It was standing room only at the Twentynine Palms City Hall council chambers last night as the council closed out 2021 with a scooter pilot program, new pool designs, housing plans for the homeless, and the annual change-up at the dais. Reporter Heather Clisby was there…
Stating flatly, “Usually, there’s nobody here,” outgoing Mayor Daniel Mintz informed the packed room at last night’s Twentynine Palms City Council meeting that he would instead deliver the State of the City address on January 17 at the Project Phoenix site which more residents would likely attend.
Mayor Mintz then honored Marine Corps volunteers with the Mayor’s Recognition Award before announcing Kary Minatrea, recreation division manager for the Community Services/Parks and Recreation Department, as Employee of the Year.
The council approved a pilot program for 50 electric scooters to be available throughout the city. The no-cost program with Bird Rides can go up to one year but can also be canceled after 30 days.
The city’s finance department won shining accolades after an audit from San Bernardino accounting firm Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott, LLP. Assistant Finance Director/Treasurer Abigail Hernandez-Conde introduced the results on the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for FY 2020/2021 with the firm’s partner, Bradford Welebir, affirming by zoom that the audit was deemed “clean or unmodified, the highest level you can receive.”
Due to Senate Bill 1383, the council faced the tough reality of an ordinance regulating solid and organic waste aimed at reducing methane emissions from landfills. The council will read the ordinance in its entirety at the next meeting and discuss next steps.
The council accepted a grant award of over $700,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Homekey program to purchase and rehab several properties on Elm Avenue for permanent housing for very low-income individuals who are homeless. The city would not incur any long-term costs and Morongo Basin Arch would operate and maintain the properties.
Designs for the new Luckie Park pool were presented and discussed. Upgrades will include a new building, enlarged dimensions, and a heat-resistant “cooling deck” that is easier on bare feet in the summer heat. There’s was debate about the inclusion of a slide, with concerns around cost and safety, but the council approved the design to include it. Construction is slated to begin in May and be completed in 2023.
The meeting concluded with the annual selection of the mayor and mayor pro-tem. With a full house of proud friends and family cheering her on, Karmolette O’Gilvie was selected as the new Mayor of Twentynine Palms, and McArthur Wright became Mayor Pro Tem.
The next meeting of the council will be held on Tuesday, January 11.
