Pertaining to the workshop meeting last night at the 29 Palms Community Center to discuss the future of fire services in 29 Palms, there is an apparent if not alarming lack of leadership from 29 Palms. That was evident at last night’s joint workshop sponsored by the Twentynine Palms Water Board (TPWD).
Last night the community joint workshop took place to discuss inter alia the future structure, governance and operation the 29 Palms Fire Department. One thing for sure is that the 29 Palms Water District (TPWD) has exercised its sole authority to divest itself of its management and control of the 29 Palms Fire Department.
Those present at last night’s workshop were: County fire, 29 Palms Fire, TPWD & staff, LAFCO, all the 29 Palms City Council members — accompanied by legal council A. Patrick Munoz and City Manager Richard Warne. Most important of all, many people from the public sector were present.
The good news is that it was an informative presentation by County Fire, TPWD and LAFCO. The bad news is there was an absence of leadership from the City Manager or his five lackadaisical city councilmen. Once again, however, it need be noted, City Councilman Jim Harris is to be commended because he was the most vigorous in terms of asking question on some important issues. He praised the 29 Palms Fire Department and its honorable Fire Chief Thomson. Nonetheless, Councilman Harris — like his peers on the city council — did not show leadership.
Why was there no leadership from the city?
Here is why. County Fire is “absolutely” willing to take over fire services now covered by the 29 Fire Department. However, there was a ubiquitous and foreboding dark pale on the North side of the room whereupon city leaders were seated with their leader, City Manager Richard Warne.
The city councilmen seem bent of letting the chips fall where they may. It was like, “Oh, well, whatever you all want to do.” There was no concern shown about the possible closure of the Lear Station should county fire expand its sphere of influence, annex the entire water district area, and assume the services and the special tax by creating a new service zone. There was no assurances from county fire it would remain open. Experts sources seem to believe if county fire take over, Lear Station will eventually closed.
The city councilmen main concern seemed to be who takes over the new latter fire truck and its payment obligations? Who takes control of fire equipment; could 29 fire personnel be incorporated into county fire? – and such was the direction of the question from the city.
Should the Lear Station close, the city 29 Palms will loose. This is so because when there is a fire in town, both stations respond. Absent the Lear station, god forbid should there be simultaneous fires in the city. The Lear station will not be there to assist, especially if one of the schools has a fire. As Chief Thompson explained earlier this year, well over 96% of all the calls that come in come from within the city.
Couple this with expected catastrophic acts of nature such as massive flooding, extreme static wind cells or the expected massive earthquake, 29 could be on its own. That Lear station is vital to public safety.
It’s almost like it’s a done deal with the city… sure take it over we don’t care. The city wants all the glory of a sparkling desert city but is short on leadership when it comes to fire safety and a fire department with the 29 Palms brand.
June of this year, Fire Chief Thompson explained “Twentynine Palms receives the highest percentage of ad valorem tax revenue of any city in the county, yet none of it goes to fund fire services for its citizens.” Excellent question. Wouldn’t those funds that ought to go to the 29 fire department be best to go to 29 fire?
City leaders desire to further develop 29 Palms into a progressive, modern desert community with a thriving art community. That is a worthy goal, however, their lack of leadership in retaining a fire department under the city’s brand is surely frustrating. You’d think at best they would be querying county fire and making certain that their backup at the Lear station would remain in place.
Absent visible leadership from the city, this process will take time more time. As TPWD Board President Philip Cisneros stated earlier, “We don’t have a lot of time.”
Back in June, the Desert Trail reported Councilman Corbin stated, “It could be a question of scaling back operations based on available funds until we find the best long-term solution for the community.” Correctly stated, but stated another way the entire community and its businesses could be in peril. Where were the “long-term solution” last night from the city?
It was a good first step joint meeting, and most certainly another or more joint meetings will be scheduled.
Twentynine Palms Fire Chief Thompson was in the field and not available for comment at the time of this posting.
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29 Palms candidate for city council, Cora Heiser, and SB County Supervisor candidate, James Ramos, were both at the joint workshop.
Branson,
I saw you last night, sorry I didn’t get to speak with you after the meeting. I was surprised as well that the City/Staff did not have a presentation or much to say. I think the city will work to expedite the process, however, that is just a guess on my part. Maybe there will be more information at next council meeting.
Hi Cora,
After the meeting I spoke briefly with Bob, the hard working video tech operator and with James Ramos and then left.
Well I’d say the city is too busy with A stupid “Wish List.”, No Budget, A rudderless council and a City Manager who has proven once again that he is out of his element. It might be time for the fellow to retire back to West Jordan and get a job driving his brothers dump trucks.
It was clearly a done deal with the city council absent any meaningful discussions on their collective part. When, where and under what circumstances did this come about? It looks like the town is in a backward swing without its own fire department.
In my best view, the city once again fell flat. Take five high school students from a civics class, and I guarantee from my experiences they would do better job than these five.
Branson,
What are you talking about? Did we attend the same meeting? Absent leadership…I think not! What were you expecting them to do after hearing from the President of the Water Board that they (water board) were moving forward with an application to LAFCO for the transfer of fire services to the county?
If the City Council agreed with the actions of the Water Board, what else should they have done? Asking questions gets them chastised and not asking questions gets them chastised. I think the questions asked by the council were appropriate to include; the financing of the ladder truck. This truck was purchased out of the general fund by the citizens of 29 Proper and we should know what is happening with our funds.
You obviously have and axe to grind and no matter what is decided you won’t be satisfied. Oh by the way, you could of asked questions of the Water Board, City Council, County Fire and LAFCO but you choose not too, I wonder why?
As you know fire services fall within the jurisdiction of the Water District “not the city” so, what happens with the fire department is not really up to the City, it’s up to the Water District, County Fire, possibly district voters and LAFCO. The representative from LAFCO even stated “that a resolution was not required from the City”, however they would ask the City to provide input.
So I ask again, what else should the City Council of done last night to satisfy you?
Hi Branson – I am also at a loss as to what you had hoped the council and staff would do.
Chief Hartwig presented two options – contract or annex. The only third option that was not presented was if there was a way to maintain 29 Fire in the city limits.
Of the two presented options and that theoretical third that I mentioned I can not see the council or city staff objecting to the annexation model due to it being the least costly in the near term.
Are there some issues associated with the annexation option such as identifying an increasing funding mechanism for future inflation costs for county fire personnel – yes.
Such issues as a portion of the current ad velorem tax increment comes to mind but last night was not the time or place to discuss the details it was more a grand strategic options presentation.
Given what I heard on the radio today and in other conversations it seems to me our council did just fine last night unless of course it was that third option one was looking for – saving 29 Fire as the current Department it is.
As much as I would like to see 29 Fire remain 29 Fire I do not think it is in the financial cards and one can not blame our council for seeing that the annexation option, at this juncture, is the most cost effective option to explore.
Steve and Bill,
The agenda did have a presentation by the city listed. That did lead me to think that Warne would have something prepared. The council and Warne asked questions. The water board made a few statements, but most of the information came from the county. It was a good presentation and I think the annexation is a good idea. I do agree with Steve that there are more questions to be answered.
Hi Cora,
You are correct, it also listed a presentation by the Water Board which also did not happen. I think the comments made at the begining by the Water Board President set the tone as they are the responsible agency when it comes to fire services. Chief Hartwig provided a very informative presentation concerning the county taking over fire service. At this time I support that action.
@Bill Ester:
It was not a workshop per se even thought it was announced as a joint workshop, and the agenda announced the city would give a presentation by the city. It fell short of any sort of presentation. It was a done deal without a meaningful exploration of all the options, and failed as a straightforward discussion on the part of the city.
This was the first opportunity for the City to address the very important issue since earlier this year when the fire tax Measure failed.The city has largely been silent on this, and last night was no deviation from their pattern and practice of lack of transparency.
The city expressed no concern about closures of one of two fire stations that serve the city or the ad velorem tax increment’s ability to continuing funding full services as now provided.
Yes, Bill Ester, we did attend the same meeting. You need to understand that reasonable minds in a democratic process may not always agree. Going along to get along is not a workshop that explores and alternatives. First Explore all the issues, then go for the annexation if that is the consensus.
Bill wrote: what happens with the fire department is not really up to the City
Another piece of information not online yet, is that the citizens of 29 do have the right to protest this annexation. Citizens can start a petition and if I remember correctly 25% of the residents is enough to stop the process to address the issue, 50% kills the annexation altogether. To be clear, I am not suggesting any such activity, but is an option.
Another option is the city could move to take over the fire and water district. This was actually what I thought the City’s presentation would bring up for discussion.
I think in this instance, Ben may have been treated a little unfairly. While, we don’t all agree, let’s at least acknowledge that to present different perspectives should not open us to attack.
Heard a strange but what I believe to be a correct prospective on the little vindictive city of 29. We are lucky the city has no oversight of essential services, fire, water, and police. Who in their right mind would advocate letting our corrupt city oversee the fire department after the civic damage the city has done. Citizens carful what you O K, remember it is you that by either your inaction or action has lead to our sad state with a commie all controlling P C and a dumber than dumb C C, next time you go through town focus and ask yourself how could we have let this happen
It was Warne’s Micromanagement of the Livingston Water Company that caused the Council there to be recalled and him to be given the boot. You might be right Mark, we maybe luckier than we think.
The city had no intentions of representing the voices of its residents or exploring all options. It was a done deal just to get it over with. This city council is arguably the worst thing that has ever happened to this remote desert town.
Recognizing the shortcomings and the passive role of the collective city council, opportunists consultants RGS, Richard Warne & the city attorney acting in concert like circling sharks, have seized the days to enrich (feed) themselves.