Last night the Yucca Valley Town Council awarded its second Spirit of Yucca Valley award to Jim Powell of Joshua Tree, who has served as a volunteer for many organizations that benefit Yucca Valley, the Morongo Basin, and even other countries.
The council also approved Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Drozd’s recommendation of Clint Stoker as the town’s new planning commissioner. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more information about a request by a church to rent space in the community center on Sunday mornings for the next year…
Pastor Kyle McHolland told the Yucca Valley Town Council during its meeting last night that the church has outgrown its current facility in Yucca Valley, and is looking for a new temporary home beginning in September. He said the church hopes to have a new permanent location in three to five years.
McHolland said the church has about 225 adults and 50 children. Rental of the rooms in the community center would be from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Sunday. Town staff would be responsible for opening up the rooms, setting up the chairs, and other furniture, and tearing it down at the end. The church would not store any of its property at the community center but would bring it in each week.
Community Services Manager Sue Earnest said the rental income of $30,000 a year for the Yucca, Ocotillo, and Joshua Tree rooms would cover the town’s expenses. She added that it would be a 10-hour day for a town employee to set up and tear down the room, and therefore it would not be feasible to allow anyone else to rent the room later in the afternoon after the church service was finished.
Council members agreed that a year lease was too long, and at first recommended that it be three months, but after discussion, extended the initial lease to six months. The lease will require that the church yield the spaces to town-sponsored events such as the inaugural film festival, gourd festival, and Mara’s Christmas Wish, if needed.
There was no public comment concerning the rental.
Council members voted 4-0, with Merl Abel absent, to approve a six-month lease, and will discuss renewing the lease at that time.
The council also heard a report on the community clean-up day held last month. Despite the fact that a community clean-up day had not been held since 2011, the tonnage of items brought in were lower than most of the previous years. Nevertheless, the council agreed that the community services day was worthwhile, and agreed it should be continued, but perhaps in the spring or fall.
