Support for second Stater Bros. here

The Planning Commission is recommending to City Council approval of six buildings, including a Stater Bros. market, at the northwest corner of Vista Chino and Landau.  The other buildings tentatively could house a drug store, bank and fast food restaurants.  Developers are Regency Shopping Centers and MDI West.

Look for the project to go before City Council in September.  

Will cut cost, not blackouts, though

Trusses supporting the solar panels that will provide electricity for the Civic Center are being installed now in the Parking Structure.  After the trusses and other supporting steel members are installed, the solar panels will be hoisted up and laid in place, as the Honeywell project to save energy and reduce city costs approaches completion.

The panels will also serve as protection from sun and rain for cars parked on the top level of the structure.  The ribbon-cutting ceremony will probably take place in September, after the required fire sprinkler system is installed.

The solar array is expected to meet about one quarter of the power needs of Civic Center.  No, it will not prevent the intermittent blackouts experienced at City Hall, which are interrupting and delaying public services.  

Single fees for Dream Homes, too

The Palm Springs City Council has voted to approve an agreement with the Desert Water Agency, enabling the Dream Homes to be connected to the sewer plant in Palm Springs and not pay double sewer capacity fees. The City of Palm Springs has had a policy of charging properties outside their city double fees to connect to the public sewer system.

With the policy change, the Dream Homes will pay the same rate as Palm Springs property owners to connect to the plant.  The Palm Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant will be able to use the additional effluent to water golf courses and other sites as part of its recycling efforts.     .      

Property owners in the Dream Homes recently overwhelmingly approved an assessment district to put sewers, streets, curbs and gutters in their neighborhood

Our very own torch bearer

Did he bring home the gold?  Yes, he did. Fire Chief Steve Sowles won a gold medal and a bronze medal in the California Firefighters Olympics Golf Tournament held recently on three courses in the San Diego area   His team won the gold medal and individually he won a bronze medal in his division for overall ability. 

Hi-Lites teams with Aveda

Hi-Lites Aveda, formerly Hi-Lites Salon and Day Spa, is now open in its new location in the shops in downtown Cathedral City.

Owner Darla DiGrandi-Aguilera, Cathedral City business owner since 1989 and daughter of former Councilmember Sarah DiGrandi, said hers is the only Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Day Spa in the Valley. 

Hi-Lites Aveda is a full service salon and day spa specializing in custom Hi-Lites, and offering design cuts, color, skin treatments, body treatments, full body waxing and nail care, in addition to a 1,000 sq. ft. Aveda retail store. 

Not quite there yet

Division Chief Mike Hatfield calculates the Mission Plaza Shopping Center’s fire loss at about $2.5 million from the destruction of five shops. Power has still not been restored to the remaining businesses, but the center’s electrician and SCE are trying to bring it back as soon as possible.  

Bronze buffed 

The bronze “Hollywood Hero” statue by actor George Montgomery has been polished, refurbished and reinstalled on its pedestal at Town Square. Thanks to the Public Works crew, the “Hero” has never looked better. The statue is a gift of the late actor, who appeared in more than 85 films.    

Tacky car sales out 

The Code Enforcement Division is cracking down on cars for sale that owners park in various vacant lots throughout the city – mainly along Date Palm Drive.  Efforts also continue on weed abatement to reduce the risk of fire in this tinder-dry season. 

Things like expense reimbursements, voting abstentions …

The City Council has finished its meetings every Thursday afternoon to review its policies and procedures, coming to agreement on and fine tuning the ways the Council operates and conducts businesses. The revised polices and procedures will be finalized by the city attorney’s office and presented for possible action at the first meeting in August.

Council will also be looking at the creation of various subcommittees, such as those that currently exist for real estate transactions and matters concerning the Palm Springs Unified School District.