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Palm Desert staff outline CSU student services building, explore moving regional sports fields to campus
Summary
City staff confirmed a new Student Services Building at the CSU Palm Desert campus is funded and slated to begin construction this summer; council and staff discussed shifting heavy sports uses to the campus, pending a formal agreement with Cal State to share facilities and operating responsibilities.
Martin Alvarez, the city’s economic development director, told the City Council study session the city and university have worked with legislators and stakeholders to secure major funding for a new Student Services Building on the Cal State Palm Desert campus and that construction “is scheduled to commence construction later this summer.” Staff noted a groundbreaking scheduled for the morning of May 9.
Alvarez said staff will continue coordinating with campus leaders on multiple joint projects, including drainage improvements and potential shared uses for a regional park. Randy Chavez, public works director, said the council had previously directed staff to include a 35‑acre regional sports park in the University Neighborhood Specific Plan (UNSP) and that staff is now discussing an alternate site at the Palm Desert campus with Cal State University San Bernardino staff.
Council members raised practical concerns about moving heavy, lighted ball fields to the campus: wind and dust at the alternative site, proximity to housing, priority of access and hours if facilities are shared, and long‑term operation and maintenance arrangements. One council member asked whether a shared arrangement would allow the city to guarantee a certain number of hours or priority for residents; another urged caution about contracts with the state after past disagreements.
Unidentified staff said the campus has large, underused areas that could host ball fields and that partnering could help spread costs and support student housing and activation of the campus. Staff said they are aiming to firm an agreement with Cal State by summer, but if there is no workable option staff will pause the proposal.
What’s next: staff will develop alternative options and return to council with refined proposals, including proposed programming for the original Frank Sinatra site if some heavy uses move to campus. Any change would require a clear operating agreement spelling out maintenance, hours and priority for community access.
