Dec. 21 Daily Briefing: Ready readies run for District 5, city officials talk 2024 workload, ‘Marilyn’ proposal, and more

Welcome to Thursday, and the first day of winter! There’s a lot of talk about paying to refurbish older buildings in town, so you probably won’t mind if we pile on to tell you that one organization helping to raise funds to stand up the Aluminaire House in the city (read the latest on that effort here) could use your donations. Working in partnership with the city’s Art Museum, PS ModCom earlier donated $50,000, with a matching challenge for another $50,000. If you can help them, they invite you to go here to contribute to that challenge now.

🎶 Setting the mood: “White Winter Hymnal” by the Fleet Foxes

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2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

Expect work on aging facilities, efforts to address homeless to be city priorities in coming year

Looking to continue addressing everything from the homeless crisis to aging major city facilities, expect the theme of 2024 to be “focus” at Palm Springs City Hall.

Behind the scenes: Online, some of the topics that generate hundreds of comments include the “Forever Marilyn” statue or the Plaza Theatre. City officials have their eyes on projects that don’t generate much excitement or commentary, however, and they may prove more important in the coming decades. 

Driving the news: City officials are tackling a long list of needed improvements and expansions. In the very near future, Palm Springs International Airport and the main library off Sunrise Way will need major expansions, as will the convention center. 

• A new downtown fire station is also needed, as are improvements to most city parks. Planning is currently underway for all of it.

What to watch for: While the city is gearing up for a February opening of a portion of the homeless “navigation center” off McCarthy Road, the work doesn’t stop when the doors open, according to City Manager Scott Stiles.

• “When that’s open, it will open up a lot of opportunity for others who want to assist us in helping the homeless population,” Stiles said.

Zoom out: At the root of homelessness is a lack of affordable housing. In 2024, a pair of housing projects to address that issue are also set to open: the Monarch Apartments in the northern portion of the city and the Vista Sunrise II apartments near the DAP Health campus.

• Work will continue on a similar project, Aloe Palm Canyon, which broke ground earlier this year.

What they’re saying: “We’re excited and energized about this coming year,” Stiles said. “There are so many things in motion. …We need to stay focused on the big, impactful issues.”

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

BRIEFLY

👨‍⚖️ City rejects Marilyn statue settlement proposal

The Palm Springs City Council has turned down a settlement proposal from the Committee to Relocate Marilyn (CReMa), which had offered to drop their lawsuit in exchange for the relocation of the “Forever Marilyn” statue and payment of some of its legal fees. 

• The proposal is the latest in the ongoing legal battle over the statue’s location in the middle of Museum Way. At issue is whether the city had the right to temporarily close a portion of the roadway in 2021.
  
  
• With the temporary closure expiring next year, the Council voted 4-1 to begin the process to permanently vacate the street. City officials believe that action would render the current lawsuit moot.
  
  
• City Attorney Jeff Ballinger instead suggested the group enter into mediation with the statue’s owner, PS Resorts. A lawyer for CReMa told Ballinger that because the group has not received a counter-proposal from the city or PS Resorts, that mediation would not be a productive use of their time. 
  
  
• Looking ahead: The lawsuit was kicked back down to a trial court earlier this year, and is scheduled for its next hearing on Friday.

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FEATURED EVENTS

Nonesuch Nonfiction Book Club
2 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
This month the book club will be discussing “Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life,” by legendary comedian and actor Steve Martin. To get on the email list for the nonfiction book club, click here.

Measure J Oversight Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Commissioners will be discussing a budget update and financing options for library renovations.

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
The weekly street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE

• “Die Hard” at the Cultural Center on Dec. 24.
  
  
• Rock the Park: Tribute to Tina Turner at the Downtown Park on Jan. 3.
  
  
• Palm Springs International Film Festival Jan. 4 through 15.
  
  
• Mini Masterpieces Show at Desert Art Center Jan. 6.
  
  
• Agua Caliente Lecture Series at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on Jan. 17.

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AND FINALLY …

Ending weeks of speculation, David Ready — who for two decades served as Palm Springs city manager — has entered the race for the District 5 City Council seat. 

Driving the news: Ready, who retired in late 2020, aims to replace Councilmember Lisa Middleton, who is pursuing a California State Senate seat next year. He told local media his passion for public service is the main reason for his decision.

Zoom in: While confirming his intention to run, Ready addressed local issues such as safety, quality of life, economic development, and neighborhood improvement as key priorities in his campaign.

• So far, he remains unchallenged. Middleton ran unchallenged in 2020.

But wait: The District 4 seat will also be up for grabs in November. Councilmember Christy Holstege is running for the State Assembly and chose not to run for re-election here. 

• Candidates for that seat lined up during Holstege’s 2021 run for a spot in Sacramento. They included Joe Jackson, Ernest Cecena, Naomi Soto, and David Rios.