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Resident urges commission not to seek Measure J loan forgiveness; commission and staff clarify record
Summary
Palm Springs resident David Hyams told the Public Arts Commission on April 2 to reject a request by the chair for $100,000 forgiveness of a $250,000 Measure J loan; commissioners and staff noted discrepancies in how the loan payback term appears in records and asked for clarifications.
David Hyams, who identified himself as a Palm Springs resident, used the public-comment period at the April 2 meeting to urge the Public Arts Commission not to pursue partial forgiveness of a $250,000 Measure J loan the commission received.
"I strongly encourage you drop this proposal," Hyams told commissioners, referring to a request he said Chair Armstrong took to the Measure J Commission in March seeking $100,000 in loan forgiveness. Hyams said the initial approval at Council indicated a loan rather than a grant and asked the commission to fully repay the loan or seek additional time rather than forgiveness.
Commission members and staff responded that records and the staff report contain some inconsistencies about the repayment term. A commission member noted that the staff report did not list a one-year payback and that council records show differing language; staff said they would check Finance Director Mooney's records and Council minutes to clarify the loan terms.
The commission did not take formal action during public comment. Commissioners thanked Hyams for raising the concern and indicated staff would follow up to clarify the loan terms and any request made to the Measure J Commission.
Next steps: staff will verify the loan document and council record and report back to the commission with the specific terms and any outstanding balance or requests for forgiveness before any commission action.
