Todd Hileman became the City Manager of Palm Desert in March, 2021. He came to the City after serving from January 2017 through February 2021 as City Manager in Denton, TX, a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas with a population of approximately 150,000.

Prior to that, Hileman served from 2004-2016 as Village Manager of Glenview, IL, a north Chicago suburban community with a population of nearly 50,000.

Hileman led a transformation of business practices in Glenview to emphasize efficiency, customer service and innovation. In previous assignments, he served as City Manager and Assistant City Manager of Avondale, AZ, from 2000 to 2004 and as City Administrator for the cities of Delavan, WI and Vandalia, MO. His local government experience spans more than 25 years.

Hileman holds a Bachelor of Science degree Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University and a Master of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. He received the City Manager of the Year award from the Illinois Assistant Municipal Management Association (IAMMA), and the Village of Glenview received the Community Partnership Award from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

He regularly speaks on change management and alternative service delivery in local government to ICMA, IAMMA, and other audiences.

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.

Resident Survey - August 11, 2023 

The City of Palm Desert has hired an independent public opinion research company to conduct a public opinion survey to obtain feedback on key issues in the city and identify residents' priorities and concerns. We appreciate any time you have taken in responding. Our City team will be reviewing all feedback and there will be much additional information sought before any decisions are made. For questions about the survey, please email info@palmdesert.gov.

Contact the City Manager

Todd Hileman 
Phone: (760) 346-0611 
Send an email

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.