HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-18 CC MINUTESThursday, April 18, 2019
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the City Council
of the City of Palm Springs
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular Meeting of the Palm Springs City Council was called to order by Mayor Moon on
Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 5 :30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, City Hall, located at
3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Moon led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilmembers Christy Holstege, Lisa Middleton, J.R. Roberts; Mayor Pro Tem
Geoff Kors; and Mayor Robert Moon.
Absent: None.
City Staff
Present: David H. Ready, City Manager; Jeffrey Ballinger, City Attorney; Marcus Fuller,
Assistant City Manager; and Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk, were present at Roll
Call. Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated
in the minutes.
STUDY SESSION:
A. CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF THE PALM SPRINGS CONVENTION
CENTER AND BUREAU OF TOURISM
Purchasing Manager Gladders narrated a PowerPoint presentation and responded to City Council
inquiries.
Mayor Moon opened the Public Comment period.
The following individuals expressed support for moving forward with contract negotiations with
AEG:
Tom Adamo
Kenneth White
Lisa Vossler Smith
Doug Watson
John Shay
Jenny McLean
Steve Boswell
Peggy Trout
Quinton Egson
City Council Minutes April 18, 2019
City of Palm Springs Page 2
The following individuals voiced concern that the evaluation committee did not include small hotel
or small business representatives and that future committees should reflect the diversity of the
community:
Michael Green
Mark Hunter
Jeffrey Bernstein
Joy Brown Meredith
Robert Imber
Felipe Castaneda
David Powell
Kathy DeRosa, recommended that the City Council take no action, pending an outcome of the
proposed merger between AEG and SMG.
There being no others desiring to speak, Mayor Moon closed the Public Comment period.
Mayor Moon summarized the evaluation and interview process, noting that it was announced after
the interviews the AEG and SMG were merging; advised that AEG has committed to retaining
most employees and the catering company.
Mayor Pro Tem Kors voiced disappointment that AEG’s owner made private donations to
organizations opposed to LGBT issues, noting that the City Council has an obligation to separate
the actions of an individual versus the merits of the proposal and company; voiced support for a
local hiring preference in the new contract.
In response to City Council inquiry, John Kattz, Convention Sports and Leisure, advised that AEG
will be the lead organization in the merger, opining that the City will have a better negotiating
position pre-merger.
During the course of discussion, the City Council: 1) directed staff to negotiate a new contract with
AEG for contract management services of the Palm Springs Convention Center; 2) expressed a
preference to maintain a separate Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism; 3) requested that AEG retain
existing employees to the extent possible.
ADJOURNMENT:
The City Council adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Anthony J. Mejia, MMC
City Clerk
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL: 06/05/2019