Last night’s Twentynine Palms City Council meeting was an evening of deep appreciation, new beginnings, and a bittersweet goodbye.
Mayor Steven Bilderain presented Public Works Superintendent Craig Stacey with the Mayor’s Employee of the Year and noted the extra effort put in by Stacey and his crew after the July 14 storm. Resident Christina Dozer received the Mayor’s Recognition Award for her efforts with the What’s Going On in 29 Palms? Facebook page.
Mayor Bilderain delivered the annual State of the City address with a slide presentation created by Special Events Coordinator Scott Clinkscales. Highlights included hiring a new city manager, the creation of the Youth Council, and a notable drop in Vacation Home Rental permits. The presentation also celebrated infrastructure improvements (such a stop signs/flashing lights at six key intersections), economic development, community events and programs, upgrades for the Palms-N-Paws Animal Shelter (475 animals found new homes this year), and a swift recovery from the July storm that had created rivers and lakes throughout the city.
Retiring Councilmember and five-time mayor, Joel Kink, was celebrated and honored by many as he stepped down from the dais after 20 years. Remarks of appreciation were delivered by a representative for Congressman Jay Obernolte, Councilmember Octavious Scott representing Senator Shannon Grove, and Steve Reyes, representing Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe. Mayor Bilderain formally thanked Klink for his guidance and for delivering all the heavy boxes when Bilderain was deployed, and Klink was his family’s mailman. The city gifted Klink with a ‘KLINK WAY’ street sign and flowers were given to Klink’s wife, Tory. After a playful warning from his son, Andrew, in the audience “Don’t cry, Dad!”, Klink gave an emotional speech.
Joel Klink’s Speech
“Nothing could have prepared me for the challenges, triumphs, heartbreak and joy I would experience in this role, as one of your elected officials. When I first started in 2004, I thought four years would be enough time to elevate my community and make the changes I thought our city needed. I had no idea this journey would last 20 years. A lot has happened over the last 20 years. We’ve paved dozens of roads, built a $6M swimming pool, built a $19M community center, and are in the process of re-invigorating our downtown. And oh, by the way, we finally got our own Starbuck’s.
While those are just a handful of big accomplishments, it was the small things that meant so much. Meeting with residents, hearing about their problems and working to create solutions that benefitted not just one or two families, but the entire community. Those friendships and the work we accomplished together, is what I will hold dear. Thanks to the support of my lovely wife, Tory, my daughter, Amanda, sons, Andrew and Matthew, and the rest of all my other family members, my friends, and the people of Twentynine Palms, the community, and my fellow councilmembers. I had the privilege of being re-elected four more times and mayor five times. Each time I took the oath of office with the same passion, commitment, and sense of duty, as when I was first elected. I would like to thank all the city managers and all the city staff members, for making my job a lot easier. We up here do the policy making, they down there are the ones who implement the policy and make it better for everybody in town. So thank you very much to them.
City Attorney, thank you very much for keeping us safe, the city safe. I appreciate all the help that you have given. You have been here longer than I have so you know where I’m coming from. I would like to also thank especially Cindy Villescas, who kept me when and where I was supposed to be, for example, ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses, committee meetings and lots more other committees and functions that we have in Twentynine Palms. I was one who did not look at my phone very often, but she made sure exactly where to be and when to be there, so thank you, Cindy.
To April Ramirez, I look forward to seeing and hearing your ideas on what you feel needs to be implemented to keep Twentynine Palm moving forward. Just remember when you’re up here, it’s a lot different than sitting down there. Vote from the heart and please remember, you’re not going to please everyone. Just have that in your head. You are not going to please everyone, unfortunately. Better please me though! (Laughter.)
I will finish with this. Every year, the city has a Christmas get together and awards, I missed it this year, was in San Antonio watching my grandson graduate. Every year, I would sing a song for them so we will do it now. (Everyone sings ‘We Wish You a Merry Xmas.’) Thanks for the memories, Twentynine Palms. Love you.”
April Ramirez sworn in
Newly elected councilmember April Ramirez, representing District 2, was sworn in alongside returning councilmember Steven Bilderain, representing District 1.
The council then discussed appointment of the city’s next mayor and mayor pro-tem. There is no legal guideline for the selection of these positions, and they are determined entirely by councilmembers. Traditionally, the largely ceremonial titles have gone to who gets the most votes in the recent election, or by rotating the positions in order of districts. In that case, it would be Bilderain again as mayor (396 votes) and Ramirez as Pro Tem with 295 votes.
However, Councilmember McArthur Wright, noting that a similar situation had occurred in previous years, made the case that Ramirez – who had been in her position all of 10 minutes – should have the ease of adjusting to her new role on the dais before taking on another. “We need to set her up for success,” said Wright.
Ultimately, it came down to nominations and swift confirmations. (Councilmember Octavious Scott nominated Councilmember Mintz for mayor while Wright nominated Bilderain.) Recently re-elected Steven Bilderain will return in 2025 as both councilmember (District 1) and again as mayor. Councilmember Daniel Mintz (District 3) will be Mayor Pro Tem. With that, Bilderain ripped up his farewell speech and the gavel came down on 2024.
The next meeting of the Twentynine Palms City Council will be on Tuesday, Janaury 14, 2025.
