With permit requests for live entertainment mounting, the city of Twentynine Palms has come to realize they are unprepared. To update and revise the process, the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission will host a workshop this Tuesday evening on how best to streamline permitting for live entertainment.
Morongo Basin fans of karaoke, live bands, open mike nights, drag shows, comedy, book readings, and dance performances may soon enjoy a richer variety of options in Twentynine Palms.
Community Development Director Keith Gardner informed the Twentynine Palms City Council on September 10, that the city has received an increasing number of permit requests for live entertainment events. Turns out that a definition of “live entertainment” does not even exist in the current development code.
Thus, the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission has been tasked by the council to host a workshop this week and address the issue. First task is to clearly define “live entertainment” in a way that is appropriate to the city. The commission will then introduce and discuss potential policies and procedures for such public events and determine if any proposed changes require a code amendment.
The commission will also discuss if some existing establishments, such as a bar, already include “Live Entertainment” and need no further permitting. The issue of high permit fees – ranging from $2,100 to $5,000 – had come up at the September 10 council meeting but it was unclear if the cost issue will be part of this week’s workshop.
The meeting takes place on Tuesday, September 17, at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, 6136 Adobe Road. It can be livestreamed or viewed on-demand via the city’s website, 29palms.org.
