The Twentynine Palms City Council met last night to address the next step for Project Phoenix. But before that, the meeting began with two brothers sharing a milestone moment. Reporter Heather Clisby was there…
When Michael Mintz retired from the City of Twentynine Palms as a maintenance worker, his brother, Dan, councilman from District 3, was there to honor him with a plaque and a hug. It was a warm, family moment but the meeting was all business from there.
Community Services Director Randy Councell reported that the Joshua Tree 55 bike race was a big success and that they had also signed a three-year contract for a carnival at Pioneer Days. Councell then explained that in order to consolidate several park ordinances, Ordinance 288 was necessary and thus, was unanimously approved by the Council.
Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith appeared before the council to address the collaboration project that is the Project Phoenix Cultural Center and Joshua Tree Visitor Center, a 5,000-square-foot building that will be city-built but park-run. The city will lease the building to the park for $1 per year for 20 years and the park plans to use the center to exhibit ancient cultural treasures that have been kept in storage for years.
City Manager Frank Luckino offered a preliminary peek at the special fund budget for this fiscal year and the next for council review. Those in attendance learned that the city takes in 83 percent of traffic citation funds and that it costs 90 cents per-square-foot to repave a road.
