Lots more than a change in City Manager happened in Twentynine Palms in 2013. Dan stork hits some of the highlights…
In 2013,
· The city of Twentynine Palms declined to bail the water district out in its fire department financial dilemma. A citizens’ committee recommended going back to the voters with another tax increase measure.
· The city and the water district moved forward in proactive planning for eventual water treatment.
· Industrial solar development was banned within the city.
· A scaled-back casino plan broke ground, held hiring fairs, and pushed back opening date to early 2014.
· The city decided to litigate the state’s ruling that bond proceeds cannot be used to further project phoenix development.
· The issue of prayer before council meetings was debated repeatedly.
· Two city planning commissioners whose terms expired were reappointed, and two members whose terms were not up were replaced.
· Marketing the city as a destination was a recurrent theme, with discussion of a tourism improvement district and the efficacy of welcome center support versus increased internet presence, and the holding of a juried art faire
· Planning for traffic lights at two busy intersections moved forward, as did planning for a dog park.
