Dec. 18 Daily Briefing: Landmark year in city, board wants answers on neglected sites, and more

Welcome to Wednesday, everyone. If you’re around on New Year’s Eve and have a hankering for the arts, might we suggest dropping in on Art in the Park in the Dark, a free event from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Demuth Park? If you’re an artist, organizers need you to email Shann Carr right away at theshanncarr@gmail.com. She’s looking for artists to contribute light-based installations, pop-up art, or interactive creations to illuminate the community-driven event. 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Christmas in L.A.” by Woody Goss Trio

LEADING OFF

How city leaders turned 2024 into a landmark year

Palm Springs experienced an unprecedented year of forward progress in 2024, with numerous projects completed or initiated and many issues weighing down the community finally resolved. 

Behind the scenes: City Manager Scott Stiles attributed the success to focused teamwork and improved efficiency in city operations.

• “You have to get your team in place first,” Stiles said. “I didn’t do any of this myself. This is all of our people on our team.”

Why it matters: The list of accomplishments includes opening of a navigation center with housing and wraparound services for the unhoused, settling lawsuits involving placement of the Marilyn Monroe statue and transparency by College of the Desert (COD) officials, opening of the first phase of the Thompson Hotel, and settlement of a claim brought by members of the Section 14 Survivors group.

In addition: City officials also helped plans for the Prescott Preserve move ahead and paved the way for a revitalized Plaza Theatre downtown. Also completed were master plans for the airport and parks and progress was made on library renovations.

• The city also saw a pair of affordable housing projects open their doors. 

By the numbers: Stiles said city staff eliminated a backlog of 700 building permits and improved efficiency by changing the hours of the permit center so it opens at 7:30 a.m. for contractors.

Listening to concerns: One example of community engagement Stiles cited was the ongoing development of the airport master plan. After initial proposals for large-scale expansion, including new car rental facilities, the city conducted extensive listening sessions throughout the Coachella Valley and eventually settled on a different approach.

What they’re saying: “When we listen to all that, there started to evolve some thought about maybe there’s sort of a hybrid system that starts to pay attention to what people have said about unbridled growth or how we can phase things in and understand how that growth happens,” Stiles said.

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

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BRIEFLY

🏛️ Historic board urges action on neglected landmarks

The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board is calling for increased transparency and action from city officials regarding three significant historic properties that have seen little progress despite years of planned improvements or redevelopment.

• Board members expressed frustration over the lack of progress on the Town and Country Center, Orchid Tree Inn, and the former Racquet Club property during their Dec. 3 meeting, with one member stating that some of the properties are effectively holding portions of downtown “hostage.”
  
  
• The board discussed potential ways to address the Palm Springs City Council directly about the status of the properties and debated the board’s role in advising the council on matters beyond specific property designations.
  
  
• Bottom line: City staff agreed to provide updates on the three properties and explore appropriate channels for board input, while a city spokesperson stated this week that the Orchid Tree Hotel project remains in progress, and there are no active permit cases or code compliance issues at the Town & Country Center and former Racquet Club property.

Dive deeper with our complete story

🚨 6 injured in crash on Indian Canyon Drive

A three-vehicle crash in Palm Springs on Tuesday afternoon left six people injured. The crash occurred on Indian Canyon near Garnet Avenue, just off the Interstate 10 exit, shortly before 4:40 p.m.

• The injured parties were taken to the hospital with a range of injuries from minor to moderate. The extent of their conditions and identities were not been disclosed.
  
  
• Bottom line: Palm Springs police closed the roadway between Sunrise Parkway and Garnet for roughly 45 minutes while they investigated the incident and crews cleared the vehicles.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Morning Coffee Book Club
10:30 a.m. | Welwood Murray Memorial Library
Members will discuss “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro. Next month they’re tackling “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (Illustrated Edition)” by Gertrude Stein and Illustrated by Maira Kalman. Join the book club by signing up here.

“The 39 Steps”
2 p.m. | CV Repertory
Mix a Hitchcock movie masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python comedic flair and you have “The 39 Steps”, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre. ($55)

Airport Commission
5:30 p.m. | PSP Conference Room
At this meeting, commissioners will discuss topics including public-private partnerships, Measure J projects, the airport’s art policy, and more.

Judy Garland Christmas Show screening
6 p.m. | Public Library
Deserted Films has something special on tap for the holiday season! The Judy Garland Christmas Show (which aired on CBS on Dec. 22, 1963) is rarely screened and it offers a look into midcentury holiday television. Deserted Films will provide historical context to accompany the screening.

The Magic of Palm Springs
6:30 p.m. | Desert Star
Is there a connection between mid-century modern architects and the magicians of the ’60s? Do you have the magical skills to make a coin disappear? What is the secret that makes Palm Springs so special? All will be revealed during this engaging and entertaining salon session. ($11)

Scott Wilkie: Joy!
6 p.m. | Cultural Center
Contemporary jazz pianist Scott Wilkie will gather his favorite musicians to present a very special Christmas concert. Scott’s arrangements of holiday classics are inspired by the unique energy of his longtime bandmates — Pat Kelley on guitar, along with bassist Nathan Brown and drummer Jeff Olson. ($42)

Skippy ‘n Bitsy’s All-Star Christmas TV Extravaganza
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
Skippy and Bitsy are taping their 1969 TV Christmas Special in front of a live studio audience, which is you! ($40)

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Spectacular at the Palm Springs Art Museum starting Thursday and running through Sunday.
  
  
• Desert Film Society Screenings on Saturday.
  
  
• Community Giving Day at the Palm Springs High School football field on Saturday.
  
  
• Blue Christmas Interfaith Service at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert on Saturday.
  
  
• Snowtopiaat the Palm Springs Air Museum on Saturday and Sunday.
  
  
• Free screening of “The Muppet Christmas Carol” on Sunday.
  
  
• Hanukkah candle lighting and latkes on Dec. 29 at Gré Coffee House & Art Gallery.
  
  
• Art in the Park in the Dark at DeMuth Park on Dec. 31.

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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 Cinco, a male black cat about a year old available for adoption at the Frisky Business Cat Cafe.

• Cinco came to the cafe as a bit of a ‘fraidy cat, but Frisky Business owner Claire Rogers tells us that through patient and gentle socialization, he’s warming up to pets and play time with her and volunteers.

If you’re interested: You can visit Frisky Business at Rimrock Plaza (also where Von’s is located) at 4781 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Suite F. Look for the cafe’s current hours here.

• All cats available at Frisky Business come from the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. They are spayed or neutered and can be adopted while you sip a delicious beverage or enjoy a tasty treat. 

But wait: Don’t want to adopt but still enjoy cats? You can book a time to hang out in the cat lounge by clicking here.