Bruce Harry

Official Biography

Bruce Harry retired in July 2015 from his post as Director of Public Works for the City of Rancho Mirage. Any previously posted biographical material is no longer available on the Rancho Mirage website.

Council Statements Regarding CV Link

In citing text from the meeting minutes, others' comment is not often included, and no ellipses are provided.

18 June 2015

The City Council met in regular session, and Bruce Harry's report was included. [Others' comment is not included, and no ellipses are provided.]

• "12. Oppose the alternative CV Link route alignment along Gerald Ford Drive within the City of Rancho Mirage.
• "Public Works Director Bruce Harry presented the staff report. On June 1st, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments ( CVAG) Executive Committee reviewed three alternate CV Link alignments, which were suggested by CVAG staff and intended to address elimination of the use of Highway 111 and Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. The approved alternate alignments will be made part of the environmental review, along with the alignments proposed in the March 2015 CV Link Master Plan. Option No. 1 is to not have CV Link go through the City of Rancho Mirage, which was approved by the Executive Committee. Option No. 2, which was also approved, is an on -street alignment on Date Palm Drive, Gerald Ford Drive, and Monterey Avenue. Option No. 3, which was not approved, was to prohibit electric vehicles from the Butler - Abrams Trail segment of the CV Link.
• "Mr. Harry reported that staff reviewed all three alternatives and found Option No. 2 to be problematic. The area is mostly developed with adjacent residential communities, lush and efficient landscaping, and a behind -curb meandering bicycle path. Gerald Ford Drive is built to ultimate General Plan standards, with four travel lanes, raised landscape median islands, and a bicycle lane. There are only two different ways to install Option No. 2. One option is to locate the route behind the curb and gutter within the approved landscape parkways of numerous residential developments. This would require the removal of virtually all existing parkway landscaping improvements and would negatively impact vehicle ingress and egress out of residential communities and commercial driveways. The second option is to locate the route in the roadway, thereby eliminating two of four existing vehicle travel lanes, in direct conflict with the City' s General Plan, and impacting the current and future level of service of the roadway. Staff recommends that Council oppose Option No. 2 to align the CV Link along Gerald Ford Drive.

Public Information Online

Palm Springs address

Retirement July 2, 2015

Total pay & benefits in 2013

email bruceh@ci.rancho-mirage.ca.us (Bruce Harry's e-mail)

Contact Information, Total pay and base pay in 2011

Refuses sidewalk to wheelchairs

Recommends location for dog park

Contact info as director of public works

Rejects CV Link on Gerald Ford

Describes Community Park Expansion

Palm Springs contact info

Thinks accidents happen from inattention

• Rancho Mirage traffic officials ranked the city’s intersections with the most crashes and collisions since December 2010.
• 1: Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra drives: 18
• 2: Bob Hope and Dinah Shore drives: 16
• 3: Bob Hope and Country Club drives: 11
• 4: Highway 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive: 10
• 5: Highway 111 and Indian Trail Road: 9
• 6: Dinah Shore Drive and Monterey Avenue: 8
• 7: Frank Sinatra Drive and Monterey Avenue: 8
• 8: Gerald Ford Drive and Monterey Avenue: 8
• 9: Highway 111 and Magnesia Falls Drive: 8
• 10: Country Club Drive and Vista Dunes Road: 7
• 11: Highway 111 and Bob Hope Drive: 7
• 12: Monterey Avenue and Marketplace Way: 7

Large homes have higher electric bills
 
Rancho Mirage City Council adopts budgets, votes down CV Link path recommended by CVAG

Expansion of Whitewater Park at $4.3 million, Ritz-Carlton update on incentive loan up to $20 million 

Dog park as designed would cost about $647,000 to build and $30,000 a year to maintain 

Comment

As a representative of "staff" of the City of Rancho Mirage, Bruce Harry is the point man who effectively advised against all three proposed routings of CV Link through Rancho Mirage.

• Option No. 1 is to not have CV Link go through the City of Rancho Mirage, which was approved by the Executive Committee (a committee of city staff). 
•  Option No. 2 is an on -street alignment on Date Palm Drive, Gerald Ford Drive, and Monterey Avenue, which was also approved by the Executive Committee but recommended to be opposed by the city council.
•  Option No. 3 is to prohibit electric vehicles from the Butler-Abrams Trail segment of the CV Link, which was not approved by the Executive Committee.

The city council took staff advice—as if it were needed—and voted unanimously against Option No. 2. The staff advice became one of the primary reasons for prohibiting CV Link through the city.

Likely Harry's ex-parte advice contributed to the decision to prohibit NEV operation on major streets and arterials in the city.