Palm Springs City Council give update on fertility center bombing recovery efforts

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  - A city still healing.

Palm Springs City Councilmembers voted Wednesday night on new recovery measures aimed at helping businesses impacted by the devastating terror attack earlier this month.

Councilmembers approved Consent Item Q, which establishes a disaster overlay zone around the hardest-hit buildings.

It will provide reduced permit fees and expedited reviews for property owners seeking to repair or reconstruct damaged buildings.

Officials said more than 40 properties sustained damage, with at least 8 buildings deemed unsafe to occupy.

Palm Springs city leaders, police and fire officials also shared a public update on the recovery effort.

Mike Villegas, a Lieutenant at the Palm Springs Police Department, said FBI officials returned to the explosion site to collect further evidence on Wednesday.

"We are meticulously sifting through evidence to determine what products were used in the explosion," Villegas said.

An economic development spokesperson said the team assisted the American Reproductive Centers owner in finding a temporary location with 8 months of free rent provided by Grit Development for safe storage of non-biological materials.

Jeremy Hammond, Deputy City Manager, said reconstruction is expected to take 6 months.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.