One PS - June 2023 Meeting

Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization One PS Meeting

ONE-PS June 2023 Meeting

Greetings neighbors,

The ONE-PS meeting was held Tuesday afternoon, June 13th in person at the Palm Springs Police Training Center. Your neighborhood representatives from Vista Las Palmas participated virtually. Below are the highlights from the meeting so that you can be fully informed about important community issues.

ONE-PS Vice Chair Cathy Cohn –Don Barrett is no longer on the ONE-PS Board. He was the secretary. ONE-PS seeks to expand representation for areas that are not presently part of any neighborhood organizations (NORGs).

Mayor Pro Tem Jeffrey Bernstein – College of the Desert (COD) plans are moving forward. Presently 3 buildings are planned with the main entrance on O’Farrell. The buildings will be 2 stories with the third story housing hvac equipment. The buildings are expected to have a modern design reflecting Palm Springs MCM architectural heritage. Former Palm Springs Mayor Ron Ogden is now a COD trustee. This should help move the process along.

5 Art Projects pending including popsicles and art plaza surrounding the Art Museum. Many vacancies on various city committees. Consider applying. Notable vacancies include the Historic Board and Planning Committees.

Historic Designations – Tahquitz Golf Course clubhouse and Union Bank at Ramon & Indian Canyon were given historic designations. Anyone interested in helping get VLP a historically designated neighborhood? California SB9 threatens the character of historic neighborhoods.

Project J has provided $22M/year in revenue. It sunsets in 10 to 12 years. Primarily used for capital projects. It has helped/ will finance fire station construction, improvements to library, park lighting, and $750K for amphitheater.

Dream Hotel settled with The City (and objecting neighbors). Latest modifications were done rather quickly. Facility will be 156 room hotel with 69 condos. Grading expected in September. Construction to commence the following year.

More discussion regarding Pacaso home share ordinance. On City docket for July. ONE-PS, VLP and OLP have come out against single family home time shares. This story continues…

Park & Recs Presentation –

(1)   Overview

(2)   Mission – Welcoming, safe spaces for residents

(3)   Special Events – Affordable & inclusive activities

(4)   Programs - Pickleball

(5)   Youth Programs – Partner with schools & community stakeholders.

Palm Springs has 6 recreation facilities, 6 playgrounds, 56 athletic fields, 11 parks, 23 tennis courts, 2 bocce ball courts and 12 pickle ball courts (at Demuth Park). More pickle ball courts are coming. Many programs (from line dancing, arts & crafts, knitting & sewing to pickle ball lessons) are offered at either the James O Jessie Center in Gateway Highlands or at Demuth Park. Check it out at: palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation

City Manager Scott Stiles – Follow up on City budget. Going to 2 year budget cycle. 3 firefighter positions and 4 police dispatch positions will be added. Filling various positions throughout the City and Airport. $6M-$9M allocated for street repaving. Facilities Management purchasing playground equipment. (Some playground equipment is original.) Purchasing vehicle to move sand (For example to address periodic street closure on Indian Canyon by I-10.) Applied for $50M grant from Coachella Valley of Governments to build 2 small bridges over Indian Canyon wash. This will alleviate most road closures caused by flooding and blowing wind. Need to build D1 fire station. Library modernization entering Phase I. Need financing strategies for Phase II. Hotels doing well.  Applying for grant hydrogen refilling station near Gene Autry & I-10. A 75 acre site has been identified.

PSFD – Reiterated that all trucks will have 4 firefighters. Abandoned golf course (Bel Air Greens Public Golf Course) by the Sunrise Sonora neighborhood (due East of Deepwell on the other side of Sunrise Way) is a fire hazard. Trying to mitigate risk with property owner. Worked with Little Tuscany neighborhood to mitigate fire risk by cutting down dry brush at Crescendo & Boulders open land areas.

PSPD – 5% reduction in property crime. Habitual homeless continues to be problematic. 24 people reunited with family. Some as far away as New York and Missouri. 36 people housed. 266 arrested to date. (Most didn’t want services.) 450 people were offered services. 350 homeless identified.

Christy Smith is the daytime code compliance contact regarding homeless encampments.

Office of Neighborhoods, Manager Denise Goolsby – ONE-PS to work with PSPD towards crime prevention. Attention to code enforcement.

… And to reiterate, if you are interested on being on Denise’s mailing list, please do reach out to her directly at denise.goolsby@palmspringsca.gov .

Gustav Swanson and Steve Orr