CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: November 12, 2025 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 OF PUBLIC ART
FUNDS TO THE OLD LAS PALMAS NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION
FOR COMMISSION OF THE “YELLOW WARBLER” SCULPTURE AND
“DANCING RHINO” SCULPTURE BY ARTIST DELOS VAN EARL, BOTH
TO BE LOCATED IN THE WEST CHINO DRIVE MEDIAN IN THE OLD
LAS PALMAS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND APPROVE THE DONATION OF
THE SCULPTURES TO THE CITY
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Housing & Community Development Department
SUMMARY:
The Public Arts Commission is requesting the City Council approve funding in the amount of $25,000 as a Community Grant for the commission and installation of two pieces of art, Yellow Warbler and Dancing Rhino (Artworks) by Delos Van Earl (Artist). The proposed location for the Artwork is the West Chino Drive median, west of North Palm Canyon Drive and east of Belardo Road. The total cost to create and install the Artwork is $50,000, with $25,000 to be provided by the City and $25,000 to be provided by the Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization (OLPNO). The Artworks will also be donated to the City.
RECOMMENDATION:
1) Approve the expenditure of Public Art Funds in the amount of $25,000 for commission and installation of Yellow Warbler and Dancing Rhino by Delos Van Earl.
2) Accept donation of the public art pieces Yellow Warbler and Dancing Rhino from the Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization by Artist Delos Van Earl on the West Chino Drive median, west of North Palm Canyon Drive and east of Belardo Road.
BACKGROUND:
On November 9, 2023, the City Council approved a community grant of $5,000 to assist with the installation of the Red Dragon sculpture located in the West Chino Drive median,
City Council Staff Report
November 12, 2025 -- Page 2
Approving Funding for Public Artwork in Old Las Palmas
west of Belardo Road and east of North Cahuilla Road. OLPNO paid $20,000 to cover the total cost to create and fabricate the Red Dragon sculpture by Artist, and the $5,000 grant was used to pay for installation of the sculpture. Red Dragon was donated by the neighborhood to the City.
On July 9, 2024, the City Council approved funding in the amount of $50,000 as a Community Grant for the commission and installation of two additional pieces of art named Prince and Blue Belly Crab, also by the Artist for the West Chino Drive median.
The total cost to create and install the Prince and Blue Belly Crab was $50,000 ($25,000 each). Both were also donated to the City.
At their meeting on October 9, 2025, the City’s Public Arts Commission voted to recommend the City Council approve a proposal (Attachment A) from OLPNO requesting funding in the amount of $25,000 to pay half the costs of installing two additional art pieces named Yellow Warbler and Dancing Rhino. The total cost to create and install these pieces is $50,000. As proposed, $25,000 would be provided by the City and $25,000 would be provided by the OLPNO, and the Artworks would be donated to the City.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
OLPNO submitted an unsolicited proposal to the Public Arts Commission to have the Artworks created and installed in the West Chino Drive median at the locations shown below in Image 1.
Image 1: Proposed Locations
City Council Staff Report
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Approving Funding for Public Artwork in Old Las Palmas
The proposal is to create and install the final two sculptures of the five-piece "Creature Alley" collection. Yellow Warbler is shown in Image 2 and Dancing Rhino is shown in Image 3 below. Creature Alley is the name of a public art installation located on the median of West Chino Drive in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs. The installation was conceptualized as a series of five sculptures. Approving this final phase will bring a successful, multi-phase public art project to its intended completion.
The five sculptures in the Creature Alley collection are shown in Attachment A and include:
1.Red Dragon (Installed in Phase One)
2.Prince (Installed in Phase Two)
3.Blue Belly Crab (Installed in Phase Two)
4.Yellow Warbler (Proposed for Phase Three)
5.Dancing Rhino (Proposed for Phase Three)
The OLPNO is offering a direct $25,000 contribution to match the requested City funds.
This 1:1 match, generated from the neighborhood's own successful fundraising efforts during their 2025 Modernism Week Home Tour, demonstrates significant community buy- in and financial commitment. This partnership allows the City to acquire $50,000 worth of public art for a public investment of $25,000, effectively doubling the impact of the funds.
The "Creature Alley" installation has already proven to be a popular and engaging landmark. The proposal notes that the reaction from residents to the existing sculptures has been "overwhelmingly positive." Furthermore, the installation serves as a destination for residents and visitors alike, with frequent reports of "visitors taking 'selfies' with these sculptures," which aligns with the city's goal of creating visible and interactive public art.
The OLPNO's substantial financial pledge confirms their commitment to seeing this full vision realized.
City Council Staff Report
November 12, 2025 -- Page 3
Approving Funding for Public Artwork in Old Las Palmas
City Council Staff Report
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Approving Funding for Public Artwork in Old Las Palmas
Image 2: Yellow Warbler
Image 3: Dancing Rhino
City Council Staff Report
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Approving Funding for Public Artwork in Old Las Palmas
Each of the Artworks will be approximately 10’x 6’ x 5’ in size and weigh approximately 550 pounds. They will be made of steel and painted with sign painter’s enamel to give the pieces a long-lasting surface life. This can also be easily repainted when needed. The planned disposition of the Artworks is to donate them to the City (as was Red Dragon, Prince, and Blue Belly Crab). If approved, OLPNO can engage the artist to begin working on the Artworks with the expected completion date by the end of February 2026.
As proposed, the Artworks will be created by Delos Van Earl. The Artist moved to the Coachella Valley in 1987 and subsequently opened a studio in Yucca Valley where he creates large scale sculptures and paintings. He received his Bachelor of Art at California State University, Chico before attending Mills College in Oakland for his Master’s in Fine Art. Locally, he is recognized by many for “Jungle Red” and “Orange Twist”, both located in Palm Springs. He has community pieces in almost 50 corporate and public collections.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The recommended action is not a “project” for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as that term is defined by CEQA guidelines (Guidelines) section 15378.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
Section 2.24.050 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code requires the Public Arts Commission to, “Be responsible for a Palm Springs public arts program including policies and guidelines, oversight of development of art projects and maintenance of art collection.”
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this action will allocate $25,000 of Public Art Funds for the creation and installation of public art. Approval of this action would have no impact on the General Fund.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Jay Virata
Assistant City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization Proposal