TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session MINUTES 6547 Freedom Way, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
www.29palms.org
July 22, 2025
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA
5:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Bilderain called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
Roll Call - The following Councilmembers were present: Mintz, Ramirez, Scott, Wright, Bilderain.
Adjourn to Closed Session - Mayor Bilderain adjourned to Closed Session at 5:04 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, Government Code § 54956.9 (d)(2), (1 case)
REGULAR SESSION AGENDA
6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Bilderain called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance – Larry Bowden, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation - Minister Lashara Maea, The Sanctuary Church, gave the Invocation.
Roll Call - The following Councilmembers were present: Mintz, Ramirez, Scott, Wright, Bilderain.
Closed Session Announcements - Mayor Bilderain announced that there was nothing to report.
Changes to the Agenda - Mayor Bilderain reiterated the 2-minute time limit for Public Comments.
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 Semper FI Sports 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 Semper Fi Softball Club.
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED
Councilwoman Ramirez commented that she attended Smitty's Used Furniture Home Decor and More's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, an Emergency Response Clinic, two meetings regarding low-income housing, and a Housing and Homeless Committee meeting.
Councilmember Scott mentioned that he attended Smitty's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, a CalCities meeting in Lancaster, and the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) Workshop.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
July 22, 2025
Councilmember Wright commented that he attended the 4th of July event at Knotts' Sky Park, a Backpack Giveaway, and he mentioned that the Warhawks Football Season kicked off the day prior.
Mayor Pro Tem Mintz mentioned that he attended the Basin Transit's Fill a Bus Event, the CVHC Workshop, and he assisted in parking cars at the Sky's the Limit Observatory over the weekend.
Mayor Bilderain commented that he attended Smitty's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, the CVHC Workshop and met with various constituents.
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 May. 19, 2025, May 27, 2025, and June 10, 2025.
4. Approval of Warrant Register Totaling $2,017,783.37.
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: MINTZ, RAMIREZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT, BILDERAIN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION - None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
5. Twentynine Palms Lighting and Landscaping Assessment District #1, Confirming Assessment and Levying Assessment for FY 2025-2026.
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council:
1. Conduct the Public Hearing.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 25-16; a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Twentynine Palms confirming the diagram and assessment and levying assessment pursuant to the Lighting and Landscaping Act of 1972 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
City Engineer Pedersen presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Bilderain opened the Public Hearing.
Having no requests to speak, Mayor Bilderain closed the Public Hearing.
ACTION: A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Mintz, seconded by Councilmember Wright, to Adopt Resolution No. 25-16; a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Twentynine Palms confirming the diagram and assessment and levying assessment pursuant to the Lighting and Landscaping Act of 1972 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
July 22, 2025
The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: MINTZ, RAMIREZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT, BILDERAIN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
6. Ofland Resort Project.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), and approve Resolution No. 25-17 adopting General Plan Amendment 24-000002, conduct the first reading of Rezoning 25- 000001 and Development Code Amendment 25-000004, and adopt Resolution No. 25-18 approving Conditional Use Permit 24-000003 pending final adoption of the requisite Ordinances.
Community Development Director Gardner (Director Gardner) presented the Staff Report. He then passed the floor to Ofland Developer, Luke Searcy, who provided a PowerPoint Presentation and additional information about the project.
Mayor Bilderain opened the Public Hearing.
Mary Jane, Binge, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition the project.
Scott Curry, Newport Beach and Desert Heights, spoke in favor of the project.
Dana Longuevan, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Melissa Grisi, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Travis Poston, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
John Vigar, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Paula Steib, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Beth Anderson, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Chuck Heard, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Heidi Heard, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Jim Krushat, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Eric Menendez, Twentynine Palms, remained neutral on the project.
Steve Bardwell, Joshua Tree, spoke in opposition of the project.
Sylvester Cullum, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Luther Parks, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Tonya Jones, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Electra Westman, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Liz Meyer, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Jeff Dunn, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Larry Bowden, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Dawn Benton, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Pat Flanagan, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Lauren Welfen, Yucca Valley, spoke in opposition of the project.
Kevin Cole, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Adam Wininger, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Sandra Claus, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
M.J. Fiocco, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Mara Moon Cohn, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
John Talley-Jones, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Cindy Bernard, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Zeynep Graves, Joshua Tree, spoke in opposition of the project.
Azra Variscic, Yucca Valley, spoke in opposition of the project.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
July 22, 2025
Jordan Sissa, Riverside, spoke in opposition of the project.
James Lawless, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
Gary Dodd III, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
DJ Godoy, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Thomas O'Connor, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Phil Graves, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Chrix Zzyzx, Twentynine Palms, spoke in opposition of the project.
James Baskin, Twentynine Palms, spoke in favor of the project.
Mayor Bilderain closed the Public Hearing.
Councilmember Scott acknowledged everyone for coming out to the meeting, saying this type of engagement is important for our community.
Mayor Pro Tem Mintz commented that this affects a lot of people in the Indian Cove area. He stated that he supports the project.
After a brief discussion, a motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Mintz, seconded by Councilmember Wright to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), and approve Resolution No. 25-17 adopting General Plan Amendment 24-000002, conduct the first reading of Rezoning 25-000001 and Development Code Amendment 25-000004, and adopt Resolution No. 25-18 approving Conditional Use Permit 24-000003 pending final adoption of the requisite Ordinances.
The above motion was carried by the following:
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: MINTZ, RAMIREZ, SCOTT, WRIGHT, BILDERAIN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS - None.
FUTURE COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
1. Discussion on the General Plan Update.
2. Shade structures around Freedom Plaza and a possible art fixture with "Freedom Plaza" announcing the location.
3. Discussion on partnering with the Boys and Girls Club.
4. Discussion on exploring a partnership with Jamboree for affordable housing.
5. Discussion of a policy regulating the use of City Attorney resources.
6. Maintained Roads vs. Non-Maintained Roads.
7. Discussion on creating a "Recognized Neighborhood Program".
Councilmember Scott added a discussion on developers and the City using the same CEQA consultant for a project.
Councilmember Wright seconded the item.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Susan Peplow, Twentynine Palms, thanked the City Council for their time and patience on this project and said this streamline worked well.
Caitlin Gill, Twentynine Palms, (due to sound system issues, City Clerk Villescas was unable to understand what Ms. Gill's comment was.
City Council - Regular Meeting with Closed Session
July 22, 2025
CITY MANAGER UPDATE
City Manager James provided the following updates: Staff is still working on the affordable housing issue, commenting that we are still trying to move that forward.
Councilmember Scott asked about the General Plan. City Manager James mentioned that he and the Community Development Director are having discussions on the General Plan. (Some comments were not recorded due to technical difficulties).
ADJOURNMENT - Mayor Bilderain adjourned the meeting to the next regularly scheduled meeting on August 26, 2025, mentioning that the August 12th meeting is canceled. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Villescas, CMC
City Clerk/Public Information Officer