Evan Trubee was elected to the Palm Desert City Council in 2022 after serving on the city’s Resource Preservation and Enhancement Committee and Public Safety Commission. A longtime advocate for quality of life as the foundation of Palm Desert’s future, he and his wife Kristen chose to raise their family here after moving from New Jersey.

Evan owns Big Wheel Tours, a 12-employee business that introduces 10,000+ visitors a year to the desert through biking, hiking, and travel experiences. He also serves on the Palm Springs Hospitality Association board, is active in the Chamber of Commerce, coaches youth sports, and leads his neighborhood HOA. Kristen teaches in DSUSD, and together they are raising three children in Palm Desert.

Joe Pradetto was elected to the Palm Desert City Council in 2024 after serving on the city’s Planning Commission and Finance Committee. A strong advocate for safe neighborhoods, thriving local businesses, and fiscal responsibility, he brings both private- and public-sector experience to his role.

Previously, Joe served as President of the Coachella Valley Resource Conservation District, where he earned statewide recognition for restoring accountability and balanced budgets. He also owns and manages rental properties and was named to Palm Springs Life’s “40 Under 40” in 2014.

Joe and his wife, Aubrey, are raising their two daughters in South Palm Desert, where they enjoy hiking, supporting local businesses, and engaging in community life. His vision for Palm Desert is one of growth, safety, and opportunity for families and businesses alike.

Member of the City Council since 2024
Current term: 2024-2028
District 2
Contact Joe Pradetto

Karina Moreno has lived in Palm Desert since 2002 and has been a Coachella Valley resident since 1984. A graduate of Cathedral City High School and UC Riverside (B.A. in Spanish), she completed credential coursework to teach Spanish in 2012 and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration.

Her career in education has spanned universities, vocational schools, nonprofits, and private institutions, where she developed programs to support student success, including securing a $240,000 Cal-Wellness Foundation grant for professional tutors at local high schools. A graduate of the HOPE Leadership Institute, she has lobbied for legislation expanding healthcare access and redirecting funds to student scholarships.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Karina has long used her translation skills to support families and authored the Spanish version of Any Body Can Enjoy Computers to expand digital literacy. Deeply engaged in her community, she has served as a Career Guidance Specialist, teacher, scholarship coordinator, and youth program volunteer, while also giving back as a longtime blood, platelet, and plasma donor.

Above all, Karina is most proud of her role as a mother to two daughters, who inspire her commitment to education, equity, and building a brighter future for the Coachella Valley.

Member of the City Council since 2020
Current term: 2024-2028
District 1
Contact Karina Moreno

Gina Nestande was elected to the Palm Desert City Council in 2016. A longtime resident, she has been deeply involved in the community through leadership roles at Sacred Heart Parish and School, service on numerous city and regional committees, and volunteer work with local schools and youth sports.

Originally from St. Louis, Gina earned a B.S. in Education from the University of Missouri, pursued graduate studies in business at the University of San Diego, and later completed California teacher credentialing coursework. She worked as Development Director at Sacred Heart, as a substitute teacher for DSUSD, and is now a licensed real estate broker, helping lead one of the Coachella Valley’s top-producing teams.

A mother of five, Gina and her husband Brian share a blended family of seven children. She remains active in the Palm Desert Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and local school communities. With both professional and personal roots in Palm Desert, Gina is committed to preserving quality of life, supporting property values, and fostering economic development that creates opportunities for future generations.

Member of the City Council since 2016
Current term: 2024-2028
District 3
Contact Gina Nestande

Jan C. Harnik was elected to the Palm Desert City Council in 2010. Complementing her service on the Council, Jan serves on the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Transportation Committee as Chair and on the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission. Additionally, Jan has served as 2022/2023 President of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). Currently, she serves on SCAG’s Regional Council, Executive Administration Committee, Transportation Committee, Legislative/Communications and Membership Committee, and Emerging Technologies Committee.

Jan also serves on CALCOG, California Council of Governments, as the President. Jan’s service on the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) currently includes Budget and Implementation Committee, Audit Committee, and Executive Committee, and in 2021/2022 she served as Chair.

A lover of the arts and education, she is proud to serve as a member of the McCallum Theatre's Board of Trustees, working to bring high-quality and internationally-renown performance art to all visitors and members of the community. Additionally, the McCallum Theatre Education Program seeks to enhance the role of the arts in our youths’ lives, exposing them to performances and including them in arts education experiences. To date, the theatre education programs have served more than 660,000 students and educators in our community. 

Jan worked with the Palm Desert High School Foundation, a non-profit corporation supporting academic excellence at Palm Desert High School from 2002 until 2012, and served as President for three years. She spearheaded multi-year efforts to raise funds and to distribute resources to support and improve every student’s academic performance and opportunity. 

She believes that volunteers continue to make Palm Desert the wonderful place that it is. The community’s willingness and commitment to give back guarantees an even brighter future. "We don't love our community because it is great," Jan says. "Our community is great because we love it." 

Jan moved to the Coachella Valley in 1977. She and her husband Brian have raised five children, all of whom attended Palm Desert High School and went on to graduate from U.C. Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, U.C. Riverside, U.C. Davis, and Cal Poly Pomona. Jan is also a member of the Palm Desert Noon Rotary Club and the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce. In the private sector, Jan works as the manager of a professional office building. Her hobbies include early morning workouts, hiking desert hillsides, nutrition and cooking, and gardening. 

Throughout her tenure Jan has been recognized for her service, including the following awards:

• Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for dedicated community service, 2012 
• Sunrise District Boy Scouts of America, CIEC, Distinguished Citizen of the Year award, 2014 
• Palm Springs Life Women in Business Award - Business Leader, 2015 
• Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce George V. Berkey Citizen of the Year, 2017 
• LifeStream’s Humanitarian of the Year award, shared with Linda Evans and Elaine Holmes, 2018 
• Cal Cities highest award in recognition of service and continued education, The Torch Program Award, Level III – Leadership in Action, presented by the California League of Cities, 2019 
• The Waring's Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Jan & Brian Harnik, 2020 
• LifeStream’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, 2023 
• Woman of The Year 2022, Assembly District 42 

Member of the City Council since 2010
Current term: 2022-2026
At Large 
Contact Jan Harnik

On January 25, 2024, the Palm Desert City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1406 establishing five single-member council districts. The incumbent Councilmembers will continue to serve and complete their existing terms.

The transition to single-member council districts will commence with the General Municipal Election of November 5, 2024, for the election of three members of City Council representing Districts 1, 2, and 3. The transition will be complete following the November 2026 election for two members of City Council representing Districts 4 and 5. You can learn more about the redistricting process by visiting www.redistrictpd.org, including an interactive map where you can locate your district.

• Click here to access the District Locator Interactive Map

Fair Political Practices Commission Regulation 18705.5 requires the City to post, on the City's website, the stipends Councilmembers receive from outside agencies in conjunction with official appointments made by the whole City Council. 

• Form 806 - Report of Public Official Appointments