Last night, the Twentynine Palms City Council heard application presentations for grant funding, pondered a possible relocation for the 29! sign, and approved a lighting upgrade for Luckie Park. Reporter Heather Clisby was there …
Just 30 minutes prior to the official meeting, the Twentynine Palms City Council heard application presentations from four local non-profits to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Presenters included representatives from Reach Out Morongo Basin, Twentynine Palms Community Food Pantry, Morongo Basin Unity Home, and the Twentynine Palms Public Library Adult Literacy program. Funding will be announced in late April or early May.
With Councilmembers Daniel Mintz and McArthur Wright absent, the council then acknowledged Black History Month with a proclamation and a special recognition of former Councilmember Karmolette O’Gilvie, the city’s first black female mayor.
Paul Razo, of the Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC), addressed the council regarding the refurbishment and possible relocation of the 29! sign created by local artist, Chuck Caplinger, in 2009. After 15 years, the sign is faded, corroded, difficult to access, and certainly not ADA-compliant. “If we’re not making public art accessible to all members of the community, we might as well take the word ‘public’ out of it,” stated Razo.
Photo: Heather Clisby
After study and consultation, two options were presented – refurbish the sign, add a parking lot, and leave it at Donnell Hill, or refurbish the sign and move it to Freedom Plaza. After outlining the costs involved, Razo did point out $50K is budgeted for art in the plaza and has not been used. “It was a generous gift from a community member and now it’s being under-utilized,” stated Razo. The council opted to discuss the topic at a future meeting when all members are present.
The council then swiftly approved amendments to the development code, (specifically on Article 3 Administration, Permits and Procedures) before designating a delegate (Councilmember Joel Klink) and alternate delegate (Councilmember Octavious Scott) for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Annual Regional Conference and General Assembly May 2-3 in Palm Desert.Finally, the city’s Director of Information Services Eli Marshall made the case for upgrading the lights at the Luckie Park ball field.
Marshall stated that the 22 wooden poles would be replaced with steel and new lighting controllers would give city workers remote access. A singular bid, from Qualite Sport Lighting, was received with materials, installation, and contingencies projected to cost approximately $1.3M. The new lights were approved.
