About Ginny

I have been in Palm Springs for 18 years, becoming a full-time resident after moving from Los Angeles in 1999 with Pam, my partner of 21 years.

Upon moving to Palm Springs, I purchased a building on N. Palm Canyon and operated a retail business in Uptown Palm Springs.  I became president of the Uptown Business Association, and soon became active in local politics.  In 2002, I was appointed to the City of Palm Springs Budget Task Force, charged with reviewing and recommending ways to streamline the City’s budget.  It was my work on the Budget Task Force and my business experience that prompted me to successfully run for city council in 2003. 

In 2005, I was re-elected to the City Council after receiving more votes than any other candidate has received in a Palm Springs City Council election.  I mention this, because to me, the result of that election was a mandate to carry out the platform on which I ran for office.  My commitment to protecting quality of life, citizen involvement, prudent fiscal management and business and economic development is the benchmark for every position I have taken on City issues.  I am a tireless advocate for issues facing Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley, and Riverside County.

Working on Behalf of the City:

As a member of City Council, I devote my time and experience to many City committees and special projects.  I also represent the City on many regional committees and commissions.

City Committees

Business Retention                                                        

Animal Shelter Committee         

Sustainability Committee                                            

Budget Committee

Downtown Sign Committee                                       

Finance Committee                                                                       

Tri-City Coordinating Committee                              

College of the Desert West Campus Committee

Andreas Hills Annexation Committee                    

Walk of Stars Committee                             

Medical Marijuana Task Force                                   

Homeless Blue Ribbon Task Force, Co-Chair                                        

Interview Panel for Hiring Police Chief

Interview Panel for Hiring Sustainability Coordinator

Interview Panel for Hiring Animal Shelter Architect

Council Representative to Main Street

Council Representative to Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee

Riverside County Committees

Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) - Member and alternate since 2003

RCTC Plans & Programs Committee - Member and alternate since 2003

Coachella Valley Association of Governments Committees

Human Resources Committee - Member since 2003

Homelessness Committee - Member since its inception in 2007

      -Homelessness Committee Site Selection Committee - Chair

      -Shelter Service Provider Selection sub-committee - Member 

Transportation Committee - Alternate

Public Safety Committee - Alternate

Coachella Valley Housing Trust - Secretary, Board of Directors

Volunteering in the Community:

League of California Cities, Riverside County District – Executive Board

League’s GLBT elected officials caucus - Member

Desert Pride Center – Board of Directors and Founding Co-Chair

Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter – Board of Directors

Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization - Member

Soroptimist International of Palm Springs - Member

Uptown Business Association - Past President

Los Angeles County Commission on HIV/AIDS Services - Past Co-Chair

City of Palm Springs Budget Review Task Force – Past Member

Business Experience:

Government Affairs and Political Consultant

VP Governmental Relations, Environmental Service Professionals

Owner and corporate officer, GBG Palm Springs Inc. – property management company

Owner, Ginny Foat, Non- Profit Consulting – consulting and grant writing services for non-profit organizations

National Regional Director YWCA of the USA

Executive Director of Caring for Children & Families with AIDS