PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION MEETING
AGENDA
Thursday, May 22, 2025
2:30 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 Assembly Bill 2449, 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:
Send your comments by email to: [email protected].
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.
Pages
1. CALL TO ORDER - STUDY SESSION
2. STUDY SESSION TOPICS
2.a UPDATE ON CIVIC CENTER PARK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS (PROJECT NO. CFA00011)
3 RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an update on the current design and progress of the improvements planned for Civic Center Park Playground.
2.b LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE TIMEFRAMES 23
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide staff direction to draft the proposed amendments to Palm Desert Municipal Code (PDMC) Section 9.24.075 to establish uniform property maintenance timeframes aligned with those permitted for City-hired contractor services.
3. ADJOURNMENT
4. PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTE: Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449, this meeting may be conducted by teleconference. Study Session is accessible in person or on the City’s website:
www.palmdesert.gov under the Council Agenda link at the top of the page.
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 “Meeting 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, Acting 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
Acting Assistant City Clerk
City Council Study Session
May 22, 2025
2
CITY OF PALM DESERT
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 22, 2025
PREPARED BY: Shawn Muir, Community Services Manager
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON CIVIC CENTER PARK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS (PROJECT NO. CFA00011)
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an update on the current design and progress of the improvements planned for Civic Center Park Playground.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
In Fiscal Year 2024-25, the City of Palm Desert (City) allocated funding to renovate and improve accessibility at Civic Center Park Playground. The focus of this project is to replace the uneven concrete around the playground. This project will eliminate trip hazards and provide a new, flat surface. In addition, the existing playground had become outdated, lacked accessible play features, and included equipment that had been removed due to damage.
To address these issues, the City contracted with Michael Baker International, Inc., to develop plans for concrete removal and replacement, and to design and install new play structures and surfacing. Landscape enhancements will also be incorporated as part of the project.
Staff is presenting the proposed improvements to City Council prior to finalizing project designs and initiating the construction bid process. An informational presentation of the proposed concepts was also provided to the Parks and Recreation Committee on May 6, 2025.
Legal Review:
This report has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this presentation, as no formal action is being taken at this time. Funds for this project are included in the approved Public Works Capital Improvement Project (CIP) List for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The following table illustrates current funding and expenses for this project:
Description Budget Contract/Expense Balance
4004674-4400100 $1,725,000
A48830 Design – Michael Baker $48,445
Public Outreach $405
Total $1,725,000 $48,850 $1,676,150
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Presentation
3 4
CIVIC CENTER PARK
PLAYGROUND
IMPROVEMENTS
City Council Study Session
May 22, 2025 5
AGENDA
Project Goals
Design and Engineering Contract
Public Engagement
Concept Plan
Timeline
2 6
PROJECT GOALS
• Remove and replace concrete
• ADA Compliance
• Reduce risk
• Replace playground
• Slide broken late 2024 – removed
• Increase accessible play features
• Playground equipment life
expectancy
• Refresh surrounding structures
• Repaint restroom exteriors and
pavilions
7 DESIGN AND
ENGINEERING
CONTRACT
Michael Baker International, Inc.
Subcontract: In-Site Landscape
Architecture
• Demolition plan
• Precise grading plan
• Flatwork
• Playground equipment
• Shade structures
• Landscape and irrigation
• Public engagement
8 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT • Community survey 3/31/25 through
4/21/25 on EngagePalmDesert.com
• Two in-person outreach events
• Saturday, April 5 from 9 – 11 am
• Wednesday, April 9 from 2 – 4 pm
• Social media posts • 147 survey respondents • Survey Report on engagement outcomes
9 5
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
10 6
EFFECTIVE DELIVERY
TECHNIQUES
Voice modulation is a powerful tool in
public speaking. It involves varying pitch,
tone, and volume to convey emotion,
emphasize points, and maintain interest:
• Pitch variation
• Tone inflection
• Volume control
Effective body language enhances your
message, making it more impactful and
memorable:
• Meaningful eye contact
• Purposeful gestures
• Maintain good posture
• Control your expressions
7 11
PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT
8 12
SURVEY RESULTS
• About half feel there is
adequate seating and
ADA-accessible
equipment
• About 75% would like to
see more Nature-Based
elements (rocks, native
plantings, birds,
butterflies)
• Mixed responses on
overall design style
• restrooms, drinking
fountains, lighting, and
picnic tables 9
• Majority visit playground
for children’s play
• 2/3 in morning or
evening, 1/3 in afternoon
• Age groups balanced, but
less in over 10 group
• More than half are
satisfied with current
facilities
• Most feel the playground
is safe
• More than half feel there
is enough shade
13 CONCEPT PLAN
N 10 14
N
CONCEPT PLAN
11 15
CONSTRUCTION PLANS
12 16
PLAY EQUIPMENT
13 17
PLAY EQUIPMENT
14 18
PLAY EQUIPMENT
15 19
TIMELINE
16 Date Milestone
4/5/2025 & 4/9/2025 Outreach Events
5/6/2025 Parks & Recreation Committee
5/22/2025 City Council Study Session
June 2025 Finalize Bid Package and
Construction Bidding
July 2025 Start Construction
September 2025 Estimated Construction Completion
20 THANK YOU
Shawn Muir, Community Services Manager
(760) 776-6481
[email protected]
21 22
CITY OF PALM DESERT
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 22, 2025
PREPARED BY: Pedro Rodriguez, Code Compliance Supervisor SUBJECT: LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE TIMEFRAMES
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide staff direction to draft the proposed amendments to Palm Desert Municipal Code (PDMC) Section 9.24.075 to establish uniform property maintenance timeframes aligned with those permitted for City-hired contractor services.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
At the April 24, 2025, City Council Study Session, the City Council directed staff to evaluate property maintenance noise regulations and return with recommendations to improve enforceability and align with public contracts and industry standards. In response, City staff has drafted proposed Ordinance amendments (Attachment 1) to streamline the ordinance, simplify compliance requirements, and establish uniform enforcement practices.
The proposed amendments clarify that the restrictions apply exclusively to the start times for using power equipment associated with property maintenance activities. This includes, but is not limited to, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, and edgers. Manual labor is not subject to the proposed start time restrictions.
The proposal eliminates inconsistencies between public and private sector maintenance activities by adopting uniform starting times for power equipment throughout the year. This change removes the existing seasonal schedule to promote clarity and enforceability of the ordinance.
Key Justifications and Proposed Revisions:
1. Consistency and Enforcement
Goal: Establish a clear and enforceable standard citywide. Recommendation: Define property maintenance activities to include only powered equipment (blowers, lawnmowers, edgers, or similar devices). Manual labor not involving power equipment, such as raking, sweeping, or pruning, remains unregulated and permitted at any time.
23 City of Palm Desert
Property Maintenance Timeframes
2. Weekend Activity
Current Practice: Property maintenance is currently allowed on weekends. Recommendation: Maintain existing weekend permissions; no additional restrictions are proposed.
3. Seasonal vs. Non-Seasonal Hours
Current Issue: Seasonal hour distinctions result in contractor confusion and hinder enforcement.
Recommendation: Eliminate seasonal concept and implement uniform, yearround start times aligned with those already permitted for City landscape contractors.
4. Exemptions
Recommendation: Golf course maintenance hours will remain unchanged due to operational requirements.
Staff recommends the proposed start times outlined below, as they align with those established for City contractors and reflect standard industry practices for property maintenance operations.
Standardizing these hours will promote operational consistency and improve the overall efficiency of code enforcement efforts.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
PDMC 9.24.075: Property Maintenance Activities
A. Noise sources associated with property maintenance activity, including all portable blowers, lawnmowers, edgers, or similar powered devices, shall be prohibited except during the following hours:
Monday through Sunday: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Government code holidays: Not allowed
Legal Review:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this action
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Redlined Ordinance Amendments
24 Redline version of proposed amendment.
§ 9.24.075 Property maintenance activities.
A. Noise sources associated with property maintenance activity and all portable blowers, lawnmowers, edgers or similar devices shall be prohibited except during the following hours:
October 1st through April 30th
Monday through Sunday: Nine 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Government code holidays: Not allowed
May 1st through September 30th
Monday through Friday: Eight a.m. to five-thirty p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Nine a.m. to five-thirty p.m.
Government code holidays: Not allowed
Notwithstanding the hours of permitted operations, such equipment that constitutes a public nuisance may be abated as otherwise provided in this code.
With the exception of blowers, all maintenance activities associated with golf courses and/or tennis courts can operate from five-thirty a.m. to seven p.m., seven days a week.
B. All municipal maintenance activities are not subject to subsection A.
C. No person shall willfully make or continue, or willfully cause to be made or continued, any noise from any portable powered blower at a level which exceeds seventy decibels (dBA) measured at the midpoint of a wall area twenty feet long and ten feet high and at the horizontal distance fifty feet away from the midpoint of the wall, or not more than seventy-six decibels (dBA) at a horizontal distance of twenty-four feet using a sound level meter.
D. No portable powered blower shall be operated in a manner which will permit dirt, dust, debris, leaves, grass clippings, cuttings, or trimmings from trees or shrubs to be blown or deposited onto neighboring property or public right-of-way. All waste shall be removed and disposed of in a sanitary manner by the use or property occupant. (Ord. 842 § 3, 1997; Ord. 1076 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1169 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1170 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1243 § 3, 2012)
25 City of Palm Desert, CA
Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4981 on 2025-04-28 § 9.24.060. Special provisions—Exemptions.
The following activities shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter:
A. School bands, school athletic and school entertainment events; B. Outdoor gatherings, public dances, shows and sporting and entertainment events; provided, the events are authorized by the city;
C. Activities conducted in public parks and public playgrounds; D. Any mechanical device, apparatus or equipment used, related to or connected with emergency machinery, vehicle or work;
E. All mechanical devices, apparatus or equipment which are utilized for the protection or salvage of agricultural crops during periods of potential or actual frost damage or other adverse weather conditions;
F. Mobile noise sounds associated with agricultural operations provided such operations do not take place between the hours of eight p.m. and seven a.m. on weekdays, including Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a federal holiday; G. Mobile noise sources associated with agricultural pest control through pesticide application;
H. Noise sources associated with property maintenance. Refer to Section 9.24.075, Property maintenance activities;
I. The provisions of this regulation shall not preclude the construction, operation, maintenance and repairs of equipment, apparatus or facilities of park and recreation departments, public work projects or essential public services and facilities, including those of public utilities subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission;
J. Carillon chimes between the hours of eight a.m. to seven p.m.
K. Noise sources associated with construction activities. Refer to 9.24.070, Construction activities.
(Ord. 420, 1985; Ord. 539 § 1, 1988; Ord. 691 § 5, 1992; Ord. 754 § 1, 1994; Ord. 842 § 2, 1997;
Ord. 1076 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1169 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1170 § 1, 2008) 26 PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE START
TIMES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY
SESSION
May 22, 2025
27 BACKGROUND
APRIL 24 STUDY SESSION:
• Staff was directed to prepare recommendations for ordinance amendment.
• Proposed recommendation will streamline consistency and enforcement.
• Proposed recommendation will align starting times for city contractors performing similar work using power equipment. 28 2
3 § 9.24.075 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES.
A. NOISE SOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY AND ALL PORTABLE BLOWERS, LAWNMOWERS, EDGERS OR SIMILAR DEVICES SHALL BE PROHIBITED EXCEPT DURING THE FOLLOWING HOURS:
OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH APRIL 30TH
MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY: NINE 7 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M.
GOVERNMENT CODE HOLIDAYS: NOT ALLOWED
MAY 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: EIGHT A.M. TO FIVE-THIRTY P.M.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: NINE A.M. TO FIVE-THIRTY P.M.
GOVERNMENT CODE HOLIDAYS: NOT ALLOWED
PROPOSED STARTING TIMES
29 DISCUSSION
• Receive direction on
proposed municipal code
amendments to
standardize property
maintenance start times.
30 4
QUESTIONS
Pedro Rodriguez
Code Compliance
Supervisor
31