Residents and Businesses Urge Action on Illegal Signage; Kratom Speakers Ask Council for Measured Regulation

Multiple members of the public addressed the council during non‑agenda public comment on Feb. 12 on signage enforcement, kratom policy, and upcoming Desert Healthcare District listening sessions.

Chris Schachter, a Palm Desert resident and owner of Glow Window Cleaning, said he has documented repeated illegal commercial signage across the city and asked the council to direct staff to create a clear enforcement threshold for repeat violations so that reinstallation after removal would trigger escalating consequences rather than repeated voluntary‑compliance cycles. The mayor said staff would follow up and provide a report.

Matthew McCullen, owner of Kratom of Life (La Quinta), and an online speaker identified as Heather (a Palm Desert resident living with ME/CFS) urged the council to avoid broad prohibition and instead pursue targeted regulation: restricting sales to adults 21 and older, banning synthetic kratom derivatives, enforcing quality control and labeling, and preserving access for patients who report symptom relief. McCullen and Heather framed their comments as pro‑regulation, not pro‑prohibition, and cited public‑health and international reviews (the WHO review was cited by Heather) as context for local policy choices.

Chris Christiansen, CEO of the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, announced seven community listening sessions across the valley as part of a five‑year strategic plan process and invited residents to a Palm Desert session on Feb. 19; he said translation and ASL services would be provided and encouraged the city to help publicize the meetings.

Council response: Mayor Truby and council members thanked speakers and directed staff to follow up on signage enforcement and outreach for the Desert Healthcare District sessions. The council noted it will address kratom policy through a future agenda item.