HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Comment - July 2025
City of Palm Springs, Office of Sustainability
To: Sustainability Commission
From: Lindsey-Paige McCloy, Director, Office of Sustainability
Re: February Updates to the Sustainability Commission
Meeting Date: 22 July 2025
The Office of Sustainability would like to provide this update on activities since the last
Commission meeting to help speed discussion at the in -person meeting. The following items can
be discussed in more depth at the meeting, if desired by the Commission.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
• Next Council meeting topics:
o Ready to ship: foodware ordinance
o Next up: tree ordinance, energy efficient renovations, information updates on
waste and on greenhouse gas emissions
• Next Subcommittee meeting dates:
o SSCOWR: September 2nd, 2025
o Climate Action: September 10th, 2025
• Recurring events
o Next Farmers’ Market table: TBD – looking at August 2nd
• Upcoming special events
o Fix-it Clinic: August 23, 2025
o Shredding Event: October 18, 2025
Commission Administrative Matters
Chair Clark has resigned from the Commission to focus on other commitments. We are grateful
to Chair Clark for his many years of service on the Commission and his advocacy on behalf of
our work!
Vice-Chair Rottner will be serving as the interim Chair for this meeting, since the Vice -Chair
chairs the meetings when the Chair is unavailable. Commissioners may hold elections for a new
chair and vice chair in September. Any Commissioner wishing to serve is encouraged to seek a
nomination from a fellow Commissioner, following our previous practices.
Updates on Ongoing Work
Water, Turf Conversion
San Rafael turf conversion conceptual designs were presented at the Measure J
Commission Meeting.
As part of the City Council’s recent budget process, funding has been preliminarily
allocated as part of our $1m total allocation. We will be working with DWA staff to
determine the match amount for the ongoing program.
The City will also be advancing the first stage of the City Hall turf conversion program in
the next fiscal year.
Waste and Foodware
The third Community Cleanup will happen in October 2025.
Staff will begin work on the Annual Electronic Report for CalRecycle which covers 2024’s
disposal. We will share results of the EAR in the fall.
Accounts with delinquent waste bills were instructed to settle payments before June 6.
Accounts will be transferred to the tax roll at the end of the month.
Transportation
Businesses are welcome to apply for a bike rack from the department.
The Heat and Shade Study Grant Agreement has been executed! Staff has started
preparing RFP for consultants and working on organizing an advisory committee.
Waiting on confirmation from the FHWA to execute the Safe Streets Grant .
Urban Environment
The draft of the tree ordinance and supporting draft documents for the tree program are
in this meeting’s agenda packet for review.
More tree planting events are being planned for the Fall.
Brainstorming habitat development and wildlife relocation + a poison free Palm Springs -
we will be working over the summer with wildlife and nature advocates and our Public
Works and Parks departments to explore some innovative habitat solutions and identify
ways to reduce our use of pesticides.
Community Garden
Gardeners on vacation, quiet hours.
Buildings and Energy Efficiency
We’ve reached out to our lawyers to discuss the exemption s made in the tailer bill
regarding our ability to pass a reach code. We will keep the Commission posted on the
Ordinance’s trip to the City Council.
Fleet Electrification and City Emissions Reductions
We are working closely with the Public Works Department to identify the best project
paths for reducing emissions across our facilities and to make electrical capacity
available for EV charging. Otherwise, everything is working pretty well!