If you are in Yucca Valley, accessing records of building permits just got a lot easier.
The Yucca Valley Town Council meeting began with an update on the Old Town Beautification and Sustainability Project. Phase 1 of the project includes building a parking lot for 93 spaces, four dual-port electric vehicle charging stations, restrooms, a shade structure, and lighting. Notably, the restrooms have been installed, and paving has begun on Elk Trail; the stamped concrete for the parking lot does not match specifications agreed upon by the Town and thus will be replaced. Town Staff continues to work closely with the contractor to stay on track, with the goal of project completion by the end of March.
Town Staff then presented the Council with an update on the Town Monument Signage project. Following Council direction provided last year, the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Commission put out a Call for Art for a new monument sign to be displayed on the west end of Town, at the southwest corner of Highway 62 and Camino Del Cielo. The Call garnered 23 submissions, which the PRCC narrowed down to five; the Commission suggested the Council host a workshop with the five artists for a more involved discussion surrounding the final designs. Due to recent and anticipated development by the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians on Tribal Land at the southeast corner of the intersection, Town Staff also opened the conversation as to whether the selected location for the sign was still ideal.
Several Council Members agreed that the corner of Highway 62 and Camino Del Cielo was a good site for the signage, and it would be wise to continue discussions with the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians to ensure the signs do not block one another, hinder public safety, and are symbiotic with anticipated developments. All members were in favor of hosting a workshop to host in-depth conversations with the artists before determining a design, which Mayor Drozd suggested could be an opportunity to explore any other potential sites as well. Mayor Pro Tem Abel commented on the growth of the Public Art Initiative in Yucca Valley.
“I remember back in the day talking about public art and how that would be a wonderful thing somewhere in the future, and now we’re finally doing it. It’s really great to see how we’re using our local artists.”
Town Clerk Lesley Copeland presented the Council with a demonstration of the new public records database on the Town website. Town Staff has used new software to upload all building permits to the website, which can be searched for and retrieved by the public. While securing vital records, this project increases online functionality and public access to information.
During the Public Comment period, Susan and Greg Herring each raised concerns about animal control within the Town of Yucca Valley. The Herrings made suggestions to improve systems at the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter, including daily posts of dogs that come into the shelter as strays, updating the shelter’s account on Petfinder, and creating a robust volunteer program.
