HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-8 Budget ItemRemarks to Palm Springs City Council on Budget
Good evening, Mayor Garner, Mayor Pro tem Bernstein, and Councilmembers. My name is David
Freedman. I’m speaking to you in my capacity as Interim Chair of the Sustainability Commission on two
proposed budget expenditures that we considered at the Commission.
First, the allocation in the current fiscal year for turf conversion has been greatly successful. The City
provided a total of $550,000 in matching funds, which has partially funded a total of 437,344 sq ft in the 154
approved applications. These projects will lead to savings of approximately 27 million gallons per year, and
nearly $83,000 per year in cost savings based on current Desert Water Agency rates. However, the City’s
matching funds were fully subscribed the day they were made available. The Sustainability Commission
supports the additional funding proposed in the FY 23-24 budget, including reserved funding for low-income
property owners.
The Commission also supports the proposed funding of the City’s transition of its fleet replacements to EV-
only. This transition is required by the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation that the California Air Resources
Board adopted on April 28. Starting January 1, 2024, 50% of the total number of vehicle additions to the
fleet in each calendar year must be EVs. Starting January 1, 2027, 100% of the total number of vehicle
additions to the fleet in each calendar year must be EVs.
In addition to the new CARB regulation, the transition to EVs is required by the City’s Environmentally
Preferred Purchasing Policy that you adopted on March 23, following the Commission’s recommendation.
The policy provides that when replacing vehicles, the City of Palm Springs shall lease or purchase EVs
where EV models are available that are suitable for each task.
The Sustainability Commission asks that you include staff’s proposed funding for these items in the budget
you will adopt next month.
05/08/2023
Public Comment
Budget Item
From:Christy Holstege
To:City Clerk
Subject:Fwd: Upcoming budget meeting
Date:Friday, May 5, 2023 11:27:39 AM
Christy Gilbert Holstege, Esq.
Councilmember
District 4
City of Palm Springs
Begin forwarded message:
From: Katherine Morgan Hatch <katherinemor@gmail.com>
Date: May 5, 2023 at 9:40:41 AM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Cc: Scott Stiles <Scott.Stiles@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Upcoming budget meeting
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or
open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Hi Christy,
I'm writing to make some concrete suggestions in anticipation of your upcoming
budget meeting on Monday regarding Parks and Recs.
I would like the council to strongly consider the following items:
1. Please allocate funding to put up lights in our playgrounds and basketball
courts so that people can enjoy them when the sun goes down in the heat.
2. Please allocate funding to ensuring our playgrounds and playground bathrooms
are routinely cleaned.
3. We need shade and water features in all of our playgrounds so that Palm
Springs kids can actually use the playgrounds in the soaring temperatures.
4. I know shade and water is costly, so perhaps in the interim, you can allocate
money for more toys / indoor play options at our indoor public spaces so that the
kids have somewhere to play considering the playgrounds are unusable.
Lastly, I know the issues with the unhoused are complex. I was a frontline social
worker for a decade and I have a lot of compassion for these individuals.
However, our children need to be shielded from their plight for everyone's safety.
I personally know how dangerous things can quickly become having spent more
than a year working in LA's skid row.
Yesterday, I took my three sons to the local library and we were met with a
homeless man screaming profanities in front of the library. Once we were in the
05/08/2023
Public Comment
Study Session Item
children's area, there was a homeless woman using the children's facilities who
had to be forced out - also exhibiting threatening behavior towards the security
guard and in front of my 2,4 and 10 yr old.
In both cases, I thought about taking my kids and leaving because it didn't feel
safe. I am tired of not feeling SAFE in PALM SPRINGS when I go to public
playgrounds with my children.
We need park rangers and people to ensure that places intended for kids are for
KIDS. As I have mentioned to council, in many other cities like NYC and San
Francisco, measures have been passed stipulating that adults without children
cannot be on play structures or within a certain distance for everyone's safety.
After we left the library finally, my ten year old said to me "What is wrong with
Palm Springs"?
I'm happy to talk further. Thank you for listening!
Best,
Katherine Hatch
05/08/2023
Public Comment
Study Session Item