Thomas Davis, AICP
Mr. Davis is the Chief Planning and Development Officer for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs. Prior to working for the Tribe, Mr. Davis was a partner in two consulting firms over a fourteen-year period serving cities, counties and real estate development companies. His past public experience includes over two years with the City of Chula Vista Planning Department, Planning Commissioner of the City of Coronado, and numerous appointed commission seats with the City of San Clemente. Mr. Davis presently sits on the Board of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and the Coachella Valley Housing Trust and is a member of the California Planning Roundtable. Mr. Davis was recently reappointed by Governor Brown to the Colorado Regional Water Quality Control Board and named one the most influential people of the Coachella Valley by Palm Springs Life magazine. Mr. Davis has extensive experience with multi-discipline, complex land planning projects.
Mr. Davis has been the principal planning executive for the Tribe for over 2 decades. The Reservation covers 32,000 acres over four local jurisdictions (Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and the County of Riverside). This federally recognized Indian Tribe has many challenges and opportunities. Mr. Davis’ position includes such responsibilities as local government liaison, coordination and development of all projects occurring on Tribal land, monitoring community development, as well as all Tribal economic development, environmental review, land acquisitions and land use management reporting directly to the Tribal Council.
Mr. Davis received his Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture at California State Polytechnic University. He has completed postgraduate coursework in real estate development and received his MA in Education from CSU San Bernardino. Mr. Davis is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners. Mr. Davis’ past volunteer activities have included serving as President of a Chamber of Commerce, Guide Dogs of the Desert and a Boys and Girls Club.
Mr. Davis presently resides in Rancho Mirage with his wife, Debbie, and has two adult children.