Last night’s Twentynine Palms City Council meeting began with a reluctant goodbye to Captain Luke Niles, who will retire from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD) after 20 years on July 28.
The council then held two public hearings, the first on lighting and landscaping, and the second on downtown sewer fees and delinquency charges for the 15 businesses within the project perimeters.
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A resident of Twentynine Palms for 28 years, resident Carrie Williams asked the council to consider adding Pickleball courts.
Council representatives were chosen for the League of California Cities annual conference in September (Councilmembers Daniel Mintz and Joel Klink), and for the Water District Ad Hoc Committee (Mayor Karmolette O’Gilvie and Mayor Pro-Tem McArthur Wright.)
The council approved an $80,000 property purchase for the Morongo Basin Transit Agency (MBTA). The 34,500-square foot property consists of five vacant parcels for public parking and transit center improvements. The MBTA will eventually reimburse the city for the purchase.
The council authorized City Manager Frank Luckino to contract Carollo Engineers to assist with the City Wastewater Treatment Project. The city is prepping for a state grant application that will become available this November. The $350 million dollar grant aims at funding septic-to-sewer conversions for disadvantaged communities.
After Luckino gave a report on proposed budget revisions, the council heard from residents regarding funding for local arts, the need for a park on the city’s west end, road repair and a request to re-visit the 500-permit cap for Vacation Home Rentals (VHR). The city currently has 320 active VHRs and 170 pending permits.
