[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6102404,"mediaKeyId","2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d","parentId",2804668,"title","Votes at a glance: City Council actions March 27, 2025","audioSeconds",1735,"startMs",3515000,"endMs",5250000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d&start=3515&end=5250","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d/thumbnail_3515000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6102404/Palm-Springs/Riverside-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-City-Council-actions-March-27-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102404-cde38e8e76cd12cea91a5d09a4ee31f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136924&Signature=eZ7PgeO~gJSQBTSMOHY7bA5u1QVQpV1qkgZze5gMMr5-lfL57tC3p0fAAd-3zUj5B~SEprcFoB5PYUC0Y1F6YpWlgg8G1YA3oQ2GEb3SVSj1dVuciVUCkq~EgUjWASwnMSm4NhChvtVZ39rvj5dHM0xDdWl0Hx4mfzJH-hqNXoGveHMfjlsZrkZ61GRroQ1NGgLQ9g7qD5nLxd0mOv~5silKInWDBuLxbT1HQW93T4g5eM2JJNImjI1G~tevkVo-xUJKkQxf61Jex3sse9YNV1tfPrBdelgmq3foqLkTaFYPrJa5~O-6Si0ICePYGwJU8rr-CU-l8k1wrmlmOd9P1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Palm Springs CA","date","2025-03-28T05:58:25.83Z","article","The Palm Springs City Council took the following formal actions during its March 27 meeting.

1) Acceptance of the meeting agenda
- Motion: Accept the agenda as published with council comments noted.
- Outcome: Approved (voice vote). No roll-call individual tallies recorded in the transcript.

2) Acceptance of the consent calendar
- Motion: Approve the consent calendar (items listed on the meeting agenda).
- Outcome: Approved (voice vote). No roll-call individual tallies recorded in the transcript.

3) Historic designation: Garber residence (2455 Southridge Drive)
- Motion: Accept staff and Historic Site Preservation Board recommendation to designate the Doctor Harry and Betty Garber residence as a Class I local historic landmark and add it to the local inventory of historic places.
- Outcome: Approved (motion accepted by council during public hearing). Transcript records support for designation; no roll-call tally was printed in the minutes.
- Authority referenced: Local historic designation criteria (Class I) and HSPB report.

4) Plaza Theatre rehabilitation (agenda item 3A)
- Motion: Approve Amendment No. 4 to the ARG architect agreement (approx. $270,761); approve increased task order for Dudek inspections/PM (approx. $397,500); accept a $750,000 foundation advance; authorize equipment substitutions and building essentials work; appropriate additional funds (staff provided an amount in the staff report) from the deferred-maintenance internal service fund; delegate authority to the city manager to execute amendments and change orders as necessary.
- Outcome: Approved (council vote in open session). Staff will apply incoming foundation payments and identified savings to reduce the net city appropriation.

Notes: The transcript recorded motions and votes in open session but did not include a detailed roll-call tally for each item. Where specific ordinance or contract numbers were not given in the staff report or the transcript, the items are recorded here using the agenda item identifiers and the amounts presented to council.

For more detail on each action (motions as read, supporting documents and staff reports) see the city's official agenda packet and the adopted minutes of March 27, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting | March 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A quick rundown of formal actions taken during the March 27 Palm Springs City Council meeting, including consent items, a historic designation and funding approvals for the Plaza Theatre rehabilitation.","taxTitle","Palm Springs, Riverside County, California","taxId",55405,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6102408,"Council hears district plan for convention center upgrades, stakeholders to refine financing and connectors",1198,7922000,9120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d&start=7922&end=9120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d/thumbnail_7922000.jpg","/articles/6102408/Palm-Springs/Riverside-County/California/Council-hears-district-plan-for-convention-center-upgrades-stakeholders-to-refine-financing-and-connectors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102408-64f70f93eb4e2603d15ceffcc81ed510/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136924&Signature=OOSzyXqt~c57YB7aJZlP-GQl5vMrDq4v7xXz8jNShIRMLWVcfMn0XuikCjwul1qXw2tU6nazUVnxsAc~gdzBaVZ~1g5I1k~gUEnoSoVfGtkO9BtR7LqL2BPRN9B-zSJYGLjRxV6geNXy7RjkvbnPyjOcqtQJ~Cd4ZZ3OU~LoxXTX~b-mqLoVAkMoIJc-~9yXPE2F6j8pP2yAqXUFxjRnQQ~SVdw4F4ACDWCFWxnWNdEnoUDusnkvZ94TZJIFTqKhMawxOhBe-tasceTeKyeExlDIzHSi3iCOJ78lkEA16DqaJAgXBcMT~~ojDcN7piQg9njx7u7EIAG7RBKIdRicXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a convention-center and district initiatives briefing to the City Council at its March 27 meeting, describing a multi-year program of facility upgrades, streetscape/connectivity improvements and financing discussions intended to boost economic return from conventions and downtown visitation.

Wayne Olsen, chief economic development officer, summarized three planning inputs: a CSL (Connection Sports & Leisure) future study, a master plan prepared for ASM Global by HMC Architects, and an economic-impact analysis. Staff described a district concept — a branded planning area linking the convention center to downtown via four connector corridors (Tahquitz Canyon Way, East Andreas Road, Amado Road, and Alejo Road) — and listed potential corridor interventions including dedicated lighting and wayfinding, public art installations and activated outdoor event spaces.

On the facility, staff outlined proposed capital work including expanded outdoor event space, added public circulation and social areas, upgraded systems and potential reconfiguration to allow simultaneous events. A high-level cost estimate staff presented for the full suite of convention-center improvements was about $98 million in an earlier plan; staff said a compressed schedule and coordination with stakeholders could reduce some costs while accelerating deployment over the next three to four years. A phased construction approach was shown that would allow parts of the center to remain open during work to preserve lease income and event bookings.

Staff discussed hotel inventory nearby — a concentration of nearly 950 keys within a block (including a 410-key Renaissance and a 257-key Hilton) and roughly 2,360 keys citywide usable for group bookings — and said some studies point to a potential future need for an additional 400–500 blockable hotel keys in the district to serve larger conventions.

Economic projections cited by staff suggested large multi-decade returns: over a 30-year horizon, staff quoted figures (from the CSL economic work) including roughly $1.4 billion in direct spending, $3.4 billion in economic output and about $250 million in tax revenue. Staff said the improvements could generate roughly 1,300 jobs and tens of millions in annual wages. Council members asked for careful phasing, attention to design quality and options for financing including updates to the city’s Municipal Code section that governs hotel incentives (staff cited Code 5.26) and potential TOT or TBID changes.

The city manager said stakeholder and working-group meetings are already underway and scheduled; staff proposed continuing to refine sequencing, financing strategies, district design and a schedule for design and construction. Council members on the working group praised the collaborative process and emphasized the broader community benefits of improved walkability and placemaking around the convention center.

No formal council action was taken; staff requested authority to continue working with stakeholders and consultants to develop an implementation plan and recommended returning to council with financing options and a design-development schedule.","Staff outlined a multi-year plan to modernize the Palm Springs Convention Center and create a connected downtown 'district,' presenting cost estimates, phasing options, hotel inventory and projections of long-term economic impact; council and staff formed stakeholder working groups to refine financing and urban-design details.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6102414,"Council approves additional funds and contract amendments to finish Plaza Theatre rehabilitation",3980,3160000,7140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d&start=3160&end=7140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d/thumbnail_3160000.jpg","/articles/6102414/Palm-Springs/Riverside-County/California/Council-approves-additional-funds-and-contract-amendments-to-finish-Plaza-Theatre-rehabilitation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102414-86c77290ceb491a11c1272f9c94651a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136924&Signature=TvaqeERFnp7z84~1p3cxdrqLvq2VLbTJIOwySEi7zIjOVHSdvUJYPszbx4Va3HoNj6hh0fMosRLGw75ZAXtCfookb6bfLL9kU9yH7G3cL0ogISJ-Sszdel4FhnHF-y9s7UBHtC7~yKmcQgqza0pqvsmyRAU-9YyyLf-awwLWc4zUZjEj4AX3I5dbg4DR-CmiYTon7KAPImejbuHU0j~SwFPMq90vTZre4LK-HA~F08IKFIHLTgzDI6~yGuuqUR2B7Tyd9tYiLRBZRFn211aruT7c31UyoQ6jJw-ZmkxuTDky0AA6~7egodNIeC2grAlIppLmtm-xNVOILtV3H-yDMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council on March 27 approved staff recommendations to authorize contract amendments and an additional appropriation to advance rehabilitation of the historic Plaza Theatre with the goal of substantial completion by October and public programming beginning in December.

Staff asked the council to authorize: (1) Amendment No. 4 to the architect’s agreement with Architectural Resources Group (ARG) to cover additional site visits and design for a new west-entry courtyard (ARG amendment requested: $270,761); (2) a task-order increase for Dudek (on-call engineering and specialty inspections) for approximately $397,500 to cover extended construction oversight and closeout; (3) an advance from the Plaza Theatre Foundation of $750,000 to keep schedule momentum while the foundation completes pledged fundraising; and (4) city approval of equipment substitutions and essential code/fire-safety work, funded by an additional appropriation from the city’s deferred-maintenance internal service fund. Staff said the requested appropriation would result in an overall contingency on the project of about 20%.

Teresa Gallivan, assistant city manager, described the request as a one-time package to keep the project on an aggressive schedule and to capture efficiencies by completing some construction and equipment upgrades while the contractor and trades are on site. Chris Mooney, the city’s finance director, summarized the overall financing: the original project budget combined private fundraising led by the Plaza Theatre Foundation (about $9.5 million in this phase plus previous fundraising) and prior city appropriations that brought the total program budget near $34 million. The foundation has transferred $8.75 million to the city so far and continues to raise naming and donor commitments, staff said.

Foundation representatives told council fundraising momentum is high: Mark Hamilton, foundation treasurer, said the board has conducted donor tours and large donor events and had sold nearly $900,000 in seat-naming opportunities and more than $10 million in larger naming commitments; Hamilton said philanthropic momentum recently produced a $1 million gift from a supporter who also pledged a $1 million match. John Bolton, the theater general manager working with Oak View Group, said the foundation and operator have announced roughly 30 shows to date and early ticket sales are strong.

Council members asked about specific cost categories, oversight and schedule. Staff said the additional consultant hours reflect the extension of the construction schedule from an earlier February target to an October substantial completion date; Dudek’s scope assumed the earlier schedule and needs to be extended. City project managers said Dudek and city staff are monitoring hours closely and that multiple city project managers are assigned to oversee progress.

Motion and vote: council moved to accept staff’s recommendations, authorizing the architect amendment, the Dudek task order, an advance of foundation funds, equipment substitutions and the additional appropriation from the deferred-maintenance fund, and delegating city-manager authority to execute amendments and change orders as needed. The motion passed on a council vote; staff said the city will apply identified savings and the incoming foundation funds to reduce the net city appropriation needed as pledges are received.

Why it matters: the Plaza Theatre is a major downtown redevelopment component; staff and the foundation said completing the project on the advertised timeline preserves scheduled programming and increases the likelihood of additional revenue and economic activity downtown.

Ending: foundation leaders and staff reiterated that most funding remains private, that the foundation has made sizable payments already and that private donations and tax-credit instruments remain part of the financing plan.","Council authorized amendments and additional appropriations to keep the Plaza Theatre rehabilitation on an accelerated schedule, approving contracts with the architect and inspection/project-management consultants and accepting a foundation advance while trustees continue fundraising.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6102418,"Palm Springs council hears progress report on navigation center, staff urged to expand follow-up and reporting",3153,990000,4143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d&start=990&end=4143","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804668-f449d6b6c943f4c4837254e886a1997d/thumbnail_990000.jpg","/articles/6102418/Palm-Springs/Riverside-County/California/Palm-Springs-council-hears-progress-report-on-navigation-center-staff-urged-to-expand-follow-up-and-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102418-3bddff8dcafabab86b8a3b2763308b29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136924&Signature=C7x-YitVhUTSvYaUfLAHwnrfT9IvvySfBeCeAcBGgeyAiAZSrarMIdKsmqCg0p9Yhr60G13NUDokE1ASKQfZaH4UdJWbouC8Z0hb7ZuKNSDiK8pY7mS3Y~Vw4~8n~UIKtrjo2XL7TXqmcPrUc1cfdwZEPUhYtmz87shwDyvRNFYY~RzIfb5ZMuYjMleQo9vDHECc6DfU9kGMg1bCaq5fxo9lGQhrFiHJ8WGI-9RURtlboAfH-qyNVcYyNjnJa0FySDniOpD1H~JsjgMipngizGxDVKbptA~4uHPULdN11z1VgYkofF~v0nLMaqT3enC-nPOggHR0s7nZ3DcjlpjLww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palm Springs City Council received a progress update March 27 on the city’s navigation center, early entry shelter and associated services, hearing that the facilities are nearly at capacity and that multiple partnerships and grant programs are helping move people into housing.

Jay Verrata, the city’s director of housing and community development, told the council the navigation center’s 80 modular units and the 50-bed early entry facility are in heavy use: family units are fully occupied, single units are about 89% occupied (just under a 90% occupancy requirement in the state contract), and transitional-age-youth units are about 20% occupied. Verrata and Martha’s Village & Kitchen staff described the pathway from outreach and the day-access center to overnight shelter, to the navigation center, and on to permanent or permanent-supportive housing.

The report said federal, state and local funds have underpinned the effort: the city and partners secured HomeKey funding for the navigation center and a separate encampment-resolution grant that provides housing navigators, rental assistance and case management for up to three years. Verrata told council the state contract limits residents in the modular units to 15% of area median income (AMI), far below typical affordable housing thresholds, and that the encampment-resolution program’s eligibility rules — which in practice require an individual to move directly from street encampment into a modular unit to use some funds — have created operational hurdles.

Martha’s Village & Kitchen staff gave utilization and service figures. Anne Eyring, interim director of programs and operations at the Palm Springs Navigation Center, and Alejandra Andias, director of programs and operations, reported that the access center has served about 604 unduplicated individuals and provided more than 17,000 total services, including roughly 2,400 case-management interactions and nearly 1,000 housing placements, referrals or placement assists. The early entry facility has averaged roughly 90% monthly bed utilization, reporting 440 intakes and 31 successful exits (including family reunifications and transitions into the navigation center). The navigation center has served roughly 87 unduplicated individuals with several exits to permanent housing in March.

Martha’s staff said operations also provide substantial food and animal supports: more than 34,500 meals have been served across programs to date, and staff reported housing several dozen pets (the report listed 13 dogs and three cats at one point and, separately, 10 dogs and four cats at the navigation center in other counts). Staff described challenges including unanticipated maintenance, limited behavioral-health and substance-use treatment capacity, participant instability tied to mental-health and substance-use issues, and the need to refine intake and recordkeeping across multiple funding sources.

Palm Springs Police Department and fire staff described enforcement and emergency-response impacts. Lieutenant Mike Villegas said officers have contacted more than 600 people experiencing homelessness in the city, identifying about 100 who are chronically unsheltered; he said police have reunited 41 people with family and helped at least a dozen with permanent housing outside the navigation center. Fire Chief Paul Alvarado (represented at the meeting) outlined 2024–2025 response counts showing calls for service at the navigation center and access center and asked staff to pilot on-site health care to reduce low-priority 9-1-1 transports.

A new Community Behavioral Assistance Team (CBAT) that pairs officers with clinicians has logged more than 200 calls in about a month, city staff said; the clinician role is funded by opioid-settlement money, while other CBAT positions are funded through the city budget.

Council members asked about timelines and funding. Verrata said Aloe Palm Canyon, a nearby permanent-supportive-housing project expected to house some navigation-center participants, has a projected opening date of June 26. He also confirmed the city’s current annual contract for the navigation center operations is about $4.9 million and that, depending on grant and partnership continuity, the city expects responsibility for the full contract in roughly 18 months.

Public comments included two current or recent clients of Martha’s who raised operational complaints. John Corless, who identified himself as a client, said he and others have had trouble getting adequate nutrition, reliable bus passes and phone-charging access and said some residents decline to attend the meeting out of fear of losing beds. Dino Negron, also identifying as a client, told the council he felt privacy rights were being violated by staff bathroom checks and expressed frustration about limits on shower assistance and locked portable toilets on the site. Council members and staff responded that they would follow up and investigate the complaints.

Council direction and next steps: the city manager said staff will provide a consolidated quarterly one-sheet of key navigation-center metrics for council and the public, and several council members requested periodic briefings and a smaller-group meeting with Martha’s and city staff to examine specific operational and maintenance issues. Council majority indicated support for pursuing state advocacy to adjust the 15% AMI limit and related encampment-resolution rules that staff said constrain placements.

\"We meet twice a week with Martha’s and the team,\" Verrata said, describing ongoing operational coordination. \"There’s a lot of moving pieces. Just that coordination alone — we have to use complex spreadsheets to track which funds are being spent where.\" Lieutenant Villegas said the CBAT partnership has reduced large encampments and that officers and clinicians are working to improve on-site responses.

Why it matters: the update shows the city’s newest shelter and transitional facilities are operating at high utilization and that multiple funding streams have catalyzed housing placements, but it also highlights shortfalls — primarily state contract requirements, limited behavioral-health capacity, staffing and maintenance needs — that the council asked staff to address in the short term.

Ending note: council members praised the partnerships and asked staff and Martha’s Village & Kitchen to return with more frequent, concise metrics and to set a small working meeting to pursue operational fixes and state-level advocacy on AMI and encampment-resolution rules.","City staff and Martha’s Village & Kitchen told the City Council on March 27 that the new navigation center and early entry shelter are nearly full and have helped move dozens of people off the street; council asked staff for more regular reports and follow-up meetings after clients raised operational concerns during public comment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: City Council actions March 27, 2025

Council hears district plan for convention center upgrades, stakeholders to refine financing and connectors

Council approves additional funds and contract amendments to finish Plaza Theatre rehabilitation

Palm Springs council hears progress report on navigation center, staff urged to expand follow-up and reporting