The Twentynine Palms City Council got another earful about the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) last night in an otherwise low-key meeting. No matter the business at hand, the TBID resurfaced again and again. Concerns around a lack of transparency, outreach efforts to stakeholders, its effectiveness in promoting the city, the event grant process, and the board itself. Council heard the concerns though no action was made.
Community Development Director Keith Gardner noted that several property owners had inquired about rezoning an area east of Adobe Road (north of Valle Vista Road, along Condor Road, south of the Marine base) for light industrial and business park uses, such as self-storage and auto repair. (The area is currently zoned for General Commercial Uses [CG] and the requested change would be to Service Commercial [CS].) Council directed Gardner to conduct a study with Mayor Stephen Bilderain emphasizing coordination with the Marine base.
Council granted City Manager Stone James the authorization to sign agreements on behalf of the city for reimbursements from private developers who require Environmental Impact Reports for their projects.
On the first day of 2019, statute SB 946 came into effect, which decriminalized street vending in California. The new law enabled official permitting while referring to vendors as “micro-entrepreneurs.” Council echoed that support by approving that the city joins the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Environmental Health Services Street Vendor Collaboration Program to standardize procedures and promote food safety.
City Manager Stone James announced that the long-awaited Strategic Planning Session will be held on Friday, April 4, at 5 p.m. in council chambers (mostly an overview of city departments) with a full workshop on Saturday, April 5, at 10:00 a.m. with the location TBD. Residents are encouraged to attend both to have a say in shaping the city’s future.
