Palm Springs City Council
September 30, 2026

with the same carrier in the amount required by this Agreement for at least three years after completion of Contractor’s services under this Agreement. Contractor shall also be required to provide evidence to City of the purchase of the required tail insurance or continuation of the professional liability policy.

5. Sufficiency of Insurers. Insurance required in this Agreement shall be provided by authorized insurers in good standing with the State of California. Coverage shall be provided by insurers admitted in the State of California with an A.M. Best’s Key Rating of B++, Class VII, or better, unless otherwise acceptable to the City.

6. Verification of Coverage. Contractor shall furnish City with both certificates of insurance and endorsements, including additional insured endorsements, affecting all of the coverages required by this Agreement. The certificates and endorsements are to be signed by a person authorized by that insurer to bind coverage on its behalf. All proof of insurance is to be received and approved by the City before work commences. City reserves the right to require Contractor’s insurers to provide complete, certified copies of all required insurance policies at any time. Additional insured endorsements are not required for Errors and Omissions and Workers’ Compensation policies.

Verification of Insurance coverage may be provided by: (1) an approved General and/or Auto Liability Endorsement Form for the City of Palm Springs or (2) an acceptable Certificate of Liability Insurance Coverage with an approved Additional Insured Endorsement with the following endorsements stated on the certificate:

A. "The City of Palm Springs, its officials, employees, and agents are named as an additional insured…” ("as respects City of Palm Springs Contract No. A9206" or "for any and all work performed with the City" may be included in this statement).

B. "This insurance is primary and non-contributory over any insurance or selfinsurance the City may have..." ("as respects City of Palm Springs Contract No. A9206" or "for any and all work performed with the City" may be included in this statement).

C. "Should any of the above-described policies be canceled before the expiration date thereof, the issuing company will mail 30 days written notice to the Certificate Holder named." Language such as, “endeavor to” mail and "but failure to mail such notice shall impose no obligation or liability of any kind upon the company, its agents or representative" is not acceptable and must be crossed out.

D. Both the Workers’ Compensation and Employers' Liability policies shall contain the insurer's waiver of subrogation in favor of City, its elected officials, officers, employees, agents, and volunteers.

In addition to the endorsements listed above, the City of Palm Springs shall be named the certificate holder on the policies.

All certificates of insurance and endorsements are to be received and approved by the City before work commences. All certificates of insurance must be authorized by a person with DocuSign Envelope ID: 1045F196-70AB-44B9-B993-1700941333BC

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authority to bind coverage, whether that is the authorized agent/broker or insurance underwriter. Failure to obtain the required documents prior to the commencement of work shall not waive the Contractor’s obligation to provide them.

7. Deductibles and Self-Insured Retentions. Any deductibles or self-insured retentions must be declared to and approved by the City prior to commencing any work or services under this Agreement. At the option of the City, either (1) the insurer shall reduce or eliminate such deductibles or self-insured retentions with respect to the City, its elected officials, officers, employees, agents, and volunteers; or (2) Contractor shall procure a bond guaranteeing payment of losses and related investigations, claim administration, and defense expenses. Certificates of Insurance must include evidence of the amount of any deductible or self-insured retention under the policy. Contractor guarantees payment of all deductibles and self-insured retentions.

8. Severability of Interests (Separation of Insureds). This insurance applies separately to each insured against whom claim is made or suit is brought except with respect to the limits of the insurer’s liability.

DocuSign Envelope ID: 1045F196-70AB-44B9-B993-1700941333BC

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Revised: 2.9.22
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE A9206 CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

OF PUBLIC ART
BETWEEN THE CITY PALM SPRINGS AND SAME DAY EXPRESS dba

SIGNATURE SCULPTURE

1. Parties and Date.

This Amendment No. 1 to the Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art is made and entered into as of this 13 day of March 2023, by and between the City of Palm Springs (“City”) and Same Day Express dba Signature Sculpture, a Single Member California Limited Liability Corporation with its principal place of business at 79350 Four Paths Lane, Bermuda Dunes, California. City and Contractor are sometimes individually referred to as “Party” and collectively as “Parties.”

2. Recitals.

2.1 Agreement. The City and Contractor have entered into an agreement entitled “Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art” dated September 12, 2022 (“Agreement” or “Contract”) for the purpose of retaining the services of Contractor to provide the City with Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art (“Project”).

2.2 Amendment. The City and Contractor desire to amend the Agreement to include repair of art piece Chairman of the Links due to damages found during routine cleaning.

2.3 Amendment Authority. This Amendment No. 1 is authorized pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Agreement.

3. Terms.

Compensation of Contractor. 3.1 of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

3.1 Compensation of Contractor. Contractor shall be compensated and reimbursed for the services rendered under this Agreement in accordance with the schedule of fees set forth in Exhibit “A”. The total amount of Compensation shall not exceed $129,800.00.

Exhibit A Item F13. “Chairman of the Links”, 124 S. Palm Canyon Drive: - bi-annual cleaning
“Exhibit A” Item F 13. is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with Item F 13. “Chairman of the Links”, 124 S. Palm Canyon Drive: - bi-annual cleaning and repairs needed, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.”
DocuSign Envelope ID: 36B89ADB-5B9E-4BC4-984A-004D397FDA04

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Revised: 2.9.22

3.2 Continuing Effect of Agreement. Except as amended by this Amendment No. 1, all other provisions of the Agreement remain in full force and effect and shall govern the actions of the parties under this Amendment No. 1. From and after the date of this Amendment No. 1, whenever the term “Agreement” or “Contract” appears in the Agreement, it shall mean the Agreement as amended by this Amendment No. 1.

3.3 Adequate Consideration. The Parties hereto irrevocably stipulate and agree that they have each received adequate and independent consideration for the performance of the obligations they have undertaken pursuant to this Amendment No. 1.

3.4 Severability. If any portion of this Amendment No. 1 is declared invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

3.5 Counterparts. This Amendment No. 1 may be executed in duplicate originals, each of which is deemed to be an original, but when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
DocuSign Envelope ID: 36B89ADB-5B9E-4BC4-984A-004D397FDA04

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Revised: 2.9.22

SIGNATURE PAGE TO AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS

AND SIGNATURE SCULPTURE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the dates stated below.

CONTRACTOR:

By: _______________________________________ By: _________________________________________ Signature Signature
(2nd signature required for Corporations)
Date: Date:

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS:

APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL:

Date: _______ Item No.

APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:

By: ___________________________ By: _______________________________ City Attorney City Clerk
APPROVED:

By: _______________________________ Date:

City Manager – over $50,000
Deputy/Assistant City Manager – up to $50,000
Director – up to $25,000
Manager – up to $5,000
DocuSign Envelope ID: 36B89ADB-5B9E-4BC4-984A-004D397FDA04 3/13/2023
3/15/2023

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Revised: 10.31.23
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF
PUBLIC ART AGREEMENT NO. A9206

BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS AND SAME DAY EXPRESS

DBA SIGNATURE SCULPTURE

1. Parties and Date.

This Amendment No. 2 to the Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art Agreement is made and entered into as of February 3, 202, by and between the City of Palm Springs (“City”) and Same Day Express dba Signature Sculpture, a Single Member California Limited Liability Corporation with its principal place of business at 79350 Four Paths Lane, Bermuda Dunes, California, (Contractor).

City and Contractor are sometimes individually referred to as “Party” and collectively as “Parties.”

2. Recitals.

2.1 Agreement. The City and Contractor have entered into an agreement entitled “Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art” dated September 12, 2022 (“Agreement”) for the purpose of retaining the services of Contractor to provide the City with Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art (“Project”). Contract Term: 3-Years; Contract Price: $128,905.

2.1 Amendment No. 1. On March 13, 2023, Parties entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement to include repair of art piece Chairman of the Links due to damages found during routine cleaning for a new total not to exceed $129,800.

2.3 Amendment No. 2. The City and Contractor desire to amend the Agreement to revise the scope of services, increase compensation, update the method of payment, revise the term for the cleaning services for seven art pieces at the Palm Springs International Airport.

2.4 Amendment Authority. This Amendment No. 2 is authorized pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Agreement.

3. Terms.

3.1 Section 1.1 Scope of Services of the Agreement is hereby amended to include services described in Exhibit “A1” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

3.2 Section 3.1 Compensation of Contractor of the Agreement is hereby amended to increase the contract in the amount of $9,999.50 as more particularly described in Exhibit “A1”. The total amount of compensation shall not exceed $139,799.50.

3.3 Section 3.2 Method of Payment of the Agreement is hereby amended to include services described in Exhibit “A1”.

3.4 Section 4.4 Term of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:







 





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Revised: 10.31.23
“Unless earlier terminated in accordance with Section 4.5 of the Agreement, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for a period of five years, commencing on September 1, 2022 and ending on August 31, 2027, unless extended by mutual written agreement of the Parties.”

3.5 All References to Exhibit “A” in the Agreement shall be changed to mean Exhibit “A” and Exhibit “A1”.

3.6 Continuing Effect of Agreement. Except as amended by this Amendment No. 2, all other provisions of the Agreement, as previously amended, remain in full force and effect and shall govern the actions of the parties under this Amendment No. 2. From and after the date of this Amendment No. 2, whenever the term “Agreement” or “Contract” appears in the Agreement, it shall mean the Agreement as amended by this Amendment No. 2.

3.7 Adequate Consideration. The Parties hereto irrevocably stipulate and agree that they have each received adequate and independent consideration for the performance of the obligations they have undertaken pursuant to this Amendment No. 2.

3.8 Severability. If any portion of this Amendment No. 2 is declared invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

3.9 Counterparts. This Amendment No. 2 may be executed in duplicate originals, each of which is deemed to be an original, but when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]







 





Docusign Envelope ID: 6161D1C4-A7A1-4E10-859B-5083C3FF8293

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Revised: 10.31.23

SIGNATURE PAGE TO AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS

AND SAME DAY EXPRESS DBA SIGNATURE SCULPTURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the dates stated below.

CONTRACTOR:

By: _____________________________________ By: _________________________________________ Signature Signature
(2nd signature required for Corporations)
Date: Date:

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS:

APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL:

Date: N/A Item No. N/A
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:

By: ______________________________ By: _______________________________ City Attorney City Clerk
APPROVED:

By: ______________________________ Date:

City Manager – over $50,000
Deputy/Assistant City Manager – up to $50,000
Director – up to $25,000
Manager – up to $5,000







 









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Revised: 10.31.23
EXHIBIT “A1”
Services:

Provide cleaning services for seven art pieces located at the Palm Springs International Airport (Airport).

Scope/Compensation:

Scope of work per Art Piece:

1. Philip Culbertson (SSTeel)
• Wash: Once every other month (Six Services Annually)
• Wax: Once annually (Waxing includes several coasts of “bowling wax”) • Washing Instructions: Wash with a non-ionic soap & deionized water • Price: $192.25 x 6 = $1,153.50 (Wash: Once every other month) • Price: $275.00 (Wax: Once annually)
• Total: $1,153.50 + $275.00 = $1,428.50 Annually

2. Lawrence Fane
• Wash: Once every other month (Six Services Annually)
• Wax: Once annually (Waxing includes several coasts of “bowling wax”) • Washing Instructions: Wash with a non-ionic soap & deionized water • Price: $192.25 x 6 = $1,153.50 (Wash: Once every other month) • Price: $275.00 (Wax: Once annually)
• Total: $1,153.50 + $275.00 = $1,428.50 Annually

3. Betty Gold
• Wash: Once every other month (Six Services Annually)
• Deep Cleaning Scrub: Once every six months (Two Services Annually) • Wax: Application of wax will be applied as needed during deep cleaning scrub • Washing Instructions: Wash with a non-ionic soap & deionized water • Price: $192.25 x 6 = $1,153.50 (Wash: Once every other month & Wax: As needed during deep cleaning scrub)
• Price: $275.00 x 2 = $550.00 (Deep Cleaning Scrub: Once every six months) • Total: $1,153.50 + $550.00 = $1,703.50 Annually

4. Tom Holland
• Dust: Once every other month (Six Services Annually)
• Dusting Instructions: Dust with feather duster and compressed air followed by damp cloth with plexi cleaner
• Price: $192.25 x 6 = $1,153.50 (Dust: Once every other month) • Total: $1,153.50 Annually

5. Paul Jenkins
• Wash: Once every other month (Six Services Annually)
• Wax: Once annually (Waxing includes several coasts of “bowling wax”) • Washing Instructions: Wash with a non-ionic soap & deionized water • Price: $192.25 x 6 = $1,153.50 (Wash: Once every other month) 






 





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Revised: 10.31.23
• Price: $275.00 (Wax: Once annually)
• Total: $1,153.50 + $275.00 = $1,428.50 Annually

6. Yasui Mizul
• Wash: Once every other month (Six Services Annually)
• Washing Instructions: Rinse off with deionized water to clean the surface without leaving mineral deposits
• Cleaning Instructions: Clean using compressed air used to remove dust, leaves, etc.
• Price: $192.25 x 6 = $1,153.50 (Wash: Once every other month) • Total: $1,153.50 Annually

7. Michael Todd
• Wash: Once every other month (Six Services Annually)
• Wax: every six months (Waxing includes several coasts of “bowling wax”) • Washing Instructions: Wash with a non-ionic soap & deionized water • Price: $192.25 x 6 = $1,153.50 (Wash: Once every other month) • Price: $275.00 x 2 = $550.00 (Wax: Once every six months) • Total: $1,153.50 + $550.00 = $1,703.50 Annually
Total Compensation: $9,999.50 Annually
Additional:
x Invoices for the seven art pieces in this scope of work should be sent to the Palm Springs International Airport invoice email address at [email protected] for payment processing.
x Contractor to provide all material and supplies needed to complete services. 






 





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Docusign Envelope ID: 40665CE7-6CB9-4B64-994F-E4E8290D3BEA

Revised: 10.31.23
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF
PUBLIC ART AGREEMENT NO. A9206

BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS AND SAME DAY EXPRESS

DBA SIGNATURE SCULPTURE

1. Parties and Date.

This Amendment No. 3 to the Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art Agreement is made and entered into as of ________, 2025, by and between the City of Palm Springs (“City”) and Same Day Express dba Signature Sculpture, a Single Member California Limited Liability Corporation with its principal place of business at 79350 Four Paths Lane, Bermuda Dunes, California, (Contractor). City and Contractor are sometimes individually referred to as “Party” and collectively as “Parties.”

2. Recitals.

2.1 Agreement. The City and Contractor have entered into an agreement entitled “Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art” dated September 12, 2022 (“Agreement”) for the purpose of retaining the services of Contractor to provide the City with Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Art (“Project”), for an initial three-year term, commencing on September 1, 2022, and ending on August 31, 2025, for an amount not to exceed $128,905.

2.1 Amendment No. 1. On March 13, 2023, Parties entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement to include repair of the art piece, Chairman of the Links, due to damages found during routine cleaning for an additional amount of $895 for a revised contract amount not to exceed $129,800.

2.3 Amendment No. 2. On February 3, 2025, Parties entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement to modify the scope of services to add seven art pieces located at the Palm Springs International Airport to the cleaning schedule, for an additional amount of $9,999.50 for a revised contract amount not to exceed $139,799.50, identify accounts payable process for the Airport, and extend the contract term through August 31, 2027.

2.4 Amendment No. 3. The City and Contractor desire to amend the Agreement to modify the scope of services to add eleven (11) art pieces to the cleaning schedule for an additional amount of $43,480.00, for Fiscal Year 2026, and $6,520.00 for Emergency Cleaning and Maintenance, for a total increase of $50,000, and a revised amount not to exceed $189,799.50.

2.5 Amendment Authority. This Amendment No. 3 is authorized pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Agreement.

3. Terms.

3.1 Amendment Section 1.1 Scope of Services of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“1.1 Scope of Services. In compliance with all terms and conditions of this Agreement, Contractor shall provide services to City as described in the Scope of Services/Work attached to this Agreement as Exhibit “A”, Exhibit “A1”, and Exhibit Dec.15
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Docusign Envelope ID: 40665CE7-6CB9-4B64-994F-E4E8290D3BEA

Revised: 10.31.23
“A2” and incorporated herein by reference (the “Services” or “Work”). Exhibit "A", Exhibit “A1”, and Exhibit “A2” includes the agreed upon schedule of performance and the schedule of fees. Contractor warrants that the Services shall be performed in a competent, professional, and satisfactory manner consistent with the level of care and skill ordinarily exercised by high quality, experienced, and well qualified members of the profession currently practicing under similar conditions. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms contained in the Scope of Services/Work and the terms set forth in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Agreement shall govern.”

3.2 Amendment Section 3.1 Compensation of Contractor of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to reach as follows:
“3.1 Compensation of Contractor. Contractor shall be compensated and reimbursed for the services rendered under this Agreement in accordance with the schedule of fees set forth in Exhibit “A”, Exhibit “A1”, and Exhibit “A2”. The total amount of Compensation shall not exceed $189,799.50.”

3.3 Amendment. Section 3.2 Method of Payment of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to reach as follows:
“3.2 Method of Payment. In any month in which Contractor wishes to receive payment, Contractor shall submit to City an invoice for Services rendered prior to the date of the invoice, no later than the first working day of such month, in the form approved by City’s finance director. Payments shall be based on the hourly rates set forth in Exhibit “A”, Exhibit “A1”, and Exhibit “A2” for authorized services performed. City shall pay Contractor for all expenses stated in the invoice that are approved by City and consistent with this Agreement, within thirty (30) days of receipt of Contractor’s invoice.”

3.4 Continuing Effect of Agreement. Except as amended by this Amendment No. 3, all other provisions of the Agreement, as previously amended, remain in full force and effect and shall govern the actions of the parties under this Amendment No. 3. From and after the date of this Amendment No. 3, whenever the term “Agreement” or “Contract” appears in the Agreement, it shall mean the Agreement as amended by this Amendment No. 3.

3.5 Adequate Consideration. The Parties hereto irrevocably stipulate and agree that they have each received adequate and independent consideration for the performance of the obligations they have undertaken pursuant to this Amendment No. 3.

3.6 Severability. If any portion of this Amendment No. 3 is declared invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

3.7 Counterparts. This Amendment No. 3 may be executed in duplicate originals, each of which is deemed to be an original, but when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
Docusign Envelope ID: C5A6F380-A910-4DC8-9BB4-8760468CDCD0

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Docusign Envelope ID: 40665CE7-6CB9-4B64-994F-E4E8290D3BEA

Revised: 10.31.23

SIGNATURE PAGE TO AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM

SPRINGS AND SAME DAY EXPRESS DBA SIGNATURE SCULPTURES
By: ______________________________ By: _____________________________________ Signature Signature
(2nd signature required for Corporations)
Date: _____________________________ Date: ____________________________________ CITY OF PALM SPRINGS:

APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL:

Date: _12/10/2025 Item No. _____
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:

By: ______________________________ By: _____________________________________ City Attorney City Clerk
APPROVED:

By: _______________________________ Date:

City Manager – up to/over $150,000
Deputy/Assistant City Manager – up to $50,000
Director – up to $25,000
Manager – up to $5,000
Docusign Envelope ID: C5A6F380-A910-4DC8-9BB4-8760468CDCD0 1/16/2026
1/17/2026
1-N

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Docusign Envelope ID: 40665CE7-6CB9-4B64-994F-E4E8290D3BEA

Revised: 10.31.23
EXHIBIT “A2”
Services: Provide cleaning services for art pieces located throughout the City of Palm Springs.

Scope/Compensation
Pillars East Tahquitz Canyon Way
• Art Piece: Equality
o Service: Washing & Waxing.
o Price: $825.00
• Art Piece: Community
o Service: Washing & Waxing.
o Price: $825.00
• Art Piece: Civility
o Service: Washing & Waxing.
o Price: $570.00
• Art Piece: Diversity
o Service: Washing & Waxing.
o Price: $825.00
• Art Piece: Serenity
o Service: Washing & Waxing.
o Price: $570.00
• Art Piece: Creativity
o Service: Washing & Waxing.
o Price: $825.00
Creature Alley
• Art Piece: Blue Belly Crab - orange (Palm Canyon Dr. & W. Chino Drive) o Service: Wash & Wax.
o Price: $760.00
• Art Piece: Prince - green (Palm Canyon Dr. & W. Chino Drive) o Service: Wash & Wax.
o Price: $760.00
• Art Piece: Red Dragon (Palm Canyon Dr. & W. Chino Drive) o Service: Wash & Wax.
o Price: $760.00
Docusign Envelope ID: C5A6F380-A910-4DC8-9BB4-8760468CDCD0

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Docusign Envelope ID: 40665CE7-6CB9-4B64-994F-E4E8290D3BEA

Revised: 10.31.23
Other Locations
• Art Piece: Crawler (Museum Way)
o Service: Wash & Hand Wax.
o Instructions: Requires scaffold/tall ladders.
o Price: $1,900.00
• Art Piece: TOT (Swim Center)
o Service: Wash
o Price: $225.00
Compensation
FY 2026
New Pieces: 8,845.00
Existing Pieces: 34,635.00
Emergency Cleaning and Maintenance 6,520.00
Annual Total 50,000.00
• Waxing to include several coats of “bowling wax.”
• Washing to be done with a non-ionic soap & deionized water • Contractor to provide all material and supplies needed to complete services.

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CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH LIEBERT

CASSIDY WHITMORE TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR

RELATIONS LEGAL SERVICES
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Human Resources
SUMMARY:

This action will approve an amendment to the current contract with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore to provide employment and labor relations legal services to the City.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve an Amendment to the Agreement for Special Services with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore to provide consulting, representational and legal services pertaining to employment relations matters.

BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:

A copy of the Public Integrity Disclosure Form for Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, a Professional Corporation, is included as Attachment B.

BACKGROUND:

The City has utilized the law firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW) since 2007 to provide legal and consulting services related to employee and labor relations. These services include labor negotiations, legal consultation, and representation in administrative and court proceedings.

The current Agreement for Special Services was approved by the City Council on November 10, 2022, with an effective date of October 1, 2022. LCW is now proposing its first billing rate increase since the agreement was approved.

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City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 2
Amendment to Agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Staff reviewed the proposed rates and compared them with rates charged to other similarly sized full-service cities. As part of that review, staff negotiated a reduction in the proposed Senior Associate Attorney rate from $415 to $400 per hour.

STAFF ANALYSIS:

Employment and labor law continue to be increasingly complex, requiring specialized legal expertise and ongoing consultation. Staff recommends retaining LCW to provide asneeded legal services and representation in these areas.

The City anticipates continued need for LCW services in 2027 as negotiations begin for successor labor agreements with the Palm Springs Fire Management Association and Teamsters Local 1932, in addition to the City's ongoing need for legal advice and representation on employee and labor relations matters.

Staff reviewed LCW's proposed rates against rates charged to comparable public agencies and found the rates included in Attachment A to be consistent with, and in some cases slightly lower than, those charged to other agencies receiving services from the firm.

The procurement of contracts for legal services are exempt from Title 7 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code, Procurement and Contracting. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached amendment to the Agreement for Special Services with the law firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore for as requested legal services.

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.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Funds for outside legal services are currently budgeted. No additional appropriations are requested as a part of this report.

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City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 3
Amendment to Agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
REVIEWED BY:

Department Director: Stephanie George
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:

A. Amendment
B. Business Disclosure Form
C. Original Agreement for Special Services

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ATTACHMENT A

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AMENDMENT NO.2 TO

AGREEMENT FOR SPECIAL SERVICES

BY AND BETWEEN

THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
AND

LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE,

A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
THIS AMENDMENT is executed by and between Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, a professional corporation ("Attorney") and the City of Palm Springs ("City"), and will amend the prior agreement between the parties entitled Agreement for Special Services which was entered into October 2, 2022.

WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend their agreement to allow or provide for the continued consulting, representational and legal services pertaining to employment relations matters, including representation in negotiations;
WHEREAS, the Agreement provides for amendments; and
WHEREAS, the City and Attorney are desirous of amending the Agreement for the purpose of adjusting the Hourly Fee Schedule;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

I. This amendment shall be effective as of September 1, 2026.

2. Fees, Costs, Expenses: Section 3, Paragraph 2 - The current range of hourly rates for Attorney time is from Three Hundred Thirty to Four Hundred Ninety Dollars ($330.00 - $490.00).

3. Schedule I - Fees & Costs
Negotiations (Peter Brown)
Partners
Senior Associate Attorneys
Junior Associate Attorneys (Up to 4 years)
Labor Relations/HR Consultant
Paralegals
Classification & Compensation Consultant
E-Discovery Specialists
Law Clerks
$490.00
$475.00
$400.00
$330.00
$340.00
$185.00
$250.00
$185.00
$180.00 - $200.00

4. That in all other respects the prior agreement of the parties shall remain in full force and effect except as amended herein.

LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE,
A Professional Corporation
By db,tvvvi/4-( Ct~
Name [)"\ e) tt 11 I t.- L. ( "'l,"'J e.,)
Title ()1 Cl/1 Ct ,r,;L i t.(,Ff.,,v/
o,te~A~

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
By _
Name _
Title _
Date _
13485806.1 LC00 1-009

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ATTACHMENT B

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ATTACHMENT C
Item 1X - Page 10

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1 10264774.1 LC001-009

AGREEMENT FOR SPECIAL SERVICES
This Agreement is entered into between the law firm of LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE, A Professional Corporation (“Attorney”), and the CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, A Municipal Corporation (“City”).

1. Conditions
This Agreement will not take effect, and Attorney will have no obligation to provide services, until City returns a properly signed and executed copy of this Agreement.

2. Attorney’s Services
Attorney agrees to provide City with consulting, representational and legal services pertaining to employment relations matters, including representation in negotiations and in administrative and court proceedings, as requested by City or otherwise required by law.

3. Fees, Costs, Expenses
City agrees to pay Attorney the sums billed monthly for time spent by Attorney in providing the services, including reasonable travel time.

The current range of hourly rates for Attorney time is from Two Hundred Seventy to Three Hundred Eighty-Five Dollars ($270.00 - $385.00). See Schedule I for a full Fee Schedule. Attorney reviews its hourly rates on an annual basis and, if appropriate, adjusts them effective July 1. Attorney will provide the City with written notification of any adjustment in the range of rates. Attorney bills its time in minimum units of onetenth of an hour.

Item 1X - Page 11

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2 10264774.1 LC001-009
For Litigation Matters
See Schedule II attached for a description of Attorney’s Litigation and EDiscovery Management.

Other Expenses
City agrees to reimburse Attorney for necessary costs and expenses incurred by Attorney on behalf of City. Attorney bills photocopying charges at Fifteen Cents ($0.15) per page. See Schedule I attached.

Payment by City against monthly billings is due upon receipt of statements, and is considered delinquent if payment is not received within thirty (30) days of the date of the invoice.

4. Professional Liability Insurance
The California Business & Professions Code requires us to inform you whether we maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage applicable to the services to be rendered to you. We hereby confirm that the firm does maintain such insurance coverage.

5. Arbitration of Professional Liability or Other Claims Disputes. If a dispute between City and Attorney arises over fees charged for services, the controversy will be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the California State Bar Fee Arbitration Program, set forth in California Business and Professions Code, sections 6200 through 6206. The arbitrator or arbitration panel shall have the authority to award to the prevailing party attorneys’ fees, costs and interest incurred. Any arbitration award may be served by mail upon either side and personal service shall not be required.

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3 10264774.1 LC001-009
If a dispute arises between City and Attorney over any other aspect of the attorney-client relationship, including, without limitation, a claim for breach of professional duty, that dispute will also be resolved by arbitration. It is understood that any dispute as to any alleged breach of professional duty (that is, as to whether any legal services rendered under this agreement were allegedly unnecessary, unauthorized, omitted entirely, or were improperly, negligently or incompetently rendered) will be determined by submission to arbitration as provided by California law, and not by a lawsuit or resort to court process except as California law provides for judicial review of arbitration proceedings. Both parties to this agreement, by entering into it, are giving up their constitutional right to have any such dispute decided in a court of law before a jury, and instead are accepting the use of arbitration. Each party is to bear its own attorney’s fees and costs.

6. File Retention
After our services conclude, Attorney will, upon City’s request, deliver the file for the matter to City, along with any funds or property of City’s in our possession. If City requests the file for the matter, Attorney will retain a copy of the file at the City’s expense. If City does not request the file for this matter, we will retain it for a period of seven (7) years after this matter is closed. If City does not request delivery of the file for this matter before the end of the seven (7) year period, we will have no further obligation to retain the file and may, at our discretion, destroy it without further notice to City. At any point during the seven (7) year period, City may request delivery of the file.

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4 10264774.1 LC001-009

7. Assignment
This Agreement is not assignable without the written consent of City.

8. Independent Contractor
It is understood and agreed that Attorney, while engaged in performing the terms of this Agreement, is an independent contractor and not an employee of City.

9. Authority
The signators to this Agreement represent that they hold the positions set forth below their signatures, and that they are authorized to execute this Agreement on behalf of their respective parties and to bind their respective parties hereto.

10. Term
This Agreement is effective October 1, 2022, ongoing and may be modified by mutual agreement of the parties. This agreement shall be terminable by either party upon thirty (30) days written notice.

LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE, CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
A Professional Corporation A Municipal Corporation
By: ________________________ By: _______________________ Name: ______________________ Name: _____________________ Title: _______________________ Title: ______________________ Date: _______________________ Date: ______________________ Item 1X - Page 14

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5 10264774.1 LC001-009
SCHEDULE I – FEES & COSTS

1. Hourly Rates (As of Agreement Effective Date)
Negotiations (Peter Brown) $385.00
Partners $360.00
Senior Associate Attorneys $295.00
Junior Associate Attorneys (up to [4] years) $270.00
Labor Relations/HR Consultant $270.00
Paralegals $145.00
E- Discovery Specialists $145.00
Law Clerks $145.00 - $185.00

2. COSTS

1. Photocopies $0.15 per copy
Item 1X - Page 15

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6 10264774.1 LC001-009

SCHEDULE II
LCW LITIGATION and E-DISCOVERY MANAGEMENT
LCW is committed to using state-of-the-art technology to efficiently manage and harness electronically-stored information (“ESI”) in compliance with Federal and State law requirements. LCW partners with an outside managed services provider to provide Relativity, the industry leading e-discovery software, for this purpose. The cost for each matter will depend on the volume and format of the data. For non-complex data up to 50 gigabytes, LCW charges a monthly fee of $450 on all active litigation matters for data management, including data validation and security, ingestion, de-duplication, culling and streamlining, and creation of Relativity fields for expedited review. For data of 50 gigabytes and over and for complex data requiring specialized services (e.g., payroll data, spreadsheets with underlying formulas, video, advanced searches, etc.), additional charges are incurred and are passed through to the client. For such charges, we will provide an itemized bill from our managed services provider and obtain client approval prior to incurring the charges.

Litigation Case Staffing
LCW has organized its litigation practice to meet the challenges of today’s complex litigation cases. We employ a dedicated Litigation Manager – a non-billing attorney litigator – whose responsibility is to monitor all litigation cases to ensure quality, efficiency, and adherence to client and firm litigation guidelines. Each litigation case is staffed with a Partner, an Associate (or Associates, as required and as approved by the Client), a Paralegal and an E-Discovery Specialist. Our E-Discovery Specialists have extensive experience in the efficient management of electronic data through every stage of the e-discovery life cycle, and they strategize with attorneys and clients on effective ESI protocols. This makes the document review process more efficient and enables our attorneys to target the most relevant data to meet litigation objectives. Working with our e-discovery managed services provider, we are able to provide state-of-the-art data processing and hosting services at below-market rates.

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CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: APPLICATION BY THE RHONDA SASSOON REVOCABLE TRUST FOR HISTORIC SITE DESIGNATION OF “THE BURGESS RESIDENCE”
LOCATED AT 550 PALISADES DRIVE, (APN 513-110-043) CASE: HSPB #174
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Department of Planning Services
SUMMARY:

The Burgess Residence is a single-family home located in the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood. Originally designed by architect Hugh Kaptur for William Burgess, the property was later expanded through various additions designed by Albert Frey. This home is an exceptional representation of Desert Modernism that demonstrates the integration of the natural landscape with the home. If designated as a local historic resource, the property would be subject to the regulations outlined in Section 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code (PSMC).

The Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) and staff evaluated the application in accordance with the historic designation ordinance and applicable state/federal regulations, and determined it qualifies as a Class 1 (Landmark) historic site.

RECOMMENDATION:

1. Open the public hearing and receive public testimony.

2. Close the public hearing and adopt Resolution No. _____, “A RESOLUTION OF

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE BURGESS RESIDENCE AS A CLASS 1 (LANDMARK) HISTORIC RESOURCE HSPB #174, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS (APN 513-110- 043).”
BACKGROUND:

The attached historic resources report, prepared by Philip Monaghan (“the report”), and site visits are the basis of this staff report.

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City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 2
Historic Designation – The Burgess Residence
Related Relevant City Actions by HSPB, Planning, Fire, Building, etc.

July 6, 2026 Site inspection by members of the HSPB and City Staff.

July 7, 2026 HSPB considered the application for designation at a public hearing recommending Class 1 designation.

Ownership Status
March, 2024 Purchased by current owners.

OVERVIEW OF PROPERTY, 2026.

SOUTH ELEVATION OF 550 PALISADES DRIVE, 2025.

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City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 3
Historic Designation – The Burgess Residence
The owner of 550 Palisades Drive initiated the historic research for this site and restored key features of the home. The application for historic designation was reviewed by the HSPB on July 7, 2026. Based on the analysis provided in the report and in a site visit, the Board made the findings to recommend Class 1 (Landmark) designation.

STAFF ANALYSIS:

The analysis of the application for the designation is detailed in the attached HSPB resolution and staff report dated July 7, 2026. In order to be designated a historic landmark, a resource must exhibit exceptional historic significance and meet one or more of the criteria listed in PSMC Section 8.05.070.C.1.a. The Board made findings in support of Class 1 (Landmark) designation based on the following criteria:

PSMC 8.05.070, (C,1,Part a). The site, structure, building, or object exhibits exceptional historic significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
(Criterion iii) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state, or local history;
(Criterion v) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high artistic value;
Pursuant to PSMC 8.05.070, (5,C,1,Part b); “Historic Integrity” the HSPB made findings that the Burgess Residence possesses sufficient historic integrity to qualify as a Class 1 (Landmark) historic site.

During the public hearing, the Board expressed their support of the application for Class 1 designation based on the criteria and integrity findings with a 7-0 vote.

The Burgess Residence meets the definition of a historic resource based on Criterion 3 and 5 of the Palm Springs Historic Preservation Ordinance and possesses integrity to qualify as a Class 1 (Landmark) site. The HSPB recommendation to the City Council reflects these findings which are outlined in the attached draft City Council resolution.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:

The proposed historic resource designation is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.

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City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 4
Historic Designation – The Burgess Residence
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:

This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Broad Goal: Economic Development.

FISCAL IMPACT:

While this action would have no direct fiscal impact, it would make the property eligible for a Mills Act contract in the future. That could reduce property tax revenue at that time, if authorized by Council. The Riverside County Tax Assessor rebate can range from 40 to 70% and that amount is based upon several factors including length of ownership, annual income of property, annual operating expenses, capitalization rate, etc.

It should be noted that the Mills Act contract is one of few tools available to incentivize reinvestment into restoration and ongoing maintenance of historic resources, and that properly maintained Mills Act properties likely have a net positive effect on surrounding property values that may offset the loss in direct revenue over time. Council would evaluate the merits of any Mills Act contract application at such time that one is sought.

REVIEWED BY:

Department Director: Christopher Hadwin
Assistant City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:

A. Vicinity Map.

B. Draft Resolution.

C. Application, related background materials, photos.

D. HSPB resolution, staff report, minute excerpt.

E. Public Comments.

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ATTACHMENT A
(Vicinity Map)

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Department of Planning Services
Vicinity Map

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
550 Palisades Drive

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ATTACHMENT B
(Draft Resolution)

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Resolution No.____

September 30, 2026
RESOLUTION NO._____

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM

SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE BURGESS
RESIDENCE, LOCATED AT 550 PALISADES DRIVE, AS A CLASS
1 (LANDMARK) HISTORIC RESOURCE HSPB #174, SUBJECT TO
CONDITIONS (APN 513-110-043).

THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS:

A. WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites and districts; and
B. WHEREAS, The owner, Sassoon Rhonda Revocable Trust Dated 04/21/2014, submitted an application seeking historic site designation of the Burgess Residence located at 550 Palisades Drive; and
C. WHEREAS, on July 6, 2026, members of the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) and City staff conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource; and D. WHEREAS, on July 7, 2026, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board to consider Case HSPB #174 was held in accordance with applicable law; and
E. WHEREAS, at said hearing, the HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to, the staff report and all written and oral testimony and voted 7-0 to recommend that the Council designate the Burgess Residence a Class 1 (Landmark) historic resource; and F. WHEREAS, on September 30, 2026, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs City Council to consider Case HSPB #174 was held in accordance with applicable law; and G. WHEREAS, at the said hearing, the City Council carefully reviewed and considered all the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to the staff report and all written and oral testimony.

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RESOLVES:

SECTION 1: FINDINGS – PART “A”, CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC RESOURCES.

Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.070.C.1.a, the City Council shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the following criteria:

Criteria for the Designation of Class 1 Historic Resources. A site, structure, building or object may be designated as a Class 1 historic resource, provided both of the following findings (“a” and “b”) are met:

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September 30, 2026
a. The site, structure, building, or object exhibits exceptional historic significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
(Criterion i) The resource is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state, or community;
The report did not find any events or series of meaningful events associated with this site, therefore, the property does not qualify under Criterion i. (Criterion ii) The resource is associated with the lives of persons who made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history; The detailed chain of title for 550 Palisades Drive shows the Burgess Family owned the property for nearly 41 years before selling it to the Meyerman Family in 1998. The current owners acquired the property in 2024. William and Clara Burgess were active community members in both Palm Springs and Pasadena and were primarily responsible for the design and development of the site.

Following their retirement, the Meyermans moved to Palm Springs and became instrumental members on the Palm Springs Art Museum Board of Trustees. Their leadership and philanthropic endeavors played a significant role in growing the museum’s endowment. While both the Burgess and Meyerman families made meaningful contributions to the community, the research does not support a direct association between those contributions and the property itself. Criterion ii is not met.
(Criterion iii) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state, or local history;
The Burgess Residence is a unique property that exhibits the progress of architecture and design in Palm Springs. Two highly notable architects who have influenced both local history and the field of architecture are represented on this site.

The initial design by Kaptur was a 1,200-square-foot home, post-and-beam style home with a low profile and simple tongue-and-groove cladding on the underside of the roof overhang. The site was also conducive for incorporating rock walls as part of the design. The Burgess Residence is considered an early example of Kaptur’s residential work in the Mid-century Modern style. Albert Frey added to the existing home and continued to design additions to the site starting in 1968. Initially, additions were designed in the same style as the existing home, then Frey started to introduce design ideas associated with a more Expressionist form of design that used abstracted forms and innovative building materials. This is seen in his later contributions to the site such as the carport structure, sun shades, and the detached guest house.

Both architects reflect the post-war period with their innovative designs that build on the Modernist framework for spatial organization but forge their own path when it comes to site design and the integration of new materials. The Burgess Residence reflects the progression of design at the national and local level; thus, Criterion iii is met.

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September 30, 2026
(Criterion iv) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction;
Palm Springs evaluates criterion iv as a distinctive characteristic associated with construction type, construction period, and construction methods. The initial design of the home appears to use conventional post-and-beam methods of construction, but in the Frey designed portions of the home, particularly the guest house, a reflective mirror cladding is utilized. The report credits Kevin Roche for developing “mirrored glass” as a cladding material for buildings starting in the 1950s. Mirrored glass is seen prominently on the Frey additions, particularly the guest house which was completed in 1993. While the material itself is new to the site, this material would not be considered a distinctive material for that period since it has been around since the 1950s. Unlike the findings in the historic resources report, HSPB finds that the evidence provided in the report does not substantiate this criterion. Criterion iv is not met. (Criterion v) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high artistic value;
550 Palisades Drive was designed by Hugh Kaptur near the start of his career in Palm Springs.

Hired by builder Joseph Pawling, Kaptur completed the conceptual design of the home for William Burgess. Although his design was somewhat modified and expanded, the post-andbeam design and the use of glazing and the integration of the site are all qualities of his design that are seen throughout his body of work. His influence on the field of architecture includes commercial, civic, and various housing-related projects. The following are Kaptur projects that are currently listed on the local inventory of historic places: Tahquitz Creek Golf Course Clubhouse (HSPB #149), Tahquitz Plaza (HSPB #97), and the Steve McQueen Residence (HSPB #108).

Architect Albert Frey began work on the Burgess Residence in 1967 by designing an expansion to the existing home. He continued the design language initiated by Kaptur, but some original features were removed. Frey studied under Le Corbusier in Europe before moving to the United States in 1928. He quickly found himself in Palm Springs and worked on numerous projects throughout the city including the Kocher-Samson building (HSPB # 79), Tramway Gas Station (HSPB #37), Raymond Loewy Residence (HSPB #33C), and Palm Springs City Hall (HSPB #33D). The influence of his work is clearly visible in the built environment of Palm Springs and in the academic realms of architecture, internationally.

Both Kaptur and Frey are influential architects of this period, and the genius of their work continues to inspire generations of designers. The Burgess Residence is an expression of their high artistic value. Criterion v is met.
(Criterion vi) The resource represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in evaluating applications for designation of historic districts, for parcels on which more than one entity exists; or
The resource is not within a historic district and does not qualify under Criterion vi.

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September 30, 2026
(Criterion vii) The resource has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory.

No information has been provided on any pre-historic significance of the site.

SECTION 2: PART “B” ANALYSIS OF HISTORIC INTEGRITY.

Analysis of Integrity. (PSMC 8.05.070.C.1.b). The site, structure, building, or object retains one or more of the following aspects of integrity, as established in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location, setting, feeling, or association.

The report provides an evaluation of the site relative to the seven aspects or qualities of historic integrity, as recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The seven aspects or qualities include location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The report concludes that the site retains a high degree of integrity and is further analyzed below:

1. Location:

The original home and all subsequent additions are in the same location from when they were first constructed. Integrity of location is met.

2. Design:

Hugh Kaptur designed a simple building with a V-shaped footprint that tucked into the mountains and was accessed by a stone staircase with 50 steps up the side of the mountain. The natural rocks were stacked on two walls, which were later removed and replaced with glazing, and the fenestration was organized in 8’ x 8’ modules. The 15’ x 30’ swimming pool was located to the south of the home, and deep cantilevered overhangs ran along the south elevation. The lowprofile post-and-beam design of the home was a clear representation of Mid-century Modern design using conventional construction methods and materials.

William Burgess worked with Albert Frey on subsequent additions to the residence by expanding the floor area and replacing the original glazing with a more reflective glass. Similar to Frey House II, existing rock formations were included in the interior spaces, and an arched balustrade was built out of rocks to create new patios and pathways on the site. In 1978, Frey began designing sunshades, gazebos, a garage, and a detached guesthouse using a different style of design. These features departed from the Mid-century Modern design of the original home and reflected a more Expressionist approach. Arched roof supports, black steel beams and stretched canvas material were used to create these forms and the fenestration on the structures were mirrored glass. Rocks from the site are still incorporated into the design but this period of design expression by Frey is considered more stylistic and expressive. The overall design integrity spanning two different architects remains intact.

3. Setting:

The Palm Springs Palisades Tract was intended to develop single-family homes with nearly

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Resolution No.____

September 30, 2026
panoramic views of Palm Springs. The home was designed to fit into the mountainside and incorporate natural elements of the desert setting into the home. The landscape features and the carved cliffside remain key features of the home. The integrity of setting is retained.

4. Materials:

The home was built using conventional post-and-beam construction. Steel, wood, clear glazing and mirrored glazing are utilized. Simple concrete decking and arched rock balustrades are seen from a distance. The Frey designed sunshades use stretched canvas and square steel posts.

The property retains integrity of materials.

5. Workmanship:

As a custom-designed residence on a steep site, the property required specialized site preparation, engineering, and skilled craftsmanship. The materials used for the home are fabricated and assembled to express their natural qualities, and the clean lines require precision in execution during construction. The stonework was completed by a well-known stone mason, and the thoughtful integration of all site elements including the stone pathways, outdoor seating areas, and shade structures demonstrate exceptional workmanship and attention to detail. The integrity of workmanship is intact.

6. Feeling:

The integrity of feeling is retained on the site because the integrity of design, setting, and materials reflect the architectural features of the post-war period in Palm Springs, and the surrounding natural landscape remains intact.

7. Association:

The Burgess Residence retains its association with architect Hugh Kaptur while also strongly reflecting the contributions of architect Albert Frey. Frey’s additions complement Kaptur’s original design and add to the property’s architectural significance by incorporating his distinctive approach. The property retains integrity of association.

SECTION 3: DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS
In considering a recommendation for historic resource designation it is important to distinguish those physical elements that are original or from the period of significance that contribute to the resource’s historic significance from alterations, additions or features that were added at a later time that may be sympathetic to the original character, but which may create a false sense of historicity. Distinguishing original character-defining features from non-original elements aids the HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating future alterations to the historic resource.

The following is a list of character-defining features identified by the City Council:

Character-defining features of the resource are as follows:

Hugh Kaptur – Original design of home (1957) and Albert Frey – Additions (1967-1974)

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Resolution No.____

September 30, 2026
• Flat roofline with 8’ ceilings throughout
• Square steel post-and-beam construction
• Floor-to-ceiling fixed glass and aluminum frame sliding doors • Minimalism as expressed through clean lines and the geometry of the 8’ x 8’ bays • Lack of ornamentation
• A swimming pool sited in front of the house as a central feature • Site integration as expressed by the stone masonry that surrounds the house as well as its close proximity to the hillside
• Building around boulders that function as room dividers, as in Frey II • Glazing that is cut around interior/exterior boulders, as in Frey II • Indoor-outdoor living spaces through the extensive use of glass sliding doors and exterior features such as patios and dining areas
• Open floor plan that allows the kitchen and living areas to flow through glass sliding doors to the exterior patios
• 8’ deep cantilevered overhangs to provide shade from the sun • Simple tongue-and-groove board clad under the overhangs • The house’s orientation towards the south and the east and the use of glass capitalizes on the views of the valley
• V-shaped floorplan of the original floorplan of the home Albert Frey Additions (1978-1993)
• The black steel framework with its repetitive pattern is present in the sunshades, the carport, garage and guest house, creating further repetition • The use of white in the enamel steel structures and canvas coverings provides contrast with the black steel frameworks, which in turn, amplifies the patterns • The exterior use of mirror cladding and reflective glass glazing conceals where the windows are actually located, creating a paradox of ambiguity • The sunshades, carport and garage are symmetrical in plan, in a departure from the plan of the original house, which is asymmetrical
• The rooflines are all arched in a rolling barrel vault arrangement, rather than the flat Midcentury Modern style • The ceiling heights are taller than 8’ and vary due to the arched rooflines • The effect is Late Modern Expressionist, rather than the rational Mid-century Modern International Style
• The roofline’s curved shapes in the guest house and garage are exaggerated gestures that increase the perceived size of the structure
• The roof overhang framework is reflected in the mirrored wall surfaces, further blurring the distinctions between walls, windows and rooflines
• Arched rock balustrades built by Olav Engum.
• Stone paved pathways, stairs and built-in exterior furniture designed by Frey Non-contributing elements:
• The 1957 Hugh Kaptur design incorporated rock walls that were replaced by fixed glass panels in the 1967 Albert Frey alterations
• The roofline fascia on the southern elevation of the house, designed by Hugh Kaptur, was

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Resolution No.____

September 30, 2026
a simple painted wood trim board; at some point, this was replaced with an arched motif with a black painted design; no drawings exist for this change in the Albert Frey archives; it is assumed that the owner, William Burgess made this change. (The current owners removed this detail to restore the fascia to the Kaptur design and wrapped it around the roofline on three elevations.)
• A spa was added to the pool deck in front of the house at some point; no permit or drawing can be found for this addition
• The “Grandchildren’s Room” and an extension of the living room do not have plans, but do have permits; they are thought to have been built by the owner and a contractor in 1974, therefore not the work of Frey
• Rooftop mounted HVAC equipment and spray foam finish
SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The proposed historic resource designation is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.

SECTION 5: CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO HISTORIC SITES:

According to Section 8.05 of the Municipal Code, the following shall apply to a Class 1 Historic Resource:

1. It shall meet the definition of a Class 1 historic site as outlined in Municipal Code Section

8.05.020.

2. An archival file on the property shall be maintained by the City.

3. It may be qualified as ‘historic’ at the federal, state, and/or county level.

4. The structure/site may not be modified, nor objects removed without following the procedures outlined in Municipal Code Section 8.05.110 “Demolition or Alteration of Class 1 and Class 2 Historic Resources – Certificate of Appropriateness”.

5. A marker explaining the historic nature of the site may be installed at the site in a location viewable from the public way.

6. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Sites and Historic Districts under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipal Code shall be required.

7. The site shall not be further subdivided.

8. The City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of the Council’s resolution.

Based upon the foregoing, the City Council hereby designates the Burgess Residence located at 550 Palisades Drive, a Class 1 (Landmark) Historic Resource (Case HSPB #174).

ADOPTED THIS THIRTIETH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026.

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Resolution No.____

September 30, 2026

SCOTT STILES

CITY MANAGER

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
ATTEST:

BRENDA PREE, MMC

CITY CLERK

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS

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Resolution No.____

September 30, 2026

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Resolution No.____

September 30, 2026

CERTIFICATION

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, BRENDA PREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. ____ is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on _______________________, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.

BRENDA PREE, MMC

CITY CLERK

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS

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ATTACHMENT C
(Application)

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THE BURGESS RESIDENCE 1957, HUGH KAPTUR, AIA
AND ADDITIONS 1967-1993, ALBERT FREY, FAIA
1 550 PALISADES DRIVE, PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92262
DECEMBER 19, 2025

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CLASS I HISTORIC RESOURCE NOMINATION

PREPARED BY PHILIP MONAGHAN

CHAIR, HISTORY COMMITTEE OF PRESERVATION MIRAGE

ACKNOWLEGMENTS
The author would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to this report: Brad Dunning, James Crump and Ronnie Sassoon, Todd Hayes, Steven Keylon, Frank Lopez, Luke Leuschner, Melissa Riche, Craig Traupane and Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center.
2 A – Page 659 of 813

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CLASS 1 HISTORIC RESOURCE DESIGNATION FORM 4

DPR 7
SUMMARY 11
BACKGROUND AND HISTORIC CONTEXT 11
CHAIN OF TITLE 17
THE ARCHITECTS OF THE BURGESS RESIDENCE 21
EVALUATION 49
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 54

APPENDICES
I Owner’s Letter of Support 58
II Brad Dunning’s Endorsement 59
III Assessor’s Map and Aerials 59
IV Building Permits 60
V Phases of Construction 64
VI Contemporary Photographs 65
VII Grant Deeds 71
VIII Albert Frey Correspondence 80
IX Bibliography 87
X Press Clippings 88
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SUMMARY
The Burgess residence is a custom built home in the Palisades neighborhood of Palm Springs. The home originated in 1957 when builder Joseph Pawling and yet-to-be licensed architect Hugh Kaptur presented plans for a modern weekend home to entice William and Clara Burgess to purchase two cliffside lots on Palisades Drive. The design of the home is an excellent example of Midcentury Modern.

In 1967 the Burgesses expanded the home with architect Albert Frey. Frey maintained the original Midcentury Modern design and enhanced it with his familiar concepts, incorporating boulders in the interiors and exteriors by perforating glass around them. The original home by Hugh Kaptur and these additions and alterations by Albert Frey exhibit numerous characteristics that place it in the historical context of the Post World War II Palm Springs (1945-1969) period, specifically under the theme of Post-World War II SingleFamily Residential Development (1945-1969). !n 1978, Albert Frey began a new program of buildings on the property that eventually included sunshades, a gazebo, a guest house and a garage. These structures departed from the Midcentury Modern style and are unique examples of his later work in the Late Modern style.

BACKGROUND AND HISTORIC CONTEXT

PALM SPRINGS PALISADES
On February 26, 1937, the front page of The Desert Sun carried a story about a new development called “Palm Springs Palisades” comprising 320 acres of hillside land above the village by The Palm Springs & Land Development Company. John Robertson, Arthur Ellis and Ray C. Smith, who acquired the land, also purchased the Dana Burke holdings on the hillside above the Desert Inn. Mr. Burke had started construction of a road up the hill years earlier but he abandoned the project. Now work would begin again on a gated hillside drive that would connect a fifty room hotel and fine homesites. A huge neon sign with 15 foot tall letters would promote the project spelling out “Palm Springs Palisades” on land above the O’Donnell golf course. Frank L. Meline Company, a broker based in Los Angeles who had sold extensive property in Beverly Hills, was announced as the exclusive sales agent. By April, it was announced that plans for the sign were abandoned due to requests of numerous residents. The Palm Springs Land & Development Company was concurrently involved in a development in San Pedro.
11 A – Page 668 of 813
12 A – Page 669 of 813
Palm
Sprins
Palisades
Tract
Map,
Courtesy
of Palm
Springs
Historical
Society.

This 1937 Palm Springs Palisades tract map shows a dramatically scaled back plan from the announced development that would have extended from O’Donnell Golf Club to Ramon Road. This map lists Trans-Pacific Exploration Company as the developer. Aside from incorporating in Delaware on April 3, 1937, no further record can be found of this company. It is not clear if this company succeeded Palm Springs Land & Development Company as that entity does not appear again after the announcement of the project. Of interest to this nomination is the route of the road that begins at Tahquitz Drive (formerly Spring) and winds up the mountain in the manner of the contemporary Palisades Drive. A 1939 arial photograph shows the first phase of Palisades Drive. 13 A – Page 670 of 813
In 1946, Palisades Drive appears on the map in the Palm Springs Telephone Book for the first time.

In 1949, the city closed off the section of Tahquitz Drive (formerly Spring Street) that was adjacent to Lot B of Palm Springs Palisades. A 1953 arial photo shows Palisades Drive completed, but home construction had not yet begun. 14 A – Page 671 of 813
While the physical evidence of the development of Palisades Drive is evident, little has been discovered about what became of the original development company. According to Steven Keylon, who researched this area extensively for his 2019 book The Modern Architecture of Hugh Kaptur, the development of this area was a failed venture due to the Depression and WW II. Keylon goes on to say that after the war, Joseph S. Pawling acquired the lots, finished the road and installed the utilities.1
JOSEPH S. PAWLING
Joseph Pawling (1921-2002), a native of Palm Springs, returned from World War II to assist in the building of a home on a site next door to his family’s. By 1948, he was developing and building on his own. He gained a reputation for building distinctive and creative homes with top designers.
“In 1957, builder Joe Pawling purchased the partially improved road and several parcels (of Palm Springs Palisades). He completed the half-built circuitous road up to the potential home sites and started dynamite blasting to create the lots.

He sold the first lot to William and Clara Burgess, keeping one site for himself.

He worked with Burgess on some preliminary plans for the house, but Pawling, who appreciated good architecture, called upon Kaptur to design both the Burgess Residence … and a spec house.”2
Although Pawling was instrumental in development of the area and brought Hugh Kaptur in to design the Burgess House at 550 Palisades Drive, Pawling was not the builder, according to the permit history (see Appendix IV). William Burgess filed the permits himself and hired “day labor” to build the home.

Following this, Joe Pawling commissioned Kaptur to design a “spec” house in 1958 on the lot (660 Palisades Drive) above the Burgess property and built it himself. This home would be purchased by tribal leader Peter Siva (1937-2003) and his wife Marlyne. In 1959, Joe Pawling sold a third lot (672 Palisades Drive) to Robert Leaver (1921-2012) and his wife Marianne. At Pawling’s suggestion, they hired Hugh Kaptur to design their home. According to Steven Keylon’s 2019 book, Kaptur said, “That was the nicest piece of architecture that I did up there and that was because I had a client, it wasn’t just a builder.” The post and beam Steven Keylon’s comments were made during a telephone conversation with this author December 3, 2025. 1 Keylon, Steven. The Modernist Architecture of Hugh Michael Kaptur, Palm Spring: Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, 2019, 2 pp. 52-61
15 A – Page 672 of 813
construction of the house was supported by steel I-beams which were visible from the exterior. The house was true to Kaptur’s belief that the structure should always be revealed.

Pawling would go on to build many noteworthy homes in the Palm Springs area, including William Krisel’s 1960 Alexander House, known as the House of Tomorrow. He and his wife were Palm Springs social figures and civic leaders.

He left the area in 1967 to pursue business opportunities in Hawaii. “Civic League Officials,” The Desert Sun, May 8, 1952, p.1.

The timeframe of the development of Palisades Drive, beginning with the Burgess Residence (1957) culminating in Frey House II (1963) is explained in The City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey Findings, page 170:
16 A – Page 673 of 813

In the 1950s, with the town’s expansive growth, Palm Springs architects were able to explore a wide range of residential architectural ideas with willing clients interested in modern design. These respond in various ways to the demands of the location: Controlling the sun’s heat, respecting the natural landscape, and creating homes of pleasure and recreation. Palm Spring’s residential architecture of this period included affordable, mass- produced housing, along with sizable budgets. The distinctive solutions of several local architects show a high quality of concept and execution that matches the quality of the more publicized Los Angeles Modern architects of the same period.

CHAIN OF TITLE
Primary resources show the chain of ownership for the Burgess Residence (Lots 1, 2 and 3, Palm Springs Palisades as recorded in Map Book 19, Page 23 of Maps, Records of Riverside County)
4-15-1957 (Lots 1 and 2) Joseph S. Pawling and Joyce C. Pawling, husband and wife, to William Henry Burgess and Clara Woodward Burgess, husband and wife, as community property
3-16-1959 (Lot 3) Melvern McMonies and Faye McMonies, husband and wife, to William H. Burgess, a married man
12-17-1998 William H. Burgess and Clara W. Burgess, as trustees under declaration of Burgess Estate Trust dated January 10, 1991, to Harold J.

Meyerman and Dorothy C. Meyerman, husband and wife, as joint tenants 4-20-2024 David M. Wilson, as Successor Trustee of the Meyerman Family Trust dated August 2, 1989, to Rhonda Sassoon, as Trustee of the Rhonda Sassoon Revocable Trust, dated April 21, 2014, as amended
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THE OWNERS
William and Clara Burgess at home in Pasadena and Palm Springs.

Brown, Conrad, “What’s it like to make a million?” Ladies’ Home Journal, October, 1961.

1. William Henry Burgess (1917-1999) and Clara Woodward Burgess (1918-2014) built the home and owned it from 1957-1999. The Burgesses met and married in Minneapolis. William, a self-made man, received his MBA from Harvard Business School and joined the Electronic Specialty Company of Los Angeles in 1946. He eventually took over the company which made a device called Shavex that increased the speed of electric shavers. National publications sought his opinions and followed his career. In 1968 Electronic Specialty was taken over by the International Controls Company, funded by the notorious investor Robert Vesco who ousted Burgess and the rest of the board. Vesco was later implicated in election fraud related to Richard Nixon’s 1972 reelection campaign as well other financial improprieties and fled the country in 1973, leaving tens of millions of dollars in debt. International 18 A – Page 675 of 813
Controls Company recovered and Burgess became Chairman from 1984 to 1987. Clara graduated from the University of Minnesota and moved from Minneapolis to Washington, DC following her marriage and then to Pasadena with her family. She worked for the Pasadena Police Department, took courses at USC and was listed in a Who’s Who of American Women. Clara Burgess joined more than 50 organizations in Pasadena, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and New York City, ranging
from the arts to childcare and social
clubs. Together, the Burgesses were
a formidable pair appearing
together at charitable events, in the
social pages as well as the national
press, including an October 1961
profile about their Palm Springs
home in “Ladies’ Home Journal.”
Their home was set up for
entertaining and the press covered
their Mediterranean menus. The
couple advocated healthy diets and
were very athletic, playing tennis
and swimming. The Clara Burgess
trail in Palm Springs is named for
her. The Burgesses were acquainted
with the future owners of their
home, the Meyermans, and
entertained them at their home.

Ahead of William Burgess’s death,
the home was sold to the
Meyermans.

Dosti, Rose, “Celebrating The Joffrey” Los Angeles Times, April 3, 1986, p.

2. Harold J. Meyerman ( 1913-2015) and Dorothy C. Meyerman (1932-2022) were the second owners of the Burgess house from 1999 to 2024. Harold Meyerman was born in the Netherlands. He and his family moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1957 where Meyerman began his banking career at the Canadian Bank of Commerce. He earned his Bachelors in 1967 and a law degree in 1970 from the University of British Columbia. In 1973 Meyerman joined Bankers Trust Company. He next joined First Interstate Bank in Los 19 A – Page 676 of 813
Angeles as President and CEO. He later moved to Chase Manhattan Bank and retired from there in 1998. Dorothy Meyerman was born in London and raised in Wales. Following her education, she pursued a career at the British Consulate General. She met Harold Meyerman in New York City and they were married in 1973. The Meyermans
career took them to international and
domestic destinations, finally settling in
Pasadena where Dorothy was involved in
community organizations. In Palm
Springs, Dorothy joined the Art Museum
and convinced Harold to lend his
financial expertise to the institution in
2003. He became a Museum Trustee and
then Chair of the Board from 2006 to
2015. Under Meyerman’s leadership the
museum’s endowment more than
doubled and in 2011 the museum
acquired the Santa Fe Federal Savings
and Loan by E. Stewart Williams to be
repurposed as the Architecture and
Design Museum. The Meyerman’s home
was the scene of museum fundraising entertainments that were widely reported on. The Meyermans made only modest changes to the house and for all of their interest in the arts, never referred to the home’s architectural history. Following Harold’s death, Dorothy continued to live in the house until her death in 2022.

Ady, Barbara, “Art fundraiser proves a hit,” The Desert Sun, March 11, 2007.

Francis, Betty, “Meyermans receive star in front of art museum,” The Desert Sun, February 26, 2012.
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THE ARCHITECTS OF THE BURGESS RESIDENCE
From The City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey Findings, Theme: Post-World War II Single-Family Residential Development (1945-1969), page 167:

Following precedents started in the 1930s, the decade of the 1940s further influenced the prominence of Modern architecture in defining the growth of Palm Springs after World War II. This paralleled the trend throughout California; as prosperity returned with the war, and as the peacetime return of soldiers brought a demand for new development, a young generation of architects exposed to Modernism in their training or travels before and during the war wanted to put those ideas into practice. This new generation of architects combined a concern for landscape and site relationships, the use of natural materials, and innovative building technologies to create a new regional architecture.

This was also a period of exuberance and optimism that was directly reflected in the architecture. According to historian Kevin Starr, the theory that domestic architecture would not take up where it had left off before the war was fundamental.

HUGH KAPTUR
Hugh Kaptur (b.1931) is from Detroit, Michigan and briefly worked for Harley Earl at General Motors. He is a transplanted Californian, influenced by the American “Organic Style” of Frank Lloyd Wright as well as indigenous southwest architecture. Hugh Kaptur’s work has been well-documented by Steven Keylon in his monograph that accompanied the 2019 Kaptur exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

From The City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey, page 174:

Among other locally-based architects and designers, builder Herbert Burns designed Late Moderne houses similar to his inns, which emphasized volumes and streamlined forms rather than structure, as seen 21 A – Page 678 of 813
in the Crockett House (1956), 457 Arenas Road). Hugh Kaptur, trained in Detroit at The Lawrence Technological University, brought the simple frame construction he used in multiple housing tract designs to the William Burgess House (1958, 550 Palisades Drive). Walter White’s design for the Franz Alexander Residence (1956, 1011 W. Cielo Drive; listed in the national Register) has a dramatic, upswept curving roof.

It is surmised that in 1957 Joseph Pawling hired Hugh Kaptur, who had previously worked for Wexler and Harrison, to design a home for the site he was selling to William and Clara Burgess. Kaptur was not yet a licensed architect but his engineering background provided the skills necessary to build on the hillside lot. All that survives from this transaction is Kaptur’s presentation drawing of the home. It is an accurate depiction of the original house, as Burgess family photographs attest. The Mid Century Modern home with its post and beam construction, flat roof, floor to ceiling glass windows, painted white exterior and sliding doors punctuated by stacked stone piers was an elegant solution that capitalized on the panoramic views the site provided.

According to Frank Lopez, who conveyed the Hugh Kaptur archives to the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, no other documents exist related to the Burgess House. When Hugh Kaptur was asked what became of the documents related to the Burgess project he said, “I don’t know. Anything I did, the museum would have it.” Referring to the presentation drawing, he said, “It was conceptual… to show Burgess the next step.” On his relationship with William Burgess, Kaptur politely declined to comment other than to refer to payments. “It always comes down to money. When the project is done, the client doesn’t want to pay the final fee,” he said. In a later conversation with 3 Kaptur, this author confirmed these statements. William Burgess may have played another role in Kaptur’s indifference. When it came to his house, Burgess took credit for everything, rarely mentioning the architect. The published history of the house is equally confusing because Burgess would frequently claim authorship for himself.

Within Hugh Kaptur’s body of work, the Burgess House (the family called it their cabana) is a modest 1,200 square feet early project by an unlicensed “Building Designer” as they were called at the time. It pales in comparison to other projects of this era like the 1958 Impala Lodge (555 San Lorenzo Road, Palm Hugh Kaptur and James Crump interview, March 18, 2024. 3 22 A – Page 679 of 813
Springs), the1959 Leaver Residence (672 Palisades Drive, Palm Springs, demolished), or the 1959 Kaptur Residence (1897 East Belding Drive, Palm Springs). In each of these cases, the structure was revealed as an important element of the design. In 1963, Kaptur was selected to design Fire Station No. 3 (90 East Racquet Club Road) in Palm Springs, infuriating other registered architects in the city. This marked a turning point for him and he applied himself, eventually become a licensed architect and an AIA member. The 1967 Ricciardi and Kaptur Palm Springs Municipal Golf Clubhouse (1885 Golf Club Drive, Palm Springs) marks a transition point with the introduction of stucco, which is associated with Kaptur’s more mature style, as in the 1970 Casa Blanca Motor Hotel (1352 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) and the 1974 Tahquitz Plaza I (600-650 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs).

Today Hugh Kaptur has returned to Palisades Drive and is designing a new project, the Ostoich Guest House at 672 Palisades Drive, on the site of the Leaver House.
23 Photo of architect Hugh Kaptur from Newman Morris, “Modern Master” Palm Springs Life, January 13, 2014.

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ALBERT FREY
Albert Frey (1903-1998) Born in Zurich, Frey received His architecture degree from the Institute of Technology in 1924. He worked for a number of firms from 1924 to 1928, including at Le Cobusier’s, who was a mentor and an influence for the rest of his career. He was a proponent of the European International Style. Assisted by Le Corbusier, he moved to New York in 1928 to work with architect A. Lawrence Kocher. Together they were the architects of the 1931 Aluminaire House, a concept for mass housing projects built out of industrial materials now located at The Palm Springs Museum of Art. In 1934 Frey was assigned to the Kocher-Samson Building in Palm Springs, considered to be the first strictly modern building in the city. Aside from a brief return to New York to contribute to the design of the Museum of Modern Art, he stayed in Palm Springs for the rest of his life. He adapted his style to the desert and developed a site-specific approach not present in his earlier work. Frey made many contributions to the establishment of The Palm Springs School, including the 1940 Bel Vista mass-produced housing tract by John Porter Clark and Albert Frey and, the 1940 Albert Frey I House by Clark and Frey, the 1946 Raymond Lowey House by Clark and Frey, the 1955 Cree House II by Clark and Frey, the 1949 to 1963 Tramway Valley Station by Williams, Clark, Frey and Chambers, the 1952-1957 Palm Springs City Hall by Clark, Frey and Chambers and Williams, Williams and Williams, the 1963 Frey House II and the 1965 Tramway Gas Station by Frey and Chambers,
According to Brad Dunning,
Frey interpreted International Style modernism into his own unique brand, a combination of the pragmatic and artistic. He defied taxonomy-his best work is seemingly uncategorizable. At different times, he could be described as a minimalist, a constructivist, an expressionist-yet he was always modern, embracing new materials at every turn. He had an unquestionable belief in the future and in beauty and utility.4 In 1963, Frey selected a lot at the top of Palisades Drive as the site for his new home, known as Frey House II. The home is considered one of Albert Frey’s masterworks. At some point, William Burgess and Albert Frey became acquainted and Burgess, ever tinkering with the design of his own homes, Dunning, Brad (ed.) Albert Frey Inventive Modernist. Radius Books. Palm Springs Art Museum, 2023. p.10. 4 24 A – Page 681 of 813
retained Frey to update and reimagine the property at 550 Palisades Drive. As Burgess did with Kaptur, he frequently obfuscated and did not credit Albert Frey with the design. But the archives at The Palm Springs Art Museum reveal sketches, plans and correspondence that confirm Albert Frey’s attachment to the project over two and a half decades.

Portrait of Albert Frey by Bruce Weber, 1997.
25 A – Page 682 of 813

OLAV ENGUM
Although Olav Engum (1918-1989) was not an architect, he played a significant role in the development of the Burgess House site. A Norwegian immigrant and stonemason, he was hired by William Burgess to carve out the hillside to build staircases, the pool, waterfalls, the outdoor grill designed by Frey, seating areas and the Frey-designed balustrade that eventually surrounded the property. His work transcends its prosaic nature due to his skillful craftsmanship. He worked on the Burgess House for 15 years and became a part of the family. Later he was a landscaper in the Palm Springs area. A member of Mensa, he left behind a record of editorials in the Desert Sun espousing his pacifist and environmental views. He was also a reflexologist and graphologist, according to his December 13, 1989 obituary in the Desert Sun. A true artist, he signed his work in the mortar of the outdoor grill he built for the Burgesses, “Olav, 62.” (L) Photo by James Crump; ( R) “Olav Engum, 71, Palm Springs resident,” Desert Sun, December 13, 1989. 26 A – Page 683 of 813

THE ARCHITECTURE OF

THE BURGESS RESIDENCE
THE 1957 HOUSE BY HUGH KAPTUR
Hugh Kaptur’s 1957 Presentation Drawing for the Burgess House, Courtesy of the Hugh Kaptur Collection, Palm Springs Art Museum.

Hugh Kaptur designed a simple post and beam flat roofed house in a relaxed “V” shape that is composed of 8’ x 8’ bays. At 1,200 square feet, the house was modest, comprising a kitchen, bedroom and a sleeping alcove on the west side and a bathroom with a living room on the east side. A cantilevered 8’ deep overhang runs the length of the south elevation with two stacked rock piers separated by sliding glass doors. The south and east elevations are walls of glass.
27 A – Page 684 of 813
The south elevation of the Burgess House showing the central position of the pool, Kaptur’s cantilevered overhang and rock walls, Burgess family photo.

According to William Burgess in his unpublished essay, “The Story of A Palm Springs Cabana,” located in the collection of the Palm Springs Historical Society:

We had to blast a shelf on the side of the mountain for our cabana… Now we had to get from the private road up to the rock shelf. Enter Olav Engum, a local laborer whom we employed to build fifty steps so that we could get all the materials for the cabana up to the rock shelf. Hugh Kaptur, the architect, drew a quick sketch and only four months later we had our cabana and pool.5
Burgess, William. “The Story of a Palm Springs Cabana,” Unpublished manuscript, undated, The Palm Springs Historical Society. 5 28 A – Page 685 of 813
The north elevation is quite close to the mountain; windows admit light to the interior with mechanical closets tucked in between. The low profile of the home sited on the lot carved out cliff was a stunning effect, designed to maximize the valley views.

The Burgess House from the west showing the house prior to Frey’s expansion.

The home was built by Burgess using “day labor” and completed in 1958, along with a 15’ x 30’ pool on the south side of the house (Permit B-351 and 467). The Burgess family appreciated their simple “cottage,” although their daughter Mali Burgess dreaded hauling groceries up the 50 step stone staircase to the house.

The Burgesses gained more land when they acquired Lot 3 of 550 Palisades Drive from investors Melvern and Faye McMonies in 1959. In his essay, Burgess describes this transaction:
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Joe (Pawling) unfortunately sold the lot next to us (to the McMonies) and they wanted to keep it. So I bought the very top lot of the twelve (686 Palisades Drive) and traded with them. When they later sold it, the famous architect Albert Frey… bought it for his steel and glass one-bedroom house. After we had the lot next door, Olav with his jackhammer dug back into the mountain for a driveway so that we could drive to the same level as the house. 6
As has been previously stated, the Burgess House is an early example of Kaptur’s low flat roof, post and beam construction homes. It was a spec house so it had a modest budget and had to get as much impact as possible from inexpensive materials. The two stacked rock walls on the south elevation (later removed by Frey) were elements Kaptur utilized in other projects of this era, such as the 1958 Miller “Spec” House, the 1958 McCauley Residence, the Griffing “Spec” House of 1962, among others. At the Burgess House, the rocks were already on site. Simple tongue and groove board clads the underside of the overhang that served to shade all the glass. The 8’ by 8’ modules that articulate the windows and sliding doors provide a visible structure to the overall design
so
characteristic
of Kaptur’s
work,
although
other
contemporary
homes such
as the 1959
Leaver
Residence
did so in a
much more
overt way.

The Burgess House,
Date unknown, Photo:

Anderson
Photography
Burgess, William, “The Story Of A Palm Springs Cabana,” Unpublished Manuscript, undated, The Palm Springs Historical Society. 6 30 A – Page 687 of 813
Eventually, Bougainvillea were planted around the site. The Burgesses cleverly named their new home “Bougain Villa.”
Frey’s plans for the expansion of the 1967 home to the east. The stacked rock piers are indicated but were removed during the renovation. Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art.

THE 1967 ADDITION BY ALBERT FREY
The addition to the house, designed by Albert Frey in 1967 (Permit B-10632), was built by Burgess in 1968. The changes extended the flat roof post and beam structure consistent with the Kaptur design, adding a 554 Square Foot wing to the north that included a new primary bedroom and bath, along with an exterior porch. On the exterior, the two stacked rock piers on the south facade were removed and replaced with floor to ceiling reflective fixed glass panes. The original glass windows and sliding glass doors were replaced with stainless steel reflective glass ones. Reflective glass was applied to the surfaces of the north facade of the house.
31 A – Page 688 of 813
32 I
In 1967 correspondence between Frey and Burgess, the details are discussed showing that Burgess was a very “hands on” client. The placement of the boulder in the living room, the ceiling height for the addition and other issues were discussed. Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art.

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From The City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey Findings, page 176:

Frey House II (1963, expanded 1967, 686 W. Palisades Drive; HSPB-33 and listed in the National Register), Albert Frey’s second home for himself, was an essay in minimalist steel and glass perched lightly on a mountainside boulder field, bringing together nature and modern technology. As did Lautner at the later Elrod House, Frey left a large, natural rock outcropping in place and used it to divide the main living space from the adjacent bedroom. (445) A similar treatment is also found in Hugh Kaptur’s nearby Burgess House from 1958.

While this is an accurate description of this treatment in the Burgess House, it is similar because these are part of the additions by Albert Frey.

Frey’s 1969 measurements of existing conditions on the patio and proposed changes, including the new balustrade on the south side of the patio. Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art.

Albert Frey’s 1967 additions to the Burgess House were steered by William Burgess as their correspondence shows. For example, Frey proposed a higher ceiling height for the added rooms. Burgess did not accept this proposal. As a 33 A – Page 690 of 813
result, the exterior effect of the additions is minimized as it blends with the Kaptur design. The interior of the structure was built around boulders on the site in the manner of Frey House II.

Albert Frey’s measurements for the reglazing of the house. Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art.

The addition of reflective glass windows and cladding may have been a meeting of the minds of Burgess and Frey, although this cannot be substantiated.

Burgess was motivated by design trends and reflective glass was being used to skin office towers in Los Angeles (Teledyne Labs, Northridge, CA, Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall, 1966). Frey did not use reflective glass on other projects to this author’s knowledge.

It is worth noting that in 1967 Frey and Chambers closed their office and Frey moved his office to his house at 665 Palisades Drive. This left him free to observe the work at the Burgess House located down the hill.

Over the years, Frey and Burgess corresponded about the project (See Appendix VII) and two things are clear: Frey and Burgess pushed each other to keep adding to the house and Burgess was very cost-conscious.

Large boulders were incorporated into the interior and exterior design of the house’s expansion that echo Frey’s own home. An 8’ x 10’ marble terrace on the 34 A – Page 691 of 813
southeast corner where the existing house and the addition met was also built at this time.

In 1968, Frey designed an arched balustrade to be built of rocks from the property and would eventually surround all the patios and walkways. This arch would become a motif that Frey would later repeat in other structures on the property. Later, the same balustrade was built opposite the Burgess property on Palisades Drive.

Albert Frey’s 1968 drawings for the rock balustrade that would eventually be built by Olaf Engum. This wall would eventually surround the Burgess property and the adjacent west side of Palisades Drive. Courtesy the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art.
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A view to the north showing the retaining wall and balustrade designed by Albert Frey and built by Olaf Engum. Burgess family photo.

In 1974, the house was expanded again (Permit B-7187), adding a 7 1/2’ x 12’ glass walled bedroom on the west end, known as “the grand children’s room,” and an 8 1/2’ x 18’ extension of the living area to the east. There are no drawings by Frey for these additions so it must be assumed there were done by the owner. Frey comments favorably on these additions in a 1987 letter to Burgess:

From my vantage point above you I am aware that the completed grandchildren’s sleeping room can be seen only from the two homes above you (and incidentally it looks great), and it is not discernable (sic) in any way from the valley floor.”7
Frey’s approach to additions and alterations was to blend them with the existing structure. There are other examples of projects like this. From 1991 to 1995, Frey designed additions to the 1936 Burham-Wells Residence by John Porter Clark at Smoke Tree Ranch. As Frey worked closely with Clark, he knew how he designed and was able to make sympathetic changes to the house. Although Frey and Kaptur never collaborated, the Burgess Addition is stylistically tied to the Kaptur design, matching the post and beam construction, the roofline, the glass walls and glass sliding doors as well as the extension of the 8’ overhang.

The use of materials is also the same, including the use of tongue and groove April 30, 1987 correspondence between Albert Frey and William Burgess. Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs 7 Museum of Art.
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board, the white painted exterior and the use of painted square steel beams.

However, in the Burgess House, as previously noted, Frey used reflective glass and incorporated boulders in the interior of the house. 1978 TO 1993 STRUCTURES BY ALBERT FREY
In 1978, Frey began to draw plans for additions to the Burgess House which were a complete departure from Kaptur’s Midcentury Modern design. These designs may refer to work early in his career. In 1927 at the architectural firm of Leuenberger, Fluckiger in Zurich, a young draftsman named Albert Frey drew plans for a factory of steel and glass. The linear quality of these drawings may have been on Frey’s mind as he proposed the sunshades, gazebos, a guesthouse and a garage for the Burgess property. These bold expressionistic designs are unique in Frey’s body of work.
(Top) Albert Frey’s 1927 drawings for a factory of steel and glass, Rosa, Joseph. Albert Frey Architect (New York: Princeton Press, 1999) pp. 133. (Bottom) Albert Frey’s Burgess garage (1978) and sunshade (1984) Photos by the author. 37 A – Page 694 of 813
One of the sunshades designed by Frey. The design is similar to the carport, built in 1980. Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Art Museum
Frey designed a 28’ x 20’ carport for Burgess in 1978, which was built in 1979 (Permit B-3486). This was the first structure on the property not attached to the original house. The framework of black steel beams with a double arched roof is covered in stretched canvas. In 1979, Frey designed three 6’ x 4’ similar structures to act as sunshades. These were built in 1980 (a permit was filed but has no number). Brad Dunning has described the sun shades as, “unique and lyrical.” Some of the sunshades are freestanding, supported by square steel 8 posts; others are suspended by chains from trees or other structures.

Their neighbors to the north at 660 Palisades Drive in the “Spec” House by Hugh Kaptur must have approved of the sunshades because they hired Albert Frey to build sunshades on their property as well as what is thought to be the valley’s first “infinity” pool.9
The current owners of the Burgess House have restored the sunshades to original condition, with the exception of one located at one of the highest Excerpted from Brad Dunning’s support for the Burgess House Historical Designation found in Appendix II of this document. 8 Keylon, Steven. The Modernist Architecture of Hugh Michael Kaptur (Palm Springs: Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, 2019), 9 p. 56.
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elevations on the hill. This is where William Burgess installed a hammock and was photographed by The Desert Sun.

Albert Frey’s plans for a carport that was constructed without a permit so the date is not known. Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Art Museum.

In 1978 Albert Frey drew plans for a carport with three bays, two for automobiles and one bay for storage. The design called for 4” x 4” black square steel posts and beams with black 2’ X 2” square steel framework and white enamel steel walls, creating the same graphic effect as the sunshades. The arched roofline was a new stylistic element that echos the balustrade Frey designed for the property. Curvilinear elements were part of Frey’s design vocabulary, having used them at Frey House 1 with additions (1940) with its circular bedroom and metal porthole windows cut on the bias. The barrel roofline was a popular element in the evolution of design in the 1960s as an element of the New Formalism.
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The building of this structure was most likely put on hold by Burgess at the time because he was facing financial constraints as he struggled to gain control of his company again. Permits for this structure were never opened and it is assumed it was built at later date, concurrent with the guest house project.

In 1980, the 8’ x 10’ marble patio at the southeast corner of the 1974 addition was enclosed with a roof and glass. The tongue and groove board that clad the Kaptur-designed cantilevered overhang as well as the steel post and wood beam construction was carried through on the southern elevation and wrapped around the western and northern elevations. The permit history shows two phases of this work, Permit B-1125 covers the construction and B-1863 (Albert Frey is listed as the architect) covers the enclosure and glazing. No plans can be located for this work.

Frey proposed a guest house, referred to as a “Mirrored Pavilion.” This plan was apparently rejected by the client. A new version of the guest house was designed by Frey in 1989 on the site of an escarpment above the main house.

The reflective glass, black square steel framework, white enameled steel skin, and arched roof are another departure from the main house and a stylistic match with the sun shades and the earlier design of the carport. The 495 square foot space comprises a living space, raised bed alcove and a bathroom. In this structure, Frey’s program for the Burgess House reaches its ultimate expression.

The framework of the guest house and roof is constructed using the same black 4” x 4” square steel posts and beams that match the sunshades and carport.

Black 2” x 2” square steel beams form the structure. The roofline is arched, matching the carport. The eaves of the roof are white enameled steel with the visible black steel framework. The black 4’ x 4’ beams that support the roof project out from the structure to the edge of the roofline. The roof extends out from the structure on all sides to provide shade from the sun. The upper half of the walls are mirrored glass windows or mirror cladding that reflects the pattern of the roof eaves, the sky and the mountain. The lower half of the walls are clad in rocks from the site that create the illusion that the structure is rising out of the mountainside. Frey’s creation takes advantage of the building’s location on the high escarpment that gives the illusion of flight, while simultaneously tying it to the mountainside. It is difficult to find a precedent in Frey’s body of work for the expressive and stylistic elements found in the Burgess Guest House. 40 A – Page 697 of 813
1989-1993 Guest house plans by Albert Frey, Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art.

Because the plans were revised in 1993, it is assumed that the guest house, along with the previously referenced carport, were built around that time. No 41 A – Page 698 of 813
permits were opened for either building, a situation was that remedied in 1998 when the structures were legalized.
(Right) Interior of the guest house by Albert
Frey showing the boulder incorporated into the
interior, a Frey signature. (Below) the exterior of
Frey’s guest house showing the enameled steel
frame and skin, the curvilinear roof, reflective
glass and boulders. Both photos: Robin Noble.

Rosa, Joseph, Albert Frey, Architect, Princeton
Press: New York, NY, 1999, pp. 135-136.
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THE SITE OF THE BURGESS HOUSE
While Joe Pawling was responsible for the completion of Palisades Drive and selling the lots, William Burgess worked with Olav Engum to carve out the ledge for the homesite and construct the flight of stairs needed to deliver materials to build the house Kaptur had designed. Because Burgess had only purchased Lots 1 and 2, the only way to access the site was up a sheer cliff from the grade of Palisades Drive so 50 stones steps were called for along with a turnout for parking.

What began as a practical intervention evolved into a long and productive collaboration between Burgess and Engum, one that transformed the rugged mountainside into an integrated landscape of architecture, circulation, and outdoor habitation. Over the years, Engum undertook extensive blasting, drilling, jackhammering, carving, and fabrication, ultimately producing more than 300 feet of fortress-like stone walls, multiple terraced levels, and a continuous system of paths and stairs that traverse the entire site. The photographs reveal how these walls and platforms appear to grow organically from the rock itself, their irregular coursing and tight joints blurring the boundary between natural outcrop and human construction.

Among Engum’s most notable contributions are three waterfalls, an outdoor seating area organized around an Albert Frey–designed fire pit and barbecue, and an elaborate stone walking trail punctuated by elevated steps and landings. These routes lead to a series of intimate, stone-defined “plazas” or outdoor rooms—small, level clearings designed for hammocks, sunbathing, reading, and quiet contemplation. Each space is subtly differentiated by changes in elevation, wall height, and orientation, creating a sequence of experiences rather than a single monumental gesture.

Another stonemason, a Macedonian named Asan Asani, was involved in the later phase of the project. Asani also contributed to Frey House II and John Lautner’s Bob Hope Residence.10
From an E-mail conversation with Mark Ostoich, December 15, 2015. 10 43 A – Page 700 of 813
(Clockwise from top, left) Burgess in a hammock at the
hillside sunshade designed by Frey. “Burgesses bask at Bougain Villa,” The Desert Sun, August 1, 1992, Section E, p.1. The hillside sunshade awaiting restoration. Photo: James Crump. Albert Frey’s 1987 drawing for the Burgess Grill, Courtesy of The Palm Springs Museum of Art. The grill area; Olaf Engum’s signature is found here. Photo by the author.
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(Clockwise from top, left) Albert Frey’s 1985 plan for an outdoor dining area at the Burgess House, Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, The Palm Springs Museum of Art, The outdoor dining area, An outdoor sink and preparation station built in to the hillside outside the guest house, A carved stone bar built in to the cliffside, Carved stone staircase that ascend the hillside. Photos by James Crump.
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These views to the south show the north and west elevations of the Burgess House over the years. The top image shows Kaptur’s original 1957 design. The middle image shows Frey’s enclosure of the interior living space. The modified fascia board along the roofline is thought to be by Burgess as there are no Frey drawings for this. The bottom photo shows current conditions.

Burgess family photo, date unknown.

The Burgess Residence, Julius Shulman, 1984. Julius Shulman Photography Archive, 1936-1997, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, California.

Author’s photo, 2025.
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CONTRIBUTING ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BURGESS HOUSE
The Hugh Kaptur original house (1957) and the Frey additions (1967-1974) present character-defining features of Midcentury Modernism to contribute to this nomination.
• Flat roofline with 8’ ceilings throughout
• Square steel post and wood beam construction
• Floor to ceiling fixed glass and aluminum frame sliding doors • Minimalism as expressed through clean lines and the geometry of the 8’ x 8’ bays
• Lack of ornamentation
• A swimming pool sited in front of the house as a central feature • Site integration as expressed by the stone masonry that surrounds the house as well as its close proximity to the hillside
• Building around boulders that function as room dividers, as in Frey II • Glazing that is cut around interior/exterior boulders, as in Frey II • Indoor-outdoor living spaces through the extensive use of glass sliding doors and exterior features such as patios and dining areas • Open floor plan that allows the kitchen and living areas to flow through glass sliding doors to the exterior patios
• 8’ deep cantilevered overhangs to provide shade from the sun • The house’s orientation towards the south and the east and the use of glass capitalizes on the views of the valley
The additional structures by Albert Frey (1978-1993) are unique and difficult to characterize, as is often the case with Frey. However, the characteristics fit within the definition of Late Modern. In his 1969 book American Architecture Since 1780, Marcus Whiffen describes Late Modern architecture in this way:

Nearly everything that has been said earlier of the International Style is true to some degree of Late Modern architecture. The essential difference is that while an International Style building is rational, or at least has a semblance of rationality, a Late Modern one tends to be rhetorical. That is to say, it will embody one or more of the rhetorical devices of exaggeration, repetition, and paradox - such as, in architectural terms, the 47 A – Page 704 of 813
exaggeration of structure, the repetition of a single form to the point that it loses its individuality and becomes part of an overall pattern, the paradox of a building with glass walls and no windows. Then, whereas in an International Style building the scale is indicated by the openings, in a Late Modern one it might be highly ambiguous, for the articulation of a glass curtain wall is not controlled by the floor behind it, and the architect therefore has it in his power to increase or reduce the apparent size of the building at will. Curved surfaces, which in the International Style were occasional elements of contract, may determine the total form of the building, and the arch, avoided absolutely by the architects of the International Style, makes an occasional appearance in glazed barrel vaults whose ancestry may be traced to the London Crystal Palace of 1851. Axial symmetry, rare in the International Style, is common.

Late Modern characteristics present in Frey’s additional structures at the Burgess House:
• The black steel framework with its repetitive pattern is present in the sunshades, the carport, garage and guest house, creating further repetition
• The use of white in the enamel steel structures and canvas coverings provides contrast with the black steel frameworks, which in turn, amplifies the patterns
• The cumulative use of pattern makes it difficult to visually isolate individual structures
• The exterior use of mirror cladding and reflective glass glazing conceals where the windows are actually located, creating a paradox of ambiguity • The sunshades, carport and garage are symmetrical in plan, in a departure from the plan of the original house, which is asymmetrical • The rooflines are all arched in a rolling barrel vault arrangement, rather than the flat Midcentury Modern style
• The ceiling heights are taller than 8’ and vary due to the arched rooflines • The effect is Late Modern Expressionist, rather than the the rational Midcentury Modern International Style
• The roofline’s curved shapes in the guest house and garage are exaggerated gestures that increase the perceived size of the structure • The roof overhang framework is reflected in the mirrored wall surfaces, further blurring the distinctions between walls, windows and rooflines 48 A – Page 705 of 813
• The structures have been well-maintained or restored to original condition

NON-CONTRIBUTING ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BURGESS HOUSE
• The 1957 Hugh Kaptur design incorporated rock walls that were replaced by fixed glass panels in the 1967 Albert Frey alterations • The roofline fascia on the southern elevation of the house, designed by Hugh Kaptur, was a simple painted wood trim board; at some point, this was replaced with an arched motif with a black painted design; no drawings exist for this change in the Albert Frey archives; it is assumed that the owner, William Burgess made this change; the current owners removed this detail to restore the fascia to the Kaptur design and wrapped it around the roofline on three elevations
• A spa was added to the pool deck in front of the house at some point; no permit or drawing can be found for this addition
• The “Grandchildren’s Room” and an extension of the living room do not have plans, but do have permits; they are thought to have been built by the owner and a contractor in 1974, therefore not the work of Frey

EVALUATION
CRITERION 1 — Significant Events - The resource is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to national, state or community: The Burgess Residence is not affiliated with significant events and does not qualify under Criterion 1.

CRITERION 2 — Significant Persons - The resource is associated with the lives of persons who made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history: Although the Burgesses (the first owners) and the Meyermans (the second owners) were high profile business, social as well as philanthropic figures, their names were not known outside of these circles. The Burgess Residence is not affiliated with significant persons and does not qualify under Criterion 2.

ARCHITECTURE (Criteria 3 — 6)
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CRITERION 3 - The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state or local history: Palm Springs Palisades was announced in 1937 as a 320 acre development that would include a skyline drive, extending from Ramon Road to the O’Donnell Golf Club. A somewhat scaled back plan was previewed later that year with work beginning to build Palisades Drive to access the development. The Depression and World War II intervened and the tract remained dormant until Joe Pawling began developing the road and marketing the lots in the 1950s. The post-war building boom of tract housing development in Palm Springs led discerning buyers to seek the commanding views and privacy of sites at higher elevations. Joseph Pawling partnered with Hugh Kaptur to build an enclave of architecturally significant homes. The first home in this tract was the Burgess Residence, completed in 1958 with additions completed in 1969, exhibits many stylistic markers that place it directly in the historic context of the “Post World War II Palm Springs” period; of the theme of Single-Family Residential Development (1945-1969). The structure is a fine example of architect-designed custom site-specific second homes being built by affluent clients during this period. It qualifies for listing as a Class 1 Historic Resource on the local registry under Criterion 3.

CRITERION 4 - The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction. The Burgess Residence is recognized in the Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey Findings. It is a fine example of a custom-built home designed by two significant architects in a unique setting. The 1957 Hugh Kaptur design used materials that were typical at the time: square steel posts, wooden beams, fixed glass, full height stainless steel sliding doors and rock walls as decorative touches. The 1967 Albert Frey design stripped away the rock walls and introduced many of Frey’s signature touches such as building around on-site boulders to delineate spaces and glazing which cut around boulders. Frey introduced a new element, reflective glass and mirror cladding, perhaps at the urging of his style-conscious client William Burgess.

In the late 1950’s Kevin Roche, the design director at Eero Saarinen, developed the first mirrored glass for the 1958-1962 Bell Labs project in Holmdale, New Jersey. It is said he was inspired by mirrored aviator glasses. Roche and fellow Saarinen designer John Dinkerloo worked with the manufacturer to take this new material into production. The Bell Labs building survives and was recently used as the location for Apple TV’s “Severance.” Another designer at Saarinen, 50 A – Page 707 of 813
Arthur Lumsden, left the firm and took the concept to Los Angeles-based Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall where he used reflective glass to skin the 1966-1968 Teledyne Labs project in Northridge, California. Perhaps 11 Burgess and Frey became aware of these new buildings and added reflective glass to the Burgess House. The mirrored cladding and glazing continued through the next phase of work, the guest house and carport/garage by as the Burgess House evolved beyond Midcentury Modern to the Late Modern style.

Bell Labs, Holmdale, New Jersey, Eero Saarinen &
Associates, 1958-1962. Photo: Gerard Garcia, Getty
Images
This author does know of other examples of Frey using reflective glass other than the Burgess Residence, which is noteworthy for its type and method of construction. It qualifies for listing as a Class 1 Historic Resource on the local registry under Criterion 4.

CRITERION 5: The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist or architect whose individual genius influenced his or her age; or that possesses high artistic value. The original Burgess Residence, designed by Hugh Kaptur, is an example of his early work, although it is somewhat modified.

Kaptur’s engineering background provided the expertise to build on a very challenging site. The midcentury style of his design incorporated a flat roof with cantilevered overhangs, a white painted wood exterior, glass curtain walls, sliding glass doors and stacked rock piers. Kaptur would go on to become a leader of the second generation of architects that define the Palm Springs School. The 1967 addition to the Burgess Residence is designed by master architect Albert Frey. The use of boulders in the interiors to demarcate rooms, the generous use of glass to blur the boundaries between interior and exterior Biddle, Ouida Angelica. “A Short History of the Mirrored Glass Facade,” Pin-Up Magazine #17, Fall/Winter 2014/2015. 11 51 A – Page 708 of 813
spaces and restrained minimalism are part of Frey’s design vocabulary, as seen in Frey II. The introduction of reflective glass surfaces to visually camouflage the structure was a new concept for Frey.

The elements that distinguish the Burgess House as an example of Kaptur and Frey’s Midcentury Modern work:
• Flat roofline with 8’ ceilings throughout
• Square steel post and wood beam construction
• Floor to ceiling fixed glass and aluminum frame sliding doors • Minimalism as expressed through clean lines and the geometry of the 8’ x 8’ bays
• Lack of ornamentation, other than on site materials
• A swimming pool sited in front of the house as a central feature • Site integration as expressed by the stone masonry that surrounds the house as well as its close proximity to the hillside
• Building around boulders that function as room dividers, as in Frey II • Glazing that is cut around the boulders, as in Frey II • Indoor-outdoor living spaces through the extensive use of glass sliding doors and exterior features such as patios and living areas • Open floor plan that allows the kitchen and living areas to flow through to the patios
• 8’ deep cantilevered overhangs to provide shade from the sun • The house’s orientation towards the south and east plus the use of glass capitalizes on views of the valley
Over time, Frey developed a completely new vocabulary for the project involving rolling vaulted roofs, enameled steel panels with black steel frameworks that are Late Modern. Among Albert Frey’s Late Modern characteristics that demonstrate high artistic value:
• The black steel framework with its repetitive pattern is present in the sunshades, the carport, garage and guest house, creating further repetition so that it becomes part of an overall pattern • The use of white in the enamel steel structures and canvas coverings provides contrast with the black steel frameworks, which in turn, amplifies the patterns
• The cumulative use of pattern makes it difficult to isolate individual structures
• The exterior use of mirror cladding and reflective glass glazing conceals where the windows are actually located, creating a paradox of ambiguity 52 A – Page 709 of 813
• The sunshades, carport and garage are symmetrical in plan, in a departure from the plan of the original house, which is asymmetrical • The rooflines are all arched in a rolling barrel vault arrangement, rather than the flat Midcentury Modern style
• The ceiling heights are taller than 8’ and vary due to the arched rooflines • The effect is Late Modern Expressionism, rather than the the rational Midcentury Modern International Style
• The roofline’s curved shapes in the guest house and garage are exaggerated gestures that increase the perceived size of the structure • The roof overhang framework is reflected in the mirrored wall surfaces, further blurring the distinctions between walls, windows and rooflines The Frey additions to this resource are a part of his late work, are completely intact and represents a master architect’s level with high artistic values.

Therefore, the structures qualify as a Class 1 Historic Resource under Criterion 5 for their distinctive characteristics representing the Midcentury Modern style, Late Modern and high artistic values.

CRITERION 6: That represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. This criterion was created to address the resources contained within a potential Historic District.

The resource represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in evaluating applications for designation of a Historic District, for parcels on which more than one entity exists. The Burgess Residence’s historic significance does not rely on other properties or related developments. Hence, the structure does not qualify under Criteria 6.

CRITERION 7: That has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to local history or prehistory. The Burgess Residence and Addition is not expected to yield information critical to the national, state or local history or prehistory. Hence, the resource does not qualify under Criterion 7.

SUMMARY: This evaluation finds The Burgess Residence eligible for listing as a Palm Springs Historic Resource under 8.05.070 (C.1.a) paragraphs (iii, iv, and v) of the local ordinance’s seven criteria.
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STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Integrity Analysis (using Secretary of Interior Standards)

INTEGRITY
Integrity is the ability of a property to convey its significance. To be listed in the local registry, a property must not only be shown to be significant under the criteria, but it also must have integrity. The evaluation of integrity is sometimes a subjective judgement, but it must always be grounded in an understanding of a property’s physical Features and how they relate to its significance. Historic properties either retain integrity (that is, convey their significance) or they do not. The definition of integrity includes seven aspects or qualities. To retain historic integrity a property will always possess several, and usually most, of the aspects. The retention of specific aspects of specific aspects is paramount for a property to convey its significance. Determining which of these aspects are most important to a particular property requires knowing why, where and when the property is significant. The following sections define the seven aspects and explain how they combine to produce integrity.

DESIGN
Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of a property. It results from conscious decisions made during the original conception and planning of a property and applies to activities as diverse as community planning, engineering, architecture, and landscape architecture. Design includes such elements as organization of space, proportion, scale, technology, ornamentation and materials. A property’s design reflects historic functions and technologies as well as aesthetics. It includes such considerations as the structural system; massing; arrangement of spaces; pattern of fenestration; textures and colors of surface materials; type, amount and style of ornamental detailing. The Burgess Residence and Addition’s essential elements of form, space, structures, configuration, and style have remained intact. Similarly, the structural system. massing, the arrangements of spaces and the type, amount and style of detailing, with noted exceptions, have remained intact.

MATERIALS
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Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a period and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a historic property.

The choice and combination of materials reveals the preferences of those who created the property and indicate the availability of types of materials and technologies. The Burgess Residence and Addition’s materials represent the best of Midcentury Modern design, with high-quality but simple wood, steel posts, glass, enameled steel and a restrained black and white color palette.

WORKMANSHIP
Workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a culture or people’s time in history or prehistory. It is the evidence of artisans’ labor in constructing or altering a building, structure, object or site. Workmanship can apply to the property as a whole or to its individual components. It can be expressed in vernacular methods of construction and plain finishes or in highly sophisticated configurations and ornamental detailing. It can be based on common traditions or innovative period details. Workmanship is important because it can furnish evidence of the technology of a craft, illustrate the aesthetic principles of a historic or prehistoric detail and reveal individual, local regional or historic buildings, including tooling, carving, painting graining, turning and joinery. The Burgess Residence and Addition was built in phases from 1958 to 1969. As a custom-built home for a very discerning client, the simple steel post and wood beam construction does not rely on surface ornamentation. Instead, the design relies on straight forward construction techniques and materials. Clearing the site and arranging the underpinnings was done by Burgess and Engum, while Kaptur understood the engineering needs to build on what was then a remote cliff. With Kaptur’s styling, the generous use of glass to frame the views, the sophisticated use of boulders on the site by Frey to provide interior decor, this structure is a valuable resource for the study of Midcentury Modernism. Frey continued to contribute to the project in the 1978 to 1993 phase designing lyrical sunshades, a carport, a garage and a guest house. These structures rely on black steel framework and white enameled steel panels or white canvas for form. These exaggerated shapes are in the Late Modern Style. William Burgess was a discerning client and Albert Frey was meticulous in his planning and monitoring of the construction. Fortunately, the current owners have preserved all of these structures and they are intact.
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LOCATION
Location is the place where a historic property was constructed or the place where a historic event occurred. The relationship between the property and its location is often important to understand why the property was created or why something happened. The actual location of a historic property, complemented by its setting, is particularly important in recapturing the sense of historic events and persons. Except in rare cases, the relationship between a property and its historic associations is destroyed if the property is moved. The history of Palisades Drive is representative of the Post World War II period when war surplus explosives were plentiful, GIs were available as laborers and permits were being issued to blast away the side of a mountain. The Burgess Residence and Addition remains in its original location at 550 Palisades Drive, therefore it qualifies under this aspect.

SETTING
Setting is the physical environment of a historic property. Wheres location refers to the specific place where a property was built or an event occurred, setting refers to the character of the place in which the property played its historic role.

It involves how, not just where, the property is situated and its relationship to surrounding features and open space. Setting often reflects the basic physical conditions under which a property was built and the functions it was intended to serve. In addition, the way in which a property is positioned in its environment can reflect the designer’s concept of nature and aesthetic preferences. As residential clients were seeking privacy at higher elevations in the Post World War II period, Pawling filled this niche by developing Palisades Drive.

In 1957 Kaptur designed a house for 550, the first lot available. The house has a low profile to allow the spectacular setting to be dominant. Extensive use of glass on the south and west elevations and the relaxed “V” shape of the floor plan provide wrap around views of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley and the mountains while sitting inside the living area. Stacked rock piers on the south elevation brought site materials into the home’s design.

The 1958 swimming pool sited in front of the house is a central focal point of the setting. As Frey modified the house in 1967, mirrored glass was introduced to reflect the setting. Olaf Engum, a stonemason, carved the cliffside to allow the expansion of the home and other structures while creating outdoor living features such as three waterfalls, a Koi pond, a balustrade that surrounds the property and gracious living spaces that 56 A – Page 713 of 813
include carved stone seating, tables and a grill. A guesthouse and garage appear to be carved from the mountains and float above it. A series of sunshades float in the sky providing shelter. The 1957 Burgess Residence by Hugh Kaptur and 1967-1993 Additions by Albert Frey continue to maintain a strong connection to its site.

FEELING
Feeling is a property’s expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period. It results from the presence of physical features that, taken together, covey the property’s historic character. For example, a rural Historic District retaining original design, materials, workmanship and setting will relate the feeling of agricultural life in the nineteenth century. The Burgess Residence and Additions stands as a statement to the vision of William and Clara Burgess. Their trailblazing purchase of this property with its Hugh Kaptur house plans exemplifies their aesthetic passion. They imagined themselves in a Mediterranean setting in their white cliffside home surrounded by Palms, cascading Bougainvilles and large ceramic amphoras. They recognized the opportunity their neighbor Albert Frey represented and sought his help to update and reimagine their home. They went on to commission Frey to design them fanciful mirror and steel grillwork structures to serve as a guesthouse, carports and sunshades. Frey even designed a grill for them to prepare lamb, a signature dish. This sun washed modern Mediterranean feeling is intact on the property to this day.

ASSOCIATION
Association is the direct link between an important historic event or person and a historic property. A property retains association it is the place where the event or activity occurred and is sufficiently intact to convey that relationship to an observer. Like feeling, association requires the presence of physical features that covey a property’s historic character. For example, a Revolutionary War battlefield whose natural and man-made elements have remained intact since the eighteenth century will retain its quality of association with the battle.

Because feeling and association depend on individual perceptions, their retention alone is never sufficient to support eligibility of a property for the National Register. The Burgess Residence is not associated with an important historic event.
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INTEGRITY SUMMARY: The integrity analysis confirms that the site and structures of the Burgess Residence and Additions possess six aspects of integrity.

APPENDICES
I OWNER’S LETTER OF SUPPORT
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II BRAD DUNNING’S ENDORSEMENT
“The Burgess House (as I have always known it to be called) because of its site, architecture and landscape design epitomizes Palm Springs style in an unparalleled dramatic and theatrical desert modern vision.

With the Albert Frey additions, including the unique and lyrical shade structures, the house insures itself onto an inventory of the great properties of Palm Springs, certainly qualifying, in my opinion as a former Palm Springs Preservation Foundation board member, for Class One designation.” III ASSESSOR’S MAP AND AERIAL
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IV BUILDING PERMITS
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1958 Permit for the Kaptur
designed Burgess House.
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(Top) 1968 Permit for the
Frey addition to the Burgess
House.
(Bottom) 1998 Permit
legitimizing the Frey guest
house for Burgess.
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V. PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE BURGESS RESIDENCE

1. Original home and pool, 1958 2. Addition of primary bed and bath, 1967 3. Addition of “Grand children’s room” to the west and expansion of living room and patio to the east, 1974 4. Carport, 1979 5. Sun shades, 1979 6. Enclosure of the patio, 1980 7.

Guest house and garage/carport, 1993, later enclosed as a garage, 2012 Grill area, 1962, Sunken dining area, date unknown.

Frey’s site plan for Palisades Drive. Courtesy the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art. 64 A – Page 721 of 813
Frey’s 1978 site plan with revisions in 1993. Note the southeast corner of the living space is not shown on this drawing. The position of the carport/garage is shown in relationship to the guest house. Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art.

VI. CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS
Photos from 2025 by the author, except Fig. 9
by James Crump.

Fig. 1. 1980 Carport by Albert Frey.
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Fig. 2. 1979 Carport and 1989 Guest House by
Albert Frey..

Fig. 3. View to the southeast showing the gate
to the pool deck.

Fig. 4. The 1987 Guest House by Albert Frey.
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Fig. 5. “The Grandchildren’s Room” Built by
the owner.

Fig. 6. The south elevation of Hugh Kaptur’s
1957 house with 1967 modifications by Albert
Frey.

Fig. 7. The southeast corner of the porch,
showing 1980 enclosed area,
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Fig. 8. A 1984 Sunshade by Albert Frey on the
south terrace,
Fig. 9. View from the northeast showing the
porch and patio area with Albert Frey’s grill to
the right,
Fig. 10. The north elevation of the addition
showing the reflective glass sliders and
mirror cladding to the right.
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Fig, 11. The north elevation of the house
showing mirrored cladding and reflective
glass sliders
Fig. 12. Guest House by Albert Frey from
the east elevation showing boulder walls,
reflective glass cladding and enameled
steel tube framework and paneling
Fig. 13. Sunshade by Albert Frey
suspended from trees.
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Details of exterior stone carvings which was a collaboration between William Burgess and Olaf Ergum. Photos by James Crump. 70 A – Page 727 of 813
VII. GRANT DEEDS
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VIII. ALBERT FREY CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THE BURGESS HOUSE Courtesy of the Albert Frey Collection, Palm Springs Museum of Art.

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IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ady, Barbara. “Art fundraiser proves a hit,” The Desert Sun, March 11, 2007, p.

33. Biddle, Ouida Angelica. “A Short History of the Mirrored Facade,” Pin-Up Magazine #17, Fall/Winter 2014-2015.

Brown, Conrad. “What it’s Like to Make a Million,” Ladies Home Journal, October 1961, pp. 126-133).

Burgess, William. “The Story of a Palm Springs Cabana,” Unpublished manuscript, undated, Palm Springs Historical Society.

Cygelman, Adéle. Palm Springs Modern (New York: Rizzoli, 1999), esp. pp. 64-71.

Dosti, Rose. “Celebrating The Joffrey,” Los Angeles Times, April 3, 1986, p. 104.

Dunning, Brad (ed.) Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist (Santa Fe: Radius Books, 2024), esp. pp. 66-8.

Francis, Betty. “Meyermans receive star in front of art museum,” The Desert Sun, February 26, 2012, p. 72.

Keylon, Steven. The Modernist Architecture of Hugh Michael Kaptur (Palm Springs: Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, 2019. Especially pp. 52-61.

Riche, Melissa. “Joseph Stark Pawling,” Unpublished manuscript, undated.

Rosa, Joseph. Albert Frey, Architect (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1999), esp. pp. 133-5, 143.

Townsend, Dorothy. “Design for Living: How the Desert was Won: Desert Living,” Los Angeles Times: March 22, 1963, pp. D1-D3.

Whiffen, Marcus. American Architecture Since 1780: A Guide To The Styles (Cambridge, Massachusetts: M.I.T. Press, 1969).
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X. PRESS CLIPPINGS FOR REFERENCE
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ATTACHMENT D
(HSPB Resolution, Report, Minutes)

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HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD

STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 7, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: APPLICATION BY PHILIP MONAGHAN, APPLICANT

REPRESENTATIVE, FOR HISTORIC SITE DESIGNATION OF THE
BURGESS RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 550 PALISADES DRIVE, (APN
513-110-043) CASE: HSPB #174 (SY)
FROM: Department of Planning Services

SUMMARY
This owner-initiated application requests a Class 1 historic designation of the residence at 550 Palisades Drive. This property was identified as a Class 3 site eligible for reclassification as a historic landmark based on its association with notable architects and its architectural significance. The site and the extant structures retain excellent design integrity with a period of significance spanning from 1957 to 1993.

If designated as a historic resource, the property would be subject to the regulations outlined in Section 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code.

RECOMMENDATION:

1. Open the public hearing and receive public testimony.

2. Close the public hearing and adopt Resolution HSPB #174, “A RESOLUTION OF

THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM

SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATE THE “BURGESS RESIDENCE” LOCATED AT 550 PALISADES DRIVE, AS A CLASS 1 (LANDMARK) HISTORIC RESOURCE, HSPB #174, (APN #513-110-043).”
BACKGROUND AND SETTING:

The Burgess Residence is located on Palisades Drive in the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood. An early tract map refers to this area as the Palm Springs Palisades. The original residence was designed by Hugh Kaptur and referred to as the “Cabana” by the owner William Burgess. In order to construct this home, the builders needed to blast into the mountainside to create a rock shelf for the building footprint and swimming pool. The residence currently consists of two separate parcels; however, the built structures are on

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the southern parcel. Subsequent additions to the site were designed by architect Albert Frey, who lived nearby in Frey House II located on the same street.

AERIAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT PARCEL.

SOUTH ELEVATION OF PROPERTY, 2026.

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Related Relevant City Actions by HSPB, Planning, Fire, Building, etc.

July, 2026 Site inspection by members of the HSPB and City Staff.

Ownership Status
March, 2024 Purchased by the current owner.

Historic Context Statement “Post-World War II (1945-1969)” During the post-war period, residential architecture in Palm Springs started to adopt an architectural style derived from a unique form of Modernism that adapted to the desert region. By the 1950s, a wide range of design ideas had emerged, and growing demand for housing led to the construction of both tract homes and custom-designed residences.

Architects like Hugh Kaptur and Albert Frey created distinctive, high-quality designs that reflected the principles of Desert Modernism. Excellent examples of this style of architecture clearly demonstrate the transition from indoor to outdoor living and the integration of the natural landscape with the homes.

Context: Post-World War II Palm Springs (1945-1969)
Theme: Post-World War II Single-Family Residential Development (1945-1969) Registration Requirements: To be eligible under this theme, a property must:
 Date from the period of significance; and
 Represent an excellent example of an architectural style or method of construction; or be associated with a significant architect or designer; and  Display most of the character-defining features of the property type or style; and
 Retain the essential aspects of historic integrity.

Context: Architectural Styles & Local Practitioners
Theme: Modern Styles of the Post-World War II Era
Sub-theme: Mid-century Modern
Sub-theme: Expressionist
Registration Requirements: To be eligible under this theme as an excellent example of its architectural style, a property must:
 Retain most – though not necessarily all – of the character-defining features of the style, and continue to exhibit its historic appearance  If important for illustrating a particular architectural style or construction technique, must retain most of the physical features that constitute that style or technique.

ANALYSIS:

A historic resources report (“the report”), a site visit, and city documents and forms are the basis of this staff report.
550 Palisades Drive is a custom designed single-family home on a 1-acre lot. In 1957 before he became a licensed architect, Hugh Kaptur designed the original home in the

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Mid-century Modern style. Architect Albert Frey designed additions to the existing home and the terrace on the southeast corner in 1967, then from 1978 to 1993, he designed the detached carport and guesthouse. The site has been well maintained and certain features like the roofline fascia on the southern elevation were restored to its original design.

Historic Preservation activities in Palm Springs are regulated under Municipal Code Section 8.05 (“Historic Preservation”). The purpose of the Historic Preservation Ordinance is:
“…to stabilize and improve buildings, structures or areas which are considered to be of historical, architectural, archaeological or ecological value, to foster civic beauty, to strengthen the local economy and to promote the use of historic resources for the education and welfare of the citizens.” Conditions that apply to Class 1 historic sites or resources:

1. It shall meet the definition of a historic site as outlined in Municipal Code Section

8.05.020.

2. An archival file shall be maintained on the property by the City.

3. It may be qualified as ‘historic’ at the federal, state, and/or county level.

4. A marker explaining the historic nature of the site may be installed in a location viewable from the public way.

5. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Resources and Historic Districts under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipal Code.

6. If designated, the findings in support of designation shall be stated in a resolution of the City Council that shall be recorded with the County Recorders’ office within 90 days of the effective date of the Council’s resolution.

Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.070. C.1.a, the HSPB shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the following criteria:

Criteria for the Designation of Class 1 Historic Resources. A site, structure, building or object may be designated as a Class 1 historic resource, provided both of the following findings (“a” and “b”) are met:
a. The site, structure, building or object exhibits exceptional historic significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:

The following is an analysis of the Criterion and integrity findings for historic designation. (Criterion i) The resource is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community;

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The report did not find any events or series of meaningful events associated with this site, therefore, the property does not qualify under Criterion i. (Criterion ii) The resource is associated with the lives of persons who made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history; The detailed chain of title for 550 Palisades Drive shows the Burgess Family owned the property for nearly 41 years before selling it to the Meyerman Family in 1998. The current owners acquired the property in 2024. William and Clara Burgess were active community members in both Palm Springs and Pasadena and were primarily responsible for the design and development of the site.

Following their retirement, the Meyermans moved to Palm Springs and became instrumental members on the Palm Springs Art Museum Board of Trustees. Their leadership and philanthropic endeavors played a significant role in growing the museum’s endowment. While both the Burgess and Meyerman families made meaningful contributions to the community, the research does not support a direct association between those contributions and the property itself. Criterion ii is not met. (Criterion iii) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state or local history;
The Burgess Residence is a unique property that exhibits the progress of architecture and design in Palm Springs. Two highly notable architects who have influenced both local history and the field of architecture are represented on this site.

The initial design by Kaptur was a 1,200-square-foot home, post-and-beam style home with a low profile and simple tongue-and-groove cladding on the underside of the roof overhang. The site was also conducive for incorporating rock walls as part of the design.

The Burgess Residence is considered an early example of Kaptur’s residential work in the Mid-century Modern style. Albert Frey added to the existing home and continued to design additions to the site starting in 1968. Initially, additions were designed in the same style as the existing home, then Frey started to introduce design ideas associated with a more Expressionist form of design that used abstracted forms and innovative building materials. This is seen in his later contributions to the site such as the carport structure, sun shades, and the detached guest house.

Both architects reflect the post-war period with their innovative designs that build on the Modernist framework for spatial organization but forge their own path when it comes to site design and the integration of new materials. The Burgess Residence reflects the progression of design at the national and local level; thus, Criterion iii is met. (Criterion iv) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction;
Palm Springs evaluates criterion iv as a distinctive characteristic associated with construction type, construction period, and construction methods. The initial design of the

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home appears to use conventional post-and-beam methods of construction, but in the Frey designed portions of the home, particularly the guest house, a reflective mirror cladding is utilized. The report credits Kevin Roche for developing “mirrored glass” as a cladding material for buildings starting in the 1950s. Mirrored glass is seen prominently on the Frey additions, particularly the guest house which was completed in 1993. While the material itself is new to the site, this material would not be considered a distinctive material for that period since it has been around since the 1950s. Unlike the findings in the historic resources report, staff finds that the evidence provided in the report does not substantiate this criterion. Criterion iv is not met.
(Criterion v) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high artistic value;
550 Palisades Drive was designed by Hugh Kaptur near the start of his career in Palm Springs. Hired by builder Joseph Pawling, Kaptur completed the conceptual design of the home for William Burgess. Although his design was somewhat modified and expanded, the post-and-beam design and the use of glazing and the integration of the site are all qualities of his design that are seen throughout his body of work. His influence on the field of architecture includes commercial, civic, and various housing-related projects. The following are Kaptur projects that are currently listed on the local inventory of historic places: Tahquitz Creek Golf Course Clubhouse (HSPB #149), Tahquitz Plaza (HSPB #97), and the Steve McQueen Residence (HSPB #108).

Architect Albert Frey began work on the Burgess Residence in 1967 by designing an expansion to the existing home. He continued the design language initiated by Kaptur, but some original features were removed. Frey studied under Le Corbusier in Europe before moving to the United States in 1928. He quickly found himself in Palm Springs and worked on numerous projects throughout the city including the Kocher-Samson building (HSPB # 79), Tramway Gas Station (HSPB #37), Raymond Loewy Residence (HSPB #33C), and Palm Springs City Hall (HSPB #33D). The influence of his work is clearly visible in the built environment of Palm Springs and in the academic realms of architecture, internationally.

Both Kaptur and Frey are influential architects of this period, and the genius of their work continues to inspire generations of designers. The Burgess Residence is an expression of their high artistic value. Criterion v is met.
(Criterion vi) The resource represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in evaluating applications for designation of historic districts, for parcels on which more than one entity exists; or
The resource is not within a historic district and does not qualify under Criterion vi. (Criterion vii) The resource has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory.

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No information is available on any pre-historic significance of the site. Criterion vii is not met.

Analysis of Integrity. (PSMC 8.05.070 (C,1,b). The site, structure, building or object retains one or more of the following aspects of integrity, as established in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location, setting, feeling, or association.

The Burgess Residence is evaluated based on the following topics of integrity based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards:

Location.

The original home and all subsequent additions are in the same location from when they were first constructed. Integrity of location is met.

Design.

Hugh Kaptur designed a simple building with a V-shaped footprint that tucked into the mountains and was accessed by a stone staircase with 50 steps up the side of the mountain. The natural rocks were stacked on two walls, which were later removed and replaced with glazing, and the fenestration was organized in 8’ x 8’ modules. The 15’ x 30’ swimming pool was located to the south of the home, and deep cantilevered overhangs ran along the south elevation. The low-profile post-and-beam design of the home was a clear representation of Mid-century Modern design using conventional construction methods and materials.

William Burgess worked with Albert Frey on subsequent additions to the residence by expanding the floor area and replacing the original glazing with a more reflective glass.

Similar to Frey House II, existing rock formations were included in the interior spaces, and an arched balustrade was built out of rocks to create new patios and pathways on the site. In 1978, Frey began designing sunshades, gazebos, a garage, and a detached guesthouse using a different style of design. These features departed from the Midcentury Modern design of the original home and reflected a more Expressionist approach.

Arched roof supports, black steel beams and stretched canvas material were used to create these forms and the fenestration on the structures were mirrored glass. Rocks from the site are still incorporated into the design but this period of design expression by Frey is considered more stylistic and expressive. The overall design integrity spanning two different architects remains intact.

Setting.

The Palm Springs Palisades Tract was intended to develop single-family homes with nearly panoramic views of Palm Springs. The home was designed to fit into the mountainside and incorporate natural elements of the desert setting into the home. The landscape features and the carved cliffside remain key features of the home. The integrity of setting is retained.

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Materials.

The home was built using conventional post-and-beam construction. Steel, wood, clear glazing and mirrored glazing are utilized. Simple concrete decking and arched rock balustrades are seen from a distance. The Frey designed sunshades use stretched canvas and square steel posts. The property retains integrity of materials.

Workmanship.

As a custom-designed residence on a steep site, the property required specialized site preparation, engineering, and skilled craftsmanship. The materials used for the home are fabricated and assembled to express their natural qualities, and the clean lines require precision in execution during construction. The stonework was completed by a wellknown stone mason, and the thoughtful integration of all site elements including the stone pathways, outdoor seating areas, and shade structures demonstrate exceptional workmanship and attention to detail. The integrity of workmanship is intact.

Feeling.

The integrity of feeling is retained on the site because the integrity of design, setting, and materials reflect the architectural features of the post-war period in Palm Springs, and the surrounding natural landscape remains intact.

Association.

The Burgess Residence retains its association with architect Hugh Kaptur while also strongly reflecting the contributions of architect Albert Frey. Frey’s additions complement Kaptur’s original design and add to the property’s architectural significance by incorporating his distinctive approach. The property retains integrity of association.

DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS:

In considering a recommendation for historic resource designation it is important to distinguish those physical elements that are original or from the period of significance from alterations, additions or features that were added later. Distinguishing original character-defining features from non-original elements assists the HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating future alterations to the historic resource.

Character-defining features on page 47 of the historic resources report and the staff analysis of important features are listed as follows:

Hugh Kaptur – Original design of home (1957) and Albert Frey – Additions (1967-1974) • Flat roofline with 8’ ceilings throughout
• Square steel post-and-beam construction
• Floor-to-ceiling fixed glass and aluminum frame sliding doors • Minimalism as expressed through clean lines and the geometry of the 8’ x 8’ bays • Lack of ornamentation
• A swimming pool sited in front of the house as a central feature • Site integration as expressed by the stone masonry that surrounds the house as

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well as its close proximity to the hillside
• Building around boulders that function as room dividers, as in Frey II • Glazing that is cut around interior/exterior boulders, as in Frey II • Indoor-outdoor living spaces through the extensive use of glass sliding doors and exterior features such as patios and dining areas
• Open floor plan that allows the kitchen and living areas to flow through glass sliding doors to the exterior patios
• 8’ deep cantilevered overhangs to provide shade from the sun • Simple tongue-and-groove board clad under the overhangs • The house’s orientation towards the south and the east and the use of glass capitalizes on the views of the valley
• V-shaped floorplan of the original floorplan of the home Albert Frey Additions (1978-1993)
• The black steel framework with its repetitive pattern is present in the sunshades, the carport, garage and guest house, creating further repetition • The use of white in the enamel steel structures and canvas coverings provides contrast with the black steel frameworks, which in turn, amplifies the patterns • The exterior use of mirror cladding and reflective glass glazing conceals where the windows are actually located, creating a paradox of ambiguity • The sunshades, carport and garage are symmetrical in plan, in a departure from the plan of the original house, which is asymmetrical
• The rooflines are all arched in a rolling barrel vault arrangement, rather than the flat Mid-century Modern style
• The ceiling heights are taller than 8’ and vary due to the arched rooflines • The effect is Late Modern Expressionist, rather than the rational Mid-century Modern International Style
• The roofline’s curved shapes in the guest house and garage are exaggerated gestures that increase the perceived size of the structure • The roof overhang framework is reflected in the mirrored wall surfaces, further blurring the distinctions between walls, windows and rooflines • Arched rock balustrades built by Olaf Engum.
• Stone paved pathways, stairs and built-in exterior furniture designed by Frey Non-contributing elements:
• The 1957 Hugh Kaptur design incorporated rock walls that were replaced by fixed glass panels in the 1967 Albert Frey alterations
• The roofline fascia on the southern elevation of the house, designed by Hugh Kaptur, was a simple painted wood trim board; at some point, this was replaced with an arched motif with a black painted design; no drawings exist for this change in the Albert Frey archives; it is assumed that the owner, William Burgess made this change. (The current owners removed this detail to restore the fascia to the Kaptur design and wrapped it around the roofline on three elevations.) • A spa was added to the pool deck in front of the house at some point; no permit or drawing can be found for this addition

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• The “Grandchildren’s Room” and an extension of the living room do not have plans, but do have permits; they are thought to have been built by the owner and a contractor in 1974, therefore not the work of Frey
• Rooftop mounted HVAC equipment and spray foam finish
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:

The proposed historic resource designation is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.

NOTIFICATION:

Pursuant to Section 8.05.140 of the Municipal Code of Palm Springs, all residents within five hundred (500) feet of the subject property have been notified and notice was published in a newspaper of general circulation.

CONCLUSION:

The Burgess Residence is a resource in excellent condition that is associated with significant individuals and reflects its period of significance and meets Criteria iii and v; therefore, staff recommends Class 1 designation which recognizes the site as a local historic landmark.

PREPARED BY: Sarah Yoon, Associate Planner/Historic Preservation Officer REVIEWED BY: Christopher Hadwin, Director of Planning Services Attachments:

A. Vicinity Map.

B. Draft Resolution.

C. Application.

D. Public Comment.

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EXCERPTS OF MINUTES
At the Historic Site Preservation Board meeting of the City of Palm Springs, held July 7, 2026, the Historic Site Preservation Board took the following action:
2A. AN APPLICATION BY PHILIP MONAGHAN, APPLICANT

REPRESENTATIVE, FOR HISTORIC SITE DESIGNATION OF THE
BURGESS RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 550 PALISADES DRIVE, (APN# 513-110-043) CASE: HSPB #174, (SY).

Historic Preservation Officer Yoon presented the staff report and answered questions of the board.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

James Crump (owner) provided details about the property and expressed his support in requesting historic status for the site.

Brad Dunning described his interactions with Albert Frey and the original owners of the home with his support to designate the stie a historic site.

Mark Ostoich spoke in support of the nomination.

Motion by Member Herr, seconded by Member Hyams to adopt the draft resolution HSPB #174, that the City Council designate the Burgess Residence as a historic Class 1 historic landmark site. This action is not a project pursuant to CEQA.

AYES: Bachman, Herr, Paonessa, McCready, Yarchever, Hyams, Maschka Hitchcock.

NOES: None.

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ATTACHMENT E
(Public Comments)

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Palm Springs City Council
3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, California 92262
July 7, 2026
Dear Council Members,
When I first became friends with Albert Frey in 1994 one of the first things he asked me to do was to walk down the road and meet Bill and Clara Burgess and see his designs there.

It was a revelation visiting that Burgess house for the first time. I’ll never forget it. The combination of the site, the stonework (designed by Frey and constructed over a 15 year period by mason Olav Engum), the original classic MidCentury Modern house by Hugh Kaptur, the signature parabolic sunshades by Frey scattered around the site, the innovative mirrored Pavilion Guest House by Frey, the gigantic boulder in the living room, the collectible furniture, and not to mention the very stylish paisley-wearing Bill Burgess and Pucci-wearing Clara. Their wild children showed me how to jump off the roof into the pool; among things I shouldn’t reveal. It was like I had entered a special unique “we’re not in Kansas anymore” insular Palm Springs world on steroids. When pressed for a description all I could say was it was like a fever dream combination of Palm Springs and Acapulco …with an endless open bar.

It had everything I loved—a spectacular view, great architecture, great design, and tons of style.

It was one the most Palm Springs-y houses I had ever seen. It is unusual that two architects, Kaptur and Frey, collaborated with such seamless aplomb and success; each adding to the legacy and overall significance of the property.

Frey’s own half-inside half-outside boulder is now world famous, but he showcased another large one at the Burgess house when he expanded the living room. Frey also strategically placed another huge boulder in the Russell swimming pool next door that he, Frey, also designed.

It is a cliché that midcentury architecture wanted to blend the indoors and outdoors---no one did this with more drama, confidence and theatricality than Frey. Welcome to the neighborhood---a big Frey-placed boulder for every house on the block.

Now the Burgess house has passed to new stewards and with their love and dedication the property has been restored with great respect to the architecture, history and design in every way.

With Ronnie Sassoon & James Crump’s recent restoration and remodel, and their esteemed art and furniture collection, the house is more serious and more stylish than ever. It can now compete with any house on an international level. It is honestly, in my opinion, one of the best and most significant houses and sites in Palm Springs.

Thank you.

Brad Dunning

A – Page 775 of 813
Mark Ostoich
660 Palisades Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
City Council of Palm Springs
3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA
July 7, 2026
Dear Council Members,
My name is Mark Ostoich and my wife Liz and I live at 660 Palisades Drive, next door to the Burgess House. We have lived there for a number of years and the Meyermans were dear friends of ours. We were so happy when Ronnie and James bought the house and moved in because they are wonderful people. We’re very familiar with the house and very familiar with the property and they are both outstanding. I agree with Brad Dunning that Ronnie and James have done a fantastic job of returning that house to its original vision. We strongly support the application. By the way, we have a very small neighborhood and we are all in favor.

Regards,
Mark and Liz Ostoich

A – Page 776 of 813

SHEATHED IN MIRRORED
GLASS, ALBERT FREY’S

VAULTED GUESTHOUSE

MAKES A DISTINCT

BUT COMPANIONABLE

COLLEAGUE TO THE

FLAT-ROOFED MAIN
RESIDENCE BELOW.

OPPOSITE AN ALEXANDER

CALDER SCULPTURE

CROWNS THE FIREPLACE,
WITH AN ÉTIENNE HAJDÚ

CAST-ALUMINUM WALL

RELIEF INSTALLED JUST
BEYOND. FURNISHINGS

INCLUDE A MARC NEWSON

COCKTAIL TABLE AND A
VINTAGE JEAN PROUVÉ
DAYBED AND CHAIR.

Rock Star

TEXT BY MAYER RUS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS LOOF

HUGGING THE SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS,

A CLASSIC PALM SPRINGS HOUSE BY

ARCHITECTS HUGH KAPTUR AND ALBERT

FREY COMES ALIVE UNDER THE STEWARDSHIP

OF RONNIE SASSOON AND JAMES CRUMP
ARCHDIGEST.COM 125
ART: ALEXANDER CALDER © 2026 CALDER FOUNDATION, NEW YORK / ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK. ETIENNE HAJDU © 2025 ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK / ADAGP, PARIS.

A – Page 777 of 813
126 ARCHDIGEST.COM ARCHDIGEST.COM 127
The Burgess House has never
belonged to the elite fraternity of architectural marvels synonymous with the efflorescence of midcentury
modernism in Palm Springs—
places like Richard Neutra’s
Kaufmann House, E. Stewart
Williams’s Twin Palms estate
for Frank Sinatra, and Albert Frey’s own landmark residence, Frey House II. Obscured by a convoluted history of renovations and expansions spanning many decades—as well as an owner who was loathe to share credit with his architects, Hugh Kaptur and Albert Frey—the Burgess House has existed in a fog of improper attribution and appreciation, a condition exacerbated by the tumbling banks of bougainvillea that for years shrouded the structure’s archetypal modernist forms.

Ronnie Sassoon and James Crump, the home’s current stewards, mean to change all that.

The house could not have fallen into more sympathetic hands.

Sassoon, an inveterate collector and art historian as well as an accomplished designer in her
own right, famously shepherded the renovation of
Neutra’s Singleton House in
Los Angeles (AD, April 2011),
where she lived with her late
husband, legendary tastemaker Vidal Sassoon. Crump,
a documentary filmmaker
and curator equally steeped in the history of modern design, has trained his lens on a host of artists and architects, among them Marcel Breuer, Robert Mapplethorpe and Sam Wagstaff, and Jordan Wolfson. In 2013, the couple moved into Neutra’s Levit House in LA, followed by the acquisition of Breuer’s 1966 Stillman House II in Connecticut a few years later.
“We’d go to Palm Springs a few times a year, but we were certainly not looking to get a house there. I never thought we’d leave our Neutra in LA,” Sassoon says, recounting the decision to trade their spruce hideaway for a desert oasis. During a tour of Frey House II on one of their sojourns, Sassoon and Crump caught a glimpse of the Burgess House in the near distance on

ABOVE CHAIRS BY AFRA AND TOBIA SCARPA PULL UP TO A GLASS SHELF BUILT INTO A BOULDER IN THE GUEST QUARTERS. TOP PALM TREES REFLECTED IN THE MIRRORED GLASS SKIN OF THE GUESTHOUSE.

T
A JEAN PROUVÉ BED JOINS

A WOOD SCREEN AND METAL

SCONCES BY CHARLOTTE
PERRIAND IN THE SUNROOM.

JUST OUTSIDE, WATER

CASCADES DOWN THE
ROCK FACE INTO A KOI POND.

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128 ARCHDIGEST.COM
the same mountainside, and their antennae for great architecture immediately shot up. Sited atop a rugged stone embankment on a flat shelf dynamited from the rock face, the structure gives the impression of a modern domestic utopia perched atop a medieval rampart. Years later, when they were again in town to see a Frey exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center, they heard that the Burgess House was going on the market and immediately made arrangements to see it. “We couldn’t get this place out of our mind,” Sassoon recalls. “The house just drew us to it,” Crump affirms.

As one might expect, a deep dive into historical research ensued. The kernel of the house—a modest, 1,200-square-foot post-and-beam cottage, with a flat roof, glass cur- tain walls, and deep cantilevered eaves—was designed in 1957 by Hugh Kaptur, not yet a licensed architect at the time. Roughly 10 years later, Albert Frey expanded the structure in a language consistent with Kaptur’s original scheme. Frey continued to enlarge the house in the decades that followed, adding signature details like the ABOVE THE LIVING ROOM’S

ENSEMBLE OF ARTWORKS AND

FURNISHINGS ENCOMPASSES

A LAWRENCE WEINER TEXT

PIECE ON A CEILING BEAM, AN

ALEXANDER CALDER SCULPTURE

ABOVE THE FIREPLACE, A LUCIO

FONTANA TERRA-COTTA FLOOR

SCULPTURE, AN ALEXANDRE

NOLL WOOD CABINET, VERNER

PANTON HANGING CHAIR
PROTOTYPES, A JEAN PROUVÉ

DAYBED AND CHAIRS, A MARC

NEWSON MARBLE TABLE, AND

MODULAR MARIO BELLINI

SEATING FLANKING A VICO
MAGISTRETTI COCKTAIL TABLE.

ABOVE THE HOUSE RESTS ON A STONE RAMPART WITH AN ARCHED BALUSTRADE ADDED BY FREY IN 1968. BELOW THE SHIPSHAPE

STAINLESS-STEEL KITCHEN, INCLUDING A CAMOUFLAGED DOOR

TO THE PRIMARY BEDROOM THAT READS AS AN APPLIANCE, WAS
DESIGNED BY SASSOON AND EXECUTED BY MARMOL RADZINER.

TABLE AND STOOLS BY CHARLOTTE PERRIAND.
arched balustrade he placed atop the stone embank-
ment, which frames the property’s generous patios
and exterior walkways. The arch motif reappears
in vaulted shade structures of stretched canvas that
Frey built in 1980, and most dramatically, in the guest pavilion he designed in 1989.

Built on an escarpment above the main residence,
the guesthouse features a barrel-vaulted roof and a
skin of mirrored glass that dematerializes the com-
pact structure in a series of shimmering reflections of mountains, palm trees, and clouds. As in Frey House
II—as well as in his expansion of the Burgess House’s
living room—Frey incorporated massive boulders
into the interior of the pavilion, making explicit
ART: ALEXANDER CALDER © 2026 CALDER FOUNDATION, NEW YORK / ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK. ETIENNE HAJDU © 2026 ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK / ADAGP, PARIS. LUCIO FONTANA © 2026 ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK / SIAE, ROME. PINO PASCALI. LAWRENCE WEINER © 2026 LAWRENCE WEINER ESTATE / ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK.

A – Page 779 of 813
130 ARCHDIGEST.COM ARCHDIGEST.COM 131
the indoor-outdoor connection. “The boulders channel the energy of the mountain directly into the home,” Sassoon notes.

Sassoon’s exhaustive renovation of the property might best be described as a distillation, clarifying architectural details and banishing inapposite elements to lay bare the structure as a Platonic ideal of Palm Springs modernism. Working closely with the design-build firm Studio Veren to execute her vision, she liberated the structures from their cumbersome cloak of bougainvillea, replaced scores of ornamental outdoor urns with architectonic cacti, and dislodged defunct mechanicals on the roof of the primary residence. While the existing floor plans remained essentially unchanged, Sassoon designed a tightly tailored, stainless-steel kitchen for the main house to indulge her passion for cooking.

Her predictably minimal decorative scheme embraces objets de vertu drawn from her estimable collection—signature pieces by the likes of Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, and Alexandre Noll—along with artworks that reflect Sassoon’s abiding interest in the Zero group and Arte Povera movement. “With an open plan, you’re looking at everything all at once, so it has to work together,” she avers. “The boulders require you to use furniture of a certain scale and weight—nothing dainty.”
The restraint of the decor ultimately privileges the newly liberated architecture and the astonishing vistas. Crump describes the home’s allure in cinematic terms. “You have uninterrupted sight lines across the Coachella Valley framed in a wide-screen ratio,” he raves. “During the day everything is bathed in this clean, crystalline desert light, with colors and shadow effects changing constantly. At night, you look out across a carpet of sparkling city lights.” Today, after much care, the view back to the house is pretty spectacular, too.

ABOVE THE PRIMARY BEDROOM IS OUTFITTED WITH THE ORIGINAL FREY-DESIGNED BED, A SERGE MOUILLE SCONCE, A GIANFRANCO FRATTINI CHAIR, A MATHIEU MATÉGOT MAGAZINE HOLDER, AND A CHARLOTTE PERRIAND BENCH. PAINTING BY ITALIAN ARTIST DADAMAINO.

IN HIS ADDITIONS

TO THE HOUSE, FREY

EXTENDED THE DEEP

CANTILEVERED EAVES

THAT WERE A DEFINING
FEATURE OF KAPTUR’S
ORIGINAL DESIGN.

LOOP AND POD CHAIRS
BY WILLY GUHL.

ABOVE RONNIE SASSOON AND JAMES CRUMP

WITH MONKEY THE DOG ON A SOFA BY UBALD

KLUG FOR DE SEDE IN THE SCREENING AREA
OF THE LIVING ROOM. A PINO PASCALI STEEL
ART: MATHIEU MATÉGOT © 2025 ARTISTS RIGHTS SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK / ADAGP, PARISWOOL SCULPTURE HANGS FROM THE CEILING.

A – Page 780 of 813

CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: EXTENSION OF INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE (ORDINANCE NO. 2134) TEMPORARILY PROHIBITING THE APPROVAL OF

APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS RELATED TO DATA CENTERS FOR AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF TWENTY-TWO (22) MONTHS AND FIFTEEN (15) DAYS
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Department of Planning Services
SUMMARY:

On August 26, 2026, the City Council adopted an interim urgency ordinance (Ordinance No. 2134) that temporarily suspended the City to approve any applications for data centers for a period of forty-five (45) days. The Ordinance is due to expire on October 10, 2026. Under California Government Code Section 65858, Ordinance No. 2134 expires forty-five (45) days from its date of adoption, unless it is extended by the City Council by a four-fifths vote. The City Council may adopt an extension of an interim urgency ordinance for a total period of one (1) or two (2) years.

The proposed ordinance extends Ordinance No. 2134 for an additional period of twentytwo (22) months and fifteen (15) days, for a total of two (2) years. The extension of time will allow the Department of Planning Servies to conduct comprehensive analyses of data centers to understand their benefits and impacts, evaluate the appropriateness of such uses within the City, and develop land use regulations as a part of the ongoing citywide Zoning Code Update process.

RECOMMENDATION:

1. Open the public hearing and receive public testimony; and

2. Close the public hearing, waive further reading and adopt Ordinance No. _____ entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM

SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858, EXTENDING AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 2134 TO TEMPORARILY PROHIBIT THE APPROVAL OF ANY

LAND USE ENTITLEMENTS AND/OR PERMITS TO ALLOW THE OPERATION

B – Page 781 of 813
City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 2
Moratorium Extension – Data Centers
OF DATA CENTERS FOR AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF TWENTY-TWO (22) MONTHS AND FIFTEEN (15) DAYS IN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS” BACKGROUND:

On August 26, 2026, the City Council adopted an interim urgency ordinance (Ordinance No. 2134) establishing a 45-day moratorium to temporarily prohibit the acceptance, processing, or approval of applications and permits related to data centers in accordance with California Government Code Section 65858. Ordinance No. 2134 is due to expire on October 10, 2026.

Under Ordinance No. 2134, “data center” means a structure or site used primarily for the storage, management, processing, and transmission of digital data and that houses computer or network equipment, systems, servers, appliances, and other associated components related to digital data storage, processing, and related operations. Data center uses include data storage facilities, small data storage facilities, server farms, artificial intelligence training or processing, image processing, cloud computing, email servicing, and other similar uses and appurtenant facilities. This definition does not include computer, server, or telecommunications equipment that is secondary and customarily incidental to an otherwise permitted principal use on the property, such as servers or IT equipment serving a hospital, office, hotel, or other business located on the same site.

California Government Code Section 65858(d) requires the City Council to issue a written report describing the measures taken to alleviate the conditions which led to the adoption of the interim urgency ordinance at least ten (10) days prior to the expiration or any extension of the moratorium. The 10-day moratorium report was issued on September 9, 2026 (Attachment B). The Department of Planning Services has directed the Citycontracted consultants to engage in data center studies since the adoption of Ordinance No. 2134; however, additional time is required to perform such tasks, which will be conducted through the ongoing citywide Zoning Code Update process.

STAFF ANALYSIS:

The Palm Springs Municipal and Zoning Codes currently do not provide definitions or regulations pertaining to data centers and their related uses, and there are no policies or guidelines in effect for such uses. No zoning standards, performance requirements, setback rules, noise standards, utility demand thresholds, or environmental mitigation requirements specifically applicable to data centers have been adopted.

As stated in the 10-day moratorium report (Attachment B), additional time is required for the Department of Planning Services to conduct comprehensive analyses of data centers to understand their benefits and impacts, evaluate the appropriateness of such uses within the City, and develop land use regulations as a part of the ongoing citywide Zoning Code Update process. An additional extension of time by twenty-two (22) months and

B – Page 782 of 813
City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 3
Moratorium Extension – Data Centers
fifteen (15) days would be adequate to complete all required work. The proposed interim urgency ordinance would be rescinded by the City Council following the completion of the Zoning Code Update process and establishing regulations related to data centers.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:

Adopting the extension of the Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 2134 is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment), 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378), and 15061(b)(3) (there is no possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. The adoption of this Ordinance maintains the status quo; it prevents changes in the environment pending the completion of zoning code revisions and related impact studies.

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:

This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Broad Goal: Infrastructure and Facilities.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Adoption of this Ordinance is not expected to have a significant direct fiscal impact on the City. Staff time associated with preparing the required written report and scheduling the extension public hearing were absorbed within existing departmental budgets.

REVIEWED BY:

Department Director: Christopher Hadwin
Deputy City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENT:

A. Ordinance No. 2134
B. 10-Day Moratorium Report
C. Draft Ordinance

B – Page 783 of 813

ATTACHMENT A
(Urgency Ordinance No. 2134)

B – Page 784 of 813

B – Page 785 of 813

B – Page 786 of 813

B – Page 787 of 813

B – Page 788 of 813

B – Page 789 of 813

B – Page 790 of 813

B – Page 791 of 813

ATTACHMENT B
(10-Day Report)

B – Page 792 of 813

CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: TEN (10) DAY MORATORIUM REPORT REGARDING ORDINANCE NO. 2134 TEMPORARILY PROHIBITING THE APPROVAL OF DATA

CENTERS
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Department of Planning Services
SUMMARY:

On August 26, 2026, the City Council adopted an interim urgency ordinance (Ordinance No. 2134) that temporarily suspended the City’s approval of new applications for data centers. The interim urgency ordinance is effective for forty-five (45) days, set to expire on October 10, 2026.

RECOMMENDATION:

Receive and file.

BACKGROUND:

Ordinance No. 2134 was adopted pursuant to California Government Code Section 65858 and provides that the ordinance shall expire forty-five (45) days from its date of adoption (October 10, 2026), unless the ordinance is extended by the Palm Springs City Council. The City Council may adopt an extension of an interim urgency ordinance for an additional ten (10) months fifteen (15) days or an additional twenty-two (22) months fifteen (15) days, for a total period of one (1) or two (2) years.

Government Code Section 65858(d) further requires that at least ten (10) days prior to the expiration or any extension of the moratorium, the City Council must issue a written report describing the measures taken to alleviate the conditions which led to the adoption of the ordinance. This staff report serves as the required written report.

STAFF ANALYSIS:

Since the initial adoption of the moratorium, the Department of Planning Services has coordinated with the consulting team undertaking the comprehensive review of the City’s

B – Page 793 of 813
City Council Staff Report
September 9, 2026 -- Page 2
Ten (10) Day Moratorium Report Regarding Ordinance No. 2134 Zoning Code to engage them on studying the benefits and impacts of data centers as well as best practices for mitigating those impacts through potential regulations to be housed in the updated zoning framework. Further review includes conducting additional research and analysis, conducting public outreach, and a final review by the Planning Commission and City Council at the time a draft Zoning Code is ready for review.

Additional time is necessary to thoughtfully and thoroughly review these land uses both internally and with the community. As such, Staff will present to the Council at its meeting of September 30, 2026, a request to extend the moratorium for an additional period of twenty-two (22) months fifteen (15) days, for a total period of two (2) years. The moratorium may be rescinded by Council at such time that a new Zoning Code is adopted establishing regulations for data centers.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:

This report is not a project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it has no potential for resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:

This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Broad Goal: Infrastructure and Facilities.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.

REVIEWED BY:

Department Director: Christopher Hadwin
Deputy City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:

None.

B – Page 794 of 813

ATTACHMENT C
(Draft Ordinance)

B – Page 795 of 813
Ordinance No.

ORDINANCE NO.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858,
EXTENDING AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE NO.
2134 TO TEMPORARILY PROHIBIT THE APPROVAL OF

ANY LAND USE ENTITLEMENTS AND/OR PERMITS TO

ALLOW THE OPERATION OF DATA CENTERS FOR AN
ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF TWENTY-TWO (22) MONTHS
AND FIFTEEN (15) DAYS IN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
City Attorney’s Summary
This ordinance would extend the ban on the approval of data center applications within the City of Palm Springs for an additional 22 months and 15 days.

WHEREAS, on August 26, 2026, the City Council adopted Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 2134 establishing a 45-day moratorium to prohibit the acceptance, processing, or approval of applications, permits, entitlements, or other approvals related to data centers within the City of Palm Springs; and
WHEREAS, for the purposes of Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 2134, “data center” means a structure or site used primarily for the storage, management, processing, and transmission of digital data and that houses computer or network equipment, systems, servers, appliances, and other associated components related to digital data storage, processing, and related operations. Data center uses include data storage facilities, small data storage facilities, server farms, artificial intelligence training or processing, image processing, cloud computing, email servicing, and other similar uses and appurtenant facilities. This definition does not include computer, server, or telecommunications equipment that is secondary and customarily incidental to an otherwise permitted principal use on the property, such as servers or IT equipment serving a hospital, office, hotel, or other business located on the same site; and
WHEREAS, The Palm Springs Municipal and Zoning Codes currently do not provide definitions or regulations pertaining to data centers and their related uses, and there are no policies or guidelines in effect for such uses. Additionally, no zoning standards, performance requirements, setback rules, noise standards, utility demand thresholds, or environmental mitigation requirements specifically applicable to data centers have been adopted. Absent the moratorium, a developer could submit and process a land use application under existing zoning designations not designed to accommodate such uses, resulting in ambiguity as to whether that use is permitted and also what standards might apply to such application; and

B – Page 796 of 813
Ordinance No.

WHEREAS, Additional time is required for the City to conduct comprehensive analyses of data centers to understand their benefits and impacts, evaluate the appropriateness of such uses within the City, and develop land use regulations as a part of the ongoing citywide Zoning Code Update process; and WHEREAS, Under California Government Code Section 65858, the City Council is authorized to extend an interim urgency ordinance for an additional period of twentytwo (22) months and fifteen (15) days by a four-fifths vote.

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Ordinance is to extend Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 2134 under California Government Code Section 65858 temporarily prohibiting the acceptance, processing, or approval of applications and permits related to data centers within the City of Palm Springs for an additional period of twenty-two (22) months and fifteen (15) days while the City conducts comprehensive analyses of data centers, evaluates the appropriateness of data centers, and develops land use regulations as a part of the ongoing citywide Zoning Code Update process. The extension is necessary because there would be an immediate threat to the public peace, health, safety, and welfare without the moratorium for the following reasons:
a) Comprehensive analyses of data centers and their potential impacts have not been completed. Without appropriate study and standards, data centers could impose substantial and potentially irreversible impacts on local water supplies, electrical infrastructure, air quality, and community character. b) Approval of data center projects before completion of the City’s review of its Zoning Ordinance and associated regulations may adversely affect grid reliability, increase the risk of service interruptions, strain emergency backup systems, and impair the ability of utility providers to serve existing residential, commercial, school, hospital, and public safety uses.
c) Data centers frequently generate comparatively low employment densities relative to the intensity of land consumption, infrastructure demand, and utility usage associated with such facilities, thereby raising substantial land use compatibility and public welfare concerns regarding the long-term allocation of scarce industrial land and utility resources.
d) Approval of data center facilities without an appropriate regulatory framework to ensure such evaluations are considered may create immediate and unacceptable risks to emergency response operations, firefighter safety, and neighboring properties.
e) Uncontrolled proliferation of data centers may contribute to increased utility costs borne by residents and existing businesses through infrastructure expansion, peak demand impacts, and utility cost shifting.

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Ordinance No.

f) The City of Palm Springs’ Municipal Code does not define or regulate data centers as a land use category. No zoning standards, performance requirements, setback rules, noise standards, utility demand thresholds, or environmental mitigation requirements specifically applicable to data centers have been adopted. Without the moratorium, a developer could submit and process a land use application under existing zoning designations not designed to accommodate such uses, resulting in ambiguity as to whether that use is permitted and also what standards might apply to such application. g) The City’s existing zoning code and development standards were adopted before the emergence of modern hyperscale and artificial intelligence-oriented data centers and therefore do not adequately regulate the intensity, utility demand, operational characteristics, environmental impacts, or cumulative impacts associated with such facilities.
h) The existing development standards do not presently include sufficient operational limitations, water efficiency standards, recycled water requirements, drought contingency provisions, or cumulative water demand thresholds specifically applicable to data centers.
i) Absent immediate action, applications for new data centers or conversion of existing structures into data centers could be submitted, processed, and vested under existing regulations before the City completes the necessary review of its Zoning Ordinance and adopts updated regulations specifically tailored to address the unique operational, environmental, infrastructure, and public safety impacts associated with such uses.

SECTION 2. Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 2134 is hereby extended to August 25, 2028, or until the City completes the Zoning Code Update and a new Zoning Code is adopted by the City Council establishing regulations for data centers, whichever is earlier.

The approval of applications and permits related to data centers within the City of Palm Springs shall be prohibited while this Ordinance is in effect.

SECTION 3. Compliance with California Environmental Quality Act. The City Council finds that the extension of the Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 2134 is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment), 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378), and 15061(b)(3) (there is no possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. The adoption of this Ordinance maintains the status quo; it prevents changes in the environment pending the completion of zoning code revisions and related impact studies.

SECTION 4. Effective Date. This Urgency Ordinance was adopted by the necessary four-fifths vote of the members of the City Council pursuant to California

B – Page 798 of 813
Ordinance No.

Government Code Section 65858, and shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.

SECTION 5. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions of the Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance irrespective of the invalidity of any particular portion thereof.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS CITY
COUNCIL THIS 30TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026.

NAOMI SOTO
MAYOR
ATTEST:

BRENDA PREE, MMC

CITY CLERK

B – Page 799 of 813
Ordinance No.

CERTIFICATION

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, BRENDA PREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California, do hereby certify that Urgency Ordinance No. is a full, true, and correct copy, and was adopted by a four fifths vote at a regular meeting of the City Council held on August 26, 2026 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this 30th day of September 2026.

BRENDA PREE, MMC

CITY CLERK

B – Page 800 of 813

CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 BUSINESS & LEGISLATIVE
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE

CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING CHAPTER 5.55.500 OF THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL

CODE REGARDING CANNABIS CONSUMPTION LOUNGES
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Special Program Compliance
SUMMARY:

This agenda item introduces an ordinance amending Chapter 5.55.500 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code (“PSMC”) to update authorization requirements for operating cannabis consumption lounges. Specifically, the ordinance proposes removing Subsection (C) from PSMC 5.55.500.

RECOMMENDATION:

Waive the reading of text in its entirety, read by title only, and introduce for first reading an Ordinance entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 5.55.500 OF THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING CANNABIS CONSUMPTION LOUNGES.”
BACKGROUND:

At the September 9, 2026, Council Meeting, Ordinance No. 2121 was adopted, establishing local regulatory procedures for expanded activities permitted in cannabis consumption lounges under California Assembly Bill 1775.

The City Council discussed Land Use Permit procedures, their applicability to all commercial businesses, and how current requirements relate to Ordinance No. 2121, particularly Section 5.55.500 Subdivision (C). The proposed language allowed cannabis lounges to host outdoor special events by submitting written verification of compliance with applicable rules, conditions of approval, public safety requirements, and nuisance mitigation standards. Lounges adjacent to businesses selling alcoholic beverages or tobacco could operate outdoor events with a land use permit.

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City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 2
Ordinance Amending Ch. 5.55.500 – Cannabis Consumption Lounges The City Council determined that Subsection (C) was unnecessary, as procedures for outdoor special events are already established under Palm Springs Zoning Code

94.02.01. The City Council adopted Ordinance 2121 with the condition that staff would return with an ordinance to remove Subsection (C) from PSMC 5.55.500.

STAFF ANALYSIS:

Adopting this ordinance will delete Subsection (C) from PSMC 5.55.500. Cannabis lounges may continue to host outdoor special events under the land use procedures outlined in Zoning Code 94.02.01.

The language under 5.55.500 will be amended to read as follows:

5.55.500 Authorization Required to Operate Cannabis Consumption Lounge
A. No person shall operate a cannabis consumption lounge without first having received from the City a valid cannabis dispensary permit with a condition that expressly authorizes the operation of a lounge in accordance with this article.

B. A cannabis dispensary permit may be authorized to allow the operation of a cannabis consumption lounge with one or more of the following conditions:
(a) Preparation and sale of non-cannabis infused food.
(b) Delivery and service of non-cannabis infused food.
(c) Host non-ticketed events and host up to twenty-four (24) ticketed events per year, subject to the provisions of this chapter.

C. Cannabis lounges may host outdoor special events by submitting written verification of the steps that it will take to comply with applicable rules governing the event, completing an application through the Department of Special Programs and shall comply with all applicable conditions of approval, public safety requirements, and nuisance mitigation standards established by the City to operate said events. Cannabis lounges located directly adjacent to a site that sells primarily alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or tobacco products on the site may not operate outdoor events with a land use permit.

D. C. Cannabis Lounges may apply to operate an onsite kitchen facility.

Operators must comply with both State and Riverside County regulations. Additionally, all proposed kitchen facilities must be inspected by the City to determine that the facility is safe to occupy and suitable for the intended use.

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City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 3
Ordinance Amending Ch. 5.55.500 – Cannabis Consumption Lounges ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:

This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is the adoption of an ordinance, rule, or regulation that requires discretionary review, including environmental review, and approval of permits, licenses, or other authorizations to engage in commercial cannabis activity (CEQA Guidelines section 15061(B)(1), California Business and Professions Code section 26055(h)) and because it does not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment (CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3)).

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:

This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Broad Goal: Economic Development.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the proposed Ordinance. Over time, expanded operational opportunities for licensed cannabis lounges may result in increased sales tax and cannabis tax revenue.

REVIEWED BY:

Acting Department Director: Patrick Clifford
Assistant City Manager: Teresa Gallavan
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:

A. Ordinance

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Attachment A
Proposed Ordinance

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Ordinance No. ____

ORDINANCE NO. ____

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 5.55.500 OF THE

PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING
CANNABIS CONSUMPTION LOUNGES.

City Attorney’s Summary
This ordinance amends the City of Palm Springs’ existing cannabis lounge business ordinance updating authorization requirements for operating cannabis consumption lounges.

WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs is a charter city organized pursuant to Article XI of the California Constitution and pursuant to the authority granted the City by Section 5 of Article XI, the City has the power to make and enforce within its limits all ordinances and regulations in respect to municipal affairs not in conflict with general laws and its own charter. Such police powers include without limitation the ability to adopt comprehensive zoning regulations and regulations upon the use of land and property within the City; and
WHEREAS, the consumer landscape of cannabis is constantly evolving and innovating in the wake of a legalized market; and
WHEREAS, many states and municipalities are now recognizing the onsite consumption of cannabis as a profitable and sensible addition to the regulated cannabis market; and
WHEREAS, the City has established clear rules for the regulation of onsite cannabis consumption, and this has stimulated the growth of various cannabis businesses; and
WHEREAS, existing law authorizes a cannabis business in Palm Springs to operate a dispensary and to obtain a permit in order for cannabis to be consumed on the premises of the dispensary; and
WHEREAS, existing law authorizes a cannabis business in Palm Springs to operate a dispensary and to obtain a permit in order for cannabis to be consumed on the premises of the dispensary and in conjunction host ticketed and non-ticketed events; and
WHEREAS existing law authorizes a temporary special event with a land use permit initiated by the owner(s), or their authorized agents of property within the city, where the use is subject to a land use permit.

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Ordinance No. ____

WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence presented in connection with the proposed ordinance, including, but not limited to, the staff report, and all written and oral testimony presented.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference as material findings in support of this Ordinance.

SECTION 2. Chapter 5.55.500 (Authorization Required to Operate Cannabis Consumption Lounge) of the Palm Springs Municipal Code is hereby amended by deleting Subsection (C) in its entirety. Subsection (D) is hereby amended to change to the title Subsection (C).

5.55.500 Authorization Required to Operate Cannabis Consumption Lounge
A. No person shall operate a cannabis consumption lounge without first having received from the City a valid cannabis dispensary permit with a condition that expressly authorizes the operation of a lounge in accordance with this article.

B. A cannabis dispensary permit may be authorized to allow the operation of a cannabis consumption lounge with one or more of the following conditions:
(a) Preparation and sale of non-cannabis infused food.
(b) Delivery and service of non-cannabis infused food.
(c) Host non-ticketed events and host up to twenty-four (24) ticketed events per year, subject to the provisions of this chapter.

C. Cannabis lounges may host outdoor special events by submitting written verification of the steps that it will take to comply with applicable rules governing the event, completing an application through the Department of Special Programs and shall comply with all applicable conditions of approval, public safety requirements, and nuisance mitigation standards established by the City to operate said events.

Cannabis lounges located directly adjacent to a site that sells primarily alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or tobacco products on the site may not operate outdoor events with a land use permit.

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Ordinance No. ____

D. C. Cannabis Lounges may apply to operate an onsite kitchen facility.

Operators must comply with both State and Riverside County regulations.

Additionally, all proposed kitchen facilities must be inspected by the City to determine that the facility is safe to occupy and suitable for the intended use.

SECTION 3. The City Council finds that the adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is the adoption of an ordinance, rule, or regulation that requires discretionary review, including environmental review, and approval of permits, licenses, or other authorizations to engage in commercial cannabis activity (California Business and Professions Code section 26055(h)) and because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment (CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3)).

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS CITY
COUNCIL THIS _____ DAY OF ______________, 2026.

NAOMI SOTO, MAYOR
ATTEST:

BRENDA PREE, MMC, CERA

CITY CLERK

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Ordinance No. ____

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Ordinance No. ____

CERTIFICATION

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.

CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, BRENDA PREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California, do hereby certify that Ordinance No. ____ is a full, true, and correct copy, and was introduced at a regular meeting of the Palm Springs City Council on _________ and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on __________ by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.

BRENDA PREE, MMC, CERA

CITY CLERK

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CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 BUSINESS & LEGISLATIVE
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION OF CITY MAYORAL POSITION AND REPORT FROM AD

HOC SUBCOMMITTEE
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Brenda Pree, City Clerk
SUMMARY:

This report provides an opportunity for the City Council Mayoral Position Ad Hoc Subcommittee (Garner/deHarte) to provide an update on ongoing discussions regarding the City’s mayoral position.

RECOMMENDATION:

Receive and file this report and provide direction to Staff as appropriate.

BACKGROUND:

At the City Council meeting of April 8, 2026, the City Council created an ad hoc subcommittee to further discussions regarding the City’s mayoral position, and appointed Councilmember Garner and Councilmember deHarte as subcommittee members.

STAFF ANALYSIS:

Staff has consolidated California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) records within the City’s document repository (Laserfiche) and established a dedicated webpage to enhance public access to historical materials related to the subject matter. This aims to facilitate efficient searches and promote transparency.

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING
This item aligns with the City Council’s Strategic Plan Foundation to advance fiscal sustainability and organizational resilience.

B – Page 810 of 813
City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 2
Discussion of City Mayoral Position and Report from Ad Hoc Subcommittee FISCAL IMPACT:

None at this time.

REVIEWED BY:

Department Director: Brenda Pree
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:

A. California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) Document Central Link: California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and City Webpage

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ATTACHMENT A
California Voting Rights Act (CVRA)
Document Central Link: California Voting Rights
Act (CVRA) & City Webpage

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*These time frames are for internal agenda management purposes only. It should not be relied on by any third party for purposes of establishing when an agenda item may actually be heard.

TENTATIVE UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE
Updated Wednesday, September 23, 2026
October 14 – Regular Meeting
• Hunger Action Month by FIND Food Bank – Presentation (5 minutes) • Old Las Palmas Underground Utilities Assessment Districts – Public Hearing (15 minutes) • Discussion of Flock Cameras – Business & Legislative (30 minutes) • Vacation Rental Ordinance (Event Houses) – Business & Legislative (30 minutes) • Discussion of Mayoral Position – Business & Legislative (10 minutes) Total time: 1.5 hours
October 28 – Regular Meeting
• AB 562 Economic Development Subsidy Report – Public Hearing (15 minutes) • Disposition & Development Agreement, Gene Autry Affordable Housing Project – Business & Legislative (30 minutes)
• Discussion of Mayoral Position – Business & Legislative (10 minutes) November 23 – Regular Meeting
• FY26 and FY27 Q1 Financial Update – Business & Legislative (30 minutes) • Discussion of Mayoral Position – Business & Legislative (10 minutes)

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