CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 11, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NO. 26Q021 WITH
DALEY STRATEGIES, LLC FOR CITY ADMINISTRATION STRATEGIC
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT NO. 26Q022 FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR
PALM SPRINGS CONVENTION CENTER RENOVATION AND
EXPANSION PROJECT
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Communications
Economic Development
SUMMARY:
This action will award two professional services agreements with Daley Strategies, LLC for on-call strategic communications services for City Administration in an amount not to exceed $325,000 for an initial three-year term, and strategic communications services for the Palm Springs Convention Center Renovation and Expansion Project for an amount not to exceed $307,445 for an initial one-year term.
Agreement No. 26Q021 for on-call strategic communications services for City Administration (City Manager and Communications Departments) is an on-call, as- needed type contract. The solicitation was used to determine the most qualified respondent and to set hourly rates for the Agreement; however, the actual amount of expenses will be based on the budgeted amount set by the Department and therefore may be lower than the not-to-exceed amount.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve Professional Services Agreement No. 26Q021 with Daley Strategies, LLC to provide on-call strategic communications services for City Administration in an amount not to exceed $325,000 for an initial three-year term commencing on March 12, 2026, and continuing through March 11, 2029, with two one-year extension options by mutual consent;
2. Approve Professional Services Agreement No. 26Q022 with Daley Strategies, LLC to provide strategic communications services for the Palm Springs Convention Center Renovation and Expansion Project in an amount not to exceed $307,445
City Council Staff Report
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2 for an initial one-year term commencing on March 12, 2026, and continuing through March 11, 2027, with two one-year extension options by mutual consent;
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents.
BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:
According to the Public Integrity Disclosure form (Attachment C) submitted in January 2026, Daley Strategies is registered in the state of California.
BACKGROUND:
Residents, businesses, and community stakeholders depend on the City to provide timely, accurate information regarding municipal operations, public policies, City Council initiatives, major projects and programs, and local emergency response efforts. To support these needs, the City issued a solicitation seeking to retain a firm or multiple firms to provide on-call strategic communication services in partnership with the City Manager’s Office, the Communications Department, and the Economic Development Department.
This solicitation was structured to allow for award to one firm or multiple firms based on specific criteria needed to fulfill the requirements of two independent scopes of work and selection criteria: 1) City Administration (including City Manager and Communication Departments), and 2) Palm Springs Convention Center Renovation and Expansion Project (Department of Economic Development).
STAFF ANALYSIS:
On December 4, 2025, the Procurement and Contracting Department issued Request for Qualifications 17-25 (RFQ 17-25) for Strategic Communication Services for City Administration and Palm Springs Convention Center (PSCC) Renovation and Expansion project for the City Manager, Communication, and Economic Development Departments.
RFQ 17-25 was advertised in the local newspaper, published on the PlanetBids website with notification to 333 registered vendors, and 500 vendors through Bid Broadcast. This outreach resulted in 21 attendees at the Pre-Qualification Conference on December 16, 2025, and the submission of 9 Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) for City Administration and 5 SOQs for Palm Springs Convention Center Renovation and Expansion project.
The following firms submitted SOQs for consideration by January 6, 2026, deadline.
City Administration – Part 1
ASC Firm, LLC – Chicago, IL
CV Strategies – Palm Desert, CA
Daley Strategies, LLC – Palm Springs, CA
David Perry & Associates, Inc. – Palm Springs, CA (Non-Responsive) JNS Next – Palm Desert, CA
City Council Staff Report
March 11, 2026 -- Page 3
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2 Mozaic Media & Communications, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA Raftelis Financial Consultings, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA RockSpark Inc. – Palm Springs, CA
WeUsThem, Inc. – Halifax/Nova Scotia, Canda
PSCC Renovation and Expansion Project – Part 2
ASC Firm, LLC – Chicago, IL
CV Strategies – Palm Desert, CA
Daley Strategies, LLC – Palm Springs, CA
RockSpark Inc. – Palm Springs, CA
WeUsThem, Inc. – Halifax/Nova Scotia, Canda
An evaluation committee consisting of City staff from the City Manager, Communications, Economic Development, and Development Services Departments reviewed and scored the statements of qualifications received against the criteria published in the Request for Qualifications. Criteria included the firm’s experience, references, staff’s experience, understanding the scope of work, and demonstrated understanding of City goals and values.
City Administration – Part 1:
City Administration strategic communication services shall be utilized on an on-call/as- needed type basis and shall include a full range of communications, public relations, and community engagement services that include:
A. Working with the City’s Communications team to engage the Palm Springs community by assisting with development of public education programs, communications planning, messaging, and strategy to highlight important City policies, initiatives and additional complex issues as they arise.
B. Providing messaging support for the City’s communications and public relations team by providing assistance with the development of the following as they relate to strategic communications, including but not limited to:
1. Newsletter
2. Mailers
3. Brochures
4. FAQ documents
5. News Releases
6. Video Messaging
C. Provide a variety of external affairs support services, including:
1. Assistance developing and coordinating community meetings, town halls, presentations and other special events.
2. Market research and public opinion polling and surveys.
3. Graphic design services.
City Council Staff Report
March 11, 2026 -- Page 4
Award Professional Service Agreements with Daley Strategies, LLC 7 8
2 Agreement No. 26Q021 for on-call strategic communications services for City Administration (City Manager and Communications Departments) is an on-call, as- needed type contract. The solicitation was used to determine the most qualified respondent and to set hourly rates for the Agreement; however, the actual amount of expenses will be based on the budgeted amount set by the Department and therefore may be lower than the not-to-exceed amount.
PSCC Renovation and Expansion Project – Part 2
PSCC strategic communications services shall include a dedicated team to provide communication and outreach services to support the modernization of the PSCC established through a not-to-exceed cost basis. These services include:
A. Capital Project
1. At the direction of the Office of Economic Development, Consultant shall develop and implement communications strategies related to the PSCC modernization project.
2. Prepare materials such as fact sheets, FAQs, microsite/web content, presentations, press releases, and social media content as directed.
3. Confer with Office of Economic Development to deliver clear, accessible information to the public regarding project benefits, timelines, and other public benefits.
4. Provide visual communications support (presentations, exhibits, renderings, infographics) to help explain complex projects to elected officials, stakeholders, and the public.
B. Community & Stakeholder Engagement
1. Design and facilitate engagement opportunities with stakeholders.
2. At the direction of the Office of Economic Development and in conjunction with the Owner’s Representative, Architectural and Engineering Services, Urban Design and Branding and Marketing teams, plan, staff, and support public meetings, open houses, and workshops— both virtual and in-person.
3. Maintain stakeholder databases and provide summaries of input to inform project decisions.
4. Develop and maintain project microsites or dedicated digital platforms for information sharing, public comment, and updates.
5. Assist in communicating the City’s financial plan to various stakeholders, including possible liaison with revenue capture methodologies such as a Tourism Infrastructure District (TID).
C. Strategic Counsel & Government Relations Support
1. Provide strategic communications counsel for Chief Economic Development Officer in preparing for City Council and other public review bodies.
2. Develop briefing packets, talking points, and memos to support engagement with elected officials at the local, state, and federal level.
City Council Staff Report
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2 3. Monitor legislation and funding opportunities.
4. Assist in building and maintaining constructive relationships with policymakers and key stakeholders.
D. Communications Planning & Media Relations
1. Draft press releases, position letters, editorials, talking points, and presentations to support PSP leadership.
2. Provide media relations support, including strategy, message development, and training.
3. Offer rapid response support for sensitive or high-profile issues, including crisis communications.
4. Coordinate with the City’s Communications team to ensure alignment of messaging across departments.
E. On-Call Availability
1. Consultant shall be available on an as-needed basis to provide immediate support for emerging issues requiring strategic communications.
2. Services may include crisis response, stakeholder outreach, community relations, or public meeting preparation.
F. Deliverables
1. Communications and outreach plans for major projects.
2. Public engagement event planning and staffing.
3. Microsites, fact sheets, FAQs, and stakeholder reports.
4. Briefing memos and talking points for leadership and elected officials.
5. Media releases and messaging documents.
6. Reports documenting outreach outcomes, media coverage, and recommendations.
7. Website and other social media updates.
Daley Strategies is a Southern California and Palm Springs based government and public affairs firm specializing in strategic communications, crisis response, public affairs, and community engagement for public agencies operating in complex, high visibility environments. They bring decades of experience working both inside and alongside government, supporting city leadership, public safety departments, regional agencies, and major public institutions.
Daley Strategies has served as a strategic communications partner to the City of Palm Springs, providing on-call counsel, message development, crisis preparedness, and community engagement support. Through this ongoing partnership, they have developed a strong understanding of the operational, legal, and political pressures facing municipal leadership, allowing Daley Strategies to operate seamlessly with City staff and deliver immediate value on time-sensitive and highly visible matters.
Key past projects include the development of a comprehensive Crisis Communications Plan for the City of Palm Springs, strategic communications and reputation management support during the Section 14 reparations settlement, and crisis and public safety communications for the Palm Springs Police Department. Daley Strategies has also led City Council Staff Report
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2 extensive community engagement and communications efforts for the Palm Springs International Airport Master Plan, contributing to unanimous City Council approval, and continues to support the Airport with external affairs, government relations, and stakeholder communications.
Daley Strategies more recently has provided comprehensive communications and engagement support for the South Palm Canyon Drive Low Flow Bridge Project, translating complex technical and environmental information into clear public facing materials, supporting litigation-aware communications, and facilitating structured community input to inform City Council decision making.
Beyond Palm Springs, Daley Strategies supports major public agencies including the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and Los Angeles World Airports, where they have led strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and political outreach for large scale, sensitive, and highly regulated programs. Across all engagements, Daley Strategies emphasizes disciplined messaging, transparency, preparedness, and coordination to maintain public trust and support effective governance.
Based on the review of the statements of qualifications, interviews and scoring, staff recommend approval of professional services agreements with the highest scoring firm, Daley Strategies, for City Administration Strategic Communications for an amount not to exceed $325,000 for an initial term commencing on March 12, 2026, and continuing through March 11, 2028, with two one-year extension options, and PSCC Renovation and Expansion Project Strategic Communications services for an amount not to exceed $307,455 for an initial term commencing on March 12, 2026, and continuing through March 11, 2027, with two one-year extension options.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The requested City Council action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The requested action is to approve contracts for the above-mentioned services, and is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15378(b), in that a “Project” does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Foundation: Economic Development, to support a vibrant economy, including tourism, and good governance.
City Council Staff Report
March 11, 2026 -- Page 7
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2 FISCAL IMPACT:
As outlined above, Agreement No. 26Q021 for on-call strategic communications services for City Administration is an on-call, as-needed type contract. The solicitation was used to determine the most qualified respondent and to set hourly rates for the Agreement; however, the actual amount of expenses will be based on the budgeted amount set by the Department and therefore may be lower than the not-to-exceed amount. The Communications Department currently budgets $50,000 annually for strategic communications services, and would be supplemented by other City departments for project-specific strategic services on an as-needed basis.
Funding for strategic communications services for the Palm Springs Convention Center Renovation and Expansion Project is available in the current fiscal year and in FY26-27 in the Convention Center Project Account, and will be budgeted in future fiscal years if the City elects to exercise either of the two one-year extension options.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Wayne Olson
Department Director: Amy Blaisdell
Procurement & Contracting Manager: Tabitha Richards
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Professional Services Agreement 26Q021
B. Professional Services Agreement 26Q022
C. Public Integrity Disclosure Form