Please check the Palm Springs calendar often for other meetings of importance to the community.
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MAIN STREET PALM SPRINGS
Downtown / Uptown Business Association
General Meeting online on ZOOM
Tuesday November 16, 2021 at 8:30am
This agenda is still being created. Let us know what issues are important to YOU and we will see about adding it to a future agenda.
This meeting will take place on Zoom. Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. (cut and paste if not clickable)
Please do not share the login information. It leaves us vulnerable to hacking
Agenda:
* Council Update (Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Middleton, Councilman Geoff Kors / 10 minutes);
* Intro PSPD Chief (Chief Mills / 10 minutes);
* Palm Springs Police Report (Capt Kovaleff / 10 minutes);
* Palm Springs Airport (Daniel Meier / 15 minutes);
* Palm Springs Fire Dept (Capt Gunkel / 5 minutes);
* Business Support Programs Update (Jay Virata / 5 minutes);
* PS Tourism & Promotions Update (Rob Hampton, Randy Garner / 5 minutes);
* Palm Springs Convention Center (Rick Leson / 5 minutes);
* Greater PS Convention Visitors Bureau (Davis Meyer / 5 minutes);
* PS Sustainability (Patrick Tallarico / 5 minutes);
* Other Merchant Issues (If time allows);
* Adjourn
We are here as volunteers, and fellow business owners, to serve our community We invite you to share your ideas and opinions.
These twice monthly meetings are free. We welcome your financial support and memberships to help us continue offering meetings and other communication and representation.
Please consider supporting us by joining Main Street Palm Springs. Memberships currently start at only $25 per year for businesses within our defined boundaries.
www.palmcanyondrive.org/application
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CITY COUNCIL AND AS SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
www.palmspringsca.gov
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
3:30 PM CLOSED SESSION
5:30 PM REGULAR SESSION
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361, this meeting may be conducted by teleconference and there will be no in-person public access to the meeting location.
Submit your public comment to the City Council electronically. Material may be emailed to cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov. Transmittal prior to the start of the meeting is required. Any correspondence received during or after the meeting will be distributed to the City Council and retained for the official record.
You may provide telephonic comments by calling the City Clerk's Office at (760) 323-8204. You may be added to the queue at any time prior to the end of the public comment period for the subject hearing. At the appropriate time, a staff member will call you so that you may provide your public testimony to the City Council.
View the City Council meeting live at the City’s website www.palmspringsca.gov/pstv, YouTube, or Channel 17 (Spectrum).
November 18, 2021
3:30 PM CLOSED SESSION
5:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
Christy Gilbert Holstege, Mayor
Lisa Middleton, Mayor Pro Tem
Grace Elena Garner, Councilmember
Geoff Kors, Councilmember
Dennis Woods, Councilmember
City of Palm Springs Mission Statement: Palm Springs is an inclusive world-class city dedicated to providing excellent and responsive public services to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.
3:30 P.M. CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER:
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ONLY (Council Chamber): The City Council welcomes public input. Pursuant to State Law, the City Council may not discuss or take action on issues not on the meeting agenda (Government Code Section 54954.2). If you are compensated to communicate with City officials, you may be required to register and/or make certain disclosures as a lobbyist, please call the City Clerk at 760-323-8204 for additional information.
5:30 P.M. REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
ROLL CALL:
PRESENTATIONS:
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The City Council will discuss the order of the agenda, may amend the order, add urgency items, note abstentions or "no" votes on Consent Calendar items, and request Consent Calendar items be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion. The City Council may also remove items from the Consent Calendar prior to that portion of the Agenda.
REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION:
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: (Non-Public Hearing Agenda Items ONLY)
This time has been set aside for members of the public to address the City Council only on agenda items. Two (2) minutes will be assigned to each speaker. Testimony for Public Hearings will only be taken at the time of the hearing, and General Public Comments, non-agenda items, will be taken later in the meeting.
CITY COUNCIL, SUBCOMMITTEE, AND CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS AND REPORTS: This time is set aside for the City Council to provide additional general comments, reports, and announcements. Additionally, this time is set aside for the City Manager to update the City Council on important items initiated by staff or previously requested by the City Council.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR:
The following routine matters may be acted upon by one motion. Individual items may be removed by the Council for separate discussion at this time or under Acceptance of the Agenda. The ordinance title is deemed to be read in its entirety and further reading waived on any ordinance listed on the Consent Calendar.
A. FINDINGS TO CONDUCT CITY COUNCIL AND BOARD, COMMISSION, AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS VIRTUALLY UNDER ASSEMBLY BILL 361:
RECOMMENDATION:
Find that the City Council has considered the circumstances of the state of emergency during a proclaimed state of emergency, and state or local officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing, and as a result, the Palm Springs City Council and all of Palm Springs Board, Commission, and Committee meetings will be held by videoconference, in accordance with AB 361. Click to View
B. SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 2052 AMENDING THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE IN RELATION TO DUTIES OF APPLICANTS UNDER THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS PUBLIC INTEGRITY ORDINANCE:
RECOMMENDATION:
Waive the second reading of the ordinance text in its entirety and read by title only; and adopt Ordinance No. 2052 entitled, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2.60.040(D) OF THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING DUTIES OF OFFICIALS AND AMENDING SECTION 2.60.050 OF THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING DUTIES OF APPLICANTS, UNDER THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS PUBLIC INTEGRITY ORDINANCE." Click to View
C. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL WARRANTS, CLAIMS AND DEMANDS:
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution entitled “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING PAYMENT OF PAYROLL WARRANTS/DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 10-02-21 AND 10-16-21 TOTALING $3,443,496.13 AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WARRANTS DATED 09-30-21 AND 10-14-21 TOTALING $10,936,816.76, IN THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $14,380,312.89, DRAWN ON BANK OF AMERICA." Click to View
D. PALM SPRINGS BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-21:
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file the Palm Springs Board of Library Trustees Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020-21. Click to View
E. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE ALLOCATED POSITIONS AND COMPENSATION PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-22:
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE ALLOCATED POSITIONS AND COMPENSATION PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022, ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION NO. 24912.”
Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
Click to View
F. AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF A LETTER TO THE DESERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT EXPRESSING CONCERN REGARDING THE ROADRUNNER MOTORS PROGRAM AND COLLEGE OF THE DESERT’S WEST VALLEY CAMPUS:
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize issuance of a letter to the Desert Community College District regarding the Roadrunner Motors Program and College of the Desert’s West Valley Campus in Palm Springs. Click to View
G. ACCEPTANCE OF THE SUNRISE PARK RESTROOM, CITY PROJECT 19-13 :
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the public works improvement identified as the Sunrise Park Restroom, City Project No. 19-13 as completed in accordance with the plans and specifications.
Authorize the City Engineer to execute and file a Notice of Completion for recordation with the Riverside County Recorder for the Sunrise Park Restroom, City Project No. 19-13.
Click to View
H. ACCEPTANCE OF A PROPOSED MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY PLAN FOR THE SERENA PARK PROJECT RELATED TO THE CONVERSION OF THE PALM SPRINGS COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE INTO 386 RESIDENTIAL UNITS LOCATED NORTH OF VERONA ROAD, EAST OF SUNRISE WAY AND SOUTHWEST OF THE WHITEWATER RIVER WASH (CASE 5.1327):
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the maintenance and security plan, subject to the following:
Daily security patrols shall be required.
Developer shall post “No Trespassing” signs at commonly known fence breaks.
A temporary fence shall be installed along the northeasterly border of the property to prevent off-road vehicle trespassing from the open desert/wash areas.
A monthly meeting with code enforcement staff to review on-site trash and debris removal shall be required until on-site construction starts.
Click to View
I. APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FOR EARLY CONSTRUCTION START TIMES BETWEEN NOVEMBER 29, 2021, AND DECEMBER 3, 2021, FOR SEWER REPAIR WORK ON RAMON ROAD:
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the requested early construction time of 9:00 p.m. for the dates between November 29, 2021, to December 3, 2021, for the 2021 Sewer Collection System Repairs Project, subject to continuous monitoring of noise complaints and impacts to adjacent properties and businesses. Click to View
J. TREASURER’S INVESTMENT REPORT AS OF JULY 31, 2021:
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and File the Treasurer’s Investment Report as of July 31, 2021. Click to View
K. ORCHID TREE – AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATIONS COVENANT (AGREEMENT NO. 8449):
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Operations Covenant for the Orchid Tree hotel development, and authorize the City Manager to execute said Amendment No. 1. Click to View
L. STAFF AUTHORIZED AGREEMENTS AND PURCHASE ORDERS FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2021:
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file the report of Staff Authorized Agreements and Purchase Orders for the period of July 1 through October 31, 2021. Click to View
EXCLUDED CONSENT CALENDAR: Items removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion are considered at this time.
2. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
3. LEGISLATIVE:
A. PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6.04 OF THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO WASTE DISPOSAL AND DIVERSION:
RECOMMENDATION:
Waive the reading of text in its entirety, read by title only, and introduce for first reading an Ordinance entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 6.04 OF THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO WASTE DISPOSAL AND DIVERSION”. Click to View
4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A. DISCUSSION OF CURRENT, PLANNED, AND POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE IMPACTS:
RECOMMENDATION:
Direct Staff as appropriate.
Direct the City Manager to transfer $50,000 from Sustainability Fund Balance to Contractual Services for additional consulting support from PlaceWorks to continue analyzing GHG emissions and reduction opportunities.
Click to View
B. POTENTIAL UPDATE TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING NAVIGATION CENTER AT 3589 MCCARTHY ROAD, AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO STAFF:
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide direction to Staff as appropriate. Click to View
5. NEW BUSINESS:
A. DISCUSSION OF REPARATIONS PROGRAM RELATED TO SECTION 14 EVICTIONS AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO STAFF:
RECOMMENDATION:
Direct Staff as appropriate. Click to View
B. REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL INPUT ON DESERT COMMUNITY ENERGY:
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide input and direction to the Palm Springs Representative to the Desert Community Energy Board. Click to View
PUBLIC COMMENT: (Non-Agenda Items) This time has been set aside for members of the public to address the City Council on items of general interest within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City. Although the City Council values your comments, pursuant to the Brown Act, it generally cannot take any action on items not listed on the posted agenda. Two (2) minutes will be assigned to each speaker.
CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER REQUESTS AND UPCOMING AGENDA DEVELOPMENT: This time is set aside for the City Council to make requests of staff, and/or issues of concern to Councilmembers are briefly presented, prioritized and set for future meeting dates.
ADJOURNMENT:
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
State of California )
County of Riverside ) ss.
City of Palm Springs )
I, Monique M. Lomeli, Chief Deputy City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California, hereby certify this Agenda was delivered to each member of the City Council, provided to all parties who have requested such notice, posted at City Hall before 5:00 p.m., on October 29, 2021, and posted on the City’s website as required by established policies and procedures.
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Monique M. Lomeli, CMC
Chief Deputy City Clerk
P U B L I C N O T I C E S
Pursuant to G.C. Section 54957.5(b)(2) the designated office for inspection of records in connection with the meeting is the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. Complete Agenda Packets are available for public inspection at: City Hall Office of the City Clerk. Agenda and staff reports are available on the City’s website www.palmspringsca.gov. If you would like additional information on any item appearing on this agenda, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at
(760) 323-8204.
It is the intention of the City of Palm Springs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk, (760) 323-8204, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible.
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Holiday Banner Awards and Holiday Tree Lighting
Come celebrate the holidays in downtown Palm Springs at the Official City of Palm Springs Holiday Tree Lighting and the 29th annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, the City's signature holiday events!
The tree lighting is anticipated to kick off this year at 5:15 p.m. sharp in Frances Stevens Park. Prior to the lighting of the City's 22-foot green holiday tree adorned in thousands of energy efficient lights, the City and Main Street Palm Springs will host the annual Holiday Banner Awards in the park at 4 p.m. (Please consider donating prizes to help support the students in this community program).
Then on Saturday, Dec. 4, it's time for the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade at 5:45 p.m. along world famous Palm Canyon Drive! This year’s holiday lights spectacular, which in years past has brought as many as 100,000 residents and visitors to downtown, will once again be broadcast live on NBC Palm Springs. Coverage begins at 6 p.m.
Featuring twinkling floats, magnificent marching bands, huge Macy’s-style holiday balloons and Santa Claus of course, the parade is a much loved tradition not to be missed! This year's Community Grand Marshals are Mariah Hanson, founder of Dinah Shore Weekend and Linda Barrack, CEO of Martha's Village and Kitchen.
For more information about the parade, visit psfestivaloflights.com.
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Promote Your Business through the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism + Palm Springs Convention Center
It's Easy!
Email here for their new Marketing Opportunities brochure
For more information contact: Samantha McDermott, Marketing & Promotions
Advertising@VisitPalmSprings.com | 760-322-8407
Don't Forget To Claim Your Free Deals and Event Listings
Add Your Deal to VisitPalmSprings.com https://visitpalmsprings.com/submit-your-deal/
Add Your Event to our Events Calendar
Complete this form: https://visitpalmsprings.com/submit-your-event/
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Visit Greater Palm Springs: Submit Your Offers Now to Reach More Visitors this Fall
SIGN UP TODAY - NEW RETAIL PROMOTION FOR FALL
Visit Greater Palm Springs is promoting a retail shopping pass to visitors and locals this fall. The pass will encourage shoppers to visit participating retailers by featuring special offers, as well as a "check-in to win" opportunity.
Participating in the pass is easy:
STEP 1 - Become a check-in location. Reply to this email or contact Susan Esterling at susan@visitgreaterps.com with your business name, description and the image you'd like used for the pass. It's free for you and shoppers are incentivized to check-in with an opportunity to win a shopping spree, paid for by Visit Greater Palm Springs. The more businesses they check-in at, the more chances to win!
STEP 2 - Submit a special offer to attract more shoppers! You can offer a discount, a free gift for coming in the store or with purchase, or any incentive that shoppers need to show their pass to have access to. You can include start and end dates (it will only appear on the pass during that window) and any restrictions that apply. Reply to this email or contact Susan Esterling at susan@visitgreaterps.com to submit your offers.
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New Rainbow Crosswalks on Arenas Road and Palm Canyon Drive at Amado Rd
In honor of Greater Palm Springs Pride Week, Nov. 1-7, the City of Palm Springs has installed Rainbow Crosswalks at Arenas and Encilia and Arenas and Indian and Palm Canyon Drive at Amado.
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PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS TO PRESENT KRISTEN STEWART WITH THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD, ACTRESS
The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that Kristen Stewart is the recipient of the Spotlight Award, Actress for her performance in Spencer. The Film Awards will take place in-person on January 6, 2022 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running through January 17, 2022. The event will be presented by American Express and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.
“It is always a challenge to portray a real-life figure, especially one so beloved as Princess Diana, yet Kristen Stewart does a fantastic job in Spencer,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “She completely disappears into this iconic role, authentically adopting Diana's mannerisms, accent and demeanor with real emotional depth. For this career-best performance, it is our honor to present the Spotlight Award, Actress to Kristen Stewart.”
Past recipients of the Spotlight Award, Actress include Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain, Helen Hunt, Allison Janney, Rooney Mara, Julia Roberts and Yuh-Jung Youn, all seven of which received Academy Award® nominations in the year they were honored, with Janney and Youn winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
The marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. There's eating and drinking, shooting, and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. Spencer is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days. The Neon / Topic Studios film is directed by Pablo Larraín and stars Kristen Stewart, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Spall, Sean Harris and Jack Farthing.
In 2015, Stewart became the first American actress to be awarded a Cesar Award in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in Olivier Assayas’ Clouds of Sils Maria, in which she starred alongside Juliette Binoche. She received several other accolades for Clouds of Sils Maria including the Best Supporting Actress prize from the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics, among numerous others. In January 2017, Kristen made her directorial debut with Come Swim which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Stewart was introduced to worldwide audiences in 2002 with her gripping performance alongside Jodie Foster in Panic Room and notable roles in films like Sean Penn’s Into The Wild. Her star took a huge rise when she starred as Bella Swan in the hit franchise The Twilight Saga, a five-motion-picture series that has grossed over $3.3 billion. Stewart also starred in Universal’s box office winner Snow White and The Huntsman and in Walter Salles’ screen adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Stewart recently wrapped production on David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future opposite Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux. Stewart can be seen as the title character, Jean Seberg, in Amazon Studios Seberg and starred in Hulu’s romantic comedy Happiest Season.
About the Palm Springs International Film Society
The Palm Springs International Film Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness. The Film Society produces the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) and Film Awards every January and Palm Springs ShortFest in June. In addition to curating the best in international cinema, PSIFF’s Film Awards has come to be known as the first stop on the campaign trail for the Academy Awards® and our Oscar®-qualifying ShortFest is the largest short film festival and market in North America. Our festivals, year-round member screenings and educational programs manifest our organization’s mission by nurturing and encouraging new filmmaking talent, honoring the great masters of world cinema, and expanding audience horizons.
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2021 redistricting process kicks off with series of public hearings and workshops
In an effort to obtain input regarding communities of interest as it relates to redistricting and how City Council district boundaries might be adjusted following the release of the 2020 U.S. Census, the City of Palm Springs will hold a series of upcoming public hearings and community engagement workshops, beginning this month. Communities of interest include shared geopgraphic, socio-economic, and cultural interests.
The redistricting process will be completed in two phases:
Phase I
November 2021 – January 27, 2021
Identifying communities of interest and developing district boundary maps.
Phase II
Feb. 10 – March 24, 2022
Refining and adopting a final district map.
The Phase I public hearings will be held on the following dates during regularly scheduled City Council meetings:
Nov. 4, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
Overview of the redistricting process and the online mapping tool and solicit input on communities of interest
Dec. 9, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
Release of the consultant’s draft maps and solicit input on communities of interest
Jan. 27, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.
Review of the consultant’s and community drawn maps
In addition, residents will be invited to participate in one of a series of five community workshops to learn more about the consultant’s draft maps and see a demonstration on how to use the online mapping tool to develop your own proposed district boundary map.
The workshops will be held on the following dates:
Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m.
Demuth Community Center
Dec. 14, at 5:30 p.m.
Vista Del Monte Elementary School
Dec. 15, at 5:30 p.m.
Palm Springs Convention Center
Dec. 16, at 5:30 p.m.
Palm Springs Public Library Learning Center
Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m.
Cahuilla Elementary School
“We need your input on communities of interest in order to respect the boundaries of your communities during the redistricting process,” said City Clerk Anthony Mejia. “Everyone is encouraged to participate.”
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Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills named Palm Springs Chief of Police
Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills named Palm Springs Chief of Police Oct. 12, 2021 Following an extensive nationwide search and a selection process that included significant stakeholder input, the Chief of Police of Santa Cruz, California, a City of 63,000 residents, will be the next leader of the Palm Springs Police Department.
Andrew Mills has led the Santa Cruz Police Department since 2017. Prior to Santa Cruz, Mills served four years as Chief of Police in Eureka, California. He began his career in 1983 as a patrol officer with the San Diego Police Department and worked his way up to commanding officer of gang investigations and criminal intelligence/counter terrorism, rising to the rank of Police Captain and Commanding Officer in 2011, overseeing the San Diego Police Department’s Western and Eastern divisions.
Chief Mills will begin his new position in Palm Springs in early November.
In Santa Cruz, Mills was hired as a change agent to help move the department toward a culture of community policing and problem solving, while bringing greater transparency and community collaboration. The selection process started with review of resumes, a significant screening of more than 50 applicants and two surveys that queried residents and Police Department employees about attributes they were looking for in the next Chief of Police. The process concluded with four separate panels conducted by City Staff and Ralph Anderson and Associates that were comprised of several Chiefs of Police, sworn and unsworn members of the Palm Springs Police Department, an executive department head panel, and a panel comprised of members of the community selected by a Councilmember in each of the City’s five districts, plus other selected stakeholders. The City Council Selection Committee included Mayor pro tem Lisa Middleton, Councilmembers Geoff Kors and Dennis Woods.
A graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University, Mills also graduated from the FBI National Academy Session 250, Quantico Virginia and California P.O.S.T Management School. Appointed by former Gov. Jerry Brown to serve on the Board of State and Community Corrections, Mills also serves as Executive Chair of the California Violence Prevention Grant and on the Board of the Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem Oriented Policing. He is also a member of the Major Cities Chiefs Intelligence Commanders Group.
“I am very excited to see Chief Mills join our team. We have had an extensive process where the candidates were tested on their values, knowledge, skills and abilities with a broad cross-section of stakeholders serving as evaluators,” said City Manager Justin Clifton. “Chief Mills was clearly the top performer in the process. I think he will be able to integrate with our team and community seamlessly. He brings a wealth of experience and leadership that, with help from the rest of our team, can take us to the next level.”
“The Palm Springs Police Department has a long-standing tradition of inclusive community policing and building important neighborhood and stakeholder relationships,” said Chief Mills. I am honored to be chosen to serve as the next Palm Springs Police Chief, and I look forward to working with our officers, the community, City Manager and Council to continue providing an exceptional level of public safety service to the Palm Springs community.”
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City to close Baristo Park temporarily to address homeless issues
In an effort to respond to resident concerns regarding ongoing public health issues and unsafe activities in Baristo Park, the City of Palm Springs will temporarily close the park in order to perform a safety inspection, implement a security plan, install cameras, and complete needed cleaning, maintenance and overseeding.
The park, located at 296 S. Calle Encilia, is expected to temporarily close to the public within the next few weeks for about six weeks while the City addresses the ongoing issues.
Police and Fire Department calls for service at Baristo Park have escalated significantly over the past two years. From 2017-2019 Baristo Park had 558 calls for service while from 2019 to the present, Baristo Park has had over 1,245 calls for service.
In its current state, Baristo Park is detrimental to the health and safety of the public due to issues such as use and abandonment of unlawful drug paraphernalia, toxic and biohazardous materials such as used sharps, human feces, litter and cigarette butts discarded throughout the park, indecent exposure, and general destruction of public property.
“In order to protect public health and safety, the City is taking this step to address persistent issues in the park related to a small group of transient individuals,” said City Manager Justin Clifton, who added that communities across the United States are struggling to deal with the worsening impacts of homelessness.
The park closure is one in a series of steps the City has taken to address homeless issues, including expanding security and maintenance in downtown and convening meetings with service providers and stakeholders to find solutions. Another important step, in August the City partnered with Martha’s Village and Kitchen to open the Palm Springs Access Center across from the Airport, a new daytime drop-in center with wraparound services for unhoused individuals. So far, the center’s track record has been impressive, serving hundreds of unduplicated residents with few secondary impacts.
In addition, at their next meeting on Thursday, Oct. 28, the City Council will discuss development options for a new Homeless Navigation Center to shelter the west end of the Coachella Valley’s unhoused population and offer the kind of full suite of support services Palm Springs has long needed.
“The City of Palm Springs is committed to compassionately managing the impacts of homelessness while finding solutions in order to help our unhoused population obtain permanent and supportive housing,” said Clifton. “Building a new navigation center provides a unique opportunity to make a real impact and greatly expand our ability to serve our unhoused population while reducing secondary impacts that can affect quality of life.”
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Measure J Commission seeking proposals for community initiated project funding
The City of Palm Springs Measure J Commission is encouraging residents, neighborhood organizations, businesses and non-profits in Palm Springs to submit proposals in order to receive a portion of $1 million set aside for community projects to be paid for from the City’s Measure J tax dollars.
Measure J is a one-cent sales tax increase approved by Palm Springs voters in 2011 to provide a source of revenue to maintain local community services and help economically revitalize the City’s downtown core. Over the last ten years, Measure J tax dollars have helped fund a wide variety of important community projects that have transformed Palm Springs, including Citywide street paving, upgrades and renovations to the Police Department and Fire stations, restoration of historic buildings such as the Welwood Murray Memorial Library, a plethora of upgrades to parks and recreational facilities, and the construction of the new Downtown Park.
To download an application, visit PSMeasureJ.com. Hard copies of the application will be made available for pick up at various City locations, including City Hall, the Palm Springs Public Library, Welwood Murray Memorial Library, Demuth Park Community Center, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, and the Leisure Center at Palm Springs Parks and Recreation. Applications are due by 6 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2021 and must be submitted via email to Evelyn.Beltran@PalmSpringsCA.gov -- or by mail, or in person to:
City of Palm Springs, Attn: Evelyn Beltran, Executive Administrative Assistant
Department of Finance & Treasury
3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Applications that meet the Commission’s criteria will be considered for recommendation to the City Council for final approval. For more information about Measure J funding and projects, visit PSMeasureJ.com.
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Palm Springs International Airport was named Best Small US Airport in the annual reader’s choice awards from The Points Guy
The 2021 TPG Awards were voted on by readers of The Points Guy in four airport categories:
Best Large US Airport, Best Mid-Sized US Airport, Best Small US Airport, and Best International Airport.
Palm Springs International Airport was named Best Small US Airport along with Dallas-Fort Worth
International Airport as Best Large US airport, Dallas Love Field as Best Mid-Sized US Airport, and
London-Heathrow International Airport as Best International Airport.
The Best Small US Airport category included the first 34 airports listed as “Small Hubs” by DOT data — with the cutoff being those that saw over 1 million passenger enplanements in 2019. The largest of these was Memphis, Tennessee and the smallest was Greensboro, North Carolina per The Points Guy.
Palm Springs International Airport
3400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Ste OFC
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Link to The Points Guy article: https://thepointsguy.com/news/airport-winners-2021-tpg-awards/
ABOUT PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is owned and operated by the City of Palm Springs and is the only commercial service airport in the Coachella Valley. The airport’s 11 air carriers provide nonstop service to 35 airports in season, 30 in the United States and 5 in Canada. US nonstop airports include Atlanta, Austin, Bellingham, Boise, Boston, Chicago Midway, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Love, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Des Moines, Eugene, Everett, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York City-JFK, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Provo, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle. Canadian nonstop routes include Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. PSP is served by Air Canada, Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Flair, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country, United, and WestJet. Some airlines and routes operate only on a seasonal basis.
For additional information, please refer to PalmSpringsAirport.com or get social with PSP on Facebook (www.facebook.com/flyPSP), Twitter (@flyPSP), or Instagram (@flyPSP) to stay informed about the airport and the airlines that serve the Coachella Valley
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COVID AND VARIANTS ARE STILL OCCURRING. IT IS BETTER, BUT IT IS NOT "OVER".
FREE PPE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN PALM SPRINGS
Crystal Fantasy has more FREE masks, face shields and hand sanitizers for
FREE distribution to businesses on behalf of Main Street Palm Springs. Pick up at Crystal Fantasy, 268 N Palm Canyon Drive in Downtown Palm Springs. These supplies are FREE. Open every day 11-7. Bring your own bag please.
Thank you to The Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services for providing these supplies for small businesses
Businesses & Restaurants: Download New, City Produced COVID Flyers
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Click HERE for Face Covering Required in Businesses Flyer
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Click HERE for Face Covering Required in Businesses Flyer (Spanish)
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Click HERE for Proof of Vaccination / Negative COVID-19 Test for Bars and Restaurants
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Click HERE for Proof of Vaccination / Negative COVID-19 Test for Bars and Restaurants (Spanish)
COVID INFORMATION CAN CHANGE VERY QUICKLY. PLEASE REFER TO CITY, COUNTY AND STATE WEBSITES FOR THE MOST CURRENT NEWS.
Having trouble making an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination? Vaccine Buddies are here to help!
Protect your family. Vaccines are effective and safe.
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GET INVOLVED! LEARN MORE ABOUT PALM SPRINGS BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS
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CITY HALL PHONE NUMBERS
Here is a list of contacts available to assist the public with business from 8 am - 6 pm, Monday-Thursday.
*City Hall Direct Line, (760) 323-8299
*Office of the Mayor and City Council, (760) 322-8385
Hotline numbers:
*Vacation Rental Compliance, (760) 322-8383
*Code Compliance, (760) 778-8434
*Animal Control, (760) 323-8151
*PSPD COVID-19 Hotline, (760) 323-8159
*COVID-19 Financial Aid Hotline, (760) 323-8273
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS!
Business Members (Downtown and Uptown)
Gold Store 760-832-9336
Canyon Rose Boutique 760-323-4240
PS Treasures 760-322-4455
Business Members (not in district)
LostYourMind 760-883-8315
Community Members
Thom Bettinger
Bill Walter
Jeff Denean Jones
Bill Diller
David Perry
Donn Uyeno
Patrick Canonge
Michelle Coneybeare
Donald Grimm
Eric Chiel
Joseph May
Vic Yepello
Liz Glass
Marlo Sandler
Kathy Bates
David Feltman
Allison Jones
Staci Schafer
Geoff Kors
Jeff Jones
Matt Robinson
Mark Talkington
Jeff Rosenberg
Vincent Stoppia
Ann Sheffer
Thank you for your support!
Updated 10/17/21
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Palm Springs Business Owners, Managers and Friends of Downtown and Uptown
Main Street Palm Springs Annual Membership fee for the 2021-2022 season is now requested. Your involvement is more critical now than ever. There is a special discounted rate of only $25 for Downtown & Uptown Businesses.
Main Street Palm Springs, the Downtown and Uptown Business Association, has firmly established itself as the primary conduit for information sharing among businesses and with the City of Palm Springs. Additionally, we are the advocacy group for over 500 Downtown and Uptown Businesses. We are currently an all-volunteer organization, hosting two open meetings a month, multiple newsletters and extensive social media.
The Board of Directors is developing a long term strategic plan that will encompass expanded outreach, special events, and increased efforts to give all businesses a stronger say. We are also working on a branding and marketing campaign to help all of our businesses.
We are currently offering the following Membership levels with other Levels and Benefits to be announced soon:
MEMBER BENEFITS
Downtown/Uptown Business Members
* Inclusion in print and online promotions and listings as a Business member
* Ability to vote in elections and to be nominated as a Board Member
* Subscription to full email distribution
* Opportunity to have paid email blasts to Main Street mailing list
* Opportunity to participate in Main Street events
Other Business Members
* Inclusion in print and online promotions and listings as a Business member
* Ability to participate in all member meetings
* Subscription to full email distribution
* Opportunity to have paid email blasts to Main Street mailing list
* Opportunity to participate in Main Street events
Community Members
* Participation in all member meetings
* Subscription to full email distribution
Non-members
* Ability to attend meetings. Meetings are open to the public, but only Members have
voting rights and can make announcements about their business.
* Select discussions will be open to non-members.
* Inclusion in email distribution of urgent business announcements and City of Palm
Springs announcements.
Your $25 Membership fee can be upgraded for more benefits. Look for our announcement soon for other Membership Levels.
We greatly appreciate your support!
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YOUR MAIN STREET PALM SPRINGS BOARD
(We are looking for new board members interested in representing their specific areas)
Uptown District:
100-499 North Palm Canyon Drive:
PRESIDENT
BOARD MEMBER
100-499 South Palm Canyon Drive:
SECRETARY
BOARD MEMBER
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians/Section 14:
At Large
Special thanks to Thom Bettinger, Volunteer Assistant
Main Street Palm Springs Mission Statement:
To join together as fellow businesses to proactively and aggressively represent the interests and contributions of the downtown and uptown business community to existing and potential customers and to represent our common interests to Palm Springs municipal leaders.
