Ron de Harte

Hello Friend,

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This week, I’m writing to you about the council actions at the April 9th meeting and my work since our last update.

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In addition to meetings with city staff, community members, business leaders, and organizations, to maintain transparency and accessibility, I've made it a priority to represent our city in diverse settings beyond formal meetings.

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Please join me at our community meeting April 26 at 11:00 am, Palm Springs Convention Center.

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My Thoughts - 

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Canadian Tourism and Concerns About Local Economy

Over the last four weeks, I’ve heard concern about our future from business owners, dozens of travelers, and Canadian visitors. I’m being asked, “What are we doing to help?” Given the significant contribution of Canadian visitors to Palm Springs' local economy, and the potential impact of decreased Canadian travel on our hospitality, retail, dining, and service sectors, it is imperative that we proactively prepare for a potential economic slowdown.

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We can be optimistic and hope future policy changes in Washington will make us whole. We can shift marketing efforts to attract domestic travelers and drive markets. We can hope and dream of replacing the $302 million annual spending from Canadians with new domestic travel, or WE CAN prepare today and cover all bases.

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As we enter the 2025/26 budget process, my priority is safeguarding Palm Springs' economic stability. I’m adopting a "prepare today" approach by looking at our 2025/26 budget strategies to account for potentially slower consumer spending and the ramifications of evolving administration policies, including potential tariffs.

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I’m requesting that the City Manager update the Finance Standing Committee meeting agenda for April 24th to include a thorough review of current city investment plans and identify areas most vulnerable to the anticipated economic impacts.

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I will advocate for prioritize enhancing efficiency through technology and fostering innovation across all city departments. This focus will be crucial in maintaining essential service levels amidst potential budgetary constraints.

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Considering the significant municipal infrastructure projects currently underway, it is vital that our planning incorporates contingencies for unforeseen challenges and uncertainties arising from economic shifts and policy changes.

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In anticipation of potentially slower consumer spending in 2026, WE CAN prepare now by adjusting our 2025/26 budget strategies in the next 60 days. This includes diligently monitoring all policies affecting city operations and proactively adjusting our strategic plans.

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By attracting domestic travelers and being proactive, WE CAN mitigate potential risks and reinforce Palm Springs’ economic resilience in the face of these evolving circumstances.

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Update

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March 28 - Interview with multimedia journalist Kendall Flynn at KESQ to discuss the Navigation Center’s progress. I provided an update that 65 of the 80 residential units are occupied! 58 single units, 5 family units and 2 transitional youth units are occupied. There have been 5 exists from the program. 2 are in their own rental unit, 1 is with family and 2 moved into permanent housing.             

March 29 - The city was a sponsor of the Trans Pride 2025 "Empower & Employ" event at the Leisure Center Pavilion. The event offered a platform for the transgender community to connect, celebrate, and access resources, including career development opportunities. It was nice to see hundreds of residents attending in support. The city donated $35,000 in cash and services to sponsor Transgender Day of Remembrance, Equality Garden Party and Trans Pride.

- 31st Annual Steve Chase awards recognized Lynn Hammond for her outstanding humanitarian efforts and raised funds to directly support DAP Health's mission to provide vital health services to those in need. DAP Health serves over 85,000 patients across 240 urban and rural zip codes in Riverside and San Diego counties.      

       

March 30 – I served as an Honorary Host of the Lambda Legal in the Desert event. The 50-year-old Lambda Legal organization’s mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and people living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Residents John McDonald and Robert Wright were recognized with the Desert Leadership Award.

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- The Movie Colony East Annual Neighborhood Meeting was well attended. Residents heard from police, fire, parks & rec and I provided an overview from the city.      

     

April 1 - Main Street Palm Springs meeting with business representatives and city officials. This meeting is always informative with updates from city council, police, fire, Visit Palm Springs, convention center, and city economic development.

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- My effort to elevate the work of our economic development office through the Mayor's Council on Economic Development is moving at a bureaucratic pace. Councilmember Bernstein and I were summoned for the second time to meet at city hall. I was clear, the Mayor’s Council is not a staff dependent or managed effort. Our city does not have the capacity to take on new Bluesky projects. We can prioritize and call on community members to provide expertise and leadership to work on the four pillars of economic development: traditional economic development, Tourism/ Arts and Culture, Tech, and Clean Energy. The technology and AI innovation and arts and culture ideas from last year are being detailed for the full city council to consider and weigh in on what is best for the city.           

April 2 - Coffee with a Cop - was held at the Starbucks on Ramon and I stopped by to show support of our officers in blue and hear about community perspectives. The community outreach is intended to foster positive relationships between the Palm Springs Police Department and the community. The program aims to build trust and open communication by providing an informal setting for citizens to connect with officers, learn about their work, and discuss community concerns.

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- Luncheon supporting the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial was organized by the memorial task force. Civic leaders and philanthropists gathered to hear updates to the project scheduled for placement in the downtown park. The Palm Springs AIDS Memorial will stand as a powerful symbol of remembrance, education, and hope—ensuring that the stories of resilience and love are never forgotten. Note this is not the civil rights sculpture by artist Jim Isermann scheduled for Francis Stevens Park. This project is commonly referenced as the Pride Monument.     

        

April 3 - Discussed potential opportunities to enhance the Tour de Palm Springs in Coachella Valley with their executive director Cody Shelton. The challenge is to see if organizers can create a draw to encourage more visitors and residents to downtown. After the early ride out of bikers, on Palm Canyon Dr, foot traffic is light the rest of the day. This is especially impacting non-food businesses. This city provides $65,000 in services to the event. I’m happy the organizer is looking at additional activities that could attract more visitors. If they find the financial support, I’ll champion these new activities.

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- I enjoyed meeting Jim Walker who is interested in serving on a city commission. I appreciated hearing about Jim’s background and desire to be more involved in decisions that guide our city. I encourage commission service because, generally, commissioners help develop recommendations reflective of the community and provide the City Council with perspectives to make policy decisions that enrich the city. This is an important role.

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- For the first time as Mayor of Palm Springs, Joey English invited me to join her radio show “Voice of the Desert.” Joey has provided news and insights on happenings around town for 29 years. It’s always a fun time and you never know what you’ll learn with Joey.  

           

April 4 - Attended the Creative Technology & Arts steering committee meeting where they are defining plans for a June Tech event with a mission to grow our community’s prosperity and productivity with responsible use of A.I. that empowers youth and residents to live their best lives while also attracting more visitors and diverse economic investment. This is not a city sponsored event.

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- LA Times interview with staff writer Hailey Branson-Potts discussing Canadian tourism and the meaning behind the Palm Springs Hearts Canada banners.     

        

April 5 - Hands Off! Day of Action Rally, to demonstrate against Administration policies, took place at City Hall. I was proud to see the largest crowd of people I’ve ever seen in front of City Hall. Congressman Raul Ruiz spoke and pledged his continued support of all residents. Hands Off demonstrations occurred across the United States. The city did not sponsor this event; however, various public safety services were deployed by the city.

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- At the Canyon Palms Neighborhood Annual Meeting I talked about the need to prioritize infrastructure and civic improvements. With $3.2 Billion in municipal projects, we’ve got to put the breaks on. Put the breaks on to focus on priorities and deliver quality work on time and on budget.

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- I attended the Faux Fur Ball which is crucial to the community because the funds raised enable the city owned Palm Springs Animal Shelter to provide essential services like spay/neuter clinics, Trap-Neuter-Return program for feral cats and pet food banks.             

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April 6 - Opera In the Park celebrated 25 years of providing free access to high-quality cultural experiences. Opera is made accessible to a wide audience, including those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend traditional opera performances due to cost. Thousands attending this concert in Sunrise Park. The city is an $8,500 sponsor of this event.           

 

April 7 - Interview with Desert Sun reporter Tom Coulter discussing the Palm Springs Heart Canada banners. The banners are not a result from consultants or agencies telling the city we need to do something to save tourism. The banners are a simple gesture to our Canadian friends, neighbors and community members to let them know we appreciate them and the same Palm Springs they first fell in love with will be the Palm Springs they will return to next season. All city councilmembers contributed from community development funds to cover the cost of the banner production.

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- At the 4th Convention Center and Tourism Stakeholder meeting, we reviewed working groups for Capital Improvements and Construction, Public Financing, Urban Planning and Connectivity, Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and Implementation and Program Management. Each group has specific tasks they need to move forward. As work is defined, we will update the City Council.

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- The Palm Springs Art Museum hosts Cabaret 88, a popular theatrical series at the Annenberg Theater. I was fortunate to attend and support the season’s closing show.     

    

April 8 - Participated in the Tourism Industry General Manager call and provided an update on the Convention Center work groups and key outcomes of the Council’s strategic planning meeting. Council affirmed the overarching principles of Sustainability and Social Equity, created four broad goals (Economic Development, Public Safety and Community Services, Infrastructure, Facilities, and Housing), and added a foundation to the goals of Financial and Organizational Well-Being.

Council determined six items for enhanced areas of focus for the coming year:

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Convention Center modernization and seamless connectivity to Downtown
Airport modernization
Enhanced efforts on deferred maintenance
Updating the Zoning Code
Economic development planning
Affordable housing

- Radio interview with KCRW host Madeleine Brand discussing the Canada banners on Palm Canyon. KCRW is the NPR affiliate servicing Los Angeles and the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley.

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- Interview with Denise Ryan at the Vancouver Sun to discuss the Canada banners on Palm Canyon.

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- Interview with Lois Beckett at The Guardian to discuss the Canada banners.

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- Attended the Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs monthly meeting and shared the outcomes from the council strategy planning session. The nonprofit organization serves as a network for the city's neighborhood organizations, allowing them to collectively voice their neighborhood interests and resident concerns. Police Chief Paul Alvarado briefed the group on the fire hazard severity designation for Palm Springs. The state classifies fire risk in three tiers: very high, high and moderate. Palm Springs has been downgraded from a “very high” to a “moderate” fire hazard severity zone in newly released maps from the California State Fire Marshal.

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April 9 - NEWSTALK 1010 Toronto Canada radio interview to discuss the Palm Springs Hearts Canada banners.

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- Closed Session Council Meeting

- City Council Meeting

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Now I would like to update you on highlights from the last city council meeting.

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Palm Springs City Council Meeting | April 9, 2025

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Key Highlights

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• Palm Springs Airport updates

• South Palm Canyon Dr low water crossing bridge replacement project

• Comprehensive fee schedule updates

• Ordinance to expand the Planning Commission

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Proclamations

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Arts and Culture and Creativity Month - This is in honor of the seventh annual Statewide Celebration of Arts, first established by the legislature in 2019. The city believes that arts, culture, and creativity are essential to their thriving community.

Water Conservation Month - The City of Palm Springs and Desert Water Agency are committed to protecting and preserving water through ongoing conservation efforts and sustainable water management practices.

American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Day was proclaimed on April 2nd. This was in recognition of their exceptional dedication to providing 75 years of family medicine through education, visionary leadership, and responsible advocacy.

MAJOR DECISIONS & UPDATES

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Palm Springs International Airport -

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Additional Legal Fees - The discussion surrounding the approval of a consulting services agreement with Kaplan Kirsch for specialized legal counsel for the Palm Springs International Airport (item 1 G) centered on the need for additional expertise in federal aviation rules and regulations and matters related to the FAA, TSA, and environmental aspects specific to airports.

The City Attorney assured the council that his office would continue to oversee legal matters and review invoices from the specialized counsel. Ultimately, the Council approved a substitute motion for a one-year term with a budget not to exceed $900,000 for the first year, with the stipulation that the agreement would run through the City Attorney's office and be brought back to the City Council for review after the first year.

Biometric Passenger Screening – The discussion regarding the biometric passenger screening services provided by Clear (item 1 E) at the Palm Springs International Airport involved a proposal to approve a non-exclusive operating lease agreement for one year with two additional one-year extension options. The airport collects revenue from Clear through yearly space rent of $115,478.72 and $0.75 per unique member verified using CLEAR biometric screening services with a minimum annual guarantee of $111,000.

Transportation Network Company Agreement and Rate Increase - The council approved the staff recommendation to approve the Transportation Network Company (TNC) Operating Permit Agreement and rate increase from $3.00 to $4.00 for each drop-off and pickup for all TNCs (Lyft, Uber and Fair Co-op) operating at the Palm Springs International Airport effective May 1, 2025 (item 1 H). Staff noted a shift in consumer use towards TNCs and anticipated increased demand during upcoming festivals, making the additional Fair Co-op transportation option beneficial.
South Palm Canyon Drive bridge project - The South Palm Canyon Drive drainage and bridge project centers on the replacement of a low water crossing bridge on South Palm Canyon Drive at Arenas Canyon South. This federally funded initiative aims to address long-standing flood control issues in the Oswit Canyon Alluvial Fan.

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However, the project has generated safety concerns from residents and concerns of the potential environmental impact on the conserved Oswit Canyon and its wildlife. Access to the South Lykken Trailhead will remain during construction. Any frequency of flooding is reason to prioritize the public health and safety of residents in the 700 houses south of the bridge.

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The project has a history dating back to 1991, with its scope initially tied to a now-defunct development in Oswit Canyon. The bridge design has no connection to the defunct development which had its own flood and drainage plan. While ready for construction in 2016, it was paused due to litigation, and the design was later modified to appear more natural. The bridge is not a monstrosity. Its not large and unsightly. Its redesign is low profile and not visible when crossing over. The estimated cost is $9 to $10 million, with approximately $4.5 million expected from federal funds.

Due to concern of not holding community outreach meetings as requested by city council last summer, the City Council tabled item for 60 days. Staff was directed to hold community meetings with at least one via Zoom and then report back.

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Comprehensive fee schedule - (Item 2 A) The City of Palm Springs is reviewing and updating the fees it charges for different services. This state mandated review occurs every five years to ensure fees cover the cost of providing the services to a private party vs the community at large. The city is prohibited from charging fees that exceed the cost to the city to provide the service. A consulting company called Willdan has been working with the city to study the costs and suggest appropriate fee levels.

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This is the beginning of a process to update the city's various fees including Aviation, Building, City Clerk, Community TV and IT, Engineering, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Special Programs Compliance, Planning, Police, and Housing.

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City Council members had many questions about the calculations, the potential impact on residents and businesses, and the overall cost analysis.

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The public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed fees at a public hearing before any final decisions are made. The Council also requested more information, such as the top revenue-generating fees and the average fee increase per department, to help them make informed decisions.

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Ordinance to expand the Planning Commission - to eight members, including seven voting members and one non-voting member with a three-year term. This first reading was approved. Aim is to enhance the Planning Commission's capacity and provide a training opportunity for potential future members.

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Upcoming Items -

April 23 -

-Economic Development Strategic Plan Update
-Hearing 2, CDBG Annual Action Plan
-Public Hearing for Comprehensive Fee Schedule
-Hotel Incentive Agreement, Orchid Tree
-Discussion of Community Land Trust

Helpful Links & Contacts:

Mayors Website – Read past updates on the Mayors Website

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

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.

ONE-PS - is a network of Palm Springs neighborhoods that gives voice to the issues and concerns of our community.

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

For other City-related issues, please visit our website

Send this link to invite others to join our Newsletter list - Join Mayor's Newsletter list.

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Best regards,

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Ron deHarte
Mayor