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

Delegate, Vacant
Andrea Scharffer, Deputy Assistant Secretary, (Alternate)

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

Jennifer Norris, Executive Director