The Palm Springs City Council unanimously voted to approve the city's settlement offer aimed at "addressing historical injustices" for former Section 14 residents, which includes a $5.91 million cash settlement, it was announced Friday.

Other housing and economic development initiatives are detailed in the settlement package, an offer which the "Section 14 Survivors" group has already accepted, according to a statement from city officials on Wednesday.

"The City Council is deeply gratified that the former residents of Section 14 have agreed to accept what we believe is a fair and just settlement offer," Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein said. "The City Council has always respected the historical significance of Section 14, and with this resolution of the claim ... we are taking bold and important action that will create lasting benefits for our entire community, while providing programs that prioritize support for the former residents of Section 14."

The council approved an earlier version of the settlement terms in April, with an initial cash payout set at $4.3 million. That figure was increased on Nov. 7, which city officials said accounts for a 36% increase in the estimated number of homes involved in the original abatements.

Local consultant Architectural Resources Group was enlisted by the City Council to assemble a "comprehensive report," labeled the Section 14 Historical Context Study, which was published on Friday. ARG had previously completed similar studies in Los Angeles, Pasadena, West Hollywood and Culver City.

According to a statement from Palm Springs officials, the report analyzed municipal actions that had an impact on the mid-20th century displacement of residents in the area.

The statement noted that the full resolution of the claim includes:

-- A $5.91 million cash settlement, in the form of "compensation based on current valuations of personal property losses, to be distributed to verified former residents of Section 14 and descendants";

-- $20 million in housing programs, "[spread] over 10 years, from funds already set aside for housing opportunities ... [aiming] to provide affordable homeownership for first-time buyers and establish a Community Land Trust for low-income residents, with priority access for the former residents of Section 14 and descendants";

-- $1 million in small business support, through "a partnership with the Caravanserai Project [that] will provide grants and low-interest loans to promote economic empowerment for disadvantaged groups, with dedicated outreach to the former residents of Section 14 and descendants";

-- Two announced cultural initiatives, including plans for a Section 14 monument memorializing the displaced residents and naming rights for future public parks.

The agenda for Thursday's Open Session City Council meeting contained a discussion and approval vote. Several survivors, descendants of survivors and allies offered input as public commenters, with some recalling generationally traumatic experiences and others urging the councilmembers' "moral heart to bend in favor of [the survivors] of Section 14."

While City Attorney Jeffrey Ballinger noted that the obligations were "largely moral ... as opposed to legal," he added that litigation could be costly -- two claims have been officially registered, which provide a public agency with a period to research and settle the claims, but no lawsuits had been filed, he said.

The discussion from the councilmembers was mostly supportive. Although some, such as Mayor Pro Tem Ron deHarte, expressed disappointment that the initial loss of property estimates didn't represent an accurate assessment of the situation, reasoning that the city owed former Section 14 residents more time for public review than eight days, deHarte and Councilmember Christy Holstege were among those to mention that public discussion on the issue was part of an informal reconciliation process.

"This is about making sure Palm Springs both remembers and learns from its history," City Manager Scott Skiles said, introducing the agenda item. "We're striving to make amends for past mistakes and to begin a path forward towards healing."

Following discussion, the City Council officially approved the settlement in a 5-0 vote.

More information about the aforementioned study and other information surrounding Section 14 can be found at engagepalmsprings.com. Residents can view archived footage of the discussion and vote on the official Palm Springs YouTube channel.