Yucca Valley Community Update

Community Update

Hello,

Thanks for taking the time to read the current news and notes regarding your Town! We value all of our residents, businesses, and visitors as each plays an important role in the ongoing development of our Town. As always, visit the Town’s website for contact and additional information at www.yucca-valley.org or feel free to stop by Town Hall to say hello.

Curtis Yakimow

Town Manager

Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance Updates

On February 15, the Yucca Valley Town Council voted to update ordinances related to short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) to enact stricter regulations and disciplinary measures. The decision to update the Town’s code comes after months of community input and discussion through public hearings hosted by the Town’s Planning Commission.

The updated code limits the amount of the Town’s housing to be used as STVRs to ten percent. Guests will be limited to eight per house, with the exception of a Land Use Compliance Review permit for homes with four or more bedrooms. Further, the number of vehicles and guests allowed per STVR aligns with the home’s size.

All new STVRs will require a noise monitoring device and the homeowner or agent responsible for the home must be available to respond to reasonable complaints against the rental within 15 minutes by phone or 30 minutes in person. In addition, outdoor lighting must also be fully shielded below a horizontal plane to prevent light leak onto adjacent properties.

The Town Council updated disciplinary measures including increased fines against problematic rentals, which range between $1500 to $5000.

To read the full meeting agenda and ordinance, visit: http://yuccavalleyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1515

Mid-Year Budget Review

On March 1, the Town Council received a report on the Town’s budget for the final six months of 2022. See highlights of the report below:

The Town’s FY2021-22 has reported positive financial results as of the mid-year review, in part to increased revenues and conservative spending year to date.
All of the Town’s revenue sources are trending higher than the prior year, with an overall 16% increase in comparison to revenues at the same time last year.
The Town’s General Fund expenditures are all under 50% of the current year’s budget, indicating that spending levels are within budgeted expectations.
Some expenditure increases in comparison to the prior year are reflective of the reinstatement of services and programs previously reduced in response to COVID-19 in FY20-21. Other increases reflect new staff members for the Planning and Parks Departments, which have expanded in response to an increase in services and park facilities.
The Town’s mid-year budget adjustments reflect a $761,000 net increase to the General Fund to adjust for additional revenues expected through year-end, and additional service costs for expanding programming and services across departments.

Details of the Mid-Year Budget Report and the Mid-Year Budget Amendments can be found via the Town’s website or by contacting the Finance Department at (760)369-7207, etc. 229.

Organics Waste Recycling Coming to Yucca Valley

Residents across California will soon see changes to the way organic waste is disposed of and recycled. Signed into law in 2016, California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) aims to reduce climate change by reducing the methane emissions that come from landfills by establishing a statewide goal to reduce the amount of organic waste disposed of in landfills by 75%. The bill also set a goal to recover at least 20% of edible food waste by 2025.

To assist with reaching these goals, the State requires all California cities, including Yucca Valley, to implement organic waste collection services for all residents and businesses, and rescue surplus food to feed Californians facing food insecurity.

Organic waste includes the following materials: food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, non-hazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste. Separating out these materials from regular trash, similar to separating recyclable materials, allows the Town’s waste hauler, Burrtec, to repurpose these materials into value-add products like mulch, compost, healthy soil and other materials that help our environment.

The Town of Yucca Valley, together with Burrtec, will be launching a new Organics Recycling Program to help everyone navigate the requirements of this state-mandated measure, and to educate residents and businesses on the proper way to sort organic waste.

The Organics Recycling Program will:

Add a third cart or bin (that will be green) for organics collection
Require businesses, grocery stores and large restaurants to donate edible food to food banks for those in need
Reserve California’s valuable landfill space for only products that cannot be recycled
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The Town of Yucca Valley will provide extensive education to residents and businesses in the weeks and months ahead. Be on the lookout for important materials that come through your mailbox and on the Town’s Facebook page, or visit our website for updates.

For more information on how this regulation will affect you, visit CalRecycle’s Organics homepage at CalRecycle.ca.gov/nav/organics.

Measure Y Funds Annual Street Improvement Projects

Thanks to Measure Y, the Town is able to perform annual roadway improvement projects, including crack seal and slurry seal.

The Public Works Dept recently completed the crack seal process, which involves placing an adhesive sealant into asphalt cracks to prevent more significant problems, such as potholes, from forming. This helps reduce the risk of vehicle damage and future road maintenance while increasing driver safety.

This summer, the Dept will undergo the slurry sealing process. This project entails applying a thin layer of asphalt, or 'seal', to give the roadway a uniform color and texture. It also helps seal the asphalt from moisture to protect it from future damage.

Public Works staff performs the annual crack seal process

Town Completes Redistricting Process

On February 1, the Town Council selected NDC 101 as their preferred map and introduced Ordinance 299 to change the district boundaries. Ordinance 299 was read for the second time (required by law) and adopted by the Town Council meeting on February 15, 2022.

2/1/2022 Staff Report

A little history:

In 2018 the Town of Yucca Valley moved from at-large Town Council elections to by-district elections after holding several public hearings. In creating the original final adopted map, the Town Council considered public input, available demographics, neighborhoods and communities of interest, and local features before adopting the final map.

Adult Slow Pitch Softball Opens for Spring Season

On March 22, the Town of Yucca Valley Recreation Department will restart its popular drop-in style coed softball on Tuesday nights at 6:00 p.m. and will continue the program for 12 weeks through June 7th at the Community Center Softball Field.

The Town of Yucca Valley Recreation Department is also offering an 11-week Thursday Night Adult Co-ed Softball League for Fall. League play begins April 7, 2022, with finals on June 16.

For more information, click/tap here or contact Clayton Rardon at the Town of Yucca Valley Community Services Department at

369-7211, extension 240 or crardon@yucca-valley.org .

Youth Commission Teen Saturday Events

Movie Night Featuring Disney's Encanto

Saturday, April 9

6:30-9:00 p.m.

Yucca Valley Community Center

Join us for an outdoor movie night with photo ops, food, raffle prizes and more! Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy this movie experience under the stars.

Teen Parking Lot Party

Saturday, May 7

10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Yucca Valley Community Center

Giant obstacle course, games, agua fresca drinks, raffle prizes, giveaways and more!

Download Our Mobile App

Stay up to date on all the happenings in Town of Yucca Valley by downloading our mobile app!

Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yucca-valley-connect/id1581194233

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.govoutreach.yuccavalley

Connect With Us

Upcoming Town Council Meetings

March 15, 6:00 p.m.

April 5, 6:00 p.m.

April 19, 6:00 p.m.

Meeting take place in the Yucca Room

YV Community Center, Town Hall

57090 Twentynine Palms Highway (SR 62)

Please see the Meeting Calendar for updates, minutes and agenda details.

Can’t attend in person? It’s easy to view Council Meetings via video stream, or on your own schedule.

View Upcoming Agendas

Mayor to Launch Town News Podcast

Mayor Jim Schooler will launch a new podcast featuring the latest news in Yucca Valley. The podcast, slated to release twice a month with additional special installments as needed, will cover new commercial projects, upcoming council agendas, events and more. Occasionally, the mayor will feature special guests including Town staff and industry experts to expand on subjects of interest to Yucca Valley residents.

Stay tuned for additional information.

Yucca Valley Celebrates 30 Years

Coffee with the Mayor

The Town of Yucca Valley has launched a meet and greet with Mayor Jim Schooler in the style of a casual coffee chat. Join us at Roost Café at Hawks Landing Golf Course on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 8 AM. Residents are encouraged to ask questions regarding the evening's council agenda or other items of concern. Light refreshments will be served.

To learn more about Mayor Schooler,

click here.

Senior Center Kitchen Remodel

The Yucca Valley Senior Center will be temporarily closed from February 22 through April 22 to accommodate a

kitchen model construction project that will modernize and expand kitchen operational capabilities for the future. The Senior Center is scheduled to reopen on April 25, 2022.

The kitchen remodel project is funded by Community Development Block Grant funds received from the federal

government.

The Senior Center is operated by the Town of Yucca Valley Recreation Department and is also home to Family

Services Association, Reach Out Morongo Basin and the Yucca Valley Senior Club. Town of Yucca Valley Recreation staff will continue to provide senior programs which will be temporarily relocated to the community center. For details, view the Senior Center Activity Calendar at www.yucca-valley.org or call Rec Leader Nena McCullough at

(760) 853-0208.

Little League Pedestrian Improvement Project

The project is located on Little League Drive between Sage Avenue to Palm Avenue. The Project consists of constructing curb and gutter, sidewalk, handicap ramps, driveways, and signing and striping. The majority of the work will occur on the south side of the roadway. Portions of the road already have curb and gutter so no widening will occur in those locations; however, curb ramps at the intersections may need to be installed/retrofitted. The overall project length is approximately 2,600 feet.

For more information, click/tap here.

Onaga Trail Pedestrian Improvement Project

The Town has been awarded grant funds through the Active Transportation Program (ATP). The project is located on Onaga Trail between Acoma Trail and approximately Grand Avenue. It is divided in two segments from Acoma Trail to Church Street and from Church Street to Grand Avenue. Both segments would have full width pavement, curb and gutter, handicap ramps, and sidewalk on both sides of Onaga Trail. This would result in sidewalks on both sides of Onaga Trail, between Sage Avenue and Acoma Trail.

For more information, click/tap here.

Yucca Valley Animal Shelter

Your next best friend may only be a visit to the animal shelter away.

San Bernardino County Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant

The San Bernardino County Microbusiness COVID Relief Grant is designed to assist businesses that have experienced economic barriers due to the effects of the global pandemic.

For more information on the grant requirements, how the funds can be used and the application deadline, CLICK/TAP here.

BY-DISTRICT NEWSLETTERS

CONNECTING TO YOUR Y.V. REPRESENTATIVE

Connecting with your elected officials has never been easier! By-District newsletters are now available. To begin receiving periodic information from the representative elected by your neighborhood and delivered right to your inbox, use the district links below. If you are not sure which voting district you are in, click on the button below to find out!

Email Robert Lombardo

Email Rick Denison