Palm Desert council honors volunteers, proclaims Public Works Week and recognizes affordable housing ribbon‑cutting

The Palm Desert City Council opened its May 14 meeting with ceremonial recognitions and several brief administrative actions.

Mayor Evan Trouy read proclamations honoring National Public Works Week (May 17–23) and the 80th anniversary of Palm Desert’s founding vision, and Monique Clemelly, senior deputy city clerk, recognized a slate of board and committee volunteers for multi‑year service. Ryland Penta introduced and presented certificates to the spring 2026 Civic Academy graduates, which Penta said has graduated more than 150 participants over six cycles.

In city manager comments Division Chief Cody Wright introduced Robert Fish, newly appointed unit chief for the Riverside unit (Cal Fire); Wright summarized Fish’s career and Fish said he looks forward to continuing the partnership with Palm Desert. Council members asked about the opening of new Station 102; staff estimated it will open in September.

Mayor Trouy also announced a recent ribbon‑cutting for a 176‑unit affordable housing development for very low and low‑income families; he said the city loaned "over $7 million" to the project and that Chris Gary secured about $5.6 million in federal funds toward the Vision Zero pedestrian‑safety work.

On the consent calendar the council approved routine items by a 5‑0 vote and later voted separately to adopt Ordinance 1446 (which repeals two municipal code chapters related to the Environmental Resources Committee and Homelessness Task Force). The separate vote on Ordinance 1446 passed 4‑1 with Council Member Kintonia voting no after public comment that commission members had not been given adequate opportunity to discuss the change.

What’s next: the council directed staff to return with options on several requests raised during member reports (including a digital accessibility policy in July and an exploratory staff report on supporting in‑home child‑care providers).