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

MAC Meeting AGENDA - Monday, November 9, 2015

Mac AGENDA
Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.

Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council

To Third District Supervisor James C. Ramos

AGENDA

Regular Open Session Meeting – 6:30 P.M. Monday November 9, 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 October 12, 2015.
6. The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council will seat Michelle Myers representing Pioneertown (Seat 1).
7. Annual ElectionChairperson
   Vice Chairperson
   Secretary
8. 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.
9. Public Safety Reports
   A. CHP
   B. Sheriff’s Department
   C. County Fire
10. Discussion and possible action:
    Adoption of 2015-2016 Meeting Calendar
11. Reports by Council Members 
12. AdjournmentSan 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.

Wonder Valley Calendar

Saturday, June 6, 5 - 9 p.m. - Glass Outhouse Gallery will show the works of Janet Cole, Christine Lamb and Olive Toscani. This is the 6th Anniversary Show. The Luminators will perform.
http://wondervalleycsa.blogspot.com/2015/05/glass-outhouse-reception-june-6-2015.html

Monday, June 8, 9 - 11 a.m. - Meet 'n' Greet at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526 Amboy Road, with your MAC* Delegate, Teresa Sitz.

* MAC - Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council consists of delegates representing 9 unincorporated communities in the Morongo Basin. The council advises San Berndardino Supervisor James Ramos, 3rd District.
http://wondervalleycsa.blogspot.com/2015/05/meet-and-greet-monday-june-8-at.html

Monday, June 8, 6:30
MAC Meeting, at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Avenue, Joshua Tree. The public is invited and welcome to attend and participate. I always love looking out and seeing people from Wonder Valley. The meeting isn't very long.
http://wondervalleycsa.blogspot.com/2015/06/mac-meeting-monday-june-8-2015.html

MAC Meeting - Monday, June 8, 2015

There will be a Morongo Basin Muncipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting, Monday, June 8, 2015 starting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Avenue, Joshua Tree.

Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.

Meeting Documents are also listed under the MAC tab at the top of the website.

Agenda - June 8, 2015
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bsppvjeu8fg5ep1/06082015_agenda.pdf?dl=0

Minutes - May 11, 2015
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uc5lpj9e62o5bfl/05112015_minutes.pdf?dl=0

Desert Trail Column, May 7, 2015

Our Basinwide MAC representative Teresa Sitz will hold a Meet & Greet at the Wonder Valley Community Center, 80526 ½ Amboy Road, from 9 to 11 am on Monday, May 11. Everyone is invited. You may reach Teresa by email at Teresa.Sitz@gmail.com, on her website at WonderValleyCSA.blogspot.com or on Facebook at the Wonder Valley Community Page. She urges everyone to join her mailing list at wondervalleycsa.blogspot.com/p/register.html.

The monthly Basinwide MAC meeting will take place at the Joshua Tree Community Center on Sunburst from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on the same date, May 11. Teresa will present our concerns to First District Supervisor James Ramos.

This week we’re sending out Belated-Rainbows-of-Diamonds-and-Sweet Peas to Diane Brooks who celebrated her special day a couple weeks ago. We hope you had a really great birthday, Diane!

Karen’s Commentary:  Here’s a collection of “Single Sentence Comments.”

1. Thank you, Jan, for the used stamps and the nicely-cut-out coupons.
2. What about vinegar killing the goathead-weeds?
   
   
   
   
3. Thank you, Annie, for more nicely-cut-out coupons.
4. I am now $602 ahead with my casino system.
5. Did you notice that the circus was “back in town” on Godwin Road from December to February?
   
   

Darlene’s Commentary: Have you ever needed help with laws and legal information? I want to share with you a great bunch of books that provide information and guidance for the common people (like you and me) when you need some help with legal procedures. NOLO BOOKS has a large library with legal solutions, forms and answers to questions, and clearly defines things in plain English. I have used several NOLO books over the years that were indispensable in opening and running a small business, learning how to write contracts and how to probate an estate in California. They are available at the library, or you can buy them used at places like Amazon.com.

If you have a comment or question about road maintenance, call 760-367-9880 to leave a message for Tim, our “road guy.” Also, we would like to personally thank Tim for keeping Blower Road wide in the area coming up the hill from the wash. It’s really scary when the road gets so narrow there because you can’t see what’s coming over the top of that hill, and you can’t get far enough to the right to avoid whatever might be coming.

Handy Hint:  Spray kitchen scissors or knives with nonstick spray before chopping sticky foods such as raisins or dried apricots.

Thought for Today:  “Ninety per cent of our lawyers serve ten per cent of our people. We are over-lawyered and under-represented.” – Jimmy Carter

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

MAC Meeting - April 13, 2015

Hello, Wonder Valley!

I went to my second MAC (Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council) meeting last night and picked up my business cards - thanks, Gayl!  What follows is my take on the meeting – UNOFFICIAL in every way, and I invite correction for anything I got wrong.

Review the meeting for yourself, on YouTube on Bob Stepheson's channel.

IN ATTENDANCE WERE: Pat FLANAGAN (Desert Heights), Mary Helen TUTTLE (Copper Mountain Mesa), Mark LUNDQUIST (Joshua Tree), Lib KOENIG (Flamingo Heights), Gayl SWARAT (Morongo Valley) and Teresa SITZ (Wonder Valley).

ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR
Mark Lundquist was elected Chair and Pat Flanagan was elected Vice Chair.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Tom O'KEY traveled to Santa Rosa, CA this month to advocate for the bobcats - AB 1213. There will be a discussion meeting on June 9 and a decision meeting in Fortuna in August. A group of 4th graders attended to testify for the bobcats.

Watch: 

David FICKS of Joshua Tree reported on the Dollar General campaign which he said was officially in limbo. He offered applause to the Sheriff’s department on their recent notoriety.

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS

County Fire. The new battalion chief Rick Dennison introduced himself. He serves the south desert which includes Joshua Tree. Chief Chamberlain was unable to attend.

California Highway Patrol (CHP). Officer Joan Griffin reported on Distracted Driver Month including following too closely and texting.

Sheriff’s Department. Captain Mondary reported on “social engineering” where a con man psychologically engages someone, by computer or phone, to takes their identity. He told everyone to never give private information like your birthday or social security number over the phone.

PRESENTATIONS
Officer Joan Griffin presented on START SMART free teen driving  class for parents and teens (14-19) once every month at the CHP Office on Highway 29 in Joshua Tree. The next class is Wednesday, April 29 at 6:00 p.m. RSVP to 760-366-3707. The teen does not need to be licensed yet. They will show the movie Red Asphalt, version 5. There is also a class for elder drivers called Age Well.

Steve Martinez from the California Department of Public Works spoke on the ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, a statewide opportunity to obtain infrastructure funds to encourage biking and walking. His proposal was to extend a class 1 bike path to the new elementary school on Sunburst. They are asking for $1.2 million. The DPW is doing a traffic count and then a survey in the community.

Gary, in the audience, spoke on the dangers for pedestrians and bicyclists on Sunburst, Alta Loma and Park Boulevard.

Pat Flanagan, MAC, Desert Heights spoke on the WEMO (West Mojave) Route Network Project and the BLMs preferred strategy to double the number of roads available to off-roaders. There will be a meeting tomorrow night with the BLM in Yucca Valley.

Wednesday, April 15, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Yucca Valley Community Center Complex – Yucca Room
57090 29Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley

Everyone is invited to attend and to comment.

Ms Flanagan’s presentation can be viewed at ORV Watch.
http://www.orvwatch.com/

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.