TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL
City Council - Regular Meeting MINUTES
City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
www.29palms.org
January 28, 2025
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Bilderain called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance - Ms. Mary Kay Sherry led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation - Suzy Dick, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, gave the invocation.
Roll Call - The following Councilmembers were present: Ramirez, 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. Presentation by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office on Proposition 36.
This presentation will be moved to a future meeting due to the presenter not being able to attend this meeting.
2. Presentation of Report from the Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo by Ms. Vickie Waite, Joshua Tree National Park Council for the Arts.
Ms. Vickie Waite provided information on the Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo.
3. Presentation: Update on Molding Hearts' Homeless Outreach.
Ms. Lakita Johnson gave a PowerPoint presentation on what Molding Hearts has accomplished.
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Councilmember Ramirez commented that she attended and participated in the Point in Time Count, and she has been in contact with some community members about the possibility of some low-income age restricted housing, and she also met with a doctor who has a background in oncology, hematology, wound care certified, rural health and provides tele help. She commented that she is working with him to possibly bring this accessible healthcare along with trying to bring urgent care facility to the community.
Councilmember Scott mentioned that he was part of the Planning Commission subcommittee who conducted interviews for the two upcoming seats on the Commission.
Councilmember Wright commented that he sat in on a Zoom call with Senator Ochoa Bogh, he participated in the Martin Luther King Walk (MLK) last week and he wanted to comment on the difference in customer service and hospitality in other cities as opposed to our community. He mentioned that he recently was out of town at a store and needed
City Council - Regular Meeting
January 28, 2025
assistance. No one was interested in helping him and employees were rude. He mentioned he was recently in a store in our community and employees were more than helpful.
Mayor Pro Tem Mintz mentioned that he attended and participated in the Point in Time Count, he also sat in on a Zoom call with Senator Ochoa Bogh, he attended the MLK Walk, and he attempted to attend the MDAQMD meeting in Victorville but had to turn around and come back home due to snow.
Mayor Bilderain commented that he attended the MLK Walk and Barbecue, he met with citizens and met with our SCE representatives regarding the recent power outages in our area.
CONSENT CALENDAR
4. Waive the Reading of Ordinance and Approve the Reading by Title Only.
5. Approval of Agreement for Procurement of Recovered Organic Waste with Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services, LLC.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council:
1. Approve an Agreement for Procurement of Recovered Organic Waste with Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services, LLC;
2. Authorize the Mayor to execute the Agreement.
6. Treasurer's Report - FY 2024-25 Quarter 2.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council receive and approve the Treasurer's Report for the 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024-25.
7. Award Professional Services Agreement for 6943 Elm Avenue Rehabilitation Project.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council award a Professional Services Agreement to Design Concepts for the 6943 Elm Avenue Rehabilitation project subject to “Approval as to Form” by the City Attorney and “Approval as to Content” by the City Manager.
Councilmember Scott asked to pull item #7 for discussion.
ACTION: A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Mintz, seconded by Councilmember Wright, to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted, minus item #7.
The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: BILDERAIN, MINTZ, RAMIREZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION
8. Award Professional Services Agreement for 6943 Elm Avenue Rehabilitation Project.
City Manager James presented the Staff Report.
Astrid Johnson commented that this property is for veteran housing and provided more explanation on these properties.
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January 28, 2025
ACTION: A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Mintz, seconded by Councilmember Scott, to approve the Professional Services Agreement for 6943 Elm Avenue Rehabilitation Project.
The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: BILDERAIN, MINTZ, RAMIREZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
PUBLIC HEARING – None.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
9. Purchase of New Animal Control Truck and Body.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council approve the purchase and award the bid to Rush Truck Center in the amount of $130,894.22.
City Manager James presented the Staff Report and then passed the floor to Mr. Rick Boyd, Animal Control Supervisor, who provided more input on the need for this vehicle.
ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Wright, seconded by Councilmember Ramirez, to approve the purchase and award the bid to Rush Truck Center in the amount of $130,894.22 The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: BILDERAIN, MINTZ, RAMIREZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
10. Community Resource Center.
This item is an opportunity for the City Council to review and discuss the community's need for a resource center. The City Council may choose to authorize the engagement of a firm to conduct a community survey.
City Manager James presented the Staff Report.
Councilmember Scott mentioned that he appreciates the City Manager in all he did to put the Staff Report together; however, he disagrees with some of the options brought forth. He believes this is a discussion we have been having for over two years, from creating a homeless advisory committee who worked at great length at defining what the needs are, a survey was done in 2023, an equity element which involved workshops was also brought forth and in the last strategic planning session, a revenue augmentation to pay for debt financing in order to rehabilitate some of our buildings.
Councilmember Ramirez commented that Councilmember Scott did mention a survey that was done in 2023, but we are now in 2025, so she would like a survey done to compare it to the one conducted in 2023.
Mayor Pro Tem Mintz mentioned that he is concerned about the long haul of this. he feels that we need to have a broader discussion about this, conducting a survey. If we are going to have a discussion about buildings, the main issue we need to discuss is how are we going to pay for all this.
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January 28, 2025
Councilmember Wright mentioned that this discussion should be held during the upcoming Strategic Planning Workshop.
City Manager James commented that the survey that was done in 2023 was for sewer which was a very focused survey and it was not intended to gauge the community's contentment with city services.
Jenn DeFalco, spoke in favor of the Resource Center, mentioning that this resource center should also be for the housed, those struggling with mental health issues, etc.
Astrid Johnson, spoke in favor of the Resource Center, with multiple purposes.
Lori Cosgriff, spoke in favor of the Resource Center and commented that she does not feel we need to spend a lot of money on a survey and the Center.
Joseph Carder, spoke in favor of the Resource Center.
Karalee Hargrove, spoke about some resources that are coming up with the schools that will be housed at the schools, so she is suggesting that the Morongo Unified School District and the City have a joint meeting and work together to provide these resources that are being discussed now.
Anna Langkilde, spoke in favor of the Resource Center. She mentioned that she works at the County's Transitional Assistance Office, and they are very short staffed and overworked because they want to help their customers. They feel inadequate because they don't have all the resources needed so this center would be very helpful.
Lakita Johnson, Molding Hearts, spoke regarding County Resources that are available, and it shouldn't fall solely on the City of Twentynine Palms to provide.
After a brief discussion, Councilmember Scott suggested Staff reach out to the school district to collaborate with them on this Center. Councilmember Ramirez suggested we reach out to the medical partners to be part of this as well.
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
1. Revisit allocated funds for the portable showers and 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.
4. Shade structures around Freedom Plaza and a possible art fixture with "Freedom Plaza" announcing the location.
5. A review and discussion of fees as it relates to Site Plan Reviews for Barber Shops in existing buildings.
6. Discussion on increasing the City Council compensation.
City Manager James provided an update on the above items.
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January 28, 2025
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Astrid Johnson, Twentynine Palms, thanked the City Council and Code Enforcement for their participation in the Point in Time Count.
Jenn DeFalco, Twentynine Palms, thanked Ms. Lakita Johnson for all her hard work and everything she does. She mentioned there are still unhoused people out there and help is still needed with blankets, sleeping bags, toiletries, etc.
Lakita Johnson, spoke about individuals in the community that her organization has tried to help, however, there are some individuals that do not want to be helped, and they cannot do anything about that.
John Dillon, Twentynine Palms, spoke about his annual blanket and clothing drive for those unhoused in the area. He praised Ms. Johnson for all her efforts in helping the unhoused.
Karalee Hargrove, Twentynine Palms, provided updates about the School District, saying that the District has recently made a decision to bring sixth grade students into the Junior High School, the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) survey is available on the MUSD website and anyone can participate in this survey, the District is recruiting for an oversight committee to provide input on how Measure C funds, the Bond that was recently voted in, should be spent, and Twentynine Palms High School students beat Yucca Valley High School in the first ever culinary competition. She thanked the City Council once again for bringing the commercial kitchen for the students.
Ms. Suzy Dick, Yucca Valley, thanked the City Council, City Staff and Ms. Lori Cosgriff for all their help with the Food Giveaway on January 24th. Ms. Cosgriff thanked Ms. Dick for all her help and support.
LeeAnn Clarke, Twentynine Palms, provided the following updates on behalf of the Ministerial Association: she is excited to report that the MLK walk was a huge success with the whole City Council and City Manager participating. She thanked Anna Stump, former PAAC Chair for attending as well, the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast will be on February 25, 2025.
Robin Schlosser, Reach Out Morongo Basin, thanked Lori Cosgriff, Suzy Dick and the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints for their help and donations as they received food for the seniors as well. She thanked City Manager James for visiting the Senior Center with the Public Works Staff last week. She appreciates Mayor Pro Tem Mintz's comment earlier about all city buildings needing retrofitting, because the Senior Center is one of them in dire need, particularly the roof.
CITY MANAGER UPDATE
City Manager James commented what a wonderful community we have in terms of interaction and feedback. He mentioned that the MLK Walk was a wonderful event, he provided an update on two grants the City recently applied for, the EPA grant and an Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program grant, mentioning that as of Monday, February 10th, President Trump has paused major funding as they evaluate financial feasibility. He commented that he had the privilege of participating in the Point in Time Count.
ADJOURNMENT - Mayor Bilderain adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Villescas, CMC
City Clerk