TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL
City Council - Regular Meeting MINUTES
City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
www.29palms.org
March 14, 2023
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Wright called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance - Matt Shragge, Twentynine Palms Water District, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation - Bobby Kopylow, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , gave the Invocation.
Roll Call - The following Councilmembers were present: Bilderain, Klink, Mintz, Scott, Wright.
Closed Session Announcements - None.
Changes to the Agenda – None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Wright 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 our website and clicking on the "Meeting Agendas" link.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND PROCLAMATIONS
1. Presentation to the Twentynine Palms High School Girls' Softball Team for their Participation in the Cash for Trash and Recycling Program.
Mayor Pro Tem Bilderain presented checks in the amount of $300 from Burrtec Waste and Recycling and the City of Twentynine Palms to team members from the High School Softball Team for their participation in the Cash for Trash and Recycling Program.
2. Presentation by County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisor Dawn Rowe.
Supervisor Dawn Rowe provided updates on various issues taking place in the County, relating to vacation home rentals, wastewater treatment funding, "Operation Hammer Strike" a project aimed at illegal cannabis cultivation, and the Workforce Development Program.
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Councilmember Scott commented that he did not attend any meetings.
Councilmember Mintz mentioned that the High School Softball team earned money through the City's Cash for Trash and Recycling program and for transparency purposes, he wanted to let everyone know that he, as their coach, does not get paid from those funds. He gets paid through the School District. He commented that he attended Planning Commissioner Greg Mendoza's funeral service, and he thanked Chairperson Rowe for her contribution to our Sewer project.
Councilmember Klink commented that due to the snowstorm we had, he was unable to attend the SBCTA Meeting on March 1st, he thanked Supervisor Rowe for the update she provided and he wished everyone celebrating a Birthday in March a Happy Birthday.
City Council - Regular Meeting
March 14, 2023
Mayor Pro Tem Bilderain mentioned that he did not attend any meetings, he thanked Supervisor Rowe for her presentation, and he wished his daughter a Happy 12th Birthday.
Mayor Wright mentioned that he did not attend any meetings. He wished his sister a Happy Birthday.
Councilmember Scott thanked Chairwoman Rowe for her presentation and mentioned that he is very interested in the Workforce Development Program she mentioned.
CONSENT CALENDAR
3. Waive the Reading of Ordinance and Approve the Reading by Title Only.
4. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Meeting Held on February 15, 2023 and February 22, 2023.
5. Award Construction Contract for the Community Development Department Tenant Improvement Project.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Adopt the design of the project represented by the Plans and Specifications for the Community Development Department Tenant Improvement Project.
2. Award a contract for the “Community Development Department Tenant Improvement Project” to KNC Construction, Inc. in the amount of $138,320.00 and authorize a Ten Percent (10%) Contingency in the amount of $13,832.00, for a total contract amount of $152,152.00;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract including any necessary amendments.
6. Permission to Pursue the Creative Corps Grant of $100,000.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council allow the Public Arts Advisory Council (PAAC) to pursue a Common Corps grant in the amount of $100,000.
7. Augmentation to the Sheriff's Contract to add a Detective.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council authorize the amended Schedule A agreement for Fiscal Year 2022/23 with San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for an additional detective in furtherance of the Council's strategic priorities.
8. Wastewater Treatment Design.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Carollo Engineers to provide engineering services for the furtherance of the City Wastewater Treatment Project in the amount of $990,316.
Members of the public wanted to speak regarding item #8.
Andy Watson, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Jeff Johnson, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and suggested that the City inspect local septic tanks to avoid leakage of nitrates into the groundwater.
ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Mintz, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bilderain to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted.
City Council - Regular Meeting
March 14, 2023
The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: BILDERAIN, KLINK, MINTZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION - None.
PUBLIC HEARING – None.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
9. Strategic Planning Guidance Document.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council approve the Strategic Planning guidance document.
City Manager Luckino presented the Staff Report.
Councilmember Klink commented that he did not like the statement made by City Manager Luckino as it relates to the Animal Shelter and band aiding the Shelter. He stressed that the Shelter needs to be completely renovated, not put band aids on what is there now. City Manager Luckino apologized for the comment, but did not mean it in the sense that the shelter would be band aided. The whole renovation would take a few years and won't be complete until approximately 2026 so in the meantime, we would need to make what is there now workable until the new Shelter is complete.
Councilmember Scott mentioned that the housing and development committee is important, he agrees with Councilmember Klink that the animal shelter and homeless should be two priorities and agrees that the same subcommittee that evaluated the Planning Commission applications should look over applications for the housing and development committee along with two members of the community.
ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Mintz, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bilderain to approve the Strategic Planning guidance document.
The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: BILDERAIN, KLINK, MINTZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
10. Budget Adjustment Request for the Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC).
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council approve the budget request of the PAAC.
Community Development Director Gardner (Director Gardner) presented the Staff Report.
After a brief discussion, a motion was made by Councilmember Scott, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bilderain to approve the budget request of the PAAC.
City Council - Regular Meeting
March 14, 2023
The above motion was denied by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: BILDERAIN, SCOTT
NOES: KLINK, MINTZ, WRIGHT
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
11. Revised Mission Statement for the PAAC.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council adopt the Resolution determining the number of members on the Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC) and approve its Mission Statement.
Director Gardner presented the Staff Report.
Councilmember Klink commented on the members of the PAAC, stressing the clarification that the committee has five members with an option of adding two more members and an alternate member to stand in when there is lack of a quorum. He commented that he is opposed to the alternate members, stating that all other committees are made up of five members and no alternates.
Councilmember Scott mentioned that there is a difference between a committee, a commission, and City Council. He doesn't see a problem with having alternates on committees.
Councilmember Mintz commented about the length of the Mission Statement. He felt that the original Mission Statement seemed to work fine for many years and he is comfortable with the original statement.
Mayor Wright commented that he still has issues with Section 4, item 1, stating that it does not read right with him.
Cindy Bernard, PAAC Chair, mentioned that in looking at the Statement shown, it is not the correct one. There is some language that is missing. She suggested that this item be moved to the next City Council meeting. The City Council agreed.
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
1. Seasonal Banners throughout the City.
2. Maintained v. Non-Maintained Roads
3. Voting for Mayor as opposed to the current selection process.
4. Discussion on working with non-profit organizations to establish a "Heating Shelter" during the Winter months.
No additional items were added. Councilmember Klink asked about the status of shopping carts. City Manager Luckino mentioned that he needs to follow up on this.
Councilmember Scott asked that a future item be added, asking that the City Council explore the idea of paying committee members. Due to lack of a second, the item will not be added to the Future Agenda Items List.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Millard McClimans, Twentynine Palms, commented on tennis courts in Twentynine Palms. He would like to see the Luckie Park basketball courts be converted back into tennis courts. City Manager Luckino mentioned that as part of the CDBG funding the City will receive, two of the Luckie Park courts will be converted to pickleball courts.
Anna Stump, PAAC Vice Chair, provided more information on grant writing.
City Council - Regular Meeting
March 14, 2023
CITY MANAGER UPDATE
City Manager Luckino provided the following updates: the Channel Trail has some issues with a retaining wall, however, it should be completed this month, the new Government Relations representative for Southern California Edison will be introduced soon, the Hilltoppers Motorcycle event will take place on April 1st and the organizers would like to invite the City Council to attend, the City Council has approved the waste water treatment project and a grant application will be sent to the State this month, the Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians will be collaborating with the City on this project, the City Council has approved an outreach contract to address concerns the public may have regarding the wastewater project, and the City Council will soon be asked to appoint five members to a wastewater advisory committee.
Mayor Wright reminded everyone that the Grilling with the Mayor event will be next Thursday, March 23rd at Veterans' Park from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT - Mayor Wright adjourned the meeting in honor of George Gibbs at 7:14 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Villescas, CMC
City Clerk/Public Information Officer