Every two years, the city of Twentynine Palms hosts Strategic Planning meetings whereupon it indulges in self-reflection: Who are we? Who do we want to be? And most importantly, where are we going? Nestled between two major Federal entities – Joshua Tree National Park and the world’s largest Marine Corps training base – the town is looking to its’ nearly 29,000 residents for guidance.
Tonight, April 4, a departmental overview will take place at City Hall Council Chambers from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. This will help residents understand what the 75 or so city employees (full time and part-time) are up to and where they are deployed.
Tomorrow, Saturday, April 5, is when the real brainstorming begins. Participants should come to the Freedom Plaza gymnasium at 10:00 a.m. with constructive feedback and useful ideas. The session will wrap up late afternoon though participants do not need to stay the entire time.
In a press release, City Manager Stone James asked residents envision an ideal future for their town:
“Who do we want to become in 20-years? Once this is identified, the Council will discuss what goals we, as a city, can work to achieve in the next five years which will move our community towards this 20-year vision.”
The session will likely seek balanced answers to that inevitable fine line: How do we preserve the unique magic of our city while also fostering economic growth and tourism? If you have visions or solutions, the city wants to hear from you.
A professional strategic planning facilitator will keep the day on track. Residents can comment publicly and submit written comments on poster-sized pages along the gymnasium walls. For those who cannot make it, the city clerk will accept written comments up until mid-April and an online survey will be available soon.
