TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL REVIEWS COUNTY SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE

The Twentynine Palms City Council meeting began last night with introduction of a new employee, Brian Soster, who will be keeping the streets of Twentynine Palms clean. James Ramos’ representative, Mark Lundquist, then presented the county’s draft of its short-term rental ordinance. The still-changing document has been designed to accommodate rental structures that are as small as 70 square feet to facilities that can handle up to 16 people. Reporter Eric Knabe fills us in on the rest of the meeting…
The Twentynine Palms City Council heard a presentation about the county’s proposed ordinance for short term rentals, which should be finalized by 2018. The county estimates there are between 500 and 1,000 short-term rentals, with most of them in the Morongo Basin. In other news, the city’s animal control officer again expressed the need for a quarantine building to separate sick animals from healthy ones at the shelter. Council members heard a presentation about the city’s two-year special budget and five-year general fund forecast, which are in good shape now, but when Project Phoenix begins, they will have significant challenges.