Basin Transit General Manager Cheri Holsclaw updated the Council on the current improvements and upgrades for Bus transportation in the Morongo Basin, beginning with an upgrade to the buses, ADA vans, assistants, digital displays, Solar Canapés, zero-emission vehicles, enhanced service hours, and an ambassador program to help riders who afraid of taking the bus or can’t find their way around the bus service.
Next, the Council met and heard from many of Measure Y Funding Partnership programs, including the Morongo Basin Tennis Association and Spark Growth, a non-profit promoting literacy and development to youth. Last year Spark gave away over 1200 books and delivered enrichment to over 1700 students and families. Spark has provided free books and art supplies to 205 children in the community through the 2021-2022 Measure Y funding. In the future, Spark Growth hopes to double the giveaway.
Morongo Basin ARCH will receive funds to continue supplying emergency shelters to people experiencing homelessness, expand outreach, and supply support and bus passes. ARCH also rents a Shelter and covers utilities, services, and street outreach. Amy’s Purpose, a non-profit for the protection of pets, provides education to pet owners and scholarships for students entering the veterinary program at the College of the Desert PaCE program. PaCE offers fee-based programs for professional development, workforce training, and personal enrichment.
The Boys and Girls Club received funding for life-changing programs that help youth advance in academic success, character, and citizenship.
Mil-Tree, a Military Veteran project to create a community between veterans and active service members and civilians through shared experiences, community projects, and creative projects, received funding for a community garden at the Retreat Center.
The High Desert Pregnancy Clinic supports young mothers and families from conception through the third year of child-rearing.
The Morongo Basin Competitive Dance Team has trained youth in competitive dance and plans a trip to New York City with their students.
Rescue Residents, a Veterans housing program, also received funds from Measure Y. Ingleside Lodge Assisted Living for Seniors is a small non-profit that also received Measure Y funding. Morongo Basin Fire and the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts non-profit team were not at the meeting but also received funds.
Councilman Merl Abel said he applauded the representatives who showed up at the meeting and suggested the Town grant all funding and increase the amount by $35,000, giving an additional $10,000 to Amy’s Purpose for scholarships and 10,000 to the Morongo Basin Dance Team for children from low-income families. The motion for the additional funds was approved.
The Council then received and filed an update on The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement team project (HOPE). Members of the HOPE Team were at the meeting and filled the Council in on the work to address the homeless problem.
The Council reviewed and approved the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds, estimated at 595,457, and reviewed the associated project list. Town Staff will publish and transmit the approved project list to the California Transportation Commission.
And finally, the Council reviewed and filed the Proposed Budget Amendment for 2023-24 and approved the recommendation to develop a Yucca Valley Sports Complex Master Plan.
