Mayor's Update | November 27, 2025

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Friend,

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Happy Thanksgiving.

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The big item at city council this week is the economic development strategy. This plan will be successful if the culture and way of doing business as we know it today changes. At the meeting, the mindset of operating the city at the speed of business was questioned. However you want to say it, the business community and residents who do business with the city are telling us our processes are antiquated, inefficient, and burdensome. Our future depends on our ability to actively seek solutions and overcome challenges to move us forward.

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It’s no surprise we need to lean into tourism and invest in the Palm Springs brand as a cultural and artistic destination enhancing community well-being and creating new visitor experiences. To be successful, We Can ensure our City Manager has the support and tools needed to streamline city customer services. We Can make the vision of a one stop shop for development services a reality. We Can show homebuilders, developers and commercial investors that Palm Springs welcomes them and that it can be easy to do business in Palm Springs. We Can prioritize customer satisfaction. We Can manage the daily operations of the city and achieve our strategic goals.

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Standing step by step with the business community, We Can implement this economic development plan with success. Without them, this plan will be like others before it and collect dust on the shelf.

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11/16-

The 7th Annual Don Cavanaugh Day celebration at The Blue Coyote took place today. This annual celebration of the founder of the Blue Coyote is a commemoration of his battle with Parkinson's and fundraiser for the Parkinson’s Resource Organization. Don moved to Palm Springs in 1992 and opened the Blue Coyote Bar and Grill and the restaurant became an instant success bringing people and business to the North Palm Canyon area. He died of Parkinson’s disease on February 23, 2019, and now the Donald C. Cavanaugh Memorial Fund sponsors programs like the Parkinson’s Support Group at the Mizelle Center sponsored by the City of Palm Springs. People with Parkinson’s & care partners have access to like-minded individuals and learn about medication, therapies, common symptoms, and shared journeys with Parkinson’s.

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11/17-

Today was the graduation for participants in the Caravanserai BizUp. This program is supported by the City of Palm Springs and aims to provide training and mentorship to individuals from marginalized and under-resourced communities to launch for profit businesses and nonprofit organizations that generate financial security, economic mobility, and systemic change. I was proud to see several dozen graduates embark on their new business ventures.

Each quarter the Finance Standing Subcommittee meets to review economic conditions and the city’s financial position with the City’s Asset Management firm Chandler Asset Management, the city manager and the finance director.

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11/18-

The Historic Tennis Club Neighborhood hosted a Q&A panel with Councilmember Ready, Chief Mills, Chief Alvarado, City Manager Stiles and me. This meeting was well attended by over 100 residents. The stalled Orchid Tree development, and the proposed development by Palm Springs Community Partners between La Mirada and Belardo, south of Ramon, and the Nexus hotel were important topics.

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11/19-

This was a day to recognize International Fraud Awareness Week. I presented a proclamation to raise awareness of steps everyone can take to avoid being a victim of Fraud. The Desert Business Association, working in partnership with the City of Palm Springs and Blevins Associates Consulting hosted a morning seminar to discuss consumer fraud and how to avoid becoming a victim. Topics presented were intended to help organizations learn how to reduce fraud risks and implement anti-fraud policies.

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The annual Peace Officer & Public Safety Awards luncheon is a special effort to honor, celebrate and thank first responders throughout the Coachella Valley that serve and protect us every day. Congratulations to Officer Graciela Ramos who was recognized as the Police Officer of the Year.

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Do the Right Thing Awards this month celebrated nine students selected from more than 300 nominees for “doing the right thing.” We are proud of Dania De Anda Trujillo from Palm Springs High School who was recognized. These “winners” received a plaque, certificates of commendation, a prize package valued at more than $700, and will be featured in promotional ads and news coverage on media sponsor KESQ and on “Desert Chat” with Sandie Newton. The program enhances self-esteem and recognizes youth for their positive attitude and behavior.

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Mx Pineapple Cabaret is an annual event organized by PineappleSupport.org, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free and subsidized mental health services to the adult industry. Operating 24/7, and the organization raise funds to help with the costs of professional coaching, counseling and therapy for those who need it. I attended to represent the city and support the mental health program as well as welcome the event to Palm Springs.

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Pineapple Cabaret featured world-class performances from an A-list lineup of stars including powerhouses Drew Sebastian and Billy L’Amour, Palm Springs’ favorite sit-down comic Pippi Lovestocking, Mx. Pineapple 2022 Gemini Dai (Dakota Payne), Miss Sobriety World 2025 Chanelta Couture, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star, vocalist, and trans activist Honey Mahogany. 100% of the net proceeds from the Pineapple Cabaret will be donated directly to Pineapple Support.

11/20-

The City of Palm Springs Walk of Stars honored Jonathan Bennett with the 483rd star on the Walk of Stars. Jonathan Bennett is known worldwide for his breakout role in the cult classic Mean Girls and has captivated audiences for more than two decades through his dynamic work across film, television, and Broadway. It was a pleasurer to present a proclamation to Jonathan from the city council proclaiming the day as Jonathan Bennett Day in Palm Springs.

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Transgender Day of Remembrance was a special event honoring and remembering the transgender individuals we have lost to violence and discrimination. I was invited to speak at the opening of the program. This was a day to reflect, support one another, and raise awareness about the challenges faced by the transgender community. I was joined by Councilmembers Bernstein and Ready, City Manager Stiles, and Police Chief Andy Mills and together we stood together and showed our solidarity.

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Champions of Hospitality Awards Gala was held at the convention center. 1,000 attendees celebrated outstanding individuals and organizations that drive excellence, resilience, and innovation in the Coachella Valley’s hospitality industry. This inspiring evening brings together our hospitality community to recognize industry leaders and honor the spirit of hospitality that elevates Greater Palm Springs.

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11/21-

The Plaza Theater entertainment and cultural center grand opening and ribbon cutting took place today to celebrate the 89th anniversary of the theater’s spectacular grand opening. An important takeaway - Save online handling fees and purchase tickets for theatre programs at the theatre lobby box office. The theatre will serve as an important community hub, providing a range of benefits for underserved citizens by fostering social cohesion, promoting inclusivity, and offering accessible educational and creative outlets. I see the Plaza Theatre as a cornerstone of cultural life in Palm Springs.

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Theatre Foundation President J.R. Roberts opened the event and recognized founders and board members who were instrumental in raising the funds needed to bring this economic engine back online. As Mayor, I acknowledged those connected to the theatre’s beginning. Originally commissioned by Julia Cornell. Julia brought out Harry Williams to design the complex. We were honored to have three of Harry William’s relatives connected to this celebration. Harry’s son, E. Stewart Wiliams is a name synonymous with classic mid-century modernism architecture. His son, Eric, and Eric’s wife Sidney, made plans to travel to Palm Springs. Also celebrating were Robert and Barbara Williams. Robert is the son of Roger Williams, E. Stewart's younger brother, who was also an architect. And Mari Anne Williams-Pasquetti, Harry’s granddaughter, and her husband Mike, came in from Arizona.

 

11/22-

The Plaza Theater Community Open House & Block Party saw an estimated 4,500 residents tour the theatre. Seeing the community embracing their new again theatre was a sight to see. This was a proud day downtown. We are grateful for the work of the Plaza Theatre Foundation serving as the caretaker of this historical and economic gem.

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The Filipino Festival was held in the downtown park and appeared to be as well attended. The food vendors seemed to offer an endless variety of Filipino dishes. This event was sponsored in part by the City of Palm Springs.

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11/23-

Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation held their largest social event of the year. About one hundred residents gathered to catch up, meet neighbors and discuss organization business. The Palm Springs Unified School District Foundation was on hand to discuss their Shoes for Students campaign. They provide 2,500 pairs of new shoes to students experiencing homelessness across the Palm Springs Unified School District.

 

11/24-

Today we rededicated two historically and culturally significant memorials. One honoring LGBTQ Veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice and another honoring gay rights pioneer and peace activist Morris Kight. To increase their visibility, the memorials have been relocated from Sunrise Park, where they resided for 23 years. The new location for the memorials is at the Southeast corner of Granvia Valmonte and Palm Canyon Drive.

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I learned of the memorial years ago while researching the historical timeline of Pride in Palm Springs. The tree and bronze plaque were originally funded by Gay Liberation For the 21st Century, a non-partisan political action committee that Kight helped create in the Coachella Valley in 2002. A new, healthy Japanese Oleander tree has been planted at the re-dedication site.

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Morris Kight (1919-2004) was an American gay rights pioneer and peace activist and is considered one of the original founders of the gay and lesbian civil rights movement in the United States. Kight co-founded three seminal LGBTQ institutions: the Los Angeles Chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, the Christopher Street West gay pride parade, and the Gay Community Services Center (now the Los Angeles LGBT Center). He helped defeat the anti-LGBTQ+ Briggs Initiative alongside Harvey Milk in 1978, led the 1993 March on Washington, and served on the Los Angeles County Human Rights Commission for two decades. Kight was instrumental in creating America's first LGBTQ+ Veterans Memorial in Cathedral City, dedicated in 2001.

Sacred soil from the 9/11 plane crash site in Pennsylvania, originally added to the memorial by Morris Kight himself was also relocated.

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Proposed Fire Station 1 meeting occurred with Maria Song, Principal, Interactive Design Corporation, Fire Chief Alvardo, City Manager Scott Stiles, Assistant City Manager Flynn Fagg and me. I was briefed on concerns I previously raised, and we discussed various design benefits and the adaptability to meet future needs of the busiest station in the city. This station will house a new ladder truck and support the city’s most densely populated area for the next 50 years +. I’ve challenged staff to make sure we are building the station we need for today and the future and don’t fall into a mindset of pinching pennies but to build the station to meet the projected needs in the decades to come. I’ve also asked that we group the financing for Fire Station 3, opened in 1964, and Station 5, opened in 1981, in one financing package. Do it right today instead of coming back in five years needing millions to remodel or to bring aging infrastructure up to modern standards including adding facilities for female firefighters.

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Why are these investments required? When Station 5 opened, the city was responding to 3,500 calls a year. This year, our firefighters will respond to more than 12,566 calls. This level of service demands our attention to outdated facilities.

Station 2, opened in 1976, will undergo an update as part of the airport expansion. Station 3 is planned to be expanded to accommodate more personnel and resources, address safety needs, and modernize facilities. Fire Station No. 4 completed a $5.3 million expansion and remodel in 2019.

No matter what plan is approved for Station 1, fewer parking spaces will be available in the current lot adjacent to the station. I’m focused on increasing the turnover of the limited parking spaces for shoppers and reducing congestion in this high-demand lot.

 

Special Palm Springs City Council Meeting | November 24, 2025

 

Key Highlights

• Economic Development Strategic Plan

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Special city council meeting:

I am writing to update you on the critical discussions and actions taken during the special City Council meeting held on November 24, 2025. The focus of the evening was laying the groundwork for sustainable economic prosperity and ensuring our city remains competitive and desirable for residents and businesses alike.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.

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The public testimony segment provided valuable insight into community concerns and support for new initiatives.

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Economic Development Strategic Framework (EDSF)

The only action item was Item 3A: the Economic Development Strategic Framework and Hotel Incentive program overview. This framework was developed by staff (led by Chief Economic Development Officer Wayne Olson, hired in January 2024) and consultants (Civil Economics' Uday Rob and Adam Fowler) to provide alignment, focus, and prioritization for the city's economic development efforts over the next five to twenty years.

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The framework will provide an overarching vision to shape change across all City Hall.

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Data from resident surveys highlighted that citizens are highly interested in improving the public services that includ:

• Public Shade (87% of surveyed residents).

• Affordable Housing (84%).

• Health care access, public safety, and broadband reliability.

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The framework is organized around five principal areas designed to address challenges and drive change:

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1. Principle A: Focus on improving internal city systems, and processes (like planning and permitting) to provide transparent processes, shorter timelines, and fewer surprises for businesses and residents. Actions include audits of municipal code and technology systems and implementing a public data dashboard.

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2. Principle B: Aims to make Palm Springs a great place to do business by setting the conditions for growth and ensuring regulations are consistent. Actions include expanded incentive programs, discussions of formal district designations, and strategies for nighttime activity during the summer months.

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3. Principle C: Acknowledges that tourism remains the anchor but seeks to integrate it with the diversification process. Focus areas include leveraging the airport, focusing on medical tourism, climate innovation, and the creative economy. This also includes expanding the existing Foreign Trade Zone around the airport to reduce costs for businesses importing/exporting goods.

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4. Principle D: Focuses on long-term transformation to establish Palm Springs as an innovation hub. This involves developing innovation campuses (healthcare, wellness, climate sustainability), workforce development partnerships with education providers (including College of the Desert and Palm Springs Unified School District), and attracting talent and investment.

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5. Principle E: Addresses quality of life issues like housing affordability, mobility challenges, and heat mitigation. This includes developing new housing products (live/work, workforce housing), creating shade structures and cooling centers, and making major destinations more connected to create a walkable city.

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Council Action: The City Council approved the Economic Development Strategic Framework and adopted its strategic priorities as a guiding policy document (5-0 vote).

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Hotel Incentive Program Updates

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Staff presented initial thinking on modifications to the Hotel Incentive Program to ensure its continued effectiveness. The current program splits the TOT increment generated above a baseline, often 50/50.

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Proposed key changes include:

• Tiered Investments: Moving away from categorizing projects strictly as renovation or new construction and instead basing incentives on tiered investment levels (dollars per hotel room or "key").

• Addressing Prevailing Wage: Due to the extremely high cost of capital and the requirement for prevailing wage on projects receiving public dollars, staff is considering an initial term (e.g., the first five years) with a split of 90% to the developer and 10% to the city. This higher initial contribution helps developers overcome the high hurdle of construction and labor costs.

• Bonus Categories: Continuing to offer bonus incentives for historic properties and defining incentives for convention center hotels. The updated structure is also designed to capture "hybrid models" where smaller hotels renovate existing rooms while adding new keys.

Council Direction: The Council directed staff to refine these updates and bring the appropriate ordinance back for consideration as soon as January

The adoption of this Strategic Framework is a major step forward, providing a solid structure—or "good bones"—around which we can build initiatives and programs for the future of Palm Springs. Just as a successful city relies on diverse sources of income rather than being perched precariously on a one-legged stool, this new framework ensures we mitigate risk by broadening our economic base while preserving our core identity

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Future Agenda Items Discussed

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During Council comments, I proposed two future agenda items:

1. City-Wide Elected Mayor: I asked the councilmembers to agendize a conversation about the process to give residents the opportunity to vote for who their mayor is. The conversation for a city-wide elected mayor, as directed by the city charter, was only supported by Councilmember Ready and me. As a result, the conversation to elect a mayor at large will not be placed on a future meeting agenda. There is an unofficial rule that three councilmembers need to agree to a request to bring an item forward.

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2. Downtown Park Palm Tree Trimming Policy: After asking for trees to be trimmed in the downtown park since April, I requested that councilmembers agendize the conversation to change the palm tree trimming policy for the downtown park, specifically for trees around the Forever Marilyn statue. The request was made to ensure dead fronds are trimmed to showcase a clean look for visitors, residents and in photographs. In addition to me, two councilmembers supported agendizing the item. Staff will look to schedule the discussion for early January.

 

I adjourned the meeting in the name of Udo Kier.

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Upcoming City Council Meetings and Key Agenda Items:

December 10 – Regular Meeting

• Appointment of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem

• City Council 2026 Meeting Schedule

• City Council Appointments to External Organizations

• Hotel Incentive Program Update

• Cannabis Ordinance Update

Helpful Links & Contacts:

• Mayor's Website – Read past updates on the Mayor's Website.

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

• Engagepalmsprings.com - This website was created as a space for residents to share ideas, discuss important topics, ask questions, and receive updates about City projects.

• 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 of Palm Springs