Twentynine Palms City Council envisions a tidier 2026, with more live entertainment and a new bridge
The Twentynine Palms City Council met last night to discuss plans for the new year, starting with an update from Parks and Recreation Division Manager Hayward Adams. Notable in the department – a new dance instructor, a Dungeons & Dragons club that begins on Friday, and a new grant-funded senior exercise program called “Walk with Ease.”
An agenda item from the Consent Calendar was pulled for discussion and voted on separately. Regarding an updated city policy around fee waivers, residents voiced concerns that fiscally-sponsored non-profits would be exempt from two free facility rentals now allowed each year. Others worried about groups that are in litigation with the city, would they be affected? Mayor Daniel Mintz noted that any group can appeal the issue free of charge and the resolution passed unanimously.
With Mintz abstaining, a public hearing focused on a possible ordinance pertaining to “ancillary activities” such as live entertainment, and commercial activities. Community Development Director Keith Gardner announced a more streamlined process that removed the need for a separate permit that instead will be tacked on to an existing business license. The fee for the entertainment license is proposed to be the same as the initial business license, and the same for annual renewal in the future.
Council made necessary appointments to six different regional organizations, in addition to eight council sub-committees and delegates for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Annual Regional Conference and General Assembly. Proposed by Councilmember April Ramirez, council agreed to rename the Housing and Homeless Committee to simply Housing Committee, as all councilmembers are continually focused on homelessness in various ways.
Council then approved opening bids to contain two partial trash enclosures within the Freedom Plaza and to construct a fully enclosed trash structure within the city-owned parking lot on the west side of Tamarisk Avenue. In addition to wildlife digging through accessible trash, there were concerns around vagrants doing the same while also engaging in drug activity.
City Manager Stone James shared several updates, including the pending completion of the downtown package treatment plant, new kennel gates at the city’s Palms-n-Paws Animal Shelter, and – after 16 years of discussion and delay – construction on the Split Rock Bridge will finally commence on January 20th and will take one year to complete.
