Friend, 

  

Thursday night was the Third Council Meeting of 2025 and today, I’m writing to you about the council actions and my work since our last meeting.  

 

In addition to meetings with city staff, community members, business leaders, and organizations, other activities where I represented the city include: 

 

January 25 –  

-I took to the streets and participated in the bike segment of the Palm Springs Health & Wellness Run and Festival and presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Michele Cirone – Collier who recently retired from the City of Palm Springs after 35 years. 

 

-Represented the city at the Palm Springs Art Museum Gala. 

 

January 27 -  

-Meeting with the current and upcoming president and executive director of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce we discussed annual marketing efforts, the Walk of Stars and a potential new event. 

 

-Voted and participated in the election for Southern California Association of Governments Regional Council District #2 Special Election. The winning candidate supported by Palm Springs was the Hon. Gary Gardner, Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Desert Hot Springs. 

 

-Councilmember David Ready and I were briefed on the status of the Bogert Trail & S. Palm Canyon Low Flow Flood Project. 

             

January 28 - 

-Attended the P.S. Resorts Board Meeting and provided an update on the Convention Center modernization and Airport projects. 

-KESQ Interview with Tori King, on the request I brought to the city manager, to make it possible for short term rentals to be used immediately for those impacted by the LA fires. This provided another layer of support for 60-days. 

-Participated in the pre-game TV broadcast with Gino Lamont and Grant Fuhr where I shared the economic impact of Acisure Arena and that it represents 2,000 jobs and $48 million in payroll. The overall economic impact is $168 million annually.           

-Presented the American Hockey League with a proclamation declaring AHL All-Star Classic Day in Palm Springs at the Coachella Valley Firebirds Game. The presentation was made to Sean Lavoine, the AHL's VP of Marketing, and John Page, the President of Acisure Arena.

 

January 30 - 

-Check in with the Palm Springs Police Officers Association.  

 

January 31 -   

-Attended artist reception at the Hohmann Palm Springs Showroom for Ali Eckert’s recent works in his latest series, “Archangels.” 

 

February 1 -  

-Raise African American Flag for Black History Month – I requested the city manager to have staff support an early morning flag raising at City Hall. I invited members of the Palm Springs Black History Committee Board of Directors to join me at 7:45 AM to raise the flag. 

 

-Met with representatives from the Palm Springs Firefighters Association. 

 

-Presented a Jenifer Lewis Day proclamation to author and actress Jenifer Lewis at the Our Voices Our Stories - Celebrating Black Authors organized by the Palm Springs Public Library. 

 

-I attended the Black History Month Committee's 15th annual Gala and presented the City of Palm Springs with the Black History Month proclamation.

 

 

February 3 - 

-Meeting with stakeholders to discuss an economic development priority for technology, innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship.   

 

-Reviewed financing strategies for the convention center modernization.    

 

February 4 –  

-At our last council meeting, I requested the City Manager hold a stakeholder meeting within ten days to address the financing strategy for the Convention Center’s future. Today a meeting was held with 25 stakeholders and staff to evaluate financing strategies. The convention center modernization is a top priority of the Mayors Economic Council.  

 

-Provided a detailed response to reporter with Cal Matters and Voice of San Diego about how the expanded airport will affect tourism, the economy and what will it mean to the community of Palm Springs. 

 

-After nearly a year of meetings and conversations, I participated in the rollout meeting for the housing project contemplated on the United Methodist Church Palm Springs campus. Last month, the council rezoned a lot for the development of an affordable, for-rent senior housing project on an undeveloped portion of the campus. Last April the church released a Request for Proposals (RFP) and they have selected a developer. 

 

February 11 -  

-Presented a certificate of recognition and participated in a ribbon cutting for La Bottega, 540 S. Indian Canyon Dr. 

 

-Participated in the City Finance Sub Committee. 

 

-Attended the ONE-PS monthly meeting. 

 

February 12 -  

-Participated in an interview with Kent Black from Desert Magazine. 

 

-Provided an update on council activity to the area hotel and restaurant general managers. 

 

February 13 -  

-Attended Coachella Valley Association of Governments Coachella Valley Conservation Commission meeting. 

 

-Attended Coachella Valley Association of Governments - Energy and Environment meeting. 

  

 

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Now I would like to update you on highlights from last night's city council meeting:

Palm Springs City Council Meeting – February 13, 2025 

  

Key Highlights: 

• Black History Month Proclamation and Presentations.  

• Palm Springs Parking Evaluation Summary Presentation 

• Parks and Recreation Master Plan Review 

• The Council approved the yearly pavement program,  

• Hotel Operations Incentive approved for Yara Hotel  

 

MAJOR DECISIONS & UPDATES 

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Here's a breakdown of the key outcomes, major decisions, and updates: 

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Presentations: The meeting commenced with a Pledge of Allegiance led by May Winfrey, a 10th-grade student from Palm Springs High School and a member of the Palm Springs Academy for Learning Medicine. Following the Pledge, Saniyah Towner, a senior at Palm Springs High School who is active in the FILM Pathway and the Black Student Union, shared her reflections on the meaning of Black history.... Janelle Hunt, the assistant principal from Palm Springs High School, also spoke about what it means to be a Black woman and what Black history means to her. 

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Proclamations:  The council issued proclamations for Black History Month, Jenifer Lewis Day, Modernism Week, and Lizbeth Edwards Harris Day. 

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Parking Assessment Study: A consultant from Dixon Resources presented the Palm Springs Parking System evaluation report, which was funded by Palm Springs Resorts. The study, initiated in the first quarter of 2024, aimed to provide data-driven recommendations for parking management policies. 

• Key findings included that parking garages are underutilized, signage and wayfinding need improvement, and employees and business owners often use on-street parking.

• On-street parking management should focus on reduced time limits to increase turnover, while actively promoting off-street garage parking for longer-term solutions. 

• Garage improvements were recommended, including better lighting, clearer signage, and enhanced safety features to make them more appealing to users. 

• Technology adoption was suggested for both enforcement activities and data collection/analysis to better understand parking patterns and needs. 

• Special event paid parking was proposed as a potential revenue source that could help fund traffic control measures during these times. 

• A new no-parking ordinance was recommended to help regulate parking durations, along with standardized parking space markings for consistency. 

• The city manager's next steps include developing an implementation plan and bringing it back to the council for approval on an uncertain date.

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Parks and Recreation Master Plan: The council received a presentation and status update on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. 

• The plan is a grand vision for the next ten years. It includes six overarching themes, 19 goals, and over 50 actions. 

• The planning process involved community engagement to understand residents' desires, including climate-resilient parks, parks that do more for people, and more parks. 

• The plan includes an implementation timeline and strategies for funding, park classifications, and design approaches. 

• No specific projects were approved. This was a presentation only. Next steps will be development of action plans and budget planning which will require council approval to move forward. 

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Pavement Program: The council approved the yearly pavement program, which includes $6.5 million from Measure J to pave streets. The city plans pavement projects using a pavement condition index. 

Hotel Operations Incentive Program: The council approved the Operations Covenant for the Yara Hotel, involving $857,122 of project costs. The program allows the hotel to be reimbursed over ten years based on incremental increases in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). 

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Human Rights Commission Appointments: The council agreed to bring back three nominations for the Human Rights Commission at the next meeting. 

Looking Ahead - Tentative February 27 Council meeting items include: 

 

Financial Matters 

 

• Dunes Hotel Incentive Agreement 

• Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan 

• Financial Audit Reports 

• Mid-Year Revenue Forecast and Budget Update: The Finance Director will present a mid-year revenue forecast and budget update 

 

Community and Safety Initiatives 

 

• Fire Department Master Plan Update 

• Human Rights Commission Nominees & Ordinance Update 

 

March Upcoming Items 

• Animal Shelter Update 

• Library Bond Discussion  

• Navigation Center Presentation 

• Vacation Rentals Update  

  

Helpful Links & Contacts: 

• PSPD App - to report law enforcement and non-emergency issues. 

• MyPalmSprings App - to report issues within City limits, including homelessness, graffiti, and code compliance. 

• To submit public comment, contact the City Clerk's office @ CityClerk@PalmSpringsCA.gov. 

• For other City-related issues, please visit our website 

 

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Best regards, 

Ron deHarte

Mayor

City of Palm Springs

3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 

t: 760.322.8200 | c: (442) 305-9943‬

w: palmspringsca.gov | Ron.deHarte@palmspringsca.gov    

 

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