The Yucca Valley Town Council held a strategic planning session prior to its regular meeting Tuesday night. Managing editor Tami Roleff said residents made the same requests over and over for what they wanted to see in the town…
High on every list of priorities in which they appeared were public safety, street maintenance, and arts and culture. Town staff prepared 13 charts featuring different areas of concern, such as public safety, general government services and buildings, public service partners, Highway 62, town infrastructure, sales tax measures, commercial services and economic development, and neighborhoods. Residents were given stickers to place under areas they felt were most important. Time and again, people indicated public safety, more police officers, and neighborhood watches should be the town’s priority, followed by street maintenance. When asked if they would support a tax measure, only 3 of the approximately three dozen people indicated no. A half cent, 10-year-general sales tax for police, streets, and projects beat out a half cent tax for a wastewater subsidy. The town council will hold a second strategic planning session at 4 p.m. October 20 in the Yucca Room of the Yucca Valley Community Center.
Following the strategic planning session, the council moved outside and admired its new fire truck with a 79-foot extension ladder. Council member Merl Abel and Town Manager Curtis Yakimow each climbed the ladder. The council was informed that a new fire engine is in the works for Station 42 in Yucca Mesa for 2016.
During the council meeting, the council heard an update on homeless services in the area. A point-in-time count in January found 161 homeless persons in Yucca Valley, including one family with one child. There are no homeless shelters anywhere in the Morongo Basin. Council members were informed that future discussions of the homeless may focus on defining the Town’s role in providing services to the homeless.
