Palm Desert Parks Panel Questions Need for a City Park Foundation

Palm Desert’s Parks and Recreation Committee spent the longest stretch of its Oct. 6, 2026, meeting picking apart a staff briefing on a possible municipal park foundation, and members asked what problem it would solve. No vote was taken, but the debate, along with a council liaison’s update on the library lease and a push for a November special meeting, showed a committee testing how much say it has over park money and priorities.

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• Park foundation concept meets skepticism: members questioned council control, independence and whether any shortfall exists.
• Council leaning toward a College of the Desert library lease extension over a $45M to $60M new building.
• Lease route could free about $20M in RDA money for park capital projects; committee members want more space from the college.
• Committee Member Geier seeks a November special meeting to reset priorities, including North Sphere Park.

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A Foundation in Search of a Problem

The basics: A municipal park foundation is a separate charitable organization that raises private money for city priorities. The city keeps control of its assets and policy. Shawn Muir, Community Services Manager, gave the briefing as a follow-up to a June request.

Why it matters: A foundation could bring outside dollars into parks. Members worried it could also become a way to shift park costs from public budgets to private fundraising.

Where things stand: Muir offered three Southern California examples:
- Palm Springs
- La Mesa, whose foundation dates to 1999 and is tied to the Junior Seau Sports Complex
- Colton, which funds recreation scholarships

The history is mixed. Council previously declined to form a library foundation. During its 2026 goal-setting, council recommended deleting that task and called for exploring a parks foundation instead. There is no current council direction.

“If the committee wishes to recommend pursuing a parks foundation, that recommendation would go to City Council for direction before staff undertakes any further work,” said Muir.

The other side: Committee Member Geier said foundations elsewhere operate independently. He warned that the city's model would leave the money under council control.

“I'm really concerned about them bringing up ideas like this where they want somebody else to raise some money, but they still want to control that money,” said Geier.

Muir responded that funding priorities would be set in advance and approved by council because the assets are city-owned.

Evan, the City Council liaison, described the effort as exploratory. He recalled that the library foundation was rejected over autonomy concerns, citing “giving up autonomy and control of the direction they go … with money usually comes concessions or requests.” He then asked what shortcoming a parks foundation would fix. Geier answered that none exists.

Another member asked about downsides. Muir cited a significant administrative and finance coordination burden. She added that the Palm Springs foundation is functioning, but on a smaller scale.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No motion, vote or recommendation was made. Chair Langford said the problem should be identified before pursuing a solution. For now, park users and potential donors see no change. City finance staff avoid a new administrative load unless council revives the idea.

What's next: Nothing proceeds without a committee recommendation and council direction.

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Library Lease Math Could Free Park Dollars

Why it matters: Council’s library decision affects roughly $20M in former redevelopment agency (RDA) funds, which could flow to park capital projects. It also shows how the city handles land owned by partners, such as the College of the Desert (COD) and Cal State San Bernardino.

Where things stand: Evan, who noted the topic sits outside the committee’s purview, laid out the cost escalation:
- A standalone library was first estimated at $30M.
- That estimate rose to about $45M and possibly $55M to $60M.
- Council has since returned to COD, which can renew the lease. About 33 years remain on a 66-year term.

Evan estimated $10M to $12M in fixes plus lease rewrites that would give the city control of HVAC and maintenance. He said that approach would save $30M to $40M.

“Spend $10 to $12 million and have a happy space that we can use for the next 33 years of the remaining lease,” said Evan.

He added that RDA money must be spent on capital projects, possibly including Dave Irwin Park.

The other side: Committee members argued the city should seek the whole building, including vacant space, because the city funded it. “For us to go out and build an addition to the existing library seems very foolish,” said one committee member. The same member suggested the city might find a willing partner if the right people met with COD’s new president.

Members also pointed to the Cal State San Bernardino fields as an example of city gifts that were not reciprocated. Another member noted that fields would generate revenue for the university.

Evan said the city lacks leverage, but stressed that the lease is not yet signed.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No action was taken. Library patrons would keep the current site under the lease route. Park advocates could gain capital dollars. COD holds the stronger negotiating hand.

Evan also discussed soccer field options at the Parkview site and a possible regional park with indoor and outdoor tournament capacity. Staff suggested parts of the discussion belonged in other venues.

What's next: The lease remains under negotiation at the council level.

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Geier Pushes Committee to Set Its Own Agenda

Why it matters: The exchange exposed tension over whether the advisory committee writes its own recommendations or picks from options council supplies.

Where things stand: Geier said the priority list sent to council left out items he considers high priority, including North Sphere Park and ball fields at Cal State.

“We're here to make recommendations of what we think the council should do,” said Geier.

He moved for a special meeting on the first Tuesday of November to discuss a new priority list and how the committee sets priorities. A committee member seconded. The item was not on the agenda, and the City Clerk advised, “We don't necessarily need a motion.” The request was entered into the record without a vote.

Geier also noted that council moved committees to meeting every two months because of staff workload.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Staff clarified that council’s upcoming item is a Dave Irwin Park update, not the regional park. Staff also gave the latest on North Sphere land-use planning and a possible developer agreement. Evan said North Sphere has not been on council’s radar since the specific plan update. Residents awaiting North Sphere Park have little new to go on.

What's next: The special meeting request is on record. Whether it happens is unresolved.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar, including Aug. 4, 2026, minutes, approved by roll call. For: 5 (Geier, Vice Chair Murphy, Scogan, Maldonado, Langford). Against: 0. Absent: 0.
• Shade trees coming in February. Council approved the annual work plan Sept. 10, 2026, covering trails, playgrounds and shade. A CAL FIRE grant brings 150 municipal trees and 129 resident registrations. Staff said carbon credits returned too little to pursue.
• Palm Desert Aquatic Center is shifting to fall programs. It launched a Masters program in mid-September, plans its own water polo club and expects air conditioning installed next week.
• Skate park usage is up and costs are down after security cameras were added, according to Geier. Staff reported no injuries or vandalism and is exploring movable features.
• Partner reports: The Desert Recreation District plans a Halloween costume contest, a wiener dog race, BMX programs and a December gym floor resurfacing. Friends of the Desert Mountains is weighing full moon hike routes near Homey Park.

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Looking Ahead

Updates on the Freedom Park children’s area and the Ironwood art installation were deferred to a future meeting. Members can tour partner facilities informally, but the clerk said public meetings must stay in the designated room, which has streaming equipment.