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Monday, June 8 | ☀️ 95°/69°
Happy Monday! Over the weekend, we kicked off our annual summer fundraiser to help sustain independent local journalism during the slowest part of the year. Even in summer, city government keeps moving — council meetings, development projects, budgets, and local decisions don’t stop. Neither do we. If you value consistent Palm Springs coverage, please consider supporting our work by clicking the button below.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Go Slowly" by Radiohead
Leading Off
The exterior front entrance of the Palm Springs City Council Chambers. (File photo: Shutterstock)
Officials to take up budget, fire station purchase and road safety this week
Road safety, public spending and City Hall governance headline a busy week of meetings for Palm Springs officials, with the biggest decisions set for Wednesday's City Council session.
Driving the news: The City Council meets Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. for a public hearing on General Fund and Airport Fund budget adjustments for fiscal year 2026-27. Council members also will consider authorizing up to $55 million in long-term bonds tied to Palm Springs Tourism Infrastructure District assessments.
The council also will review a purchase and sale agreement with grit Development for a portion of the historic Town & Country Center property near Andreas Road and North Indian Canyon Drive, which the city wants for a new Fire Station No. 1.
Earlier in the week: Two subcommittees meet today at City Hall. The Active Transportation Subcommittee convenes at 1 p.m. to discuss bicycle parking expansion, interim bicycle safety measures in the downtown core, road diets on Racquet Club Road and South Palm Canyon Drive, and a pedestrian plan update under the Safe Streets for All grant.
The Human Rights Commission meets at 5 p.m. tonight to discuss the development of educational materials, following public comments at its May meeting.
Also Wednesday: The Climate Action Subcommittee meets at 1 p.m. to take up the city's Comprehensive Heat and Shade Mitigation Plan, the Extreme Heat Summit and the 2021 Climate Action Roadmap.
Behind closed doors: The City Council also holds a closed session at 4 p.m. Wednesday before its regular meeting. The closed-door agenda includes possible litigation, exposure to litigation and labor talks with several city employee groups.
Briefly
Shutterstock photo
🌡️ City’s cooling centers open as heat rises
Palm Springs has opened cooling centers at two locations to provide heat relief when temperatures reach 100 degrees or higher, with both sites operating through the end of September.
The James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 West Tramview Road, is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Palm Springs Public Library temporary location at Rimrock Plaza, 4721 East Palm Canyon Drive, Suite A, has varying hours Monday through Saturday. Pets are welcome at both locations; dogs must be leashed and cats must be in a carrier.
In addition: Martha's Village and Kitchen will also operate the Palm Springs Access Center, 225 El Cielo Road, daily as a cooling space for unhoused individuals, with overnight shelter transport available to the Early Entry Facility near the Palm Springs Navigation Center.
💰 Riverside County proposes $10.3 billion deficit budget
Riverside County last week released a recommended $10.3 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year — a 3.4% increase from last year — and will hold a public hearing today to take input from departments and residents. It is the second consecutive year the county has proposed a deficit budget.
To address the shortfall, County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen is proposing a hard hiring freeze for general fund-supported departments and stricter oversight of ongoing spending. This year, the county operated under a softer freeze that allowed more flexibility to fill positions.
Details: The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. Supervisors will hear from roughly a dozen departments requesting funding beyond county recommendations, as well as community groups seeking support from the board's nearly $1.4 billion in discretionary funding. Budget adoption is expected at the June 23 board meeting.
A MESSAGE FROM
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📆 Featured Events
Yoga With Mariana
9 a.m. | Palm Springs Pavilion
Affordable community yoga classes with instructor Mariana. Residents with an annual membership pay $10 per class; drop-ins welcome at $12. ($10–$12)
Water Aerobics
10 a.m. | 405 South Pavilion Way
Low-impact water aerobics at the swim center with instructor Donna Newton, offered every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Residents pay $5 per class with an annual membership. ($5)
Our Favorite Foreign Films: "Ky Nam Inn"
2:30 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents the Vietnamese film Ky Nam Inn, directed by Leon Le, in which a young translator and an older widow find solace in each other's company in post-war Saigon. ($11)
Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting
5 p.m. | City Hall
The city's Human Rights Commission meets on the second Monday of each month. Visit the city's website for agendas and additional information.
Palm Springs Power Baseball Game
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Stadium
Palm Springs Power Baseball plays home games throughout the summer with general admission seating available to all. Active military, police and fire receive free admission with ID. ($5–$16)
📌 Save the Date
Where Were You In 1976? Bicentennial Cinema starts Thursday at Palm Springs Cultural Center with “A Star is Born” ($15)
XOXO Palm Springs starting Thursday at multiple city venues
Juneteenth Weekend at multiple locations from June 18-20
PS/NEXT Summit 26 at Palm Springs Convention Center runs June 22-23
Palm Springs Food Truck Festival on June 27 at Sunrise Park
🚠 And Finally …
Shutterstock image
Summer reading season is here, and the Palm Springs Public Library is making it worth your while — with prizes that include an electric bike and a Nintendo Switch 2 on the line, this may be the most competitive reading program in the valley's history.
Driving the news: Registration for the library's annual Summer Reading Program opens today at this website. The six-week program, themed "Plant A Seed, Read!" runs through July 18.
For kids and teens: Children's programs take place Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m., featuring puppets, live animals, a magician, and dance performances. Teen programs meet Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. with a different hands-on craft each week. Both are held at the Library at Rimrock Plaza.
The prizes: Sponsored by the Friends of the Palm Springs Library, grand prize drawings include a Nintendo Switch 2 and game, a $100 Amazon gift card, a Family Fun Pack of local experience gift cards, a raised self-watering garden bed, an electric bike, and a Garden-to-Market Playset.
Prizes will be awarded at a finale celebration on Wednesday, July 22 at 6 p.m. at the Library at Rimrock Plaza.
More info: Visit www.palmspringslibrary.org or call 760-322-7323.
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