Luckie Park skate park murals and new ADU rules face complications at Twentynine Palms City Council meeting
More than a dozen local skaters came to show solidarity for a memorial mural for former community member, Shane Castro, including his mother. Castro was 24 when he was stabbed and killed while working at the Valero gas station in Joshua Tree back in 2020.
The group wants the mural to be part of a project at the Luckie Park skate park. The current mural project originated at a Public Arts Advisory Committee meeting in September of last year when discussing the possible refurbishment of the mural already located at the park. Local skater Paul Halcomb said the skate community members presented their memorial idea at some point during the development process, and it was rejected. “We did not need any money from Twentynine Palms. We had the artist willing to give us time, materials, and willing to present the drawing before the mural goes up to get approved, yet we were denied for reasons being pointless memorials.”
Then, on Sept. 16 of this year, Public Arts Advisory Committee Chair Paul Razo resigned and former Vice Chair Sara Lyons was selected to replace him. Lyons submitted a last minute public comment application at the meeting to respond to Halcomb. “I was so unaware of this situation, and it’s really been weighing heavily on my heart. And I really want everyone to feel seen and supported.” She also said she supported the memorial. She said the mural project predated her time on PAAC, although she has been a member since Jan. 2024. Although the current project is newer, there was a previous application to paint a mural at the skate park initiated in Nov. 2022 that was later denied in April of 2023. The original mural painted at Luckie Park was installed in 2008 as part of the Oasis of Murals project.
The current project includes two murals so far from Indian Cove artists. There will be an event Sunday (11/15) to unveil the third mural from Joshua Tree’s Keiji Ishida as well as a live mural painting by JOSHR, former community artist for both Hurley and Nike Skate. Lyons said the next phase will open up to all community members to paint around 50 mini murals around the park.
Halcomb said after the meeting he was feeling more hopeful about the project, although the memorial mural was not his only complaint. He wants to make sure the project is as local as possible.
As for City Council action, all the members present voted to return the proposal for Accessory Dwelling Unit rule changes to the Planning Commission for review. Councilmember April Ramirez and Mayor Pro Tem Octavious Scott said they wanted rules that applied city wide, not just to certain areas. They also both raised concerns after City Manager Kevin Cole said new state law changes in September would likely impact the rules again, leading to more rewrites.
Marine Corps spokesman, Jesse Montes, announced people living within 35 miles of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center will be able to apply to enter the base for shopping and entertainment starting Dec. 1. The Community Access Program will require you to pass a background check, watch an orientation video, sign a statement of understanding, and pay a fee of $25.
Morongo Basin ARCH reported it has rehomed 28 of 67 people in its ongoing Starlite program. It’s part of the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership and is working with the Jewish Family Service to provide resources like transportation, food, and housing support to help people find their way back into stable housing.
City Finance Director, Abigail Hernandez-Conde and consultant, Brianna Schultz, gave a brief overview of the city’s financial report and audit. The audit did not include any deficiency reports and received the highest level of assurance offered from the auditing agency. The report showed the city unassigned fund is at $14.3 million. That means the city has an extra $5.3 million it could spend without exceeding expenditure goal limits.
Lastly, the city council approved a 3-hour early release for city employees the day before a city holiday, if their department schedule allows. It also approved closure of city facilities from Dec. 26 through Dec. 31. However, they will not be paid days off unless a staff member chooses to use accrued leave.
The next City Council meeting will be on Dec. 8 due to a holiday pause for Thanksgiving the week of Nov. 24.
