Feb. 17 Daily Briefing: Future city economy, wind wall, our latest people profile, and more

Happy Monday, everyone, where if you’re planning on going to the bank, the post office, City Hall, or school, you should think again: today is the day set aside to observe Presidents Day, so those are all closed. Today is also the day one of our favorite local events is held — the annual Black History Tour, taking place in the middle of Black History Month. This year’s event is sold out, but make sure to mark your calendars for this Saturday, Feb. 22, when the Black History Parade & Town Fair takes place downtown, starting at 11 a.m. 

🎶 Setting the mood:  “Because It’s In The Music” by Robyn

LEADING OFF

City plots economic future beyond tourism

Palm Springs officials are developing a comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan to diversify the city’s economy and address critical challenges including housing costs and worker shortages. The plan, now 25% complete, aims to expand into technology and sustainability while maintaining the city’s crucial tourism sector.

Driving the news: Wayne Olson, Palm Springs’ chief economic development officer, along with a consultant, presented the strategic planning initiative at a recent Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS) meeting, emphasizing how economic choices impact all residents.

Why it matters: Olson said the city faces mounting competition from neighboring communities that are successfully attracting business activity and strengthening their tax bases.

• Consultant Adam Fowler noted that while Palm Springs has strong brand recognition and robust airport infrastructure, rising housing costs create obstacles for service workers and young professionals.

Between the lines: Officials are exploring how to capitalize on the pandemic-era influx of remote workers while addressing challenges like extreme heat’s impact on tourism and seasonal workforce fluctuations.

What’s next: The planning process will include stakeholder interviews, resident surveys, and industry focus groups, with the final plan expected before the City Council in July.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🏗️ Plans for $2.5M sand control wall on Gene Autry move forward

The Palm Springs City Council approved plans for the latest funds needed for a $2.5 million concrete wall along Gene Autry Trail to reduce drifting sand and improve driver safety. The project includes a 590-foot-long structure standing up to 14.5 feet tall, replacing an existing temporary wooden barrier.

• The council authorized staff to seek construction bids and approved $150,000 for additional engineering work with Harris & Associates at its Feb. 11 meeting. The project, funded by Measure A, is expected to begin construction in April.
  
• The wall’s design incorporates lessons from a similar project on Indian Canyon Bridge and includes provisions to protect local species including the Coachella Valley Milk-Vetch and Fringe-Toed Lizard.
  
• Next steps: Construction will take approximately 120 working days, with biological monitoring throughout. The city will evaluate the wall’s effectiveness over two years to determine if additional barriers are needed.

📱 Another AT&T service disruption reported over the weekend

AT&T restored wireless service to most customers in the Coachella Valley, including many in Palm Springs, on Saturday following an outage that prevented users from making calls or sending texts without Wi-Fi connection.

• The Palm Springs Police Department had notified residents of the service disruption on Facebook, assuring that their dispatch center would return attempted 911 calls to maintain emergency services.
  
• Bottom line: The outage was the latest in an unprecedented strong of outages that have frustrated not only residents but local law enforcement officials. 

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Modernism Week
Running through Feb. 23, Modernism Week returns for its 20th Anniversary. Featuring more than 350 events including the Palm Springs Modernism Show, CAMP, tours of iconic homes in more than 30 neighborhoods, and the popular Signature Home Tour on both weekends. 

National Day of Protest
12 p.m. | City Hall
Courageous Resistance and Indivisible of the Desert host a protest in front of Palm Springs City Hall. 

Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregiver Support Group
2:30 p.m. | Mizell Senior Center
This weekly support group offers a safe, confidential, supportive environment for individuals caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia.

CalComMen’s Monday Coffee
5 p.m. | Play Lounge & Café
Join the group for coffee, chat, and chew! No RSVPs necessary.

Mon Petit Salon
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
Enjoy an evening of live music from the award-winning team from the high desert: Mon Petit Mojave ($22)

Highway 111 Pavement Rehabilitation Project
Caltrans is working this year on rehabilitating the pavement of a large section of Highway 111. Check out the full map and see how your drive around town might be impacted.

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs International Pride Hockey Tournament at the Berger Foundation Iceplex on Friday.
  
  McCormick’s 78th Car Show & Auction at the Palm Springs Convention Center starting Friday.
  
  38th Annual Black History Parade & Town Fair on Palm Canyon Drive on Saturday.
  
  Desert Pet Walk at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter on Saturday.
  
  Road Reconfiguration Project Community Meetings at the Demuth Community Center on Feb. 25 and 26.
  
  Agua Caliente Speaker Series: Language Revitalization at the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza on Feb. 26. ($15) 
  
  Library Book Sale at the JC Frey Building at the Palm Springs Public Library on Feb. 28 and March 1.
  
  “Grand Concourse” at Dezart Performs starting Feb. 28.
  
  District 2 Community Meeting at Vista del Monte Elementary School on March 3.
  
  See all events

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AND FINALLY …

If you didn’t catch our latest Palm Springs Profiles piece in your inbox on Sunday, we invite you to go read it online now. Here are some of the highlights from Maggie Miles’ interview with him:

Timothy Cornwall transformed his childhood fascination with wildlife into a lifelong mission of connecting animals with humans, spanning from training exotic zoo animals to now preparing guide dogs that assist the visually impaired at Guide Dogs of the Desert in Palm Springs.

Driving the news: Cornwall’s career highlights include working as a zookeeper at The Living Desert Zoo and caring for Rufus, a baby kangaroo at Southwick’s Zoo in New England, where his educational presentations left lasting impressions on young visitors.

Why it matters: His work demonstrates how animal care professionals can bridge the gap between wildlife education and practical assistance for humans with disabilities.

• Cornwall recently underwent a week-long blindfolded experience to better understand the challenges faced by his guide dogs’ future handlers.

The impact: A memorable interaction with a 6-year-old boy who called Cornwall’s presentation “the best day of his life” exemplifies how early exposure to animals can inspire future generations of conservationists.

What’s next: Cornwall is writing a book based on his former blog, Quail and Aardvark, while recruiting volunteers to help train guide dog puppies.

• He maintains that whether helping animals or humans, all forms of assistance contribute to making the world better.