Measure J capital projects progress, including fire station renovations, police operations center

The Palm Springs Measure J Oversight Commission received updates Thursday on capital improvement projects funded by the voter-approved one-cent sales tax, with work progressing on fire station renovations, a police operations center and public safety infrastructure improvements.

Fire Station 3 off East Racquet Club Road is in the design stage for renovations, with the public works portion of schematic design, utility locates and surveys complete, according to city staff. The project will be combined with renovations at Fire Station 1, which will be remodeled at its current location rather than relocated.

The real-time operations center build out at the police department off South Civic Center Drive has reached substantial completion, with the public works portion finished and final technology components being installed.

The city has begun spending funds on public safety vehicle purchases and outfitting costs, with $32,000 spent on vehicle outfitting and $270,000 on vehicle purchases in the current fiscal year. Additional completed projects include $743,000 in conference room upgrades at City Hall and emergency electrical repairs at Sunrise Park that required mobilizing generators and fuel for five buildings over several weeks.

The commission also learned that the Palm Springs Swim Center locker room project has transitioned from a community-initiated project to a capital project. The swim center renovations are now fully funded with $7 million in debt issuance proceeds that were combined with library renovation funding. The change returns $79,000 to the overall community-initiated project bucket for future allocation, said Kristopher Mooney, the city’s director of finance and treasurer.

The Palm Springs Women’s Club solar installation project remains the only community-initiated project currently underway, with funds already distributed.

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