Palm Desert could have plans for its new aquatic center approved by the end of March, but has yet to update its state-mandated plan for affordable housing, due in 2008.

The city's ability to move aggressively on high-priority projects and stall on others surfaced during a mid-year project update delivered to the City Council at a special study session Monday.

City Manager John Wohlmuth told the council that for the city to meet its goal of opening a new aquatic center in May of 2011, plans for the project must be finalized no later than March 25.

The $11.2 million project would put a two-pool complex — a competition pool and a recreation pool — in the northeast corner of Civic Center Park, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive.

A joint meeting and public hearing for the council and Planning Commission is set for March 24 to iron out last-minute concerns, with a final vote expected at the council's regular meeting the next day, Wohlmuth said.

On the other end of the spectrum, Lauri Aylaian, director of community development, reported that Palm Desert is now the only city in the Coachella Valley that has not given the state an updated plan for meeting its affordable housing quota.

The update was due in June 2008, but has been in limbo because of the council's reluctance to commit to high-density, affordable developments on undeveloped land at the city's north end.

Failure to file the updated plan could mean the city will have to update its affordable housing plan every four years, instead of eight. It could also face court sanctions.

Under the state's Regional Housing Needs Allotment set in 2007, Palm Desert is required to build 2,711 new units of affordable housing by 2014.

Mayor Cindy Finerty said the state's goals are unrealistic.

“(State officials) tell us how many houses we need to build. They provide numbers. But they don't take into account where the economy is, that there's not a drive for new projects,” Finerty said. “Any housing element we come up with would be meaningless.”