The Twentynine Palms City Council began with an update from the newly formed Twentynine Palms Youth Council. Members are in sixth through 12th grade and are appointed to one-year terms. This year, the youth council includes Isaac and Tallulah Coleman, Thomas Elkins, Jaguar and Judah Goodwin, Izzabella Hargrove, Vivian Hermosillo, Jax Langdon, Audrina McConville, Pearl Sullivan, William Sumption, Brett Viloria, and Truman Walsh. Newly elected Chairperson Issac Coleman said they held their first board election and elected Vice Chairperson and Secretary. The Youth Council has plans to appoint a social media manager to keep the community informed.
Over the summer, the youth council volunteered at the senior center three times to play Scrabble and chess and engage in conversations. They also provided a team technology training day to assist in setting up iPads that the Senior Center had acquired over the summer.
The City Council then received a presentation from the President and CEO of Find Food Bank, Debbie Espinosa. The Find Food Bank is a Regional Food Bank in the Feeding America system that serves the southeastern section of California. Espinosa said about 17.1% of the community is experiencing food scarcity. In the past 12 months, Food Finders supplied over 241,000 pounds of free food to the Morongo Basin. Food Finders delivers food to Copper Mountain, where local nonprofits can pick it up and hand it to families. September is Hunger Action Month, and the color is orange. Espinosa was wearing orange.
Mayor Steven Bilderain presented Ms. Espinosa with a proclamation stating that the city of Twentynine Palms is committed to combating hunger and providing additional resources for those in need. Bilderain also encouraged the public to fight hunger by taking action, including volunteering, social media shares, and donations, to ensure nobody has to make an impossible choice between food and other necessities like medicine, utilities, and child care.
In announcements, the High Desert Medical Center will receive $71,000 in EPA grants for level two EV chargers.
In additional City business, the Council designated Councilmember Daniel L. Mintz, Sr. as a Delegate and Councilmember Octavious Scott as an Alternate Delegate for the Annual CalCities Conference, which will be held in Long Beach on October 16-18.
Next on the agenda was a review of the Entertainment Permits. The Council reviewed the standards and means for obtaining an Entertainment permit. Among the issues of concern was the high cost, which currently ranges from $2,100-$5,000 and may inhibit business owners from engaging in the permitting process. Community input was adamant about no fees or low fees. The Council recommended defining what live entertainment is and establishing productive fees and safety regulations. The issue was left in the hands of staff and will be reviewed by the Planning Commission before it comes back to the Council.
The Council then reviewed and received a status update on the Self-Help Housing Project, which involves a potential partnership with the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC). Finally, the Council reviewed the annual marketing plan and budget for the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) and the resolution to levy the nightly 1.5 percent-per-occupied-room rate on tourists.
The proposed TBID Assessment is anticipated to be $375,000 in the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.
