Council Update | December 12, 2025

Friend,

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Looking Ahead to 2026: Continuing Our Updates!

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Wow, what a fast year it's been! As the Mayor, it was truly important to me to keep our community informed and up to date on all City Council actions, and I loved sharing those regular Updates from me as Mayor.

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A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to write or speak with me personally to express their appreciation for this level of transparency—it means the world! For every Update, I personally drafted the first half, and my wonderful assistant, Jonathan Wright, who is not a city employee, diligently prepared the City Council meeting notes. Fantastic job, Jonathan!

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Now that I’ve been relegated to the end of the bench, my commitment to keeping you informed has not changed! I will now be sharing Ron deHarte Updates.

To ensure these essential updates arrive in your inbox in 2026, we’ll transition to a new email platform. This is where I need your help!

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To continue receiving these updates, please take a moment to opt in using the new system. By opting in now, you ensure you won't miss any future news, as new Updates may use a different list.

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Thank you so much for your support and engagement! I look forward to keeping the conversation going in the new year.

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11/25 

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- I did a few interviews today to talk about the State of the City and raise awareness of the free December event at the convention center. First up was Mike Mozingo from the KNEWS Morning Radio Show, and in the afternoon, I was on with Peter Daut from KESQ.

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- The P.S. Resorts Board meeting was well attended by hotel and restaurant managers and owners. Mayor Pro-Tem David Ready and I presented an update from the city, and we also heard several event presentations.

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12/1 

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- On this World AIDS Day, I visited the AIDS Memorial Quilt Commemoration at Mizell Center. Selections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and local community AIDS Quilts were on display at this free community event sponsored by Eisenhower Health, HARP-PS, and the Mizell Center. As the largest community arts project in the world, the AIDS Memorial Quilt is a teaching tool to help educate people about HIV/AIDS and its continued impact today, and to remember the 700,000 U.S. lives lost in the four decades since the first cases were reported.

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- The Palm Springs AIDS Memorial Task Force hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking at the future site of the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial in Downtown Park. The event, held on World AIDS Day, drew more than 200 community members, including Palm Springs Chief of Police Andy Mills and former City Councilmember Lisa Middleton. The Memorial, titled Well of Love, was designed by award-winning artist Phillip K. Smith III. The lasting tribute includes three inscribed messages: Forever Remembered, Forever Loved, Forever Celebrated.

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- Sadly, this was my last meeting of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments Homeless Committee meeting. I’ve represented the city on this regional planning agency committee for two years, and it’s time for me to cycle out so another councilmember can represent. CVAG coordinates government services within the Coachella Valley.

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- During my term as Mayor, I appreciated working with other local mayors and tribal council members on the Coachella Valley Association of Governments Executive Committee. Today was the last meeting of my term with this group that promotes a better quality of life and balanced growth for residents of Central and Eastern Riverside County.

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- The Plaza Theater’s Grand Re-Opening featured actor, singer, and producer Cynthia Erivo. City Council declared December 1st as Cynthia Erivo Day.

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12/2

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- The State of the City was a free event attended by 550+ guests at the convention center. You can watch the program on the City’s YouTube channel. It was important to me to remove the financial barriers for residents to attend and to create a community gathering. Before and after the presentation, dozens of nonprofit organizations that received grants or sponsorship from the City of Palm Springs were tabling, and we hosted a free ice cream social.

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12/3

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- Bougainvillea Fresh Cuisine opened at 555 S Sunrise Way, Ste 108, and Mayor Pro Tem Ready and I were on hand to celebrate with the owner, Jose Hernandez. Bougainvillea Fresh Cuisine offers a vibrant mix of fresh Latin-inspired dishes, house-made pastas, crisp salads, and flavorful mains, available for lunch and dinner.

 

 

12/4

- Downtown is home to a new boutique bank, HCN Bank. Mayor Pro Tem Ready and I attended the grand opening and presented a certificate of recognition to HCN Bank CEO Kevin Farrenkopf and market president Leo Macias. The bank is located on the first floor of the 500 S Palm Canyon building.

 

- The Palm Springs Animal Shelter held an appreciation event at the home of Lance Bass and Michael Turchin. Large crowd attending. They had a short program to highlight accomplishments for the year at both the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and Desert Wildlife Center. 

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12/5

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- I met with Frank Tysen and other concerned residents to hear their thoughts on the state of Palm Springs. We ended up having an insightful conversation on a wide variety of topics.

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- The Holiday Banner Awards and Tree Lighting in Palm Springs took place tonight. This annual event features an awards ceremony for student-designed banners displayed downtown, followed by the main tree lighting at Frances Stevens Park with Santa, crafts, and some really good tasting cocoa! The banners showcase local K-12 student art with a Palm Springs theme, with winners lining Palm Canyon Drive for the holidays. Be sure to check out the new 30’ holiday tree. It’s covered in white lights and is gorgeous.

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12/6

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-The Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade started in the 1990s along Palm Canyon Drive and has been held every year since on the first Saturday in December. The parade is a holiday tradition for thousands of families in downtown Palm Springs! It was great fun to see so many children lining Palm Canyon Dr.

 

 

12/7

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- Following up on the Palm Springs Loves Canada campaign, National Reporter Francis Plourde, Vancouver CBC/Radio-Canada invited me for an in-person interview. I reinforced the significant relationship Palm Springs has with our Canadian friends, neighbors, volunteers, outdoor enthusiast and supporters of the arts. International flight travel is down; however, the airport has set record passenger counts this summer and domestic travel is up. When asked how successful the PS Loves Canada campaign was, I was proud to let him know the effort reached an estimated 1.85 billion people worldwide across digital and traditional media, reinforcing Palm Springs’ reputation as a warm and inclusive destination amid uncertain international relations.

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- The 5th Margaret O'Brien Legend Award Celebration honoring Bob Mackie took place at the Cultural Center. I was on hand to honor the legendary costume and fashion designer whose work has graced iconic entertainers including Cher and the cast of the Carol Burnet Show.

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- The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway's Annual Tree Lighting featured Lance Bass, one-fifth of the vocal group NSYNC, as the celebrity tree lighter. With 4,000 LED lights, the Tram’s landmark 45-foot tree can be seen throughout the Coachella Valley. This Palm Springs tradition is always a fun way to start the holiday season. I always enjoy the ride up and down when everyone in the tram sings holiday songs.

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12/8

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- Kate Castle and I sat down at City Hall to talk about the Palm Springs entry sign that was never replaced after a car accident, and her idea of evolving the graffiti park into a gratitude park where people are encouraged to write notes of appreciation in place of the graffiti art. She also told me about her role as segment producer and TV host of The American Dream. She provides an authentic voice to the show centered around real estate and lifestyles that define Palm Springs.

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- The annual ONE PS and board and city partners holiday party was an opportunity to spend time with board members, as well as Lieutenant Mike Villegas and Captain Ronald Skyberg from the City of Palm Springs Police and Fire Departments, and a few city staff members who work closely with the neighborhoods. Many thanks to ONE-PS and all the neighborhood organizations for their community organizing and engagement all year.

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12/9

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- At the ONE PS Monthly meeting, I provided an update on agenda items the city council would be addressing. I spent a few minutes explaining that the City Council was not "pushing through" the massive warehouse project. That was misinformation. The city is preparing a list of conditions that any developer must meet to build a significant structure in the city. The conditions will be included in a report to the Tribal Council’s Planning Department for their review and consideration.

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- The O’Donnell Golf Club recently came together to host the Youth Honors Experience, an evening dedicated to celebrating twelve exceptional leaders from the Boys and Girls Club. The evening featured a mocktail reception and a three-course dinner, where club members presented the students with gift cards and commemorative hats. Thanks to Wil Stiles, the students enjoyed an exclusive, after-hours boutique experience, where they received professional styling and custom fittings. To ensure they felt their absolute best, board member Ralph Kato provided the finishing touches—including jackets, shoes, and accessories—that transformed their appearance and bolstered their self-esteem. These thoughtful gestures from the O’Donnell members, Wil Stiles, and Ralph Kato did more than provide clothing; they empowered these young people to step into their futures with confidence. It was a privilege to attend this event.

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12/11

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- City Manager Scott Stiles and I attended the State of the County program with an audience of over 1,000. The event highlighted the County's five districts, programs and projects but V. Manuel Perez our Riverside County Supervisor in District 4 hit it out of the ballpark.

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- Today, Kaiser Permanente held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Palm Springs expansion suites at 1100 N. Palm Canyon Drive. Three physicians will be stationed in this new facility. City Manager Scott Stiles and I were on hand to celebrate the opening and tour the office. I'm happy to have them in the neighborhood.

 

Palm Springs City Council Meeting | December 10, 2025

 

Key Highlights

• Appointment of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem

• Report to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians on conditions to build 2.85 million square feet of warehouse space

• Cannabis Ordinance Update

• City Council 2026 Meeting Schedule

• City Council Appointments to External Organizations

 

Major Decision & Highlights

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The Meeting opened with the appointment of Naomi Soto to serve as Mayor for the next year and David Ready to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

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Item 2.A: Serena Park CFD Formation: Adopted resolutions concluding formation proceedings for Community Facilities District (CFD) 2025-1, including authorizing the levy of special taxes. The key detail negotiated was capping the tax escalation at 18 years instead of the standard 30 years to protect future homeowners. The motion carried five to zero.

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Item 3C: Warehouse Conformity Report: The Council stated the proposed 2.85 million square foot warehouse does not conform to the city’s General Plan and Zoning Code. A resolution detailing the nonconformity and 87 conditions mirroring those the city would require for any similar project (87 is my count during the meeting). This includes requiring solar, meeting Gold LEED standards, and limiting truck idling. As defined in Land Use Agreements with the Tribe, by submitting the report, the Council became eligible to request a Joint Meeting with the Tribal Council to discuss the project further. The meeting will be requested and scheduled within 30 days. This does not mean the meeting will be held in 30 days.

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Item 1D: First Quarterly Financial Report (FY 2026): The Finance Director presented the Q1 report, noting that general fund revenues are typically slow early in the fiscal year 24/25. Staff clarified that while costs are rising, the city is not in a structural deficit, and fiscal steps such as reducing the CalPERS reserve transfer (from $6 million to $1 million) and a soft hiring freeze have been implemented to mitigate rising costs. The report was accepted. I pointed out that by reducing our CalPERS liability payment this year by $5 million, we only delayed the payment. Our budget looks better today, but the transaction will strain future budgets.

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Item 1G: Victoria Park Restroom Replacement: Approved final plans and authorized bids for the replacement of the aging restroom facility with a modern, safer structure (modeled after Demuth and Sunrise Parks), funded by Measure J. The motion carried.

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Item 1K: Convention Center Modernization (Urban Design/Branding Contracts): The contracts sought for Urban Design (!Melk.global) and Branding (Multi Studio) were deferred to the next meeting. This was necessary because Mayor Pro Tem Ready identified that the contract language lacked clarity on the estimated hours or percentage of work allocated to each deliverable, requiring staff to incorporate those financial accountability measures before final approval.

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Item 1N: Public Art Cleaning Contract Amendment: We approved a $50,000 increase to the maintenance contract with Signature Sculpture. This amendment expands their scope from 33 to 44 art pieces, ensuring the proper care of 11 newly installed works. I commended the Public Arts Commission for its ongoing commitment to preserving our city’s collection. The motion carried.

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Item 1O: Whistleblower Policy Review: Reviewed and approved the existing whistleblower policy. The Council confirmed that the policy is robust and uses strong practices through the City Attorney's external firm, ensuring accountability. The motion carried.

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Item 1P: Ruth Hardy Park Workout Space: Approved the construction contract for a 60'x100' community-initiated outdoor workout space. I commended staff and the Parks Commission for delivering this project about $150,000 under the projected Measure J budget. The motion carried.

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Item 1U: Tahquitz Creek Resident Golf Rates: Formalized the administrative decision to maintain the current resident golf rates, honoring the commitment to active community members. The motion carried.

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Item 3E: Cannabis Lounges Ordinance: Introduced an ordinance for first reading, amending the municipal code to allow cannabis lounges to offer food service (non-infused), entertainment, and ticketed events, aligning with new state law (AB 175). The motion passed.

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Item 3D: 2025 California Building Standards Code Adoption: Adopted new state building codes via both first reading and an urgency ordinance. This included revising the fire response time standard from four minutes to five minutes to reflect our city’s geographic reality, which staff currently achieves 86% of the time. It also adopted a compliance engine to streamline electronic reporting of fire protection systems.

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Item 3B: Committee Assignments: We ratified a majority of the assignments for the coming year, balancing stability and fresh perspectives with requests from each councilmember.

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Internal Committees Assignments Approved:

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Finance Standing Committee: Mayor Soto (Appointee), Mayor Pro Tem Reddy (Alternate).

Board/Commission Ad Hoc: Mayor Soto (Appointee), Mayor Pro Tem Reddy (Alternate).

Economic Development Standing Committee: Mayor Soto (Appointee), Councilmember Bernstein (Alternate).

Parks Master Plan Task Force: Councilmember Bernstein (Appointee), Mayor Soto (Alternate).

Arts & Culture Roundtable: Councilmember Bernstein (Appointee), Councilmember Garner (Alternate).

Blue Zones Task Force: Mayor Soto (Appointee).

External Organizations and Liaison Appointments: 

CVAG Executive Committee: Mayor Soto (Appointee), Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Alternate).

CVAG Energy/Environmental Resources: Mayor Soto (Appointee).

CVAG Homelessness: Mayor Soto (Appointee).

CVAG Public Safety: Councilmember Garner (Appointee), Councilmember Bernstein (Alternate).

CVAG Transportation: Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Appointee), Councilmember Garner (Alternate). 

CA Coalition of Mayors: Mayor Soto (Appointee).

CV Conservation Commission: Councilmember Garner (Appointee).

CV Mountains Conservancy Board: Councilmember Garner (Appointee).

Desert Community Energy Board: Councilmember Bernstein (Appointee).

ERCIAC (Dissolving): Councilmember Garner (Appointee).

Friends of Animal Shelter: Councilmember Bernstein (Appointee), Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Alternate).

League of CA Cities: Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Appointee).

Main Street / Uptown Business Association: Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Appointee).

Hotel General Managers Meeting: Mayor Soto (Appointee), Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Alternate).

PS Resorts: Councilmember deHarte (Appointee), Councilmember Bernstein (Alternate).

Plaza Theater Foundation (Liaison): Councilmember Bernstein (Appointee).

Riverside County Transportation Commission: Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Appointee), Councilmember Garner (Alternate).

Southern California Association of Governments Conference & General Assembly Meeting: Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Appointee).

Sunline Transit Agency: Councilmember Garner (Appointee).

Film Festival Liaison: Councilmember Bernstein (is an elected board member), Mayor Pro Tem Ready (Official City Liaison Alternate).

Active Transportation Group (Liaisons): Mayor Pro Tem Ready and Councilmember deHarte. 

Human Rights Commission (Liaison): Grace Garner

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Committee Assignments Deferred:

Due to an inability to reach an agreement on appointments, the following assignments have been formally postponed until January 14, 2026. Current appointees will remain in their roles until their replacements are officially approved.

1. Visit Greater Palm Springs (Councilmembers interested deHarte and Bernstein).

2. Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce (Councilmembers interested deHarte and Bernstein).

3. Palm Springs Hospitality Association (Councilmembers interested deHarte and Bernstein).

4. Office of Neighborhood Involvement (One-PS). Those interested include Mayor Soto, Councilmembers deHarte and Bernstein.

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Upcoming City Council Meetings and Key Agenda Items:

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January 14

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• Fire Station 1 & 3 Design Update (I’ve requested that this item include bringing Station 5 up to current standards)

• Building code ordinance

• Historic Designation – 765 Via Vadera

• Appeal of Planning Commission decision RE Affordable Housing Project – 305 W San Rafael

• Loan Commitment for Red Tail Multifamily Land Development Affordable Housing Project – 305 W San Rafael

• Loan Commitment for Pacific West Committee Affordable Housing Project

• Bond Authorization for Convention Center

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January 28

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• Hotel Incentive Program Ordinance Update

• Parking Study Implementation Report

 

 

Helpful Links & Contacts:

• Councilman deHarte Website – Read past updates on my 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.

• 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