HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Package - StudySession_Jun25_2026 (1)
PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION MEETING
AGENDA
Thursday, June 25, 2026
3:00 p.m.
Council Chamber, City Hall
73-510 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, California
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the purpose of the Study Session is to review the items listed on the
agenda. No action will be taken.
This is a joint meeting of the Palm Desert City Council, Successor Agency to the Palm Desert
Redevelopment Agency, Palm Desert Housing Authority, and Palm Desert Board of Library Trustees.
Pursuant to Senate Bill 707, this meeting may be conducted as a hybrid meeting allowing public
access via teleconference or in person, and up to two Councilmembers may attend remotely.
WATCH THE MEETING LIVE: Watch the City Council meeting live at the City’s website:
https://palmdesert.zoom.us/ or on the City's YouTube Channel.
OPTIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING:
OPTION 1: IN PERSON
Attend in person in the Council Chamber, located at 73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert,
California 92260.
OPTION 2: VIA EMAIL
Send your comments by email to: CityClerk@palmdesert.gov. Emails received prior to 10:00 a.m. on
the day of the City Council meeting will be made part of the record and distributed to the City Council.
Emails will not be read aloud at the meeting.
OPTION 3: LIVE VIA ZOOM
Access via https://palmdesert.zoom.us/ or zoom.us, click “Join Meeting” and enter Webinar ID 833
6744 9572.
OPTION 4: LIVE VIA TELEPHONE
Call (213) 338-8477 and enter Meeting ID 833 6744 9572 followed by #.
Pages
1.CALL TO ORDER - STUDY SESSION
2.STUDY SESSION TOPICS
2.a Palm Desert Views Analysis 3
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and provide feedback on the Palm Desert Views Analysis, including
proposed view classifications, opportunities for identifying and conserving
views, and next steps for stakeholder engagement and development of
recommendations.
3.ADJOURNMENT
4.PUBLIC NOTICES
Pursuant to Senate Bill 707, this meeting may be conducted as a hybrid meeting
allowing public access via teleconference or in person. Members of the public
may record open-session meetings. Recording may be limited only if the
manner of recording causes a persistent disruption due to noise, illumination, or
obstruction of view.
Agenda Related Materials: Pursuant to Government Code §54957.5(b)(2) the
designated office for inspection of records in connection with this meeting is the
Office of the City Clerk, Palm Desert Civic Center, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive,
Palm Desert. Staff reports for all agenda items considered in open session, and
documents provided to a majority of the legislative bodies are available for
public inspection at City Hall and on the City’s website at www.palmdesert.gov
by clicking “Meetings & Agendas” at the top of the page.
Americans with Disabilities Act: It is the intention of the City of Palm Desert to
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an
attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you
will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will
attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the
Office of the City Clerk, (760) 346-0611, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to
inform us of your needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible.
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
I, Michelle Nance, Assistant City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert, do hereby
certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California, that the
foregoing agenda for the Palm Desert City Council, Successor Agency for the
Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency, and Housing Authority, was posted on the
City Hall bulletin board and City website www.palmdesert.gov no less than 72
hours prior to the meeting.
/S/ Michelle Nance
Assistant City Clerk
City Council Study Session
June 25, 2026
2
Page 1
City of Palm Desert Staff Report
Meeting Date: June 25, 2026
Prepared By: Carlos Flores, AICP, Deputy Director of Development Services
Department: Development Services
Subject: Study Session on Palm Desert Views Analysis
Recommendation
Receive and provide feedback on the Palm Desert Views Analysis, including proposed view
classifications, opportunities for identifying and conserving views, and next steps for
stakeholder engagement and development of recommendations .
Executive Summary
The City has retained John Kaliski Architects (JKA) to prepare a Palm Desert Views Analysis
(Views Analysis) to establish recommendations for identifying, defining, and conserving
significant views and viewsheds throughout the City. While views are widely recognized as a
defining element of Palm Desert's identity and quality of life, the City currently lacks a
consistent methodology or policy framework for evaluating and protecting them.
The Views Analysis is intended to provide decision-makers, stakeholders, and the community
with an opportunity to identify important views, establish a common understanding of view
resources, and explore strategies for their conservation and enhancement. This study session
introduces the project, presents initial findings, and seeks City Council feedback on proposed
view classifications and areas of significance before broader public engagement begins. Staff
and JKA anticipate returning to City Council in September 2026 with draft recommendations
and implementation options.
Background
The City has an existing professional services agreement (Contract No. A47670) with JKA,
which previously resulted in the completion of the City's Multifamily and Mixed-Use Objective
Design Standards and Hillside Objective Design Standards. Throughout those e fforts,
community stakeholders, commissioners, and City Councilmembers consistently identified
views as a critical component of Palm Desert's character, identity, and quality of life.
Despite this consensus, the City currently does not have a standardized framework for
identifying, defining, evaluating, or conserving significant views and viewsheds. To address
this gap, on February 12, 2026, the City Council approved Amendment No. 2 to JKA's
Professional Services Agreement, increasing the contract amount by $36,677 to incorporate a
comprehensive Views Analysis and Recommendations Study into the ongoing contract.
3
Page 2
The objectives of the Views Analysis are to:
Establish opportunities for Palm Desert stakeholders and decision-makers to define and
establish means to identify and define views that support the identity of the community.
Establish a framework of recommendations and actions that if implemented will support
the conservation and enhancement of Palm Desert views and viewsheds.
The project commenced in March 2026. To date, JKA has completed the following tasks:
Review of existing City plans, policies, and regulatory documents related to views and
community character.
Field observations and a citywide tour to document existing view conditions and
opportunities (Attachment 1).
Analysis
JKA has prepared a presentation that introduces the project, summarizes completed research
and field work, and outlines a preliminary framework for identifying and evaluating views within
Palm Desert. The study session presentation will focus on:
Establishing a working definition and preliminary framework of "view" for purposes of
the study.
Categorization of views as:
o Corridor Views – Views experienced along public streets, pathways, and
transportation corridors.
o Open Space Views – Views experienced in open space areas, hiking trails, and
public parks.
o District Views – Views experienced from specific neighborhoods, commercial
and resort areas, and potential redevelopment sites.
Soliciting City Council feedback on significant views and view resources that should be
considered as the study advances.
Council feedback received during the study session will help inform the next phase of the
project, which includes stakeholder outreach and community engagement activities. These
efforts will include an online engagement and mapping exercise designed to gather public
input regarding important views and viewsheds throughout the City.
Following completion of stakeholder engagement, JKA will prepare draft recommendations and
implementation options for City Council consideration. Staff anticipates returning to City
Council in September 2026 with draft recommendations and next steps for consideration.
Environmental Review
This action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act because it is an
administrative, organizational, procedural, fiscal, or informational activity that will not result in a
direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
4
Page 3
Legal Review
This report has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office.
Financial Impact
Contract No. A47670 with JKA is budgeted in account No. 1104470-4300500, therefore there
is no additional fiscal impact to the General Fund with this action.
Attachments
1. City Tour Map
2. Presentation will be provided prior to the meeting
5
Page 4
Conflict of Interest Awareness Checklist
Note: This checklist is informational only and does not constitute a legal determination. Each
Councilmember remains responsible for identifying, disclosing, and evaluating any
disqualifying interests under the Political Reform Act and applicable FPPC regulations.
1. Site-Specific Property Interest
Does this item involve a project site or other identifiable real property?
☐ Yes
☒ No
If yes, identify the project site:
Councilmembers should consider whether they own, lease, or hold interests in real property
within 1,000 feet of the project site. (Gov. Code § 87103(b); FPPC Reg. 18702.2).
2. SB 1439 / Gov. Code § 84308 Applicability (Campaign Contributions)
Does this item involve a license, permit, other entitlement for use, or a contract or franchise
agreement that is not competitively bid, a labor agreement, or a personal employment
contract?
☐ Yes
☒ No
If yes, identify the applicant(s), appellant(s), party, or participant(s):
Councilmembers should review campaign contributions received within the prior 12 months
from parties or participants to the proceeding and must not accept contributions over $500
from those parties for 12 months following the final decision. (Gov. Code § 84308).
6
7