March 28 Daily Briefing: Community offers library input, previewing tonight’s City Council meeting, and more

Happy Thursday, everyone, where if you’d like to help the environment, we’ve got an opportunity to tell you about. Our friends at the Tahquitz Creek Yacht Club sent word yesterday that help is needed to rid the wash basin of invasive caster plants. Work has already been done to cut the stalks of those plants, but those stalks now need to get into dumpsters. You’re invited to a work party to do just that on Saturday at 8 a.m. at the corner of South Riverside Drive and South Random Road. If you go, don’t forget to wear heavy shoes and bring your work gloves. Need more information or want to RSVP? Send an email to this address.

🎶 Setting the mood: “This Life” by Vampire Weekend (featuring lots of Palm Springs and Coachella Valley locations in the music video!)

---

LEADING OFF

Community comes together to decide library’s future

At the fifth and final opportunity for residents to give their input in person on the Palm Springs Public Library renovations Wednesday evening, community members learned more about the scope of work and told the planning team their design values for the future of the library.

Driving the news: Over the past few weeks, representatives from the library and from Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc., the project team, have been soliciting community input throughout the city at informal meetings and large public events, including the ONE-PS Picnic and the Family Fun Fest.

Here’s why: This is the second round of input. In the first round, the team gathered about 1,000 responses. However, during a presentation to the Palm Springs City Council, councilmembers said they hoped to hear from more underrepresented groups to ensure the respondents were reflective of Palm Springs.

• At the January meeting, Councilmember Grace Garner told the team to find out, “Who’s not here and why are they not here? How do we make sure we’re creating a library space available for everyone, even if they haven’t come to the library in the past?”

What they’re saying: Jeannie Kays, director of library services, said the library’s booth at recent community events has been “mobbed” with kids from around the city. 

• “We’re planning focus groups with the Boys and Girls Club, where they’re going to come to the library,” she said. “We want to make sure every voice is heard.”

By the numbers: The city was awarded $6 million in matching grant funds by the California State Library Grant Program for the project. Combined with the matching funds, $13 million will be going toward crucial infrastructure work, such as updating building systems and upgrading accessibility. That work must be completed by March 2026.

In addition: The Library Board of Trustees requested that work be completed to reinvent the library beyond just structural improvements. For that, the City Council has directed staff to begin issuing debt service for $25 to $30 million.

Dive deeper: The reinvention includes enhanced children’s and teen spaces, an expanded community room, and acoustically designed spaces for collaboration and quiet study.

What’s next: Library staff will return to the City Council in the next few months to present the results of this round of community input, and by the end of the year, the project will go out to bid for construction.

Details: There’s still time to give your opinion on the library’s future, including its interior and exterior and which programming should be prioritized. The online survey will be available through April 12.

BRIEFLY

🏛️ What to watch for at tonight’s City Council meeting

The Palm Springs City Council is set to discuss key community issues, including strategies for economic development, a downtown mixed-use development project, and privacy concerns related to Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras, when it meets tonight in regular session (See the agenda here).

Leading off: First up, the Joint Powers Authority will present plans for local economic growth, focusing on job creation, business incentives, and infrastructure improvements. Then, the council is expected to hear about the Palm Springs Convention Center master plan.

ALPR concerns: A significant portion of the meeting could be dedicated to discussing the use of automated license plate reader cameras, which allow law enforcement to track vehicle movements.

• The council will explore court rulings on ALPR use, discuss policy considerations for privacy protection, and seek community input on ALPR deployment, transparency, and accountability, particularly as it applies to installation of the cameras on city property by HOAs and neighborhood organizations.
  
  
• With a goal of striking a balance between public safety and civil liberties, the council is expected to propose guidelines for responsible ALPR deployment and protection of residents’ rights.

Details: The regular meeting is open to the public in council chambers 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

---

TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
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.

Comedy Night
7 p.m. | Quadz
Join Craig Appelbaum for a night of comedy fourth Thursday of the month.

Jazzville
7 p.m. | Cascade Lounge
Hailing from New York City and now calling Los Angeles home, Jerry Costanzo and his eight-piece Gotham City Swingers are back for another performance at Jazzville. ($21)

SAVE THE DATE

• Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards on Saturday at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
  
  
• Palm Springs Fire Foundation Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at Ruth Hardy Park.
  
  
• Trans Pride 2024 on Saturday at Palm Springs Pavilion (moved due to weather).
  
  
• Police & Fire Luncheon Appreciation on April 2 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
  
  
• Rock the Park: Tribute to Garth Brooks on April 3 at the Downtown Park.
  
  
• Faux Fur Ball on April 6 at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

---

AND FINALLY …

The Transgender Health and Wellness Center is hosting the “Empower and Employ” Trans Pride event indoors at Palm Springs Pavilion this Saturday, aiming to provide more than just a job fair. 

Driving the news: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event seeks to offer a lifeline to the transgender community through celebration, inclusion, and opportunity, moving beyond the commercialization of typical Pride events.

• The event focuses on connecting transgender individuals with employment opportunities, vital resources, and raising awareness about the disparities they face. 
  
  
• Last year, companies like Amazon and the city of Palm Springs participated, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for inclusive employment practices.

Why it matters: Despite efforts by companies like Netflix, Starbucks, and others to create inclusive environments, transgender adults still face double the unemployment rates of cisgender counterparts and a 32% lower annual income, highlighting the importance of such community-focused events.

Details: The event is free and open to all and will include live performances, speakers, a sound bath, and more. To learn more, visit www.trans.health or contact 760-202-4308.

• Read our complete story here.