Welcome to Monday, everyone, where we’d like to give a shoutout to city staff members who must feel like they’re juggling chainsaws at this point. No sooner had we published Friday’s newsletter than we learned that a Saturday movie at the pool, which was on our weekend calendar, had been postponed. A day later, we learned it was delayed a second time. City events and communications staff, who are responsible for spreading the word about the movie, got a real workout! For right now, we can tell you that the Dive-In Movie “Moana 2” has been rescheduled to Aug. 2, and that everyone will be very happy when power issues at Sunrise Park are fully resolved.
🎶 Setting the mood: “Work It (Soulwax Remix)” by Marie Davidson (A perfect Monday motivation song that turns a boring email job into a dance club)
LEADING OFF
Turf conversion project for grass along San Rafael Drive coming together
Plans to replace grass with desert-appropriate plants along a stretch of San Rafael Drive are moving forward but face cost increases, the Measure J Oversight Commission was told during its regular monthly meeting last week.
Driving the news: The project affecting city property between Mountain Shadow Drive and Sunrise Way will transform the current grass and irrigation into native desert plants, shade trees, crush rock mulch and decomposed granite with low-voltage lighting. Michael Madsen with consultant Kimley-Horn said the goal is creating “what’s appropriate for a desert space.”
- The landscaping will serve as a “community example of what can be done as far as a water-wise landscape space,” allowing residents to apply similar concepts to their own yards.
By the numbers: The project’s estimated cost has jumped significantly since its 2022 approval. The original budget was $150,000, but current estimates show about $235,620 needed to complete the work.
What’s next: The commission delayed funding decisions until hearing the 2025-2026 budget presentation in September. One commissioner called it “premature to start giving our money away until we know how much we have.”
- Final plans could be submitted as early as November, with construction scheduling to follow shortly after, according to Kimley-Horn’s timeline.
The bottom line: While the project design is taking shape, funding approval remains tied to the city’s broader budget planning process.
Dive deeper with our complete story
BRIEFLY
🔥 Palm Springs firefighters battle two structure fires on Saturday
Palm Springs Fire Department crews responded to two separate structure fires Saturday, extinguishing a blaze at the city’s Navigation Center facility for unhoused residents in the morning and containing a more serious fire at a mobile home park that afternoon that damaged five homes and sent one person to the hospital.
- The first fire erupted at 8:23 a.m. at the Navigation Center at 3589 McCarthy Rd., where flames broke out in a small room on the second floor. Crews arrived within five minutes and extinguished the fire by 8:35 a.m. with assistance from building sprinklers. Emergency responders rescued a puppy from the unit, and two additional units sustained water damage.
- A second fire developed at 3:21 p.m. at Ramon Mobile Home Park at 1441 E. Ramon Rd., where firefighters found multiple mobile homes and palm trees fully engulfed upon arrival. Five mobile homes sustained fire damage before crews contained the blaze and prevented it from spreading throughout the community.
- Details: One person was treated for smoke inhalation and transported to a local hospital from the mobile home park fire. No injuries were reported at either incident involving firefighters or other civilians. The causes of both fires remain under investigation.
Dive deeper with our complete story
⚾ Power wins third straight CPCL championship
The Palm Springs Power captured their third consecutive California Premier Collegiate League (CPCL) Championship Sunday night, defeating the Inland Valley Pirates 9-8 at Palm Springs Stadium on a walk-off single by pinch-hitter Blake Conrad with two outs in the ninth inning. The victory marked the Power’s 28th win of the season and 11th championship in franchise history.
- Conrad’s game-winning hit drove home Myles Walton from third base after Walton led off the ninth with a triple off the right field wall. The Pirates had intentionally walked Matt Chavez before Conrad entered as a pinch-hitter for the final at-bat.
- Bottom line: The championship represents the fifth title under manager Casey Dill and continues the Power’s recent dominance in the CPCL. Palm Springs Stadium will next host California Winter League opening day on Jan. 22.
TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS
Mahjong Monday
1 p.m. | Social Cafe & Play Lounge
Come play the American version of Mahjong with others. Play Lounge has two mats and sets, but feel free to bring your own.
Palm Springs City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
To view, listen, or participate in the meeting live, please contact the City Clerk at CityClerk@palmspringsca.gov, or at the following telephone number (760) 323-8204, to register for the Zoom meeting.
Fabulous Bingo
7 p.m. | King’s Highway
The lovely Bella da Ball calls numbers and gives away prizes. Reservations are strongly recommended as space is limited; $35 spend per person to participate.
SAVE THE DATE
AND FINALLY …
If you’re looking for an action-packed Monday evening (and who isn’t?), the Palm Springs City Council has you covered with a full agenda of community business ranging from pickleball courts to pedicab regulations during a rare Monday session this evening.
Driving the news: The council will tackle several key items during starting at 5:30 p.m. meeting, including the Arenas Business District Flagpole Project, Demuth Park Pickleball Court Expansion, the South Palm Canyon bridge project, and a new five-year convention center management agreement.
- The headline item is a potential $3.6 million contract with OVG360 for convention center and tourism management services, which would run from September 2025 through September 2030.
What’s on tap: Other agenda items include direction on bridge replacement design, approval of a $15.9 million early CalPERS payment that would save the city more than half a million dollars, and the annual public hearing on street lighting assessments.
How to participate: Residents can attend in person at City Hall (3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way), watch the livestream on the city’s website or YouTube channel, tune in to Channel 17, or join via Zoom by contacting the City Clerk at cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov.
