Jan. 23 Daily Briefing: Concerns over hospital deal, city gets soaked, new planning commissioner named, and more

Welcome to Tuesday, where we have a homework assignment for you. Reader Jim Walker noted over the weekend that The New York Times has updated its list of best books about California (read the latest here), which got him wondering: What are the best books about Palm Springs? If you have any thoughts, please reply to this email and let us know. As a bonus, let us know any places in the city you like to go to read. We’ll compile your answers and share them later. 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Highway Song” by Greta Van Fleet

LEADING OFF

Desert Healthcare District Board concerned over pace of hospital talks

Negotiations between the nonprofit Desert Healthcare District and for-profit Tenet Healthcare over the sale of Desert Regional Medical Center are progressing slowly, causing concern among board members.

Driving the news: Tenet, which has leased Desert Regional from the district since 1997, proposed a new lease that would eventually allow the company to purchase the hospital. The district received a formal response from the company last month, including some changes in the lease term. 

By the numbers: Tenet’s latest proposal includes reducing the lease payment schedule from 30 years to 15 and increasing the first payment installment from $75 million to $100 million.

Yes but: The two entities are still at odds over important issues like the sharing of data and the hospital’s fair market value.

The big picture: The district is under pressure to find solutions for state-mandated seismic refurbishments required by 2030, estimated to cost $222 million, to avoid taxpayers footing the bill.

What to watch for: Significant questions remain, including whether the seismic refurbishment will be considered a public project, which could majorly impact the negotiations.

What’s next: The board voted to conduct public polling on the purchase option and to hire a consultant to research the implications and cost of the district taking over the hospital’s operation if negotiations with Tenet fall through.

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

BRIEFLY

🏗️ Council appoints new planning commissioner

Needing to fill a vacancy on the Palm Springs Planning Commission, the City Council on Monday sided with experience but emphasized more diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for any vacancies on city boards and commissions.

• By unanimous vote, councilmembers approved the appointment of Lyn Calerdine. He will serve out the remainder of the term vacated by J.R. Roberts. That term expires in June.
  
  
• Calerdine is no stranger to the Planning Commission, having previously served as a commissioner from 2011 until 2018 and currently serving as a member of the General Plan Steering Committee. He said he hoped his experience would enable him to get up to speed quickly when he takes his seat.
  
  
• Bottom line: Councilmembers agreed that in this case experience would prove valuable. However, they noted that few younger city residents are applying to serve in open appointed positions, of which there are several. You can view upcoming vacancies on this page of the city website.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Hiking 101
3 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
This free workshop, presented in partnership with the Oswit Land Trust, will help you learn more about the variety of hikes available in Palm Springs.

Leanna and The Jazz Collective
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
Leanna performs with a live band each week featuring a rotating roster of SoCal’s finest Jazz Musicians. ($10)

VillageFest Board Meeting
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The VillageFest Board meets tonight to discuss several potential new vendors and review the vendor jury process according to the agenda.

Palm Springs Toastmasters
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Toastmasters Club
Learn to speak with confidence with the Palm Springs Toastmasters and practice with friends. Guests always welcome

Trivia Tuesday
6 p.m. | Play Lounge & Cafe
Bring friends and make some new ones during trivia night. Cash prizes are up for grabs.

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival at Ruth Hardy Park on Jan. 27.
  
  
• PS Woman’s Club Annual Patio Sale on Feb. 3.
  
  
• Black History Committee 14th Annual Awards Gala on Feb. 3.
  
  
• “An Article of Hope” movie showing with guest speaker on Feb. 4.
  
  
• Palm Springs Woman’s Club Scholarship Luncheon at the Hilton on March 27.

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AND FINALLY …

Flooded roads and other storm-related nuisances impacted Palm Springs residents and visitors alike Monday. The skies are predicted to clear a bit today.

Driving the news: The National Weather Service issued a pair of flood advisories on Monday. By the time the last one expired at 9 p.m., more than half an inch of rain had fallen at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP).

• More than a dozen flights at the airport were delayed due to the weather, according to tracking done by The Desert Sun.

At issue: The rain and clouds are part of a large jet stream that took aim at Southern California. Conditions are expected to have largely cleared by later this morning, bringing drier and warmer air for the rest of the week.

• On Monday, record rainfall amounts for the date were reported from San Diego, where 2.7 inches fell — beating the record set in 1967 by 1.2 inches —to Thermal, where one inch fell — beating the record set in 2010 by three quarters of an inch.

Bottom line: In total, .82 inches fell at the airport yesterday as of 10 p.m., marking one of the wettest days yet of the “water year” that began on Oct. 1.