PS City Council approves city recommendations to expand Spa Resort Casino

Many Palm Springs residents urged the Palm Springs City Council not to approve a Vision Agua Caliente master plan outlining the tribe’s possible expansion of its 18-acre Spa Resort Casino.

“I urge the council to not approve this to sit down with the tribe and, in effect, say to the tribe, ‘How would you feel if we were to allow a 30-story-building to be built west of your 17-story-building completely blocking your view of the mountain?’,” one resident said.

Most council members also did not want it approved either.

“To look at something that is 175 feet tall, it’s very difficult to even think about that in our downtown area. I’m not quite sure why we are seeing this with so many questions,” Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Foat said.

City staff said the plans for the 18-acre area would be developed in phases. It would include an additional hotel tower possibly 75 feet higher than any other building in the area, as well as, another parking structure. City staff said it would put safety provisions on the city that Palm Springs isn’t readily equipped with.

“The police are reporting that it’s going to cost, they are estimating $1.6 million a year in additional cost for our police to cover this development once it’s completed. The fire chief says it would require an expansion of [fire] station 1 and require $1 million worth of additional equipment,” Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon said.

The city council approved the resolution with the condition that a committee, headed by Moon and Councilor Chris Mills, work with the tribe. City manager David Ready said because the area is on tribal land, the city can make recommendations but the final decision is left to the tribe.