CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 8, 2026 BUSINESS & LEGISLATIVE
SUBJECT: RENAMING J.C. FREY BUILDING AND OTHER SPECIFIC AREAS OF
THE PALM SPRINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Library
SUMMARY:
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation (“Foundation”) and the City of Palm Springs requires the City Council to approve naming opportunities for the Palm Springs Public Library system valued at more than $100,000.
The Foundation requests approval of naming rights for designated areas of the Palm Springs Public Library.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Accept the gift of $250,000 from Friends of the Palm Springs Library for naming rights of the J.C. Frey Building and approve the renaming of the J.C. Frey Building to Friends of the Palm Springs Library Building.
2. Accept the multi-year sustaining gift of $125,000 from the Estate of Jane Lykken Hoff and the Inland Empire Community Foundation to name the desert landscaping and approve the naming of the desert landscaping in memory of Jane Lykken Hoff.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents.
BACKGROUND:
On May 25, 2023, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (Attachment A) between the City and the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation.
The Foundation officially launched a capital campaign on October 27, 2025, to support the library renovation, continued operation and long-term maintenance of the Palm Springs Public Library. During this initial phase, the Foundation successfully raised over $1 million, triggering a $1 million matching gift from the Library Board of Trustees Trust Fund.
City Council Staff Report
April 8, 2026 -- Page 2
Renaming of J.C. Frey Building and other Areas of Library Of the more than 35 capital campaign donations committed to date, two require City Council approval, Friends of the Palm Springs Library and Jane Lykken Hoff. Seven donations require City Manager approval (Attachment B) and City Manager Stiles expects to approve those following this meeting.
Friends of the Palm Springs Library Building:
The Friends of the Palm Springs Public Library, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides annual gifts in support of the Library that have totaled over $1 million.
Additionally, they pledged $250,000 for the opportunity to rename the J.C. Frey Building as the Friends of the Palm Springs Library Building. This building located on the Palm Springs Public Library campus was constructed in 1965 at a cost of $45,000 by the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), deeded to the City of Palm Springs, and for years was called the Dr. Frey-J.C. Building. The name has created confusion between noted architect Albert Frey and Dr. Russell G. Frey, an avid Bridge player and prominent donor of funds to construct the building. Dr. R.G. Frey donated $7,000 at the time to help the Jaycees reach their fundraising goal. The J.C. Frey name will be retired and replaced as Friends of the Palm Springs Library Building.
Jane Lykken Hoff Desert Scaping:
Jane Lykken Hoff was born and raised in Palm Springs in 1920 and died at the age of 103 in 2023. She was the daughter of a pioneer family, Carl and Edith Lykken, who had a grocery store, hardware store, and post office. They had the first telegram service; Carl was the town’s first postmaster. Carl Lykken was a founding member of the City of Palm Springs’ Library Board, on which he served at his death at the age of 87 in 1972. Jane Lykken Hoff’s estate left numerous gifts to local nonprofit organizations through the Inland Empire Community Foundation, including a sustaining gift to the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation. In this specific instance, the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation has identified naming the desert scaping as an appropriate naming opportunity to honor her memory and love of the desert. The amount determined for naming the desert scaping was set at $125,000.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Naming opportunities provide a meaningful way for community members to support the restoration and renovation of the Palm Springs Public Library while establishing a lasting legacy. These contributions strengthen the Foundation’s relationships with donors and help cultivate both sustaining and legacy gifts.
This fundraising approach directly advances the capital campaign’s objectives, which include enhancing the $45 million renovation project through improvements to the Children’s Room and upgrades to technology within the Community Room. The naming gifts recommended in this report are designated specifically for capital campaign purposes and are not part of the Foundation’s endowment strategy. Separately, the Foundation also intends to build a $5 million endowment to ensure long-term, reliable support for library services and programs. Together, these efforts reflect the community’s City Council Staff Report
April 8, 2026 -- Page 3
Renaming of J.C. Frey Building and other Areas of Library strong commitment to the Library’s future.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The requested City Council action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15375(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action which has a potential for resulting in a direct physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), 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 Broad Goal: Infrastructure and Facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Per the MOU, any direct costs incurred in connection with the issuance of Naming Rights Opportunities shall be assumed and paid by the Foundation or donors. This includes the cost of signage, plaques, name plates, changes in lighting and the like, and the cost of any marketing material or events required to identify and engage prospective donors.
The Foundation will remit the approved naming-rights contributions to the City as project timelines progress and as funds are needed, in accordance with the MOU’s required schedule.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Jeannie Kays
Assistant City Manager: Teresa Gallavan
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Memorandum of Understanding between the Palm Springs Public Library Foundation and the City of Palm Springs
B. Memorandum to City Manager Scott Stiles for gifts of $25,001-$100,000.