Selma city manager who resigned following termination vote named assistant city manager in Palm Springs
The former city manager of Selma, Calif., who resigned after city officials there voted to enter into a separation agreement with her, has been hired as the new assistant city manager in Palm Springs.
Teresa Gallavan served as city manager in Selma from 2018 until 2021. Following a 3-2 vote in closed session by the Selma City Council to remove her from her position in May, she submitted her resignation.
The reason for Gallavan’s removal has never been made public. Following separation, Selma paid out a portion of her contract worth over $148,000. Her salary in Palm Springs will be $215,652, a city spokesperson said.
Before working in Selma, an agricultural community of just under 25,000 residents in Fresno County, Gallavan served as interim city manager in Lompoc, Calif. She also served in that city as economic development director and assistant city manager from 2011 through 2018.
Before Lompoc, Gallavan worked for the Riverside County Economic Development Agency for 15 years, the last seven years as the agency’s marketing and cultural services manager, overseeing marketing, the county’s library system, and the Edward-Dean Museum and Gardens.
“Over the past several years, Palm Springs has experienced a tremendous renaissance and I am thrilled to join the team and help Palm Springs continue to prosper post-COVID,” Gallavan said in a news release issued by the city of Palm Springs. “With a background in economic development, I look forward to promoting the iconic Palm Springs brand and destination and I am incredibly excited to work with the City Manager, Council and Staff moving forward.”
Gallavan holds a master’s of business administration from California State University, San Bernardino, and a bachelor of arts in Spanish from the University of California, Irvine. She will begin her new position in Palm Springs in mid-November.
“I am thrilled to be bringing Teresa on to join our team,” said Palm Springs City Manager Justin Clifton. “This is an important position that plays a key role in leading the organization and working on some of the most important policy issues. I am grateful we have found a thoughtful, experienced leader who I am confident will hit the ground running.”
Gallavan replaces Marcus Fuller, who left to become city manager in Rialto in May. Fuller has since hired a pair of Palm Springs staff members — Cynthia Alvarado-Crawford, the former director of the Palm Springs Parks and Recreation Department who is now director of community services in Rialto, and Arron Brown, who served as IT director and deputy city manager in Palm Springs, and is now the deputy city manager in Rialto.
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BRIEFLY
MOUNTAIN LION CAPTURED: Police officers and members of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife worked together Monday to corral a mountain lion spotted in a Palm Springs neighborhood. The Palm Springs Police Department received a report of the mountain lion at 7:30 AM Monday in the Sunrise Palms Condominium Community, according to Sgt. Mike Casavan. Residents of the area told KESQ-TV that the mountain lion was spotted in the backyard of a residence, and that the occupants were not home at the time. Police alerted the public at 2:30 PM that the mountain lion was safety tranquilized by CDFW, and upon closer examination, it was discovered to be malnourished and in need of treatment. The mountain lion was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility in San Diego County for treatment.
CROSSWALK CELEBRATION: City officials, Arenas District representatives, and other dignitaries gathered at East Arenas Road and South Calle Encilia Monday morning to celebrate the painting of the first of two rainbow crosswalks in the area. City crews put the finishing touches on the colorful crosswalk shortly before 10 AM and will complete another one along Arenas at Indian Canyon Drive today.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
MIZELL EVENTS: A computer tutor is available, Spanish lessons are offered, and more programs can be found today at the Mizell Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way. For more information about today’s offerings, click here.
WALK OF STARS: The latest Palm Springs Walk of Stars plaque is dedicated at 11 AM. Frank Ferrante, an actor, director, and producer described by The New York Times as “the greatest living interpreter of Groucho Marx’s material,” will be honored with a star at 125 S. Palm Canyon Drive.
SUNSHINE SISTERS: Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters is having a happy hour and game night at 5 PM at Wendy’s Hideout, which is adjacent to Pete’s Hideaway, 665 S. Palm Canyon Dr. You can sign up to be part of the group formed to help women make new connections and friendships on Meetup here.
SUSTAINABILITY: The city’s Sustainability Commission meets virtually at 5:30 PM. Information about joining or viewing that meeting can be found here.
ONGOING & UPCOMING
UPCOMING MUSICAL: Girlfriend, a production of Dezart Performs, will be performed at 7:30 PM, Wednesday through Saturday, at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, 71560 San Jacinto Dr., in Rancho Mirage. General admission is $45 in advance; tables for 6 PM. dinner seating is also available. For tickets or more information, call 760-322-0179, or visit dezartperforms.org. Find the complete story here.
HOMECOMING WEEK: It’s homecoming week at Palm Springs High School. Aside from the annual homecoming football game (7 PM on Friday against Shadow Hills), the homecoming parade is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. From 3:30 PM until 5:30 PM, the parade will be held on Palm Canyon Drive, beginning on Baristo Road and ending at Alejo. The announcers will be in front of Las Casuelas Terraza on Palm Canyon Drive. This year’s theme is “Dancing through the Decades,” and the grand marshal is Palm Springs High School Principal Brian Hendra, who will soon be leaving his post to serve as a director at the district level.
NEXT PLAY: Palm Canyon Theatre’s production of Shrek The Musical opens Friday evening and runs through November 7. Showtimes are 7 PM on Thursdays, 8 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 PM on Sundays. For tickets or other information, call the box office at 760-323-5123 or order online at PalmCanyonTheatre.org.
DESERT ENSEMBLE BENEFIT: Desert Ensemble Theatre’s season-opening performances are this weekend at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Rd. The performances will benefit the company’s student training and scholarship fund. Friday evening there is both a reception and a show, starting at 7 PM. Tickets for that event are $65. Both the Saturday performance at 7 PM, and the Sunday performance at 2 PM, are $45. The ensemble features Darci Daniels, Bonnie Gilgallon, and Charles Herrera, with Joel Baker at the piano, under the direction of by Jerome Elliott. More information and advanced ticket sales can be found at desertensembletheatre.org.
BULKY ITEM COLLECTION: Palm Springs Disposal Services is hosting a free bulky items drop-off event Saturday from 8 AM until 2 PM in the north parking lot of City Hall, located at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way.
COMMUNITY CLEANUP: The Community Partnership on Homelessness and Palm Springs Clean Up are joining together for a monthly city cleanup and homeless outreach on Saturday starting at 8 AM. To participate, meet at the downtown parking structure on Baristo Road and Indian Canyon Drive. The proposed route will start on Indian Canyon and head north to Andreas Road, left to Palm Canyon, and continue south back to Baristo Road. Trash bags, disposable gloves and water will be provided. Organizers encourage participants to wear a hat and bring a claw if you have one.
HALLOWEEN EVENTS: The city hosts a pair of Halloween-themed events this weekend. On Saturday from 12 PM until 3 PM, you can take part in Candy, Cars & Community at Demuth Community Center, 3601 E. Mesquite Ave. The event features candy, cars, and games and is free to attend; On Sunday, come to the Floating Pumpkin Patch at Palm Springs Swim Center, 405 S. Pavilion Way, starting at 11 AM. The price of admission is $5 and includes a free pumpkin as well as coffin races, pumpkin painting, a selfie booth, and more.
SENIOR FITNESS: The Mizell Center will celebrate active older adults the last week of October with complimentary classes, an informative talk from race walker Darlene Backlund on Monday, October 25, and a “Walk in the Park with Mizell” at 7 AM October 26 at Sunrise Park. To participate, sign up at the ticket window for all free events. Mizell Center is located at 480 S. Sunrise Way.
AIDS WALK: The community’s largest gathering of HIV advocates comes together on Saturday, October 30, to walk toward ending the HIV and AIDS epidemics in the Coachella Valley. Complete details, including registration information, is available here.
PRIDE RUN: The Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk takes place Saturday, November 6 at 8 AM. The event is both in-person and virtual for 2021. Registration is available here.
VOTING UNDERWAY: Our partners at The Coachella Valley Independent have started the next step in the process of determining the best of the best in the Coachella Valley for 2021-2022. The top vote-getters in each category have been selected, and now you can vote for the winners. To vote for your favorite in any one of multiple categories, start here.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Want to know what’s happening in your city and at agencies that make decisions affecting your neighborhood? See below for calendars, meeting agendas, and links to all city services, police reports, code enforcement reports, and more:
City of Palm Springs calendar of events | Official city contacts
Palm Springs Public Library calendar of events
Palm Springs Unified School District calendar | Board meetings
Palm Springs High School athletics and other events
Desert Healthcare District Board of Directors meeting agendas
Transgender Health and Wellness Center calendar
LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert programs
Mizell Center calendar of events
Police reports | Submit a police report
Code compliance reports | Report a code violation
Current road projects and closures
Palm Springs Disposal pickup schedule | Holiday schedules
Currently active development projects
