Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Palm Desert City Council Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

Jonathon PollyTechnical manager and sustainability auditor who evaluates biofuel and sustainable aviation fuel projects. He holds a bachelor's degree in public administration from Indiana University and a master's in applied geoscience from San Francisco State University.6sourced
Evan TrubeeIncumbentOwner of Big Wheel Tours and current Palm Desert mayor, first elected to the City Council in 2022. Previously served on the city's Resource Preservation and Enhancement Committee and Public Safety Commission.9sourced

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

Only voters in Districts 4 and 5 vote in this race, and each district elects one councilmember to a four-year term.

3 notes on these statements

Jonathon Polly was sick and unable to attend the September 22, 2026 Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce candidate forum. KESQ · Sep 22, 2026

Councilmember Jan Harnik holds an at-large seat with a current term of 2022-2026. City of Palm Desert

KESQ reports that Evan Trubee and Jan Harnik serve as at-large members and that after the 2026 election all sitting council members will have a district. KESQ · Sep 22, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Karina MorenoCouncilmember, District 1; current term 2024-20282sourced Gina NestandeCouncilmember, District 3; current term 2024-20284sourced Joe PradettoMayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, District 2; current term 2024-20284sourced

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesLicense plate cameras, Public safety costs and Measure G, New library cost Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Write-in candidate filing period closes

Tue, Oct 20, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

License plate cameras

Where it standsThe council voted 5-0 in June 2026 to expand the city's Flock Safety camera system and raise its contract ceiling to $2.5 million.

What's on the tableWhether to keep adding cameras, including live-view cameras, and what privacy limits to set on the system.

On June 11, 2026 the council approved a Flock Safety amendment order form and let the city manager sign future orders up to $2,500,000 through June 30, 2029 (5-0). Palm Desert City Council minutes, June 11, 2026 · Jun 11, 2026
The approved system totals 157 cameras, with 148 deployed and nine remaining cameras on El Paseo not yet installed. The Palm Desert Post · Jun 11, 2026
A city management analyst told the council that more than 600 California law enforcement agencies have access to Palm Desert's camera data. The Palm Desert Post · Jun 11, 2026

Public safety costs and Measure G

Where it standsVoters approved the Measure G sales tax in November 2024, and the city is using it to add officers and build Fire Station 102.

What's on the tableHow much of the city's budget goes to police and fire staffing, and how Measure G revenue is spent.

Measure G passed with nearly 65% voter approval in November 2024. City of Palm Desert
The city reports three new officers added and three more planned in the next fiscal year. City of Palm Desert
The city lists a five-year Measure G investment of $47.7 million for fire operations and the new Fire Station 102. City of Palm Desert

New library cost

Where it standsThe library project's expected cost has risen from the approved $30 million to about $45 million, and the council was set to vote on a new design-build contractor in September 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to approve more money for the library, rework the design, or change the project.

City officials told the council in August 2026 that they expect the library to cost around $45 million, above the $30 million budget approved so far. NBC Palm Springs · Sep 8, 2026
The council was scheduled to vote on whether Barnhart-Reese Construction would take over the design, at about $2,251,120 plus a $225,000 contingency. NBC Palm Springs · Sep 8, 2026

Pride Month recognition policy

Where it standsThe council took no action in December 2025 on a request to rescind its 2024 Pride Month policy.

What's on the tableWhether the council revisits the Pride Month and diversity resolutions.

A motion to rescind Resolution No. 2024-038 and amend Resolution No. 2018-09 failed for lack of a second on December 16, 2025. Palm Desert City Council special meeting minutes, December 16, 2025 · Dec 16, 2025
A motion to take no action and make no changes to the two resolutions carried 4-1, with Mayor Pro Tem Joe Pradetto voting no. Palm Desert City Council special meeting minutes, December 16, 2025 · Dec 16, 2025

City advisory committees

Where it standsIn spring 2026 the council repealed the Environmental Resources Committee and the Homelessness Task Force and reduced the Parks and Recreation Committee's meetings.

What's on the tableHow the council gets advice from residents on parks, the environment and homelessness.

On April 23, 2026 the council voted 4-1 to introduce ordinances repealing the two bodies and changing the Parks and Recreation Committee's responsibilities and meeting frequency. Palm Desert City Council minutes, April 23, 2026 · Apr 23, 2026
On May 14, 2026 the council adopted the repeal ordinance 4-1 and the Parks and Recreation Committee ordinance 5-0. Palm Desert City Council minutes, May 14, 2026 · May 14, 2026
The Parks and Recreation Committee voted 6-1 on May 5, 2026 to recommend that the council reverse the proposed meeting change. The Palm Desert Post · May 5, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. What should Palm Desert do with its license plate camera network?
2. What should the council do about its Pride Month recognition policy?
3. Should the city keep its environmental and homelessness advisory bodies?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Write-in candidate filing period opensCity of Palm DesertSep 7, 2026
Write-in candidate filing period closesCity of Palm DesertOct 20, 2026
Election DayCity of Palm DesertNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Karina Moreno, Gina Nestande, Joe Pradetto2 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The City Council has five members elected to four-year terms, and the Mayor is selected from among the Council each year for a one-year term. City of Palm Desert
The council adopted Ordinance No. 1406 in January 2024 creating five single-member districts; the transition is complete after the November 2026 election for Districts 4 and 5. City of Palm Desert
Voters in Districts 4 and 5 will elect City Council representatives for full four-year terms. City of Palm Desert

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.