TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL
City Council - Regular Meeting MINUTES
City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
www.29palms.org
September 10, 2024
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Bilderain called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance - Youth Council member Izzy Hargrove led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation - Pastor Jake Snyder, The Potter’s House, gave the Invocation.
Roll Call - The following Councilmembers were present: Klink, Mintz, Scott, Wright, Bilderain.
Closed Session Announcements - None.
Changes to the Agenda - None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Bilderain 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. Youth Council Update.
Chairman Isaac Coleman provided an update on the Youth Council.
2. Presentation by FindFood Bank and Acceptance of Proclamation.
Ms. Debbie Espinosa, President, and CEO of FindFood Bank, gave a presentation on FindFood Bank and what they do for our community. Mayor Bilderain then presented a Proclamation to Ms. Espinosa, recognizing September as Hunger Action Month.
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Councilmember Scott mentioned that he has been meeting with constituents and he attended the Basinwide Foundation Dinner.
Councilmember Wright said that he attended the Pep Rally for Warhawks football and their first game in Desert Hot Springs over the weekend. He congratulated the Youth Council and thanked them for all they are doing, he thanked FindFood Bank for all they are doing for our community, he wished his son a Happy Birthday and he wished his wife a Happy 39th Anniversary.
Councilmember Mintz thanked the Youth Council and the Park and Recreation Staff for getting this group off the ground, he mentioned that he attended the Warhawks Pep Rally, and the MDAQMD meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Klink wished everyone celebrating a birthday in September a Happy Birthday, he attended the Warhawks Pep Rally, and the Basinwide Foundation Dinner, where the City of Twentynine Palms was awarded the President's Award for 2024, he attended the SBCTA meeting, and he thanked all the youth that have given their time to be part of the Youth Council.
City Council - Regular Meeting
September 10, 2024
Mayor Bilderain wished his son a Happy Birthday. He mentioned he attended the Basinwide Foundation Dinner, he met with citizens, and he had the opportunity to watch one of our local students play for a D1 school, Oregon State. He thanked the Public Works Staff for all their hard work after the rain over the weekend and he thanked the Youth Council.
CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are to be considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed. Any item may be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered separately by the City Council. The public will be given an opportunity to comment on Consent Calendar items prior to the City Council action.
3. Waive the Reading of Ordinance and Approve the Reading by Title Only.
4. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Meeting Held on August 13, 2024.
5. Approval of Warrant Register Totaling $930,079.58.
6. Development Impact Fee Report for FY 2023-24 (Annual and Five-Year).
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council receive and file the City's Development Impact Fee Annual and FiveYear report for FY 2023-24 pursuant to Government Code Section 66000, et. al.
ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Scott, seconded by Councilmember Wright, to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted.
The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: KLINK, MINTZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT, BILDERAIN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION - None.
PUBLIC HEARING – None.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
7. Designation of Delegate for the Annual CalCities Conference.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council designate a Delegate and Alternate Delegate for the League of California Cities' Annual Conference.
City Clerk Villescas presented the Staff Report. Councilmember Mintz suggested that Councilmember Scott be the Delegate. All were in favor. Councilmember Mintz volunteered to be the alternate delegate. All were in favor.
8. Entertainment Permits.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council review and provide direction to Staff.
Councilmember Mintz recused himself due to a possible conflict of interest and left the Council Chambers at 6:27p.m.
Community Development Director Gardner (Director Gardner) presented the Staff Report.
City Council - Regular Meeting
September 10, 2024
Councilmember Scott commented that the review of these event fees is a great idea.
Councilmember Wright asked if there were currently any regulations on the types of live entertainment allowed in the City. Director Gardner mentioned that the Development Code does not define specifically the types so that needs to be addressed as well.
Susan Peplow sent an email to be read for the record, and asked Eric Menendez to read her comment. She spoke in favor of waiving fees.
Eric Menendez, Twentynine Palms, commented that he thinks it’s a good thing to clean up the Code and the fees should be reduced.
Caitlin Gill, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of reducing or waiving the entertainment fees.
Ted Quinn, Joshua Tree, spoke about "Open Mic" nights and agrees that reducing fees would be beneficial to the community.
Jenelle Angeles, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of waiving fees.
Vadim Altschuler, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of waiving fees.
Stacey Solee, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of reducing or waiving fees.
Lolly Goodwoman, Wonder Valley, spoke against the permits for entertaining.
Pauline Pisano, Flamingo Heights, in favor of waiving fees.
Sherry Greer, Yucca Valley, spoke in favor of waiving fees.
Veno Nathraj, Twentynine Palms, commented that he likes what Staff is doing to keep our community safe, but he is against the astronomically high fees.
Graham Kolbeins, Twentynine Palms, sent an email to be read into the record, expressing his strong opposition to the proposed city policy that would require venues to obtain costly entertainment permits for hosting live music, drag performances, and other forms of entertainment.
Karen Harper, Twentynine Palms, mentioned that she owns a business and occasionally they have entertainment out in the parking lot, so does this mean that she will have to pay to get a permit? Director Gardner commented that this is what we are looking at tonight, on whether or not to change the current policy.
Carl Rice, no address given, spoke in favor of waiving fees.
Councilmember Klink mentioned that he would not vote on high fees. He would suggest that the policy indicates no fees, however, for big events, the Fire Department needs to be involved and that's when fees should come in effect.
Councilmember Wright commented that his biggest concern is when we start to identify certain types of entertainment, that everyone is complying with those restrictions. He agrees that the fees are too high and should be reviewed.
City Council - Regular Meeting
September 10, 2024
After a brief discussion, the City Council conceded that this should go to the Planning Commission and review and revise the current policy or Code.
Councilmember Mintz returned to the Council Chambers at 7:08 p.m.
9. Self-Help Housing Project Status Update.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council receive and file as this is an update only.
City Manager James provided an update on the self-build housing project that the City is working on with the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition.
Councilmember Scott commented on the funding of this project.
Veno Nathraj, Twentynine Palms, commented that he loves the project but had one question. He asked if the 1500 hours that were mentioned by the City Manager that the prospective owner would have to put in to build the home could be waived? City Manager James mentioned that the 1500-hour requirement is set by the Federal Government. As for waiving the fees, City Manager James mentioned that this is something that would have to be looked at.
Pauline Pisano, Flamingo Heights, commented that she would like to encourage the City to reach out to the artists in the community to help out with the build of these homes. She also believes that there is federal funding to assist with this project.
10. Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID).
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council:
1. Approve the TBID's Annual Report and Marketing Plan & Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025;
2. Adopt Resolution No. 24-20, confirming the intention to levy an assessment for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
Director of Marketing Breanne Dusastre presented the Staff Report.
Boardmember Ashton Ramsey provided additional information on events and sponsorships.
Veno Nathraj, Twentynine Palms, had some questions about the numbers presented this evening. He suggested that TBID come up with a plan to bring more people into the community to fill the beds in our hotels.
Boardmember Ben Uyeda provided more insight on the numbers that were provided.
Eric Menendez, Twentynine Palms, read Ms. Susan Peplow's email for comment into the record.
Eric Menendez, Twentynine Palms, spoke regarding tourism in the Morongo Basin and is suggesting a regional marketing group. He supports the TBID authorization.
Caitlin Gill, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the TBID authorization.
ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Wright, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Klink, to:
approve the TBID's Annual Report and Marketing Plan & Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025; and adopt Resolution No. 24-20, confirming the intention to levy an assessment for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
City Council - Regular Meeting
September 10, 2024
The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: KLINK, MINTZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT, BILDERAIN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
1. Revisit funds that were allocated for portable showers and the Navigation Center.
2. Discussion on the General Plan Update.
3. Discussion surrounding (i) costs to maintain dirt roads verses paved roads; (ii) what is a City maintained dirt road, a non-maintained dirt road, a road that has been accepted by the City, a road that is private and not accepted by the City; (iii) the City's ability and liability associated with the City periodically maintaining non-maintained roads, and (iv) ways residents can bring non-maintained and non-accepted dirt roads to paved-rural-road standards ready for acceptance into the City's accepted-and-maintained road list.
Mayor Bilderain asked if Staff could look at the safety measures at the Freedom Plaza corridors. Mayor Pro Tem Klink seconded the item.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Natalie Zuk, on behalf of the Desert Trumpet, announced the City Council Candidates Forum that will be held on Saturday, September 14th at the Freedom Plaza gymnasium.
Karen Harper, Twentynine Palms, spoke regarding the Home Build Project. She mentioned that she would like to be a candidate for the position of monitoring the homes and keeping up with the requirements of the project.
Dawn Pritchett, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the Home Build Project.
Robin Schlosser, Twentynine Palms, congratulated the City for receiving the President's Award at the Basinwide Foundation Dinner and also the Community Food Pantry for receiving the Non-Profit of the Year Award.
Veno Nathraj, Twentynine Palms, spoke about how the Hindu/Indian people have no representation in the City. He mentioned that he has applied numerous times to be on the TBID Board and has been passed up and wonders if it is because he is not the right skin color.
CITY MANAGER UPDATE
City Manager James provided the following updates: he thanked Director Gardner for all his hard work and efforts to help everyone in the community, he spoke about the USGS Study that will take place soon and should take about five years to complete, he attended the Warhawks Kickoff game, he mentioned that the large dumpsters that Burrtec provided after the storm have now been picked up, and he acknowledged all the work Information Services Director Eli Marshall has been doing for the Animal Shelter and working to get the new shelter started.
ADJOURNMENT - Mayor Bilderain adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Villescas, CMC
City Clerk/Public Information Officer