[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6464253,"mediaKeyId","5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14","parentId",5784119,"title","Votes at a glance: Palm Desert City Council actions, Sept. 11, 2025","audioSeconds",1160,"startMs",2861000,"endMs",4021000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14&start=2861&end=4021","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14/thumbnail_2861000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6464253/Palm-Desert/Riverside-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Palm-Desert-City-Council-actions-Sept-11-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464253-667d0f89453485251a5ccca091491d57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137079&Signature=cQkeAH8VS-RjYbTpi067RM1XIa6rWHs1Hg-2N9dE~~jmiHmjfB7PFy0iQqepAFryUDgSTgwH~wBYx3hYjJ1wO9gLkq4rJDFwGIHTWRCtj8AiIZ6iMMzF1tHNW0LUqzEdS0lgbp8~2tMLor03-wXb9-dnoBP84cyMZI8x8~5OJSWLCuiFbgXHbAiNqL3lRjoQHRHbKCPG-V4p~AdKS9FyU90MM2HHnYDgNQ0WWkG8foJ3TpCD-jx6pqfWxhaOLuRWAPTlGy5oe9z49DoHXldu72kUw-e~T19nvwsUvSmZdzP~g~mzfetr6i5PVqLvx8Z0fYp18RnTHSt5W8nxlIKTfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Palm Desert","date","2025-09-12T12:11:40Z","article","At its Sept. 11, 2025 meeting, the Palm Desert City Council took the following recorded actions (all votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted):

• Approve consent calendar balance (motion to move the balance passed 5-0). Items pulled for individual consideration were handled separately.

• Ratify Change Order No. 3 to Contract C48140 with DBX, Inc., for the Marketplace Drive and Cook Street traffic signal improvements (consent calendar item P). Staff presented the item; council members thanked staff for safety improvements. The council ratified the change order 5-0.

• Approve Amendment No. 4 to Contract C32410 with Desert Recreation District for Park and Portola Community Center services (consent calendar item Q). The amendment revises the pricing matrix and confirms on-duty park attendant coverage; staff said 1–2 attendants rotate throughout the parks seven days a week. The amendment was approved 5-0.

• Approve the City Manager employment agreement with Christopher Escobedo, effective 09/11/2025 (action calendar, item 14a). The contract increases annual salary to $285,000, provides a $600/month automobile allowance, vacation accrual at 8 hours per pay period and severance provisions (nine months if terminated during first three years, six months thereafter). Approved 5-0.

• Approve a $25,000 city sponsorship for the 2026 California Desert Plein Air Festival, split between the public art fund and the marketing fund (action calendar, item 14b). The sponsorship was included in the fiscal year budget and approved 5-0.

• Award contract for the El Paseo courtesy cart program to Ace Parking 3 LLC and approve procurement of six-passenger GEM vehicles with city ownership after year one (action calendar). Council approved Option 2 (purchase GEM vehicles) 5-0.

Most actions were routine contract and sponsorship approvals; no item was tabled or failed. Several ceremonial proclamations were also issued (e.g., Hunger Action Month and Constitution Week).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 9-11-2025","oneSentenceSummary","A concise list of decisions taken by the Palm Desert City Council at its Sept. 11 meeting, including contract awards, amendments and sponsorships; all recorded motions passed unanimously.","taxTitle","Palm Desert, Riverside County, California","taxId",5643,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6464257,"Palm Desert proclaims September 2025 'Hunger Action Month,' highlights Fine Food Bank partnership",188,1475000,1663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14&start=1475&end=1663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14/thumbnail_1475000.jpg","/articles/6464257/Palm-Desert/Riverside-County/California/Palm-Desert-proclaims-September-2025-Hunger-Action-Month-highlights-Fine-Food-Bank-partnership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464257-dce0b23103219e1e0c47d5600b21cb84/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137079&Signature=Ypnf8zm~bdZxAEkhJKg5tmB2pMonk3z5rS~Yu1Dotos5EcseegqPULBgJquVhZEu0sSbOWk4GP-67rWt2N8eatUqde-i9diXSKaE6uJhueUJrc6L6AHHwAxptHLm0XL0YmERiI7PhG0qmXt~HfjM6ieEqbj2E2e2zA2NbsHxVWCtJXzZKejBEwqVXBI4KHB7REyTV~--LDd9Yuv4Y9EzUCpq8XQdFWsUh8KHXkqMbJ3SiWpD8QrQIb7mjxWo~yHykBYc-P2z7PWEV~b0dIQ5W0uQla5CX0OieSSjojsrzCnooqig2vwFjlgelcPzaIqizLtltGs8LZ63HCiFDsiGqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Sept. 11 the Palm Desert City Council proclaimed September 2025 as Hunger Action Month and recognized Fine Food Bank's work supplying food to local residents and partner agencies.

Debbie Espinosa of Fine Food Bank told the council the organization partnered with more than 200 Feeding America affiliates nationwide and now helps feed about 150,000 people monthly through distributions and partner agencies. She said Palm Desert's food insecurity rate is about 14.3 percent and that Fine Food Bank and partners recorded more than 150,000 client engagements in the city in the last 12 months. Espinosa also described the organization's SB 1383 food-rescue efforts, saying Fine Food Bank has onboarded 14 tier-1 grocery stores and 237 tier-2 restaurants since 2022 and redistributed roughly 1,400,000 pounds of rescued food under the state's SB 1383 framework.

The proclamation directs City Hall to be lit in orange during September to raise awareness. Councilmembers and staff thanked Fine Food Bank for its pandemic-era surge in service and ongoing volunteer partnerships.

The item was presented as a ceremonial proclamation rather than a formal legislative ordinance; no vote was required beyond the mayor's proclamation and presentation.","The council issued a proclamation recognizing September as Hunger Action Month and heard from Fine Food Bank staff about local food distribution, SB 1383 food-rescue work and local food insecurity rates.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6464263,"Palm Desert pledges $25,000 to support 2026 California Desert Plein Air Festival",653,3409000,4062000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14&start=3409&end=4062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14/thumbnail_3409000.jpg","/articles/6464263/Palm-Desert/Riverside-County/California/Palm-Desert-pledges-25000-to-support-2026-California-Desert-Plein-Air-Festival","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464263-577925fd72a5e9da5c2577f5b9e2b601/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137079&Signature=H7iMYuvUK1DhwJFQN~nz34AjgOHrMwKvQOu9qrI9zWOB57YSZlbX6uhi14fU51-QVbIsScccUv7FTqkTWYzWitLCGSKoWugmNKM21OayHP-~JAB99FBDlSnVaa-SHD28vWiaIM4wWK7rT87EHRAyig1Q2IYsXKXCZnYB8XsH8aWiHHBoR4jqh64hxUvdsVRnwDdoXYhLVzJMKISrYoDyk8OCJronAD~1HweVzeypEALdKE6TybcxGTLD3fQKm8d99ITAjoo1OkblOYU7z9hs-sUSx2wqZMr9PT3Ocv1Otz7WdSgWzuqJ7HNKhGz2SRGbdq9uV9XHnIMS1RaSHqyjpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palm Desert City Council approved a $25,000 sponsorship on Sept. 11 for the 2026 California Desert Plein Air Festival, with the amount split between the city's public art fund and its marketing fund and already included in the current fiscal year budget.

Staff said the 2025 festival, organized by Palm Springs Life and the Desert Plein Air Association, established Palm Desert as a regional hub for plein air activity and drew about 3,000 participants. The 2025 program ran Jan. 8–Feb. 2, featured more than 40 nationally recognized painters, a $15,000 best-in-show prize and generated an estimated 1,000,000 media impressions valued at more than $100,000, staff said.

Representatives from Palm Springs Life and the Desert Plein Air Association told the council they did not capture attendee contact data in 2025 but plan to do so in 2026 when ticketing and expanded programming are implemented; they already collect artist testimonials. The Cultural Arts Committee voted unanimously to recommend continued sponsorship.

Councilmembers said they supported the event's growth potential and its role in diversifying the local arts economy. The motion to approve the $25,000 sponsorship passed 5-0.","Council approved a $25,000 sponsorship for the 2026 California Desert Plein Air Festival, splitting the funding between the city's public art and marketing funds; organizers said they will collect better attendee data in 2026.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":46,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6464267,"Palm Desert approves purchase of GEM vehicles for El Paseo courtesy cart program",122,3899000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14&start=3899&end=4021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14/thumbnail_3899000.jpg","/articles/6464267/Palm-Desert/Riverside-County/California/Palm-Desert-approves-purchase-of-GEM-vehicles-for-El-Paseo-courtesy-cart-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464267-b18f021ed0ace4cd6ede7a9de1b338e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137079&Signature=VRQd2M3~TUN~Y8pwcr98e1ADmtNhd~dLcEnNcg4sW94TmPc1PHlwouk4FtuLdgSvDFDyImeWOO9lwckHzYc1KDcKqVK7lp2O8yE418uzjNJVYcM8rX~Bhc-E9-LJ2uU-pP1wyG-xt5~0pxwG-T-pHOwzHQZDtqjDgqanZc4Ebl~zfubaWlS~wL2FzuOjP4rd5g4PKxbMUoiu8ysGL4F3hjTvEVLSW9QJr0g7qBLdD7Lqsvw1-DhuZdQ96Q2uxTJcmtDeTGsjD9qapwbdzS6Cqbwgw19MXE6goxzrAgjSSC7~cN~jslBZQiGOQGh5qKHhp~wgtatW0VPDUwDPQWRb2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palm Desert City Council voted 5-0 on Sept. 11 to award the El Paseo courtesy cart contract to Ace Parking 3 LLC and to procure six-passenger GEM vehicles the city will own after the first year.

Staff said two proposals were received in response to an RFP released in July. Based on experience, work plan and performance, staff recommended Ace as the most responsive proposer. Ace agreed to supply GEM-brand six-passenger vehicles with doors instead of the golf-cart style vehicles it initially proposed. The council approved the option that establishes the vehicles as city assets after year one and allows lease-back to Ace for years two and three; staff said that approach supports branding opportunities and future reuse of the vehicles after the program season.

No public speakers addressed the item during the vote. Councilmembers expressed support for the GEM vehicles and the city's ownership model as a longer-term asset strategy.

The motion to award the contract and approve the vehicle procurement passed unanimously.","Council awarded a contract to Ace Parking to operate El Paseo courtesy carts and approved acquiring six-passenger GEM vehicles the city will own after year one.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6464271,"Palm Desert council approves city manager contract, raises salary to $285,000",289,3117000,3406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14&start=3117&end=3406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784119-f5815f6fd1852fd89754706e6d295d14/thumbnail_3117000.jpg","/articles/6464271/Palm-Desert/Riverside-County/California/Palm-Desert-council-approves-city-manager-contract-raises-salary-to-285000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464271-7f2e2fb95fa0808ae9aecedd1f587af7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137079&Signature=ooWjPnQqqwXWmJZCP1eMMzvuC~Yxu9xxMi9YsiwHl0Y~WCCw~SMZhE8-vS~r6T~9l3lsfsE1mGthV4u2IXPQvZ-2eJ8DjnplmSkGl9oyClSQVpOApFcnfr7DHab6V5QpSpzRFiYx5azxXYcQKQD2UphErnau8kqXv-vnMVIkRoajFXtOuEHAyGxUMkAx7UCUXTsj3Vh5IG63GvocADDCNzIvEn3Wb-LNq3hN-rxebRyRbqYBGcCcJRwGtzaHV4t9YhX6b4UX94Ttbn4GiKXC4cpTKpYZpUNE2TgWfg8F0vUiNd~D4J3iUPzAiRDqWfwsdZrnWqyFZzrb580PmVlqyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palm Desert City Council voted 5-0 on Sept. 11 to approve an employment agreement with Christopher Escobedo, making his appointment as city manager effective the same day and increasing his annual salary from $270,000 to $285,000.

The agreement includes a $600-per-month automobile allowance, standard executive benefits consistent with other city executives, vacation accrual at eight hours per pay period with future increases aligned to peer executives, and severance protections. Under specified circumstances, the contract provides nine months' severance if terminated during the first three years and six months' severance thereafter. The council's staff presentation noted state law SB 1436 requires agencies to verbally report specified information when changing compensation or benefits for executive officers.

Council members praised Escobedo's performance during his interim appointment and described him as responsive and attentive to staff and council needs. Escobedo said he was \"Extremely\" excited to accept the position. No public speakers addressed the item during the formal action.

The motion to adopt the employment agreement passed unanimously. The council did not alter the contract terms presented by staff during the meeting.

The action formalizes personnel terms the city had implemented on a short-term basis since April, after Escobedo's appointment as interim city manager.","The Palm Desert City Council on Sept. 11 approved a full employment agreement with Christopher Escobedo, converting his interim appointment to a regular city manager post with an increased salary and specified severance terms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Palm Desert City Council actions, Sept. 11, 2025

Palm Desert proclaims September 2025 'Hunger Action Month,' highlights Fine Food Bank partnership

Palm Desert pledges $25,000 to support 2026 California Desert Plein Air Festival

Palm Desert approves purchase of GEM vehicles for El Paseo courtesy cart program

Palm Desert council approves city manager contract, raises salary to $285,000