TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session MINUTES City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
www.29palms.org
March 11, 2025
REGULAR SESSION AGENDA
6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Bilderain called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance - Ms. Melissa McGivern led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation - Fr. Eliseus Uju, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, gave the invocation.
Roll Call - The following Councilmembers were present: Bilderain, Mintz, Ramirez, Scott, Wright.
Closed Session Announcements - City Attorney Muñoz reported that the City Council came out of Closed Session at 8:54 p.m. During the Closed Session, the City Council held an annual performance evaluation for the City Manager and said that he received a positive performance evaluation; and the City Council would be meeting again to finalize a written evaluation reflecting the positive review he was provided at its next closed session.
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 the City website and clicking on the "Meeting Agendas" link.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND PROCLAMATIONS
1. Presentation to the Twentynine Palms High School Girl's Basketball Team and Softball Team for their Participation in the Cash for Trash and Recycling Program.
Mayor Pro Tem Mintz presented checks in the amount of $300 each from Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services and the City of Twentynine Palms to the Twentynine Palms High School Girl's Basketball Team and the Softball Team.
2. Presentation by the Parks and Recreation Department on a Grant Recently Received by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gender Equity in Sports Community of Practice Grant Supported by Nike.
Amy Tessier, Recreation Program Supervisor, provided a Power Point presentation on the $20,000 grant the Park and Recreation Department received to help with their "Girls on the Run" and Summer Camp events.
3. Proclamation Recognizing March 2025 as Irish American Heritage History Month.
Mayor Bilderain read the Proclamation in its entirety. Mayor Pro Tem Mintz then presented the Proclamation to Ms. Cora Manno.
4. Proclamation Recognizing March 2025 as Women's History Month.
Mayor Bilderain read the Proclamation in its entirety. Mayor Pro Tem Mintz then presented the Proclamation to Ms. Kelly Corney from Desert Hardware.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
March 11, 2025
5. Presentation by San Bernardino County Fire Department Chief Bill Villarino on Fire Prevention.
Assistant Chief Villarino provided a Power Point Presentation on fire prevention.
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Councilmember Ramirez mentioned that she attended the pizza party for the Fifth graders at Oasis Elementary School that gave a presentation on Black History Month at our last meeting, the Pelican Club Dinner, the Swearing In for Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, she met with Ms. Lynette Ramirez, who is with the High Desert Community Foundation and met with constituents.
Councilmember Scott commented that he also attended the Swearing In of Senator Ochoa Bogh. He attended the Pelican Club Dinner, a demonstration in Joshua Tree, the Planning Commission meeting and he announced that the second meeting of "Toastmasters" will be held on Monday, March 24th and will be hosted by Wing N It.
Councilmember Wright mentioned that he has spent most of his time these past two weekends at the All-Stars Basketball Tournament and commented that our youth are doing a great job and representing Twentynine Palms well.
Mayor Pro Tem Mintz mentioned that he met with Dr. Ray Wolfe, Executive Director for SBCTA, he parked cars at Sky's the Limit, and he is amazed at how many people come out from all over to visit our Observatory.
Mayor Bilderain wished everyone celebrating a birthday in March a Happy Birthday, especially his daughter Gena, he attended the All-Stars Basketball Tournaments, a Personnel Subcommittee meeting and met with constituents.
CONSENT CALENDA
6. Waive the Reading of Ordinance and Approve the Reading by Title Only.
7. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Meeting Held on February 25, 2025.
8. Award a Contract Agreement for Design Services to HR Green Pacific INC, for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 CDBG Luckie Park ADA Improvement Project.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Award a Contract Agreement for Design Services for the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Luckie Park ADA Parking Improvement Project to HR Green Pacific for a total contract amount of $28,984.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to enter into the Contract Agreement including any necessary amendments.
ACTION: A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Mintz, seconded by Councilmember Wright, to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted.
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 - None.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
March 11, 2025
PUBLIC HEARING- None.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS - None.
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 ancillary uses.
6. Discussion on abandoned homes in the community.
7. Discussion on reorganizing the Homeless and Housing Committee.
8. Discussion on partnering with the Boys and Girls Club.
9. Discussion on reviewing policies for non-profits who receive funding from the City.
10. Discussion of a policy regulating the use of City Attorney resources.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Scot Curry, Newport Beach, commented on the recent "Flying Doctors" event held in Yucca Valley the past weekend and it was very successful. They saw over 300 patients. He asked the City Council if they could possibly help next year by allowing them to use Freedom Plaza for their annual event.
Eric Menendez spoke about TBID, mentioning that they recently authorized a second round of the initial phase I study through Civitas, and he asked the question, what has changed since we initially hired them to do this for us? He doesn't believe that we should be spending more money on this process again.
Susan Peplow, Joshua Tree, spoke regarding TBID and the lack of follow-through. She mentioned that we need greater oversight to ensure the City is marketed effectively as a destination to bring tourism dollars. She feels as a stakeholder, our marketing is falling short.
Maggie Vinson, Twentynine Palms, spoke about the roads in Twentynine Palms. She mentioned that the road to her home is bad, and she almost broke her car driving on that road.
Eileen Leslie, Twentynine Palms, mentioned that she attended the last TBID meeting and was surprised to hear that the TBID Board is seeking to avoid City Council yearly oversight, and it was clear there was a lack of confidence about this new proposed action from all the stakeholders that attended the meeting. She mentioned all those that spoke under Public Comments, were opposed to this idea.
Veno Nathraj, Twentynine Palms, handed out some information to the City Council. He then spoke about the handouts which show guest reviews of the Sure Stay Best Western along with photos of the rooms. He mentioned that the Sure Stay Best Western is owned by the Chair of the TBID, who is an ambassador to tourism for our city. He commented that the City Council is appointing the wrong people in positions to advise the City Council.
CITY MANAGER UPDATE
City Manager James mentioned that on March 24th, a follow-up meeting with the Ministerial Association regarding Emergency Preparedness will take place at City Hall beginning at 8:30 a.m.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
March 11, 2025
Eric Menendez made a public comment regarding the Closed Session, mentioning that Stone has done a great job since he arrived. He then went on to talk about the TBID and homelessness. He commented that he feels the City Manager Department needs additional staff, possibly a Deputy City Manager.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - at 7:16 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION §54957 - PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, CITY MANAGER.
ADJOURNMENT - Mayor Bilderain adjourned the meeting at 8:56 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Villescas, CMC
City Clerk/PIO