Sept. 26 Daily Briefing: Tech contract approved after assurances, court denies developer’s appeal, pet food drive today, and more

TGIF folks. Back in 2022, we told you about doubts that Riverside County officials had about a program approved by state leaders called CARE Court. It was designed to assist homeless individuals resistant to services. Still, two years after its official start, data examined by CalMatters shows it has fallen far short of expectations, and the concerns appear justified. Can improvements be made? State lawmakers hope so. They’re now considering legislation to expand eligibility requirements, potentially increasing participation in the struggling program.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Dirty Work” by Steely Dan

LEADING OFF

After assurances from police chief, council approves purchase of more Flock tech

The Palm Springs City Council unanimously approved the purchase of additional Flock surveillance technology for $280,000 Thursday evening after Police Chief Andy Mills assured councilmembers the agreement won’t result in sharing police data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Driving the news: The new contract adds Flock Nova crime analysis software to the city’s existing surveillance infrastructure, bringing the total contract amount to $301,000 and extending the agreement through Oct. 1, 2028.

• The city previously bought 15 automated license plate readers in October 2023 and voted in December 2024 to replace public safety cameras at 52 intersections with Flock equipment.

Why it matters: The technology has drawn criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union over ICE data usage and broader privacy concerns, while California law prohibits sharing license plate data with federal immigration enforcement.

• Several Southern California sheriff’s departments have been accused of violating that state law.

What they’re saying: Mills described Nova as “an operating system, not additional surveillance” that combines existing camera data with criminal justice databases to identify suspects in minutes rather than hours or days.

• “At this point in our nation’s juncture, it’s important for us to be as safe as possible,” Mills said.

Yes, but: Some elected officials expressed concerns about transparency and data privacy protections, with Councilmember Grace Garner emphasizing the need for public debate on surveillance technology and Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Soto raising concerns about contract language that appeared to give Flock broader access to city data than privacy policies allow.

• “All of this new technology is scary for a lot of people,” Garner said. “It’s scary for me personally to see how quickly we can access this.”

The safeguards: Mills emphasized the city’s data “will not ever go to ICE for the purpose of immigration enforcement” and said the department audits which agencies access the data.

• The contract remains subject to the city’s privacy policies, according to City Attorney Jeff Ballinger.

What’s next: Councilmembers requested future controversial policing items be placed on the regular agenda rather than the consent calendar, and Mills committed to holding community meetings on similar topics.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🏓 City breaks ground on pickleball court expansion

• Palm Springs officials broke ground Thursday on a major expansion at Demuth Park that will increase the city’s only outdoor public pickleball facility from 12 to 22 courts over eight months of construction.
  
• The project faced budget challenges when initial contractor bids ranged from $6.1 million to over $7 million, forcing city staff to conduct “value engineering” that reduced the scope from the original 24-court plan. The redesign eliminates two courts, reduces lighting systems and cuts shade structures to stay within the approved budget.
  
• Details: The $5.1 million construction contract with Deark E&C Inc. will require complete demolition of existing courts. Funding comes from voter-approved Measure J infrastructure funds and developer-paid Quimby recreational fees, with city officials expecting the expanded facility to attract tournaments and visitors alike, serving as an economic driver.

Dive deeper with our complete story

⚖️ State Supreme Court lets stand ruling on downtown project

• The California Supreme Court declined Wednesday to review a dispute over a $175 million Palm Springs redevelopment project, meaning Palm Springs Promenade LLC, a Grit Development company, must pay prevailing wages to construction workers and faces potential back pay liability on the mixed-use development.
  
• The case centered on whether the project qualified as a “municipal affair” under California’s home rule doctrine, which allows charter cities to exempt themselves from state wage laws. The developer contributed $143 million while the city provided $51.36 million, but a lower court found Palm Springs Promenade “retained substantial control over how its construction monies were spent.”
  
• Bottom line: The decision establishes that private developers cannot claim charter city exemptions from state wage laws when they control most construction aspects, even with substantial city funding. The ruling could affect how cities structure future public-private partnerships.

Dive deeper with our complete story

YOUR WEEKEND

MULTIPLE DAYS

• 18th Annual Palm Springs Body Mind Spirit Weekend at Crystal Fantasy, all weekend
  
• Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend at the Riviera Resort & Spa all weekend ($24) 
  
• Cinema Diverse at the Palm Springs Cultural Center all weekend ($14)

TODAY

• Cans ‘N Kibble Pet Food Drive at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter at 10 a.m.
  
• Endeavor with Jase at Demuth Park at 3 p.m.
  
• Desert Stone Management Ribbon Cutting on North Palm Canyon Drive at 3 p.m.
  
• Paws & Pours at Trio Palm Springs at 4 p.m.
  
• Foodie Fridays at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 5 p.m. 
  
• Leanna and Miguel Happy Hour & Live Music at the Hyatt Palm Springs Atrium at 6 p.m.
  
• The Skivvies: Mashmaker! Mashmaker! at The Purple Room Supper Club at 6 p.m. ($45)

SATURDAY

• Outdoor Certified Farmers’ Market starts at 8 a.m.
  
• Yoga With Mariana at The Palm Springs Leisure Center at 9 a.m. ($10)
  
• Dog Adoption Event at Bones-n-Scones from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 
  
• Coachella Valley Derby Girls vs. Long Beach’s Badfish at the Palm Springs Air Museum at 6:30 p.m. ($13)
  
• HIP TO BE SQUARE! At PS Underground at 7 p.m. ($149)
  
• Splash Into The Dark 18+ Glow Pool Party at Palm Springs Swim Center at 7 p.m.

SUNDAY

• Mahjong Meetup at the Social Cafe & Play Lounge at 12 p.m.
  
• E.A.S.T. Fest at the Palm Springs Surf Club at 1 p.m. ($42)
  
• The Judy Show! At The Purple Room at 5 p.m. ($40)

AND FINALLY …

The Palm Springs Animal Shelter’s pet food bank first opened 10 years ago and now provides 20,000 pounds of pet food each year to owners in need. Now, it needs our help to keep pets’ bellies full!

Driving the news: The Rick Erwin Pet Food Bank is hosting a Cans ‘N Kibble Pet Food Drive today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at four locations: Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Desert Community Animal Center in Desert Hot Springs, Sun Community Federal Credit Union in Indio, and the Rancho Mirage Library.

What they need: Kibble and canned food only — no treats, just the essentials that keep pets fed and families together.

Why it matters: Since opening in 2015, the pet food bank has provided over 20,000 pounds of food annually to help pet owners keep their animals during difficult times, reducing the number of surrendered pets at the shelter.

How to help: Bring donations to any of the four collection sites during drive hours, or make a monetary donation that will be used to purchase needed food.

But wait: If you’ve got room in your home and heart for a furry friend, Bones-n-Scones is hosting an adoption event this weekend on behalf of Loving All Animals. As a bonus, they’re sweetening the deal for new pet parents with enrollment in their Adopter Assistance Program, which helps feed newly adopted cats and dogs for less than $1 per pound per month during the entire first year.

• The adoption event is on Saturday and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 633 South Palm Canyon Drive location.