CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: MAY 27, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVE THE DESERT SUPERBLOOM TEMPORARY MURAL BY
ARTIST CHRIS RAMIREZ ON THE DOWNTOWN SOUTH PARKING
GARAGE LIGHTWELL SOUTH, NORTH, AND WEST FACING WALLS
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Housing and Community Development
SUMMARY:
At the Public Arts Commission meeting of April 2, 2026, the Commission approved the design for the temporary Desert Superbloom mural by artist Chris Ramirez. The proposed location for the mural is on the south, north and west facing walls of the Downtown South Parking Garage Lightwell (see Attachment A). The Public Arts Commission is recommending the City Council approve the mural at this site. The project is being sponsored by Blue Zones and no City funds are required.
RECOMMENDATION:
1) Approve installation of the Desert Superbloom mural project on the south, north, and west facing walls of the South Public Parking Structure, as recommended by the Public Arts Commission.
2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to facilitate the installation of the Desert Superbloom mural.
BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:
See Attachment B.
BACKGROUND:
At the Public Arts Commission meeting of April 2, 2026, the Commission approved the design for the temporary mural by SUPERBLOOM artist Chris Ramirez. The proposed location for the mural is on the Downtown South Parking Garage Lightwell south facing, north facing, and west facing walls. The Public Arts Commission is recommending the City Council approve this mural at this site.
City Council Staff Report
May 27, 2026 -- Page 2
Desert Superbloom Temporary Mural
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The Desert Superbloom project is a large-scale mural installation designed to celebrate the local environment of the Coachella Valley. The design focuses on natural SUPERBLOOM events, turning it into a collective display. The mural uses oversized, realistic depictions of native desert wildflowers. The specific plant life featured are the California Poppy, Desert Sunflower, Desert Sand-Verbena, Desert Mustard, Desert Popcorn Flower, and Desert Lily. The project covers three primary surfaces of the South Garage: the south wall (45 feet long), the north wall (27.5 feet long), and the west wall (30 feet long). The mural will be on display for at least 18 months. A summary of the project is provided in Attachment C.
This project is being sponsored by the Blue Zones Project which will pay for the entire cost of the project. It aligns with the Blue Zones initiative focused on shaping public spaces and infrastructure to make healthy choices the "easy choice" for residents and visitors. Rather than focusing on individual behavior, Blue Zones prioritizes environmental improvements that encourage natural movement, safety, and social connection. The mural creates an environment that invites walking, gathering, and exploration, and supports a more human-scaled downtown. The project also includes a community activation component where local youth and residents participate in painting supervised elements.
Artist Chris Ramirez is a Palm Springs-based artist and is recognized as a cultural leader and innovator in the Coachella Valley. Their professional portfolio highlights a strong commitment to public art and community-driven initiatives. They have completed numerous large-scale murals and functional art projects throughout Southern California.
Their studio frequently hosts interactive workshops and live painting activations, partnering with organizations like the Palm Springs Art Museum to make art accessible to youth and underserved groups. Their work has been featured in major publications including National Geographic, The Hollywood Reporter, Palm Springs Life, and InStyle.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The installation of the art mural is considered a “project” pursuant to the terms of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it has been determined to be categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Section 15301(a) of the CEQA Guidelines (Class 1, Existing Facilities). The projects categorized under Class 1 exemption include minor alterations to an existing private structure which do not involve any expansion of the existing use.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Broad Goal: Infrastructure and Facilities.
City Council Staff Report
May 27, 2026 -- Page 3
Desert Superbloom Temporary Mural
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no impact to the General Fund. The proposed investment for the mural is $24,000, which will be funded entirely by Blue Zones.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Jay Virata
Assistant City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Vicinity Map
B. Business Disclosure Form
C. SUPERBLOOM Project Summary