Palm Desert staff propose earlier Council cost review to speed park projects

Randy Chavez, the city's Director of Public Works, told the Palm Desert City Council on March 26 that staff are recommending a change to the city's park and trail-head project development process to require an earlier Council review during concept planning that includes schematic designs and preliminary cost estimates.

Chavez said the current process can push detailed cost information to a late stage, which risks spending on design without knowing construction costs. "One benefit of adding this extra step is that this approach provides earlier policy direction, improves transparency, and helps align project scope and budget before advancing it further," Chavez said.

Chavez said the city has five engineering and design agreements covering improvements at seven parks and trail-head locations and that two park design concepts are more advanced and have already had public engagement. The proposed process would bring schematic options and cost estimates to Council earlier, then proceed to community engagement and appointed-body review before returning to Council with refined options and a direction request.

A council member said the change would prevent spending millions on design before construction costs are known, and the council signaled agreement to adopt the updated process. The council did not take a roll-call vote; staff will proceed with the earlier-review step and return with preliminary cost estimates, schematic designs and options for Council direction.