Study Session of the Palm Desert City Council, Successor Agency to the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency, Housing Authority, and Board of Library Trustees Minutes
April 23, 2026
Present: Councilmember Jan Harnik, Councilmember Gina Nestande, Mayor Evan Trubee, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto
Absent: Councilmember Karina Moreno
1. CALL TO ORDER - STUDY SESSION
A Study Session of the Palm Desert City Council was called to order by Mayor Trubee on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, City Hall, located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California.
2. STUDY SESSION TOPICS
2.a Study Session Regarding Interview Procedures for the City’s Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces
Anthony Mejia, City Clerk, narrated a PowerPoint presentation and responded to City Council inquires.
During discussion, the City Council provided feedback supporting updates to the interview policy to require interviews for all candidates across all appointed bodies to promote consistency, transparency, and regular review of incumbents.
The City Council also supported using a standardized set of interview questions and a point based ranking system, with feedback to apply a reverse scoring method where the highest rated candidate receives the most points.
2.b Update on the status of key projects by the Development Services department
Rosie Lua, Director of Development Services, and Carlos Flores, Deputy Director of Development Services, narrated a PowerPoint presentation and responded to City Council inquires.
During discussion, the City Council provided feedback identifying the Views Analysis and Parking Analysis as priority projects to help guide future development and zoning decisions. The City Council also supported prioritizing additional zoning updates, such as lighting ordinances and pickleball regulations, and removing the entertainment zone proposal from consideration at this time.
3. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the Study Session at 3:14 p.m.
City of Palm Desert City Council Study Session Minutes
April 23, 2026
2 Respectfully submitted,
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Michelle Nance
Assistant City Clerk/Assistant Secretary
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Anthony J. Mejia, MMC
City Clerk/Secretary