My Vision for Palm Desert

By Carole B. Schaudt

Bring landlords, the energy providers and business owners to the tables to develop and discuss a formula by which the impact of the summer months on the economy can be reduced, the current situation requires, in many cases, that gains made during the high cycle of our local economy are ploughed back into the business during the low cycle which should not be the ultimate goal when operating a business...business has to create disposable income and/or assets so that the whole of our local economy can benefit;

Study the impact of a City recommended living wage as opposed to the State mandated minimum wage for employees of businesses operating in Palm Desert; it creates more disposable income which helps our local economy;

Not to over-manage business...our local economy pays a large part of the expenses of running the City and we must be attractive to businesses and only minimally interfere with the establishment and running of their operations.

We must bring to Palm Desert facilities that instruct in technical disciplines, either incorporated into the COD curriculum or as campuses (like UCR and UCSB) so that we create a highly educated workforce pool and can attract high-tech, high paying industries (the technologies dealing with alternative energy, etc) or their representation. We are however running out of building space...and we therefore should study the feasibility of multi level industrial developments in the areas currently zoned industrial; it works in other parts of the country and is common in Europe and Asia...so why not here; if we want to succeed we have to bring business home...

Built affordable housing, including into that the concept of `inclusionary zoning' by which market based housing developments integrate affordable housing, so that we can attract workers employed in the City to live here...currently, approx. 12000 employees (of approx. 25000 people employed by Palm Desert businesses) commute into Palm Desert from other Desert Cities.

Economy

Palm Desert is represented in the Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitor Authority, our Hotels and Time Share Communities also promote the City.

I believe that, apart from the funds the City puts at the disposal of DRCCV it should actively promote itself and what it stands for (we have left Palm Springs far behind in attractiveness) in major markets.

We need a venue outside the McCallum Theatre or the open air venue in the City Park, a repertory or workshop theatre, which attracts local and outside performers on a more or less regular basis and shows local and regional production.

Once the frame work for such a venue is created I would attempt, in order to reduce operating cost and box office prices, to marry City funds with business sponsorships to bring such a venue into being and encourage local talent and troupes, amateurs if you will or organizations that already have a name (the Desert Wind band, the Caballeros, etc) to practice and perform at the venue regularly;

Apart from that we must explore how we can package existing local events more attractively or create new ones...we have to bring more entertainment/events of public interest to our City (a la the Skins game, etc.)...

The main complaint I hear is `why are so many restaurants, shops, etc. closed during the summer'...we have to find solutions that help these businesses to mitigate the high operating expenses of the summer months...

Jobs

By creating a business and commercial environment that is suitable and nurturing to businesses that pay high wages and salaries.

Energy

The Members of City Council, especially Councilman Ferguson, have to be lauded to have brought this subject this far, however, there are, I believe, ways to improve.

Since I do not know enough yet about all implications of AB811 and how the City will structure the loans for such equipment (tax assessments repayable over time to a maximum of 20 years) I am non specific:

Generally, anything that reduces our carbon foot print is good, and the more it is reduced the better it is for all;

I would like to see that builders and developers incorporate energy saving or generating measures into all new buildings; that commercial, municipal and school buildings and affordable housing are planned and built to LEED gold certification standards;

I would like to see that the proposed loans under the City loan program for alternative energy installation or retrofitting existing installations charge a lower interest rate, become may be interest free and repayments are linked to an inflation index instead so that the City's investment in its population does not diminish in value;

I would also like to see a grant program that makes the installation of energy saving windows, roofs and even solar generating equipment more low or fixed income friendly because that segment of our population needs the cost savings for its survival;