The Twentynine Palms City Council met last night to officially move forward with plans for an educational/commercial kitchen in the Project Phoenix Community Center. Reporter Heather Clisby was there …
Last night, the Twentynine Palms City Council approved over $400,000 of Change Orders to advance plans for an educational/commercial kitchen as part of the new Project Phoenix Community Center. As the kitchen will be used as a cooking classroom for high school students, the Morongo Unified School District will purchase all non-fixed kitchen equipment at an estimated cost of $200,000. (Dustin Howard, director of Secondary Curriculum, Morongo Unified School District, stated that the district would make every effort to obtain those funds through grants and state programs.) Copper Mountain College, who will also use the kitchen for instruction, will contribute $20,000 toward design costs.
The council approved the rejection of insufficient bids submitted for the Project Phoenix Monument Sign and agreed to re-advertise for the project.
Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) Marketing Director Breanne Dusastre made a strong case for an increase to their budget by nearly $78,000. Anticipating a surge in tourism after the state officially re-opens on June 15, Dusastre stated that the funds would be used for staffing, salaries, video production, digital marketing, social media, radio campaigns, contract services, bloggers/influencers, and new budget category – special projects. Dusastre also mentioned that TBID would like to build relationships with event organizers. The council unanimously approved the budget increase.
City Manager Frank Luckino presented to the council on the Preliminary Special Fund Budget for two fiscal years, 2021-2022 and 2022 and 2023.
