Twentynine Palms' Strategic Planning: Many Needs, Little Revenue, Part 4
A love fest for Community Services and Parks and Rec, plus a look at Human Resources, Risk Management and Information Services
It’s been a more than a month since the marathon April 4, 2025, Strategic Planning session featuring overviews of all City departments. Our coverage is also winding down — we anticipate this 4th installment to be the penultimate article. The Desert Trumpet thinks it is useful for Twentynine Palms residents to understand just what it is City government does and aspires to do.
Desert Trumpet views these Strategic Planning sessions as a great resource. For that reason, we are going to list presenting departments alphabetically instead of following the order of the evening and we’re adding a link to this coverage to our 29 Palms Resources page. The reporting below is based on the information supplied.
On the evening of April 4, 13 City departments and partners arrived with wish lists of improvements in hand, including $23 million to replace the City’s dilapidated animal shelter. But Finance Director Abigail Hernandez-Conde matter-of-factly crushed their hopes and the mood of the packed room.
Part 1, which recaps the presentations by Animal Shelter and Animal Control and the City Clerk’s office, is here.
Part 2 covered Community Development and Emergency Management here.
Part 3 was on Finance and Fire, here.
While there were several questions and some discussion between Councilmembers, presenters and residents, no microphone was provided to the public. We’ve done our best to capture those conversations. We are listing the names of the public and Councilmembers commenting, and quoting from selected comments.
Human Resources / Risk Management
Presenting: Jacqueline Palmer, Human Resources Manager
Purpose:
Human Resources: employee recruitment, selection, on-boarding, performance and retirement for 40-60 employees
Risk Management: Claim management (workers compensation / general liability); identifying and eliminating potential risks to the residents and staff; and protecting the City against general liability claims
Staffing: One full-time staff member covering both departments
Projects / Accomplishments: On the Human Resources side, Palmer described off-setting a $12,000 increase in CalPERS medical premiums by switching employee dental, vision and disability life insurance benefit plans for a $12,639 savings and “a richer benefit for the employees, but a cheaper cost to the city.” Also discussed was a move from 20-year old, spreadsheet-based evaluation tracking to an online system.
Future needs: Continuing to improve efficiency, be proactive in reducing and eliminating risk exposures and embrace technology to improve effectiveness
Council comment: none
Public Comment: none
Desert Trumpet take-away: In less than three minutes, Palmer demonstrated how the two departments she oversees have substantial impact on City budgets.
Information Services
Presenting: Elijah Marshall, Director of Information Services
Purpose:
Information Infrastructure: computers (desktop / laptop / servers), network, sound, video
Software licensing: productivity, document management, design, department specific
Cybersecurity: education, testing, partnerships, AI software enhancement, layered approach
Staffing: One full-time, shared with Solid Waste and Recycling
Projects / Accomplishments: There is a five-year rotation with a $10,000 to $15,000 per year budget, which allows for some reserves for emergency replacements of computer equipment. However, the migration of software licensing from a purchase model to a renting model has affected the budget as the rates for renewals are usually increasing. Marshall provided an example of cybersecurity software increasing 300% over three years.
Future needs: Per Marshall:
I don't really talk about cybersecurity in public. That's, you know, best practice is not to. But you can expect probably 15 to 25% [increase] every year as the threat state is changing and evolving so rapidly.
Council comment: None
Public Comment: None
Desert Trumpet take-away: This presentation was quite brief and was sandwiched between Information Services Director Marshall’s extensive presentation on the animal shelter proposal and the presentation on Solid Waste and Recycling.
Parks and Recreation
Presenting: Kary Minatrea, Community Services and Parks and Recreation Director
Purpose: Per Minatrea:
I'd like to talk about something that truly brings life to our community. It's our parks, recreation programs, community events and services. They aren't just amenities. They're a heartbeat of a thriving, connected and healthy society. Recreation programs play a crucial role in shaping lives. Youth and adult sports teach teamwork and discipline, arts and culture. Programs ignite creativity and fitness classes promote healthier lifestyles. These programs aren't just activities, they're opportunities for personal growth and community engagement. Our program serves over 1,200 youth annually.
Beyond recreation, I like to also focus on the importance of community services. When we invest in after school programs for youth and support services for seniors, such as our partnership with Reach Out Morongo Basin, we strengthen the very fabric of our neighborhoods. These programs provide resources for working parents and to seniors who may be isolated or have difficulty navigating new world technology. What brings the community together better than events? These celebrations are valuable. They create shared experiences that build lasting memories. They foster local pride and showcase to the diversity that makes our community unique.
Staffing: Seven full-time and 15 temporary / seasonal employees
Projects / Accomplishments: Minatrea listed numerous accomplishments and projects:
The Youth Council
A partnership with Pacific Clinics to for mental health support for active military and their families
Reopening the Sky Park Preschool building with Institute of Inquiry at the helm
Expansion of sports programming to girls via a grant from the National Recreation and Park Association and Nike
New pickleball / tennis court
Upgrading recreational facilities and parking for ADA compliance
Partnership with Special Olympics
Potential expansion of the Boys and Girls Club to Twentynine Palms
Numerous community and nonprofit grants
Future needs: The preschool playground equipment at Knott’s Sky Park is getting additional use due to Institute of Inquiry child care programming — but it is outdated and in need of replacement: estimate $110,000. Apparently that’s not all that’s in need of updating and replacing—the HVAC system at the Parks and Rec office cools but doesn’t heat and in a power emergency, the back-up generator is unreliable. The roof on the Senior Center also needs replacing.
Council comment: Councilmember Daniel Mintz referred to a chart displayed by Finance Director Abigail Hernandez-Conde that showed a large differential between expenses and income in Parks and Rec and pointed out their role in general economic development with events such as Pioneer Days generating income indirectly in TOT and sales tax. Following Councilmember Mintz, all members of Council expressed glowing appreciation for Minatrea’s leadership and the work of staff.
Public Comment: “City person” Robin Schlosser, Director of Reach Out Morongo Basin, which runs the Senior Center, added to the love-fest, “when she became the recreation supervisor and Reach Out, started working with her as a partnership for the Senior Center, I mean, things have blossomed.” Eric Menendez complimented Community Events Coordinator Scott Clinkscales for his work on the community event grants.
Carlos Blandon asked about whether the “tribe,” referring to the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, supports Parks and Rec activities. Minatrea, responding, distinguished between financial support and involvement: “It's not that we haven't tried, because they know where to send money. You know, they always send us money — there's no issue with that. But getting them involved in our events and things, I don't think there's just much of an interest.”
Rita Lilly of the Public Arts Advisory Committee closed out the segment:
The other thing I'm always concerned with the happiness of the people who are here, the contentment of our full-time residents. And I want to create such a wonderful, rich life, that even if our teenagers go somewhere else for college, they know when it's time to buy a house and start a family, they want to come home to Twentynine Palms. And I think that work with groups like Parks and Rec — that is where it happens in communities like ours, so I thank you too.
Desert Trumpet take-away: Really difficult to hear that a department that does this much for City residents talks about using space heaters to stay warm in the winter, then in the summer…as Minatrea commented:
I try not to share a lot of this information with you all, because we're tough and we just get through things. But last summer, we didn't have AC for three weeks. So yeah, so we just opened our windows and our doors and put fans in and made the best of it, because it is impossible, almost impossible to find parts to replace the unit.
At the same time Parks and Rec are trying to function under climate stress, they are working to save the City money by cleaning their own offices, Patriotic Hall and the Luckie Park Activities Center. Someone give these folks an HVAC system!
Coming up next week — reports from Public Works, the Sheriff Department, Solid Waste & Recycling and the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID).
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i noticed that for the last few televised council meetings that when the public approaches the podium to comment, that the camera doesn't show them any more. The viewers at home no longer get to see who is speaking when it is their turn to comment.
Also sometimes microphones are not used when a speaker, whether public or official, is talking so the viewing public doesn't get to hear clearly, or at all, what was said.
but, i surely do appreciate being able to view the meetings as they are happening in real time or for later viewing if i miss the actual meeting. and REALLY appreciate the Trumpets reporting and commenting on the meetings !