Twentynine Palms Council reallocates $30,510 to blight and homeless‑camp cleanup after debate over shower trailer proposal

The Twentynine Palms City Council voted 4–1 on May 20 to reallocate $30,510 that had been set aside for a community resource center and a mobile shower to support city code enforcement cleanup of blighted residential and commercial properties, vacant land and abandoned homeless encampments.

Council discussion and public comment revealed a split over whether the funds should be used immediately for cleanup or held to support mobile‑shower and outreach plans developed by ReachOut Yucca Valley and the Morongo Basin Community Coalition. Council member Scott cast the lone no vote; Councilwoman Ramirez, Council member Wright, Mayor Pro Tem Mintz and Mayor Bilderink voted in favor.

City staff told the council the $30,510 represents the remaining balance of two earlier allocations. In February 2023 the council had allocated $32,010 for a community resource center and $15,000 for a mobile shower. Earlier this year the council moved $10,000 of those funds to CLEP Feed the Need (a local nonprofit) to support food distribution (the council committed about $2,000 per month to offset operations), approved a $5,000 request for backpacks for low‑income families, and made a $1,500 donation to the local animal shelter, leaving $30,510 available for reallocation, staff said.

Staff and the council emphasized the operational limits facing code enforcement. The city manager and code enforcement referenced cleanups that can be costly — staff said a single extensive exterior cleanup can reach about $30,000 — and noted the department has few discretionary funds to address hazards, human waste and drug paraphernalia at abandoned encampments. The city also identified a separate fund (Fund 65) with roughly $58,000 but said needs outstrip available resources across multiple properties.

Several community members and service providers urged the council to delay a vote and hear a planned presentation from ReachOut Yucca Valley and the Morongo Basin Community Coalition, which has been working on a mobile‑shower and outreach plan. ReachOut representatives (identified in public comment as Danielle Castillo, program director, and Marissa Mullins, ReachOut staff) and volunteers from community groups described prior shower events (including December events using motel rooms and trailers), argued showers are a basic public‑health and dignity need for people experiencing homelessness, and said a coordinated coalition approach could provide recurring services and supportive resources to move people toward housing.

Other speakers — including Set Free Church volunteer Nick Foley and community coalition members — offered volunteer labor and argued that offering showers and wraparound services would reduce encampments and aid people in finding work. Multiple commenters urged tabling the reallocation until the coalition’s plan could be presented and discussed.

Council members weighing the reallocation pointed to competing priorities: small business owners and residents had reported safety, sanitation and loitering problems in commercial areas; council supporters of the reallocation said limited city cleanup funds must be used where code enforcement judges they will have the greatest immediate public‑health and neighborhood stabilizing impact.

Council member Scott said he was reluctant to reallocate the funds before hearing the coalition’s proposal. After debate the council voted, with the roll call recorded as: Councilwoman Ramirez—Aye; Council member Scott—Nay; Council member Wright—Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Mintz—Aye; Mayor Bilderink—Aye. The motion passed 4–1. The motion did not specify a new programmatic contract; staff said the funds will be used for cleanup expenses and that more comprehensive, basinwide funding proposals remain under discussion with regional partners.

Several public commenters asked the council to consider coordination with county grant programs and East Desert regional partners that are pursuing larger homeless‑services funding; council members and staff acknowledged those efforts and said regional grant awards will be considered for future programming.

Action details and next steps: the council approved the reallocation at the meeting so staff can start using the remaining $30,510 for targeted cleanup work; ReachOut Yucca Valley and coalition members asked to present their plan at an upcoming council meeting so the council can consider additional funding and program coordination at a later date.