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Council authorizes lease amendment to let park'support group assume Freedom Plaza lease during federal shutdowns
Summary
To keep the Joshua Tree National Park visitor center at Freedom Plaza open if park staff are unavailable, the Twentynine Palms council authorized staff to amend the 2022 lease so the Joshua Tree National Park Association can assume lease obligations during a federal shutdown. The motion passed 4'00 with one abstention.
The Twentynine Palms City Council on March 4 authorized the city manager and city attorney to amend the February 8, 2022, lease governing the Joshua Tree National Park visitor center at Freedom Plaza so the Joshua Tree National Park Association could assume the lease and operate the site in the event the National Park Service suspends visitor-center operations.
Council members were told the visitor center is operated through a partnership: park rangers provide information when available and the Joshua Tree National Park Association runs the substantial gift-store operations whose proceeds fund park projects. City staff and speakers told council concerns about federal budget cuts raised the possibility that rangers might not be available to staff the center; giving the association authority to assume the lease in those circumstances would keep the public-facing visitor services and retail operation open.
The motion directing the city manager and city attorney to revise the lease was moved and seconded on the floor; the roll-call vote recorded Council Member Scott, Council Member Ramirez and Council Member Wright as voting in favor, Mayor Pro Tem Mintz as abstaining, and Mayor Bill Bilderich as voting in favor, producing a 4'00 with one abstention outcome.
Presenters said the association already runs the visitor center in Joshua Tree and operates a retail program that generates revenue for park projects. Several public commenters and council members stressed the visitor center's economic and safety value: it is a key point of contact for visitors to get maps and safety advice before entering a harsh desert environment.
Council discussion touched on operational questions, including whether the association would need to increase staff or rely on volunteers if rangers are not present; staff said they would follow up with more operational details. The city manager told council he had spoken with park officials and that the National Park Service is supportive of the proposed arrangement.
Why it matters: The visitor center serves as a safety and information hub for Joshua Tree National Park visitors and is also connected to local tourism and retail revenue that supports park projects. Ensuring continued operation when federal staff are unavailable is intended to maintain visitor safety and local economic activity.
What's next: City staff (city manager and city attorney) will prepare lease language to allow the Joshua Tree National Park Association to assume lease obligations in the defined circumstances and return it for administrative finalization; staff also said they would obtain additional operational details about staffing and costs if the association assumes responsibility.
