Feb. 14 Daily Briefing: Parking problem, police warning, new fire dog, and more

Happy Valentine’s Day, where we hope your chocolates and flowers aren’t too soggy because the rain that was predicted did indeed arrive on Thursday. As of 5 a.m., .87 inches of the wet stuff  had been reported at the airport in the previous 24 hours, prompting closures of all the roads through the washes due to the threat of flooding. Combine the rain and road closures with a Thursday evening power outage and you’ve got the makings of our most significant storm in many months. It’s possible you can have your romantic dinner outside tonight, though, as conditions should gradually improve throughout the day. Stay safe out there!

🎶 Setting the mood: “I Only Have Eyes for You” by The Flamingos

LEADING OFF

City to address wayfinding issues with downtown parking

If you’ve ever driven around downtown Palm Springs searching for parking, this may come as a surprise: a detailed parking study revealed the city has plenty of parking that sits empty despite the available space.

At issue: The analysts who compiled the report said one of the biggest challenges was that visitors to the city aren’t aware of the massive, free city parking garage with several levels downtown.

• According to the report, drivers can always find a parking space within one or two blocks of their destination. 

What they’re saying: One of the parking consultants, Julie Dixon, said even she had trouble figuring out the city’s parking, specifically parking that runs underground between the Hyatt and Kimpton Rowan.

• “Me being a parking expert, when I came into town, my first thought about that location was that it was a hotel parking lot and that I wasn’t available to park there.”

Looking back: The parking analysts collected data on parking on May 9 and 11, trying to pick an average spring day as a baseline.

• They used license plate readers and drone technology to precisely track the number of cars in parking spaces and lots and how long they stayed. 

The solution: To address these disparities, the report suggests shorter time limits for street parking to encourage turnover, coupled with a no-reparking ordinance to prevent abuse. 

Yes, but: Dixon stressed the report does not suggest creating paid parking in the city, but the report did suggest implementing temporary paid parking during major events to recoup traffic management costs. 

• She also said, “This is not about writing a lot of tickets because if we manage parking effectively, it makes it easy for everyone to follow the rules.”

What’s next: City Manager Scott Stiles indicated that implementing these recommendations would require careful budget consideration.

• Those conversations should start soon, as Councilmember Jeffrey Bernstein moved, and the council approved, bringing the issue back before the council at an upcoming meeting.

Dive deeper with our complete story

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🚨 Hidden camera found in yard prompts police alert

Palm Springs police are warning residents to inspect their properties after discovering a surveillance camera disguised as vegetation in the Las Palmas neighborhood’s landscaping.

• Authorities said Thursday that while this is the first known incident of its kind in Palm Springs, criminals sometimes use hidden cameras to study resident patterns before committing burglaries or other crimes.
  
• The police department recommends that residents carefully examine their yards for unusual objects or reflective surfaces that could indicate hidden devices, but it advises against touching any suspicious items if they are found.
  
• Bottom line: Lt. William Hutchinson asked residents who discover suspicious devices to contact police at 760-327-1441.

🚧 Two infrastructure projects get the OK from City Council

A pedestrian died Thursday evening in a traffic collision at the intersection of North Palm Canyon Drive and Yorba Road in the Racquet Club West area, according to Palm Springs Police Department officials. 

• Specific details about the victim were not released, but authorities said he died at the scene shortly before 6 p.m. The driver involved in the collision cooperated with police as they conducted an investigation. 
  
• Details: Following the incident, officials closed North Palm Canyon Drive in both directions between San Rafael and Alvarado. It is not yet known whether the stormy conditions contributed to the incident, but drugs and alcohol are not believed to have been a factor.

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YOUR WEEKEND

MULTIPLE DAYS

• Modernism Week at dozens of locations throughout the city.
  
• “My Fair Lady” all weekend at the Palm Canyon Theatre. ($40)
  
• California Winter League Baseball quarterfinals and semifinals at the Palm Springs Stadium on Friday and Saturday. ($10)

TODAY

• Lifestream Blood Drive at Miralon at 9 a.m.
  
• Elizabeth Edwards Harris Walk of the Stars dedication in Downtown Palm Springs at 2 p.m.
  
• Foodie Fridays at the Cultural Center from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
  
• Razzle Dazzle Broadway revue at the Cultural Center at 7 p.m. ($22)
  
• Comedy Night at Hotel Zoso at 8 p.m. ($15)

SATURDAY

• Tahquitz Creek Cleanup at Tahquitz Creek foot bridge at 8 a.m.
  
• Certified Farmers’ Market at the Cultural Center at 8 a.m.
  
• Saving Wildlife at the Desert Wildlife Center at the Mizell Center at 9 a.m.
  
• Photographer Lawrence Schiller book signing at Just Fabulous at 2 p.m.
  
• Bingo with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at one eleven bar at 6 p.m.
  
• Country Western Dancing at their new address at 933 Crossley Road at 7 p.m. ($5)

SUNDAY

• Palm Springs Vintage Market at the Agua Caliente Casino at 8 a.m. ($5)
  
• Mah Jong Meetup at Play Lounge & Cafe at 12 p.m.
  
• “Racist Trees” film screening at the Cultural Center at 3 p.m. ($28)
  
• “Perfect Arrangement” at the Cultural Center at 7 p.m. ($40)

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AND FINALLY …

A 1½-year-old therapy dog named Maximus has officially joined the Palm Springs Fire Department, playing a crucial role.

Driving the news: The department welcomed Maximus Wednesday after he completed some training at Guide Dogs of the Desert. He will rotate between fire stations and attend community events.

Why it matters: Therapy dogs play a crucial role in supporting firefighters’ mental health as they cope with the intense stress of their profession.

• Maximus replaces the recently retired therapy dog Ranger, who left the department alongside Deputy Fire Chief Jason Loya.

Zoom in: Maximus will split his time between on-duty work at the fire stations and living with Public Information Officer Ronald Skyberg during off-hours.

• Skyberg said Thursday that Maximus is “super fun and clumsy,” as you might expect a young Labrador Retriever to be.  

Context: The Palm Springs first responder community now has two therapy dogs, with Maximus joining Finley, who serves with the police department.

But wait: No good dog’s life would be complete if he didn’t have his own social media accounts. Thankfully, the department has that detail covered for Maximus, and you can find his Instagram page here.