The mission of the Palm Desert City Manager's Office is to provide professional leadership in administering and executing the objectives and policies of the City Council, develop and recommend solutions to community matters for Council consideration, oversee preparation of the City's annual budget, develop and plan new and innovative programs to address future community needs, and to promote pride and excellence in City government by providing exceptional customer service.

Contact the Interim City Manager

Chris Escobedo
Phone: (760) 346-0611 
Send an email

Chris Escobedo has been with the City of Palm Desert since 2022, serving as Assistant City Manager before his recent appointment as Interim City Manager.  He has over 20 years of local government experience, having worked in other Coachella Valley cities.

Chris lives in the Coachella Valley with his wife and two daughters.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, San Bernardino.  Since joining Palm Desert, Chris has appreciated helping to build a high-performance organizational culture, advancing City goals and objectives, and contributing to the City's strong momentum. 

Mission Statement

The City of Palm Desert provides exemplary and sustainable services, amenities and programs for the benefit of the community.

Core Values

• Integrity
• Stewardship
• Service
• Community
• Innovation
• Teamwork

Over twenty years ago, the challenge facing the Cities of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and Indian Wells was to provide a fiscally responsible, well-coordinated, and effective fire protection and paramedic program. Because the three cities shared a geographic commonality, including a shared philosophy of "the best service for the least cost", an innovative method to implement these services was sought.

In a unique arrangement, these cities formed the "Cove Communities Services Commission" in 1981. At the time, no precedent was set for such a multi-city arrangement; however, a spirit of cooperation and ingenuity existed and ultimately prevailed. The Cove Communities Services Commission meets quarterly and is comprised of six elected city council members, two from each participating city.