Thank you to all who joined us on February 25, 2020, for the First Annual State of the City Address with City Council, City staff. Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce, their board members, and sponsors. It was a wonderful opportunity to come meet some of your fellow residents and learn more about the things going on in Palestine. Thank you to Palestine ISD for allowing us to use your beautiful auditorium and your choir students who provided the National Anthem. Congratulations to the Emeritus Ambassadors of the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce: Linda Dickens, Jeanette Westmoreland, Diane Davis, and Mary Alice Largent. These wonderful individuals were recognized for more than 25 years of service to our community. For those of you who missed the address while you cheered on the PISD basketball team, and the PISD Ladycats to victory this evening, we have the streamed video posted on our Facebook page and will be providing a brief summary document with links on how to access the information on topics discussed this evening at a later date.

The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government with a Mayor, six (6) Council Members, and a City Manager. The Council Members are elected from single member districts for two-year terms, with the Mayor elected at large. The Mayor Pro Tem is elected by the Council on an annual basis. The Council's Mission Statement is to ensure a safe, clean, healthy, and productive city where neighborhoods are revitalized, history is conserved, the environment is protected, and where all people are empowered to reach their full potential through socialization, education, culture, recreation and wellness.