Feb. 8 Daily Briefing: Sign restored to midcentury glory, another dispensary in the works, council preview, and more

Welcome to Thursday, and would you look at this! It’s none other than the crew at KGAY, gracing the New York Times. Author Erik Piepenburg and photojournalist Michelle Groskopf expertly captured the spirit of what station owner Brad Fuhr has created along with Chris Shebel and John Taylor (at the microphone during afternoons and mornings) and DJ Eric Ornelas, DJ Galaxy, and DJ Modgirl, whose magical mixes help entertain the party people young and old. Even if you’re not a listener, you need to read all about this one-of-a-kind operation keeping the beat alive here while broadcasting around the world.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Walk on By” by Dionne Warwick

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LEADING OFF

New dispensary moving forward amidst industry struggles

While members of the Palm Springs City Council continue to discuss ways to help struggling cannabis business owners, the next possible new dispensary and lounge in the city is moving forward.

Zoom in: The project — dubbed “Off the Charts Cannabis Dispensary” — was submitted by longtime resident and local business owner Wayne Gottlieb. It calls for a 628-square-foot addition to an existing commercial building located at 1534 North Palm Canyon Dr. 

Driving the news: The city’s Planning Commission gave its approval on Dec. 13. This week, the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) issued its approval. Both asked for changes before permits are issued.

• Among the changes being asked for are those limiting the parking to make way for additional landscaping, adjusting window sizes for historical accuracy and uniform heights, the addition of decorative metal grills, and installation of non-invasive shade trees.

Details: During the December Planning Commission meeting, city staff noted that the addition exceeds 25% of the overall square footage of the building, triggering the need for commission oversight. 

• Staff also noted administrative actions already completed by Gottlieb, including securing a cannabis license and an approved odor control plan.

BRIEFLY

💰 Cannabis, rental assistance on tap at tonight’s Council meeting

The Palm Springs City Council will meet in closed and regular sessions today. According to the agenda, they will revisit the idea of changing some taxes and regulations related to the cannabis industry in the city. 

• The proposed changes include reducing the local retail tax on cannabis production from 10% to 5% and limiting the number of dispensaries to 25. Recently, the city’s cannabis businesses have been struggling due to oversaturation and high taxes.
  
  
• Also on the agenda, councilmembers will consider appropriating $1 million in housing set-aside funds for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program. Since the TBRA program started last year, the city has helped 180 households spend $850,000 on utilities and rent.
  
  
• Details: The regular meeting is open to the public at City Hall. You can submit comments via an online public comment form, in person, or by calling the city clerk’s office at 760-323-8204 at any time prior to the end of the public comment period. View the meeting live on YouTube or Spectrum channel 17.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
According to the agenda, councilmembers will revisit the idea of changing some cannabis taxes and regulations and consider appropriating more money for a housing assistance program. 

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
Weather permitting, the weekly street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

“Witchland”
7 p.m. | Revolution Stage Company
“Witchland” combines elements of traditional theatrical storytelling with immersive haunted elements. The story is based on the author’s experiences growing up in Richland, Wash., deemed the most toxic place in the Western Hemisphere. ($25)

Intersect Palm Springs
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Convention Center
The annual celebration of contemporary art and design has returned to Palm Springs and will be in town through the weekend. Showcasing a vibrant infusion of 30 premier contemporary art and design galleries. ($25)

SAVE THE DATE

• Tour de Palm Springs on Feb. 10, starting and ending in Downtown Palm Springs.
  
  
  
• Rock the Park:  Cash, Killer, and The King Feb. 14 at Downtown Park.
  
  
  
• Palm Springs Modernism Week from Feb. 15 – Feb. 25.
  
  
  
• Palm Springs International Jazz Festival on Feb. 24 and 25.
  
  
  
• Mizell Center Third Wednesday Speaker Series on Feb. 28.
  
  
  
• An evening with PSIPC and Friends on Feb. 29.*
  
  
  
• Palm Springs Woman’s Club Scholarship Luncheon at the Hilton on March 27.*

* Sponsored placement

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AND FINALLY …

Just in time for the 100,000+ Modernism Week visitors, the signage for the Ocotillo Lodge just got an upgrade, restoring it to its original midcentury glory.

Driving the news: The original 1957 font, hand-drawn by one of the architects, William Krisel, is back, putting a whole new spin on the building with its off-kilter letters.

• The new sign is an exact replica of the original, and replaces a rather generic sans serif font that had been there for years. 

Background: The Ocotillo Lodge, designed by Krisel and Dan Saxon Palmer, originally opened in 1957 as a hotel with bungalows and picture-perfect midcentury details, including beamed ceilings and clerestory windows.

• It was a rumored favorite of Hollywood stars, including Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Perry Como, and the Rat Pack.
  
  
• The former hotel is currently a private community.

How we got here: The sign was restored thanks in part to a grant from the Twin Palms Neighborhood Organization, whose members felt it was important that the original sign be put back in place. 

• The organization held a formal unveiling and celebration on Monday.