City officials on May 22 directed the city manager to exercise discretion to assist American Reproductive Centers (ARC) in the immediate relocation and safeguarding of reproductive materials after the clinic was impacted by a downtown bombing.

City Manager Scott Stiles told the council staff had learned there might be urgent needs to move embryos and other reproductive material while federal investigators process the crime scene. “We want to make sure that we're able to respond quickly and fast,” Stiles said, asking council members for authority to work with ARC and other agencies if the clinic needs emergency assistance.

Mayor Pro Tem and other council members described the situation as urgent: ARC representatives told the council they had identified temporary clinical space — including a leased area at El Mirador — but required rapid work to make the space suitable for laboratory-grade storage and transfer. Commissioned estimates shared with the council included roughly $39,000 for flooring and approximately $18,000 for painting to prepare the temporary site; ARC said it also requires specialized, certified transport services for reproductive material.

Council members and staff stressed two parallel priorities: ensure the reproductive materials are moved without delay and coordinate closely with FBI investigators and public-safety staff so relocation does not interfere with the active crime‑scene investigation. Police and city staff said they would reach out to federal investigators to confirm schedules and the FBI’s needs for evidence preservation.

The council did not appropriate a specific funding amount during the May 22 session. Instead, members agreed the city manager should have the authority to act immediately to facilitate any urgent, limited actions required to secure and move the materials and to provide logistical support. City Attorney’s office noted that Palm Springs, as a charter city, is not constrained by the state constitution’s gift-of-public-funds language in the same way some non‑charter cities are; councilmembers nonetheless discussed options that might include short-term grants, loans or other supports that preserve equity across impacted businesses.

Stiles said staff would contact ARC in the morning to identify the most urgent needs and report back to the council. The mayor and council members emphasized the need for speed: “We don't want to be caught coming into this weekend and trying to figure out how to respond if there was some response needed from the city,” Stiles said.

What’s next: City staff will coordinate with ARC, the police department and federal investigators to determine whether the clinic’s materials must be relocated before any demolition or further crime‑scene activity. Staff will notify council members of urgent needs and report recommendations and cost estimates for any city assistance.