Governing Board Members

Palm Canyon Photo by Pam Lennon

The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy is currently governed by a board of twenty members. The board members represent local jurisdictions, the public at large, several state agencies, and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The board meets on a bi-monthly basis at regularly scheduled public meetings.

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Savana Saubel, Secretary-Treasurer
Margaret Park, Director of Planning and Natural Resources (Alternate)

CA State Assembly Appointee
Beatriz Gonzalez, Private Citizen

CA Governor’s Appointee
Joan Taylor, Private Citizen

CA Senate Appointee
Ellen Lloyd Trover, Private Citizen

CA Department of Fish & Wildlife
Richard Kim, Environmental Scientist

CA State Parks
Andrew Ahlberg, Chief Ranger, Ocotillo Wells District

CA Department of Finance
Michael Cohen, Director

CA Natural Resources Agency
Jennifer Norris, Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat

City of Cathedral City
Rita Lamb, Council Member (Vice Chair)
Nancy Ross, Council Member (Alternate)

City of Coachella
Denise Delgado, Council Member
Frank Figueroa, Council Member (Alternate)

City of Desert Hot Springs
Gary Gardner, Council Member (Chair)
Robert Griffith, Council Member (Alternate)

City of Indian Wells 
Bruce Whitman, Council Member

City of Indio
Elaine Holmes, Council Member
Oscar Ortiz, Mayor (Alternate)

City of La Quinta
Deborah McGarrey, Council Member
Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Council Member (Alternate)

City of Palm Desert
Evan Trubee, Council Member
Kathleen Kelly, Council Member (Alternate)

City of Palm Springs
Christy Holstege, Council Member
Ron deHarte, Council Member (Alternate)

City of Rancho Mirage
Steve Downs, Mayor Pro Tem
Lynn Mallotto, Council Member (Alternate)

County of Riverside, District 4
V. Manuel Perez, Riverside County Supervisor

University of California
Christopher Tracy, Director, Deep Canyon Desert Research Center

Wildlife Conservation Board
Rebecca Fris, Acting Executive Director