Dan Stork broke his report on a very long Twentynine Palms City Council meeting Tuesday night into three parts. In today’s second part: A property management plan, Project Phoenix bond litigation, drag strip boosters, and a tourism marketing contract…
Property management plan
There are four City-owned properties affected by the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency, and only one option that the state allows for their disposition: Sell them. The Oversight Board for the Successor Agency to the RDA will try to figure out how to do that during February.
DoF litigation
Mayor Dan Mintz and Mayor Pro-Tem Jay Corbin repeated comments made in a City press release Monday: The judge in a Sacramento court hearing on the City’s suit against the state in the matter of the Project Phoenix bonds asked a lot of questions, and will rule in 60-90 days.
Drag strip boosters
As has been the case for several recent Council meetings, a parade of boosters for a local commercial drag strip touted its potential benefits for the City. City Manager Joe Guzetta announced that Randy Councell is putting together a committee to research the project, and asked for public participation.
Vickie Waite contract
A staff proposal to extend a 3-year contract to Vickie Waite for tourism development services at a rate of $25 per hour was supported only by Council member Jim Harris. Council voted 3-1 (Harris opposed) to authorize a contract to her at $20 per hour through June of this year. The Council majority wants marketing plans beyond that point to be more comprehensively described, with aggressive Internet marketing to supplant travel shows and print marketing, and possibly to let the contract out for competitive bids.
Code Enforcement Overview
Interim Development Director Matt McCleary described the Code Enforcement process as primarily reactive, but also proactive, as time and staffing constraints allow.
