One PS - January 2024 Meeting

Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation One PS Meeting

ONE-PS January 2024 Meeting

Greetings neighbors,

Happy & Healthy New Year neighbors!

The ONE-PS meeting was held Tuesday afternoon, January 9th at the Palm Springs Police Training Center. Your neighborhood rep from Vista Las Palmas was present virtually.

Measure J Commission Chair  – Naomi Soto. Gave in-depth presentation. Measure J takes 1% of City Sales tax (1 cent per $100) to fund community infrastructure projects. Implemented in 2012, initially $9M - $12M was spent per year. More recently in part due to the expanded Palm Springs economy, approximately $22M per year is being spent on things like road repair (over 100 miles of road pavement), Downtown Park, Smoketree/La Verme Fire Station, park lights, park side walk improvements, Mizell Center Kitchen, ADA compliance at Demuth, Sunrise and James O Jesse parks. Two Palm Springs elementary schools have mental health wellness centers due to Measure J. New playground equipment, Plaza Theater restoration, upcoming new Fire Station #1, shade structures, Library renovations, pickleball courts and animal shelter improvements will be funded with Measure J funds. The Measure J Board meets the third Thursday of the month at City Hall @ 5:30pm. Public input for Measure J funds is encouraged. Initially planned to sunset in 25 years, the City hopes to make it permanent by placing it on this November’s ballot.

Mayor Pro Tem Jeffrey Bernstein – Film Festival is currently underway. Over 180 films from 74 countries are presented. This film festival is one of the top 3 in the world, and generates great revenue and publicity for the City. A contractor has been approved for the 700 seat Plaza Theater which will have a great economic impact for the City when it opens next year.

City nixed plans for a Starbucks at North Palm Canyon and Racquet Club primarily due to its drive through focus. Very few seats would be provided at this location. Starbucks is now focusing more on the drive through concept for its stores. Palm Springs Disposal seeks to hire people out of Navigation Center.

Working on Airport master plan. PSP will be a truly international airport (not just Canadian flights). Seeking input to develop North Palm Springs. COD presentation for new $405M College of the Desert campus here in PS. Hope to enroll students in 2027.

City Manager Scott Stiles – Shout out of praise for City Police and Fire/Emergency response for handling logistics of Film Festival gala. Affordable housing Monarch Apartments at Indian Trail & San Raphael will open soon. All residents should be housed by February. This is the first affordable housing project for Palm Springs in over 10 years.

Mr. Stiles introduced his team: Assistant City Manager Teresa Gallavan (Department of Special Projects, Library, Maintenance & Facilities, Office of Communications & Media Relations, Office of Neighborhoods, Parks & Rec); Deputy City Manager Jeremy Hammond (City Clerk, HR, IT and Procurement) and Flinn Fagg (Engineering Services, Planning Services, Building & Safety, Sustainability, Housing & Community Development). Contact info:

 Scott.Stiles@palmspringsca.gov (760) 322-8362

Teresa.Gallavan@palmspringsca.gov (760) 322-8380

Jeremy.Hammond@palmspringsca.gov (760) 323-8218

Flinn.Fagg@palmspringsca.gov (760) 323-8269

Wayne Olson is new Chief Economic Development Officer. Mr. Olson previously worked for the City of Palm Desert in a similar capacity. His contact info:

Wayne.Olson@palmspringsca.gov (760) 323-8358.

PSPD & PSFD – Fire Chief Paul Alvarado – PSFD busy inspecting various city projects to make sure they comply with safety regulations. PSFD visiting major projects and apartment complexes so PSFD knows beforehand how to evacuate a building as well as where to connect equipment in case of a fire or emergency. Captain Ron Skyberg, the newly promoted Communications Officer for the PSFD said 12 new fire fighters are in week 5 of training. They graduate January 18th and start their one year of probation.

Lt Browning said PSPD is currently down 7 staff members due to illness or injury. Jewelry burglar hitting many South Palm Springs residences was arrested just before Xmas. Bail set at $1M. PSPD will be purchasing off road vehicles to address issues in the various washes.

Emergency preparedness drill will be conducted at PSP. Every 3 years the FAA requires the simulation of a 747 crash at airports to ensure safety preparedness. Multiple agencies participate in this drill. January 19th & 21st CERT Training. Openings available.

Sustainability & DWA – Please put your address on your trash/recycle bins (carts). PS Disposal will pick up extra cardboard for free. PS Disposal to give out free organic waste pails to help residents comply with California’s recently enacted organic waste law.

Office of Neighborhoods, Manager Denise Goolsby–Check out Palm Springs new website engagepalmsprings.com ! The work in progress website is a resource for residents to ask questions and receive updates about various City projects. Comments/suggestions are welcomed.

 Gustav Swanson