CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: JULY 8, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NO. 25Q414 WITH LMN/O2 JOINT-VENTURE FOR
CONVENTION CENTER ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING
SERVICES
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Engineering
SUMMARY:
This action will approve Amendment No. 1 to Professional Services Agreement No. 25Q414 with LMN/o2 Joint-Venture (LMN+o2) for Phase 2 of the architectural and engineering services for the Convention Center renovation and expansion project for an additional $6,309,988.20 and a revised contract amount not to exceed $7,309,988.20.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve Amendment No. 1 to Professional Services Agreement No. 25Q414 (Attachment A) with LMN/o2 Joint-Venture to provide architectural and engineering services for the convention center renovation and expansion project for an additional amount of $6,309,988.20 and a revised contract amount not to exceed $7,309,988.20; and
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents.
BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:
According to the Public Integrity Disclosure forms (Attachment B) submitted on September 23, 2025, LMN Architects LLP is registered in the state of Washington, and Lance C. O’Donnell, An Architectural Corporation (dba o2 Architecture), is registered in the state of California.
BACKGROUND:
The Palm Springs Convention Center, a cornerstone of the City’s hospitality and tourism economy, has served as a premier venue for conferences, exhibitions, and community
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events since its original construction in 1984. A major expansion and modernization effort was completed in 2005, significantly increasing the facility’s capacity and enhancing its amenities. Despite these improvements, many of the Convention Center’s core systems, finishes, and functional spaces now require further upgrades to meet current industry standards and user expectations.
In response to evolving market demands and the need to maintain competitiveness in the regional convention landscape, the City of Palm Springs is initiating a comprehensive renovation and expansion of the Convention Center. This project is intended to address deferred maintenance, improve operational efficiency, and enhance overall visitor experience through renovation, expansion and updating the master plan. It also supports the City’s broader goals of economic development, sustainability, and community engagement.
On September 10, 2025, the City Council unanimously authorized staff to advance the Palm Springs Convention Center modernization and connectivity project. The award of the architecture contract is a milestone and is reflective of months of planning, engagement, and fiscal diligence, and the dedication of the City Manager’s Stakeholder Group. A subset of the Capital Improvements working group, a subgroup of the Stakeholder group, participated in the development of the RFP, reviewing and scoring of written proposals, and scoring of interviews.
On November 12, 2025, the City Council approved Professional Services Agreement No. 25Q414 (Attachment C) with LMN/o2 Joint-Venture for architectural and engineering services for the Convention Center renovation and expansion project for a contract amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for a term commencing on December 1, 2025, and continuing through December 31, 2028. At the time, staff noted that the project would be designed in multiple phases and would return for additional design service approvals as the project progressed.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The design team has successfully completed the Stage 0 phase, which established a defined project scope and budget framework aligned with the City's immediate and long- term venue improvement goals. The Stage 0 effort identified the full range of desired improvements, established concept-level construction cost estimates, and prioritized project scope elements. While several project components require additional analysis to fully define costs and implementation requirements, they provide a foundation for advancing the project into design. The Stage 0 Report is included as Attachment D and includes the concept-level construction cost estimate.
LMN/o2 has submitted a proposal for final design services. The scope of services for the design team includes schematic design (SD), design development (DD), construction documents (CD), construction administration, furniture and fixtures (FFE), and project closeout. The proposed services include:
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• Developing design concepts
• Site planning
• Building systems and structural design
• Interior design development
• Exterior design development
• Signage and Wayfinding
• Cost Estimation
• Stakeholder meetings and reviews
The proposal for final design services is included as Attachment E.
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 Broad Goal: Economic Development.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Measure J Commission approved expenditures up to $9.9 M in design costs related to the Palm Springs Convention Center Modernization. The approval was conditioned by reimbursement to Measure J from debt proceeds issued when the capital project begins later in 2026. To date, the City has issued a $1M contract to LMNO2, the Project architects; $1,500,000 to MELK, the Urban Design Team; $572,250 to Multistudio, the Branding and Marketing team; and $4,147,220 to Accenture for Owner's Representative Services. Of the original $1M LMNO2 contract, approximately $500,000 was not utilized for the Stage 0 phase. The total amount of Professional Services approved to date is $7,222,470.
Staff is requesting the approval of an additional $6,309,988.20 to provide architectural and engineering services for the convention center renovation and expansion project for a total amount not to exceed $7,309,988.20. If Amendment No. 1 is approved, the total design services would be $13,529,458.20, representing 10% of the $135,000,000 Convention Center Modernization budget. While the $13,529,458.20 exceeds the City Council Staff Report
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original $9.9M design budget, it is still within industry standards (i.e., 10% of overall project cost) for Professional Services for a project of this size and complexity.
Funds for the additional design services have been included in the overall Convention Center Modernization budget.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Joel Montalvo
Procurement & Contracting Manager: Tabitha Richards
Director of Finance: Kristopher J. Mooney
Assistant City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Teresa Gallavan for Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Amendment No.1 to Agreement 25Q414
B. Public Integrity Disclosures
C. Professional Services Agreement 25Q414
D. Stage 0 Report
E. LMN/02 Proposal
[https://publicportal.palmspringsca.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1461164&dbi d=0&repo=CityHall-Primary