CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: JUNE 10, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND
RESIGNATION ACCEPTANCE FROM THE BUILDING CODE BOARD OF
APPEALS
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Brenda Pree, City Clerk
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Accept the resignation of Jorge Romero-Lozano from the Building Code Board of Appeals, effective immediately.
2. Reappoint David Parker to the Administrative Appeals Board for a term ending June 30, 2029.
3. Reappoint Richard Llewellyn to the Administrative Appeals Board, as a voting member, for a term ending June 30, 2027.
4. Appoint Antun Barbato to the Administrative Appeals Board, as an alternate, for a term ending June 30, 2028.
5. Appoint Michael Faulkner to the Administrative Appeals Board, as an alternate, for a term ending June 30, 2029.
6. Reappoint Daniel Caldwell, Tracy Martin, and J Craig Fong to the Airport Commission for terms ending June 30, 2029.
7. Appoint Bashar Halabi and Thibault Nardi to the Airport Commission for terms ending June 30, 2029.
8. Appoint David Hyams to the Historic Site Preservation Board for a term ending June 30, 2029.
9. Reappoint Deborah Schwarz to the Library Board of Trustees for a term ending June 30, 2029.
10.Waive the requirements of Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 2.06.010 and reappoint Juanita Garner to the Library Board of Trustees to a one-year term ending June 30, 2027.
City Council Staff Report
June 10, 2026 -- Page 2
Boards and Commission Appointments
11.Ratify the nomination of the Palm Springs Unified School District Superintendent and reappoint Jody Diaz to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term ending June 30, 2029.
12.Reappoint Donald Admire, Jase Nagaia, and Meredith Fine to the Parks and Recreation Commission for terms ending June 30, 2029.
13.Appoint Jacqueline Bowman and Ariel Bishop-Williams to the Parks and Recreation Commission for terms ending June 30, 2029.
14.Appoint Lisaann Dupont to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term ending June 30, 2027.
15.Reappoint Lauri Kibby and Michelle Loya to the Public Arts Commission for terms ending June 30, 2029.
16.Appoint Will Dean to the Public Arts Commission for a term ending June 30, 2029.
17.Reappoint Bernard Rottner, Kathleen Cohn, Ken Alexander, and Michael Frick to the Sustainability Commission for terms ending June 30, 2029.
18.Appoint Jorge Romero-Lozano, Luke Fannin, Andrew Weiss, David Anderson, and Heidi Garza to the Sustainability Commission for terms ending June 30, 2029.
19.Reappoint Carlos Antonio Alvarez and Mitchell Battersby to the VillageFest Board for terms ending June 30, 2029.
20.Appoint Celia Garton and Michael Slocum to the VillageFest Board for terms ending June 30, 2029.
BACKGROUND:
The Open Recruitment for the City’s Boards and Commissions, conducted annually from March 1st to April 30th, produced successful results. During this cycle, staff received a total of 116 applications from community members interested in serving on the City’s boards and commissions.
The City Council appointed Mayor Soto and Mayor Pro Tem Ready to serve on an Ad Hoc Subcommittee tasked with screening and reviewing applications for vacancies on various Boards and Commissions. The subcommittee provides recommendations for qualified candidates to be considered and appointed by the City Council. The subcommittee's recommendations are detailed above. With this action, there is one (1) unscheduled vacancy within the Building Code Board of Appeals, with a term ending June 30, 2028.
Government Code Section 54974 (a) states, "Whenever an unscheduled vacancy occurs in any board, commission, or committee for which the legislative body has the appointing power, whether due to resignation, death, termination, or other causes, a special vacancy notice shall be posted in the office of the clerk of the local agency, on either the local agency’s Internet web site or at the library designated pursuant to Section 54973.” The Office of the City Clerk will initiate publication of a recruitment notice for the unscheduled City Council Staff Report
June 10, 2026 -- Page 3
Boards and Commission Appointments
vacancy on the Building Code Board of Appeals and will commence the process of accepting applications.
Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 2.18.010(b) states that one member of the Parks and Recreation Commission shall be nominated by the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) Superintendent of Schools. As such, Jody Diaz was nominated by PSUSD Superintendent Funchess (Attachment C), and the recommendation is to reappoint Jody Diaz to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Brenda Pree
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Boards and Commission Rosters
B. Resignation Notice from Jorge Romero-Lozano (Email Correspondence) C. PSUSD Superintendent's Nomination of Jody Diaz for the Parks & Recreation Commission