Council expected to hear report on Art of Food and Wine fest's ticket sales

Mayor Jean Benson ends her term, and Mayor Pro Tem Robert A. Spiegel begins his year in the mayor's seat when the Palm Desert City Council meets at 4 p.m. today.

Councilwoman Cindy Finerty is expected to become mayor pro tem as the council goes through its yearly rotation of leadership roles.

Also on the agenda
Second readings and votes for changes to the city's noise and hillside ordinances. Changes to the noise ordinance will allow the Palm Desert police to cite and fine rowdy partygoers if the department receives repeated complaints about noise from a specific location. Under the revised hillside ordinance, property owners with ridge-line lots will no longer have the option of asking city officials for pre-approval of building sites on their land.

A preliminary report on the Art of Food and Wine festival held Nov. 6-9. Kemper Sports Management, the event organizer, spent $561,403 of the $650,000 the council approved last year to underwrite the event. Cash ticket sales for the gourmet-themed event came in at $66,824. Kemper's figures show the festival breaking even, with exactly $1,894,725 in both income and expenses.

The council will also get a progress report on plans for a community fitness center and pool at a special study session on the project, scheduled for 2 p.m. today in the Civic Center Administrative Conference Room.