During Tuesday’s Twentynine Palms City Council meeting, the town received and approved the 4.26% Burrtec CPI rate increases for residential service along with approving the organic waste hauling and processing rates. When it came to those green buckets, Mayor Pro Tem Joel Klink mentioned that the can size that was recently distributed to residents – 32 gallons – was pretty small for some property owners.
A Burrtec representative that was present at the meeting says that there are 32, 64, and 96 gallon sizes for the green waste bin, with the two larger sizes being more inline with the garbage and recycling bins you already have. However, during public comment a resident said they contacted Burrtec the morning of 6/25 to request a larger organic waste container and says she was informed that the larger sizes aren’t available in Twentynine Palms yet – leaving the question open to the Burrtec rep who said he’ll follow up on the issue.
Town Manager Stone James discussed a federal grant brought to his attention by Councilmember Dan Mintz. The Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) can provide up to $15 million dollars for a project that promotes “active transportation” – walking, running, biking, and other non-car pedestrian travel.
James identified a public project that already has design approval: a walkway from Highway 62 all the way out to Bagdad Hwy. – seven miles of pedestrian path which aims to be a safe and walkable way to get from one side of the city to the other. The project is similar to the Channel Trails Pedestrian walkway that opened last year.
Town staff are reportedly exploring the grant and how it could relate to the project. The $15 million in federal grant dollars would only be available if the town ponies up 20% of that, which comes to a $3 million dollar price tag if the funds are applied for. However, if the town can show that 40% of its population can be classified as disadvantaged, that $3 million dollars won’t have to be provided by the city and the federal grant will cover the full $15 million.
Council members discussed the possibilities of pursuing the grant, as well as ways town staff can approach getting the funding if the town doesn’t meet the disadvantaged community threshold. Town Manger Stone James acknowledged that the $3 million dollar requirement for the grant may be a dealbreaker if that funding can’t be secured, as other priority projects like a new animal shelter still haven’t fully secured funding.
Currently the Twentynine Palms animal shelter lacks the space to isolate sick animals that come into the shelter. Animal Control Supervisor Rick Boyd has been partnering with the San Diego Humane Society and announced that the San Diego organization’s board has agreed to purchase and donate a stand-alone isolation center. The self-contained kennels are 14 ft. wide by 54 ft. long and it includes 10 temperature controlled isolation areas. James says that the cost of the device would be $150,000 to $200,000 if it were to be purchased and placed by the City. He says the facility will help increase the level of care for animals at the shelter, and details between the shelter and the San Diego based organization are being worked out.
Ben Uyeda was appointed to the Tourism Business Improvement District board. Uyeda is the owner of the RESET Hotel which is currently under construction, and he says his experience working closely with the city of Twentynine Palms over last 4 years in the development of the RESET project has given him insight and familiarity into the development goals and human capital of the city.
The Town agreed to purchase a second code enforcement vehicle for their two-person team which currently only had one vehicle. The 2024 Ford F-150 will come from down the hill and isn’t to exceed $50,000 in cost.
You can see the agenda along with a video from last night’s meeting at the city’s website.
