ATTACHMENT A
Site Visit - Summary Notes
MCC HOA Site Visit by Palm Springs Fire Department and Code Enforcement.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
OLT Bike Path on the East side of Farrell Drive
ATTENDEES:
Palm Springs Fire Dept. (PSFD): Taylor Teeple, Fire Marshal.
Palm Springs Code Compliance (CC): Mitch Nabhan, Code Compliance Supervisor.
MCC HOA: Mike Teagle, HOA Director; Randy Grant, Maintenance Committee Chair ; Greg Thomas, Prescott Preserve Liaison Committee Chair; Abby Winston, Capital Committee Chair; Robert Olsen, Resident Phase 1; Toney Campos, Property Supervisor.
OLT: David Lahti, OLT Director; David Paisley, Deputy Director.
MEETING SUMMARY:
Fire Marshal Comments on HOA Structures.
Fire Marshal Taylor Teeple started the site visit by complementing the HOA on the condition of its property in terms of fire prevention. He made particular note of the following:
•Fire Dept. does annual review of the HOA property and, outside of two or three very minor repair issues, the property’s ranking is very high. Teeple was complimentary of the HOA management and maintenance staff. •The property is well maintained. The fire hydrants are well-marked with nothing blocking access to the hydrants.
•There is little vegetation in direct contact with structural walls. •Cement tile roofs and stucco exterior walls are all very fire resistant. •There is no accumulation of trash or flammable materials on the property.
Teeple did supply information on ember resistant vents that the HOA Board might consider installing in the gable end attic vents, especially those structures most directly exposed to the Preserve. A copy of the information was given to Property Supervisor Toney Campos for delivery to HOA management.
ACTION ITEM: The Maintenance Committee should bring forward a recommendation to the Board regarding the consideration of the installation of ember-resistant vents.
Teeple added that, while the HOA’s green belt fronting and surrounding each structure does act as a natural fire beak, desert-scaping with fire resistant plants does add an even higher level of deterrent. In his words “nothing beats dirt” as a fire break.
When asked about the palm tree skirts in the HOA-Preserve buffer zone, Fire Marshal Teeple did not consider the palm tree skirts to be a fire hazard because they are not touching roofs balconies or walls, located near buildings or densely packed adjacent to brush.
Code Compliance Comments.
1.OLT Prescott Preserve
•Code Compliance Supervisor, Mitch Nabhan, noted that his staff provide regular site visits of the preserve and that OLT has been very responsive about clearing debris and addressing areas identified as needing attention.
2.Vacant Clubhouse - not owned by OLT
•Nabhan also provided an overview of the controls being imposed on the owner of the vacant clubhouse property at the corner of Mesquite Avenue and Farrell Drive. The City of Palm Springs requires that vacant properties be registered with the Department of Building and Safety so that the City can work in partnership with property owners to ensure the City's standards are met and maintained. Accordingly, this vacant clubhouse is closely monitored by the City’s Code Compliance staff.
3.Vacant Bel Air Greens golf course - not owned by OLT:
•Additionally, Nabhan confirmed that Code Compliance is actively engaged in monitoring the vacant Bel Air Greens golf course. Vegetation at the perimeter adjoining the HOA lands has been largely cleaned up, but Code Compliance continues to monitor.
OLT Commets on Prescott Preserve/HOA Buffer Zone.
David Lahti, OLT Director, and David Paisley, OLT Deputy Director, spoke about Preserve maintenance and the planned Buffer Zone separating the Preserve from the HOA Phases 1, 2 and 3. They made particular note of the following:
1.When there is a wind event, Paisley noted that OLT has staff and volunteers on- site the next day with these priorities. He added that during high wind events it can take a couple of days to clear all zones.
•Clear the streets and sidewalks along Farrell, Compadre, Sunny Dunes and El Cielo.
•Clear the Preserve bike-path and interior trails.
•Clear the MCC HOA buffer zone.
•Clear other buffer zones.
2.Paisley commented that, while OLT values trees in general, including palm tree skirts and seeds, as a source of food and habitat for wildlife, OLT would consider a request by the HOA Board for trimming of specific trees in the buffer zone provided it is done after bird nesting season.
3.He also commented that OLT would consider, at any time, an emergency request to trim a specific tree that poses an immediate risk of injury to anyone using the bike-path. High-risk trees or skirts can be reported to:
•City of Palm Springs by using the myPalmSprings App. Simply take a photo with a cellphone of the issue, fill out a quick form and submit. The city will automatically route your request to the appropriate department for resolution.
•OLT: contact information is available on their website oswitlandtrust.org
4.When discussing the pond area of the Preserve, Fire Marshal Teeple did not consider the brush and palm tree skirts at ground level to be a fire hazard to the HOA because they are separated from any HOA structures by a substantial distance. As a security precaution, OLT’s Paisley said that, as plants re-emerge after the February fire, OLT would consider keeping the peninsula of land situated in the pond area at a vegetation level that is good for wildlife but also retains sight lines into the area.
5.OLT described how Prescott Preserve is registered with the Palm Springs Police Department’s “Stop Trespass” program. It is a crime-prevention partnership between property owners and the police that allows officers to enforce trespassing laws on private property even when the owner or manager is not present. The program helps police address nuisance issues such as loitering, illegal camping, drug dealing, and people entering closed or restricted areas.
The Palm Springs Police Department can be called to attend by calling 911 (for an emergency) or the non-emergency number 760-327-1441.
6.OLT spoke about the buffer zone being developed at the perimeter of the Preserve where it abuts HOA Phases 1, 2 and 3. Paisley made the following comments:
•The buffer zone is being designed by LSA Environmental Design. •It is fully funded by the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) grant funds. •OLT is working with the City to obtain the permits required to begin work and this process is taking longer than anticipated. Given the timing of the permits and summer temperatures, planting on the buffer zone should start in the Fall of 2026.
•The plantings in the buffer zone will be low profile to protect views, drought and fire resistant, and adequately spaced to prevent the spread of fire.
Some of the plants to be planted in the buffer zone are:
➢Brittle bush.
➢Hummingbird bush.
➢Succulents and cactuses.
•Paisley showed a demonstration garden of the types of plants to be used in the buffer zone, located at the Farrell Drive entrance to the east half of the Preserve.
•The buffer zone will be irrigated by low-pressure drip irrigation for as long as the young plants require it to become established.
•There will be no high-pressure broadcast irrigation on the Preserve because that causes a proliferation of the non-native invasive species of plant growth (like the London rocket mustard currently being experienced). •The removal of the non-native, invasive London rocket mustard will continue throughout the restoration process through hand-pulling, mowing and WCB- approved herbicide application. During this time HOA residents may see a temporary, above-ground, irrigation system in some sections of the Preserve. The irrigation is designed to force invasive non-native seed to germinate, rather than lie dormant in the soil, so the resulting growth can be removed in that section.
OLT Comments on Prescott Preserve Staffing and Security.
OLT’s Paisley spoke of the staffing and security measures being taken. He made the following comments:
•OLT no longer uses the term “Ranger” because it implies some amount of law enforcement authority which OLT does not have.
•OLT now uses the term “Trail Ambassador” to describe volunteers who patrol the property during the day. There are currently over 70 of these Trail Ambassadors available to walk the property during the daytime. •OLT also has over 100 crew volunteers available to help maintain the property on a daily basis.
•The Preserve has 3 full-time staff, with one or more of these on-site virtually every day.
•OLT has ten Reveal cellular trail cameras on-site that are activated by animal or human movement. They record pictures and video of activities 24 hours a day. Three of these cameras are in the pond area in front of HOA Phase 1.
Respectively submitted by
Randy Grant
HOA Maintenance Committee Chair
On behalf of:
Capital Improvements Committee Chair - Abby Winston
Prescott Preserve Liaison Committee Chair - Greg Thomas