July 17 Daily Briefing: Grant for heat mitigation assistance, PSP parking rates, and more

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Remember “Merman,” the documentary about André Chambers, a 60-year-old Black queer nurse and civil rights advocate from Palm Springs? Well, congrats are in order after it won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Independent American Short Film at the Champs-Élysées Film Festival in Paris. If you don’t recall, the film illustrates Chambers’ multifaceted life as a leather enthusiast, husband, and nurse. Chambers, who attended the award ceremony, said he views the win as validation to never give up on one’s dreams and he plans to continue inspiring others through his nursing career and social media. Congratulations!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Still the One” by Orleans

LEADING OFF

Palm Springs to develop heat mitigation plan with $400,000 grant

Palm Springs is set to receive a $400,000 grant from the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) to develop a comprehensive plan addressing extreme heat impacts on transportation in the city.

Driving the news: The grant, one of the largest received by the city’s Office of Sustainability, was conditionally awarded to the city to develop strategies for safe and comfortable transportation during extreme heat conditions.

• The Palm Springs Sustainability Commission heard details of the grant during a meeting Tuesday evening. The City Council will vote to accept it at a July 25 meeting.

Why it matters: Recent data shows Palm Springs accounted for 73% of the heat-related illnesses in Riverside County last year. The Coachella Valley experienced 22 heat-related deaths and 618 emergency visits in 2023.

The big picture: The grant money will be used to create a comprehensive heat mitigation plan for multi-modal transportation, like walking, cycling, and transit, which will identify areas in the city most exposed to heat and develop design recommendations for shade structures and landscape designs.

The big question: Transportation-related emissions are the largest source (53%) of greenhouse gas emissions according to a recent report, and reducing emissions is one of the best ways to mitigate climate change. But the hotter it gets, the less likely people are to choose to walk, bike, or even travel to a bus stop. 

What they’re saying: “This is such a foundational piece to so much of how this work is done in Palm Springs, everything has to be heat aware and we have to be heat-oriented,” said LP McCloy, director of the city’s Office of Sustainability. “How can we have a plan to get people out of their cars when it’s like this [outside]?”

What’s next: If approved, the city will have until June 2027 to use the grant funds and complete the plan.

• Initial data analysis is expected to take about three months, starting in September.

---

BRIEFLY

✈️ Parking rate hike proposed at PSP

The Palm Springs Airport Commission has recommended increasing daily parking rates from $20 to $26, a move expected to generate an additional $1 million in annual revenue. The proposed rate hike, which requires city council approval, would take effect Oct. 1 if approved.

• The increase aims to keep pace with inflation and fund future improvements at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). Parking is the airport’s second-largest revenue source after rental cars.
  
  
• Some commissioners advocated for a higher rate and a more dynamic pricing model to manage demand during peak periods. The commission settled on the $26 rate, with plans to implement more sophisticated pricing models in the future.

Looking ahead: The airport administration is planning to introduce new parking technology, including electric vehicle chargers and a system allowing online reservations and mobile payments. The proposal will now go to the Palm Springs City Council for consideration.

🏛️ Joint meeting scheduled between city, tribal councils

For the first time in six years, the Palm Springs City Council will meet with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to discuss issues pertaining to both bodies of government.

• Key city government and tribal leaders, including the mayors and tribal chairman, will discuss cooperative efforts affecting economic development, education, and cultural enrichment.
  
  
• Topics on the agenda include the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, Native American educational programs, a new Tribal Court, and key city developments like the College of the Desert West Valley Campus.

Details: The meeting starts at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the Palm Springs Convention Center in rooms Mesquite F-H. Residents may attend in-person or watch the meeting the following day on YouTube.

---

TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

PSUSD Job Fair
9 a.m. | District Headquarters
The Palm Springs Unified School District is looking to fill several roles in various departments including campus safety, custodial, and nutritional services. Register online here.

Open Play Bridge
9 a.m. | The Center
Come have some fun and enjoy playing Bridge in a casual and safe environment.

The Center Women’s Social
5:30 p.m. | Palm Springs Bottle Shop, Market Market
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert present’s the Women’s Social, an opportunity to making meaningful connections, friends, and a fun time. Palm Springs Bottle Shop is a Queer, Black, and Women-owned spirits, beer, wine, and specialty food shop that focuses on selling products from LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and Women entrepreneurs and producers. 

2024 Summer Cabaret Series: Broadway Showstoppers
7 p.m. | CVRep Theatre
Glenn Rosenblum is back this summer with his extremely popular Broadway Showstopper series. Previous guests have included Teri Ralston, Ilene Graff Jackie Joseph, Alix Korey, Joshua Finkel and more. ($50)

Palm Springs Power Baseball Game
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Stadium
Tonight the Palm Springs Power will take on the Inland Valley Bucs. Buy tickets at the box office at the stadium.

LOOKING AHEAD

• City Council, Tribal Council Joint Meeting Thursday at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
  
  
• Desert Wildlife Center Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday.
  
  
• City of Palm Springs Parking Community Meeting on July 22 at City Hall.
  
  
• Craft Beer Fest at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club on July 27.
  
  
• Merienda Filipino Halo-Halo workshop at Play Lounge & Cafe on July 28.
  
  
• Mrs. Frisky’s Cats & Eccles Cakes Night at Frisky Business Cat Cafe on Aug. 2.
  
  
• Summer Sunday: Weaving Patterns at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on Aug. 4.
  
  
• The Great Catsby Book Club at Frisky Business on Aug. 8.
  
  
• SplashHouse on Aug. 9 to Aug. 11 and Aug. 16 to Aug. 18.
  
  
• PSUSD Diversity & Racial Equity Conference at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Sept. 7.
  
  
• Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs at Indian Canyons Golf Resort on Sept. 18

---

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 the charming Hammy, a 2-year-old bulldog, terrier, pit bull mix. Staff at the shelter say Hammy is house trained and good on a leash. He also has some allergies.

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. And get a jump start on adoption by completing the form here.