Palm Desert council directs staff to advance 2026 goals; agrees to feasibility study for university-area education options

Palm Desert — City staff presented a consolidated package of proposed 2026 council goals on Feb. 26 and the City Council instructed staff to prepare a resolution and preliminary work plan, excluding an item related to the historical society.

The goals package groups individual proposals into six themes: North Palm Desert/university-area development (infrastructure readiness, a regional park and a feasibility study for education facilities at the CSU Palm Desert area), mall redevelopment and family-friendly activation, economic activation and events (including a proposed farmers market), community engagement and civic identity (modernized communications and El Paseo gateway enhancements), community resilience and climate strategy (extreme-heat mitigation and support for CVDPN), and clean, safe and attractive city standards (lighting-ordinance updates and a rapid blight-response program). "Staff will move forward with these goals with the exclusion of the historic society and bring this back for a final approval," staff told council.

Councilmembers and staff used the study session to flesh out details and raise constraints. Councilmember Harnick urged the council to explore an education facility serving pre-K through elementary grades in the University Park area, saying the neighborhood currently "has no educational opportunities out there for them" and proposing that a feasibility study could examine a charter or other K–8 model at or near the CSU Palm Desert campus. The council discussed jurisdictional reality: residents north of Frank Sinatra Drive are served by the Palm Springs Unified School District unless families pursue interdistrict transfers, and several members warned that charter conversions can shift average-daily-attendance funding away from existing schools.

Mayor Pro Tem proposed a "0 blight challenge" to accelerate responses to abandoned carts, trash and graffiti — aiming for removals within 24 hours — while Councilmember Quintanilla highlighted extreme-heat mitigation, accessibility and improved public communications among her priorities. Public-safety staff reported technology expansions that staff said have already progressed: Richard Canoni said the council earlier approved an expansion of 44 cameras, bringing the city's total to 157 and that installations are about "92% complete," with remaining El Paseo live-feed cameras permitted and ready to be installed. Staff also outlined coordination with the sheriff's office and third-party providers for ALPR integration and described exploration of a responder drone and a planned real-time crime center.

On mall redevelopment, staff told council the city completed appraisal, survey and environmental analysis on the city-owned Sears building, submitted a notice of determination that the Surplus Land Act steps are complete and is awaiting state confirmation before marketing the site to secure a new anchor; staff said they will pursue developer outreach at the International Council of Shopping Centers conference in May. Planning staff said North Palm Desert/University-area planning is advancing, with the University Neighborhood Specific Plan covering roughly 170 acres and recent approvals associated with about 700 single-family lots in the area.

Councilmembers asked staff to ensure the goals and future work plans include budget details, and staff confirmed the feasibility-study cost for the education-facility exploration will be included in the upcoming budget presentation. Staff will return with a resolution and defined language for the council to consider and with a preliminary work plan showing timeline and budget implications. The study session recessed for a short break before the closed session.