Sept. 11 Daily Briefing: Appeal denied, grand jury response, Middleton’s new role, and more

Welcome to Thursday, where we’re giving you one last reminder that, although registration has closed, today is the first day of the two-day Healthy Desert, Healthy You summit. For those of you who registered before the deadline, we hope to see you there. If you’re still looking for a session to attend, might we recommend dropping in on the 3:40 p.m. talk on government and city-led responses to strengthening environmental health. Mark moderated this session last year, and he’s back this year to speak with a powerful lineup of local officials. 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day

LEADING OFF

City leaders deny appeal over conditions for gas station building addition

The Palm Springs City Council denied an appeal Wednesday evening for a proposed 715-square-foot building addition at a former gas station, following an extensive hearing that highlighted tensions between development requirements and small property owner challenges. 

Driving the news: The council voted 4-1 to uphold staff’s denial of Joseph Pranevicius’ appeal regarding conditions of approval for his project at 1100 South Palm Canyon Dr.

• Pranevicius, through attorney Eve Brackmann, had sought removal of most conditions attached to the city planning director’s July 2024 approval of the minor architectural application. Staff had attached numerous requirements including off-street parking compliance, trash enclosures, right-of-way dedications, and street improvements.

Looking back: The property has been vacant for over 20 years, with this representing the first owner to come forward for redevelopment.

The debate: Councilmember David Ready, who voted against the denial, acknowledged the broader policy implications, noting costs like a $7,000 encroachment permit create “barriers for even minor improvements to occur.”

• “If this doesn’t happen, this building will sit here for a long, long time, I suspect, and it will continue to be a blighting influence,” Ready said.

Yes, but: Councilmember Grace Garner criticized the applicant’s approach, saying “staff has bent over backwards to work on this project, and the applicant has not been operating in good faith.”

• Engineering staff noted they had already offered substantial concessions, including waiving parking lot lighting requirements and reducing parking space dimensions.

What’s next: The council voted to deny the appeal and uphold the planning director’s conditioned approval, meaning the project can proceed only if Pranevicius meets all attached conditions.

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BRIEFLY

🏛️ Council approves response to grand jury report on $700,000 loss

• The Palm Springs City Council on Wednesday approved its response to a civil grand jury report that found the city lacked proper oversight procedures, resulting in the loss of more than $700,000 in taxpayer funds. The report followed the indictment of Queer Works CEO Jacob Rostovsky on 53 criminal counts related to an alleged fraudulent scheme.
  
• During Wednesday’s meeting, public speakers criticized the city’s response as insufficiently transparent, with one calling the position “absurd.” Councilmember David Ready proposed establishing a formal policy review committee for broader systemic reforms, while Finance Director Kristopher Mooney explained the city received invoices and progress reports but never received formal financial statements from Queer Works.
  
• Bottom line: The item passed with a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Ron deHarte casting the lone no vote. The city has implemented most of the grand jury’s 10 recommendations, including eliminating lump sum payments for grants over $75,000 and requiring fraud prevention training. Desert AIDS Project assumed control of the program in July 2024, using private donations to complete the pilot.

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🕊️ Matzner laid to rest; public celebration planned

• Harold Matzner, the 88-year-old philanthropist and Palm Springs icon who passed away last week, was peacefully laid to rest Wednesday in a private ceremony attended by close family members. His family announced a public celebration of life will be held Oct. 21 in the Palm Springs area.
  
• Matzner served as chair of the Palm Springs International Film Festival for more than 20 years and helped transform the city into a world-class destination for arts and civic life before his death last week.
  
• Details: The family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support, according to a statement reported by KESQ. Further details about the public celebration will be released in the upcoming weeks.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Healthy Desert Healthy You Environmental Summit
Starting at 8 a.m. | Westin Mission Hills
Join us at the Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit! Together, our community will tackle critical conversations about air quality and health, sparking ideas and action for a healthier future.

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
8:15 a.m. | Palm Springs Fire Station 2
Join the Palm Springs Fire Department and city officials in honoring the lives lost and the heroes who responded 24 years ago. This ceremony is an opportunity for our community to come together in remembrance and reflection.

Better Brain & Balance
9 a.m. | The Center
Stay mentally sharp and physically stable. The class design is for older adults noticing memory issues and/or balance challenges. ($15)

Spanish Past Tense Workshop
11: 30 a.m. | Mizell Center
This workshop is for scholars ready to master the past in Spanish. Week 1: The overall structure of past tense in Spanish and starting with regular preterite. ($60)

Art Museum Free Admission
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum 
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free admission to galleries and exhibitions, and explore the collection at your own pace. 

VillageFest
7 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs  
Weather permitting, the street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. 

View all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Annual Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs on Sept. 17
  
• Cinema Diverse for two weekends this month
  
• One Night Out Paris benefitting The Foundation for PSUSD on Oct. 4 
  
• Junior Ranger Expo at Indian Canyons on Oct. 11
  
• Spooktacular 5K/10K Run at Ruth Hardy Park on Oct. 11

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AND FINALLY …

Former Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton has discovered that stepping away from public service is easier said than done, as she’s been appointed to help oversee California’s massive $535 billion public employee retirement system.

Driving the news: Middleton will serve a four-year term on the California Public Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration, which manages retirement and health benefits for over 1.5 million public employees, retirees, and their families statewide. The appointment was announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.

• This marks a return engagement for Middleton, who previously served on the CalPERS board from 2019 to 2024 in a position designated for local elected officials, but this time qualified for a different seat by obtaining her insurance license.

Looking back: Middleton made history as California’s first openly transgender mayor when she led Palm Springs from 2021 to 2022, and was the first openly transgender person elected to a non-judicial position in the state when she joined the City Council in 2017.

Why it matters: The appointment keeps Middleton involved in major financial oversight, drawing on her 36-year career with the State Compensation Insurance Fund where she rose to senior vice president and chaired California’s Fraud Assessment Commission.

Bottom line: Reflecting on her continued public service, Middleton offered a candid assessment of her retirement plans: “I failed at retirement once, and I really didn’t try the second time.”

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