Agenda, regular meeting — Indian Wells City Council, October 1, 2026

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA
Thursday, October 1, 2026
3:00 PM
City Hall Council Chamber
44950 Eldorado Drive, Indian Wells, CA 92210
Welcome to a meeting of the Indian Wells City Council.

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Public Comments: Members of the Public who wish to speak should fill out a blue slip and submit it to the City Clerk; comments are limited to three (3) minutes. In accordance with State Law, remarks during public comments are to be limited to subjects within the City's jurisdiction. If you are unable to provide comments during meeting, written comments on the special agenda may be submitted at
[email protected].

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the office of the City Clerk at 760-346-2489 Notification 48 hours prior to a meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to that meeting [28 CFR 35.102.35.104 ADA Title II].

Please turn off all communication devices (phones) or put them on non-audible mode (vibrate) during Council proceedings. All documents for public review are available for public inspection at City Hall reception, 44-950 Eldorado Drive, Indian Wells during normal business hours.

Special Meeting Agenda- October 1, 2026

Page 2 of 3 ends

A. CONVENE THE INDIAN WELLS CITY COUNCIL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND

ROLL CALL

MAYOR TOPER TAYLOR

MAYOR PRO TEM BRIAN PENNA

COUNCIL MEMBER GREG SANDERS

COUNCIL MEMBER DANA REED

COUNCIL MEMBER BRUCE WHITMAN
B. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA

C. GENERAL BUSINESS

The Mayor will provide an opportunity for public comments when each agenda item is considered. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker. Speakers will be notified when their allotted time has expired and asked to conclude their remarks.

While the City Council welcomes and values public input, it may not take action or engage in substantive discussion on matters not listed on the Special Meeting agenda. Matters raised during public comment may, however, be referred to staff for review, follow-up, or placement on a future agenda, as appropriate.

C.1 Women’s Tennis Association Finals 2026 Host C ity Sponsorship

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Council APPROVES the revised Host City Sponsorship between the City of Indian Wells and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for the 2026 WTA Finals to be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden; and

AUTHORIZES the City Manager to finalize and execute the sponsorship; and

APPROVES a $900,000 Supplemental Appropriation from the City’s General Fund for the WTA sponsorship and marketing and activation opportunities to maximize the City's participation and visibility during tournament week, subject to the conditions outlined in the fiscal impact section of this staff report; and

FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3).

Special Meeting Agenda- October 1, 2026

Page 3 of 3 ends

C.2 Supplemental Appropriation to Onyx Paving Inc. for Phase 5 Project

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Council APPROVES a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $110,000 to fund a change order to the existing construction contract with Onyx Paving Company, Inc. for the Local Roads Paving Phase 5 project, to provide asphalt patching on Fairway Drive between Eldorado and Cook Streets; and

FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 (c), Existing Facilities.

D. ADJOURNMENT

To a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held at 1:30 p.m. on October 15, 2026, in the City Hall Council Chamber.

Affidavit of Posting,

I, Angelica Avila, certify that on September 30, 2026, I caused a notice to be posted of a City Council Special Meeting to be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber.

Notices were posted at Indian Wells Civic Center and City's Website [ www.cityofindianwells.org]

Angelica Avila, MMC
City Clerk

INDIAN WELLS CITY COUNCIL
October 1, 2026

To: City Council
From: City Manager Department
Prepared by: Dr. Christopher Freeland, City Manager

Subject: Women’s Tennis Association Finals 2026 Host City Sponsorship

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

AUTHORIZES the City Manager to finalize and execute the sponsorship; and

FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3).

BACKGROUND:

At the August 25, 2026, City Council meeting, the City Council approved a sponsorship as the Host City and Silver Partner for the 2026 Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) Finals. Council approved the WTA’s Host City Sponsorship request for the greater of $750,000 and total admissions tax received from the Finals, plus $50,000 to purchase additional resident tickets and $200,000 for marketing and activation opportunities designed to maximize the City's participation and visibility during tournament week, for a total of at least $1,000,000 (potentially more if admissions tax received from the Finals exceeds $750,000). Attached is a copy of the August 25 Staff Report (Attachment No. 1).

At the September 17, 2026, City Council meeting, the City Council briefly discussed the previously approved WTA Finals sponsorship and requested a future discussion to possibly reconsider its support. This is that future discussion.

Women’s Tennis Association Finals

Indian Wells Tennis Garden is the host venue for the 2026 WTA Finals, the season-ending championship featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams in professional women’s tennis. The event will take place November 8-15, 2026. The championship is expected to generate significant exposure for the City.

The WTA Finals provides the City with significant domestic and international exposure because it is one of the premier events in women's sports. According to information provided by the WTA, its global broadcast network reaches more than 150 territories and has generated a cumulative audience of approximately 745 million viewers across WTA events. Recent WTA Finals broadcasts averaged more than 37 million viewers globally, and WTA digital and social media platforms generated more than 3.1 billion impressions, 92 million engagements, 1.9 billion video views, and reached a global audience of approximately 12.4 million followers. Based on an independent evaluation of the sponsorship assets provided through the proposed agreement, the City would receive substantial measurable value through broadcast exposure, venue branding, hospitality benefits, and projected hotel stay activity. Information provided by the WTA and Visit Greater Palm Springs, including media valuation data, estimates the net value of the court-surface branding at approximately $5.3 million and the value of the daily broadcast graphic at approximately $200,000.

The WTA has also provided an Economic Impact Summary (Attachment No. 2) for the upcoming WTA Finals. The WTA estimates between $48-62 million in total economic impact and an additional $108.8 million in media value, for a total event impact of between $157-171 million.

DISCUSSION:

In addition to the significant economic and media impact that the City of Indian Wells would receive from a sponsorship, a sponsorship also provides an opportunity to showcase Indian Wells as a potential host for future WTA. On September 16, 2026, the WTA announced a three-year partnership with the City of Charlotte, North Carolina to host the 2027-2029 WTA Finals. While it was public knowledge that the WTA was looking at Charlotte as a future site in 2027, nothing was confirmed, nor was there any public indication of a multiyear agreement. Once the WTA made the announcement, Council expressed concerns with the timing of the announcement shortly after Indian Wells confirmed its sponsorship, thus a request from Council to discuss revisiting the City’s sponsorship.

Since the September 17, 2026, City Council meeting, City staff and the WTA have met to discuss the timing of the Charlotte announcement and its impact on Indian Wells’ sponsorship and future opportunity to host the WTA Finals. Executives at the WTA agreed that they should have notified the City in advance of the announcement and are extremely

apologetic. They have also confirmed that Indian Wells is certainly a destination that can be considered for future WTA Finals.

During these discussions, the WTA and staff were successful in agreeing to enhanced benefits for Indian Wells’ Host City Partnership. The proposal includes marketing, broadcast, venue activation, ticketing, and community engagement benefits for the City.

Key components of the proposed sponsorship includes, City branding throughout tournament broadcasts and venue signage, digital and social media integrations, hospitality opportunities, resident ticket program, promotional opportunities highlighting Indian Wells and its tourism assets, and the ability for the City to bid to host a future WTA Finals.

Marketing and Activation

In addition to the enhanced benefits above, staff has held numerous conversations with the WTA and WTA Foundation to provide other community activations during the tournament. At this time, the City is seeking to utilize the additional $100,000 for street banners, a WTA event at Kestrel, WTA Foundation Event celebrating Women’s Tennis Hall of Famer Mary Carillo, as well as other WTA Foundation events for local non-profits, community youth, and Indian Wells resident events.

Host City Partnership Benefits (August 25, 2026)

Benefit
Category Description
Partner
Designation
Designation as a Host City and Silver Partner of the 2026 WTA Finals, including rights to associate the City of Indian Wells with the event in approved marketing and promotional materials. Six tickets for City representatives to attend the player draw reception.

Marketing
& Digital Media
Inclusion in WTA email communications, digital integrations across WTA channels, and social media exposure promoting Indian Wells as the event host city.

Broadcast
Exposure
Daily broadcast graphics displayed on domestic and international tournament broadcasts, providing global visibility for the City throughout the event.

Venue
Branding
"Indian Wells" displayed on the playing surface and recognition throughout the venue during the tournament.

• 12 - 200 level per day for the eight days of the tournament • 100 - 300 level tickets on Tuesday 10th (City of Indian Wells Residents' Day)
• 20 - 300 level tickets for all other days.

Community
Engagement
Opportunities for local activations, community engagement programs, and partnerships with tourism and economic development stakeholders.

Additional Host City Partnerships (October 1, 2026)

Benefit
Category Description
Partner
Designation
The City will participate in additional activities during draw party and during tournament finals, increasing Indian Wells’ visibility to tournament visitors.

Financial Cap
on Sponsorship
WTA will receive all admissions tax revenues attributable to the 2026 WTA Finals, including any revenues exceeding $750,000. If admissions tax revenues are less than $750,000, the City will fund the shortfall, subject to a maximum additional City cash contribution of $300,000.

Marketing
& Digital Media
WTA also agrees to provide digital assets that the City can utilize for future promotional materials (e.g., graphics for newsletters and videos) outside the WTA Finals.

Social Media
Content
Creators
WTA to include Kestrel and Indian Wells Golf Resort as destinations for Social Media Content Creators to promote during the WTA Finals.

Stadium
Activations WTA agrees to produce a Daily City welcome video.

Post Event
Newsletter
WTA agrees to include a promotional message/article on Indian Wells in their post-WTA Finals wrap newsletter, with language agreed to by the City.

Trophy Tour
Billie Jean King Trophy will be available to tour the City the week prior and during the tournament week for appearances and photo opportunities at various Indian Wells establishments throughout the community.

Right to Bid WTA agrees that Indian Wells will have the ability to bid on future WTA Finals, post Charlotte tournament.

CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOALS:

The WTA Sponsorship supports the City Council's strategic goals related to:
• Seek out events to activate the tennis garden;
• Economic development and tourism promotion;

• Enhancement of the City's global brand recognition;
• Community engagement and resident participation opportunities; and • Strategic partnerships that generate economic and community benefits.

OPTIONS:

The City Council may choose to:

1. Approve the proposed WTA Finals Host City Sponsorship and authorize the City Manager to execute the sponsorship; or

2. Provide alternative direction to staff regarding sponsorship; or

3. Decline participation in the proposed sponsorship.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The proposed Host City Sponsorship Agreement establishes a City sponsorship contribution equal to the amount of the City's admissions tax revenue generated by the 2026 WTA Finals or $750,000, whichever is greater (except that the City does not have to contribute more than $300,000 more than the tax revenue if tax revenue is less than $750,000). This structure ties the City's sponsorship payment to the tournament's actual performance, ensuring the contribution scales with realized admissions tax revenue rather than remaining a fixed cost regardless of outcomes.

In addition, the Council previously approved an additional $250,000 ($50,000 for additional resident tickets and $200,000 for other activations). Based on current planned activations in the community and ongoing discussions with the WTA Foundation, staff i s recommending the $200,000 amount be reduced to $100,000.

Estimated Conservative Tax Revenue Generated by the WTA Finals

The tournament is anticipated to generate significant economic activity within the City through admissions, lodging, dining, retail purchases, and visitor spending. WTA has already secured 1,500 room nights at Indian Wells hotels and anticipates another 1,500 or more additional room nights from visitors, sponsors, vendors, etc.

Revenue
Source Assumptions Estimated
City Revenue
Admissions
Tax
Current projections estimate Admissions Tax revenue
generated from tournament ticket sales.

Approximately
$600,000
Transient
Occupancy
Tax (TOT)
Approximately 3,000 room nights at an average daily
rate of $450. At the City's 12.25% TOT rate, taxable $165,375

lodging revenue would total approximately $1.35
million.

Sales Tax
Visitor spending associated with dining, shopping,
transportation, and entertainment is expected to
generate additional taxable sales. Based on
conservative estimates, City sales tax revenues could
range from $30,000 to $75,000.
$30,000-
$75,000
Total
Estimated
Direct
City Revenues
Admissions Tax, TOT, and estimated sales tax
combined.

Approximately
$808,875-
$853,875

Council previously approved a supplemental appropriation of $1,000,000 from the City's General Fund to cover both the sponsorship contribution and the marketing and activation allocation. Staff is recommending that Council reduce the appropriation to $900,000.

Based on current revenue projections, the estimated net General Fund impact ranges from approximately $46,000 to $91,000. Staff believes the partnership aligns with the City's ongoing efforts to promote tourism, strengthen the local economy, and enhance Indian Wells' position as a world-class sports and hospitality destination.

CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA):

The action is not a project within the meaning of Section 15378 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change in the environment, directly or indirectly; and that the action is nonetheless exempt from the requirements of CEQA in that the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. (15061(b)(3).)

ATTACHMENTS:

1. August 25, 2026, Staff Report

2. WTA Economic Impact Summary (WTA Finals Indian Wells)

INDIAN WELLS CITY COUNCIL
August 25, 2026
To: City Council
From: City Manager Department
Prepared by: Dr. Christopher Freeland, City Manager
Subject: Women’s Tennis Association Finals 2026 Host City Sponsorship
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Council APPROVES the Host City Sponsorship between the City of Indian Wells and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for the 2026 WTA Finals to be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden; and
AUTHORIZES the City Manager to finalize and execute the sponsorship; and APPROVES a $1,000,000 Supplemental Appropriation from the City’s General Fund for the WTA sponsorship and marketing and activation opportunities to maximize the City's participation and visibility during tournament week, subject to the conditions outlined in the fiscal impact section of this staff report; and
FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3).

BACKGROUND:

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) founded in 1973, selected Indian Wells as the host venue for the 2026 WTA Finals, the season-ending championship featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams in professional women’s tennis. The event will be taking place November 8-15, 2026, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Stadium 2 and is expected to draw approximately 80,000 attendees throughout the event. The championship is expected to generate significant exposure for the city.

As part of attracting and supporting the tournament, the WTA submitted a Host City Partnership proposal that includes marketing, broadcast, venue activation, ticketing, and community engagement benefits for the City. Key components of the proposed sponsorship include designation as a Silver Partner of the WTA Finals, City branding throughout tournament broadcasts and venue signage, digital and social media ATTACHMENT #1

integrations, hospitality opportunities, resident ticket program, and promotional opportunities highlighting Indian Wells and its tourism assets.

The proposal (Attachment No. 1) was reviewed by the City's Finance Committee on August 6, 2026. Following discussion, the Finance Committee expressed strong support for the partnership and approved the concept of the agreement, subject to additional negotiations and clarification of several business terms. The revised terms are outlined in this staff report below.

The Committee stated its appreciation for the partnership opportunity and its belief that the event represents a unique opportunity to elevate the City's profile as a premier destination for sports tourism. They also expressed their support for a cost neutral sponsorship with the WTA as a means to show our appreciation to the WTA for bringing the WTA Finals to Indian Wells and to “roll out the red carpet” for athletes and sponsors.

This level of sponsorship and the proposed additional funding is intended to exhibit Indian Wells’ commitment to the WTA Finals, so that the WTA can consider Indian Wells for future tournaments.

The WTA Finals provides the City with significant international exposure through one of the premier events in women's sports. According to information provided by the WTA, its global broadcast network reaches more than 150 territories and generated a cumulative audience of approximately 745 million viewers across WTA events. Recent WTA Finals broadcasts averaged more than 37 million viewers globally. Additionally, WTA digital and social media platforms generated more than 3.1 billion impressions, 92 million engagements, 1.9 billion video views, and reached a global audience of approximately

12.4 million followers. Based on an independent evaluation of the sponsorship assets provided through the proposed agreement, the City would receive substantial measurable value through broadcast exposure, venue branding, hospitality benefits, and projected hotel stay activity. Information provided by the WTA and Visit Greater Palm Springs, media valuation data estimates the net value of the court surface branding at approximately $5.3 million and the value of the daily broadcast graphic at approximately $200,000. When evaluating only the $750,000 sponsorship commitment, the quantified value equates to approximately 6 times the sponsorship cost.

Staff notes that this evaluation reflects only the quantified benefits identified above and does not assign monetary value to several potentially significant but less measurable benefits, including enhanced international brand recognition, resident goodwill, future tourism promotion opportunities, community engagement, and the long-term value of hosting a premier global sporting event in Indian Wells. These metrics demonstrate substantial media value and worldwide visibility for the City of Indian Wells as the host destination.

Proposed Host City Partnership Benefits

Benefit
Category Description
Partner
Designation
Designation as a Silver Partner of the 2026 WTA Finals, including rights to associate the City of Indian Wells with the event in approved marketing and promotional materials. Six tickets for City representatives to attend the player draw reception.

Marketing
& Digital Media
Inclusion in WTA email communications, digital integrations across WTA channels, and social media exposure promoting Indian Wells as the event host city.

Broadcast
Exposure
Daily broadcast graphic displayed on domestic and international tournament broadcasts, providing global visibility for the City throughout the event.

Venue
Branding
"Indian Wells" displayed on the playing surface and recognition throughout the venue during the tournament.

Stadium
Activations
Daily City welcome video, City welcome graphic, 30-second promotional advertisement during matches, and a designated "City of Indian Wells Residents' Day (November 10th)."
Ticket Benefits
Premium ticket allocations for City use during the tournament, , and access to key tournament events such as the official draw ceremony. • 12 - 200 level per day for the eight days of the tournament • 100 - 300 level tickets on Tuesday 10th (City of Indian Wells Residents' Day)
• 20 - 300 level tickets for on all other days.

Community
Engagement
Opportunities for local activations, community engagement programs, and partnerships with tourism and economic development stakeholders.

Estimated Conservative Tax Revenue Generated by the WTA Finals

Revenue
Source Assumptions Estimated
City Revenue
Admissions
Tax
Current projections estimate Admissions Tax revenue
generated from tournament ticket sales.

Approximately
$600,000

Transient
Occupancy
Tax (TOT)
Approximately 3,000 room nights at an average daily
rate of $450. At the City's 12.25% TOT rate, taxable
lodging revenue would total approximately $1.35
million.
$165,375
Sales Tax
Visitor spending associated with dining, shopping,
transportation, and entertainment is expected to
generate additional taxable sales. Based on
conservative estimates, City sales tax revenues could
range from $30,000 to $75,000.
$30,000-
$75,000
Total
Estimated
Direct
City Revenues
Admissions Tax, TOT, and estimated sales tax
combined.

Approximately
$808,875-
$853,875

Staff believes the partnership aligns with the City's ongoing efforts to promote tourism, strengthen the local economy, and enhance Indian Wells' position as a world-class sports and hospitality destination.

Advisory Commission/Committee Recommendations:

The Finance Committee held a Special Meeting on August 6, 2026, and reviewed the proposed WTA Finals Host City partnership and recommended proceeding with the agreement subject to further evaluation of several business and operational components.

These included sponsorship valuation, media and marketing exposure, admissions tax projections, partnership benefits, activation opportunities, and community ticketing programs. Following discussions with the WTA and related stakeholders, staff obtained the requested information, negotiated revisions to select partnership components, and incorporated feedback from the Committee into the proposed agreement presented for Council consideration.

The Finance Committee further recommended allocating up to $250,000 for future jointly approved marketing and activation opportunities designed to maximize the City's participation and visibility during tournament week and to further the City’s partnership with the WTA. This could include activations at the Indian Wells Golf Resort, banners along Hwy 111, marketing at the Palm Springs Airport, and much more.

The proposal for consideration meets the terms the Finance Committee sought and is recommended for approval.

CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOALS:

The WTA Sponsorship supports the City Council's strategic goals related to:
• Seek out events to activate the tennis garden;

• Economic development and tourism promotion;
• Enhancement of the City's global brand recognition;
• Community engagement and resident participation opportunities; and • Strategic partnerships that generate economic and community benefits.

OPTIONS:

The City Council May choose to:

1. Approve the WTA Finals Host City Sponsorship and authorize the City Manager to execute the sponsorship; or

2. Provide alternative direction too staff regarding sponsorship; or

3. Decline participation in the proposed sponsorship.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The proposed Host City Sponsorship Agreement establishes a City sponsorship contribution of $750,000, or the greater of the City's admissions tax revenue generated by the 2026 WTA Finals and the City's sponsorship contribution. This structure ties the City's sponsorship payment to the tournament's actual performance, ensuring the contribution scales with realized admissions tax revenue rather than remaining a fixed cost regardless of outcomes.

In addition to the sponsorship contribution, the Finance Committee recommended allocating up to $250,000 for collaborative marketing, branding, and activation opportunities designed to maximize the City's visibility and participation during tournament week.

Because funding for this sponsorship has not been budgeted in advance, staff recommend a supplemental appropriation of $1,000,000 from the City's General Fund to cover both the sponsorship contribution and the marketing and activation allocation.

Based on current revenue projections — including approximately $600,000 in Admissions Tax, $165,375 in Transient Occupancy Tax, and $30,000 to $75,000 in Sales Tax, for total estimated City revenue of approximately $808,875 to $853,875 generated by the tournament — the sponsorship contribution is expected to be substantially offset by new tax revenue generated by the event, resulting in a fiscal impact to the General Fund that is expected to be close to cost neutral

CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA):

ATTACHMENTS:

1. WTA Sponsorship Proposal

2026 WTA Finals Host City Sponsorship
City of Indian Wells
Special City Council Meeting:

October 1, 2026 - Presentation
General Business Item C.1

2026 WTA Finals Event Summary
•Event: Women's Tennis Association Finals
•Dates: November 8-15, 2026
•Venue: Indian Wells Tennis Garden (Stadium 2)
•Format: Top 8 singles players and doubles teams
•Round Robin Tournament
Global Reach:
•150+ broadcast territories
•745M cumulative viewers across WTA events
•37M+ average WTA Finals viewers globally
•3.1B+ digital impressions
2 Projected Impact & Council Goals
•Estimated economic impact: $48M-$62M
•Estimated media value: $108.8M
•Total projected impact: $157M-$171M
•Showcases Indian Wells on a global stage
•Supports tourism and economic development
•Reinforces Indian Wells' reputation as a premier sports destination Furthers Council Strategic Goals Alignment
•Activates Tennis Garden
•Supports Tourism & Economic Development (Hotel Partners) •Strengthens global brand recognition
•Community engagement benefits
•Strategic partnerships that generate benefits 3

August Approval vs. October Enhancements
4 Benefit Area Previously Approved (Aug. 25)
Partner Recognition Host City & Silver Partner designation Marketing & Digital Media Email, website, and social media exposure through WTA channels Broadcast Exposure Daily broadcast graphics on international broadcasts Venue Branding "Indian Wells" court branding and venue recognition Stadium Activations Welcome graphic, ad spots, Residents' Day, City messaging Ticket & Hospitality Premium tickets and draw ceremony access Community Engagement Local activations and stakeholder partnerships Tourism Promotion General host city promotion
Financial Structure Greater of $750,000 or Admission Tax collected

August Approval vs. October Enhancements
5 Benefit Area Added Benefits (Oct. 1)
Partner Recognition Additional visibility during Draw Party and Tournament Finals Marketing & Digital Media Reusable WTA digital assets for future City marketing Broadcast Exposure Continued global exposure plus expanded promotional opportunities Stadium Activations WTA-produced Daily Welcome Video
Ticket & Hospitality Additional participation opportunities during key tournament events Community Engagement Trophy Tour, WTA Foundation events, nonprofit outreach, youth programs
Tourism Promotion Kestrel and Indian Wells Golf Resort featured by WTA content creators Post-Event Exposure Feature article in WTA Finals post-event newsletter Future Hosting Opportunity Formal right to bid on future WTA Finals following Charlotte agreement Financial Structure Additional City exposure with sponsorship obligation capped at $300,000 above Admissions Tax revenues

Fiscal Impact
•Sponsorship Investment $750k or admission
tax collected
•Additional Resident Tickets $50,000
•Other Activations $100,000
Total $900,000
•WTA Final Revenues to City (Estimated) $809-854k
6 Staff Recommendation
•Council APPROVES the revised Host City Sponsorship between the City of Indian Wells and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for the 2026 WTA Finals to be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden; and
•AUTHORIZES the City Manager to finalize and execute the sponsorship; and •APPROVES a $900,000 Supplemental Appropriation from the City’s General Fund for the WTA sponsorship and marketing and activation opportunities to maximize the City's participation and visibility during tournament week, subject to the conditions outlined in the fiscal impact section of this staff report; and •FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3).
7 Questions?
8 City Council Special Meeting:

October 1, 2026 - Public Comments
GB Item C.1
Angelica Avila
From:

Sent:

To:

Cc:

Subject:

Marc Lilly
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 2:34 PM
City Clerk
Kecia Lilly
WTA donation
CAUTION: This email originated outside our organization. Be cautious with any links or attachments.

We are not in support of a donation unless law enforcement has been restored to past levels. And even then, what is the purpose? How does this positively impact the city? I would ask that this is read and made part of the record.

Your job is to protect the citizens of this city that elected you first and foremost. Please explain why this organization comes first before re-establishing the night Officer we used to have and appreciated? Regards,
Marc & Kecia Lilly
1 Partnership Opportunity
Logo
ATTACHMENT #1

THE WTA FINALS
THE BIGGEST STAGE IN WOMEN’S SPORTS

ACROSS ONE WEEK OF ELITE TENNIS
3 SEASON FINALE FEATURING
ONLY THE TOP 8

SINGLES PLAYERS AND DOUBLES TEAMS
This is the marquee moment on the tennis calendar.

The year -long battles around the world, across
multiple surfaces result in the best of the best
battling it out in the ultimate Final Showdown.

This is the stage where our best players compete
against one another.

It brings fierce competitiveness and guarantees the
biggest and best match -ups in tennis.

Riyadh was a desert – am I being too pedantic?
5 FOR THE FIRST TIME,

THE WTA FINALS CHAMPION

WILL BE CROWNED IN THE DESERT
This November the WTA Finals will arrive at Indian Wells, bringing the season’s top players and the highest -stakes competition in women’s tennis to one of the sports most iconic destinations.

Over eight days, a season played across six continents comes down to one champion, crowned in the California desert.

FOR BRANDS, THIS IS A RARE

OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CENTER STAGE AT
A DEFINING MOMENT IN WOMEN’S SPORT.

745M
150+
Total WTA Tour 2025
Linear and Digital
Cumulative Audiences*
Broadcast
Territories

GLOBAL MEDIA SCALE

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS
37M+Average WTA Finals Cumulative
Audience Over the Last Three Years
(Linear + Digital)
The WTA Finals will be
distributed globally through the
WTA’s established network of
broadcast and media partners,
delivering reach across key
international markets.

Domestic Broadcast Partner
for the WTA Finals 2026

THE WORLD WILL

BE WATCHING
SOURCE: YouGov 2023 – 2025, YouGov 2025, provided July 2026 *Note Watch & Bet viewership excluded due to transition from tracking total sessions # to average audiences from 2026 to better align to other sports properties, new GSIQ methodology
& MORE
9 A POWERFUL PLATFORM

THAT BUILDS

RELEVANCE & REACH
The WTA’s digital platforms are the fastest
growing across tennis and women’s sports -
turning always-on fan attention into measurable
engagement. This is where cultural relevance
meets performance, and where partners can
show up with impact.

Sources:WTA owned platforms showing full year 2025.

As of June 2026: 10.0M Total Western: Instagram, YT, TT, Snap, X, FB; 2.4M Total Chinese: Weibo, Rednote, Douyin, WeChat Channels, WeChat OA
(1) Western channels only

3.1B+
92M
Impressions
Across Owned
Channels LTM
Engagements
across all social
platforms LTM
239M+Visits to
WTATennis.com
LTM

ENGAGEMENT
172M WTA App
Page Views
LTM

12.4M
+108%

1.9B+
Total Social
Followers
New Followers (1)
(2023 -YTD’26 )
Video Views LTM
+50%Video Views LTM

FASTEST GROWING SPORT ON SOCIAL

LOYAL AND ENGAGED FANS
10 PARTNERSHIP

OPPORTUNITIES
12 HOW THIS PARTNERSHIP COMES TO LIFE

PARTNER

DESIGNATION
Brand visibility across
broadcast, media, official
venue signage, and digital
touchpoints, for the full
eight days and leading up
to the event.

ON-COURT

PRESENCE
Courtside branding positions
designed to deliver maximum
in -stadium and broadcast
exposure across every match.

ON-SITE

ACTIVITIES
Create custom experiences
to engage with spectators
and/or guests.

PREMIUM

TICKETS
Tickets to the WTA’s crown
jewel event, an eight -day
season -ending finale
13 •Silver Partner of WTA Finals 2026
•WTA Finals 2026 IP Rights

DESIGNATION/PARTNER IP
•Email newsletter inclusion
•Digital integrations across WTA channels
•Social media integration

MARKETING & DIGITAL MEDIA
•“Indian Wells” text on the court surface
•Daily Mayor of Indian Wells Welcome Video
•Daily City of Indian Wells Welcome Graphic
•30-second advertisement on giant
arena screen per match
•One day designated as “City of Indian Wells
Residents’ Day” with stadium
announcements and big screen
acknowledgements

STADIUM ACTIVATIONS

BROADCAST
•Daily Broadcast Graphic on the
domestically and internationally distributed
broadcast feed (see illustration below)
•Twelve (12) 200 Level Tickets per day
•Residents’ Day Nov. 10: One hundred (100)
300 Level tickets; Twenty (20) 300 level all
other days

TICKETS

HOST CITY PARTNER
17 THE GREATER OF $750K OR THE AMOUNT

OF ADMISSIONS TAX COLLECTED
For illustrative purposes only, WTA will determine final design

THE ULTIMATE STAGE AWAITS

JOIN US IN THE DESERT THIS NOVEMBER

THANK YOU

ECONOMIC IMPACT: WTA FINALS INDIAN WELLS 2026
*assuming $150-200 F&B spend per day vs $238 estimate by BNPPO – seasonal adjustment given BNPPO takes place during spring break 1

EVENT ORGANISER IN-
STATE SPEND ATTENDEE SPEND MEDIA VALUE+ECONOMIC MULTIPLIERx + $6.4-7.2M $13.7-18.8M 1.4
($28.2-36.4M)$108.8M
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT: $48-62M
TOTAL EVENT IMPACT: $157-171M
Impact:

Adjustments made post reforecast of WTA Finals 2026:
•Adjusted event organizer in-state spend based on latest committed spend •Higher attendance spend due to overperformance of ticket sales (47-51k, of which 31% unique visitors and 94% non-local) and adjustment of F&B and transport spend to bring closer to BNPPO estimate* ATTACHMENT #2

ECONOMIC IMPACT: WTA FINALS INDIAN WELLS 2026
*assuming $150-200 F&B spend per day vs $238 estimate by BNPPO – seasonal adjustment given BNPPO takes place during spring break 1

EVENT ORGANISER IN-
STATE SPEND ATTENDEE SPEND MEDIA VALUE+ECONOMIC MULTIPLIERx + $6.4-7.2M $13.7-18.8M 1.4
($28.2-36.4M)$108.8M
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT: $48-62M
TOTAL EVENT IMPACT: $157-171M
Impact:

INDIAN WELLS CITY COUNCIL
October 1, 2026

To: City Council
From: Public Works Department
Prepared by: Dina Purvis, Public Works Director

Subject: Supplemental Appropriation to Onyx Paving Inc. for Phase 5 Project

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

FINDS the project to be exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 (c), Existing Facilities.

BACKGROUND:

During June 18, 2026, regular meeting, the City Council approved plans and specifications and awarded the construction contract for the Local Roads Paving Phase 5 project to Onyx Paving Company, Inc. The project was competitively bid through the City's online procurement portal, PlanetBids, and Onyx Paving Company, Inc. was verified as the lowest total bidder at $828,000. The contract between the City and Onyx Paving Company, Inc. was executed on June 22, 2026, with a required completion period of 35 working days from the Notice to Proceed date.

The City Council previously requested that asphalt patching on this segment of Fairway Drive be addressed, and the proposed change order provides the mechanism to accomplish this work efficiently and cost-effectively under the existing contractual relationship. A change order in the amount of $110,000 has been proposed to fund additional asphalt patching work on Fairway Drive between Eldorado and Cook Streets.

If approved, this work will be assigned to Onyx Paving Company, Inc. and performed during the contractor's current mobilization for Phase 5 of the annual pavement maintenance project.

The proposed change order totals $110,000. Because this work was not included in the original scope of the Phase 5 contract, a supplemental appropriation is required to provide

the necessary spending authority. Per the City's Fiscal Policies and Procedures Manual, supplemental appropriations provide additional spending authority to meet unexpected costs that impact operations or capital projects, and City Council approval is required for all supplemental appropriations.

OPTIONS:

1. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the supplemental appropriation of $110,000 and authorize the change order to Onyx Paving Company, Inc. for the pothole patching work on Fairway Drive between Eldorado and Cook Streets.

2. Don not approve the supplemental appropriation of $110,000 and authorize the change order to Onyx Paving Company, Inc.

3. Provide staff with alternative direction

FISCAL IMPACT:

A supplemental appropriation of $110,000 from the Capital Improvement Reserve fund to 3169301 673100 is required to fund the change order for asphalt patching work on Fairway Drive between Eldorado and Cook Streets. This amount will be added to the existing construction contract with Onyx Paving Company, Inc. for the Local Roads Paving Phase 5 project.

CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA):

This project has been assessed in accordance with the authority and criteria contained in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the State and local CEQA Guidelines, and the environmental regulations of the City. The City, acting as the Lead Agency, has determined the action qualifies as Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to Class 1 (Existing Facilities), Section 15301 of the State CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3. This determination is consistent with the CEQA finding made by the City Council on June 18, 2026, when the underlying Local Roads Paving Phase 5 project was approved and found exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Subsection (c).

Indian Wells City CouncilOctober 1, 2026

Indian Wells City Council
October 1, 2026