewer eventually, and that the City should start downtown first before a citywide rollout due to the lack of water and electricity on some parcels that would make citywide rollout more difficult.
INCLUSIVITY: How will you dedicate your platform to creating an inclusive community in Twentynine Palms, and which priorities must the City elevate to benefit its marginalized and underserved residents? (T. Hammidi, Joshua Tree)
Here, candidates spoke to youth and young adults, elderly, and members of the military—three demographics that make up the Twentynine Palms community. Incumbent Bilderain says he thinks the City does a good job tackling this issue but can do better:
We're a melting pot of veterans, pioneers, locals. People want to make Twentynine Palms their home, and we come from every different race, color, ethnicity, background, so trying to provide a city that we all could do things that encompasses all of us, that's a struggle.
Carrie Williams and Jim Krushat both called for promotion of local vocational and technical programs to attract jobs needed for the future. Williams stressed the importance of these programs to ensure local youth stay in the community, while Krushat emphasized support for the Marine Base and the current job market. Paul Razo spoke to “opening the door with representation” and the need to reflect different cultures in the City while Ramirez mentioned the need to find common ground and the importance of new residents feeling welcomed.
TERM LIMITS: How do we take advantage of new voices in the City? Would you support limits of two to three terms for City Council, Planning Commission, TBID and the Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC)? (Moderators)
On the topic of term limits for City Council and appointed committees, Jim Krushat of District 2 noted that while he does not think he would support term limits, if elected, he only plans on serving one four-year term. Ramirez said she supports term limits for smaller committees like the PAAC and Planning Commission but not City Council. Razo agreed with term limits for smaller committees but walked the line on terms for Council, ultimately commending Council members Joel Klink and Daniel Mintz for their multi-term tenures on City Council. Razo said:
I do think that ethically, we need term limits—I do. But I also see that there's points where no one else is running, so you have just an uncontested person running for City Council, and we just can't let anybody slip into that seat running unopposed.
For District 1, incumbent and veteran Bilderain, who is vying for his third term on City Council, said he is against term limits after serving in countries where citizens do not have the right to vote.
Williams agrees with term limits and calls for new blood:
We’re seeing the same people over and over and the ones that are running unopposed—they got the seat. That’s why I’m up here—because there’s nobody that wanted to run against Steve. I figured, I might as well just throw my hat into the ring and see what it is. I get it— I’ll do my best.
CITY STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: What, in your opinion, can the City do better? What are the City's strengths and weaknesses? (Natalie Zuk, District 1)
Ramirez said the City needs to take care of the basics, calling for a local homeless shelter and domestic violence center, but attests to the strength of the local community in tackling challenges and coming together to combat local issues:
We have a good group of people. We come together when we believe in something. I've seen that in the short amount of time, whether it was contesting a water treatment plant, or it was coming together after the storms, we have that ability to mesh together and get the mission done.
Krushat agreed that a positive of Twentynine Palms is the people, mentioning a “terrific” City staff and a “fantastic” Parks & Recreation Department, saying he would like the City to devote more efforts toward assisting its local volunteer organizations through grant programs. Razo echoed sentiments of Ramirez and Krushat and called for better resources for the unhoused and for local businesses rather than just tourists, adding that more shade is needed along the downtown corridor to make the City more livable.
District 1 Incumbent Bilderain said the City can improve on youth activities, senior activities, and the homeless situation, while Williams acknowledged that “the City is doing a fine job” but that “things are moving a little slow that I think should be moving faster.”
SHORT-TERM RENTALS: Even though STR numbers are falling, density is still an issue in our neighborhoods. What is your position on regulating the density of STRs in neighborhoods? That is, how do you control someone being surrounded by STRs on their street, which is still a problem despite the falling STR numbers? (Moderators, Heidi Heard, District 1)
On short-term rentals, Williams acknowledged that STRs create much-needed jobs while still suggesting “instead of flooding a block with 10 [STRs], let’s cut it to maybe 2 or 3.” Razo recognized the role STRs play in beautifying neighborhoods but agrees that density should be looked at. Ramirez called for controls on STRs based on income and bookings, reminding forum attendees of the City’s local hotels, which are under capacity and provide crucial jobs.
Bilderain, stating that he previously served on the STR Advisory Committee with Forum moderator Bernard, says he does not believe STRs should be side-by-side while speaking to the positives of STRs, including their role in cleaning up neighborhoods, adding value to properties, and bringing in tourism.
Krushat stated he is in favor of STRs and also spoke positively of the TOT, employment and other contributions STRs have made. Disagreeing with Bilderain, he spoke to an STR closing near his home and added:
That's what happens. If we let market forces do their thing, it usually evens things out to where we don't have to come down and sit there and decide—tell one person, oh, you can't have an STR because you're next to an STR. That's up to you. That's your business. As long as you're not doing something illegal, unethical, unhealthy or unsafe, you should be allowed to do it.
BEING PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE: One of the issues that residents raised in our June Town Hall is that town City Council tends to be reactive instead of proactive. What does a proactive 29 Palms look like to you? (Moderators)
Both active City officials pointed to instances of the City being proactive, with current Mayor Bilderain discussing the amount of work taking place “behind the scenes” such as developing revenue and putting in needed street lights while being reactive when dealing with first-time issues such as the recent flooding.
Planning Commissioner Krushat also cited examples of the City being proactive:
Proactive. 2015 they went ahead with a VHR regulation when the county didn't even have one. Proactive—they put together a committee to look at the homeless issue, and then it's been working for a year. They're putting a final report together, and that's proactive. Proactive—They've been looking at the issue of wastewater management for a while now. They've looked at options….
Williams and Razo agreed with the City acting behind the scenes with Razo adding the need to inform residents when a job is done and suggesting regular district meetings:
Come down, talk to me, talk to your other neighbors, and let's figure out how to work this together for our district, specifically, so that we could take it and make sure that what's concerning to you is concerning to Council.
District 2’s Ramirez spoke to concerns about the number of registered sex offenders in the community, warned of the potential for heat-related casualties and domestic-violence related casualties if the City is not proactive in mitigating these issues.
One minute closing statements: What do you envision the future of Twentynine Palms as looking like?
Steven Bilderain: I want you to go down to Utah Trail. Stop at that light. I want you to go down to Two Mile. Look at the sidewalk by the junior high. Drive up to Adobe and 62. Look at Starbucks. Grab a coffee. Start heading down. Look at the small business coming from Freedom Plaza, enjoy the AC. Keep on driving down. You see the Taco Bell. You see O'Reilly's. You see the small businesses right here in this corridor. You come to the Farmers Market on Saturday, and then you drive all the way down to Encelia and 62 and you see you have a choice between two grocery stores. That wasn't here eight years ago. So think about that. Then think about me.
Think about what I'm still going to keep doing. We are not done. We’re going to keep going forward, and we got a lot of things that I still have not done from my first eight .…Time is slow, like government is slow. We're going to keep going forward. I've already proven that I can make progress happen. I’ve already proven that I'm successful. I've been transparent for eight years because I have nothing to hide, and all my love is for this community. I don't own a small business. I don't own a STR. I'm raising my children in this community, and I want them to leave and go to college and want to come home, because our City is great.
Carrie Williams: My vision of this City of 29 is building a resilient community, getting the community to come together. That's something that I really would like to see — us come together as a people and not be divided. I'd like to see our children in this community not only go to college, but to return back here and make this place home for them. The senior citizens? I'd like to see them do a little bit more as far as getting out and about, because the community wouldn't be the community without the senior citizens. So looking forward, if I was appointed, that's what I'm going to be shooting for, is our youth and education for them and taking care of our seniors.
Paul Razo: I think Twentynine Palms has an incredibly bright future ahead of it, and what I see for Twentynine Palms is a bustling downtown full of people covered by shade, enjoying art, talking with each other, having fun. You see the same thing, at Historic Plaza, which has already been redone and it's beautiful, has natural shade, and it's going to have more events coming soon. I think it's going to be bridged by an economic corridor down Adobe.
I think that we need to create jobs and keep jobs here in Twentynine Palms, not just for our youth, but also helping our unhoused get back on their feet. I think that we need a bigger focus on arts and making sure that we make that prevalent and make this city beautiful.
And I also think that we need to bridge a lot of gaps, and we need to start talking to people. I don't think the Council can take a back seat anymore. It's not enough to have TBID come and tell us their plan. We need to be at the meetings, and we need to be helping any way we can to guide the meetings. I think the same thing goes for Planning, I think the same thing goes for Rediscover 29—our small business owners are doing so much to carry this city in their own way. And every time I'm at those meetings, there's no Council representation there. We need to be there, and we need to be boots on the ground, hearing from all of our constituents everywhere. And that's what I aim for. So come talk to me. I'm honest, I'm earnest. I'm here for Twentynine Palms. Vote Razo.
April Ramirez: I’m going to read a message that I got from someone, and I'm not going to say their name. It says, “Hey, how are you? My name is….I was then referred to you because I found out that you might be able to help me. I was trying to get help for me and my children. We are currently homeless. I have six children, and we are living in our van.”
I look forward to a Twentynine Palms where I don't have to get those kinds of messages anymore. I look forward to where I can go ahead and say, there is a homeless shelter, there is a domestic violence shelter. And in order to do that, we also have to nurture our tourism department as a whole, nurture our local communities to make sure that we have the money in the funds for that, and I will do just that, if elected.
Jim Krushat: I see a city that has put the necessary infrastructure in place for a boost to our economic growth without detracting from who we are as a desert city. I see a city that finds a way to make housing attainable for everybody, and I see a city that protects our most vulnerable. And to achieve that, I think it would be better if we brought people on board, and I'm speaking of myself, that have knowledge of our city, have knowledge of our history, and have the skills, knowledge and abilities to help bring that to fruition. I appreciate the fact that Ms. Ramirez and Mr. Razo are running. I think that helps the democratic process. But I think I should be your next Council member. Thank you.
One last question…from Councilmember Klink
As the panel was beginning to disburse, Councilmember Joel Klink jumped up from the last row of bleachers, and shouted a final question:
This was not brought up, and I think it's a very good question to ask all five of those members right now. Me being on the Council after 20 years, I'm done. But there's one big area where you guys being on the Council are going to have to deal with — it’s our animal shelter. How are you going to get the money to get a new animal shelter built? And when do you want to do this? It's got to be soon.
Desert Trumpet will be following up with the candidates by emailing them Klink’s question along with a few others that weren’t answered due to time.
After the conclusion of the question and answer session, attendees had the opportunity to participate in an informal meet and greet with City Council candidates. Candidates for other local positions were also in attendance at the Forum, including those for the Morongo Unified School District’s Board of Education, Copper Mountain Community College District Board, along with congressional candidate for U.S. House District CA-23, Derek Marshall.
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