STRATEGIC PLANNING SETS CITY PRIORITIES FOR 2023 - 2025
Twentynine Palms process takes place January 24-25, public involvement crucial
Update January 24: City Manager Luckino has updated the information previously supplied on the attribution and date of the condensed mission and visioning statements. As of last evening he writes, “I did confirm the mission and vision statements were done prior to the general plan adoption. The Mission/Vision I had was from Michael Tree, pre-General Plan update. So with that, we will review the Mission and Vision as per the General Plan.” Michael Tree was a former City Manager of Twentynine Palms, exact dates unavailable.
What is strategic planning you might ask? Generally defined it’s the process of setting and prioritizing goals so there is a clear plan for the future. In Twentynine Palms, strategic planning starts Tuesday, January 24 and takes place in a public two-day series of 30 minute sessions1 held by City Council on topics important to the City. At the end of the second day, Council members will rank which topics they want to address over the next two years. This “top ten” or so will receive priority in planning and budgeting. The sessions are timed to coincide with City Council elections, so that the newly elected Council is able to set its priorities.
City Manager Frank Luckino has described his role as a moderator who will use the topics to stimulate Council discussion and identify what’s important.2 For some topics, stakeholders may make short presentations. Mayor McArthur Wright will manage public comment.
As a discussion prompt, Council will be presented with mission and visioning statements3. It’s unclear why the City Manager is opting for statements circa 2012-2013 that were written by fired City Manager RIchard Warne4 and which exclude concepts in the 2012 General Plan such as “arts and tourism development”, “non polluting industries”, “preserving the desert environment” and “preserving the City’s desert small-town feel.” On the other hand the Warne statements include “Open and Transparent City Government” and oddly “a safe, well planned family atmosphere.” Hopefully the City Manager will present both the vetted General Plan statements and the alternative condensed Warne statements as guiding prompts.
As always, Desert Trumpet encourages public participation. It is always best to attend in person for public comment. If you are unable to attend, we recommend writing Mayor Wright and cc-ing City Manager Luckino and your Council member with “Strategic Planning Public Comment” and the topic name in the subject line. The full topic schedule is below.
Disclosure: Cindy Bernard is currently Chair of the Public Arts Advisory Committee, which is a part of the City of Twentynine Palms. She will be presenting under the “Economic Development including Public Art and Events” topic.
STRATEGIC PLANNING SCHEDULE, JANUARY 24-25, 2023
Tuesday, January 24th , 3:00 - 8:00
3:00-3:05 Introductions and Expected Benefits,
3:05-3:20 Team Building Exercise
3:20-3:35 Mission/Vision Statements
3:35-3:50 SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)
3:50-4:20 Economic Development including Public Art and Events
4:20-4:50 Infrastructure including deferred maintenance and roads/flood
4:50-5:35 Break for Dinner
5:35-6:05 Wastewater
6:05-6:35 Park and Facilities Master Plan including Trails
6:35-7:05 Homeless including other Code Enforcement activities
7:05-7:35 Community Engagement including Social Equity
7:35-7:55 General Plan including Climate and Downtown Specific Plan
January 25th Strategic Planning
3:00-3:30 Infrastructure including split rock bridge and SR62 Improvements
3:30-4:00 Workforce including recruitment/retention/development
4:00:4:30 Public Safety (Law Enforcement/Fire/Medical)
4:30:5:00 Financial Review and potential augmentation
5:00-5:45 Break/Dinner
5:45-6:15 Prior Goals
6:15-6:45 How would you describe the City to someone who
doesn’t live or work here
6:45-7:15 Rankings and Discussion
7:15-8:00 Next Steps and Closings
Expected benefits document, provided by the City Manager to the author
PROPOSED VISIONING STATEMENTS FOR USE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING
1. MISSION STATEMENT, GENERAL PLAN 2012
https://www.ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us/general-plan
General Plan Vision
The City of Twentynine Palms seeks to create and promote the economic and social well being of its residents while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere and clean air quality, as well as simultaneously creating a stronger and more diversified economy through attracting arts and tourism development, health/retirement, recreational and clean, nonpolluting industries.
These goals should be guided by two principles: (1) sustainability and (2) adaptability.
This requires that existing needs be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, and that, to the degree reasonably possible as determined by the appropriate approval authority, community activities should adapt to the natural environment, rather than the natural environment being changed or adopted to these activities. In addition, the City will encourage high quality development compatible with the missions of the Joshua Tree National Park and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.
General Plan Guiding Principles
Promote a high quality of life while preserving the City’s desert, small-town feel.
Encourage high quality development compatible with the Joshua Tree National Park, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center and the City’s desert, small-town character.
Develop a strong and diversified local economy with a focus on arts, cultural, tourism, retail, job growth and overall quality of life for all community members.
Preserve the desert environment and its natural and cultural resources for future generations.
Promote sustainable and adaptable growth principles in the development of the City.
2. CONDENSED MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS, CIRCA 2012-2013, AUTHORED BY RICHARD WARNE (please see update at start of article)
Mission Statement
The Mission of the City of Twentynine Palms is to maintain and improve the quality of life of those who live, work or visit Twentynine Palms, by providing a safe, well planned family atmosphere that is rich and diverse in cultural and natural resources and promotes economic, and educational opportunities.
Vision Statement
The City of Twentynine Palms will be a distinctive desert community that enables the
involvement of responsible citizens. The City is committed to the experience of a Clean, Attractive, and Safe City; to the maintenance of a Unique Environment; to the provision of Excellent City Services, Facilities, and Infrastructure; to the creation of Prosperous Local Economy; and to a responsive, Open and Transparent City Government. (Capitalizations are in the statement.)