June 13 Daily Briefing: City exploring climate resiliency grant, previewing tonight’s council meeting, and more

Happy Thursday! SunLine Transit Agency is on the hunt for artistic prodigies to design some of the exteriors of their buses. The 9th annual Student Art Contest is up and running and this year’s theme is “#RollWithPublicTransit: Envisioning a Sustainable Future in Motion.” The contest is open to students Kindergarten through 12th grade that are in public or private schools or homeschooled. Three first place winners from each age group, elementary, middle, and high school, will get to see their art on the exterior of SunLine’s zero emission buses. Know any kids bored this summer? Get them creating and they could see their art rolling around town sometime soon! More information is available online here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish

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LEADING OFF

City may seek to secure up to $20 million in climate resiliency funds

The City of Palm Springs is exploring the possibility of applying for an EPA Community Change grant funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to support community-driven solutions for climate resiliency in disadvantaged areas of the city.

Driving the news: The grant requires a partnership between a community-based nonprofit organization (CBO) and a local government, federally recognized tribe, another CBO, or higher education institution.

What that means: Christian Wheeler, with the city’s Office of Sustainability, explained that the grant is unique, and government entities who apply for something like stormwater upgrades wouldn’t necessarily qualify.

• “It’s about finding what people want,” he said Wednesday. The grant relies on partnership between different entities and input and understanding of the community. 

Details: The grant targets disadvantaged communities, which are specific geographic locations identified as disadvantaged by the EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities Map, which includes large portions of Palm Springs because any land within the boundaries of a federally recognized tribe is designated as disadvantaged.

Why it matters: The grant aims to increase community climate resilience, reduce local pollution, improve public health, center meaningful community engagement, and build community strength.

By the numbers: There is about $2 billion available and each award is estimated to be for an amount between $10 million and $20 million.

• The application deadline is November 21, and the city is currently brainstorming ideas and identifying potential partnerships.

Next steps: The city is considering various project ideas, such as upgrading community centers, and exploring transportation options.

• The Sustainability Commission will continue discussions and present options, focusing on aligning projects with the commission’s objectives and targeting organizations already working on related initiatives.

BRIEFLY

🏛️ Council to address Human Rights Commission issues, Serena Park development, more

The Palm Springs City Council will meet in closed and regular sessions tonight to discuss and possibly approve several items.

• According to the agenda, councilmembers will vote on whether to put the Human Rights Commission on a temporary hiatus following concerns of allegations of Brown Act violations.
  
  
• Also on the agenda is a discussion of the various bridge projects in the city, new playground equipment at Baristo Park, and an amendment related to the proposed 386-unit Serena Park development.

Details: The regular meeting is open to the public in Council Chambers at City Hall. You can submit comments via an online public comment form, in person, or by calling the city clerk’s office at (760) 323-8204 at any time prior to the end of the public comment period. View the meeting live on YouTube or Spectrum channel 17.

🏛️ VillageFest Board approves entertainment space

The Palm Springs VillageFest Board voted this week to establish a new 120-square-foot entertainment display space on Tahquitz Way for downtown merchants to showcase attractions of general public interest during the Thursday evening street fair. 

• The space is intended to enhance the visibility of downtown businesses and will be rotated among approved applicants. Requests to utilize the space will be evaluated the same as other vendor applications and subject to board approval. 
  
  
  
• Downtown merchants can now apply to use the entertainment display space. Any display would have to fit within the uniquely shaped footprint defined by staff and not encroach on the egress for the hotel behind it.

Up next: The first approved vendor is El Patron restaurant, which plans to showcase cars in the space once or twice a month. The board will review the effectiveness of the new space in six months.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Pet Vaccine Clinic
9:30 a.m. | Palm Springs Animal Shelter
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter invites you to bring in your pet for low-cost vaccines, including vaccines for rabies and canine influenza. They are also offering microchip implantation and registration. ($15-$25)

Palm Springs City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The council meets for its regularly scheduled meeting this evening.

Cocktail Cinema: “The Stepford Wives”
6 p.m. | Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum
This season of Cocktail Cinema, organizers explore four films that shed light on the dark side of suburban living, revealing the hidden struggles and tribulations behind the facade of the perfectly manicured lawns and white picket fences. Arrive early to the Houston Atrium for a movie-inspired cocktail. 

2024 Summer Cabaret Series: Alysha Umphress
7 p.m. | CV Rep Theatre
Alysha Umphress has been seen on Broadway in “On the Town” (as Hildy), “American Idiot”, and more. ($50)

VillageFest
7 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
A reminder, starting this month and through the rest of the summer VillageFest, the weekly street fair featuring art, entertainment, shopping, and food, will be starting an hour later at 7 p.m. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE

• Juneteenth Celebration at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center on June 15.
  
  
• Palm Springs International ShortFest from June 18 -24.
  
  
• Rock the City free concert at the Downtown Park on June 19.
  
  
• Red Cross Training on Household and Extreme Heat Preparedness on June 25.
  
  
• Palm Springs Equality Wine & Food Fest at Margaritaville Resort on June 29.
  
  
• Palm Springs All American 4th of July at Sunrise Park on July 4.
  
  
• ONE-PS Lip-Sync Battle at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on July 7.

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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 Diamond, a 2-year-old female mixed breed dog who has been at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter since August of 2023.

• Staff at the shelter say she’s best with male dogs and selective with others, but when she finds a dog she likes, she really like them!
  
  
• For months, shelter staff have had trouble getting large dogs like Diamond adopted, and they’ve been forced to double or triple up large dogs in kennels as they run out of room. They encourage you to consider making room in your heart and home for one of these lovable big dogs.

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.