Rancho Mirage 2025 State of the City: Growth Plans Meet On-The-Ground Action

With a full house of 380 business and public sector leaders in attendance at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa on Tuesday, Oct. 28, the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce staged a standout  State of the City that put hard numbers and near-term timelines behind the city’s growth, housing, mobility, and economic development agenda.

“Over the past five decades, our city has evolved from a quiet desert retreat into a shining example of thoughtful planning and community pride,” Mayor Ted Weill said. He added that Rancho Mirage aims to “balance progress with purpose, growth with grace, and innovation with integrity.” Now in his 13th year on the council and third term as mayor, Weill framed the program as a report on plans already in motion.

Weill pointed to the pace at Cotino, A Storyliving by Disney Community – the first of its kind in the world – where the first slate of town-center tenants – Elevare (restaurant), Artigiano (coffee shop), On the Mark Fine Foods & Provisions, and Khaga Yoga – has been announced. The initial phase of Cotino Bay Beach, Dining & Shops is targeting a public opening in fall 2026.

Housing: Nearly 900 homes advancing, and infrastructure dollars unlocked

Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Malotto centered her remarks on livability and the people behind the projects: teachers, nurses, first responders, veterans, and seniors. She highlighted multiple developments in the works, including Rancho Mirage Affordable Apartments near the high school and The Crossings on Peterson Road, a veteran-priority community. Together, these and other approvals form a pipeline totaling nearly 900 new homes.

Malotto detailed how targeted infrastructure spending pushed projects from paper to groundbreaking: $7 million committed to Imperial Irrigation District for a new substation to expand electrical capacity, $5 million in federal funding secured by Rep. Ken Calvert for water and roadway improvements, and a $2 million city grant to the Eisenhower Health Foundation to help build a new childcare center supporting those working for the valley’s largest employer.

Those local moves mirror formal approvals secured earlier this year, including a 150-unit affordable community by National Community Renaissance and USA Properties Fund near the Home Depot and Regal Center, as well as larger projects such as Via Vail with 234 affordable apartments and Catana, which includes a 94-unit affordable component.

Encapsulating the city’s strategy as a catalyst in new workforce housing development, Malotto said, “Today, your city council… is addressing one of California’s most pressing challenges, the need for affordable and workforce housing, and we’re doing it our way, thoughtfully, strategically, and with a deep commitment to community, character and accessibility. When we talk about affordable housing, it’s not just about numbers and buildings, but most importantly, it’s about people. It’s about the teacher who wants to live close to the classroom where she inspires her students. It’s about the nurse or firefighter who serves our residents and deserves to live in the community that they protect. It’s about veterans who have given so much and deserve a safe, supportive place to call home, and it’s about our seniors who want to age in place, surrounded by friends, family, and familiarity. Across our city, major housing developments are moving forward, each contributing to the diverse fabric of our community.”

Economic development: Highway 111, wireless coverage, and a shop-local program

Councilmember Eve Fromberg Edelstein got her presentation rolling by enthusiastically stating, “Okay, let’s talk about economic development!” Then, she walked the audience through a coordinated push built on three pillars.

Highway 111 Strategic Plan. The city’s signature corridor is being re-envisioned to better align land use along the entire route with business goals over the next 50 years. “But why does this matter?” Fromberg Edelstein asked. “Because when someone drives into Rancho Mirage, whether they’re visiting one of our resorts, shopping at The River, or dining at a local restaurant, Highway 111 shapes how they see our city. By investing in this corridor, we’re now ensuring Rancho Mirage remains a place where businesses thrive, residents feel connected, and visitors leave with the lasting impression of excellence. So, again, it’s not plans in binders; it’s about smart planning, strong partnerships, and a clear path towards Rancho Mirage’s economic future.”

Fromberg Edelstein noted that Rancho Mirage has deepened its partnership in the regional CV Sync traffic-management program, leasing space in the city’s corporate yard to host the region’s transportation management center and voting in June to join officially.

Wireless Master Plan. To close coverage gaps without sacrificing the city’s low-rise design and mountain views, the plan maps where upgrades are needed most and streamlines deployment with private carriers. Fromberg Edelstein’s statement about the wireless master plan drew one of the most vocal rounds of applause in a luncheon full of them.

Shop Local Rancho Mirage. Launched in November 2024, the e-gift card program has already driven nearly $270,000 in local purchases across about 70 participating businesses.

Fromberg Edelstein also flagged a new way the city is scaling the program. Under a City Council–approved Resort Partnership pilot, weekday guests checking into Rancho Mirage resorts during shoulder season receive Shop Local e-gift cards that are redeemable on-site and citywide, turning visitor incentives into citywide impact. The council authorized $65,000 in funding for the pilot at its July 17, 2025, meeting. With the city’s 10 percent transient-occupancy tax, even a modest midweek occupancy lift could largely offset the program cost.

Chamber’s role and why it matters

Produced by the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce, the luncheon combined a packed program with a local-business expo and a sponsor bench featuring the City of Rancho Mirage as the Title Sponsor, Eisenhower Health as the Premier Sponsor. Presenting Sponsors included Agua Caliente Resort Casino & Spa, Cotino, A Storyliving by Disney Community, Desert Oasis Healthcare, Inland Regional Energy Network, Lulu Catering and Events, Omni Rancho Las Palmas, and Visit Greater Palm Springs. Many others supported at various levels. The mix offered an ecosystem snapshot that matched the day’s theme.

Across all the luncheon presentations that addressed housing and economic development, one of the most important through-lines was livability: ease traffic on the corridor that defines Rancho Mirage’s identity, upgrade wireless to match resident and business expectations, put real funding behind housing and childcare, and reward residents and visitors for spending locally. Or, as Fromberg Edelstein put it, the city is not rolling out “a big giant binder that sits on a shelf collecting dust.” It is executing on smart planning and strong partnerships.