Dick Kelly cared about and protected the environment long before it was a popular thing to do. He enjoys the outdoors and treasures our natural resources. He always left a campsite in better condition than he found it and as a youth councilor never allowed littering or defacing of property.
Recycling Program
Dick Kelly started the first curb side recycling program in Riverside County. In 1990, with permission of his fellow City Council members and with assistance from City Staff and Waste Management of the Desert, he put together a program, obtained the necessary equipment, and started pick up within a six week period.
"Dick Kelly wanted curbside recycling for Palm Desert. Dick called me (John Lavender - then vice president of Waste Management of the Desert) to meet him for breakfast the next day at John's at 6:00 a.m. Before we could even order coffee, Dick learned across the table and said, 'I want curbside recycling in the city of Palm Desert within 60 days from today.' I responded, 'Dick, that's almost impossible because we have to order the containers, etc.' Dick said, 'I want the city to be recycling within 60 days. I know you can do it.' We had curbside recycling in 59 days.
Palm Desert was one of the first cities in California to initiate curbside recycling. When Dick Kelly wants to get something done, he does it! From my experience, Dick is one of the most forceful politicians with whom I have ever worked."
John Lavender
Retired Vice-President of Waste Management of the Desert
Drought Tolerant Landscaping
In 1983 Dick Kelly led a group interested in drought tolerant landscaping to Phoenix and Scottsdale to study using this type of landscaping in Palm Desert. The first drought tolerant landscaping was done in the median on Fred Waring Drive just west of Monterey. As an out growth of this visionary effort, Palm Desert became the leader in creating beautiful and water conservation landscaping for our desert area.
“Because of Dick Kelly’s leadership, Palm Desert has the most beautiful drought tolerant landscaping in the desert.”
Patti Gribow
TV Show Hostess – The Patti Gribow Show
"In 1984, I was asked by Dick Kelly to join a group of City of Palm Desert officials to visit the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, in an effort to learn more about desert landscaping practices. While there, we were given tours of municipal projects and were acquainted with water and maintenance saving practices already in place there.
Subsequently, we designed and installed the Coachella Valley's first municipal water efficient desert landscape in the median islands of Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. We've come a long way since then in our ever expanding knowledge and application of desert landscaping and drip irrigation design, but it all started with that trip."
Ron Gregory, President
RGA Landscape Architects, Inc.
Natural Gas Busses
Dick Kelly served on the Sunline Transit Agency Board from 1982 until 2006, serving as chairman several times. In 1991 Dick Kelly saw a window of opportunity for Sunline Transit Agency to be a leader in the use of alternate fuels. With the help of Sunline staff, the support of the Sunline Board of Directors and trips to Sacramento to gain support of legislators and private sector partners, by 1994, Sunline was able to change its entire fleet of 40 busses from diesel to natural gas. Dick Kelly also encouraged the cooperation of all Coachella Valley Cities and the private sector to investigate and develop hydrogen fuel. Sunline is a show case for this development and has a hydrogen bus in service. The natural gas busses have served the Coachella Valley for 14 years and currently Sunline is replacing them with a new fleet of natural gas busses.
“I have worked with Dick Kelly for nineteen years. His leadership, vision and dedication have been an inspiration to those who have worked with him. His accomplishments are legendary. Sunline Transit’s entire fleet has been converted to natural gasses, CNG, LNG and Hydrogen. This is the first fleet to ever do so. Dick Kelly is respected and admired by those who have had the opportunity to work with him.
Transportation in the Coachella Valley is alive and well because of the efforts of Dick Kelly. He is a unique and dedicated individual.”
Alan Seman
Councilman
Board of Director Sunline Transit Agency
Street Legal Golf Carts
Dick Kelly sees innovative ways to solve challenges. Dick Kelly saw the opportunity to use the hundreds of golf carts in Palm Desert by making it legal to drive them on city streets and help reduce emissions. Dick Kelly brought people involved with vehicle codes enforcement, manufacturers, distributors and owners together. After trips to Sacramento a law was adopted that allowed golf carts to be used on Palm Desert City Streets.
The Coachella Valley is now noted for its alternate fuel programs and companies have located here to do their research. Lyn and Ella Manor
were the first to register their street legal golf cart.
“Thanks to Dick Kelly I can drive my golf cart anywhere in the city of
Palm Desert.”
Lyn Manor
Golf Cart Owner, Former owner of The Lock Shop
"I had the pleasure of serving on the first state Golf Cart Legalization Committee with then Mayor Dick Kelly. I will never forget the first full meeting with the entire team and staff members.
Almost immediately after the call to order and introductions; one-by-one people began to complain about how difficult a task it was to undertake. We heard about how hard the road delineations would be, how difficult the traffic signals could become, how great a challenge to write the licensing laws; and then, in the midst of all the whining, a loud BANG!
Dick Kelly slammed his fist on the table and sternly said; 'I don't want to hear any more about how hard it is! It is going to happen so clear your minds and start telling me HOW you can help make it happen.' After a momentary pause, one-by-one each person began to share ideas and offer suggestions as to how it would work!
I realized what I had just seen was a lesson in leadership. Needless to say, the pilot program of which we were a part worked magnificently and prospered under the leadership on one Richard "Dick" Kelly.
He deserves your vote!
Tom Emmett
Palm Desert
Golf Cart Distributor
Palm Desert Energy Program
Leed Buildings
Dick Kelly enthusiastically supports Palm Desert’s current energy program which assists citizens to convert their homes to be more energy efficient. This program provides loans and financial rebates for purchase of more efficient appliances, solar power installation, water efficient irrigation systems and to help with drought tolerant landscaping
Dick Kelly supports Palm Desert’s objective of having its new buildings be constructed as sustainable and environmentally friendly. The most recognized certification program for this type of construction is (LEED) by the Green Building Rating System. These buildings use recycled materials
and are designed to conserve energy. The cost of construction is more, but long term saving in energy costs cover this expense
"It is impossible to overstate Dick Kelly's contributions to the success of Palm Desert. Our fine city has benefited from a seemingly endless well of talented leadership, but Mr. Kelly's expertise in civic planning stands tall. The "gentleman in the green jacket" couples incisive thinking with a homespun ability to accurately and simply communicate complex issues, in order to get the right thing done. One recent example of his efforts is the newly completed "Henderson Community Building" which will cooperatively house The PD Chamber of Commerce while also providing much needed meeting space for numerous Palm Desert Organizations. This benchmark LEEDS certification, recognizing "green" environmental design and construction, is but a recent example of the leadership the voters of Palm Desert have come to expect from Dick Kelly."
Ray Rodriguez
Past Chairman of the Board
Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce
Palm Desert Restaurant owner (Casuelas Cafe and the Cork Tree)
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