MAC meeting presentation on WEMO 3

The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council meets next Monday, May 14 at its NEW TIME: 5:30 p.m., at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Street, in Joshua Tree.

Pat Flanagan, the representative from Desert Heights will be talking about WEMO, the West Mojave Route Network Project, which has great implications for Wonder Valley. If you've been thinking of attending a MAC meeting, this is the one you should attend.

Personally, I love taking my 4x4 out on the established trails to explore the mines, the salt flats, the hills, and the Dales, and the ability for residents of Wonder Valley to do that in the area in which they live should be maintained.

What I don't love about WEMO is the BLM opening EVERY one of our roads to ORVs and then working with private companies to advertise Wonder Valley as an off road dreamland open 24/7, 365 days a year for off-roading. The BLM has 1 (one) ranger for the whole of the Mojave and NO plan for enforcing laws in their plan. Remember, WE pay for the maintenance of our roads every year. The BLM's new use will not reimburse us for additional wear and tear.

Now, I'm just saying this as someone who lives here. You may have a different opinion about this. YMMV. (Your mileage may vary.) If you like the sound of this plan, this is your opportunity to write to the BLM and tell them. Likewise, if you don't.

Draft of the Proposed Vacation Rental Ordinance

The Morongo Basin MAC meets at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 10 at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst, behind the Sportsman's Club. Everyone is welcome to attend.

On the agenda is item I (i):

PRESENTATION
Andy Wingert, Code Enforcement Chief, Land Use Services Department, SB County, will present an Update on Short Term Rentals in the Unincorporated Areas of San Bernardino County.

A draft of the proposed ordinance may be found here:
http://joshuatreechamber.org/draft-copy-of-a-proposed-ordinance/

Reappointment of Teresa Sitz to Represent Wonder Valley

On today's, Tuesday, January 10, 2017,

CONSOLIDATED AGENDA FOR THE
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING

On the Consent Calendar, County Departments, Item 2) -
Appointments, reappointments and vacancies to Boards, Commissions and Committees: Item g. Approve the appointment of Teresa Sitz to the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council (Seat 6), Third District.

http://cob-sire.sbcounty.gov/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=2720&doctype=AGENDA

I just found out about this or I would have posted it earlier. It looks like you'll have me for another two years. - Teresa Sitz

MAC Meeting - January 18, 2017

The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst, in Joshua Tree.

Wonder Valley is invited and welcome to attend and participate.

The agenda is online at:
http://bit.ly/mac01182017

SCE will be at MAC Meeting July 11, 2016

The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council will meet Monday, July 11, 2016 starting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is held at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6176 Sunburst Avenue, Joshua Tree.

Jennifer Cusack of Southern California Edison will present a Southern California Edison Service Reliability Update.

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.

Download the agenda:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bjvh3v4aowhs1g1/07112016.pdf?dl=0

Special Districts - more information

The issue of forming a CSD, or Community Services District, came up at Saturday's community meeting on forming a Paid Call Firefighter program.

Wonder Valley is an unincorporated area under the governance of the County of San Bernardino, and 3rd District Supervisor James Ramos, in particular. The advisory council for Wonder Valley, and the eight other unincorporated communities in Morongo Basin is The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council, or the MAC. Your MAC representative is me, Teresa Sitz. This is a voluntary position. I filled out an application and was appointed.

Wonder Valley also has a few special districts. We are a CSA - County Service Area 70M for three different services: roads and parks and television. We are also FP 4, or Fire Protection area 4 and that was created for our assessment of $34.10. Right now our property tax and FP 4 assessment are not covering the costs of our fire and emergency services which is why we're working with the County to find a solution. The agency that administers our CSA and disburses the funds is San Bernardino Special Districts. We invited them to visit us and report at the July 2015 Community Meeting. At that time they presented us with the budgets for the roads and parks.

A CSD is a Community Service District. Various people in the community have suggested we look into forming a CSD for fire and emergency services as this would give us direct control, through a five member local board. Morongo Valley has a CSD for their fire and emergency services. Donna Munoz and Gayl Swarat are on that board. Gayl Swarat is also the MAC rep for Morongo Valley.

All local forms of government are formed through LAFCO - Local Agency Formation Commission. They make sure everything is put together correctly and also audit the CSDs to make sure moneys are being spent properly and that CSDs have enough revenue to continue working successfully.

I'm looking in to putting together a meeting about CSDs. In the meantime I found this online booklet at LAFCO about CSDs. It's highly skim-able though I suggest reading the whole thing to get a better sense of what this is all about. Wonder Valley will need many fully informed community members to ask important questions and to help those who don't have the time to do the research, due to work and family demands and other demands on their time, to  better understand what we are facing.

What’s So Special About Special Districts? (Fourth Edition)
Senate Local Government Committee, October 2010

If you're short on time, skip to:

page 13 - advantages and disadvantages of special districts
page 14 - how to form a special district

Check out LAFCO's Publications for more information on special districts and other topics.

By the way, if you've taken the time to read through this I want to tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. I admire the independent spirit of the people in Wonder Valley and understanding how our local government works is an important step in preserving that spirit. Thank you.

Teresa Sitz
MAC Delegate
Wonder Valley

MAC Meeting - Monday, January 11, 2016

The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), representing nine unincorporated communities in the Morongo Basin including Wonder Valley, meets Monday evening, January 11, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at The Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Avenue in Joshua Tree. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend and participate.

Pat Flanagan will be presenting on the BLM's WEst MOjave (WEMO) plan.

Agenda for the January 11, 2016 meeting
Minutes for the November 9, 2015 meeting

MAC Agenda - September 14, 2015

Download the agenda - 09142015
Download the minutes - 08102015

Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council

To Third District Supervisor James C. Ramos

AGENDA

Regular Open Session Meeting – 6:30 P.M. Monday September 14, 2015

Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Ave., Joshua Tree, CA  92252

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call: Seat 1: Pioneertown: Vacant; Seat 2: Yucca Mesa, Tom Ziegert; Seat 3: Landers: Richard Lutringer; Seat 4: Joshua Tree, Mark Lundquist; Seat 5: Flamingo Heights, Lib Koenig; Seat 6: Desert Heights: Pat Flanagan; Seat 7: Wonder Valley, Teresa Sitz; Seat 8: Morongo Valley, Gayle Swarat; Seat 9: Copper Mountain Mesa, Mary Helen Tuttle
4. Adoption of Agenda
5. Approval of minutes from August 10, 2015.
6. Call for Public Comment
   At this time, anyone may comment on items not on the agenda that are of interest to the public and within the jurisdiction of the MAC.  The MAC is prohibited by law from taking action on matters not on the agenda.  Comment may be offered on items on the agenda when those items come up for discussion or action.  A limit of 3 comments per item and 3 minutes per comment may be imposed.  In all cases, if you wish to speak, please submit a REGISTRATION CARD to the SECRETARY and proceed to the podium when recognized by the Chair.  Speakers should address the MAC as a whole; comments to individual delegates and/or staff are not appropriate for this venue.
7. Public Safety Reports
   A. County Fire
   B. CHP
   C. Sheriff’s Department
8. PRESENTATIONS
   A. Frazier Haney will present new and exciting events happening at the Mojave Desert Land Trust.
   B. Mark Goodale will present an overview of the Morongo Basin Transit Authority to include a proposed plan to provide transportation to the Joshua Tree National Park.
9. Community Reports
10. Adjournment:

San Bernardino County is committed to ensuring persons with disabilities are provided the resources to participate fully in public meetings.  If you require disability-related modifications or accommodations, including auxiliary aid or services, contact the BOS office at least three business days prior to the meeting.

Monthly Monday Meeting | September 14, 2015

Photo courtesy of Ken Sitz.

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate in 

the Wonder Valley Monthly Monday meeting.

Monday, September 14, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.

Wonder Valley Community Center

80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Jim Ricker, Assistant Chief of Staff G5, and Kristina Becker, Community Liaison,
will present and answer questions regarding
the MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER.

The agenda will be posted shortly.

Municipal Advisory Council AGENDA for August 10, 2015

MAC Agenda, August 10, 2015
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jc7ddf2phqgkbsp/mac_08102015.pdf?dl=0

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate. (This means YOU, Wonder Valley!)

Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council
To Third District Supervisor James C. Ramos
AGENDA
Regular Open Session Meeting – 6:30 P.M. Monday August 10, 2015
Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Ave., Joshua Tree, CA  92252

A.      Call to Order

B.      Pledge of Allegiance

C.      Roll Call: Seat 1: Pioneertown: Vacant; Seat 2: Yucca Mesa, Vacant; Seat 3: Landers: Richard Lutringer; Seat 4: Joshua Tree, Mark Lundquist; Seat 5: Flamingo Heights, Lib Koenig; Seat 6: Desert Heights: Pat Flanagan; Seat 7: Wonder Valley, Teresa Sitz; Seat 8: Morongo Valley, Gayle Swarat; Seat 9: Copper Mountain Mesa, Mary Helen Tuttle

D.      Adoption of Agenda

E.       Swearing in of new member: Seat 2: Yucca Mesa, Tom Ziegert

F.       Approval of minutes from June 13, 2015.

G.     Call for Public Comment
At this time, anyone may comment on items not on the agenda that are of interest to the public and within the jurisdiction of the MAC.  The MAC is prohibited by law from taking action on matters not on the agenda.  Comment may be offered on items on the agenda when those items come up for discussion or action.  A limit of 3 comments per item and 3 minutes per comment may be imposed.  In all cases, if you wish to speak, please submit a REGISTRATION CARD to the SECRETARY and proceed to the podium when recognized by the Chair.  Speakers should address the MAC as a whole; comments to individual delegates and/or staff are not appropriate for this venue.

H.      Public Safety Reports

1.       County Fire

2.       CHP

3.       Sheriff’s Department

I.        PRESENTATION
Cindy Lopez, B.A., Program Manager, Mental Health Systems, will present information on the Kinship Support Services Programs.

J.        Community, Officer & Committee Reports

K.      Adjournment

San Bernardino County is committed to ensuring persons with disabilities are provided the resources to participate fully in public meetings.  If you require disability-related modifications or accommodations, including auxiliary aid or services, contact the BOS office at least three business days prior to the meeting.

Desert Trail Column, July 23, 2015

The meeting with our Basinwide MAC representative Teresa Sitz on July 13 was very informative and interesting. Reps from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and Roads Department were there, answering numerous questions from the audience. Wonder Valley Community Watch signs, WV pencils, WV postcards, flyers and informational sheets were given out, and a lot of subjects were discussed.

Seniors and disabled persons can apply for free painting, light carpentry and light repair work. Call 760-361-1410.

Leo Calice and Gerhard Treml from Vienna, Austria will screen the very unique “Eden’s Edge” at The Palms, 83131 Amboy Road, on Saturday, July 25 at 8 pm. “Eden’s Edge” consists of nine shorts, one of which is Darlene’s story of raising worms in the desert! This collection of short films is like nothing you’ve ever seen – it will be well worth your time to attend. More details at bit.ly/edens_edge.

We send out Rainbows-of-Rubies-and-Larkspurs to Star Javier, Isabel Austin and Mary Anderson who are all celebrating their special days this week. Happy birthday to all of you!

Karen’s Commentary:  Thanks to Jan Peek for stamps, cards and coupons. I just sent two big boxfuls of cards to St Jude’s Ranch for Children. An update on the ants:  They came back! So I am now a true believer in the powers of original blue Dawn as opposed to the cheap stuff. I applied a thin coating of “OBD” about two inches wide on the kitchen counter top all along the wall, and no more ants!

Darlene’s Commentary: Gerhard Treml  emailed me from Vienna, Austria about the showing of “Eden’s Edge” at The Palms this Saturday, but I will unfortunately be unable to attend due to my upcoming surgery. Gerhard, Edith and their team came here a couple of years ago to interview folks that had a story to tell about life in our beautiful and unique piece of desert. I was so honored to have my story selected and developed as one of the nine short films in their project. “Eden’s Edge” has been screened at art film festivals around the world, including Germany, Poland, South Korea, France, Austria and Slovenia.

If you want to ask about, complain about or cheer about our road maintenance, call 760-367-9880.

Handy Hint: To prevent a door from constantly blowing shut, put one part of an adhesive-backed Velcro fastener on the end of the doorstop and the other part on the wall.

Thought for Today: All Chinese bar codes start with the number eight, because it is pronounced in Chinese the same way as the word for “prosperity” and considered to be a lucky number.

Until next time . . . remember to take time to enjoy the WONDERs all around us.

Rain storm over the north of Amboy neghborhood in Wonder Valley, 7/19/15, Teresa Siz

Monthly MAC report for Wonder Valley

The people in attendance at yesterday's community meeting voted unanimously to endorse this report, with two additions, to the MAC meeting last night.

July 13, 2015 MAC Report on Wonder Valley

We started a Neighborhood Watch in Wonder Valley last month, and on June 17 we joined NextDoor.com, a private online social network and an enhancement to the Neighborhood Watch program. Since we started 33 people have signed up. We’ve invited the Sheriff’s Department to join our group so we can receive notices from them.

There have been a few arrests in Wonder Valley recently, and residents have mentioned seeing the Sheriff’s Department out here more often. We want them to know we appreciate them keeping on top of problems here.

We had our monthly Monday Meeting this morning with 19 people in attendance. San Bernardino County Sherriff’s Specialist Robert Anderson attended and spoke to us about crime in the area, the Neighborhood Watch and NextDoor. Reese Troublefield, the Interim Divisional Manager, and John Bradford, the Assistant Regional Manager, of San Bernardino Special Districts presented on the budget summary and gave a road report.

I added three local cooling stations to the website – 29 Palms Senior Center, the 29 Palms Branch Library, and Hi-Desert Medical Center. Our temperatures have hovered around 110 degrees lately. I spoke with Southern California Edison about opening our Community Center as a cooling center. SCE told me they couldn’t provide funds as San Bernardino County had not contracted with the Public Utilities Commission to receive money to fund cooling centers. Star Javier, who works at the Wonder Valley Community Center said SCE has been closing centers throughout the Morongo Valley, including Joshua Tree.

We also discussed illegal dumping.

On July 6 Kip’s Desert Book Club met at the Glass Outhouse to discuss the book Vermillion Sands by J.G. Ballard. There were 28 people attending. We’re grateful to Kip Fjeld and High Desert Test Sites for continuing to site their projects in Wonder Valley.

Several local artists are working with Laurel and Frank from the Glass Outhouse to produce the Wonder Valley Art Fair on October 24 &25, to run concurrently with the Art Tour. We’re working with local businesses to be open at the same time.

We’re publishing a one-sheet, hard copy newspaper called the Wonder Valley Sand Paper. It’s designed to reach people in the area who might not be online.

There are two new Wonder Valley post cards. The website address is listed on the back if you’d like to see what we’re up to.

MAC Notes for Wonder Valley, June 8, 2015

MAC* NOTES for Wonder Valley, June 8, 2015

1. Call to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call:Pioneer Town – Vacant; Yucca Mesa – Elizabeth KARMAN – absent; Landers – Vacant; Joshua Tree – Mark LUNDQUIST – present; Flamingo Heights – Lib KOENIG – present; Desert Heights – Pat FLANAGAN – present; Wonder Valley – Teresa SITZ – present; Morongo Valley – Gayl SWARAT – present; Copper Mountain Mesa – Mary Helen TUTTLE – present.
4. Adoption of the Agenda – unanimous
5. Approval of the Minutes from May 11, 2015 – unanimous
6. Call for Public Comment
   A. Ed Vallerand – status of the Desert Heights Fire Department
   B. Al Marchese – agreement between Joshua Basin Water District and Hi-Desert Medical Center
   C. Thomas Fjallstam– burglaries and ADA lawsuits against small businesses
   D. Tom O’Key – bobcats and public comment at the Board of Supervisors on WEMO
   E. David Ficke – Noah Purifoy at LACMA
   F. Almut Fleck – Diane Feinstein’s desert preservation bill and OHVs
   G. Teresa Sitz – no dumping signs
7. Public Safety Reports
   A. County Fire – John Chamberlain, Division Chief, South Desert
   It’s fire season – open fires are illegal. Call 911 if you see an open fire and a truck will be dispatched. Permits are required for fire pits. Barbecues, like in Webers, are permitted.
   B. CHP – Joan Griffin
   Be prepared with summer driving. Carry water and extra supplies. You don’t want to break down east of Twentynine Palms. (Yep! She actually said that!) She said to call Code Enforcement for dumping, that they have been tracking people down and citing them.
   C. Sheriff’s Department – Captain Mondary. There were 10 burglaries in April and 6 auto thefts. He suggested talking the following steps to reduce burglaries:
   - Keep your doors and windows locked.
   - Leave your lights on at night or use motion detectors.
   - Know your neighbors. Watch out for each other.
   - Start a Neighborhood Watch.
   - Keep detailed notes on anything suspicious – day, time, descriptions,etc.
   - Invest in an alarm.
   - Invest in a security system.
8. Presentation – Drought 101, Marina West, General Manager of the Bighorn Desert View Water Agency, http://www.bdvwa.org/about-us/agency-staff/
   The presentation focused on state mandated water cutbacks for residents and how desert communities and disadvantaged communities, who have already drastically cut back, may be unable to cut back further. A one-size-fits-all approach to water conversation may not yield the biggest water savings.
9. Community, Officer and Committee Reports
   My Wonder Valley Report is posted at:
   http://wondervalleycsa.blogspot.com/2015/06/mac-report-for-wonder-valley-monday.html
10. Adjournment.

* The MAC is the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council. Nine delegates represent nine unincorporated communities including Copper Mountain Mesa, Desert Heights, Flamingo Heights, Joshua Tree, Landers, Morongo Valley, Pioneertown, Wonder Valley, and Yucca Mesa. The council advises San Berndardino Supervisor James Ramos, 3rd District.

MAC Report for Wonder Valley, Monday, June 8, 2015

I attended the MAC* meeting Monday night and read the following report for Wonder Valley. I'd read it earlier in the day at the Meet 'n' Greet at the Wonder Valley Community Center. - Teresa Sitz

MONTHLY MAC REP REPORT: June 8, 2015

It was a busy month for Wonder Valley.

The new quarterly publication Desert Oracle was featured in the LA Times on May 29. Wonder Valley was mentioned, as well as Joshua Tree.

One May 23rd Wonder Valley hosted a public meeting on the BLM’s WEMO Plan. Pat Flanagan gave her presentation. Thank you, Pat. There were 36 people in attendance. Lots of locals volunteered to put the event together. It was a great opportunity to bring together the old timers, those who have lived here since the 50s and 60s, with the newcomers, those who have only lived here 10 or 20 years.

Memorial Day weekend saw an influx of tourists in Wonder Valley for two exciting events. About 60 people gathered at Iron Age Road for a High Desert Test Sites event: Carmen Argote’s Vast Furniture. There was a lecture and an art exhibit, a potluck and camping.

Later that night artist Diane Best screened three of her movies at the Palms as part of Boxoproject’s Joshua Tree-enial. Around 200 people filled the outdoor patio, under a beautiful starry sky and watched Best’s movies accompanied by Reverend Screaming Fingers, Artemis and Wonder Valley’s own, The Renderers.

On June 6 there was a reception celebrating the 6th anniversary of the Glass Outhouse Gallery. Artists included Janet Cole, Christine Lamb and Olive Tosconi. The Luminators provided music.

A couple of neighbors and I met with Sergeant Millard and Specialist Robert Anderson at the Sheriff’s Department last Monday to address ongoing issues in Wonder Valley. We plan to schedule a public safety meeting soon to start a Neighborhood Watch.

We had a Meet and Greet this morning and 14 neighbors attended. We are digitizing photographs of Wonder Valley in the 1970s for an online community photo album.

I also had postcards printed publicizing the Wonder Valley website. They’re available at the front.

Thank you.

* The MAC is the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council. Nine delegates represent nine unincorporated communities including Copper Mountain Mesa, Desert Heights, Flamingo Heights, Joshua Tree, Landers, Morongo Valley, Pioneertown, Wonder Valley, and Yucca Mesa. The council advises San Berndardino Supervisor James Ramos, 3rd District.

MAC Meeting, Monday, May 11, 2015

Dear Neighbors,

You are all cordially invited and welcome 

to attend and participate in the

Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council Meeting

Monday May 11, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

Joshua Tree Community Center

6171 Sunburst Avenue, Joshua Tree, California, 92252

Documents for the meeting are attached below.
MAC Agenda, May 11, 2015
MAC Resolution 013, May 11, 2015, addressing the BLM WEMO Plan
MAC Resolution 013, Attachment, May 11, 2015
MAC Draft Minutes, April 13, 2015

The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council Meeting represents the unincorporated communities of Wonder Valley, Joshua Tree, Landers, Pioneertown, Yucca Mesa, Flamingo Heights, Desert Heights, Morongo Valley, and Copper Mountain Mesa, reporting to San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos, District 3.

Upcoming Community Events

Upcoming Events

Monday, May 11, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Meet and Greet with MAC Delegate Teresa Sitz
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, 92277

Saturday, May 23, 11:00 a.m.
WEMO (WEst MOjave) Plan
a presentation with MAC delegate Pat Flanagan
Questions and answers to follow.
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, 92277

Please see:
BLM West Mojave Plan - IMPORTANT, please review
http://wondervalleycsa.blogspot.com/2015/04/blm-west-mojave-plan-important-please.html

New OHV Routes in Wonder Valley - ADJACENT to Private Land
http://wondervalleycsa.blogspot.com/2015/04/new-ohv-routes-in-wonder-valley.html

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate in these events.

I'm still working with the Sheriff's Department to arrange a meeting to discuss the formation of a Neighborhood Watch and other issues.

Morongo Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC)

Wonder Valley CSA 70 (Community Service Area) is an unincorporated rural community in San Bernardino County, CA. It is about 10 miles east of Twentynine Palms. Technically it is a road district consisting of about 180 miles of road.

James Ramos is the County Supervisor for District 3 - our district.

The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) advises County Supervisor Ramos on issues in the unincorporated communities in the Basin. Teresa Sitz is the MAC delegate for Wonder Valley.

Read about the "Big MAC" in the Hi-Desert Star: Basin-wide advisory council takes oath of office