Palm Desert — The City Council voted 4–1 on a motion to take no action and left in place a 2024 resolution recognizing Pride Month and the city’s 2018 diversity-and-inclusion resolution after a special meeting dominated by public comment.

Mayor Pro Tem Joe Perdeto had asked staff to draft language to rescind Resolution 2024-038 (described in the meeting transcript as relating to LGBTQ "Bridal"/Pride Month commemorations) and to amend Resolution 2018-09. Assistant City Manager Richard Cannone told the council staff had prepared two draft resolutions in response to direction given at the Dec. 11 meeting. The council opened the special meeting to public comment before any council deliberation.

More than 50 speakers filled the dais and dozens more called in or submitted online comments; the clerk noted there were "about 54 cards" at the start. A steady stream of residents, business owners and nonprofit leaders urged the council not to remove the city’s visible recognition of the LGBTQ community. Several speakers warned of economic consequences if the city rescinded the recognition and removed the banner, saying visitors and customers would take their business elsewhere. David Powell, executive director of the Desert Business Association (the local LGBTQ chamber), said the recognition signals that "residents, workers, and business owners . . . belong here," and urged the council not to reverse it.

Speakers described the banner and recognition as a signal of safety and belonging. Eugene Williams, a therapist who works with LGBTQ clients, said the city’s commemoration "represented safety, belonging, and hope." Jacob Frick, a resident and retired physician, told the council, "Displaying the bridal banner won't harm anyone," and warned that pursuing the rescission had already caused damage by stoking controversy and calls for boycotts.

A smaller set of speakers and the mayor pro tem argued the city should avoid using municipal property to display symbols tied to particular identity groups. Mayor Pro Tem Perdeto called for a "neutrality" approach during his remarks, saying government should act as a referee and not "pick favorites." He described conversations this week that had changed his views on some points but framed the banner question as a matter of principle about government's role in symbolic recognition.

Perdeto moved to accept staff's recommendation to advance the two draft resolutions but the motion failed for lack of a second. Councilmember Karina Quintanilla and Councilmember Harnick both opposed changing the language in Resolution 2018-09; Harnick said during discussion, "I will not support taking that out of there." Councilmember Harnick then moved to take no action — leaving both resolutions in place — a motion that was seconded and carried 4–1. The recorded vote was: Harnick — yes; Nastandi — yes; Quintanilla — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Perdeto — no; Mayor Truby — yes.

The council did not adopt any amended language or rescind the 2024 recognition at the meeting. The clerk announced the vote and the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Councilmembers and staff indicated during discussion that they may continue community outreach and possibly schedule a study session to discuss policy questions about public symbolism and implementation, but there was no formal direction to staff to return with changes.

The meeting record contains several letters and a national Human Rights Campaign statement submitted for the public record; those were acknowledged on the record by an HRC volunteer during public comment. Staff had prepared draft resolutions but the council took no action on them during the special meeting.