September 18 Daily Briefing: Open space protections floated, Pride headliner announced, and more

Happy Wednesday, everyone! We’re not sure when “the season” officially kicks off in the desert, but don’t think anyone would fault us if we proclaimed that it begins tonight with the annual Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. We can think of few better ways to spend an evening than noshing on food from 40 different restaurants, listening to a Bruno Mars tribute band, and getting to know some of our area’s best businesses, all under perfectly clear skies and moderate temperatures at a historic golf course (and all for $30). Sound like your type of thing? Find more information at the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce’s website here, and say “Hi” if you see us!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Nice Work If you Can Get It” by Frank Sinatra

LEADING OFF

Commission floats exploring open space designation for Boulders, Crescendo

The Palm Springs Planning Commission has recommended exploring designating the undeveloped Boulders and Crescendo properties as open space, potentially offsetting density requirements through upzoning elsewhere in the city.

Looking back: Both the 42 acres known as Crescendo and the 31 acres named Boulders were slated for development by the company responsible for the revitalized portion of Downtown Palm Springs — now known as Grit Development — that was also wrapped up in an alleged bribery case involving a former city mayor. 

• The land was acquired by the city in a settlement agreement and is adjacent to Chino Canyon and the Palm Springs Visitors Center.

Driving the news: During a recent meeting, Planning Commission members discussed the idea of designating the land as open space, which many in the community have been asking for, as part of a broader review of updates to the city’s General Plan.

• The recommendation was included in the commission’s motion to approve General Plan updates, which passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Both properties have been subject to development speculation and are currently listed in an inventory of unused land the city submits to the state annually.

• City officials maintain the properties are not for sale and would not be developed, but need to be kept on the list to help meet housing density requirements.

Zoom in: The commission proposed tying the potential open space designation to future upzoning of other areas, such as the College of the Desert site adjacent to the Desert Highland Gateway Estates neighborhood.

What’s next: The updated General Plan, including this recommendation, will go to the City Council for final approval.

• Among other changes to the General Plan, the the commission also recommended updating land use designations for specific parcels, adding map references, and ensuring a comprehensive glossary of terms and definitions.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🎸 Neon Trees to headline Palm Springs Pride opening

Indie rock band Neon Trees will kick off Greater Palm Springs Pride with a free performance on Oct. 31, headlining the Día de la Reina event in the Arenas District. The Halloween night concert marks the beginning of Palm Springs Pride Week, running from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.

• Organizers said Tuesday that the event aligns with Palm Springs Pride’s 2024 theme, “Be You,” promoting self-expression and inclusivity. Neon Trees’ frontman Tyler Glenn has been open about his personal journey and co-founded the LOVELOUD Foundation to support LGBTQ+ youth.
  
  
• Details: The Pride celebration includes various events throughout the week, culminating in the Pride Parade on Nov. 3. Neon Trees’ performance coincides with the release of their fifth studio album, “Sink Your Teeth.”

💧DWA appoints first female GM

Desert Water Agency (DWA) has named Esther Saenz as its new general manager, effective July 2025. Saenz, currently the director of finance, will be the first woman to lead the agency in its history.

• The DWA Board of Directors approved Saenz’s appointment Tuesday, well ahead of current General Manager Steve Johnson’s retirement to ensure a smooth transition. Saenz brings 14 years of experience at DWA to her new role.
  
  
• Bottom line: Saenz emphasized the importance of water sustainability for the region, stating, “The continued reliability and sustainability of our water supply is vital for our region.”

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Sunshine Sisters Breakfast
8 a.m. | Rick’s Restaurant
Join other Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters for breakfast and conversation!
Learn all about the group on Meetup here.

Rotary Club Weekly Meeting
12 p.m. | Hilton Palm Springs
Come to this on-hour weekly luncheon gathering with changing programs. See newsletter here for updates.

Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs
5 p.m. until 9 p.m.  | Indian Canyons Golf Resort
Featuring over 40 valley restaurants, wine and beer tastings, a cocktail bar, and tequila tasting — all set against the stunning backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains at the historic North Indian Canyons Golf Resort. As a bonus, a Bruno Mars tribute band is playing! ($30)

Bike Lanes Community Meeting
5:30 p.m. | James O. Jessie Community Center
The city of Palm Springs plans to install bike lanes on two miles of South Palm Canyon Road and three miles of Racquet Club Road. But first, city officials will be listening to the community in three sessions. The second session takes place tonight starting at 5:30 p.m. at James O. Jessie Community Center.

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Police Department open house on Sept. 28.
  
  
• Boo2Bullying Wellness Festival at Palm Springs Stadium on Sept. 28. 
  
  
• City Council Candidate Forum on Oct. 5.
  
  
• One Night Out Rio benefiting The Foundation for PSUSD on Oct. 5.
  
  
• Evening Under The Stars benefit for AAP – Food Samaritans on Oct. 13.
  
  
• Center Stage benefiting LQBTQ+ Center of the Desert on Oct. 19.
  
  
• Pride on the Page Book Festival on Oct. 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Speaks first speaker on Oct. 22.

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AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

Today we invite you to meet Dayla, a 1-year-old Shepherd mix available at Palm Springs Animal Shelter.

• Staff at the shelter say she’s a gorgeous teenager ready to explore the world. She enjoys walks with volunteers almost as much as she enjoys playing with other dogs.
  
  
• Dayla is very shy at first and will need a person who is ok to give her the time to build trust.

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Mondays (open for intake only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at (760) 416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here. And, you can get a jump start on adoption by completing the form here.