The Twentynine Palms City Council met last night, after an “invocation” consisting of just music, they waded through personnel contracts, block grant allocations, a new phone system, and a NO to buying land from the Huell Howser estate. Reporter Dan Stork was there, listening along with the Council, and filed this report…
At the Twentynine Palms City Council meeting, one item was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion: direction to staff for hiring a replacement Code Enforcement Officer. The job description received a minor tweak. Council members urged the City Manager to consider promoting a current employee to the vacant full-time position, before authorizing him to continue with the replacement process. The rest of the consent agenda—including a resolution against commercial solar developments within the City’s Sphere of Influence—was approved. Member Jay Corbin dissented on the payment of the cost of the Fire Impact Fee study from the general fund. Per staff recommendation, all $118,000 of available Community Development Block Grant funds was allocated to improvements at Knott Sky Park, with an additional $47,000+ granted to five community organizations, to be paid from the general fund. The Housing Element 8-year plan, a required piece of the City’s General Plan, was adopted. Council authorized purchase of a new, Internet-based phone system after hearing that savings will pay for the purchase of the system within two years. The individual replacing Matt McCleary as Interim Development Director for three months and as administrator of the Successor to the Redevelopment Agency will be: Matt McCleary, pending contract negotiation with his new employer, the Kosmont Group. Finally, Council decided it was not interested in purchasing 70 acres from the estate of Huell Howser, citing cost considerations, and declined to discuss the matter further. (A realtor representing the estate had approached the City.) Council Member Cora Heiser was absent, due to continuing family medical matters.
