TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING WITH CLOSED SESSION MINUTES City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
www.29palms.org
February 22, 2022
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA
5:15 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor O'Gilvie called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
Roll Call - The following Councilmembers were present: Bilderain, Klink, Mintz, Wright and O'Gilvie.
Adjourn to Closed Session - Mayor O'Gilvie adjourned to Closed Session at 5:16 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION; Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d) (4) (One Case).
REGULAR SESSION AGENDA
6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor O'Gilvie called the Regular Session Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance - Councilmember Bilderain led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation - Pastor John Pollnow, First Assembly of God Church, gave the Invocation.
Roll Call - The following Councilmembers were present: Bilderain, Klink, Mintz, Wright, O'Gilvie.
Closed Session Announcements - Mayor O'Gilvie announced that there was no reportable action from the Closed Session.
Changes to the Agenda - None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor O'Gilvie announced that these proceedings may be viewed on demand on the City of Twentynine Palms’ website at www.29palms.org. You may also Live Stream this meeting by going on the City website and clicking on the "Meeting Agendas" link.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND PROCLAMATIONS
1. Presentation to the Kiwanis Club for Their Participation in the Cash for Trash and Recycling Program.
Mayor Pro Tem Wright presented a check in the amount of $300 from Burrtec Waste and Recycling and $300 from the City of Twentynine Palms to the Kiwanis Club for cleaning up the lot across from the Post Office on Gorgonio Avenue.
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Councilmember Bilderain wished everyone a late Happy Valentine's Day and commented that he did not attend any meetings since the last City Council meeting.
Councilmember Klink mentioned that he attended an SBCTA meeting and a Mountain/Desert Division Measure I meeting.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
February 22, 2022
Councilmember Mintz commented that attended the League of California Cities’ Policy Committee meeting virtually, he held his State of the City Address, and it is softball season for the high school.
Mayor Pro Tem Wright commented that he attended the State of the City Address, a JPA meeting, and he wished his mother, his oldest son, and his granddaughter a Happy Birthday.
Mayor O'Gilvie mentioned that she attended the female Marines' organization luncheon, the Family Values Award Dinner where Mayor Pro Tem Wright and his family received an award, and she was a guest speaker for the "Up Close" show with Z107.7.
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Waive the Reading of Ordinance and Approve the Reading by Title Only.
3. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Meeting Held on February 8, 2022.
4. Morongo Basin Ambulance Report - January 2022.
5. Fire Department Monthly Report - January 2022.
6. Legislative Report - January 2022.
7. Purchase of Property for MBTA (Morongo Basin Transit Agency).
ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Mintz, seconded by Councilmember Bilderain to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted.
The above motion was carried by the following
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: BILDERAIN, KLINK, MINTZ, WRIGHT, O'GILVIE
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION - None.
PUBLIC HEARING- None.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
8. Designation of a Delegate and Alternate Delegate for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Annual General Assembly.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council select two Councilmembers to serve as Delegate and Alternate Delegate for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Annual General Assembly.
City Clerk Villescas presented the Staff Report.
Councilmember Mintz offered to be the Delegate. Mayor O'Gilvie offered to be the Alternate Delegate. All Councilmembers were in favor.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
February 22, 2022
9. City Wastewater and Sewer Project.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff is looking for direction on the following:
1. Does the Council want Staff to pursue the funding with State Water in furtherance of the development of Wastewater Treatment and Sewer;
2. If yes to question above, Staff is recommending funding of development not to exceed $500,000 (the individual contracts will still come before the Council for approval;
3. If yes to the first question, Staff is recommending a request to the Twentynine Palms Water District to consider a Resolution in support of development of the wastewater and sewer project politically and financially.
City Manager Luckino presented the Staff Report and Power Point Presentation.
Jeffrey Johnson, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the development of a wastewater treatment and sewer project. He commented that it is important to consider the value of our water here in the desert.
Anna O'Hare, Twentynine Palms, spoke on the concern over the quality of our water, expressing that we do not need another study because the Water District has already studied it.
Three emails were sent to the City Clerk that were read into the record. Emails were from 29 Palms Neighbors, Olive Toscani, Adrain Field, Paul Pearson and Blanca Martinez.
Councilmember Klink commented that this has been going on for quite a few years and he feels this is a good time to try to get these monies to help with this sewer treatment plant.
Mayor Pro Tem Wright mentioned that when he first came on the City Council, one of the items discussed was when the City Council decides to bring in sewer, that we need to consider the lowest cost possible to our constituents, so if we are able to get this funding to help with this, we should go for it.
Councilmember Mintz mentioned that he asked the City Manager what the County's plan is to keep the Landers Landfill, which is where septic sewage is taken from tanks being emptied. City Manager Luckino mentioned that they are already at capacity and eventually the alternative will be to keep waste in trucks until there is availability.
General Manager Ray Kolisz, Twentynine Palms Water District, spoke on the unsaturated zone that is an important component that hasn't been studied and the data needs to be collected to inform the residents of the need or lack of need for a wastewater and sewer system. He commented that the City and the Water District have different missions. The City has a mission for growth and the Water District has a mission for sustainability and the protection of the groundwater.
After a brief discussion, a motion was made by Councilmember Mintz, seconded by Councilmember Bilderain to pursue the funding with State Water in furtherance of the development of Wastewater Treatment and Sewer; approve funding of development not to exceed $500,000 (the individual contracts will still come before the Council for approval; and send a request to the Twentynine Palms Water District to consider a Resolution in support of development of the wastewater and sewer project politically and financially.
The above motion was carried by the following
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: BILDERAIN, KLINK, MINTZ, WRIGHT, O'GILVIE
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
February 22, 2022
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
1. Shade Structures and picnic tables in Veterans' Park.
2. Abandoned shopping carts.
3. Voting for Mayor each year instead of the current selection process of ascending to Mayor's seat determined by votes received in the Elections.
4. Street banners for different events and occasions.
City Manager Luckino commented that the Veterans' Park item will be addressed at the next meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Roger Thomas, Twentynine Palms, gave an update on the Farmer's Market that is now at its new location at Project Phoenix, expressing that it has been a huge success.
CITY MANAGER UPDATE
City Manager Luckino gave an update on the following: he attended his League Policy committee meeting, Governance and Transparency and Employee Relations. The meeting consisted of the Brown Act as it has changed in relation to COVID and needing to update the regulations of the Brown Act and offer financial training, CalPERS had a great year last year, and the transformation in the downtown area is proving to be a success.
ADJOURNMENT - Mayor O'Gilvie adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Villescas, CMC
City Clerk/PIO
City of Twentynine Palms