Staff and Wire Reports

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA- The City of Twentynine Palms announced this week that it will extend its new 4/10 work schedule for City Hall through the month of February.

Originally established as a three-month trial period from November through January, the alternate work-week schedule was designed for employees at City Hall to work four 10-hour days each week and offer expanded public hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with City Hall closed on Friday.

According to City Manager Michael Tree, the initial response to offering extended hours on Monday through Thursday appears to have been favorable from contractors, business owners, and others who have been able to take care of permit applications, license renewals, or other city-related business early in the morning or after normal working hours.

“Extending the trial period for another month will allow us to continue monitoring public feedback beyond the holiday season, as well as employee work productivity and potential energy savings, before deciding on any permanent change of hours at City Hall,” Tree said. “Our main concern at this point is to determine if the new hours have been beneficial to the community.”

The city’s Public Works Department on Bullion Avenue will also continue a four-day office schedule, open Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Anyone who has an urgent matter that requires immediate attention by city staff on a Friday can call City Hall at 760-367-6799 and leave a message and a callback number.