Jan. 20 Daily Briefing: Fire station plans, Black authors event, earthquakes strike, and more

Welcome to Tuesday, where we hope your nerves have settled and your pets have come out from under the bed after last night’s earthquake and the many subsequent aftershocks. On our unofficial scale that ranges from “Was that an earthquake?” to “OMG!!!” last night’s rated a solid, “Woah — good one.” Like many of you, we also wondered why the quake was initially reported as a 5.1, then “downgraded” to a 4.6, and finally listed as 4.9. For that answer, we invite you to turn here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “The Fireman” by George Strait

LEADING OFF

Palm Springs moves forward with plans to rebuild three aging fire stations

Palm Springs is preparing to rebuild or renovate three fire stations built between 1957 and 1981, with construction on the downtown facility planned to start this year.

Driving the news: Fire Chief Paul Alvarado presented conceptual designs at the City Council meeting last week for Fire Station 1 on Indian Canyon Drive downtown, Fire Station 3 on East Racquet Club Road, and Fire Station 5 on Bolero Road. 

The details: Fire Station 1, built in 1957, would be rebuilt on its current Indian Canyon Drive location while preserving the historic Albert Frey-designed building.

• The new facility would more than triple crew capacity from three to 10 firefighters and expand apparatus bays from two to four to accommodate ladder trucks needed for downtown’s growing vertical development.

What else: The plans for Fire Station 3 would increase the building’s footprint by about 20%.

• No architectural work has yet been completed for Fire Station 5, which was described as undersized, worn, and in poor condition.

Bigger picture: All three facilities lack gender-inclusive accommodations that city officials say are essential for recruiting female firefighters.

• The stations currently have single bathrooms and shared sleeping areas. Proposed designs include individual sleeping quarters with assigned restrooms for different genders.

What’s next: The city plans to hold community meetings and open houses before issuing requests for proposals for Fire Station 1.

• City Manager Scott Stiles clarified the council was not being asked to approve the plans yet, just receive the presentation and provide feedback. 

Why it matters: The downtown expansion would reduce nearby public parking by approximately two-thirds, though the design relocates about 35% of current spaces and adds 10 firefighter parking spots within the station campus.

Dive deeper with our complete story

BRIEFLY

📚 Free Black authors event coming in February

• The Palm Springs Public Library, Brothers of the Desert and Mizell Center will present the second annual “Our Voices Our Stories: Celebrating Black Authors” on Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mizell Center. 
  
• Former NFL player RK Russell will discuss his memoir “The Yards Between Us” and author Toni Ann Johnson will talk about her upcoming book “But Where’s Home?”
  
• Details: Seating is limited to 100 attendees, and registration is requested online at this link. The event is being held at Mizell Center, 480 South Sunrise Way.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Nature & Networking Hike
7 a.m. | Frisky Business Cat Cafe
Step outside the boardroom and onto the trail. Join a community of nature-lovers and professionals alike, all drawn together by curiosity and the call of the wild.

Rat Pack Playground Walking Tour
9:30 a.m. | Historical Society
Discover the trendy midcentury neighborhood Vista Las Palmas, celebrities like Debbie Reynolds, Elvis Presley, Kim Novak, Dean Martin and the Rat Packers lived and frolicked here in the 50s and 60s. ($40)

Leads Lunch
12 p.m. | Jake’s
Bring your business cards, your appetite, and your best elevator pitch for an afternoon of lively networking with fellow entrepreneurs, local leaders, and professionals from across the Coachella Valley

Palm Springs Vacation Host Meetup
5 p.m. | Boozehounds
Network with like-minded hosts, share pricing strategies and tips, learn simple strategies to level up your listings, and more.

Sustainability Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The Commission reviews and makes recommendations to the City Council on issues relating to energy and natural resources conservation, including water conservation, air pollution, waste management and recycling. 

San Rafael Apartments Community Open House
5:30 p.m. | Virtual
Learn about the proposed 115-unit San Rafael Apartments, meet the Pacific Companies team driving the project, and provide your input about what you want to see in the project.

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• FuturePS: AI Tech & Creative mixer Wednesday at Agua Caliente Cultural Center
  
• “Greatest Showman” sing along at Quadz Bar on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
  
• The Gand Band Jeanie Cunningham Star Fundraiser on Thursday
  
• Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival on Saturday
  
• Psychedelic medicine and health community conversation on Saturday at Mizell Center
  
• “Car Show Car Show” at Market Market on Sunday
  
• Third Annual Palm Springs Readers’ Festival from Jan. 30 through Feb. 1
  
• Palm Springs Speaks with Cheech Marin on Feb. 10
  
• Palm Springs International Jazz Festival from Feb. 19-22

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

Today, we invite you to meet Radiohead, a three-year-old good boy who is fairly new at the shelter. Staff say that he is a big bundle of love who loves to cuddle.

• Staff also say he is just as great with meeting other dogs and is good on leash.

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Mondays (open for intake only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at 760-416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here.