May 16 Daily Briefing: City’s biggest project will get further scrutiny, cyclists remembered, and more

Welcome to Thursday, where we’re almost at the finish line ⏱️ In less than 24 hours we will conclude our summer fundraiser, and we’re still a few steps short of reaching our goal of 10 new monthly donors. This is your chance to show your support for local journalism. Consider signing up as a donor today!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Walk Through Fire” feat. Tony Allen by Yannis & The Yaw

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LEADING OFF

Vote on airport expansion plans delayed for further study

The Palm Springs City Council voted last week to postpone approval of the conceptual plan for the $2.3 billion Palm Springs International Airport expansion, requesting more information on traffic impacts, stakeholder concerns, and project management before moving forward.

Driving the news: The decision came after a presentation by airport staff and consultants outlining the proposed expansion, which includes a new consolidated rental car facility, additional gates, and airfield improvements. 

Dive deeper: The recommendations for the conceptual design include keeping the rental car facility where it currently is to avoid passengers having to use a shuttle to access a location off-site, expanding the second runway to accommodate business jets and free up traffic on the primary runway, and doubling the number of gates for the predicted increase in travelers in the next few decades.

• Councilmember Lisa Middleton said Palm Springs residents know the airport’s character will have to change in the process of expanding. 
  
  
• “We’re moving from being a boutique, very attractive airport that all of us adore to practically doubling the number of passengers and that’s going to come with some sacrifices.,” Middleton said. 

The questions: Councilmembers raised questions about the impact of the expansion on traffic, particularly on El Cielo Road near the proposed rental car facility. They also expressed concerns about accommodating the needs of airport stakeholders such as the Palm Springs Air Museum and the USO.

• Councilmember Grace Garner also asked that airport staff think about how to connect the airport with other ground transportation including SunLine, Greyhound, and the future Coachella Valley rail.

What they’re saying: “This is probably the biggest project we’ve ever done in the city,” said Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein. “We want to make sure that we have thought this through fully, that you can say, we’ve used every resource possible, that everybody bought into this.”

Plus: The council also discussed the need for a dedicated project management team to oversee the massive undertaking, with City Manager Scott Stiles noting that the airport expansion would be significantly larger than any project the city has tackled before.

BRIEFLY

🏡 Lift to Rise unveils plan for affordable housing surge

Lift to Rise and 75 community partners have unveiled a two-year plan to significantly increase affordable housing in the Coachella Valley, aiming to create 7,500 new affordable units by 2026. 

• The plan builds on efforts started in 2018 to reduce rent-burdened households by producing 10,000 new affordable units,  coupling housing with early childhood education and health equity improvements.
  
  
• Since intensifying its efforts, Lift to Rise and its partners have reported a surge in affordable housing production, with about 1,200 units in 2024 alone, a significant increase from the annual average of 38 units before 2018.
  
  
• Palm Springs data shows that rent has grown nearly 8% between April 2022 and December 2023, with only 258 affordable units in the pipeline, compared to 1,958 in Indio. 

Up next: The organization  will be presenting its data and new plan at an upcoming Palm Springs City Council meeting.

🎬 Palm Springs International Film Society receives $25,000 NEA grant

The Palm Springs International Film Society has been awarded a $25,000 grant by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), set to enhance the celebrated Palm Springs International Film Festival and ShortFest.

• The NEA’s grant allocation forms part of a larger initiative, dispersing over $37 million across 1,135 Grants for arts projects awards nationwide. 
  
  
• This financial support will underpin key society events designed to inspire and mentor emerging filmmakers. Activities such as the Film Festival’s Student Screening Day and the ShortFest Forum are specifically tailored to nurture budding creative talent, providing forums for discussion, workshops, and direct interaction with industry professionals

Why it matters: The grant is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming 30th Palm Springs International ShortFest slated for June 18-24 and the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival, scheduled for January 2-13, 2025.

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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)

Nonesuch Nonfiction Book Club
2 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Members of the book club will discuss this month’s pick: “Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World” by Simon Winchester. Find out how to join the book club here.

Measure J Oversight Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
At this month’s regular meeting, commissioners will discuss the budget update and consider creating a subcommittee to oversee use of funds.

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
The weekly street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

“The Light in the Piazza”
7 p.m. | Palm Canyon Theatre
Based on the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer, the show is set in the 1950s in Florence, Italy and focuses on Margaret Johnson, a wealthy Southern woman, and her daughter Clara, who is developmentally disabled. When Clara falls in love with a young Italian man, Margaret is forced to reconsider not only Clara’s future, but her own deep-seated hopes and regrets as well.

SAVE THE DATE

• Miralon Blood Drive on May 17. Sign up today!
  
  
• Communities’ Finest Dance Showcase on Saturday at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
  
  
• Bash for the Barkeeson May 22 at Eight4Nine Restaurant.
  
  
• Community Outreach for Parks and Recreation Master Plan on May 22 at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center.
  
  
• Walk of the Stars presentation for Bert Spivack on May 24.
  
  
• Palm Springs Firefighters Association Fish Fry on June 1 at Ruth Hardy Park.
  
  
• Palm Springs International ShortFest from June 18 -24.

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AND FINALLY …

Cyclists, civic leaders, and community members gathered in Palm Springs Wednesday evening to honor and remember those who have lost their lives while riding bikes on Coachella Valley roadways.

Driving the news: The “Ride of Silence” held in Ruth Hardy Park was one of hundreds held worldwide. The event is in its 22nd year and helps raise awareness for cycling safety while honoring those lost or injured while cycling on public roads.

• After remarks from public officials and others, cyclists rode silently on a roughly five-mile route starting and ending at the park.

By the numbers: Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein, who spoke at the event, said there have been 22 reported cycling accidents in Palm Springs in the past 18 months, including two fatalities.

• Nearly three dozen cyclists have lost their lives in the Coachella Valley in the past decade. The latest was Angeline Shapley, a Palm Springs resident who was struck by a hit-and-run driver while riding a bicycle along Ramon Road shortly after 11 p.m. on May 8.
  
  
• Shapley’s mother was in attendance at Wednesday’s event.

What they’re saying: “We need to stop the practice of rushing to make that yellow light,” said Palm Desert Mayor Karina Quintanilla during her remarks Wednesday. “Is that five seconds really going to get you there sooner? What if you took a life?”