The Issue
Desert Hot Springs has assets most cities cannot recreate: natural mineral water, a spa and hospitality identity, available land, a downtown that is still taking shape and a location within one of California's major tourism regions.
The question is not simply, "What development can we get?" It is: "What kind of city do we want Desert Hot Springs to become?"
My Approach
Understand what residents currently leave DHS to buy or experience elsewhere, identify where commercial and hospitality investment has the strongest potential, make the development process more predictable for quality projects, support local businesses and focus public investment where it can help unlock additional private investment.
What I Would Push For
- Resident demandUnderstand what residents currently leave DHS to buy or experience elsewhere.
- Targeted investmentIdentify where commercial and hospitality investment has the strongest potential.
- Predictable developmentMake the development process more predictable for quality projects.
- Local businessSupport local businesses as the city grows.
- Catalytic public investmentFocus public investment where it can help unlock additional private investment.
How We Measure Progress
Look at whether residents gain more useful local options, quality projects move forward predictably, local businesses participate in growth and public investment helps attract additional private investment.
What Is Already Happening
The City already makes decisions involving development, fees, public investment and the conditions that shape business activity. The priority is to evaluate those decisions against the kind of city residents want DHS to become.
