Land acquisition and Paul Cook’s alternative to Senator Feinstein’s conservation bill are the principal topics of tonight’s Twentynine Palms City Council meeting. Reporter Dan Stork has more details on both agenda topics, together with how citizens can educate themselves on the differences between the competing bills…
In a 5:30 closed session, and in a discussion during the 6 pm open session on September 22, the Twentynine Palms City Council is scheduled to set up the purchase of more downtown property. This land is at the northeast corner of Cholla Avenue and Twentynine Palms Highway, and the price tag is $325,000. The other discussion items are disability-related sidewalk utility relocation costs, and Congressman Paul Cook’s California Minerals, Off-Road Recreation, and Conservation Act. Cook’s bill, for which he is seeking local endorsements, is an alternative to Senator Diane Feinstein’s California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act. Both bills are lengthy and complex, and both propose establishment of a Sand to Snow National Monument between the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Peak. Feinstein’s bill is more restrictive on future non-conservation-related uses of certain lands, while Cook’s is friendlier to commercial and OHV uses, and seeks to limit presidential ability to act on land use issues.
A summary of Cook’s bill, plus a comparison of it with Feinstein’s bill, both extracted from the Twentynine Palms staff report for this meeting, can be viewed using this link:
Cook and Feinstein Conservation Bills
The meeting takes place in City Hall on Adobe Road.
